Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 68, Decatur, Adams County, 22 March 1949 — Page 1

XLVII. No. 6s.

BOUSE OPENS DEBATE ON VETS' PENSIONS

■me Progress ■eported In ■bash Strike ■Negotiators State Some Progress On Strike Settlement SB Louis, March 22.—(UP)— \Btialors reported “some pro- _■" was being made today in ;Bt talks to end the sevenday wßout of four operating brother(■s against the Wabash railroad, A. McClain, Jr., Wabash gM'al counsel, said the number cases under negotia- •<■ was being whittled down one ■fee "and you can't tell at what >|Koint the union might decide to men back to work. C. Lash, vice-president of the firemen and enginemen, that an early end of the was probable but refused to a guess as to the time. said the talks were withor fighting" and that M®ffiiial report would be made aSH pin. to a presidential factboard which has put off in the dispute pending ■mu' of the direct negotiations, ■ere might be an announcenß from the panel at that time." ■leu the negotiators recessed at ; Ka.m. today, they said the numgrievances involved in the had been reduced to 123. (■re the discussions started. '.ißp officers had said there were to be settled. A. McClain. Jr., compel attorney. said “we are studygrievance one by one and each in turn." ■e union and company were to meet with the factf;Bg board at 9:30 a.ni. but Mo- ■ said they would request a so that the direct could be resumed today. Alunion spokesman told newsmea tu "stick around -there might .'«* i>al story here for you today." to elaborate. II Rodgers, vice president tiHe Order of Railway Con said “it looks now like getting somewhere and we sßget the trains running soon." four unions involved in the were the conductors, eneifiremen, and trainmen. They out last Tuesday to enforce for settlements of the ■Jwanees, some of which they went back 10 years. More the fact finding board orthe direct negotiations, its issued a warning that TKBtrike threatened the future national railway labor act. Bo; r McConough, chief justice ogithe Utah supreme court, said the board held an investiga|Bwliile the men were on strike, could be “broad and farimplications" which might the integrity" of 'he act. board had asked the four to call off the strike until it kad completed i's inquiry. The "■>s did not reply. ■ey had contended that they within their rights in remain strike since the hoard was until after the nut ■■est their jobs. Ordinarily, th* ■A is appointed before the strike and the unions automatically from striking for at MMK CO days. ■her Is Killed Falling Tree Skoals. Ind.. March 22 — (UPt- 1 Clutts, 76. a farmer, war killed yesterday when he was by a falling tree while cut tln< timber.* i 'Bisses Are Resumed M Catholic School •bases were resumed at the ißßolic school today, following a JB| day on .Monday, in post obsgr of the feast of St Joseph, pa B* of the school and namesd iy •fthe Very Rev. Msgr. J J. Seipastor of St. .Mary's church, /’■rogram honoring Msgr. Pel- ■■ was given Friday afternoon grades, prior to the dismis- 1 classes. The children also -gHbnted their paster with a purse WEATHEIf cloudy and colder toWednesday partly clouand colder.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

British Unlikely To Take Over Frontier Expect Rejection Os Trans-Jordan Plea By United Press Britain probably will reject a Trans-Jordan request that British troops take over a 50-mile streten of Trans-Jordan’s frontier with Israel. A British spokesman said today ■ that assignment of British patrols to the uneasy frontier area would only increase tension in the middleeast. British policy, he said, is to promote stability. Trans-Jordan had asked British forces to take over the frontier from Aqaba, opposite the southern tip of Palestine, north of Gharandal under terms of the Anglo-Trans-Jordan alliance. Israeli spokesmen immediately protested. They said such action would free units of Trans-Jordan's Arab legion to reinforce disputed area farther north. Syria announced today that she is ready to negotiate with Israel for an armistice covering their sector of the Palestine front. A Syrian government spokesman said Syrian delegates will meet Israeli represen tatives on the Syria-Palestine border. Israeli and Lebanese authorities are scheduled to sign an armistice for the northern front tomorrow at Ras Eli Naqura on the Lebanese I side of the North Palestine frontier. Israeli already has signed an armistice with Egypt and is negotiating at Rhodes with Trans-Jordan. Other foreign news included: Seoul, orea — Five members oi a Communist underground organization have been arrested for the slaying of Mrs. Horace H. Underwood, an American missionary ana wife of a prominent American educator. London — Radio Moscow reported that chief Soviet d puty foreign minister Andrei Gromyko has left Moscow for New York to head the Soviet delegation to the April session of the United Nations general assembly. Berlin — Russia protested formally that the western counterblockade of the Soviet zone of Germany has deprived them “illegally ’ of needed electrical equipment. Meantime. Col. Alexi Jelisarov, acting Soviet commandant for Berlin, said Soviet officials will take nc counter-measures against the western sectors of the city for outlawing the Soviet mark. Child Is Killed As Truck Hits Tricycle Connersville, Ind., March 22 — (UP)—- Funeral services will be tomorrow for Donald Eugene Taylor 22 months old, who was killed wnei •he rode his tricycle behind a true! that was being backed into a driveway by Solomon Lawson, 32. Ronald Smith Wins Discussion Contest To Represent Local Council At Regional Ronald Smith, Catholic high school senior, placed first in. the Knights of Columbus discussion contest at the K. of C. hall last evening. The other winners were: Wil liam Kintz, second, and David Gillig. third. The latter young men also are Catholic high schoo' students. Prizes awarded by the Knights of Columbus were 115. $1( and 55. respectively. The ycung men had for theii topic, “Catholic Contributions tc American History.’’ The judges were the Rev. Michae' Vichuras. the Rev. Robert Hoevel and the Rev. Timothy Doodey. all of Fort Wayne. The speakers were presented by John A. Kintz, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus sponsors of the state-wide contest. Winner Smith will represent De catur Council No. 864 K. of C., in the regional contest in Fort Wayne in April. Ronald is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith of Midland. Mich., and a grandson of Mrs Amelia Christen, 220 N. Fifth street, where he makes bis home while attending high school. After school hours he is in charge of the Daily Democrat carrier boys. Members of the Holy Name society also attended the lodge meet ing and program last evening.

To Circulate Petitions For School Merger Merger For Three Northern Townships Discussed Monday Petitions for school consolidation in Preble, Root and Union townships, with the possible development of the project around the Monmouth grade and high school, will be circulated, it was announced today following a meeting of school officials, patrons and taxpayers last evening at the Monmouth building. Winfred Gerke presided as chair-, man and Mrs. F. L. Grandstaff acted as secretary. Trustee George Schieferstein, of Root township, was host to the group. Harmony and good will prevailed throughout the discussions. There was a good representation of patrons and taxpayers from Preble and Root townships, including the trustees and advisory board members from these two units, and several interested residents from Union township. Discussions were led by Hansel Foley, principal of the Monmouth school, Mr. Gerke, Mr. Schieferstein. Charles Fuhrman, trustee of Preble township, and others. Questions pertaining to consolidation and school enrollment were answered by Lyman L. Hann, county superintendent of schools. Opinions pro and con relative to school township mergers, as provided under senate bill No. 131, were freely expressed by the group. The consensus was that residents of the townships were interested in increasing the efficiency and facilities of the schools. If merging of the schools would bring this about, the majority expressed favor with the plan. There was no discussion on building costs or determination of a site for a cen'ral consolidated school. Information was giveti that if consolidation was accomplished. that approximately 425 high school students and grade pupi s would come within the centrally located school. The Monmouth school has an enrollment of 117 in high (school end 125 in the grades. Union township has 80 grade pupils and approximately 60 high school stu(Turn To Png:e Seven)

Tax Evasion Charged Former Decatur Man Don Farr Indicted By Federal Jurors South Bend, Ind., Mar. 22—Don R. Farr, of 1928 East Jackson boulevard. Elkhart, president o’ Superior Indus’ries of Goshen, appeared at the office of U. S. Marshal Al Hosinski, in South Bend, shortly before 9 o'clock Monday moraine to accept service of a warrant is-ued following the return of an indictment against him by the federal grand jury at Indianapolis last week. Mr. Farr is charged with attempt to defeat and evade payment of federal income taxes. Mr. Farr was taken to the office of U. S. Commissioner Eugene Knoblock in South Bend, where his bond <as fixed at |5.000 and was provided. Mr. Knoblock said that Mr. Farr will be arraigned next Friday, ’March 25, at 10 a. m. in the federal court at Indianapolis. The charge filed resulted from a tax re»urn which Mr. Farr allegedly filed as secretary of the Superior Coach company, which a few years ago became Superior Industries. Inc. Authorities said Mr. Farr filed a net taxable earning of $934.75 sos 1943. which, according to the in’erna! revenue collector, should have been $57.107.72. A tax of $233.68 was paid by the firm hut the tax. authorities said, should have been $43,236. The Superior Coach company moved to Goshen from Garrett In 1941. It became Superior Inttustrics, Inc.. In 1943. wi’h Mr. Farr succeeding John Dexter, of Elk(Tara Ta Fare Savea)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, March 22, 1949

Sisters In Mystery ■mH" jStoy THE, WEIGHTED BODY of murdered Patricia Birmingham, 16, (right) was recovered from a Milwaukee river and her 17-year-old sister. Ka;hleen. Left) missing for several days, notified her mother, Mrs. Albert Birmingham, that she was in Ohio where she had wed a childhood sweetheart, Milton Babich, 19. Patricia had been shot twice and the body weighted with a 38% pound concrete block. The Birminghams reside at West Allis, Wisconsin.

Fear For Safely Os Slain Girl's Sister Victim's Sister is Missing From Home Milwaukee, March 22—(UP)— Detectives feared today that Kathleen Birmingham, 18, may have met the same fate as her younger sister, whose body, weighted down by a cement block, was found at the bottom of the Milwaukee river. Kathleen has been missing since last Friday, when she and l»er boy friend, Milton Babich, 19, left notes to their parents saying that they were eloping. Police Capt. Adolph Kraemer said he learned that Babich also had a date to meet Kathleen's 16-year-old sister, Patricia, on Feb. 10. the day she last was seen alive. Her body was fished out of the river by accident last Sunday. She hhd been shot twice in the head. "1 am definitely worried that something has happened to Patricia’s sister,” Kraemer said, “and we are now intensifying our search for her." He said detectives also are looking for Babich. Meanwhile, Kraemer ordered lie deleclor tests for two high school boys who knew the murdered girl. He refused to disclose their identity or to say whether they are actual suspects. Patricia’s body was found Sunday in the Milwaukee river by firemen dragging for the body of a woman who had committed suicid, a short time before. The body of the suicide, Mrs. Florence Wynne 45, Hammond, Wis., was recovered yesterday. Kraemer made a special radio broadcast last night to appeal to residents for cooperation in break ing the case. He asked all residents of Milwaukee and suburbs to try to remember any incidents or clues which might have a bearing on Patricia’s disappearance and murder. Patricia had been shot twice in the head and one slug was removed from her skull. It was sent to FBI experts for checking. Authorities also learned that the concrete block weighting the bodv had been manufactured by the West Allis Concrete Products company. They were trying to trace it through (Turn To Pnur F.lahO

’TKeditcitiw (Rev. Herbert A. Meuwling, Magley Evangelical and Reformed) COMMON SENSE IN RELIGION “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's: and unto God the things that are Cod’s.” Matthew 22:21. When Je&ps answered the que-tion, “Is ft lawful to give tribute to Caesar or ffotT' with the words “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's” he not only squelched the de 1 Ires of th? conniving questioners, but he gave to the wor d a practical dogma applicable to all time. Common sense tells us 'hat when we enfov the liberties and nrntec'ton p-ovided by a nation, we are also obligated to support that nation which gives ns these things. Common sense should also tell us that God has a right to demand things of his creatures from the standpoint that much of what man has was given by God. To render means to “return" (not to give.) Our main fault is to complain about what we should r- turn to thb nation, and to FORGET what we should return to God. God. who breathed into his creature the breath of life demands of us our roul. He has said. “My son. Give me thr heart.” Return, therefore, the things that bear the imprint of the na'ion to the nation! RETURN, return, I say, to God the things lyour service, your heart, your soul) that are God's; the things which bear the imprint of the CROSS."

Kendallville Youth Killed In Accident Garrett, Ind., March 22 —(UP)— Owen Sheppard, IS, Kendallville, was killed yesterday and Isadore Bradley, 25, Kendallville, was injured when a tire blew out on their automobile and it struck a bridge. Sheppard was pinned in the car by one of the bridge'.; steel girders. Spring Rains Snuff Out Indiana Fires Threat From Fires Temporarily Ended By United Press Brush and forest fires which swept many acres of parched land yesterday were snuffed out today by general spring rains that pelted Indiana. The Indianapolis weather bureau, which recorded the season’s wannest temperatures yesterday on the first full day of spring, reported that showers fell throughout the state this morning to wet down the dry countryside. The rain ended temporarily a threat from fire. State forest fire towers were manned by vigilan foresters yesterday as flames broke out in scattered sec’ions of Hoosierland. Before the rain came, crews of fire wardens and volunteers brought under control a blaze that burned over nearly 100 acres of trees and brush in Lawrence tyTwo hundred volunteers shunt ed a brush fire around the summer resort communi y■ of Beverly Shores on Lake /Michigan and -leered it into th4 sand dunes where it burned itself out with little damage to property. The Lawrence county fire near Huron was brought under control before dusk by tire fighters equip ped with water pumps and beaters and raking machines, ft started on a farm and threatened Vernon Carter's house and barn. Strong winds handicapped the fighters, just as they did upstate when the brush fire Jumped across U. S. 12 and headed for Beverly Shores. There, teachers dismissed clas (Turn To Faur Five)

Bill Would Provide All Veterans Os Both World Wars With S9O Pensions

Mississippi Child Killed By Tornado Three Gulf States Swept By Tornadoes By United Press Residents of three gulf states today inspected property damage by several tornadoes which killed one person and injured about 20, while motorists in Michigan and Wisconsin were warned about icy highways. High winds spawned tornadoes and drenching winds in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama yesterday. A negro child was killed near Belzoni. -Miss. Nine negro children and a teacher were injured near Yazoo City. -Miss., when winds a church they used as a school house, and at least nine persons were hurt in Louisiana. Hundreds of cars and nine buses were stranded near Mobile, Ala., when wind-lashed waves flooded a causeway. Stalled automobiles cluttered the roads as 45-mile-an-hour gusts swamped the Mobiie-to-New Orleans'highway. Transportation was hampered and many traffic accidents were reported in Duluth, Minn., when a sleet storm struck the Duluth-Su-perior harbor area, covering communications lines and cutting visibility almost to zero. The weatherman forecast some snow for parts of Minnesota today and a freezing mixture of rain, snow, and sleet was expected to cover the area from western upper Michigan down across west central Wisconsin. Rain last night put out many prairie fires in the Indiana Dunes resort region southeast of Chicago. More than 100 small crass fires. iTu-n To Paso Fleet

Olis Gould Heads Foreign War Vets Annual Election Is Held Monday Night Otis Gould, Monroe, was elected commander of Limherlost post. Veterans of Foreign Wars, at the annual election of oficers held at the VFW hall in Decatur. Com mander Gould will succeed Anthony Murphy. Richard Lichensttiger was nam ed first vice commander. Herman Hammond was elected second vicecommander and Harold Warthman was named quartermaster. The A. C. E. Gillander, pastor of the Firs Presbyterian church, was named chaplain and Robert Anderson wa: elected advocate Eular Dull wa' named chairman of the house com mittee. Cornelius Shirack was elected t< serve three years as trustee of tin local post and commander Gotilt. will appoint an adjutant at a latei date. At District Meet A fourth district meeting of the VFW was held Sunday at Jim Eb’ post in Fort Wayne, with Harry Martz, of the local post, and district commander, presiding. Ancil Morton, of Indianapolis state commander, spoke on the pension plans for World War I veterans and also on the state tonus James Butters, Indianapolis, department service of fl-er. discussed veterans’ benefits. Also in attend mce at the meeting were George triek. Fort Wayne, state senior vice '■ommander. and Richard Raudehush. department service office. The VFW. which was founded In Denver. Colo.. In 1899. will celebrate its 50th anniversary the week of April 3 9. Announcement ras also made nf »b« VFW jnhilee air show, wh ; ch rill b" br«adcsst over NBC at I#:2# «m. (C«T' Mondav Aprft 4 Bo‘> r>one will ton fto east, u-f-h Dinah c hore. Janis Palre. the VFW 1949 toddy popny rlrl Dennis Day and Jack Carson.

Reni Control Foes Seek To Weaken Bill Republican Foes Os Control Seek Many Amendments Washington, Mar. 22 — (UP) — Republican foes of rent control today stepped up their efforts to weaken the senate’s 12-month extension bill. Led by Sens. Harry P. Cain, Wash., and John W. Bricker. 0., GOP opponents of the measure pressed for action on a series of softening amendments before the bill comes up for a final vote. Administration leaders were hopeful they could reach a shovT down late today or tomorrow. Democratic leader Scott W. Lucas said he would hold the senate in overtime session tonight if there appeared to be any chance of winding up debate on the rent legislation. The present rent control law expires on March 31. The senate yesterday began consideration of an adminis'ration bill to extend controls until March 31, 1950, with an extra three-month moratorium on rent increases and evictions. The senate bill would authorize state legislatures to lift controls in their areas. It also would provide for two automatic five percent rent increases for landlords at six-month intervals. The house bill would extend controls for 15 months, but would allow state, county or municipal government units to lift ceilings in areas under their jurisdiction. Senate foes of rent control planned to offer a similar “local option" amendment, and the move was expected to attract strong support. Cain has two other amendments which also have considerable backing. One would write a formula into the extension bill to guarantee landlords a “fair return" on their investment. The other would extend controls for only six months, with an additional six-month moratorium on evic•lons for non-payment of rent. Other major amendments awaiting action included: By Sen. Homer Capehart. R. Ind.—to provide for “gradual de(Tu”» To Pnice Elsht) Mrs. Melvin Welker Dies Monday Night Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon Mrs. Rosa Welker, 71, a resi dent of Adams county practically I her entire life, died at 11:45 1 o'clock Monday night at the home ■ of a son. Vere Welker. 3217 Web ster. Fort Wayne. She had been in failing health for several years and serious for the past year. She was born in Adams county ! Dec. 21. 1877. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Stee’.e. and was married »o Melvin J. Welker March 6. 1901. They have resided j with the son for the past year and ; a half. She was a member of the First Methodist church, the WSCS of ’he church and the W.C.T.I’. Surviving in addition to the son are two grandchildren: a brother, i Earl Steele of Indianapolis, and ' ihree sisters. Mrs. Cora Pence o’ Decatur. Miss Mary Steele of Preble and Mrs. Celia Caton of LaGrange. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Thurdav at the Zwick funera’ home. Dr. Gerald H. Jones officiating. Burla) will b» in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after i I p. m. Wednesday.

Price Four Cents

Rep. Rankin Tells House Veterans Os Both Wars Should Be Paid Pensions Washington, March 22 —(UP)--Rep. John E. Rankin, D., Miss., told the house today that veterans of World War I are entitled to a pension as well as to the bonus they got 15 years ago. Rankin’s statement was made as the house began three hours of general debate on his biu to give all veterans of World Wars I and II -a J9O a month pension at age 65. - (Many members of the house favj ored a drastic cut. In the Rankin ;- bill to reduce its prospective cost of billions of dollars a year. But , they were in sharp disagreement , over the best way to achieve it. s Rankin, chairman of the house f veterans committee, brought his bill ? to the floor under an old rule which permitted him to do so without the s backing of the leadership. House ”■ i Democratic leaders are opposed to . 1 the Rankin bill as drawn. s First floor fight over the bill 1 came on a provision under which a veterans with so-called “blue" disf charges, as well as those with hont orable or “white” discharges, would be eligible for pensions. :■ Rankin said the blue discharges e j — neither honorable nor dishonors able — were passed out willy nil'y d by some discharging officers during h World War 11. Many who got then n should have gotten white discharges. he said. e Rep. Bernard W. Kearney. R.. N. s, Y., led a fight to limit benefits t:> i- those witli honorable discharges. '• j He said that the army, alone, iss! sued 55,728 blue discharges during I World War 11. 1 Two former commanders-in-chief I of the Veterans of Foreign Wai a, I Reps. James E. Van Zandt. R.. Pa., > and Kearney, both members of tiio house veterans committee, drew up ■ttheir own amendments to the con- • i troversial bill. ■ Kearney denied reports that the j VFW, second largest veterans organization, was supporting an alter- , native plan offered by another vet- ■ I erans committee member, Rep. Wai- ■ | ter B. Huber. D„ O. i! The Rankin bill proposes 590 i monthly pensions for all 65-year-<ild ■ I veterans of world wars I and 11. • 1 Both the Van Zandt-Kearney and i Huber amendments would eliminate | World War 11 veterans altogether. Under the Huher plan, which | VFW spokesmen previously had endorsed, payments fur non-servne- : connected disability would he added to the bill. These would start at >SO per month for ailments rated as 50 percent disabling. Tlie Van Zandt-Kearney plan does not include disability pensions. ■ Kearney said the VFW is backing - tills plan rather than the Huber ; plan. There were r< ports that a move to strike out the enacting clau->e, ■ and thus kill the bill would be made | iu the house sometime this afterI noon. Failure of the bill's supportI ers to agree on amendments might lend support to such a move. . ! Top-level Democratic leaders are ! opposed to the bill iu its present | form. But under a 67-year-old rule of the house, chairman John is. Rankin. D.. Miss., of the veterans j committee can get the legislation to the floor without leadership sane- ; tion. He plans to call it up under a procedural rule which permits preierI ential treatment for any veterans’ j pension bill approved by the veterI ans committee. The Rankin bill calls for 590-a---month pensions for al! veterans of World Wars I and II at age 65. Tha budget bureau has estimated that ! its overa'l cost in the next 50 years wonld be shout 5125.000,003,000. Ren. Walter Huber. D.. O. an administration supporter was ready with a substitute which had the backing of,the veterans of foratn ' wars. The substitute measure would , eliminate World War II veterans from '-overa-e. It a’so would e»- , tablish a test of "need" which would make many veterans ineli(Tara T« Page Elabtt