Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 171, Decatur, Adams County, 22 July 1947 — Page 1

IXLV. No. 171.

More Municipal Kervzces Urged By C. C. Leader

kodio System For ■>olice, Two Other projects Urged By ■Chamber President ■,. chamber of Commerce. it* president. Robert J I Mmw local druggist. will P*ti I Tj the Decatur City council to Kpriate fund* f«>r a three-point I < K,„, deMgned to Increase the 1 «i*- |i( y and *‘' rv,< * of ,bP p° 11(;p the establishment of if 9Lblo*li gathering department. ■ a „hade tree protection pro K P recommendation that a tworadio system be established Keen the police and county Kiss h office, would be In coop Kon with the city and county Mr Holthouse exThey are offered in a spirit, with the idea of Kg helpful in building a better Kmuhity." he said K>e suggestion for a rubbish |3|K.-ring system would include pick-up of ashes from the ■yt The department, Mr. HoltKte outlined, would operate simKy to the present garbage colfi Kon system, the city furnishthe man power and trucks | ■ the debris pick up. {■Bho shade tree project would I Bude a city wide trim-up proj Kn of Decatur’s beautiful trees. ■er the supervision of an extree surgeon, the work extended from year to year I of funds for these | ■ and municipally operated <IK , ’ udK “ t wh,ch ** now b, * ln,! 1 ■pared by city and county of on the uuggestious Increased municipal services. | K Chamber of Commerce prest stated: || WWe believe this equipment to I W vitally essential to the proper ■ of our citizens, Indus LEKa. and business concerns. Il || Kuld increase the efficiency and [i| ■ectlveness of the work of the Kriff and police, enable them J ■ respond to calls with greater I Ksd. furnish an escort to fire | Klpment to prevent accidents g K regulate traffic, allow the ■ice to patrol the outlying distwithout losing contact with I ■!<* headquarters and be of I assistance In accident calls I ■'The city’s growth in the past I ■' years has increased the area I Keswary for police to patrol I ’Wlrh renders the present system | Kdequate for present needs. ’’ he I I ■‘Recent estimates of the cost I I the equipment and installation I Kke between 15.000 and $6,000. j| Kder the plan, half of the amount II B' 11 ' 1 be pald by tbe county aild by the city. ’| ■‘This protection would mean a I ■* cent levy in the county tax I ■* and a cent levy 1R tbe I ■/ The cost to the average tax I ■»r would be approximately I W ° 5 ’ our *'*’ retary estimates J Chamber realizes that gov I ■° ment co,t rau,t he kept to a I yimiim, hut that protection and I Kelces must keep pace with the I ■bgram of the city,” said the I K*mber of Commerce leader. I ■“ln addition the chamber will I ■quest that rubbish be collected I ■ the city in the same manner I ■ >! Rarbage is collected at the | ■•“nt time. The mayor's action t ■placing street department per I ■ n * 1 hack °n street maintenance $MB y make It unnecessary to >ire »H®J dit ional employes to handle this I Formerly .three ern § Boyes were required to haul coal I ■ r ‘he light plant.” I IMr Holthouse also said that I B* By of shade trees that line i K* ‘hroughout the city I < r °wn too large and needed I W*’*b>atic pruning “Our trees are I ■» valuable to permit further | ■ niag “ from storms." he said f ■*,' be city could launch a project | E * mploy a competent tree sur- | T* Jtl ma ny of our trees could be ■, r * <ed “•» ones planted, and F * r * restored to their natural ■*“ ly he concluded. ■ Mr - Holthouse said that these Vneation. - cre launched at the time for the purpose of ■*»“ng Interest among the citlEl? 2® ioteuuvd Kit Decatur • better place in h 10 l‘»«- “The Chamber of IF**** !• »llilng to help in this K 4 *’*.” he said.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Young Boy Admits Killing Os Infants Confession Clears Nursery Killings BULLETIN Massillon, O-, July 22.—(UP) —llx-year old Roger Oue, Jr., who yesterday admitted killing two babies In City hospital June 0, today changed hie story to his mother and denied that he had touched the Infanta. Mrs. Gue, who rune a kindergarten in her home In Na- , varro, said her son had been upset and that ho now had returned to an earlier story that “a big boy in a white coat”, did the killing. Massillon. 0., July 22—(UPIMrs. Roger Gue. Sr. said loday her six-year-old son. Roger. Jr., who showed police how he dropped two babies at Massillon City hospital while playing with them, was still unaware that he killed them. "He doesn’t realise the children have died,” she said. "He thinks they are ail right." The youth demonstrated to police yesterday how he fatally Injured the babies last June 6 when he said ho dropped them on their heads while taking them from their cribs in the hospital nursery. Roger was In the hospital at the time with a fractured ’right forearm. Authorities termed the deaths ’’acldentar and said no action would be taken against the boy. case is closed,” police chief Stanley Swltter said. The six weeks old mystery was solved yesterday when James Ellis. a private investigator, obtained a "confession” from the Gue boy. Ellis, who holds a degree In psychiatry from Ohio State University. said Roger admitted entering the nursery and pulling the children. Diane Brand and Rosemary Martin, eight and nine weeks aU. respectively, from their cribs. He dropped each of them on their heads while "playing nurse.” Ellis said. Then the husky youth said he picked each infant up by Its diaper. deposited it in its crib and fled the room. The dying children were found by a nurge. Each had Its skull crushed. Ellis said he entered the case as a friend of Mrs. Gue. a schoolteacher and mother of another child. Michael. I. She explained that both she and her husband, (Turn To Page 6. Column l>

Roop Nominated To Rent Control Board Brice Roop Named By Mayor Stults Brice D. Roop, of this city, waz nominated today by Mayor Johi B. Stults to serve on the For? W’ayrib area rent control board under the new 1947 federal regulations. Mr, Roop, an employe of the Decatur General Electric and for years prominently engaged hi labor relations work here, while serving with the local UERMWA (CIO) union, will be labor’s representative on the board The board will serve both Ad sms and Alien counties. Mem bars serve without pay. bnt are afforded office and clerical facilities. exRobert Ostermann. employe of the same plant and also active in the unoin’s activities, was norn inated as alternate by Mayor Stults. He will serve at times when Mr. Roop Is unable to attend meetings or be present to discuss various problems that arise. The remaining four members of the board, a* well as four alternates, were nominated by Mayor Harry Baals of Fort WayssAll nominations will be forwsrded to Governor Ralph Gates for approval and then to Washington, D. O.

Congress Puls Approval On Interior Bill Congress Hurrying Toward Ending Os Session Saturday Washington, July 22—(UP)— A congress hurrying toward adjournment Saturday put final approval today on a $194,500,000 Interior department bill and sent it to the White House. In so doing it hit the half way mark In its drive to finish work on major appropriation measures by the Saturday deadline. Congress now has six big money bills to wrsp up and deliver to the White House before It can quit and go borne. The agriculture department bill was the biggest road block. House and senate conferees still Mere $86,000,000 apart on that one. Both sides were standing pat—for the time being. ‘Other congressional develop meats: Communists—Victor ko. former Soviet official, told the house unAmerican activities committee that all responsible representatives of the Soviet Union In this country “may be regarded as economical or political spies." He told the committee that be knew of at least two Instances in which Soviet official visitors colected U. S. air and submarine secrets. Excises- The house passed and sent to the senate a bill to exempt costume Jewelry from the 20 percent wartime excise tax The bill would exempt $25 of the cost price of all Jewelry. That means such things as fountain pens and compacts would be tax free. The bill reduces the tax on cameras, film aiid pteo tographic equipment. Army installations—The house armed services committee approved a bill to authorize the war department to spend up to $244,940,659 for construction at military installations. Veterans— The house veterans committee approved legislation to authorize $300,000,000 In farm loans to veterans. Black market — Sen. Edward Martin. R . Pa., will ask the senate small business committee to summon steel executives for (Turn To P»r» *. Cnlmnn H

July Temperature Lows Are Recorded Unseasonable Cold Hard On Corn Crop Indianapolis. July 22 —(UP) — All-time lows for July temperatures were recorded today at Evansville and Terre Haute, it was the coldest July 22nd at Indianapolis. The unseasonable cold wave sent the mercury into the 40’s and 50’a throughout the state, and the weatherman said that Indiana corn crop’s growth had "virtually stopped growing." Coldest point in the state during the last 24 hours was Marion, which reported a 45. However, this was not a record July low there. A 47-degree reading at Terre Haute broke a 48-yeai'old record for July temperature. The previous figure was 50 degree*, set July 2. 1904In Evansville, a 50-degree mark towered a 52 degree record set on July 21. 1944. It was 50 degrees at Indianapolis, too. Lafayette and Fort Wayne troth repotted 48's and South Bend had a 46. The weather bureau forecast continued cold for tonight, but said It would be somewhat warmer tomorrow. The state’s com crop, already delayed by excessive spring rains, has been hard hit by the cold weather, the bureau said, and oats snd wheat — which normally would have been ripe about two weeks ago — still are green in many sectiona. - —o Hartford Township Principal Resigns Berne. Ind., July 22 —Merritt H. Beck, principal at the Hartford township high school, has resigned hjs position. Ralph Miller, township trustee announced today. Beck has accepted a position In the Ridgeville schools in Randolph county. Ridgeville la bis home community.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, July 22, 1947

Wee Bit Os Scotch In U. S. ■; -L J F aWBn r fl PUSHING his sunglasses down on his nose. 4-year-old William He Slorach of Glasgow. Scotland, views the New York skyline as lie arrives aboard the S. S. Ernie Pyle. The boy is on his way to St. Catherines. Ontario. Canada, to live with his sister.

County Council To Hold Special Meet To Meet July 31 On Appropriations The Adams county council will meet In special session at the courthouse July 31 at 10 am. to consider additional appropriations totalling $19,280. The appropriations Include S6OO operating expenses for the comity clerk’s office and 4100 for properties in the sheriff’s office. The latter item was approved by the county commissioner* recently to pay for a lost boat and repairs of others owned by Ben Shroyer. The boats were used sometime ago on the St. Marv’s river in searching for a local lady who drowned in the stream. Two Items for the surveyor's office. $3,500 for ditching and S3O for operating expenses, are also Included. An Item of S6O. part of the Washington township assessor's salary, and SSO for milage of the assessor's deputy are others. The appropriation* include $260 for a gas storage tank at the county home, completing those listed under the county heading. An appropriation of $2,000 as "assistance for crippled children placed” for the county welfare department Is also Included. The following additional appropriations are included to covet wage boosts given recently In the highway department: superintendent’* salary. $140; truck driver. $1,500 and single hand. SI,OOO. OtOhers under the highway departmen heading are SI,OOO operating expenses. $3,500 materials and SSOO, which is the share of the assessment for the levee in Wahash township.

American Leaders Show Faith In Genuine Japan Revolution

(Editor’s note: The vice-presi-dent and general news manager of the United Press is on a tour of the far east and has had an unusual opportunity to study the allied occupation at first hand He wrote the following dispatch after making a first-hand survey of Japan.) By EARL J. JOHNSON Tokyo, July 22—(UP)—The biggest astonishment for a stranger to Japan is the discovery that the Americans in charge here have forgiven the Japanese for the war. This begins at supreme headquarters In Tokyo and runs almost without exception through the top men In other big command areas He Yokohama, Kobe, and Osaka It embraces an admiration for the Japanese and a confidence in their good faith that a visitor finds hard to reconcile with the sneak punch at Pearl Harbor or the Bataan death march. Supreme Commander Douglas

Two Escape Injuries In Traffic Accident Two persons escaped injury In an auto-truck accident on federal road 27, one mile north of Monroe Monday afternoon, sheriff Herman Bowman reported today. The crash occurred when a county highway truck, operated by Sam Butler, 79. Decatur, emoute Mouth, started to make a left turn oil road 27 aiiu collided with aii> auto driven by Harold C. Hoffman, 26, Berne, route one. Sheriff Bowman estimated the damage Io the two vehicles at s3stt. — Restore Toll Service Disrupted By Plane Plane Hits Utility Wires At Airport Toll service on telephone lino* to Preble and Craigville. knocked out when a plane crashed into utility wires at Mniger's airport, has been restored to normal. It was stated today by Charles I). Ehinger. Citizen* Telephone company manager. The lines were torn down when an unidentified out-of-town pilot winged his plane hito the wires in making a forced landing. It was reported that the pil'd failed to "cut in’’ an emergency tank when his gasoline supp’y was exhausted and he started the forced landing. He was able to pilot his light plane under high tension wires enroute to the landing, but struck the telephone lines. The pilot was unhurt and the plane only slightly damaged. Il was reported. After refueling he left the airport. Local telephone company officials were' notified and workmen immediately began making repairs.

MacArthur calls emperor Hirohito an honest, studious gentleman who loves his family and its good example in all things for bis people. Majors and colonels in the military government branch tell you prldefully that the newly elect ed Japanese mayors and prefectural governors are the soul of integrity, that Japanese labor swarms on work with antlike industry. and that the common man here is sold on democracy. When you have lunch with the Japanese cabinet, every member seems genuinely interested In learning more about the American way of life and adopting as much of it «u his country can take? How can thia attitude be explained? Is It merely a pose? How could a complete reformation take place so quickly? General MacArthur’s opinion Is that a genuine revolution has happened here and that the new Japanese attitude Is wholly sincere. In (Turn Tv Fage I, Column 4) *

Seaborne Dutch Troops Land In Eastern Java Report Heavy Fighting

State Department Officials Express Dismay At Outbreak Os Hostilities Washington. July 22 -(UP) High state department offiriala today expressed dismay at the outbreak of hostilities in Indonesia but indicated this country would follow a hands-off policy for the present The department Itself issued a formal statement paying It “profoundly regrets” the failure of the Dutch and the Indonesians to complete an Interim government. But it left active mediation efforts to the British. Official sources predicted the fighting would end In the same kind of stalemate which lias developed in Indo China, where the French control the cities while the guerilla* hold the countryside. These officials discounted Dutch claims that they would lie able to restore order in three weeks. They also described as unfounded the reports that large num tiers of I'. S. planes were lielng flown by the Dutch. The Dutch have received some curplus C-47 cargo planes since the war, blit have promised that they will not use them for military purposes, officials said They also have some lend lease material, and got additional supplies from the British when the latter pulled out of the area last year. This wa* done over American protests. During the war the Dutch got 40 lend lease fighter planes, but no bombers. If they have any bombers, they got them from a source other than the CnWe** Stales ’officials said The Dutch, It was said, had received no military weapons from thU government since V-.I day. — Proposed Railroad Merger Is Vetoed St. imuis, July 22 —(UP)— Directors of the Missouri • Kansas •Texas railroad voted today against a proposed me.ger with two Chicago based roads that would have established a transcontinental line from Chicago to the gulf coast. Katy Board chairman It. J. Morfa. Dallas. re|a»rted that the directors “decided to discontinue fuither consideration of a possible merger" with the Chicago and eastern Illinois and the Chicago and Great Western railroads. —<> - Propose Meetings With Civic Clubs Propose C. C. Meet With Rotary, Lions Special meetings with the Decatur Rotary and Mons clubs here have been proposed by Chamber of Commerce leaders, it was made known today following a meeting held Monday night at the C. of C. offices. The lioard of directors of the Chamber during last night’s special session propoMd meeting with the Rotary club this fall at one of the latter'* regularly scheduled dates. A similar session is proposed for the Mons club sometime next spring. The meetings would be designed to discus current problems facing the Chamber of Commerce and civic leaders in an open forum. Such meetings. Chamber lead ers pointed out, would stimulate interest in lioth organizations and in the city’s welfare in addition to Iteing of an informative nature to members as individuals. 20 Percent Increase In Taxes Predicted Indianapolis. July 22 —(UP)— Walter T. Horn, executive secretary of the Indiana taxpayers association. predicted today that real estate and personal property taxes would Ire up 20 percent next year. "Substantial increases in school rates and welfare levies will be needed to meet larger municipal and county budgets.” Horn said. "General property taxes for 1946. leveled In 1947. totaled $142,000.nna.” the association sj»okesnian declared. "Early esimatea Indicate that approximately $28,000,000 in additional revenue will be needed tor 1948 expenditures.”

North Dakota City Terrorized By Blast Four Men Killed In Explosions, Fire Minot. N. D.. July 22 (UP)— Residents of neighborhoods near Minot's factory district returned to their homes today after a day of terror in which flames fed by gasoline and oil swept through four blocks of the Industrial section and killed four men. The fire started with a series of explosions which destroyed three bulk gasoline and oil storage tanks of the Westland and Texaco company plants. .Many persons living on the fringes of the Industrial area moved their possessions from their homes as the flames approached. Firemen limited their efforts to attempting to stop the ipread of the'fire They were driven back repeatedly by the Intense heat. It was under control today but authorities isolated the district and assigned watchers to sound an alarm if the flames started up again. Fire chief Gilbert Malek said he would attempt to determine the total property loss today. It was expected to reach more than $1,000,000. Besides those killed, four other person*, were burned sevrsely when the explosions sent sheets of flaming oil onto the surface •>.« Mouse river running through the center of the town It flowed along the river for a quarter of a mile but burned itself out before the flames endangered railroad bridges and structures along the river bank. But in the four-block area shaken by the explosions, the flames destroyed two hulk storage companies, two creameries, a grain elevator, a tavern and a case. —o - — BULLETIN Washington, July 22 —(UP) —The agricultural department today estimated the corn crop at 2,770,930.000 bushels, an improvement of 158,000.000 bushels in production prospects since July 1. Berne Youth Badly Injured In Fall Berne. Ind. July 22 — Richard Hlrscby. 16. son of M-. and Mrs. Herman HlrsXhy of Berne, suffered a badly shattered right knee cap late Saturday when he fell from a ladder to the cement floor underneath. He is employed by the Graber Tfh Shop of Berne and was putting up spouting on the barn owned by Emanuel Schmitt of east of Berne. The ladder slipped and he fell at distance of 15 feet His leg was placed in a cast. He is at the Adams county memorial hospital at Decatur. 0 Toledo Lady Hurl In Accident Here Two Autos Collide Early This Morning A Toledo. 0., lady was still confined in the Adams county memorial hospital today suffering from Injuries sustained shortly after midnight in a two-car traffic crash on Thirteenth street. Mrs. Stella Ziegler. 57. suffered shock, head lacerations and a right leg Injury when the car in which she wan riding, driven by Frank ). Ziegler. 26, also of Toledo, collided with another auto. ' The other car was driven by 'Edgar Kraft. 50, of Hoagland, and the accident occurred about 600 feet south of the intersection of Thirteenth street and North Second street. Officer Robert Hill, who Investigated. stated in his report that the Ziegler car turned left and the Kraft car right in an attempt to avoid colliding. They crashed nearly headon. however. Frank W. Ziegler, another occupant of the Ohio car. and both drivers escaped unhurt. The accident happened allS;10 am.

Price Four Cents

Dutch Government Formally Notifies United Nations Os 'Police Measures' Batavia. July 22—(UP)--Dutch amphibious forces swarmed ashore in eastern Java today and unconfirmed reports said they were advancing rapidly on key Indonesian Republic strongholds despite ship-to-shore artillery duels In which a Dutch warship was reported damaged Dutch landings at three points in eastern Java under cover of naval bombardments were reported as fighting spread to Sumatra and western Java. Tbe official Dutch communique was chary of details but Indonesian reports said heavy fighting was In progress The Indonesian communique reported that Republican land batteries scored four direct hits on a Dutch warship that was shelling Merak In west Java. The Republicans said they opened up with mortars when two Dutch warships appeared off the coast. One warship was damaged in the bombardment and both ships withdrew after repairs to the injured vessel, the Indonesians said In clear weather Americanmade Dutch-piloted fighter planes heavily strafed Indonesian positions. The Indonesian communique reported its forces in heavy fighting against Dutch imperial marines wjto landed on the outskirts of Banjoewangi in eastern Java just across the channel from tbe island or Bait and at Tubing in Sumatra. Dutch B-25’s were reported to have attacked and damaged the Republican airfield at Beranting. Sumatra. Supported by heavy artillery fire the Dutch were reported to have attacked Republican positions at • Aoengai and Beramas in Sumatra and severe fighting was still iu progress five hours after the attack was launched. One unconfirmed report said that Dutch troops had taken the key water and [lower center of Sukabumi. south of Buitenzorg and west of Bandung. The power center and the Sukabumi rail tunnel reported previously to have beeu destroyed In the Indonesian "scorched earth” program were said to have been captured intact. UN Is Notified Lake Success. N. Y., July 22 (UP)—The government formally notified the United Nations today it had instituted "police measures of a strictly limited character” against Republican forces in Indonesia. A note from Jonkheer Snouck llurgronje. permanent Netherlands representative at the UN. gave the world organization its first official notification of the strife in Indonesia Shortly after the note was received. UN officials said a note had reached here from Indonesian officials but it was not made public. loiter, the UN press division corrected itself and said the note from "Indonesian officials” was merely a letter from a free-ln-donesia group in Brisbane. Australia. The Dutch note notified UN secretary general Trygve Me that Dutch military forces had been ordered to take police measures against Indonesians. It accused the Republic of never complying with the truce of last October and said Indonesian forces had committed hostilities and destruction of valuable economic assets throughout the territory. Hungarian Freedom Party Is Dissolved Budapest, July 22 —(UP) — Th* Hungarian freedom party today announced its own dissolution rather than risk tbe "life and safety" of Its mem Iters In opposing the leftist coalition government. The announcement of the oppositionist dissolution was made In a letter read to parliament during debate on a proposed revision of the election laws. 0 ' WEATHER Fair and e*el tonight Pair and slightly warmer north and central portion* Wednesday