Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 20, Decatur, Adams County, 24 January 1947 — Page 1

01. XLV. No. 20

SENATE PASSES CONVENTION REFORM RILL

flay, Garsson Brothers Plead Innocent Today I Plead Not Guilty I To Federal Charge; Trial Set March 19 SB Wariiincon. -lan. 24 —<lTi — congressman Andrew .1 Innocent today to a arit.s that he and three key -gK,;r.- of the 178.000,000 Garsson combine entered into a s . ■•n»|>iia< y to defraud the K».rnment In war contracts. T Wtlo- three Other kingpins in the I Khiil>.u- Garsson "paper empire" ISK fir Henry M Garsson. his I ■rothrr Murray and Joseph F I|Kr... nun. also pleaded Innocent I Hefore federal judge Bolitha .1 I Kt**' when arraigned on the I Ki.ni:*- lolilalned in a federal in I l aw- -ct bond at 12.000 for tirh defendant and set trial date ir March 19. May's face was grim and flushI. He showed evidence of his (cent illness, lie entered the ran first. Freeman, a top Garsson aide, a* not present when the defendfirst were asked their pleas. he apeared while other attor- ■ Hey. w<re consulting with Ijiws ■Hm« erning trial date and bond ■ I The defendants were given 15 m which to prepare motions other legal pleadings. ■ I'l plead not guilty.” May rewhen asked his plea by a K I Hi. words were echoed by the brothers But Freemen tersely, "not guilty." I I May appeared worried. He to have lost weight since |Mi* last appearance in Washing ll<- told one newsman he still suffeiing “pain and conttisn* around my heart. I I But I feel much better," he Then he grimaced as in pain. ■ I , ' a, *' r al ’be I’. 8. marshal’s Mffu- May complained his heart troubling him He asked formalities be speeded up so cnuli! return to his suite at the hotel to rest. ■ I He refused to comment further K ’hr ■ ■ At the conclusion of the brief W-nuir. Hr Garsson walked over 1 where May was sitting In the and shook hands with Uh 1, ,orm * r congressman from KI May mice chairman of the pow house military affairs com avoided newsmen this k when he came here from I KB*‘ home at Prestonsburg. Ky. IB' ,0< off 1,l, ‘ ,r «ln a| nearby V.i . ami motored into capital Tl> *’ four '''fendan's were taken 'h* “’’••ißnment to the I S r,hal ’ where they weie gWggsgerprihtcd and posted liond HMB A * was posting bond, he ■B' ’"'f a, “l I won't challenge on.- ■ them H|B/* ~* n r >' Gars«on posted bond. If WH" 1 hon ' l <l ’ ,rk «ve 'he usual JR irnin < ”i»t he must he present W **• court proceedings. I h *'P me God anti I'll be f •" be replied. »? was accompanied by his Kf* Andrew. Jr„ as well as by ■T"®**' In leaving the marshal's b» dashed from the buildvirtaally forcing hia way " M<h ■ ’hrong of photograph JB\.**° b,< ’ awa,,in « him * ”*>ped into a waiting taxi |K' An attorney with him said Probably would remain in tngton for "a couple of ** ,Or * re,urnln * ,o Km ‘ ■l 7 —* Legion For LJBwversol Training (1 n Jan. M _ (UP) _ B. *"***» legion today plan ieawidt campaign for °< anivs-sst trataiag ** “ woo « wpport u” * * e "

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Stale Legislatures Study Safety Laws Study Revision Os Outdated Fire Laws By I'nited Press State legislatures across the nation moved today toward devision of safety laws which have been proven dangerously antiquated by a series of disastrous hotel fires. Proposals submitted to state legislative bodies range from Punishment of hotel guests who smoke in bed to restricting the amount of inflammable finish on the walls of hotel lobbies, u survey showed. legislators began thumbing through the statute books to look up the fire regulations after a series of hotel fires had killed at least 200 persons within the last six months. In many cases the legislators found no fire prevention laws at all. or regulations requiring rope ladders in hotel rooms and similar inadequate or unenforceable measures. Proposals introduced include: Illinois—one bill would make It a misdemeanor for the failure of any person in charge of a hotel to turn in an alarm to the fire department within two minutes after learning of the fire The proposal apimrcntly was designed to prevent a recurrence of the hotel fire in Chicago last June in which 61 persons died. The fire department charged that the hotel delayed reporting the blase. Nebraska— State Sen. faster Anderson, a hotel operator. Introduced a bill to make smoking in bed in a hotel, apartment or roomiqg bonae a criminal offense. The proposal was supported by the Nebraska hotel association. Michigan—one proposal would amend the state penal code to make It a misdemeanor for any person to set fire to any building through the careless or negligent use of matches, cigarettes, etc., and would require that notices of such liability be posted in all hotels and rooming houses. Colorado several bills were introduced. One would require that hotels install a uniform alarm system permitting the telephone switchboard operator to ring all rooms at once in case of fire. New Jersey—A bill scheduled for Introduction would require adequate fire e*cu|>e exits easily accessible to guests; adequate fire alarm systems and fire protection equipment and periodic fire drills for employes Pennsylvania—A number of hills have been drafted requiring improved hotel safety standards, but most of them deal In generalities. One bill calls for establishment of legislative committees to investigate hotel conditions throughout the state. Most of the bills ignored flre(Turn To Page 3, Column 7) 0Mrs. Chas. Hoverman Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon Mrs. Charles F. Hoverman. 54. of Glenmore. 0.. died late Thursday sftem<x>n at the Van Wert county hospital after a brief Illness. , She was born In Willshire. 0.. October 15. 1»2. a daughter of John and Amanda Dull. Surviving in addition to the husband are her father; five sons Clifford Hoverman of Decatur. Donald of Ohio City. 0.. Carl of Glenmore. Ulen of Van Wert, O~ and Howard, at home; five daughters. Mrs. Cleo Lautxenheiser. Mrs. Eldon Lautaenhelser and Mrs. Forest Hileman, all of Celina. 0.. Misses Marjory aad Marilyn Hoeerman. both at home; 11 grandchildren; and six sisters. Mrs. Carl Weinmah. Mrs. Judson Passwater and Hisa Gladys Dull, all of Willshire. Mrs Orisy Krugh and Mm Chalmer Brodbock. both of Coevoy. O. and Mrs IXxle leather*

Steel Union's Demands Given To U. S. Steel Open Negotiations For New Contract Os Steel Workers Pittsburgh. Jan. 24 —(CPI —The CIO I'nited Steelworkers union laid its 1947 demund* before I*. 8. Steel Corp, today at a twohour KesNion opening negotiations expected to set the pattern for the nation's RPO.mtO steel workers. CIO president Philip Murray announced following the brief conference that negotiations would be resumed Monday. He immediately called for a session of the union's general policy and executive committees later today. He said the union's proposals, plated before the company representatives, contained no definite wage demand other than a "substantial" increase. However, he said, the union may have a further statement following tlrH« afternoon's policy sessions. John A. Stephens. V. S. Steel vice president in charge of industrial relations, said that company officials planned no Immediate conferences, pending resumption of negotiations. Murray said the only business transacted at the opening session was the presentation of the union's 15 point proposal for the new wage agreement and the selection of officers. Stephens was named permanent chairman of the negotiating conference and I’SW secretary!res* urer David J. McDonald was se lectcd as secretary The union was ready to submit a new report by economist Robert Nathan when the negotiations are resumed. But its contents Were secret. The new Nathan report is con fined to the Steel industry and is supplemental to his controversial general report which held that industry can raise wages 25 percent without lioosting prices. The steelworkers' proposals. In addition to a wage increase, included a union shop, companyfinanced social insurance, a guaranteed annual wage, portal-to-jMirtal pay and increase I overtime rates, more stringent seniority provisions and salary increases for white collar workers. The negotiators appeared in g(M>d spirits as they entered the iTurn To Psge « Column 3> Q-. .i —in— i. i——. Second Arrest Made In Theft Os Autos Second Fort Wayne Youth Is Arrested A second arrest as result of a series of car thefts was reported here today hy police authorities. Tom Burk. 23. of Fort Wayne, was arrested by police of that city Thtursday on a charge of vehicle taking-following his escape from local officials early the same day. His accomplice. Harold Long. 23. also of Fort Wayne, was released here yesterday by sheriff Herman Bowman into the custody of Whitley county police. Charges of vehicle taking had been preferred against him in Columbia City. Long was nabbed here Thursday morning by officer Roy Chilcote after he fied from the car. which lie and Burk admittedly had stolen Wednesday night in Columbia City. Burk wa« allegedly at the wheel of an auto, owned by Billy Sprunger of Berne, which was being pushed by Lobi In the stolen Co lumbis City car. When officer Chilcote drove up in the police car. Burk fled down the nearby railroad. Before being released to Colum bia City police. Long signed a con feaaton. in whk-h he placed the major portion of the blame on Bark, polkm chief Rd Miller sUt ed today. Long's confession stated that

OKLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Fri day January 24, 1947

Senate Votes Year To War Probe H I REPUBLICAN MEMBERS of the Senate Wai Investigating committee hold a victory pow-ow in Washington after Senate lleublicans voted 49 to 43 to extend the committee for one year with authority to prolie profiteering In the na'fon's 400-billlon-dollar war effort, to right ate Senators Homer Ferguson of Michigan; Owen Brewster of Maine, chairman; Joseph 11. Ball of Minnesota ami William F. Knowland of California

Heart Attack Fatal To World Bank Head Harold Smith Dies Suddenly Thursday Washington. Jan. 24.—(TPI— President Truman led Washington officialdom today in mourning the unexpected death of Harold D. Smith, acting head of the world bank and former director of the budget. Smith. 4X. suffered a heart attack Inst night at his farm in nearby Culpeper. Va. He died before medical aid could be summoned. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced Mr. Truman was attending a reception of the American newspaper women's club when word of Smith'* death reached him. The pre*ident said he was "terribly •hocked." "He was one of the ablest servants in the public service," the President said "The country needs the services of men like Harold Smith " Smith was stricken while in a pasture looking o|jer his prize cowa. A family »-rvant found him. His widow. Mr*. Lillian Maier Smith was at their hohie in Arlington. Va., at tlie time. She left for Culpeper immediately, and It was expected the Imdy would be brought back to Washington for burial. Smith is survived also by three daughters and a son. Widely regarded a* a financial wizard. Smith was budget director from 1939 until last June, when he resigned to become vice president of the World Bank. 0 Calls Attention To Veteran Regulations Mr*. Ruth Hollingsworth, executive secretary of the Red Cross office, call* attention to regula tions and extensions which have been made by the national service life insurance administration, per tabling to veterans. I'p until August 1. a waiver maybe filed by beneficiary for premiums which insured has not met. including cases where a man died during total dfoability. Otherwise the beneficiary has one year from date of veteran * death for filing, the instruction* read. Mrs. Hollingsworth stated that the local office aided in obtaining the Insurance for a veteran'* widow in • c*M similar to the one outlined under the above regulations. Mr*. Hollingsworth ia also working on a second case, with the idee of obtaining death bene fit* for th* veteran's survivors. e Youth Is Fined For Reckless Driving Donald E. Fambigar, 11. of rmtte J, Deeatar, waw t;u*d Rd and a Mspcpded 3*-day Jell aeatim®* ia

Plan Safety School On Monday Morning A safety school will b.* conducted Monday morning at 8:15 o'clock at the Decatur juniorwenior high school by mem Iters of the Erie lailroad police force, assisted by Decatur police chief Ed Miller Tlie school will Include talks and the showing of film. It I* an annual event staged liy the railroad company. 0 — Employment Office To Resume Service Reinstate Service Beginning Monday Fort Wayne. Ind . Jan. 24 (I'PI — Service to employers, employes and claimants in outlying counties will lie reinstated beginning Monday by the employment and claims section of tlie Indiana employment security division J. V. Carton and R. B Huff. Fort Wayne area manager* of the employment and claims section, announced today that represen tatlve« from tlie Fort Wayne office would accept job orders from employers, job applications, veterans readjustment allowance claims, and state unemployment compensation claims. The employment representatives ■kill opfrati- on the follirwlng schedule: Monday. Angola courthouse and Auburn courthouse; Tuesday. Bluffton community building; Wednesday. Kendallville city hall: Thursday. Huntington city halt and Decatur city hall: Friday. Ligonier city hall and the Columbia City city hall. The area employment office suspended operations last week when its office and records were destroyed in a fire that gutted a downtown Fort Wayne building g — Fort Wayne Hotel Is Ordered Closed Fort Wayne. Ind . Jan. 24—tl'Pt —James F Keenan today ached tileil a meeting with city fire and building officials to see if he can't keep tlie Anthony hotel open by making necessary repair*. Capt Arthur Knng. chief of the fire prevention bureau, and other city official* yesterday ordered the Keenan Hotel Co., operator of the Anthony, and the Fort Wayne Hotel Co. owner, to close the hotel because it is "unsafe" at present The order by the city officials followed a suit filed by the hotel owner against Keenan charging that the fire apparatus had been neglected. K. Os V. Officers Instollec Last Night A class of candidates will receive first rank initiatory work at the Knight* es Pythtoe Md-e at the

Indiana Senate Passes Controversial Measure On Convention Reforms

Resolution Adopted By Medical Society Commend Personnel At County Hospital Following the reelection of all officers of the Adams county medical society this week, the society passed a resolution commending the personnel at tile Adams county memorial boxpiial for “excellent service in the great majority of eases." Tlie resolution was signed by 12 Adams county physicians, and Dr. Harold F Zwick. vice president, pointed out that the signature of Dr. Ben Duke did not appear because lie is absent from the city The resolution Is as follows: “We. tlie undersigned members of tlie Adams county medical so<iety. Indiana stale medical society and American medical association. believe that the present personnel of the Adams county memorial hospital, acting tinier great stress and trial by reason of lack of nurses, and hampered by Inadequate facilities and by circumstances wholly beyond their control, have rendered, in Hie great majority of cases, ex cellent atvl tremendously valuable service to the community fur and above the ordinary call of duty." The resolution was signed by James M Burk. D. D. Jones. G J. Kohne, R. G. Zimmerman. John Carroll. Roland Repperl. H F Zwick. W. E Smith. Myron I, Habegger. C. C. Ray'. <’ I* Hinchman ami Amos Reusser. The officers reelected by the society In'lu l>-d Dr Duke, presi dent; Dr Zwick, vice president and Dr. Carroll, secretary. — „ Deny Separate Trial To Alleged Kidnappers Fort Wayne. Inti. Jan 21 fITPt Federal Judge Luther M Swygert today overruled a defense motion in federal court for sepa rate trials for Albert Webeater. 14. and Henry Black Jr . 17. Webster and Black will be tried together liefore a jury February lb on charges of kidnapping elderly Mr. and Mrs Alfred Sherrick. Convoy. O.

Ira Sprunger Dies Al Hospital Today Lifelong Resident Os County Is Dead Ira Sprunger. 57. of Born*-, lifelong resident of Adams county, died this morning at the Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne. An employe of the Berne Witness, he had been bedfast since November 24. He was born in Monroe township January 10. 1880. the son of 'Frederick and Kathryn Sprunger. and had lives! in Berne since 1918. He was a member of the First Mennonite church in Borne Hi~ first wife. Huldah Stucky, died in 1922. Surviving are his wife, formerly Anna Luginbill, who la Berne corre-pondent for the Decatur Dally Ifemocnit; one daughter. Elisabath Jeannette Sprunger. a curse In Chicago; a stepdaughter. Ardythe Mae Imglnblll. at home; nine brother* and sisters. Mary Aan Sprunger. Mr*. Emma Sprun ger. Hannah Sprunger. Mr* Noah Habegger. Milka Sprunger. Rom and Alina Sprunger. all of Berne; Otto Sprunger of Bluffton and Mr* J C. Kanffwuin of Whitewater. Kan Three bothers preceded him In death

French Urging Federation Os German Stales Plan Proposed By France Patterned On United States Paris. Jan 24.—(VP»—The French government proposed t<»day that the allies set up a permanent federation of German states, patterned in many respects after the I'nited States The French plan, disclosed by the foreign ministry, will lie put before the l»fg four foreign ministers when they meet in Moscow to tart work on tlie German peace treaty All powers not expressly allocated to tlie central government would be reserved to the states, the number and boundaries of which were left open for future decision The French suggested that until the occupation of Germany ends, ffie centralization of certain functions of the government remain order allied control. A foreign office spokesman said the French plan sought to undo the consolidation of the old tier man states under Prussian rule, and at the same time provide the central government with enough strength to give Germany a national identity. *ritimately. under the plan, the Germans would have a single national assembly comprised of four lepresentatives from ea< it state Tliev would b.- chosen by state presidents with the consent of the I state legislatures, and would -erv» I four year terms „_0 Hartford City Man Found Dead In Mill Hartford City. Ind . Jan 21 tl'Pi—John Roderick. stt. an engineer at the Fort Wayne corrugat ed paper company mill here, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the mill today. Authorities said Roderick was found lying in the basement near a pump There was a slight bruise on his bead Attaches of the coroner's office said they did not suspect foul play They believed Roderick might have been hit by a machinery belt or suffered the bruise in a fall. 0 Rev. Smith Speaker At Leader School Training School Is Held Last Evening "The genius of Christianity is no* ethics —but rather a living hy grace through which we lay hold of God through Christ." Thus spoke the Rev Benjamin F Smith, pastor of the Calvary Evangelical I'nited Brethren church. Fort Wayne, before the members of the leadership train Ing school at the De<-atar juniorsenior high school lasi night. "People tend to live on three levels," he said, “one of which is, the level of Instinctive desire, or j the la* of the jungle A second Is the level of conscience, which is the la* of restraint, merely frustration “A third and highest level U; that of grace, tn other words, the la* o< guidance." said tks spmxk-i

Price Four Cents

Senate Committee Approves Bill To Limit 1947 Mayors To Three Years Indianapolis. Jan 24 — <CPI — The Indiana senate today passed and sent to the house a controversial bill which would "reform" the state convention method of nominating candidates for state and I'. 8. senatorial offices. The vote was 35 to 11. All the II who voted against the hili were Democrats, and the 35 aye votes were registered by Republicans. Not a single senator crossed party lines in the vote on a Bill sponsored by GOP party leaders and the state administration as an effort to head off support for state-wide nominating primary l«iter. after the senate ami house adjourned until Monday, the senate elections committee approved a bill introduced earlier this week which would limit the terms of mayors elected this year to three years Tlie "skip election in reverse" bill, which GOP proponents said would compensate for the fact that present mayors had their terms extended to five years by virtue of a 1945 law. was expected to lie returned to the senate floor from committee on Monday with £i recommendation that it Im passed. The convention reform bill wa* exported to tie referred immediately to the house elections committee, which last week pigeonhole I a house primary hill and held up action on it obviously to await senate passage of the convention t eform bill. Tlie reform measure, asked by Goverttoi Gales in III* legislative message two Weeks ago. would limit tin- iiumlier of proxies that could l»<- t<»ted by any one con Vention delegate provide for secret voting on candidates, and < bangr the order of nominations Also in rite senate, an administration sponsore*! "anti-hate" bill, aimed at preventing the Ku Kiux Klan ami similar organizations from regaining a foothold In Indiana. progresse! toward a vote. It was approved <ln second reading without amendment or discussion Previously, a majority party caucus of bouse and senate Republicans agreed to pass the convention bill. It was agreed generally that it would have no trouble getting by the senate, but a balking bloc of GOP representatives threatened tlie measure in the house The senate passed the bill without discus ion Repulilicans tagged as supporters of the primary bill held thejr tongues and went along with ths- administration measure, obviously willing to let the house do the wrangling, if rny. over the respective merits of the two measures Passage of the bill tame as the controversy over the primary nominating system, now effoctlvo In 44 states. Idosstrmed into what some observer* considered the top issue thus far in the 61-day assembly session. Shortly Iwfore the convention bill was approved in the senate, the house heard one of the authors of the primary measure censure a spokesman for the GOP state committee for circulating "biased" information favoring the convention system Rep Mnrence D. Baker. R . Kendallville, charged that director Robert Baker of the Republican '-ommlttee'a gnblk relation* divl•ion placed newspaper editorials on the desk* of the lawmakers. Rep Baker Mid the editorials, three from the Fort Wayne NewgSentinal aad thru* from tin* Washington HeraM, «<*rei the primary ayaUOL li* nei anr were ...ompeeled by • Ufey