Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 173, Decatur, Adams County, 24 July 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 173.

SENATE EYES HODGE CASE [ ?, • 1 A A* J IN CHICAGO to study case of Illinois State Auditor, Orville Hodge, Senate Banking Committee staff chief, Robert Wallace (right) and assistant Donald Rodgers scan report on Hodge. Senator Fulbright (D-Ark.) sent them to determine whether there should be a full-scale senate Inquiry.

Nuclear Tests Wound Up By United States Reports Material Contributions To Nation's Security WASHINGTON (UP) —The government's 1956 series of mighty nuclear tests in the Pacific is completed. A joint announcement by the atomic energy commission and the defense department said Monday the completed tests "contributed materially to the security of the United States and the free world.'" vA’KC cEairmaa Lewis L. Strauss and defense secretary Charles E. Wilson said the teats “advanced the development of weapons with reduced fallout and weapons- for tactical purposes.” • ..... " They said ot« of thff “Successful” results is further development of methods of defending against attack, presumably nuclear anti-aircrhft weapons. Tireannouncement said no personnel of the joint task force •which conducted the tests suffered injuries attributable to radioactive fallout or other effects. How many test shots there were was not disclosed. So far as Is publicly known, there were at least two. ~ On May 21, the first hydrogen bomb ever dropped by the U. S. a'r force was aimed at Namu Island. It later was disclosed that while the drop was considered successful by scientists the bomb unleashed by a 852 bomber missed its target by something less than four miles. Prior to tnat, reporters covering the 1956 series witnessed an atomic bomb test shot. « However, since May 31 the Japanese have been announcing each test shot set off by the United States in the Pacific proving grounds. They based the announcements on an examination of radio-active particles in the area and other factors. The Japanese claim their instruments detected evidence of nuclear explosion May 28, June 13, June 26, July 3. July 9, July 11 and two last weekend. Stratus announced last Thursday that during the current series of tests the United States has progressed toward the development of nuclear weapons which can destroy an enemy target and keep the danger of radio-active fallout to nearby civilian populations at a minimum. He also mentioned progress toward the development of an atomic anti-aircraft weapon that could destroy enemy bomber fleets attacking this country. Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin, army research chief, recently caused a stir in congress when he eetimated'that an all-out nuclear attack on Russia would cause “several hundred jpillton deaths," in(Continued pn Page Five) INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy and warm thia afternoon and tonight, with scattered showers and thunderstorms south portion this afternoon and tonight and in north portion late this afternoon or tonight. Locally heavy thunderstorms likely extreme south this afternoon and tonight Wednesday partly cloudy with scattered thundershowers south and east portions * and little change In temperatures. Low tonight 65-70. -High Wednesday in the 80s. Sunset 8:06 p. m., sunrise Wednesday 5:37 a. m. . _L

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWIffAPffR IN ADAMS COUNTY

A.S.C. Community Committees Named Results Announced By County Chairman Results of the annual election of community oommittees were announced today by Oscar T. Brown, chairman of the Adams county ASC committee: Blue Creek — Fred C. Myefs, chairman: Wm. Burke, vice-chair-man; Wm. Kauffman, regular member; Harold DeArmond. flrat alternate; and Frank Dellinger, second alternate. French ■ Henry Aschliman, chairman; Elmer J. Isch, vice-chair-man; Lewellyn Lehman, regular member; Roger Dustman, first alternate. and Ivan Spruhger, second alternate. \ ' Hartford — Eli jDubach, chairman; James Oarbouen, vice-chair-man; Harry F. Moser, regular member: Alfred Grogg, first alternate. and Joseph T. deadening, second alternate. Jettorsoo'— Orison Stole, chairman; Andy ijfyeri, vice-ctaffffiffff; Wilbert Baker, regular member; Glenn Bollenbacher, first alternate, and Wm. Adang. second alternate. Kirkland—-Loyd L. Byerly, chairman; Paul Arnold, vice-chairmkn; Joseph T. Hazelwood, regular member: Robert Burcher, first alter - nate; and Glen Griffiths, second alternate. Monroe — Franklin P. Steury, chairman; Lawrence Eicher, vice-chairman, Leroy Lehman: i regular member; Wm. Reichert, first alternate, and Ell M. Schwartz second alternate. Preble —Harold Ehlerding chairman; Walter Wiagman. vice-chair-man; Albert Erxleben, regular member: Martin F. Gallmeyer. first alternate, and Richard L. Miller, second alternate. . Root — Wm. Frltzlnger, chairman: Norvaf Fuhrman, vice-chair-man; Fred E. Fuelling, regular member; Chauncey A. Sheets, first alternate, and Edward Schieferstein,, second alternate. St» *Mary’s —■ Benoit P. Johnson, chairman: Charles Backhaus, vicechairman; Austin McMichael, regular member;.-Izylß L. Bailey, first alternate, and Thomas Sheehan, second alternate. Union —■ Edward A. Bischoff, chairman; Herman F. Steele, vicechairman; Herman Bleeke, regular member: Simon A. Lehrman. first alternate, and Alfred Grote, second alternate. . Wabash — Kenneth VanEtnon, chairman; Lowell Long, vice-chair-man; Robert Gerber, regular member; Solomon Mosser, Jr., first alternate, and Sherman VonGunten, second alternate. Washington—Chalmer L. Reber, chairman: Oscar J. Miller, vicechairman; Eddie R. McFarland, regular member; Albert F. Braun, first alternate, and Herman Faurote, second alternate. Brown stated that the ballots were counted by a tabulating committee which was Appointed by the county election board of which Leo (Continued on Page Five) r --iifi ir.T # Add Roller Storage Cabinets To Office Roller storage cabinets with space tor 128 court record books have been added in the office of county clerk Richard Lewton. The new cabinets have been placed in the northeast room of the clerk’s suite, and books, used frequently by abstractors in scanning records and which now are located where access Is available only by ladder, will be placed in the lower cabinets. Books which under certain statutes must be kept but which are not used frequently will be placed th the hghier storage cabinets

Report Steel Preparing New Contract Offer Informed Sources Report New Offer By Steel Industry NEW YORK (UP) — The steel industry is prepared to make a new contract offer to the Unitod Steelworkers in hopes of ending the 24-day steel strike, informed sources said today. It was believed the new offer would be presented to the union when four-man bargaining teams for each side meet at 12:30 p.m.' CST in their first New York meeting since the strike began July 1. There was speculation that the new offer might call for a throeyear no strike agreement and a package increase the first year approaching 20 cents an hour. A top industry spokesman said “Since we took the initiative in calling the meeting, you can safely assume we have something new to talk about.” Tbe fact the industry’s negotiators took the lead in setting up today's meeting touched off speculation that a new offer was in the wind. The union had rejected two previous industry offers —one for a 60-month contract and the other for 52 months. Spurring today’s meeting was an announcement in Albany, N. Y„ that the steel strike threatens to slow or halt some 302 million dollars of state construction projects, including a big highway building program. Previous off and on joint talks had leen held in Pittsburgh with the federal mediation service playing an active role in the negotiations. ' Federal mediators are not expected to take part in today's session because the participants set it up themselves. The talks-werp held against the Meffdrop at « sftrotftdwring dispute about the tie-up between wages, prices and Inflation. The United Steelworkers of America has charged that “exorbitant" steel price increases—not union wige demands — have been the greatest inflationary factor in the economy. The industry contends the opposite is true. The USW told its members it has noted a “disturbing irresponsibility” in the industry's pricing policies. It said for each 31 increase in wages since 1945, the industry has jacked up prices 33.19. The Industry accused the union of ‘'misrepresenting and distorting" the facts and said wages have gone up much faster than priced since 1940, with the result the industry's profit margin has shrunk. The effects of the strike were spreading slowly through the economy. The government has expres--sed official concern and the federal mediation services has intervened in an effort to speed a settlement

Living Cost Index Hits Record High Sharp Rise In Food Prices Brings Hike WASHINGTON (UP) — The government reported today that its cost-hf-living index hit a record high in June. A sharp rise in food prices paced the upswing in living costa. The increase in the official index means wage increases for some 500,000 workers whose wage contrafcts are tied to the cost of living. The bureau of labor statistics reported-that the consumer price index, based on the 1947 • 1949 period, as 100 per cenL rose .8 of a point to 116.2 in June. The previous high of 115.4 per cent was set originally in October, 1953, and had been equalled last May. The June increase was the largest monthly spurt since JanuaryFebruary, 1951, when the index went up L 2 per cent. BLS chief Ewan Clague said average food prices to the consumer went up 2 per cent in June. This brought the food price index, to 113.2 per cent It was 1.7 per cent above a year ago, but still under the AugusL 1952, record of 116.1 per cent. Clague said a poor spring growing season has resulted in smaller supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables. Pork vteas alee went up, be said.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, July 24, 1956.

White House Renews Support Os Nixon In Face Os Stassen Act

Recruit Says McKeon A Fine Drill Leader Testifies Outfit Lacked Spirit In Training At Camp PARRIS ISLAND. S. C. (UP)— Sgt. Matthew C. McKeon “slapped at me once or twice" and raised a bottle of vodka to bis lips just before taking a recruit platoon on a march of death into a tidal creek, a former member of that outfit testified today. The witness, testifying at McKeon's general court-martial, was marine Pvt. David H. McPherson, 20, of Chatham, N. J. He said McKeon, junior drill instructor of the marine recruit platoon, was irate because the outfit lacked spirit in training. \ McKeon, 31, Worcester, Mass.., is charged with manslaughter, oppression of troops, and drinking against regulations. Six recruits drowned about 8:45 p. m. last Apwi & when McKee® led the platoon into Parris Island’s Ribbon Creek to “teach them discipline.” When the prosecution finished and the defense took over on cross examination. McPherson fallowed tbe lead of other -recent government witnesses — extolling the qualities of his drill instructor. He said McKeon is an “excel. lent drill instructor —a man of great patience.” “Did the two smacks hurt?” he was asked. “No, sir.” He said he "definitely felt” (hat the platoon “was very poorly disciplined and had no spirit at all—they worked individually and not together at all.” . He said he could not remember' seeing ,McKeon swallowing or wiping his Bps after the lifted bottle. Defense lawyer Emile Zola Berman asked: “You don’t know if he juat lifted the bottle as a gesture?” McPherson replied that he did not. He said he could not remember whether the bottle was opened or closed. MePhersm testified' that he was with McKeon between 8 and 8:30 p. m. the evening of the tragedy. The march began about 8:30 p. m. (Continued On Far* Vive) Bloodmobile Unit in Decatur Monday Appeal Is Issued For Blood Donors Mrs. Wanda Oelberg, executive secretary of the local Red Cross, today stated that the local chapter was having a difficult time securing donors for the forthcoming visit of the mobile blood unit. The unit will be in Decatur Monday, July 30, and will establish headquarters at the local American Legion from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. One hundred donors are needed for this visit. The list of needed blood donors from this area include 28 O- positive, six A- negative, six B-postive, one B- negative, four AB-positive and one AB-nega-tive Any person who has any of these types of blood is requested to contact the local Red Cross office so that they may be scheduled for Monday’s visit... Because blood has been rationed for about a month, it was pointed out that the local hospital does not keep a supply of blood, but that Is must be brought in. often resulting in delay in getting the blood to the patient. Mrs. Oelberg emphatically stated that “the need for blood cannot go on vacation," and that Keekfiaerof the high rate of summer highway and farm accidents, the need is even greater at this time of year.

Submit Budgets To Auditor By Aug. 8 Tentative Budgets Now Being Prepared Officials of various taxing units and county department heads are preparing their tentative budgets lot 1957 and figures must be submitted to the office of county auditor Frank Kitson by August 8. Proposed budgets then will be twrned over to the county commissioners who make the first study and possible reductions of county expenditures prior to setting of the 195" tax rate. All budgets, including county, township, school corporations and cities and towns, then go to tbe county council and from the council to the state tax board, which officially establishes the tax rate and approves the budgets. Indications are that the county and city rates might be higher, at least when first submitted for approval. Those close to the tax situation in Adams county state that it is entirely possilbe for the Decatur 1957 rate to be near the $5.50 figure and Berne, Geneva and Monroe could be almost that amottt! : The total tax rate is set by adding the school corporation, state. . city, county and township rates. | In townships where there is no town, or city, the rate is fixed by , aiMjng"tba state, township, school ’ corpora Kon and county rates. Each rate is arrived, at following approval of the unit’s budget ip relation to the appraised valuation of ; the particular unit. Doll Show At Held Thursday Afternoon A doll show will be staged at Worthman field Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock, according fp Miss Janet liverhart, playground , supervisor. Prizes will be awarded to the , first, second, and third place winners in each of the following categories: oldest, prettiest, best bride. > foreign, baby, most unusual, smallest, largest .and animal. Miss Everhart stated that anyone is welcome to enter the doll competition, and that refreshments will be served following the judging. ; Minor Revisions In Plans For Hospital Approval Os Plans Likely This Week After a joint meeting of representatives of the Indiana board of health and trustees of Adams county memorial hospital Monday afternoon, John Dickason, representative of A. M. Strauss, Inc., Fort Wayne architectural firm, was authorized to make 1 minor changes in the tentative plans for the Decatur hospital addition. Dickason will return the amended set of plans to the trustees later this week and it .was indicated by board members that approval of plans would be forthcoming by the week-end. After approval by the state and hospital trustees of plans, copies of the proposal will be submitted to contractors for bids on the remodelling and enlarging program. Until the proposed plans are accepted, it is impossible to ascertain how many additional beds will be added when the improvements are completed. The program calls for additional rooms for patients; a larger public lobby, with more office space for employes and also larger quarters for physicians who use the’ hospital. Total cost of the improvements is limited to $400,060 by an ordinance of the county council granting the trustees authority to issue $400,000 worth of improvement bonds. Trustees of the hospital are Cal E. Peterson and De«| Fryback. Decatur; Henry Rumple, Jefferson township, and Wllbeat Nussbaum, Bern*. ♦

Senate Rejects Amendments To Aid Money Bill Nears Final Vote On Eisenhower's Foreign Aid Bill WASHINGTON (UP) — The senate, nearing a final vote on President Eisenhower’s $4,000,000,ODO foreign aid money bill, rejected today a series of amendments that would have cut $126,600,000 from non-military items. It then turned to a tough fight over a proposal by some Republican leaders to eliminate all military aid for Yugoslavia. The house was busy too as congress continued its cleanup drive. The house adopted, 201-185, a bill to give congress veto power over any move by the Pentagon to dispose of its coffee roasting, paint and rope making plants and other commercial-type operations. No similar bill is pending in the -senate and -it summed doubtful if the aenate would find time in the rush to adjourn to consider the house proposal. Congressional leaders still were shooting for adjournment by Saturday night,, hut disputes over civil rights aud atomic energy legislation could, upset their plans. A few northern Democrats yere plso determined to force ,a senate shoWddw^ t ota the admihlstrailon's civil rights bilf Which passed the hbuse Monday. They* failed in tfieir ' first attempt; Sen; Richard B. RufckeH tD-Ga.l objected to their plea for Unanimous consent t to take tfp'the bill at onCe. ■ House Democrats sponsoring si > 400-mHlionrdollar atomic power reI actor ; bill. eased it over its first hurdle despite strong Republican ; opposition. The house, agreed. 124- ’ 60, to call tha measure up for . formal debate. In addition to the foreign _aid and atomic reactor bills, congress must complete action, on housing, social security and military com (Continues on Pag* F1v«) I ..1 Business Women To Sponsor Cook Book ’» Members -of thy Decatur chapter of ‘Business and Professional Women are soliciting advertising this week for a cook book which the Decatur organization is sponsoring. The cook book will be published by North American Press. Miss Marlene Laurent, Dally Democrat reporter, is president of the Decatur chapter of the B.P.W. Heart Attack Fatal To Perry A. Shaffer Resident Os Tocsin Is Taken By Death Perry A. Shaffer, 59, of Tocsin, suffered a fatal heart attack Monday aiternoon near South Milford while returning home from Blackman lake, where he had been fishing. <He was pronounced dead on arrival at the McCray memorial hospital in Kendallville. Death was Caused by a coronary occlusion. Mr. Shaffer was a member of the Tocsin. Evangelical United Brethren Church and had been an employe of International Harvester in Fdrt Wayne for the past 20 years. , Surviving are the widow, Ida, , Tocsin postmistress; _a son, Richard Shaffer of Fort Wayne; four daughters, Mrs. Robert Durr of Fort Wayne, Mrs. George Hyser of 'Tocsin, Mrs. Donovan Garton of near Tocsin, and Miss Nancy Shaffer, at home; a "brother, Charles Shaffer of Brookville; a sister, Mrs. Ida Sowards of Ossian, and eight grandchildren. Friends may call at the Elzey & Sos funeral home io Ossian after < 7 o’clock this evening. FuAaral ar- . rauxemeots have hot been complete

Legion Convention Is Closed Monday World War II Vet i Is New Commander FORT WAYNE (UP) — The Imiiana department of the American Legion ended Its 38th annual convention here Monday afternoon in favor of a new state commission “to investigate and expose persons or groups whose objectives are overthrow of Constitutional government by unlawful means." The legionnaires elected a World War II veteran as state commander for the second consecutive time. He was Reed Heard of Bedford. World War I and II veterans formerly alternated in the top state legion post. ~ ' Beard defeated Stephen W. Rhatican of Fishers, a Wofld War I veteran, to succeed Alton W. Cochran of Crown Point. The delegates ordered anti-sub-versive commission plans be drawn up and submitted at the next session of the Indiana legislature. The legion also voted to request an Indiana council for children and youth established by the next legislature. The council “would be designed to combat juvenile crime and solve mental health problems. Thte dedegates overwhelmingly rejected a resolution for the United States to drop out of the United Nations and form a new organisation. A measure for a pension for World War I veterans regardless of needs was .supported. , / In other resolutions, the Hoosier legionnarjes voted to support measures to privlde better facilities at the state soldiers home, at Lafayette and to form county councils within the legion. In contests tor other posts in the department, Ralph R. Storm of Mooresville Post 325 and George Yarling of Shelbyville Post 70 were elected southern vice commanders. The rest of the officers elected were unopposed. They included Barney W. Breedlove of IndianI apolis Post 3 as treasurer for his 20th ocnsecutive term. Others were Donald W. Hynes of Whiting. Post 8 and Robert E. Gates of Columbia City Post 98, northern vice commanders; the Rev. Carroll N. Odell of fippon Post 46, chaplain, and Peter Laßussa of Indianapolis Post 383, sergeant at arms. City Water Problem Remains Unsolved Latest Test Well Is Unsatisfactory Decatur’s water problem remained unsolved today as reports from the latest test well, drilled on the Perry Everett farm north of Decatur adjacent to Yost Gravel Co., proved unsatisfactory. Top water engineers of the Layne-Northern Co., Mishawaka, will come to Decatur Wednesday to confer with Ralph Roop, city water department superintendent and other officials on the next step in the search for a new water source. The northern Indiana staff of well locating experts was called into the local picture several weeks ago in an effort to find a gravel water pocket to be added to the present dwindling supply of water from rock wells located in the east and south parts of Decatur. .r f '■/fts' i Roop stated today that the present supply has been ample this summer to accommodate the demand, but that the level is getting shallow and cool and rainy weather had made it unnecessary to draw on the local water supply for lawn and outdoor uses, •usually needed this time of year. After a study of land and undersurface conditions here, LayneNorthern engineers reported that in all probability there were water deposits in gravel north of Decatur. It was believed advisable to seek the gravel water poekets because the engineers stated it wa* (Continued on Pago kiva) ■<. ‘ ‘" L.. . '•

Stassen Move I To Dump Nixon Is Bombshell Eisenhower Greets Nixon Warmly On Return From Meet I ■ I WASHINGTON (UP) — The ■ White House renewed Its support of Vice President Richard M. Nixon for renomination today in the face of a dump-Nixon campaign launched by presidential assistant Harold E. Stassen. White House press secretary James C. Hagerty told newsmen shortly before 11 a.m EDT that he is standing firm on his previous prediction, that Nixon will be renomination as Mr. Eisenhower’s running mate when the GOP convention meets in San Francisco Aug. 20. President Eisenhower himself, on his return from Panama early Shis morning, went out of his way to give's warm, cordial greeting to Nixon. For Stassen, who was also in the welcoming crowd at the airport, the President had only a brief, perfunctory handshake and a “Helo." , Stassen threw a bombshell into . the GOP political campaign late Monday Thy mraduncing i)d will fight to get the vice presidential nomination tor Gov. Christian A. Herter of Massachusetts instead of Nixon, ■■.j:--' 'i ■.'>•.? < - The announcement touched off a wfilhlwind of opposition from top Republican leaders. Newsmen besieged Hagerty for official White House reaction. ' ' . . ’ Hagerty was remitxMd that he ■ • said recently at Gettsbwrg, Pa., that he has no doubt Nixon will . be renominated i Asked If he was standing firm I on that prediction. Hagerty re- ■ plied: **l haven’t taken it back.” Hagerty refused to say anything further on the> political equable rocking the President’s official family. He simply referred newsmen to a statement he made in Panama City Monday. Hagerty said then that the Presldenthad told Stassen he could make “any statement” he wished as an individual but that he could not endorse Herter "as a member of the President’s official family.” This spurred speculation that Stassen would be fired as Mr. Elsenhower’s cabinet-level disarmament adviser. But Stassen himself told newsmen today that he expects to continue in his administration post. He said he had endorsed Herter as an individual Republican and out of “loyalty” to Mr. Eisenhowei. Stassen said he favored Herter polls showed that an Eisenhowerover Nixon because pubic opinion Herter ticket would be 6 per cent stronger than an EisenhowerNixon ticket, and tiris difference could be decisive for GOP victory in close states. Hagerty disclosed that Mr. Eisenhower will not hold a news conference this week beepuse of impending adjournment of conthe pressure of business from the gress. This rules out any chance for newsmen to ask the sePrident about the Nixon - Stassen controversy However,, observers felt Mr. Eisenhower deliberately went out of his way at the airport to show his continued support of an affection for his vice president. Hagerty's statement lent heavy weight to this observation. When hsked if Stassen would see the President today or if he had in appointment at aay time at the White House. Hagarety said “not that I know of” — - Almost to a man, the high officials of the Republican party roundly denounced Stassen’s move. Twenty GOP members' of the house demanded his resignation. -

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