Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 155, Decatur, Adams County, 2 July 1947 — Page 1

Vol. XLV. No. 155. a

BIG THREE CONFERENCE ENDS IN DEADLOCK - ■ . . - , T- ■ ■ -■— , - ■ ■ - - - 11. -I ■ 1 “

Lewis, Owners Reported Near To Agreement Reported On Brink ' Os New Agreement To Avert Strike ~ Washington. July 2. tl’Pl John L. Lewis and a large a**mast <>f the soft coal industry were report* '< today to lie on the brink of a new wage agreement that wo«M head off a nationwide coal strttaa next week. Seine industry sources optimistically believed that a deal may he seaM at further secret meetings today between l«ewis ami operaton representing the bulk of northern and western mines. Lewis kept’ silent Government sources clone to the negotiations said they looked for “important develop meats'' A major obstacle still blocking agreement however, was the demand by Lewis for a contract provision to free him and the union from some of the restrictions of the Taft-Hartley labor law Lewis Is seeking for the soft coal contract the same stipulation which is now part of the anthracite agreement. This provides that the contract covers the miners personally and individually as long as they are “willing and able to work." The I’MW chief is said to feel that this relieves the union and Ita offi ers of liability for damage suite for unauthorized work stoppages. Such suits may be Instituted against unions in federal courts under the Taft-Hartley law Meanwhile. Sen. Robert A. Taft. R., 0.. co-author of the Taft-Hart-ley labor control law. said in a statement that "It is incumbent on both sides to make every effort reach an agreement promptly. He said the situation "regarding the coal miners is unique." "I have no means of knowing who is right and who is wrong In the negotiations now proceeding between the union and the employers." Taft said. "(Vrtalnty no strike was justified prior to July, (before the government released the mines to private owners) but I do not know enough at this time to condemn either the miners' union or the operators for what may happen after today." Taft said President Truman should appoint a board of inquiry under the new act to determine the merits of the controversy “If the situation becomes such that it threatens th«- nation's health or safety." He opposed suggestions that the government continue to operate the Wines Lwls soft coal miners are now oa a Vacation that is scheduled to end next Tuesday. Whether they return to work then depends on whether a new wage contract has been Signed by then. Industry sources said substantial .progress toward a peaceful settlement .was made at secret conferences yesterday between I<ew!s and some of the northern and western operators. The spokes -i (Turn T<> Pag* 2. Column 5) ST- o New Fire Truck /s Put On Exhibition Here Last Evening No ala’ m was sounded last evening, so the city decided to show off Its new lire fighting prowess by parading Its equipment from the engine house to the city hall for a short time. With slreno screaming, the new 111,000 Mack fire truck led the procession which included the ford Ore truck purchased last year and the old American LaFrance. to be held in reserve. An inkling of the new truck's abilities was shown when fire chief Harry Stulls played a stream from the pumper's booster hate over the top of nearby two-story buildings. City and Mack company offlcials, a representative of (he Indiana Inspection bureau, firemen and bystanders watched the exhibition prior to the regular council meeting ———o— WEATHER Fair and ceol tonight. Sunny and warmer Thursday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Hotel Rent Prices Spiraling Upward Tenants, Landlords Reported Confused By I'nited Press Rents for de-cont rolled hole] apartments spiraled upward today | with one Philadelphia hotel upping its rates 40(f percent by placing permanent guests on a daily rate. Most hotel associations in major cities said they were raising their rates 15 penent. but there were imports of "gouging" by some owners who apparently were "testing" the new. free market. The new rent cont nd law. effective yesterday, removed all con trols from hotels In which less than 75 percent of the units are bath and kitchen apartments rented on a permanent hash. other hotels were limited to the 15 per cent "voluntary" Increase in rates for permanent guests Transient rooms previously were decontrolled. Most hotels said the new rent Increases would be effective Aug 1. In the case of apartment houses and other rental units many landlords did not immediately seek the "voluntary" 15 percent increase. provided by the new law Tenants and landlords In many cities were confused Rent control offices in some cities were swamped w-ith queries and complaints. i But landlords reported that thousands of tenants had agreed to pay the 15 percent increase in exchange for an IS-month lease guaranteeing against further Increases when rent cont nd expires in March. IfMR. In many cases skyrocketing hotel apartment rents resulted from elimination of monthly rates The greatest increase was reported at Philadelphia, where penna nent tenants of one hotel were told that rates would be changed from $l2O a month to S2O a day The new rate would amount to sf>oo a month. Many other mid town Philadelphia hotels were raising some rents 50 percent. Management spokesmen said rates generally. , were being increased 15 penent. except where "Inequalities" wen-I being eliminated Maximum rent hikes reported by tenants of de-cont rolled hotel ■ apartments were: New York, increases as high as 60 percent Chicago, up 150 percent; Cleveland. up to fiO percent; San Fran'cisco, up to 50 pen ent. In regular apartment houses some landlords in Chicago were turn To Page 2. Column 6) 0 — 'Motor-Bike' Rider Injured Last Night Paul Eddy Is Hurt Here Last Evening Paul Eddy. 20. 703 Winchester street, was severely injured about 9 o'clock last night when the "motor bike" he was riding col lided with an auto-transport truck Eddy suffered facial and fore head lacerations and bruises and was taken to the Adams county memorial hospital, where he was still confined today He is not believed critically Injured. however. Officers James Borders and Robert Hill, who investigated, said that the transport truck was making a left turn to proceed east on Monroe street at the intersection with Thirteenth street when the crash occurred. Eddy and an unidentified companion on a motorscooter were driving out of a service station on the south side of Monroe street about 20 feet from the intersection, they said. Jesse B. Shanks. 24. Marion, driver of the truck, was able to swerve sharply enough to avoid striking the bicycle hut the latter vehicle crashed into the dual rear wheels of the truck tractor. The front end of the bicycle was ground into a mass of twisted metal. Eddy had purchased the vehicle only a few days ago. It was of the modem type with an ordinary bicycle frame and wheel in front, with thesmall motor driven wheel in the rear.

Mississippi At Highest Mark In 103 Years Engineers Fighting Losing Battle With Raging Flood Water St. Uiuis. July 2 ti'Pi The Mlsslssippi river stood today for nearly 12 long hours at its highest mark here in 103 years as army engineers, fighting a losing battle against the stream, moved their forces south in the hope of saving two Missouri towns. The river rose to I't 3 feet at 1 a. m. here ami at noon the weather bureau said it was fluctuating slightly. indicating It would begin to fall soon. The near record flood has overflowed some 375.000 acres of land, and B,stt(» persons are homeless upstream from Cairo, 111., to St. Louis. The Red Cross said 26.780 persons are homeless in Illinois. Missouri lowa ami Ne braska as a result of the midland flooding. The engineers estimated dams age caused by the flood along a !!00 mile stretch of the Mississippi at more than $12.t0t0.000. including $7,000,000 in the immediate vicinity of St latuis. Meanwhile, the town of Grand Tower. 111. (pop. 1.000). already isolated by the crumbling of levees, was threatened by water that rose two feel In a single hour. The engineers moved 100 men and their equipment out of the town, south of Chester. 111.. I ami the coast guard said It had begun to evacuate all residents. The muddy water was running three feet deep over the main street of Gorham. 111., and all the townspeople had sh-l. on Kaskaskia Island, near Chester, a hardy band of 100 men. wotm-n and children, were standing behind a levee that runs completely around the (Turn T„ Pair*- 2. (•etumn fit Playground Planned At South Ward Site - — City To Lease Site From School Board Plans for the city of Decatur officially leasing the former site of the South Ward school build Ing for the purposes of establish ing a playground were announced . Tuesday night to the city council by city attorney Henry B. Heller A lease similar to that covering the North Ward grounds Is now being drawn by the city for leasI Ing the lot from the city school board at $1 per year. Under an agreement previously reached, the city is to condition the grounds for a playground. A petition for a sewer in the alley between South Fifth and Niblick streets, signed by E. B Hilyard. Frank Bentz and Edward Deitsch. submitted to the council at the regular meeting last night, was referred to the street and sewer committee. A protest against the loading of coal, loading and unloading of * sand hy the Cash Coal * Supply company on grounds in that vicinity. signed by the Rev. J. T. Trueax and Iff other residents of Eighth street between Monroe and Jefferson streets, was read to the council. The matter was referred to the city attorney for a legal opinion. Action on Commission In answer to a query by Chamber of Commerce officials. Mayor John B Stults announced during the meeting that action on the formation of a city planning commission will be taken hy the city council this week. 0 Valparaiso Man Dies Os Accident Injuries Valparaiso. Ind . July 2— (VP) — George Hellman. 54. died in a Valparaiso hospital yesterday of injur les received in an automobile accident. He was a plastering con tractor.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, July 2, 1947

s n' W£l s I

LITTLE GERALD GREEN. Jr.. 3. of Los Angeles, smiles up at his mother. Mrs. Zora Green, from his hospital cot after he had been “dead" for mon* than an hour. The child swallowed a crayon and. enroute to the hospital his pulse disappeared and Io ceased breathing, He was pronoun* *<l dead by the ambulance physician but on arrival at the hospital was place) in an oxygen teat ami a fire department tesctie squad administered artificial respiration (bohour and a hall later Io- resumed breathing.

Treasury Surplus First Since 1930 Second Highest In Nation's History Washington, July 2 H'P) — Tile government < losed its books officially to lay on li-< al I!'17 with a surplus in the treasury of $754.00tt,mm. the first .since 1930 ami lite second highest in his , tory. | Secretary of treasury John Q. ; Snyder told a news conference | the surplus has been used as a i payment on the national debt. Tile 1947 surplus compared with the alltime record surplus i in 1927 of s|.ls.’> tttm.mm and that i of s73s itmi.mm in 1930. Snyder said he was delighted ' with the surplus. A year ago. he I said, it appeared there would be a deficit of about s2.mm mm,mm However, budget bur* all economists misjudged tile high level of business and earnings. Rec-ord-low unemployment, and continued high demand for manufactured and farm goods sept taxes flowing into the treasury at record peacetime levels. Here's the way the government figures looked as the treasury made Its final fiscal 1947 report Income $43,258,833,188.80. Expenditures $42.505 jt 15,52* 52. Surplus $753.787.660.28. When the government closed its books on fiscal 1916. the figures looked like this: Income $43,037,798,808 05. Exp* nditlll'es $63,713 .973. 117 I*. Deficit $20,676,170,609 13. Reports Progress On Ditch Cleaning Six-Months Report Given By Surveyor A report of the progress made In ditch cleaning during the first six months of the year was made today by surveyor Virgil F. Bowers. Seven miles have been cleaned during the period, including that of the Older ditch, which was started last year, he said. Others (leaned: Bohnke ditch. Boot township. 2.000 feet; Sophia C«nrail ditch, Kirkland township. 10.800 feet; Dan Voder ditch. Hartford township. 5.400 feet; George Pontius ditch. Hartford township. 9.000 feet and about one-third of the three and onehalf mile Eeley-An l* rson ditch in the same township About next week the dragline owned by the county will be sent to Jefferson township to dean the Brewster ditch apd ita laterals covering about seven and onehalf miles. Work was delayed considerably by the wet season. Mr Bowers Turn Tu Pass 2. Column 6)

Brought Back To Life

NO PAPER FRIDAY In accordance with annual custom, the Decatur Daily Democrat will not publish an edition Friday, which is July 4. n Reni Officers Take Issue With Truman No Automatic Hike In Rents Provided Washington. July 2 H'l’t It* puldii an leadet Charles A Halleck disclosed today that GOP house chiefs are consider ing setting up a special legislative committee to keep tab oil the entire housing situation Meanwhile, it became moi*- ap parent that some key rent con ttol officials take sharp issue with President Truman's asset tain that rent ceilings have been "irreparably weakened" by tinnew r*-nt control law. These officials said I here is nothing in the law that automat I. ally hikes rents and that ten ants have no more reason to feat eviction than under the o'd law Th** legislative committee on housing was suggested by Rep Jacob K Javits, freshman Repub lican congressman from New York. ll*- said it could provide congress with Hie basis for an «-ff.<-Hve housing program if flupresent shortage doesn't improve ‘•We’ve been told that all that’s necessary to solve the housing shortage I to give free enterprise a chance." Javits said "Now we'll se** if it does the job But if it do*-n't, we want to be rea*ly with a new approach to th*- problem." Virtually all remaining federal controls on n**v. construction w* re junked by the new rent bill It was esitmated the law may open the floor to an wdimated s2.iiiio.iioii.iioi> in backed up com mercial and industrial construction. Mr. Truman, in his reluctant approval of the rent law, said it would result in substantia! rent increases for millions of families (Turn To Page 5. (fotumn 71 —O - Funeral Held Today For William Hurst Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at Rock Island. 111. for William Hur.it. 67. son of Mr. and Mrs James Hurst of Decatur Mr. Hurst died at his Rock Island home Saturday after a long illness. He was born In Decatur in 1879 and moved to Rock Island In 1910. where he was a plumber for many years before he retired Surviving, besides the parents, are two brothers, Edward and Jesse, both of Decatur; a son. James. Moline. 11l . two daughters. Helen Humt and Mrs. Albert Kailerheinrick and four grandchildren Mr. Hurst was a Spanish-American war veteran Three brothers and a sister preceded him in death. Burial was in Memorial Park cemetery at Rock Island.

Con/erence 0/ Foreign Minister Fails; Reds Warn Against Any Bloc

Seven Injured In Reformatory Riot State Reformatory Riot Is Reported Pendleton. liul. July 2 tl’l’t officials disclosed todtij that tour j prisoner- and three pt i on offi* ials were injured, one seriously, in a riot at Indiana state refo matory yesterday. Superintendent R. D Moore said th** trouble storied when an tin identified "prisoner cadet repri manded two prisoners du Ing an inspection lineup The prisoners, aimed with iron bars and a pair of scissors obtain*-)! from the jirieon ice house, rushed the * adet in the prison library Guards fired at them with shot gun- and rifles one of the rioters. Henry Jackson. 23. w.* ■ seriously wounded, authorities -aid His >ompatiioti. Il'iward Curley 21. suf teied a slight wound 8.-sue being subdued Jackson at i faked Ernest Ellingwood. prison r.chool uperilllendellt, illd hi! Willie Cramer, yard offi* e and Henry Toppt*. a • istant reformatory su P**rin!en*l*-nt XII eported minor injurieAuthoritie- said two other prisoners. Lee Shartb-y. 21. and Henry 'Tajl-*r. 21. w. ie injur* 1 when they i efused to stand aside Jackson i- f ** n Marion county. Curley and Shait|**y are ‘rom Lake county. (» New Date Announced For Receiving Bids X new date for receiving bide for the constru.'tion of the I nion Chapel Evangelical i'nit.-d Brethren *hurch was announced today Bid- will be received at the home <>f the pastor, th*- Ret II II Pei h it. South Fourth -treet. *n l-'i i day night. July 11 at s o* lo< k. In st.-ad of July 12. as wa- pretjou-dy announced. o May-Garsson Trial Near Jury Decision Find May Guilty If Garsson Convicted Washington. July ’ H'P) Federal judge Henrv A Schw.inhaut said today that he would instruct the jury bearing the MayGarsson bribery trial that former congressman Andrew .1 May must be found guilty if either of the munitions making Garssons brothers are found guilty S* hweinhaiit Informed counsel of his decision as the court re sumed this morning Previously. S< hweinhaiit had held that he could Instruct the jury that the Garssons alone could be found guilty under the conspiracy count Today he said that after further study of the situation he had reach *•<l the conclusion that th** Gars sons could not be found guilty of conspiracy unless May also was convicted May is charged by the govern ment with accepting more than $53,000 In bribes from the Garssons Dr Henry and Murray in return for granting them favor- in getting war contracts. Schweinhaut also reiterated his previous decision that on th** other two counts of the Indictment, charging passage of money from the Garssons. to May. that May would have to be convicted if the Garssons were found guilty Should one of the Garssons he found gulltv and the other innocent. May would have to lie found guilty The judge's announcement was made as Charles J Margiottl. * counsel for the Garssons. and chief prosecutor William A Paisley speeded final arguments In an (urn T*» Page 2, Culuuiu B>

Republicans To Decide On New Tax Cut Bill — G 0 P Leaders In Congress Confer On Legislative Plans Washington. July 2 il'l’i Itcpiibli* an congressional le.ider- ! meet today to decide whether t<» send President Truman their r*- * vi **d income tax r*-du< tion bill b* i for** congress adjourn- late this ■ month \t the same meeting they planned to decide on the other major . measures whi* h should be brought to a vote in *he remainiii-' three weeks of the current se -ion The new tax bill would take th*' pla* e of on*- vetoed by President Truman Like the previous l*-gis 1 lation. it would cut personal Income taxes by from I**s to '.** percent with the heaviest *mt **m ing in the low salary bracket** But it would make th*’ reduction effective ,1 in I 191*. instead of this July 1 as provided in th*former measure other congressional 4*‘v«*lop m*-*its rnification The hoti-a- ex*** u five f-xpetidiiures commit!*’* ■' a readv to draft le dslafion unif' blithe armed forces under **n»* * abi net officer. -*• r**l in of national defense Members of the commit tee predicted the m* asure bail * . good * ham*- for inaifment at thisession limning House Reptildi-.in-ar** thinking about formin • a . special legislative committ- - to keep an in* on the Imn in.- it , lion Rep Jacob K .1 ivits.ll N V . -aid that if ft* ;*i i<fails to help the him ing ,-it'iati *n iiiiigr* '- piu-t be ready with ' * new appt’oa* h to ’he m-ohb-m " Economic Dr Leverett S Lyon, prominent Chi* ago *■■ onom ist. urged 'bat th*- \m**ri*an p*-o pie be told the full * <*st of an al! out economic war against Com inunism If** told the joint con gri’s-ional economic committ*** that Xmi’iiian ar*- actually fight ini* Communism with tin- f..od fy *m their tabl* th*' cloth* s whi* h might otherwise b*- on their liai ks. th** building mat* ti.*lwhich might otherwise lie u<*-*l for their homing " Information Sc* retary of -date IT irn ’l’ . I’ic— ’ (’..lii'H- *’.* o Study Ordinance To Ban Peddling Here Many Complaints Arc Received Here Citv and Chamber of Cummer* * officials today hail nmler con sideration the possibility of draft ing an ordinance which would pro hildt “outsiders" fifom peddling magazines, jewelry, photographs etc., within the < ity limits Robert Holthou-e anil Richard. W Pruden. president and *-X(*cu five secretary of the C of C. re spectivjely. appeared before the ell|y council Tue-dav nizjit to discuss the proposed ordinance Henry It Heller, citv attoin*v had informed the business group that a clause in Hie existing otdi nance prevented the city from "putting teeth into" its *-n(or* *■ m**nt An ordinance Is being consider e*l which would permit \ilams' | county residents to sell supplies | ano conduct solicitations, but , ' would ban all others Mr Pruden said that the number of compdanta received by th** C. of (’. office concerning outside peddlers is steadily increasing.

Price Four Cents

Sharp warning From Molotov On Efforts To Form Economic Bloc Without Reds Pari Inly 2 iIPI The Bic Three European < ollfe • IK •• ended Goindlt in f.iilu a companied by a Bu-«ian warnitig th.it ittemfits f<> otL-atiize a we-'ern European e-o 'liomii Idin without Soviet pa tlci pal inn w ould lead to nu good re ’ -IIIt H " The co'ife on. e uoke n|> with a complete H int Wirt deadloi k Ignoring flu- -harp Soviet warning given by foreign minister \ M Molotov the I-' elicit announced immediately that Frame and Bri tail! would -’o ahead oil their own in an eftorl Io d aft a program of ei olion i eii i nil tat ion for all European lountrie which dew re to co Opel lie Molotov's wa-nitig to tlie West wa deliveleil as he rejected an 11th hour Ihi-ii. i i oiiipromi • pl.l'; and W a Olli In d 111 one ot Ihe st Illi e»t lanuiiaci yet usefl in East Wi-u diplomaiii • -n< oiinterMolotov i barged that an Vido I ein li attempt t fin ni a w> stern Europe.in e. oliomi. bloc would re Ulf ill \nie i all illtel ferelh e Wit i the sovereignty of Eniopea-i conn tries W :eti it . titl’d II Ihe F etlch propo-al that the decisive role in the lidiubilit.itioli of the ei oliomi-' lite of the En op-an countries liould belong Io the I lilted Stale Hid not to tile - ,nope m l oiinti iu , ie|n>-elv> Molotov 'lid. "such i pn I'ion stands m voiitiadii t ton to Hu- infer. t» ot Eti ope in loiin’iie:>ll e it 111- Il lead Io denial ot their Sovereignty. Ihe Soviet delegation believe, that nite mil mea-ires and the na lioiial 1-flol Is o. ea :| ' o intr " ■tumid have file d> i >• . npotain I fol Ibe I OIIJP la, of Europe and not any <ah ula'ion* sot tor <i; it - i apo t w bi. - oiiid ■e olid oy impel am "The S>v i• - ip- mu ha aiv ay minted ibovi all on t own pow .I S alld kilo AII f.. ||. ,>1• ae -tea dy way ot uior: . in |is e> otioinic llte - Molotov. Bidatiit and foreign <■< i ela y Ei Ik . t Bev it. made pla n n theil final -la elllellt. that the •” oiiomic -ph’ ..-tw.mn West and E i -t is - ompb-te. The p.ograln i:n'iat<-<l bv Bidatiit .ml lievit < li.it <-d Molotov, would lead io G eat Br ' tin ami Franc" and that g imp of < oiin'rif- w .ic'i follow- them i pirating t e.n-.. Ives from otin- European ale . and ian div id tig E iro|H- into two •roii;<- of -fates and > eating new difficulties in relations between ; iT i-i- T<> I’.ige 'I. <'oeimn a) o Howard Shockey Is Reported Improving The condition of I lowa d Shock- > v 7',. < i iti. ally hurt lart month -A hf-n tilpl-k t'V an auto while CIO ing Moliioe street at >. < and Was Reported bv reia'ives a i n '!■•' ill ’ teidtly today lie is ontim-d a ihe \dauis county memo tai liosfd ; i.il atle - ifterillg a acturi d le bind iiead itijuiy • Mi Shoekey a ti.oiier .it l!ie O K lia her s iop. ha- been making hr home here w it h a -on-in law and daughter. Mt ami Mrs Tillman II Gehrig. o Suspend Business In Decatur Friday For July 4 Holiday — Business generally will !>«• etis .pended in 1 »••< itu Erid.iy for the plulv I holiday, althotti- i no special icieliration i planned in the city I >r the Independence hay holiday. The usual lirewo k- display, conducted by the \merfcan Logmn. was camelled for this year because of tile inability to secure the fireworks. B i:. n«os houses will he dosed for the entire day wit! a few ex veptions. will h a- theaters, rewtaui mts. confectioneries and se vics stations Taverns are permitted to operate on July I and at least some of those in the city are eiported to be open Friday.