Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 159, Decatur, Adams County, 8 July 1947 — Page 1

Kl. XLV. No. 159.

JOHN L LEWIS SIGNS NEW COAL CONTRACT

Revised Tax ’Cut Bill Near Jfouse Passage TflHft Procedure To Bar Amendments To Ravised Measure (t j Washington, July I.—(UP)—The je vised RdjMrtican hill to cut pertonal Income taxo by H. 000.000.000 a year >M*slßg next Jan. 1 got off to a flylngptart today when the 'louse affreed to consider the legislation under a rule barring amend--menta. S' AdoptioßW this procedure by voice vote Jnrrebadowed House approval v% the tax reduction legislatlon later today. Democrats staked A heir hopes of stopping the bill on move to tepd It back to the ways “and meana committee for rewriting. ~But they knew they were whipped on that even before they started. V Repabilcans hoped to pile up on ||the final vote an Impressive majority to demeoatrate that If President Truman chffMes to veto this new ■pax bill, as he did the first, the I House will have more than the two thirds majority necessary to override,* veto. t After adoption of the rule, the House began two hours of general E. Allen. R„ 111., of -the rales committee, said he hoped Mr. Tramaa will not veto the new tan Mil. If he does so. the House and dMWta "will be justified In voting to override the veto," he said. Democrats conceded the House vote would not even be close. Re .publicans hoped to pile up a big majority to demonstrate that if President Truman chooses to veto the new tax MU. as he did the old one, the House trill have more than the two-thirds majority necessary to | r override. The House sustained Mr. Tiuman’a veto of the first tax reduction measure by a two-vote margin. However, several Democrats who voted to aphold the President s hand, then changed their minds -when thoWectlve date for the cut was set at Jan. I, 1948. instead of July 1. 1147. Except for the change In date, ■the new tax bill is identical to the lone which Mr Truman denounced in his veto message as the "wrong ' kind" of , tax reduction at the “wrong tints." The Ropabllcan-sponsored legislation provides for a tax cut ranging from 10.5 to 30 percent It would be divided this way: SO per own t for those wipi net taxable incomes of SI,OOO or less. 20 to $0 percent for thoee with net taxable incomes between SI,OOO and $1,395. 20 percent for those with net taxable incomes between $1,395 and $127,000. 15 percent for those with net taxahte hSOomes between $137,000 • 10. S percent on that portion of 'net taxable income In excess of 1302 000 1 The Senate plans to begin consld- * eration of the new tax bill Thursday. Republicans hope to bring the MR tn by Saturday, but Democrats eonld force a delay. 'W o— Two Hoosiers Die In Missouri Wreck Cameron. Mo.. July $.-<UP)Two persona were killed and a third wasi seriously injured yester day when Rielr automobile rammed an ompty truck on highway 69 near here. The dead were identified as.Audimoire Dobbelaere, 43, of Mishawaka, Ind., and his father-in-law, whose name was not learned immediately. Mrs. Margaret Dobbelanrsb daughter of the vlctima, WEI taken to a hospital at St. Joseph, Mo. She suffered a crushed chest, head lacerations, and a ‘possible leg fracture, authorities said. . o Driver Is Killed As Auto Is Overturned Indianapolis. July 8 — (UP)Charlea Jackson, 50. died last night of Injuries suffered when his automobile overturned -o— — WEATHER Clear and cool tonight Wednesday sunny and sllphtly

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

CIO Urges Tenants Reject New Leases Predict Extension Os Control On Rent Washington, July 8 — (UP) — The CIO. predicting that rent controls will be extended againt next winter, urged tenants today to reject new leases which carry the voluntary 15 percent rent boosts. The union called on local officials to organise tenants block by block, apartment by apartment, in opposition to the Increase. The CIO campaign was the first of its kind on a national scale. It came as landlords over the nation, under provisions of the new rent law. were reported offering tenants leases running through 1948 In exchange for a rent boost. In partial support of the CIO position an American Legion spokesman advised veterans faced with what they believe unwarranted Increases to reject voluntary boosts and take their chances on extension of rent ceilings next March. Legislative representative Robert R. Poston emphasized that the Legion was taking no blanket position on the 15 percent voluntary increase. Where veteran tenants find proposed Increases reasonable. he said, they certainly should approve them as assurance of protection through rext year. % But congress next winter probably will find It "ill-advised." Poston said, to let rent control lapse. Barring unprecedented building meantime, he said the Legion will support another extension. The national association of real estate boards reported that a rough survey completed yesterday showed varied reaction to the voluntary increase. "In most places,” a spokesman said, "it Is being agreed on by both landlord and tenant without difficulty. Rome tenants, in areas where landlords are holding off a month or so, are coming forward to propose the increase themselves." Rent boss Frank R. Creedon meantime asked state governors to nominate panels of representative citizens for appointment to new local rent boards, which can recommend higher rents or de; control. Creedon himself will name the boards, to be composed of five men each and to be set up In each of 814 communities under federal rent celling. Pedestrian Killed When Hit By Truck Indianapolis, July B—(UP)—Lucien Austin. 47, was injured fatally last night when he walked Into a truck driven by James Berkhoiz, 21. Berkholz was held for investigation. o ( Delay Appointment Os Justice Os Peace Investigate Legal Aspects For Post The appointment of a Washington township justice of peace, scheduled to be made Monday by the county commissioners, has hit at least a temporary stymie. County attorney Ford L. Litterer informed the commissioners that he has been unable to find, under existing laws, any statute which gives the board authority to appoint a justice for a township in which a city of the fifth daas, such w Decatur, Is located. He indicated that he believed the law had been changed since the time previous appointments as Justices of the peace were made. The matter Is to be Investigated and continued until the next meeting of the commissioners. To date Floyd B. Hunter, of this cify, has been the only applicant for the post. Members of the board yesterday indicated their approval of bis appointment. Name Supervisor The commissioners during their meeting named Glen Roughia as highway supervisor of the first district. succeeding Perry Everett, who resigned recently.

Truman Flood Control Plan Is Endorsed Congress Leaders Heartily Endorse President's Plan Washington, July 8. — (t’P) — Congressional leaders today heartily endorsed President Truman's plan for drafting an extensive flood control program for the midwest but saw little chance of considering such a proposal a* this session. Both Republicans and Democrats acknowledged the need for coordination of plans already made to prevent a repetition of thia year's disastrous floods. However, many of them made It plain that they opjrosed anything like the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Missouri and Mississippi. The President ordered the blueprint drafted following a White House conference with the government's top flood control expert* yesterday. Chairman Chapman Revercomb, R„ W. Va.. of the Senate public works committee said “any request for flood control is justified." “It is a great national problem," he said, "and should lie treated as such." Chairman Earl Wilson. R., Ind., of a House flood control subcommittee said his group would give "full consideration” to any program offered by Mr. Truman’s advisors. He added that the President's proposal tied In with his own plans to introduce a general flood control bill at the next session of congress. Ren. John Overton. D, La.. ranking member of the public works committee, said he believed the President wanted a report on the progress made so far by the various committees, concerned with flood control projects. “What we need." he said, "la more money to carry out present plans and hurry things up.” Congress recently authorized an emergency appropriation of $15.000,000 for repair and rehabilitation of flood control facilities damaged In the recent series of midwestern floods. Wilson Introduced a bill last week to provide another $30,000,000 for this purpose. In ad■dltion, the war department civil functions bill, approved by the House, carried appropriations totaling $180,000,000 for general flood control work. Chairman Hugh Butler, r„ Neb., of the Renate public lands committee said he felt sure congress would (Turn To Page 4 Column 5) p Young Los Angeles Woman Found Slain Sixth In Cycle Os Atrocious Murders Los Angeles. July B.—(UP)—The nude body of Mrs. Rosenda Mondragon. 20. garroted with a silk stocking and her right hreast mutilated. was found today, a dozen blocks from city hall. She was the sixth victim In the "Black Dahlia" murder cycle that started Jan. 15 with finding of the nude, bisected body of Elizabeth Short, 28. Mns. Mondragon's face showed signs of beating, and burns and abrasions on her thighs Indicated she was (brown from an automobile William H. Moore, a vegetablestore clerk, told Investigators he saw a woman answering Mrs. .Mondragon’s description near bis home about 2:15 a.m. PST. She called a taxi, but while she waited a man In his late 20’s drove up in a dark green coupe. After asking Moore for directions, he agreed to the girl's request for g ride and she cancelled her taxi call. Officers are seeking the man. Police questioned her estranged husband. Tony Mondragon, who said hta wife was Intoxicated when she came to visit him briefly about 2 a.m. He said she claimed she had a date, and left, and he saw her get Into a coupe. Mondragon’s car was sent to the crime laboratory for tests. They were married four years ago bnt separated more than two months ago. He received papers yesterday Indicating she had sued (Turn To Page 4 Column 4)

OHLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, T uesday, July 8, 1947

Pilot Spots Flying Saucer

AIRLINES Capt. E. J. Smith holds a dinner plate as Illustration for Stewardess Toni Carter in Chicago while describing one of the mysterious flying discs which Smith and his crew reported seeing on a flight from Boise, Ida., to Portland, Ore.

Calendar Sei Here For Rural Schools Township Trustees Meet Here Monday The calendar tor the 1947-48 term of the Adams county rural schools was announced today by superintendent Lyman L. Hann. The announcement was made by Mr. Hann, following a meeting Monday of the township trustees of the county, in which the calendar was approved. The annual county teachers' Institute will be held in Decatur on August 27 with Stewart W. McClelland, president of Lincoln Memorial university, Harrogate Tenn.. a lecturer, traveler, educator and chaplain, as the speaker. He will speak at both the morning and afternoon sessions of the institute. No definite site for the event has been announced. The county basketball tourney dates were also decided upon, although no other details were announced. The tourney will be held January 9 and 10, 1948. Following Is the calendar, as announced today: Teachers institute—August 27. School opening—August 28. Classes begin -Reptember 2. Teachers association — October 23 and 24. Thanksgiving vacation—November 27 and 28. Christmas vacation— December 25 to January 4. First semester ends—January 9. County tourney—January 9 and 10. Sectional tourney—February 26. Turn To Page 9. Column C) o Indianapolis Woman Is Killed In Wreck Columbus, Ind.. July B—(UP8 —(UP) — Miss Beatrice Brent, 30. Indianapolis. was injured fatally yesterday in a two-car collision on U. R. 31. Six other persons also were Injured.

$3,000 In Cash Awards Offered For Genuine "Flying Saucers"

By UNITED PRESS A "flying saucer" In the hand wan worth $3,000 today, but those seen in the sky were still a dime a dozen There were no takers for rewards of SI,OOO each offered In Chicago. Los Angeles, and Spokane for a genuine flying saucer. The army air and ground forces announced that they were investigating the reported cloud-hopping disks with an open mind. But -privately, high-ranking army officers eald they believed the aaucers were a hoax and that some persons were the victims of hysteria. One of the latest reported "saucers" was from Lillington. N. C., where two college students, Albert Dugan and Charles Cross. Mid they saw a “bright light” In the sky about 10 miles from Raleigh at 11:55 p.m. yesterday. Dugan said they first thought It was a star, but when it started moving they stopped their automobile and watched. “It moved in a circular orbit and appeared to bn elliptical In shape

One Person Dies In Circus Train Wreck Hubbard, Neb.. July 8-(UP)— Seven cars of the Clyde Beatty 14car circus train were derailed in the railroad yaid* here early today. At least one person was killed and five injured. None of the cars containing wild animals was derailed. o Denies Romania To Boycott Conference Moscow Statement Denied By Romania Paris. July B.—(UP)-The Ro manian foreign office unexpectedly denied today a Russian announcement that Romania would boycott the .Marshall plan conference in Paris July 12. An official Romanian spokesman’s unqualified rejection of the Bucharest dispatch broadcast a few hours earlier from Moscow provided strong new evidence that a diplomatic tug-of-war was in progress over the Soviet satellites In eastern Europe. The spokesman said Romania had taken no decision on the Anglo-French invitation. He refused to predict when his government would decide or what its decision would be. Moscow had broadcast under a Bucharest dateline, "as become known here, the Romanian government decided not to take part In the conference." The Soviet radio also reported that Yugoslavia and Poland had refused to attend. Czechoslovakia, one of Russia's most influential neighbors, yesterday announced her acceptance of the Anglo-French invitation despite Russia’s vehement denunciation of the conference. The Czechoslovak decision was believed to be influencing the decisions (Turn To Page 2. Column S)

with blue light radiating from it. mostly around the edges,” Dugan said. "We drove toward It. but It vanished We watched it for about three minutes. It appeared to be under the clouds." The weather bureau said the cloud was about 5.500 feet high. Meanwhile, the mystery of the saucers took on In International flavor. The disks, already reported over most of the 48 states and parte of Canada, were reported over Mexico City. Several persons telephoned the Mexican national defense ministry to report the disks flying "In a westerly direction.” A ministry spokesman said he didn't believe them. Russian vice consul Eugene Tunantzev in Ixn Angeles scoffed at suggestions that the saucers might be from Russia. "Russia respects the sovereignty of all governments and by no stretch of the imagination would it Turn To Fags 2, Column 6)

Signs Best Contract In Mine History, Predicts Other Owners To Follow

Terminal Leave Bond Bill Passes House Would Permit Vets Cash Bonds Sept. 1 Washington, July B—(UP)— Both Republican anti Democratic senators predicted today the senate would join the house In approving a bill to permit O. I. veterans to cash terminal leave pay bonds after Sept. 1. Republican wl.ip Kenneth 8. Wherry said he believed the GOP leadership would put the measure on the senate agenda next week and that passage would follow promptly. Sens. Raymond E. Baldwin. R. Conn . and Edwin ('. Johnson, D. Colo., likewise were confident that the senate would approve It. Both are members of the sena'e armed services committee to which the legislation was referred. A subcommittee Headed by Baldwin scheduled a hearing on it for tomorrow. The house passed the measure yesterday by a vote of 386 to 0. In addition to permitting veterans to cash bonds after Sept. 1. the bill would extend to that date the deadline for applying for terminal leave pay. Under the house-approved bill, veterans could either hold the bonds, which bear two and onehalf percent interest, or take the cash with interest accrued since passage of the original law last year. o County Assessment Valuations Higher Over Two Million Increase Revealed Assessment valuations in Adams county for 1947 amounted to $27.-816,691-an increase of $2,040,684 over last year, according to figures released today by Alltert Harlow, county assessor after completion of tabulations by the Adams county board of review. Each of the 18 taxing units in the county showed a gain /or the year. Largest of threg occurred In Decatur Washington, where the increase was $669,238. Other increases: Berne, $190,735; Decatur-Root. $146,525; Union. $65,480; Root. $133,495; Preble. S6B. 400; Kirkland. $45,400; Washington, $80,843; St Mary's, $72,009; Blue Creek. $15,055. Monroe. $104,140; French. $27,955; Hartford. $92,010. Wabash, $93,140; Jefferson. $123,698; Monroe - Washington. $330; Monroe, $24,280; Geneva, $87,951. The report shows that 3,856 poll tax axessments were made in the county. Os these. 1,074 were assessed In Decatur, 396 in Berne and 188 in Geneva. Improvements assessed in the county totalled $498,390. Real estate asseMsments amounted to $19,075,639. and personal property assessments to $9,820,175. The total of these is $28,895,814. Mortgage exemptions for civilians totalled $996,200. while soldiers' exemption* amounted to $82.-923. Improvements in Decatut-Wash-(Turn To Page t. Column 4) Japan Food Stocks Lowest In History Tokyo. July 8—(l'P)--Japanese food stock* are the lowest in history and only 20 percent of the 1944 supply. Allied headquarters reported today. W. 8. Egekvist of Minneapolis, chief of the price control and rationing division, said there would be Inadequate staple foods available even after the wheat, barley and white potato crops ate harvested. Daily rationa of staple lootia will be cut 15 percent until the end of September, he said.

Says New Coal Pact To Boost Steel Prices Head Os Republic Steel Says Added Costs Unbearable Cleveland. July 8 (UP) —C. M. White, president of the Republic Rteel Corp., said today that the new coal contract with the United Mine Workers, along with wage Increases to steel workers “has placed an unbearable burden on steel costs in relation to selling price. White said he had not had an opportunity to evaluate the terms rs the new coal contract Into costs of steel “but personally I do not see how the price of steel can any longer be held at roughly 24 percent above 1936 39 selling price, especially when average steel wages are 93 percent above these levels." He said provisions of the contract would "add very consider ably to the cost of producing coal" and that this cost "on top of the large wage Increases granted steel workers has placed an unbearable burden on steef rosts in relation to selling price." He said, however. IhX the contract has two provisions which should please everyone. These, he said, were: "the contract points definitely back to the private ownership and operation of coal mines as against government ownership and operation. And. it recognizes the fact that foremen and other supervisors are part of management and not eligible for union membership." He added that as a result ot tile settlement. Republic would resume its bessenier production at Youngstown. ().. as rapidly as (Turn Tj I’.-iir- 4 Column 5) o— Frank Maley Dies At Heme In Goshen Word was received this morning by Mrs. Clyde Beery that Frank Maley, district manager for the Morris stores, died last evening at his home In Goshen. Mr. Maley was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Clyde Beery and formerly lived in this city. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Clup funeial home in Goshen. a 99 Persons Injured In Railroad Wreck Switching Error Is Blamed For Wreck Chicago, July B—(UP) The Baltimore and Ohio railroad sought. today to determine the cause of a switching error which resulted In! a head-on collision between two' slow-moving trains, injuring 99 persons. Three of the Injured were members of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, enroute to the allstar game here today. « The B 4 Os "Shenandoah." In bound from Washington late yesterday struck a diesel switch' engine pulling a string of empty passenger cars just outside the Chicago terminal One person. Othal Livingston. Lincoln. Ark., who suffered internal injuries, was seriously hurt. Second baseman Emil Verhan. pitcher Lynwood (Schoolboy) Rowe, and manager Ben Chapman of the Philadelphia team suffered slight injuries. The switch engine was derailed by the collision, but all other cars on both trains remained upright.

Price Four Cents

One-Year Pact With Half Os Industry Grants $13.05 Pay Daily For Miners Washington. July B.—(UP)— John L. Lewis today signed his best contract ever with more than half of the nation's soft coal industry and predicted that the rest of the owners—southerners and far westerners , would fall in line within a few days. The one-year pact grants miners a $13.05 basic dally wage for eight hours up $1.20 from what they have been getting for nine hours. It sends some 195.000 of the country's 400.000 bituminous mln- , ers back to work immediately and . ends a brief strike. I Still on strike, however, are around SOO,OOO southern and far western miners. Operators In those areas thus i far refuse to go along with the agreement. But Lewis predicted i they will sign up within a fewdays. He said they "can take it or I leave It.” Northern operators said the agreement Is “the most effective way to maintain the economy of the nation.” although operators estimated it would increase the cost of coal by an average of $1 a ton. They said the cost of mining > coal and producing goods dependi Ing on coal will be higher as a reI suit of the new contract But they P added that the price increaser "will be substantially less than would have Iteen the case had a strike occurred.” The new contract runs until next June 30, but may be terminal ed on 30 days' written notice. Lewis' face broke into a smile as he signed the new agreement his first with private owners since March. 1946 But at a press conference later he lashed out at the new labor act as "the Taft slave law." And he said that Sen. Robert A. Taft. R, ()., co-author of the act, had I "forfeited his chances for the presidency of the United States." House Republican leader Charles A. Halleck called the new contract i "an effective answer to the dire predictions of President Truman tiiat the new Taft-Hartley bill is • unworkable and cripples workers' i rights and collective bargaining." | He said it vindicated "the wisdom iof congress." "The Taft Hartley bill has received an acid test." Halleck said. '"A calamitous strike has been averted Collective bargaining has been freely carried on with a result highly satisfactory to the union.” Lewis apparently got around one provision of the Taft-Hartley lawby getting a provision specifying that the contract covers only miners 'able and willing" to work. This was designed to prevent suits against the union, authorized by the new law. for strikes In violation of a contract. i Operators previously estimated i that the new contract would raise production costs by 67 cents to $1 25 a ton. They figured it would add SS<W).OUO.OOO to $1,000,000,000 annually to the consumer's fuel . bill. Joining the northern and captive mine operators in making peace with Mwis were Illinois and Indiana owners. Lewis told reporters that the task of drawing up the contract was made difficult by "the Taft ' slave act which was intended to scuttle the UMW health and retirement fund.” The new contract provides a royalty of 10 cents a ton to finance the fund. This is twice the amount granted under the government contract which expired June 30. The new contract complies with the Taft-Hartley specification that management have equal representation with labor in administering such funds. Lewie said he hoped the new contract marked "the beginning of a new era in the industry and rep(Tunrn To Psge 2, '.'olumn 6)