Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 24, Decatur, Adams County, 29 January 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. N0.„24.

Staff Chief To Give Congress Attack Story House Demands Full I Probe Os 111-Fated < Attack In Korea < WASHINGTON UP — Chairman Dewey Short of the house t aimed services committee promised .today that Gen. J. Lawton ColljnS, army chief of staff, will giv£ congress “tl£e full story” on Sunday’s ill-fated United Nations T-Bone Hill attack in Korea. Other house members had ques i tinned, Whether the attack in which U. N. infantry troops were driven back by Compiurilst forces who were presumed to have been clobbered by* artillery . and aerial [attacks—'was" staged for militaryreasons or as a “show” for visiting officers and newspapermen. Rep. Clare ,E. Hoffman R->Hch. introduced a privileged “resolution of inquiry” calling on the defense department for all the facts ih the case. ,Rep.\ William G. Uray, IlInd.* in a letter to secretary Charles E. Wilson, also de- / rnanded an explanation, Short told, the House.that A'rmed Services Committee Clerk Robert Smart, on his orders, called on Gen. John E. Hull, vice chip! of -staff of the for|-a full report on the incident. Short- said Hull subsequently called Collins.’< whir is in Korea, [twice by telephone, Hull reported that Collins on his return to Wash-, ington Saturday will be prepared to report on what-happened. Short told newsmen he may have Collins ‘come before the committee next Monday or Tuesday.” The Army said meahwlijle that Gen. J. CaWTon Collins, army chief of staff, will arrive at Nation a|Atiport early Saturday and Will hold a news conference [ immediately, presumably to discuss the T-Bone HiH attack. A spokesman said no army comment on the congressional demand is expected before Collins’ return from the Far East. Rep. James E. Van Zandt RFa., who recently returned from a tour of duty in Korea as a riaval reserve captain, endorsed the arm ed services committee inquiry. >But he said no charges of improper action should be made until t the facts dre in. , . “Frequently there are circumstances known.«to the general ?in the field that are not apparent to people at home,” Van Zandt said. ‘The general in charge usually knows what he is doing.” Hoffman made his ( request ip-the form of a privileged ‘‘resolution of inquiry” prepared for introduction, in the house, Bray made his in a letter warning defense secretary Charles E. Wilson that criticism of the attack is bound “to moupt.” Hoffman’s resolution, called on the defense department to tell the house why tne attack was ordered) lyhether newspapermen; and others were invited to watch it, and how many Americans and other United Nations troops lost their-lives. [fin his letter to Wilson. Brayasked whether the arihy was’“putting on a show, with actual killing, for visiting firemen, using human guinea pigs.” . > Korean news dispatches said'hijth army and air force spectators and war correspondents were provided with programs of the attack —which failed after more than four hours of battle. ’ ’ Bpay, a World War II tank battalion commander, said he was “ut terly disgusted” #ith the way [the raid was handled. He said it Ibpk- \\ ed like .an 'example of the/‘brutality of the old Prussian system, and I want no part? of that." . , Brgy said he had Received a lot of letters and calli from his dis’ trict about the raid and so wrote Wilson asking him to explain'the purpose of the .raid and the' results.” ♦: He said ope man whose ion “just got over there" complained to J him about thq ilaid and w-as “intensely bitter.” [ - “I feel.” Bray said, “that “the publicity is a very'' bad blow ;to American morale.” INDIANA WEATHER Increasing ..cloudiness .jtd-’ night, occasional light snow * i . Lnorth and A central portions late tonight or early Friday. Mostly cloudy extreme south j Friday. A little colder tonight, j -i}£.ow tonight 10-20. High Friday 24-32 north and central and in the low 30’s extreme south; ' '-i I/

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

-1 ' ■ ■ ■ , Ferreting Out Government Waste Ofei'O rl J 3 uJOEi FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDER issued by President Eisenhower gives official status to thifa committee, set up to study ways of streamlining the federal government and to find out how wasteful operations might be eliminated. Chairman is Nelson A. Rockefeller, former assistant secretary pf state for Latin American affairs. Serving with hlw are the President’s brother. Dr. Milton Eisenhower, president of Pennsylvania State college, and Dr. Arthur S. Flemming, president of Ohio Wesleyan university,, Delaware, O. ,

Truman Lashes At His Critics In Washington Former President Calls Congressmen Critics Pinheads , ■ [ . I _ ■ i ' INDEPENDENCE, Mo., UP — Former President Truman let loo?e on his congressional critics today as “'pin heads” and “squirrel heads” who think they- “know more than anybody else on any subject”; 4 • i ; Chatting with reporters on his early looming Walk, Mr. Truman also said that he was glad to read a published report that a prominent scientist agreed with him that it “problematical” whether the Russians have a workable A 1 bomb. ; Dr. Arthur H. Gom-ton. the 1927 Nobel prtae ptiywicist,; was so knotted in Beaumont, Tex., Wednesday. In Norwalk, Conn.', [Lt. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, wartime head of the atomic bomb project, said Mr. Trumah may ■ have [been correct when he i said he was “not convinced” ’Russia has the A-bomb. Groves said: All we know is there [were indications Os nucleatf lexplosions in Russia. That does not prove that they 'havj the bomb in a workable 1 Mr. Truman accused fils congressional opponents in the A-bomb controversy of “scaring a lot \of ’Americans to death With some! >r.responsible statements.’’ “1 thinlii\tve ought to Settle down and be sensible about our situation.he [Said. “We’ve got a job to do' building up ourL strength to 'infiet anything that may come along but meantime we’ve got to go on living sensibly.” Mr. ’t’ruman termed as “squirrel head” [the, actibp of senate and house coin in ittees. voting to curb President Eisenhower’s power to reorganize the government. The committees voted to permit the senate or house to vfeto any presidential reqrganizational proposal by a majority of those instead of by a constitutional majority as tinder the Tiiupian administration. s [ ,' ! i[ Mr. Truman said that “pin head”congressrtjen had never given his secretary [ of state, k)ban Acheson, due credit for his; (Acheson's) work with former Hoover on the reorganization commission because they we’re jealous of 1 his “being smarter” than they are. Mr. Truman said that he hoped to listen do President Eisenhower’s state of tse union mekpage to congress next Monday, ii \ “But 1 ivon’t bq in any hurry to rush out irftih my, opinion in five minutes,” |he said," “like some of those brafny and piUhty domed congressmen whjo always know more' than anybody else oh any subject.” -B- [ j ? Wednesday, he admonished the Republicahs last time before starting oh a vow to refrain from comments' that might “throw a monkey wrench” into President Eisenhower’s ! \ ’ I " r# ■ 1 ” T Total Eclipse Os Moon This Evening i , A total felclipse of the moon will occur this evening between 5:05 and 6:30. An eclipse occurs when; the earth passes between the moon and sunk This caused a shadow to envelop, the -moon. i Between 3:54 ahd 5:05 p.m., the earth’s sjiadowv will Creep across the face Qf, the moon from the lower edge- to the top. From 5 :05 to 6:30 p.m. the moon will be . totally eclipeed, hut will not disappear from vlew h ! ■ I

Sephus Melchi Is Home From Hospital Sephus Melchi, veteran retired police officer of this city and a former county sheriff re--turne|d to his home, 810 N. Third' streej last evening; front the Lutheran ? hospital, Fort Wayne. * Mr; Melchi underwent'< surgery, at the hospital, fils skull ' was pierced and an inside' nerve was clipped to give him relief from constant pain. He is progressing satisfactorily, members of his family dtated. Charge Craig Friends With Insurance Grab Four Backers Sell Selves Million In Indiana INDIANAPOLIS, Up —Four men who helped Governor, Craig in his election bld have sbld themselves more than 11,000,000;: worth of insurance on state property this month, the Indianapolis Times said today. ' \ i | \ In a news story written by reporter Ted. Knap, the Times paid the four aire members of a committee created by Craig to allot the state’s $90,000,000 a year insurance premiums. In the past the state insurance coriimissioner distributed the business.- ! - Thesfour were by the Times? as Linn S. Ridd. Brazil insurance agent; Harry Fitch, Tprre> Haute: Glen J. May, Spencer, and Kevin D. Brosnan, inldlanapolis. Fitch, the chairman, was quoted as saying the four “'wrote the policies ourselves this month because we didn’t have tinxe to shop and place them elseiwhere." Fitch said, according to the newspaper, that “the business will be distributed to agents o ver the state-r-we’re not going to make a personal grab-bag of this." The Times said Kidd got the. bulk of the business, $583,325 worth of policies with $2,466 inv premiums. I ’ State insurance has been distributed traditionally^\on the political spoils system. Retiring commissioner Frank J. Viehmann said he\ divided the business Among about 300 Democrat agent? in his administration.' v Legion Members Ta Attend Rites American Legion members are asked to meet at the Legion home Saturday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. to attend the funeral of Max Mirers. Eight-Year-Old Boy Is Killed By Auto rNniANAPOLIS <UP) — Eight-year-old Paul Reigaii, Indiarfapolis, was killed late ; Wednesday when he was struck by ah duto at a street intersection on the East Side. The car was driven by Mrs. Clara May Bray, 36, Indjanapolik Million Dollar Fire In Canadian Refinery TURNER Alta. UP— Firemen smothered at dawn today a , $1,000,000 blaze *which leveled most of a large oil refinery and critically burned five men. The flames destroyed 16 oil storage tanks and three buildings at the Gas and Oil Refineries Ltd. plant near Hartell, 40 miles southwest of Calgary. ,[ [ [ An explosion touched off the fire. Deep snowdrifts ’hampered firemen. ; A 11 !'A ’ ?

•ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 29, 1953.

Army, Air Secretary Nominees Promise To Sell Stock Holdings

' v »' ’ I ' r fl Two Military Planes Sought In Northwest A I ' 17 Persons Aboard Plants Missing In Pacific Northwest !’ Ji ■ - * ! r A By UNITED PRESS Air force and coast guard disaster centers put “maximum 1 ’ strength behind searches for two military planes missing in the crash-conscious Pacific Northwest today and reports [were received Ihdt a third plane was down in a '{•ertlote section of British Columbiaij ... - .us New. Orleans, meanwhile, seameh aboard a taftker said they haw a “rather large” but otherwiqb unidentified plane crash into, thd; Gulf qf Mexico .Wednesday. Theiy said they later saw an pil (ilicik on the water but no Sign of wreckage or survivors, i■ T»t* e military planjeW ‘ missing :in the, northwest with a total of .1,7 persons aboard were a U. S, navy Prijiateer bomber and a Royal Canadian air force Dakota bomber. A commercial amphibious airliner cartying a pilot and six also were reported to have crashlAndnd in an inlet off the northern British Columbia coajst, and all but t,he i; pilot were believed to have beeii killed. ‘ The Navy Privateeif with 10 a boattd was missing somewhere be and the Whidbey Island Nav.kl Air Station in Puget SoundTl|e four-engined-craft was on«a flight from Alameda, Calif., to WhidbSy. It was feared the[ plane ! might have drifted Off its course and crashed in heavily - wooded, sno4-cov;ered mountains in the Cascade range. \ ‘ • ‘ Tlje Canadian Air Forte jilauP with seven aboard wag jni&sihg in the wilds of mountainous British on a routine f|lghk across southern British Columbia frorn Princeton. Altogether 333 persons have been .killed or )( afb missing in plane in the fugged Pacific Northwest area sine? Nov. 7, 1952. Eleven NavyA planes wei\e sent tb fly over’ the Whidbey Island areaiiin search of the missing Amer? (Turn Pw Five) Annual Report By County Surveyor , Herman Moellering Annual Report annual report of Hermaml Moellering, county surveyor, reveald; that $30,822.95 was spent during 1952 to clean, with the cotinty dragline, 12 open ditches.’ yUforther breakdown shewed sß.t---401.54! spent for tile drains,- besides litho $5,000 spent to repair maintain tile drains. Following are the specific ditches named by Moellering in, his report and the amounts paid for each: ‘ Wittmer ditch, Monroe, $1,868'; Ph.fl jfetrahm. Root. $200; Jessie. Ford, [Wabash, $1,153; Lew Sapp, St. Mary’s, $640; Ben Shroyer, ; Root, $464; Miller, Ripe Creek;! s26B'; Orval Jones, branch Blue Crpek, $268; Lmginbill, Jef-' ferson, $1,524.50; James K. Martz, Monroe,; Washington, Blue fcreek and St. \Mary’s, $10,283 j Henry Wagley, Wabash, $7,752.85; Barnard, Straub, Washington, $4,996.95, Moellering states the following drains,, are * being paid for by the fanners of the respective townships: Orval Morrison tile drain—sl,600; Austin McMichael tile drain —5525. Moellering said the county surveyor’s office laid all of the pipe for the county highway department. Jn 12 of the ditches named, farmers involved retained Jesie Sheeta to clean them. .. ■ 1 |

Warns Against Any Early Cut In Taxes Slash In Spending Is First Demanded WASHINGTON UP — Rep. John Taber R-N. Y., one of 'the GOP's foremost advocates of governipent economy, warned his colleagues to•day against putting a tax cut ahead of reductions in federal spending. “I don’t doubt that we will’be ‘able to cut government spending enough to permit a tax this year and still keep a balanced budget,” Taber told a reporter. . “But I don’t think we sought to put tax reduction first. It should be the other way around.’ Taber, who heads the house appropriations committee, commented. after Rep. Daniel A. Reed RN. Y. set the wheels in motion to reduce federal income taxes June 30. Reed, chairman of the tax-fram-ipg house ways and means committee, wants th’ reduce taxes about 11 percent for the lapt half of 1953, which would be equivalent. to a five and onte-half percent cut the full calendar year. Present law calls for taxpayers to get an II percent reduction effective next Jan. 1. Reed proposes .to advance this tax relief by six pionths. * Taber is confident that federal spending for the fiscal yea? can be cut some below the $78.600,000,0()0 estimate of the formpr Truman administration. Taber, like other Republican leaders, did not disagree with the idea of ft tax cut this year. But he said congress’ determination to Reduce federal spending and balance the budget should be demonstrated, first. Taber’s Views apparently rs? fleeted those of top officials of the iElsenhower administration, as well as those of House Republican leaders. President EJsenhower is. expected to give some indication Qf his thinking on the budget-taxes situation when he his State of the Upton message before a joint session of Congress* Monday. -■ _ A Living Cost Index Change Causes Row Pressure On Ike For Intervention : J \;. WASHINGTON UP — President Eisenhower came under considerable pressure today to take a per-' sonal hand in an angry row over the effect qf the government's new price index on 3,500,000- workers’ paycheck?. Union leaders have clashed ambng themselves and. with industry officials on ways to pvoid possible drastic wage changes under the “escalator” labor contracts tied to the iiidex. \ ; Informed sources revealed that’ the issue was taken up with the President at his first cabinet meeting and that he might hhve to intervene personally. j - [ ! fe The labor department announced Jan.. 15 that beginning nexj. month it would issue a ‘modernized’l cost-of-living index that would take such factors as beer and baby sitter prices into account for the first time. \ The CIO United Auto Workers oa.id they favored the nqw index'. But they declared it gites them the right t& reopen all their longterm “escalator” contracts with the car makers, something they have been anxious to d<k But auto industry, the AFL and 20 independent railroad unions have insisted that the labor department revive its old Index to eliminate the need 'for a mass overhaul of contracts. Waller P. Reuther, head of the CIO as well as auto workers, out? lined his position in 2,000-word 'telegrams Wednesday night to la- > bor secretary Martin P. Durkin land chairman H. Alexander Smith R-N. J j pf the senate Labor ebrh(Twrw T» Pave Ftv«> |

r- — Indiana Sales Tax Proposed To Assembly Four 1 Percent Sales! Tax Is Proposed In Bill Drafted Today INDIANAPOLIS, UP -z\ bill to leiry a 4 percent sales tax on all non-essential Indiana purchases as a substitute for gross income and personal property taxes was introduced in the legislature today. The bill was offered in the house by Rep. Merrett R. Monks, R-W’inchester. The tax would cover all sales except food, shelter and inexpensive clothing. Merchandise and transactions which would be exempt would “protect the laboring man.” Monks said. The bill is modeled after the sales tax law in Ohio, where the rate is 3 percent. Monks plans companion hills repealing gross inpotne and personal property taxes. - “There’s a growing sentiment for it,’,' he said. “The public in time will have to accept a stale sales tax.” Monks’ bill exempts from the: tax ahy article of clothing costing le?s than SSO. Rurchakes of all bought in grocery or restaurant — and; shelter — whether rent' or payments on homes?—would be exempt. “The average laboring man pays 75 to 85 cents of each $1 for food, clothing or shelter,” Monks said. ‘‘They’re the main items we have to buy and that's where We’d be protected.” \ , He said taxes paid on personal property would be decreased by a sales tax. As an example, he said a $3,000 automobile purchased in Ohio would, 'bear S9O tftx, whereas the same car owned' years in Winchester would Cost $312.85 tax. Monks said such a tax yrould adequately finance state operations. 'Ohio, he said, built up a bigger general fuhd surplus with its tlax than did Iridiana with gross income and personal property. He added Ohio highways are "better” that Indiana's and schools in the neighboring state are “as good.” “I’m hot an enemy of gross income tax ” he said. “I’m an enemy of tax under which (Turn To Page Seven) Mrs. Frank Neff ; Dies This Morning Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon Mrs. Frank Neff, 51, well known W’ell? county resident, died at 5 aan. today at the Methodist hospital in Fort Wayne, following an extended illness. j k Mrs. Neff resided six and one-half miles west of Berne on highway 118, just beyond Adams county line, on the former Samuel Gen-1 tis farm. Born July 24, 1901, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Rose Shoemaker Gentis. She was married to Frank Neff, Wells county farmer, March 25, 1922 in the Methodist parsonage in muffton. Surviving besides the husbantf are ofte sori, Ned Nets of Grand Rapids, Mich., two daughters, .Mrs. I Roland Wolfcale qf E luffton and Carolyn Rose, at home. One brother, Dan O. Gentis of Bluffton route three, also survives. Mrs. Neff was a sister of the late Ralph O. Gentis of this city. body has been taken to the Yager, funeral home in Berne, where friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.qi. Sunday at the Old Salem Evangelical Uhited brethren church, with the Rev. George Holston of Kokomo and the Rev. Robert Cox, of Blufftqn, officiating. Burial will be in the Six Mile cemete’ry. V . ' 'I ■

Boy Scout Speaker // ' ./ f ' W--A Ned Garver Garver Speaker At Boy Scout Banquet Major League Hurler Here February 12 Ned Garver; one of professional i baseballs outstanding pitchers, will be the principal speaker at. the annual Decatur Boy Scout dinnec Thursday evening. Feb. 12, it announced today by George Bairi activities chairman for the Boy Scouts. , \ The annual banquet, one of the highlight? of the observance of national ’Boy Scout w\eek in this City, will be held at Jthe Masonic hall 'in this city. The' banquet is sponsored by >Jhe Rotary club. Lions club and Adams Post 43, American Legion, sponsors of the. three Decatu|r thoops. Garver, traded to the Detroit T’igers last summer after setting exceptional pitching records with the St. Louis Browns, is rated a.4 one of the top hurlers in major league baseball. During the 1951 season, Garver entered the 20victbry class while toiling for the cellar-dweljing Browns. The appearance of.Garver, who resides at Ney, 0., is expected to add considerable interest to the arrpual banquet. National Boy Scout week, Saturday, Feb. 7, through Friday, Feb. 13, will be observed by local Scouts, Explorers, Cubs and Scouters. Some of the highlights will be the administration of city and epunty offices by the Boy Scouts Feb. 7, and, weather permitting, some pf the local Scouts will possibly participate in the Lincoln pilgrimage service at Fort Wayne. Ralph Habegger Is' C. Os C. President Hardware Man Is Elected President Ralph Habegger, owner and operator of Habegger’s Hardware store in this city, is Decatur’s new Chamber of Commerce president, it was announced today; Habegger was named by tqe board of this* week to serve the 1953-54 term. Ronald Parrish, manager of Bellmont Trucking Co. here and Earl Fuhrman, Schafer Co. executive, were named vice-presidents, and William Lose, assistant cashier of the First State bank, was named treasurer. The first problem the new officers and board will have before them wi|l be to fill the vacancy of the secretary’s post. Walter Ford, present Secretary and manager.; will leave soon io assume similar duties at Connersville. Thq new officers will be introduced at the annual banquet scheduled for tonight, at Decatur high school, secretary Ford said today. John Welch, superintendent of the Decatur plant of the General Electric Co., is the retiring president. 'A J . r ■ ■ -'F.y

Price Five Cents

Promise Vast Holdings Will Be Disposed Os Apparently Clears Way . For Senate To Vote Confirmation \ ■WASHINGTON, UP -President Eisenhower’s nominees for army and air secretaries promised today to get rid of their va< mock holdings, apparently clearing the way for senate confit mation of the appointments. " Army secretary-designate Rolled T. Stevens told the senate armed services committee be will dispose of about $1,444,524 of stock in his family textile firm if the committee insists—and it appeared the committee would insist, r Air secretary-designate Harold E. Talbott promised flatly to get rid of all stock and business interests which might conflict with his government duties. A Robert B. Anderson, named to. be navy secretary, already f has divested himsWt of his stock holdings in firms doing business with the government. All three testified before the , armed services committe as .Mr. . 1 Eisenhower formally submitted their nominations to the senate and asked the eommitte to hurry up action on the nominations so the entire new Pentagon team could start functioning. Defense ' secretary Charles E. Wilson took over Wednesday-—but not until the senate compelled hint to get rid of $2,700,000 in General Motors stockL His deputy, Roger M. Kyes, had divested himself of his G>M stock. Both were executives of General Motors, the government’s biggest defense supplier. After t|ie three prospective service aqcletaries testified, chairman Leverett Saltonstall, Mass., recessed ,his armed services committee until 2p. m„ BSjT. He said he “assumes” the committee then will be ready to act on the Stevens, Talbott and Anderson nominations. Stevens said he would “leave it to the committee as to whether I dispose of the Stevens Company [stock." Tommy Mann Fund Is Still Growing Young Cancer Victim Home From Hospital “Dearest Tommy: “My prayers and thoughts will lie with you foi* a speedy recovery 1 ’ —a Fort Wayne friend. Only one example of the kind of notes that are included with the contributions for Tommy Mann. A ten-yeftr?old girl of Monroeville penned a note to Tommy. “I am ten years old go to school. I heard them tell about you over WOWO . .<■.! know everyone will be_good to you so you will be' well soon and feeling Tommy’s list of 1 friends has grown into the hundreds within the past two days. Each in his own way tell? /ffommy know' they feel about Mm. But they all have one thing in |flommon. The messages are written to a close friend, though they haven’t seen him and don’t know what he looks like. They just know that here ’is a little boy that needs help badly. No questions asked. > In an' interview with Tommy yesterday—just returned from the ’ Chicago Presbyterian hospital where he had his eye removed — Tomtny said he was alright when asked how he felt. During an interval Mrs. Mann explained that Tommy doesn’t coin plain though she knows he is in great pain. “He always says he’s alright,” said his mother, “even though he didn’t get any sleep last night because it hurt him—we know because we (Turn To Page