Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 27, Decatur, Adams County, 2 February 1948 — Page 1

Vol. XLVI. No. 27.

HOUSE PASSES TAX REDUCTION MEASURE

BDecafizr, Geneva I And Berne High Robbed

Authorities Probe Robberies; SSOO In Cash is Loot At Decatur School Solution of the problem of entry was;the biggest task that faced city tend county police today invajKating robberies at three hiflS school buildings some time Saßday night or early Sunday merging. Loot gained in the trio of rob-bertes-at Decatur junior-senior. Berne and Geneva high schools, respectively — totals more that! |6OO, with the Decatur school reporting the biggest loss. ■cause of circumstances and times the three are believed to have been perpetrated by the same gang or members of the same gang of thieves. More Than SSOO More than SSOO in cash was taljjn from a safe at the Decatur juwor-senior high school. While ■■evidence of forcible entry was found at the local school — nor either of the other two — the thieves, once inside the building, brdpte a glass panel in the outer offfces of principal W. Guy Brown onfthe second floor and again in inner office door to reach the they hammered the comoff the safe and used a in the hole where the combeen, removing more thin SSOO in cash and some Btthief James Borders, who. with aKcer Robert Hill and sherijt’ Herman Bowman, investigated tfe theft ’ said tllat usage ot the Hneh was not necessary since safe opened after the combination opened after the combina■on was hammered off. The lack ' m forcible entry evidence led to- believe that a lock picked in some manner — or Stt thief was hidden in the buildSaturday avening about 6 when it was locked up. If Ms reported about 11 a. m. Sun■y when principal Brown went to.his offices. All of the loss was ’■toured. Mr. Brown said. Other Two Linked ■Sheriff Herman Bowman, who Investigated the other two robber ■s, said they were perpetrated ■ much the same manner. ■At the Berne school the thieves ■ft no trace of forcibly entering ■e building, knocked out a glass ■ the door of superintendent E. M Webb’s office, stepped through panel opening into the inter- ■ There a hammer, belonging to school, was used to knock the ■ck off a metal filing cabinet and was taken. Candy and gum in office were untouched. ■ The school had been closed ■aturday afternoon and was not ■opened until Sunday morning ■hen the theft was noticed by ■upt. Webb. The Berne school no safe. ■At Geneva the thieves, once ■gain failing to leave any evi■ence of forcing their way into ■>e building, broke out a glass ■anel in the door of the office of principal R. O. Hunt to gain en■Fance to the room. I They knocked the combination ■ff the safe, but did not get the ■oor open, leading authorities td ■elieve that they may have been Brightened away. The building ■ad been locked about 10 p. m. yaturday after a basketball game ■ n< i the theft was noticed Sunday yorning by custodian Harry Kam- ■“““ when he arrived to fire the ■urnace. I Both of these schools also carry ■nsurance against such thefts. ■ Some finger and palm prints ■ e re found at the scenes of the ■hefts, most of these at Geneva Berne. These prints were 'Turn Tn s Column 71 — 0 WEATHER I Partly cloudy tonight and Tuesday except for snow flurries tonight. Colder Tuesday an d in north and central porBone tonight. Snow north and i f reexing rain or snow south Portion by Wednesday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

United States Terms Russian Charges False Rejects Charges Os Effort To Convert Iran Into Base Washington, Feb. 2. —(UP) — The United States today rejected —“false,” "untrue,” and a “distortion”—Soviet charges that the United States is attempting to convert Iran into a military and strategic base aimed at the Soviet Union. The denunciation of the Soviet charges was made by state department spokesman Michael J. McDermott at a news conference. Earlier the state department made public a note in which undersecretary Robert J. Lovett formally as "without foundation” a Soviet allegation that visits of U. S. naval vessels to Italian ports violated the Italian peace treaty. McDermott indicated that the United States also would reject a Soviet protest about reopening of an army air base in Lybya. The reply has not been sent yet. A fourth Soviet protest about American flying fortresses “molesting” Russian shipping in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan has not been received here yet. The Soviet protest about American activities in Iran was not directed to the United States government but made in a note to the Iranian government Saturday and broadcast by radio Moscow. McDermott said the state department had received only press reports about the Soviet protest to Iran. But he read the list of seven charges and followed each with a categorical denial. McDermott pointed out that there are two agreements between the United States and Iran—agreements which have been public for some time. They call for two missions. One Is to train the Iranian Gendarmerie. The second is a military mission which is specifically excluded under the terms of the agreement from engaging in “tactical and strategic plans or operations against a for(Tuun Tn 5 nnlnmn 6) o— February Term Os Court Opens Today Call Circuit Court Docket On Thursday Judge Earl B. Adams is expected to call the docket for the February term of the Adams circuit court Thursday morning, it was made known today—opening day of the new term. Several cases, including one or two which have attracted considerable attention In recent terms, are expected to be set for trial or other action. Numerous entries, including minor ones in estate and guardianship cases, were made early this morning by Judge Adams. Other entries included the following: Defendants were ruled to answer in these cases: partition suit of Merle Evans against Rolland Poling, damage suit of Charles Minch against Howard Foreman, damage suit of William White against Robert Worklnger, damage of Harry Frauhiger against Wrl Bucher. Appearance for the defendants was entered by DeVoss & Smith in the suit of Samantha Young against Donald Young and Leland Ripley. Answers wen# filed by Fred and Roger Gerber in the damage suit of Darrell Blowers against Fred Gerber and others.

Gas And Fuel Shortage Still Critically Low New Cold Reported On Way; Shortages Continue To Grow By United Press The nanon s shortage of oil and gas for fuel became more critical every hour today even though temperatures were climbing toward normal in the heavilyindustrialized area east of the Mississippi river. Another mass of cold air was bearing down from Montana across the Dakotas but forecasters said it probably would moderate as it moved into the Great Lakes area tonight. The coldest spot in the nation early today was at Grand Forks, N. D., where the mercury stood at 17 below zero. Minot, N. D., had 16 below. The cold that poured down the eastern seaboard last week was dissipated today. Where temperatures had stood at zero or far below last week, New York City registered 22 at 5:30 a. m today. Washington reported 18 and Albany nine. Sprinkling rains fell in southern California but they were insufficient to aid farms and orchards, suffering one of the worst droughts in history, except in very localized sections. Pilot Francis Lagler of Modesto, Cal., dumped 10 pounds of dry ice on thick clouds over the San Joaquin Valley yesterday. It gave a small part of the valley its first rainfall in 26 days. The rain was so heavy that another plane beneath the clouds was forced to fly out of the storm. A heavy blanket of snow lay today across south central Virginia and central and eastern North Carolina. Drifts were piled six feel deep in many sections. The snow prevented many workers from reaching their jobs and added to the 300,000 already idled by the weather. The Michigan Consolidated Gas company announced that it would be unable to restore full gas service to the Detroit section where 200,000 automobile workers had expected to go back to wprk tomorrow. They were told to continue their enforced vacation until the gas can be turned on again TTur n Tn 3. Column 7) O Mrs. Mary K, Davis Dies Al Fort Wayne Funeral Services To Be Wednesday Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Kathleen Davis, 40, a native o<f this community, who died Sunday morning at 3 o’clock at the St. Joseph’s hospital, Fort Wayne, will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. She was born in Berne on April 14, 1907, the daughter of William and Carrie Shackley, but had resided in Decatur most of her life until 12 years ago, when she moved to Fort Wayne. She had 'been ill two weeks. Death was attributed to a heart ailment. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Eileen Klick, St. Louis, Mo.; a foster-son, Pvt. Richard Young, Miloxl, Miss., four brothers, Glen of Fort Wayne, Lloyd and Raymond of Decatur, Earl of Van Wert. O„ and a sister, Miss Ireta of Fort Wayne. The services will be held at the Black funeral home, with the Rev. C. J. Roberts Lafayette, officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. The body may be viewed at the Black funeral home until time for the services. 0 Albert Baker Rites On Tuesday Morning Funeral services for Albert Baker, a resident of Adame county most of his life, and who died Saturday morning, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home, with the Rev. G. A. Eddy officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, February 2, 1948

Students Protest Negro Ban n " ? ’ lU HL -- b• r • ■ I'J WK. / R *”■ Jr , x■T F l

A GROUP OF STUDENTS of Oklahoma University are shown in the post office at Norman, Okla., as they prepared to mail a package to President Truman containing the ashes of a copy of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. They burned the amendment, which guarantees civil rights, in protest against the University’s ban on negro students. Holding the package aloft is Jody Casey, a professor’s daughter. •

Commissioners In Monthly Session To Take Action On Vote Place Changes Action in at least two important matters was expected to be taken this afternoon by the Adams county board of commissioners, meeting in regular session at the courthouse. Among other things, the commissioners were to act on a proposed plan of redistricting Decatur precincts in preparation for approaching elections—and with the Decatur board of public works and safety were to receive bids for the proposed new short-wave police radio. The precinct redistricting plan includes the addition of three new precincts to alleviate over-burden-ed ones now in use, which have more than 500 registered voters. The proposal was worked out and endorsed by officials and political leaders of both parties some time ago. The proposed radio includes a transmitter and antenna at the courthouse, with remote controls both at the courthouse and city hall for transmission purposes, mobile units in the city police car, the sheriff’s and deputy sheriff’s autos. Cost of the equipment is to be shared by the city and county. The commissipners were to receive bids for the furnishing of eight tons of fertilizer for the county home farm, also. This morning they allowed bills and conducted other routine business. Commissioners John Augsburger, John W. Blakey and John Christener, Auditor Thurman I. Drew, who serves as secretary of the board and other appointive county officials were in attendance.

Radioactive lodine Is One Key To Problem Os Treating Cancer

Editor’s note —This is the first of a series on the latest cancer research.) By PAUL F. ELLIS (United Press Science Writer) (Copyright 1948 by United Press) New York, Feb. 2.—(UP)—A key to the cancer problem has been found. It is not a pass key that will unlock all the doors, but may lead into an area where keys to other doors may be found. This first key is radioactive iodine. The door it unlocks is the thyroid gland. So important is the significance of radioactive iodine in thyroid cancer that one of the world's top cancer hospitals has set ’tip a special project to take full advantage of it. This cancer center is New York’s Memorial hospital for cancer and allied diseases. The scientists assigned to this project are members of the “thyroid team.” It is a joint project with the Massachusetts general

Ask Improvement Os County Highway A large delegation of French township taxpayers appeared before the county commissioners late this afternoon asking that a six-mile stretch of north-south road from state road 118 to 124 be “blacktopped.” The petitions, presented through their attorney, C. H. Muselman, bore 178 signatures and represented nearly every taxpayer in the township, they declared. o John Blakey Named Head Os Lutherans Annual Election In Churches Os Area John Blakey, Adams county commissioner and prominent farmer, was elected chairman of the association of Lutheran congregations of Adams county and surrounding area at the annual elec tion of officers, held Sunday afternoon at Immanuel Lutheran ohurch in Union township. Louis Jacobs, of Decatur, was named vice-chairman. Oscar Lankenau of Decatur was elected secretarytreasurer of the organization. The Rev. H. Behning, Ossian; teacher.W. Ufifelmann, Bingen and Harold Melcher, Flat Rock, were named on the program committee for the year. Rev. W. Bauman of Soest and teacher Frank Schmiege of Preble were named to the Luthern high school committee. The Rev. Otto C Busse, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran church of Preble, presented an essay on “Your Dollar Working For The Lord.” The speaker told how the dollar contributed to the church was used. The Rev. E. T. Schmidtke, visiting pastor of the area, presented matters concerning the circuit. The next meeting of the group is scheduled for May at the Zion Lutheran church at Friedhelm.

hospital, Boston, recognized as one of the world’s most famous centers for the treatment of thyroid diseases. Such joint cooperation between two hospitals is one of the encouraging signs on the horizon of cancer research. They seem sure to accomplish more working together than separately. Results so far show that some patients, dying when they were admitted for treatment, have left the hospital under their own power, their disease apparently under control. The scientists of this thyroid team do not say that these patients have been cured. They are not thinking entirely of controlling thyroid cancer. They know that if radioactive substances as produced in the atomic ovens, can bring results in ertain types of thyroid cancer, then there may be (Turn To Page 2. Column 5)

Bill To Reduce Personal Income Taxes Six And A Half Billion Is Passed

14 Violent Deaths Reported In State Six Persons Killed In Traffic Wrecks By United Press At least 14 persons died violent deaths in weekend accidents in Indiana. Os that figure, six were traffic victims, two died in fires and three were victims of carbon monoxide gas. John Bloom, 82-year-old retired railroad worker, Indianapolis, died Sunday of injuries received Saturday night when he stepped into the side of a moving automobile on Indianapolis’ east side. Ethel Fay Henderson, 25, Columbus. was killed and seven other persons were injured in a two-car accident on Ind. 9 near Columbus. Police said Miss Hen(derson was thrown out of a car driven by Walter Huntsman. 26, Columbus, a relative, and died at the scene,. Mrs. Doris Stoneberger, 37, Fort Wayne, died in a New Albany hospital of injuries sustained when the vehicle driven by her husband. Richard, collided with a car driven by Earl S. Bloxham, 29, Henryville, on U. S. 31. Arthur Wright, 56, Grantsburg, was killed when a car driven by Harry Searles, Muncie, struck and ran over him on Ind. 37 neat 1 English. Searles told authorities his car went out of control on ice and skidded into the victim. The frozen bodies of two elderly men were found in beds in the home of one of them in Muncie Saturday night by a relative who said he became worried when he had not seen them for several days. Coroner Eugene Eissman said that Jasper E. Poore, 73. onetime manager of the Toledo Mudhens ot the American Baseball Association, and Mike Kelley, 78, his former business partner, had died of carbon monoxide poison. He said fire in a baseburner loaded with coke apparently went out and that fumes from the embers seeped into the room where the two men were sleeping. Police also reported that Robert Sullivan. 40, Salem, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. They said Sullivan apparently was (Turn To Pago 3. Column 5) 0 Charles C. Rabbit Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Black funeral home here for Charles C. Rabbit, 82, prominent retired farmer, who died Sunday morning at 7 o'clock at his home, four and one-half miles northeast of Decatur. Death followed an illness of one week after a stroke. •He was born in Allen county March 3, 1865, the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Rabbit and had resided in this county since he was 12 years of age. He was married to Mary Ann Drummond on August 21, 1890. She survives. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary tn 1940. Mr. Rabbit was the oldest member of the Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving, besides the widow, are the following children: Edw-in, Defiance. O.; Earl, Rome City; Mrs. William Meyer, Decatur; Mrs. Henry Stauffer, Monroe; Mrs. Jerome Deßolt. Decatur; Ralph. Bernard and Erma, all at home; a sister, Mrs. Nora Kingsley, Los Angeles, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Three brothers are deceased. The Rev. Dwight Pellett. will officiate at the services and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery.

Nehru Appeals To Indians To Restore Peace Rioting Spreads To New Points; Probe Conspiracy Report New Delhi, Feb. 2.—(UP)— Premier Jawaharlal Nehru appealed to Indians today for peace in the name of Slohandas K. Gandhi as rioting spread to six new points in India and casualties rose to 27 dead and 107 wounded. Disorders broke out in New Delhi for the first time since, Gandhi was assassinated last Friday. Calcutta also had its first strife when Hindus tried to set fire to the home of Dr. Shyama Presad Mookerjee, last president of the Hindu extremist group Mahasabha, to which Gandhi's assassin was linked. Nehru addressed the dominion parliament while government investigators dealt with a reported nationwide conspiracy said to call for the assassination of high Hindu leaders, perhaps including Nehru and Sardar Patel, strong man of the congress party. The Premier hinted that the government would act firmly to suppress the violence breaking out after the killing of Gandhi by a Hindu fanatfe. Just before Nehru spoke, Hindu mobs attacked buildings and three newspapers of the Mahasabha organization. Police fired into the air to scatter the surly crowds. Congress party speakers addressed them, saying that Gandhi’s soul would suffer from their misdeeds. In Bombay, the homes of high caste Brahmin residents and Mahasabha leaders were attacked. Bands of shouting malcontents ranged the city, forcing shops to close. Business and transport w’ere paralyzed. It was the fourth day of disorders there. F&ur persons were killed in the toiyn of Erode in the Madras area when police opened fire to halt widespread attacks on Moslems. At Bezwada, also in the Madras area, one was killed and 20 were injured when 8,000 Mahasabha members meeting for a rally were attacked. A pitched battle raged until police moved in. Mahasabha leaders were arrested. The ashes of Gandhi were gathered from the funeral pyre beside the Jumma river. One of the assassin’s bullets was found among the ashes. The ashes were put in a cotton bag, to be scattered on the sacred waters of the Ganghes. The remaining bones may be put in a (Turn Tn Pae* I. Hnlunn. 6) o Suffers Broken Leg When Hit By Auto John Gilliom Hurt Here Early Sunday John Gilliom. 49, of route six, Decatur, is in the Adams county memorial hospital, suffering from a compound fracture of the right leg. sustained when struck by an auto early Sunday morning. Officer Ed Miller, who investigated, reported that Gilliom was hit by a car, driven by Harold A. Goss, 19, Fort Wayne, about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 700 block on West Monroe street. Gilliom, investigation disclosed, stepped out of a car driven by Oscar Ray, with whom he resides, and started across the street to a restaurant, when he was hit. Goss told the officer that he did not see the victim until about 20 feet away from him and that he was unable to avoid striking Gilliom. The injured man was remov(Turn To Pago 2, Column 5)

Price Four Cents

Some Democratic Support Given To Republican Measure On Tax Reductions Washington, Feb. 2 —(UP) ■ Republicans with some Democratic support today rammed through the house the Knutson bill to slash personal income taxes $6,500,000,000 this year. The vote for passage was 297 to 120. The vote would have been sufficient to override a presidential veto. The bill passed by 19 votes more than a two-thirds majority. The bill went to the senate, where GOP leaders believe the house may have cut government revenue too much. The senators have decided to follow’ a go-slow policy until they have a better idea of what the government will spend in the next year or so for both foreign and domestic purposes. Final passage of a bill to cut income taxes at least $4,000,000.000 seems certain later ’ in the spring, however, and this time Republicans hope they can get enough Democratic support in both house and senate to beat a veto this time. President Truman successfully vetoed two GOP-sponyored income tax reduction bills last year. He has committed himself to try to maintain government revenues as high as posible during the current inflationary period. In the closing minutes of the house debate speaker Joseph W. Martin, Jr., said the Knutson bill may be the last chance congress will have this year to vote on tax relief. Democratic leader Sam Rayburn of Texas denounced the Republican proposal as a threat to sound fiscal policies. The house passed the tax reduc tion bill after rejecting a move bj Rayburn to substitute a tax revision measure somewhat along tne lines , recommended to congress by Mr. Truman. The Democrats sought unsuccesfully to get the house to send the bill back to the ways and means committee for rewriting. The GOP bill, sponsored by Rep. Harold Knutson, R., Minn, calls for a SIOO increase in the present SSOO per capita personal exemption; extension to all states of the community property principle of splitting the family income betw’een a husband and wife for tax purposes; and a .10 to 30 percent reduction in tax rates. The combined effect of these! various provisions would be to take an estimated 7,400.000 persons off the tax rolls and reduce individual income taxes from 10 to 100 percent. It would be effecive as of Jan. 1 this year. Rayburn proposed that the personal exemptions be boosted to S7OO instead of S6OO and the community property division of the Knutson bill left intact. Some {3.200,000,000 of the $4,000,000,000 loss of revenue under the Democratic proposal would be made up hrough a 75 percent excess profits tax on corporations. Rep. Robert L. Doughton. D„ N. C., assailed both the Republican measure and his own party’s proposed substitute. He said neither could possibly become law. Martin said a tax cut is “an essential feature of any real effort" to haul down present high living costs. He said taxes now reperesent about 20 percent of the cost of foods and other goods.” At the conclusion of the general debate the house approved, 202 to 37, a committee-sponsored amendment to revise the federal estate and gift tax laws. Under the provision, when one spouse dies only 50 percent of the property jointly owned by the husband and wife would be taxable. The second half of the property then would be subject to tax when the second spouse dies. The same principle would apply to the making of gifts. Onehalf of a gift made out of com(Turn To Page 3, Column S)