Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 69, Decatur, Adams County, 23 March 1949 — Page 1

XLVII. No. 69.

DENIES U. S. IS BUILDING BASES IN IBAN

med House Bass Vets' ■us Measure Sharply Deflated ■II Expected To Kss Lower House March 23—(UP)— i flKouse was expected to pass a ■ir deflated pension bill today a last minute attack on it biggest new veterans orgaaißon of World’War 11. jg it appeared to be shaping up. ■■ll will be a lot different from in which Rep. John E. Ki. I)., Miss., introduced it. ;> ;Hhere was no clear understandjust what its effect would ■■tbe house resumed considera■Eef the bill, AMVETS national ■■lander Harold Keats sent ■■ers a statement declaring bulk of veterans don't M|a pension. He said “legisladefeat this measure will ■■be respect and confidence of ■■who sent them to Washing-■-W a b >" °r some sorl seenip d to pass. The Rankin meas■■rould pay veterans of both ■ldd wars s!m a month which they SKne 65. House members gen|Mfc predicted, however, that the ■■■re would be amended to World War II veterans ■■nt) set up eligibility standards (■■ed and disability for World ■HBI veterans. War I veterans can get.up a month now if they need ■■■toney and can show total disability at age scale of payments under law starts a( S6O a mouth Go percent disability. ■ trimmed down pension bill to pass the house probSKwould raise the maximum to S9O. Just how much ■■would add to the net cost of under the present law clear. (Ser congressional develop- ■ Mil rights—Senate Republican ■■? Kenneth S. Wherry. Neb.. the Democratic leaderd|M|tp bring up anti-poll tax legis- ■■ as soon as the senate gets and foreign aid legisla■■out of the way. He said he ■■d to see how the senate’s new ■Ke limitation rule will work, Democrats would be exto talk as long as possible ■■t a poll tax bill. But under rule 64 senators, if that ■■'could be mustered against a ■■ster. could choke off debate. J«nson—The senate unanimous ly Continued the nomination of A. Johnson to be defense The West Virginia will succeed defense secreForresta! March 31. acted after chairman ’>K>d E. Tydings, D., Md„ of ■■med services committee said ioft urgent to get Johnson on the quickly as possible. lie told of “rumors that many in the military establishresign. aid— Sen. Robert A. , 0., said he would vote for cut in European funds for the program's llMBd 15 months. He said he WBd not lead a fight for the cut. The senate expects to sttßdebate tomorrow on a bill to law—A house labor sub approved without ■■■e an administration bill to tbe Taft-Hartley act and HMictate the old Wagner labor ■■ons law with amendments JHfeg cetfein kinds of strikes. Th&i)l will run into considerable opposition when it goes before tbe tomorrow. K Joe Morris Is ■ions Club Speaker Morris presented an illecture on the history and of dentistry to the ■■l club at its weekly meeting in ■*.*. of P. home Tuesday evening jfcti ßauer presided in the absence Robert Holthouse, who Fred Schulte had charge of I , WEATHER |W»H!y cloudy tonight. Thursday mostly cloudy and warmtWcllcwed by occasional rain at night, probably north porKml In afternoon.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Family Os Three Is Rescued From Fire Indianapolis, March 23 —(UP)— A family of three was rescued early today, only minutes -before their frame house would have been engulfed by fire. Firemen extinguished the blaze and rescued Felix Galley, his wife Sylvia, and their teen-age daughter. Senators Okay Janies Boyd As Mine Director • Lewis May Extend Mine Strike Called As Protest To Boyd Washington, March 23— (PU)— Senate confirmation of James Boyd as director of the bureau of mines today put squarely up to John L. Lewis the question of whether the current mine holiday will end on schedule Monday. Coal industry spurces said Lewis may extend the work stoppage which is now in its 10th day. They said he reportedly has indicated that new orders may be issued for the 463,000 idle miners not to return to the pits until local union Safety committees have inspected and approved them for operation. When Lewis instructed members of his United Mine Workers to stay home for a two-week "memorial period,” he gave two reasons. The work stoppage, he said, was to be a period of mourning for the miners killed and injured in 1948. And it was "to emphasize the mine workers' opposition to ole Boyd, an incompetent, unqualified person who has usurped the 'office and function of director of the federal bureau of mines." Lewis opposed Boyd's appointment on the ground that he had had no experience in coal mining. I Coal mining safety inspection is I among the responsibilities of the I bureau of mines. Some senators accused Lewis of trying to “intimidate" them into voting against Boyd's confirmation [ which had been hanging tire for almost two years. The result was | just the opposite. The senate voted [ 50 to 11 last night to confirm the j former dean of the Colorado school i of mines. The senate's action sent a wave ■ of jitters through the coal fields. Rank-and-file miners made it plain ' that it Lewis wanted them to stay out longer in retaliation, they were I willing to do so. John P. Busarello, president of I the UMW's big district five at (Turn To Pane iwo) Assail Home Rule Reni Control Bill Lead To Confusion And Local Politics Washington, March 23 — (UP)— Some Democratic senators predict ed today that "homerule" provisions in the rent control extension bil. will lead to “confusion" and "loca. politics.” Sen. John J. Sparkman. D., Ala. said a compromise “local option' clause voted by the senate las' night after stormy debate "well may be the source of a great dea' of confusion." The proposal, sponsored by Sen J. William Fulbright. D„ Ark. | would let municipalities remove I rent controls if the governor of th< j state authorized it. The senate ap I proved the plan. -15-35. with most , southern Democrats joining Republicans on the winaing side. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey. D. •Minn., said, “it will take the whole rent control issue right down to the level of local politics." Sparkman said rent control conld become "a matter of political buck passing" if a governor and a city council were at odds politically. The senate action guarantee-1 that any rent control extension law will have some form of local decontrol in it. The house already has approved a measure letting anv local government unit lift rent ceilings without haring to go through the governor. If the senate passes Its 12-mon‘h extension bill, as expected, a conference committee will try to work ' (Tun To P««< Sls»

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KATHLEEN BIRMINGHAM, 17. and Milton Babich. 19, (left) arc being sought by police in a nationwide search in connection with the murder of Kathleen's younger sister Patricia Birmingham, whose body was found in the Milwaukee river. A warrant was issued charging Babich with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Kathleen's disappearance. Mr. and Mrs. Fabian Babich, (right) parents of Milton, are being questioned by Milwaukee police about their son.

President Denounces Slave Labor Systems Truman Speaks At Safety Conference Washington. Mar. 23 — (UP) — President Truman today denounced slave labor systems in totalitarian countries under which “there is indifference to pain and suffering." In some countries, he told a, safety conference, "men are thought of as tools of the state" and in others human life is considered of less moment than private profit. Mr. Truman did not name the countries, but his words recalled charges by the AFL that there are 14,000,000 slave laborers in Russia and her satellites. The international labor organization recently was directed by the • United Nations to make a study of slave labor conditions in Russia and satellite countries. Russia has refused permission for such a survey. The president called for a nationwide safety program to ( reduce industrial accidents by 1,000,000 a year. He said this would contribute to peace and prosperity. A democracy. Mr. Truman said, must protect its workers against exploitation either by individuals or by the state. The nation cannot afford "the neediest loss of skilled workers if we are to produce for prosperity in this country and for peace’ abroad." the president said. “Technicians from the federal government working through state agencies,” he said, "can help to (Turn To I’nce Sli» Accused Murderer Surrenders loday Charged With Death Os Wife's Admirer Cedar Rapids. la.. Mar. 23 — (UP) — Dr. Robert Rutledge. St Louis, charged with the Cedaz Rapids hotel room murder of his wife's admirer last December, surrendered to Linn county sheriH James Smith here today. The doctor was accompanied by his St. Louis a torney. Leo Laugh ren. whose long legal battle with lowa and Missouri authorities has delayed Rutledges return here for two months. Rutledge, 29. was placed in county jail. He was expected to be arraigned in district court tomorrow. Rutledge is charged with stab bing Byron Hattman to death in a Cedar Rapids hotel room last Dec. 13 during an argument over Hattman's atten ions to Mrs. Rutledge. A habeas corpus hearing scheduled in the St. Louis court of criminal correction yesterday was postponed until today when Rutledge did not appear. Laughren told the court at the time he understood he had until the end of the day to complete a memoran (Tan Ta Sis)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, March 23, 1940

Son Sought — Parents Questioned

Thres British Fliers Are-Killed In Crash Berlin, March 23 — (UP) —Three British airlift fliers were killed last 1 night when their two-engined Da- 1 kota plane crashed near Luebeck, 35 miles northeast of Hamburg, royal air force headquarters announced today. House Commitlee Cuis Spending Bill Anticipates Slash In Building Costs Washington. Mar. 23 — (UP) — The house appropriations committee, anticipating a 15 percent reduction in construction costs, today recommended a $586,762,0001 spending bi 1 for army civil functions—a cut of 23% percent from budget estimates. Tlie measure, carrying construction funds for some 230 flood control and rivers and harbors projects during the fiscal year beginning July 1, would be $180,971,220 . less than the amount proposed in the budget. It Is $1,361,813,666 less than the sum provided in the army civil functions bill for the current sis cal year. The figure for the current year was high because of funds appropriated for government and relief in occupied areas. The house committee said that with a few exceptions, it was not making any specific allocation of the cut in funds. In the event construction costs do not decline 15 percent, the committee promised to supply additional amounts needed to complete tbe program contemplated for the next fiscal year. The commlitee said there was a downward- trend in construction costs in October. 1948, that proh- - ably "will continue and become ! more pronounced during the fiscal [year 1950.” Some reductions were based oil i (Turn To Page I-’oun

'VtediZaXiM (Rev. O. C. Busse, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Preble) MEETING OUR MOODS Lord, why casteth Thou off my soul? why hidest Thou Thy face from me? Psalm 88:14. The psalmist is confronted with one of the most mysterious and perplexing problems in life. He seeks an answer to the ageless question "Why?" He is desirous of ascertaining why our heavenly Father has appointed us to reverses and afflictions. Human reason and philosophy have no answer to this question. And so they suggest one of two things. They either take the road of unbe’ief and say there h no answer, or they suggest the way of pleasure and try to drown out tbe question by acting like animals for whom there are no problems like this. However. God has a definite answer to this perplexing question. Here it is: “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. and scourw’th every son whom He receiveth." and again. “I have loved thee with an everlas'ing love, therefore out of loving kindness have I drawn thee unto Me." Truly, marvelous is the providence of God I", our lives. He permits us to experience reverses and disappointments. but by His orerrn’ine providence He brines rood out of evil, sweet out o? bitter. He does that because He loves us. He sent His Son down to live and die for ns so that we mleht have life, and that we mleht have it more abundantly. The design of our religion is the salvation o f the soul. Everything that tends to produce this effect is a blessing, regardless of the form in which it may appear.

Issue Warrant For Arrest 01 Babich Eloped With Sister Os Murdered Girl Milwaukee, Mar. 23 — (UP) — Detectives set out to learn today whether Kathleen Birmingham was safely enjoying her honeymoon or had met the same fate as her sister, Patricia, 16, who was shot to death, weighted with a concrete block and dumped in the Milwaukee river. A warrant was issued for the capture of Milton Babich, 19, with whom Kathleen. 18, eloped last Friday. The warrant, intended to expedite his return here if found outside Wisconsin, charged him I with contributing to the delinquency of a minor by eloping with Kathleen. Capt. Adolph Kraemer said he considered It “highly significant" that the couple has not been heard from since they disappeared despite ths sensation caused by the i discovery Sunday of Patricia’s body. The warrant was sworn out by 1 the girl's father. Albert T. Birmingham. His wife visited Babich’s parents and informed them of the action. "We decided to sign the warrant in hop s of clearing the bn iness up,” Mrs. Birmingham said. "I have no fears about Milton. He's as fine a fellow as there is." Victor Babich, 21, replied for the family. He said “we hope that the warrant will enable police to find Milton and Kay." Kath’een and Babich left notes informing their families that they were running away to be married. They had gone "steady" about 18 months. Mr’. Birmingham said Kathleen "took all her clothes i with her." "With all the publicity that has I been given to Patricia's murder it seems impossible that Kathleen and Babich haven't heard that her (Turn To Tmre WO

Acheson Brands Russian Charges Os U. S. Action As "Altogether False”

Armistice Signed 1 By Israel, Lebanon Ends 300 Days Os Undeclared Warfare By United Press " 1 Israel and Lebanon signed a military armistice today that ended 300 days of undeclared war and brought Palestine its second major peace settlement in two months. Terms of the 4,000-word agreement, signed at the ancient frontier station of Ras En Naqura, were similar to those of the pacesetting armistice reached by Is- , rael and Egypt on the island of , Rhodes, Feb. 24. They called for the exchange of prisoners within 48 hours, the withdrawal of troops within 10 days and the establishment of the Lebanese - Israeli international frontier as an armistice line.. Both sides pledged themselves Ito peace, agreed to respect the j frontier and promised to refer all disputes to an armistice commission. they created under United Nations chairmanship. The Israeli-Lebanese struggle was not a large one—tomorrow's exchange of prisoners will Involve only 28 Lebanese and seven Israelis. But today’s armistice was a [ significant step in bringing com- ’ plete peace and a final po itical j settlement to the Holy Land. Israel and Trans-Jordan are nego-1' tiating now at Rhodes under the | auspices of United Nations mediator Ralph J. Bunche. Syria agreed yesterday to start armistice talks with the Israelis. On foreign fronts: The North Atlantic Pact-Lead-ers of the three major parties in the Danish parliament supported a government proposal for joining the alliance. As debate opened, government leader Ju'ius Bornholt said, “a neutral Denmark means an occupied Denmark." Well-informed sources in Madrid said that Spain, which itself seeks, admission to the alliance, had I threatened to denounce the Iher- : ian pact wiih Portugal if that country entered the Atlantic pact. Discussion in the Portuguese cabinet was stalled. The Chinese communist radio, unleashed another blast at the Atlantic pact and warned against the proposed anti-communist alliance in the Pacific. ■ I, Relief Broadcast On Saturday Night i; Churches Os Nation Sponsor Campaign | Famous people from all walks, of life will take part in the “One I Great Hour" radio broadcast Satur-j day night. The program will be the reminder for the effort Sunday by 75,000 churches in the United States to raise in one hour $lO.000.000 for use in overseas relief. The program will be heard on all radio stations and chains at i 9 o'clock, (CST), except those sta-i tions affiliated with American; Broadcasting Co. This chain will| carry the program an hour later at 10 o'clock. President Truman will take part in the program, it was announced Other well-known persons to be heard will be Gregory Peck. Ida Lupino, Robert Montgomery and others. All Decatur'churches will take part in the campaign Sunday morning to help raise the huge fund and several local church organiza tions are planning radio parties Saturday night to hear the "One Great Hour" program The script for the radio program has been written by Robert Sherwood. well-known author, and it tells a story of the needs and wbat is being done toward the rebuilding of churches In Europe. The movement is being sponsored by Roman Catholic. Lutheran and Protestant churches jointly.

Wabash Trains Begin Rolling As Strike Ends Week-Long Strike Ends, Negotiations Will Be Continued St. Louis, March 23 — (UP)— Trains begun rolling over the Wabash railroad's right-of-way today as four unions ended a week-long strike while negotiators settle working grievances against the company. G. H. Side, vice-president and general manager of the railroad, said some freight trains began running early today and that passenger service would resume late this afternoon. "It's taking us a little time to recall the workers," he said, “but I think we’ll be back on full schedule by midnight.” Union officials representing 3,500 engineers, firemen, conductors avd trainmen agreed late yesterday to send the men back to work. The company promised none of the men would lose seniority due to the strike. ! The negotiators agreed' that meanwhile they would continue diI red negotiations to eliminate the ; grievances which started the strike I a week ago today. ! They reported that they had settled many of the original 185 complaints and that only slightly more than 100 remained. They said that any which could not be agreed upon would be presented to a presidential fact-finding board for arbitration. Both sides pledged to abide by the board's decisions on such cases. The board was appointed by. President Truman, after the strike started, to ascertain its cause and recommend means of settling it. The strike had forced the Wa- ' bash to shut down all operations. I Many communities and industries had to resort to motor vehicle transportation. The Wabash had laid off most of its 5,5()0 nonoperating workers. The unions were expected to take up a similar dispute with the Missouri Pacific railroad, key souinwestern line, as soon as the Wabash dispute is settled. A union spokesman said the re- ' maining grievances fell into nine classifications: final terminal ev I ertime. initial terminal switching transportation for enginemen and i trainmen, "case 523-comhining freight and passenger service,’ ; working two assignments, cabooses ' for yardmen and roadmen, abroI gallon of memorandum of understanding dated July 12, 1938, road (Tan Th I’lUte SKI Budenz Summoned As First Witness Initial Witness In Communists' Trial New York. March 23 — (UP) — The government today called Loirtr F. Budenz. former managing edito , of the Communist Daily Worker, a, the first witness in the conspiracy trial of 11 top U. S. Communists. Budenz, economics professor at Fordham university, left the Com munist party in 1915 and joined the Catholic church. He was managin-: editor of the Daily Worker, official Communist party newspaper, in June 1945. The government charges it war at that time that the defendants dis solved the Communist political as sociatlon and conspired to reorganize the present Communist par ty to teach and advocate violent overthrow of the government. I Budenz haa been a frequent wit ness at deportation hearings against (Tara Ta Page Twa)

Price Four Cents

Senate Committee Chairman Asserts Military Forces May Be Increased Washington, Mar. 23 — (UP) — Secretary of state Dean Acheson today branded as 'al.ogether false Soviet charges that the United States is building military bases in Iran from which to attack Russia. At the same time he said that American interest In the North Atlantic area should not be "misinterpreted” by anyone as implying a lessening of American interest in Greece, Turkey, Iran and other near and middle eastern countries. Acheson told a news conference that no more than 62 American military officers and men are in Iran. He said they are only advising Iranian military forces on organization and supply matters, and assisting Iran to build up an adequate internal police force. Acheson said Soviet pressure on Iran in the form of persistent press and radio propaganda "setms to have intensified in recent weeks." Reports of this pressure have been communicated to the state depar ment by the American embassy at Tehran and Iranian ambassador Hussein Ala, Acheson added. He pointed out that Ala on March 14 handed him a memorandum sent to Russia by the Iranian government which protested the increasing Soviet attacks on tht oil-rich nation. "One type of Soviet allegation mentioned in the Iranian memorandum is that 'American advisers intend to transform Iran into a military base to be used against the Soviet Union'," Acheson said in a statement. "Such charges are altogether false and demonstrably untrue." Increase Forces Washington. Mar. 23 — (UP) — Chairman Millard E. Tydings of the senate armed services committee said today that America's military forces may have to be increased .soon because of Atlantic pact defense commitments. But the Maryland Democrat said that in the long run. the pact and its companion project for arms shipments to Europe should enable cutbacks in U. S. defense spending and in the size of American armed forces. As the arms program took shape, meanwhile, it was learned that: 1. Three regional defense setups may be established under the North Atlantic alliance. A tentative plan under consideration calls for these groupings: (1) the United States. Canada. Greenland and Iceland: (2) Britain. France and the Benelux countries: (3) the Scandinavian countries. 2. The national security resources board has advised the state department that $2,000,600,000 in first-year lend-lease spending would not dangerously deplete American resources or require new economic controls. 3. Diplomatic officials said that it was impossible because of the world situation to forecast the duration of the proposed program to build up the military strength of treaty nations with American arms. But they thought it might ast "at least" four years. Tydings' armed services committee soon will begin consideration of the military implications stemming from the anti-aggression treaty. He estimated that in four or five years the defense strength of western Europe could be built up to a point where this country safely could reduce its own army,’ navy and air force. European manpower equipped in part wi:h American arms. Tydings reasoned, could take over an “appreciable" portion of the responsibility for defense of the Atlantic ’•enrttjr tone. He added that in a •‘rea'onaMe" period. V. S. economic recovery aid should permit western Europe to take over the job of arming herself.