Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 55, Number 86, Decatur, Adams County, 11 April 1957 — Page 1

Vol. LV. No. 86. '

FLOODSHITSOUTHERNILLINOIS ; ' ■. ' v ' z E3HHHB3BMHI IN THE WAKE of unusual spring storms, Illinois’ Big Muddy river near Carbondale is high above its t>anks, flooding roads and forcing automobile traffic to a slow crawl across a bridge (top) in the area. Rising at the rate of an inch an hour the Big Muddy inundated homes along its course (bottom) forcing many families to flee.

Ike's Budget Head Admits Responsibility Helped To Bring On Postal Money Crisis By Refusing Funds WAShAgTON (UP)—President Eisenhower’s budget director has admitted he helped bring on the Post Office Department’s present money crisis because he didn’t «n-»«r-ta»d part of the. federal bookkeeping syrtemr— Budget Director Percival F. Brundage told a House Appropriations subcommittee recently that the post office told him as early as last July that it would run out of money this spring. But he said lie kept turning down their request for more funds. “I just said no, no, no, no/’ he said., Curtailment Looms Brundage was called on the carpet by the subcommittee March 27 to explain why he didn’t pass on the Post Office Department’s request sooner. His testimony was made public today. Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield told Congress last month that he needed 47 million' dollars in emergency funds to keep the post office operating through July. He threatens to curtail post office services drastically beginning Saturday unless the money is forthcoming, The full House Appropriations Committee so far has approved only 17 million dollars of the request. The committee is scheduled to meet again Friday to act on it. House Democratic Leader John W. McCormack (Mass.) said a deficiency appropriation b i 11, which will include the postal appropriation, will be taken up in the House Monday. Although the postmaster general hasn’t said so, members assume that Summerfield will delay the postal cutbacks if the committee gives him approximately what he wants. Acted March 12 Brundage told the subcommittee that one of the reasons he kept refusing the post office’s request for additional funds was that he thought there would be an increase in postal revenues of 20 million dollars. Brundage, who was appointed budget director in’ April 1956 after serving as deputy director two years, said he thought the increase would be turned in to the postal agency for its use. He admitted that a staff member of the House Appropriations Committee had to explain to him that the extra revenue “would not help” because postal .reVeffites are turned in to the Treasury just as are other funds collected by the government Any . money to operate the post office still must be appropriated by Congress. Brundage said that finally his staff recommended he approve the 47-million-dollar request and he 'did so “reluctantly” March 12. But “I still am not entirely satisfied that they could not make some savings there,” he told the subcommittee. ”1 just don’t have time to go into it myself in detail.” ,

Decatur Stores Open Friday And Saturday Nights This Week!

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Winter Wheat Crop Below 1956 Figure Reflects Impact Os Drought In Plains WASHINGTON (UP)—The Agriculture Department forecasts that the 1957 winter wheat crop will total 669,080,000 bushels. The production estimate issued Wednesday—the first since Decem-ber-indicated the 1957 crop will be 9 per cent smaller than the 1956 crop of 735 million bushels. That is 22 per cent less than average but 44 million bushels above the Dec. 1 forecast. The 66-million-bushel drop in estimated production from 1956 reflected the impart of the drought in the Great Plains and the deposit of about 11 million acres of winter wheat land in the soil bank acreage reserve. The forecast for winter wheat, plus a previously estimated spring wheat crop of 175 million bushels based on planting intentions, would mean a total wheat crop of 844 million bushels. This compares with a 1956 total production of 997 million bushels. The reduction in production, provided it is realized, would make a sizable cut in U.S. wheat stocks which now are sufficient to supply foreign and domestic needs for about two years. The department said toe 44- ’ million-bushel jump over toe December forecast came from generally improved conditions throughout toe country — principally in Washington, Colorado, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Illinois. The department said prospects for crop growth improved in March, especially in the Great Plains drought area. Dry fields were livened by rain and snow. Irrigation prospects in the central west also were brightned by heavy snowfalls in toe Rockies. The department forecast toe winter wheat yield at 18.2 bushels an acre, toe second highest of record. The yield last year was 16.5 bushels an acre. State Tax Collection Is 10 Million Higher INDIANAPOLIS (IPI - An officicial compilation of Indiana revenue showed Thursday that toe state collected 166 million dollars in the first three quarters of toe fiscal year, a gain of nearly 10 million dollars over the corresponding period last year. More than 75 per cent of toe revenue was from gross income taxes, which produced 65 million dollars in the 3rd quarter alone compared with 61 millions in the corresponding quarter of toe 195556 fiscal year. Milan Woman Killed When Train Hits Car BATESVILLE (UP) — Mrs. Virgie Schmidt, 68, Milan, was killed Wednesday when 'an auto-* mobile driven by her husband, Tony, 70, was struck by a railroad train at a crossing near Sunman. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and colder tonight with frost likely.' Friday partly cloudy, a little warmer north. Low tonight 23-30 north. 28-35 south. High Friday mostly in the 50s. Sunset 7:19 p.m., sunrise Friday 6:12 a.m.

$254 Million Slash In Farm Budget Asked Eisenhower Asks Congress To Slash Agriculture Budget WASHINGTON (UP)—President Eisenhower asked Congress Thursday to cute 254 million dollars from toe Agriculture Department’s budget for toe fiscal yfear 1958. The cut would come out of money for .the department’s soil bank program. The administration originally asked for 31,254,000,000 to run the soil bank program in the year beginning July 1. Thursday’s cut, if approved by Congress, would trim payments to farmers under toe program to an even one billion dollar*. White House Press Secretary James C. Hagerty said the reduction was recommended after a “detailed study" of the operations of the program. He said that on toe basis of toe study, it appears that financial needs of the program in fiscal 1958 will be less than contemplated at the time the budget was prepared. He said it is now estimated that participation by farmers for the 1956-57 conservation reserve program will be less than was expected last fafi and payments to farmers consequently will be less than originally planned. It was the first cut which toe White House had formally proposed in Eisenhower’s 371,800,000,000 spending budget, which has been under heavy fire from toe economy bloc in Congress. Hagerty pointed out, however, that Housing Administrator Albert Cole earlier told Congress that a review of his agency’s budget, at the President’s orders, had indicated he could get along with about 200 million dollars less than toe administration originally asked for housing. Tax-Cut Drive WASHINGTON (UP) — Republican leaders Mid Thursday it looks as if the Democrats are launching a tax-cut drive that probably can’t be stopped short of a presidential veto. They found the Democratic intention in House Speaker Sam Rayburn’s statement that he believes chances are good that con(Coßtiaae4 ob Par* Five) Holy Week Services At Lutheran Church Special Services Open Palm Sunday The Rev. Edgar P. Schmidt, pastor of the Zion Lutheran church, West Monroe street, announces toe Palm Sunday and Holy Week schedule of special services to be conducted at his church. The regular schedule of 8 and 10:30 a.m. will prevail Sunday. Special music will be presented at both worship hours — toe junior choir, grades 3 to 6 of toe Sunday school, will appear at 8 o'clock, singing, "Rejoice, ye pure in heart,” by Arthur Messiter, and at 10:30 toe church choir will sing, “Jesus is King,” by Laverty. The pastor will bring toe Palm Sunday message. The church school will meet at 9:15 o’clock. The first Holy Week worship will be conducted on Maundy Thursday evening at 7:30. This service will feature the celebration of Holy Commynion. Cermon Wiehe, student of theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will preach the sermon and will assist the pastor in administering toe sacrament. Karl Retaking will sing, “A New Commandment,” from toe Lenten cantata, "Olivet to Calvary,” by J. S. Maunder. The traditional Good Friday noonday service, with the reading of toe complete passion story, will be conducted between 12:30 and 2 p.m., taking the place of toe threehour service. Two children’s groups will sing. A decorative Easter cross book-mark will be offered each worshipper who attends this passion service. The memorial vesper of toe death of Jesus-Christ will be held Good Friday evening at 7 o’clock. At this vesper toe pastor will conclude toe sertesr’of Lenten sermons with toe theme: “They Pierce His Side.” This service will feature toe litany of the cross and the reproaches, singing and speaking responses between pastor and people. A final Lenten communion celebration will be held Good Friday evening at 8:15 o’clock. Three festival worship hours will be observed Easter Sunday morning, at 6,8, and 10:30 o’clock.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 11, 1957.

Probe Irregularities In Land-Buying Deals In State Department

Saudi Arabia Warns Israel On Shipping To Fire On Ships Attempting To Pass Through Aqaba Gulf By WALTER LOGAN United Press Staff Correspondent A Cairo newspaper said Thursday King Saud of Saudi Arabia had warned Israel that Saudi artillery will open fire on any Israeli ship trying to pass through the Gulf of Aqaba. The warning was reported by the independent newspaper Al Ahram which also said Saudi Arabia and Egypt had protested formally to the United States against passage of an American tanker through the gulf to an Israeli port. At the same time an Egyptian spokesman said Israel had refused to withdraw troops from positions on Egyptian territory covering toe approaches to toe Israeli port of Eilat at head ot toe Gulf of Aqaba. In Jordan, where a major political crisis was feared. King Hussein was reported arresting all known Communists in Amman and other Jordan cities in a desperate effort to stay in power.. HusSein also was reported considering placing his country under military government following the resignation of pro-Soviet Premier Suleiman Nabulsi. No outbreaks were reported, but Nabulsi has shown before he can call out mob support from among the Palestinian refugees if he needs it. Fear Israel Aggression A dispatch from Amman—one of toe few to penetrate the heavy censorship there—said King Hussein Thursday asked former Foreign Minister Hussein Khalidi to form a new cabinet. Diplomatic circles predicted he would be unable to do so. The three major parties in Nabulsils cabinet announced they would not enter the new cabinet. A United Press dispatch from Damascus said many Syrian newspapers expressed fear that Israel might “commit aggression against Jordan" if a conflict breaks out between Hussein’s and Nabulsi’s followers. Political circles in Damascus affirmed that the Syrian army was ready to aid Jordan in the event of an Israeli attack. Western diplomats reaching the Israeli sector of Jerusalem Thursday from Jordan said there was no indication whatsoever of a military “showdown” between proSoviet and anti-Soviet Arab troops staticmed in Jordan. But they said the underground warfare could be decisive in toe power struggle. Arabs Protest to U.B. American-Egyptian negotiations on operation of the Suez Canal re(Continue >n Slxi

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. W. C. Feller, Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church) “HEALTHY BONES” “Pleasant words ars as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24. Surely it is not a new discovery that mental attitudes affect the health of toe mind and body.* Wise men through the centuries have recognized this. The writer of the Proverbs tells us, “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up toe bones.” And again, “Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence (Ujgilance) for from it flow the springs of life.” And now, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to toe bones (body).” / „ Our words are a witness to our thoughts and ouh innermost feelings. If we think unkind and unpleasant things, if our hearts are. filled .with ill will, resentment, contention or envy, we are likely to utter unkind and unpleasant words. If, on the other hand, we let thfi love of God rule and fill our hearts, banishing ill will and 5tU feelings of irritation and criticism, we shall open the channel through which kind and pleasant words will flow. Pleasant words "sweeten the soul and help to keep our nerves and bones healthy. And how much easier does life become for our- • selves and others when our words express the love and compassion that ought to fill the hearts and minds Os Christians. Millions have been inspired by the pleasant and gracious words of Jesus. By reading His words, may we learn to speak like Him, lovingly, tenderly, truthfully and helpfully.

Legal Question On Daylight Time Move Fort Wayne Funds May Be Withheld INDIANAPOLIS (UP) — State Auditor Roy Combs said Thursday he would ask for an attorney general’s opinion on whether he should withhold money from Fort Wayne and possibly other cities. A legal question arose because Fort Wayne’s city council adopted a resolution Tuesday night “requesting”' citizens to operate an hour earlier during the seven months a new law says Indiana must be on Central Standard Time. 1 The law orders Combs to withhold distributions from communities which fail to operate on CST during the cool months and “fast time” for five months beginning April 28. But toe Fort Wayne resolution would leave clocks in conformity with toe law. Doors would simply open and close an hour earlier during the seven “slow” months. “I’m certainly going to find out where we are,” .Combs said. “We’re not going to go ahead with the distributions until I ask for an official opinion.” ' Other cities in the eastern half of toe state have observed yearround daylight 'saving time for vears. Observers saw the Fort Wayne plan as a possible model for “legally” getting around the law. Indianapolis, which could set toe pattern for much of central Indiana, was undecided if it would try to continue year-around DST by some means. Mayor Phillip Bayt said the city’s legal experts were asked for an opinion on the new law. Fort Wayne could lose more than 3150,000 in one quarterly-dis-tribution alone if Combs withheld. The October distribution of motor vehicle receipts would total an estimated 3130,000 and the alcoholic gallonage distribution might total 343,000. Indianapolis could stand to lose 3416,000 in motor vehicle money and 3137,000 in alcohol tax receipts. The figures approximate toe year-ago amounts for the same quarter. Push Phone Repair Work Toward Berne The telephone toll line from Mon* roe to Berne has been restored about 2% miles south of Monroe, and all available men today are working to push toe work on towards Berne, Marion Heare, of the Citizens Telephone company, said today, - If good weather prevails, service should be restored to toe Berne area some time Saturday. Poles have been reset north of Berne on U. S. highway 27, and east of Berne, and southwest of Berne on the tile mill road.

Report Check Links Norman To Communism State Department Cleared Transcript For Publication WASHINGTON (UP)-The Democratic chairman and a Republican member of toe Senate Internal Security subcommittee said Thursday that the State Department had checked with toe FBI and "corroborated the truth” of subcommittee Information linking a Canadian diplomat with communism. They asserted also that the State Department "cleared for publication” the transcript of a hearing last month at which old subcommittee charges revived and aired again. They made these assertions in a statement telephoned to press associations by a subcommittee staff member. Later, the subcommittee asked that the statement be pulled back but one of toe press associations, not the United Press, had already published it and refused to withdraw it. The State Department had no immediate comment but said it would issue a statement later j The FBI declined comment. The diplomat, E. Herbert Norman, committed suicide last Thurs-* day in Cairo where he was serving as Canadian ambassador to Egypt. Canadians attributed his act in part to the subcommittee’s action in publishing charges which the Canadian government said it had disproved in 1951. Angry Canadian reaction to the incident reached a climax Wednesday. The Canadian government said in a note that it no longer will supply security information to the U.S. government unless it receives a guarantee the information will not be given to congressional committees without Canada’s advance consent. President Eisenhower at his news conference and Acting Secretary of State Christian A. Herter in a formal note to Canada disclaimed responsibility for the subcommittee’s publication of the controversial transcript. Thursday, however, in toe statement which they tried to withdraw, Subcommittee Chairman James O. Eastland (D-Miss.) and Sen. William E. Jenner (R-Ind.) retorted in a joint statement that “toe State Department did not and could not disclaim” toe Senate tuontinuao on rtx, Monroe Plans Annual Holy Week Services Services To Begin On Sunday Evening The schedule for the annual Holy Week services for toe Monroe community has been announced. These services will begin Sunday evening with nightly services each night through Thursday, April 18. These services will all begin at 7:30 p.m. The schedule is as follows: Sunday—Monroe Friends church —Rev. Virgil Tucker, preaching. Monday—St. Paul Missionary church—Rev. Garl Shaw, preaching. Tuesday— Monroe Methodist church — Rev. Louis Klotzbach, preaching. Wednesday — Pleasant Valley Wesleyan Methodist church—Rev. Willis Glerhart, preaching. Thursday — Winchester United Brethren Church — Rev. Vernon Riley, preaching. Friday afternoon, the annual Good Friday service will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the Monroe Methodist church, with the Rev.'Dennis Johnson preaching. There will be special music at each of the services. The people of the Monroe community are urged to attend these union services.

Senate Voles Down Com Acreage Boost Fear Sharp Drop In Grain, Stock Prices WASHINGTON (UP) — Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.) Thursday blamed the administration and eastern and southern senators for Senate defeat of a bill calling for an increase in the 1957 corn acreage. Humphrey and other supporters of toe legislation also warned its defeat may result later in sharp drops in grain and livestock prices. The Senate Wednesday voted 4535 against the bill. It was a death blow because the House already had rejected two similar bills this year. The bill would have increased this year’s corn acreage in toe nation’s main corn belt from about 37 million to 51 million acres. It also would have required the socalled commercial corn farmers to take more of their land out of production via the soil bank. Humphrey, the Senate's chief supporter of toe bill, told newsmen it was beaten because of "failure of the administration to support it and a feeling on the part of eastern and southern senators that there was nothing in it for them.” ' "this vote indicates the efforts ’ of toe administration to divide Sm farces have been suocess- ” fie sftid. Sen. George D. Aiken (R-Vt.), an opponent, agreed that “we might have to look out” for a decline in livestock prices next year if toe overall production of feed grains, including corn, rises this year. But he said the Senate action may result in less corn planting” this year. Canvass Decatur To Urge Budget Slash High School Pupils Will Canvass City Junior history classes of the De-, catur high school, numbering 70 students, will canvass the city from 7 to 9 o’clock both Friday and Saturday nights to urge citizens to mail in cards urging reductions in the huge federal budget. Each of the 70 students will present a short paragraph at each home, urging a budget reduction. Each householder will be furnished with a sample, or idea card, then write his own.sign it and identify himself as to type of work. Housewives are also encouraged to sign these cards. If postcards are available in the home, each person is urged to sign a written paragraph on why or how he recommends a budget reduction. Cards and pens will be supplied by the canvassers. The postcards have been purchased through aid from local business men who are interested in lower taxes. Cards will be addressed by these high school students and mailed after toe drive is concluded on Saturday night. — 7 ; - ■ • -- Decatur residents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to “speak their piece” about the mounting costs of government in this “grass roots” move instituted by these Decatur young men and women who ar# vitally interested in the future of toe nation. . - ’ iOne Boy Seriously Wounded By Rifle WABASH (UP) — A rifle loaded with bird shot went off while two boys played cowboys and Indians Tuesday night .and one of them was wounded seriously. Nine-year-old Steve Holm was taken to a hospital with pelvic wounds. The accident happened near a garage at the home of Steve’s playmate, Bobby Hettmansperger, 9. 14 Pages

Six Cents

Indiana Land Buying Deals Under Probe Threaten To Erupt In Scandal, State Detectives Called help investigate reports of irregularities in land-buying deals in the right-of-way division of the Indiana State Highway Department. Highway commissioners met with law enforcement officials in a conference and immediately sought to learn if reports were tKie that • middlemen” made $23,300 profit on a deal involving the sale of two houses and lots in Indianapolis for a southside expressway now under construction. Governor Handley stood behind the investigation in a prepared statement and said “let the Chips fall where they may.’* Won’t Shield Anyone “No irregularities will be tolerated in any department of Indiana government during my administration,” Handley said. "No effort will be made to shield anyone. Whenever there is wrongdoing by S whe. W ' they may.” Handley said he had “complete confidence” in the highway commission as it started its investigation of deals reported to have been made during the administration of former Gov. George Craig, a Republican factional foe of Handley. Handley’s new chairman of the commission, John Peters of New Albany, said when he took office Jan. 15 that “a mess” existed in the department. He fired many right-of-way buyers on grounds, he said, that nearly 100 of them were on the payroll yet the division had only a few thousand dollars left ip its fiscal year appropriations. Tinder, Steers Meet Marion County Prosecutor John G. Tinder and State Atty. Gen. Edwin Steers met with all three members of the highway commission in a forenoon session after a newspaper reported a “major scandal was uncovered.” Tinder said after the conference that “if the evidence warrants,” the case will be presented to a grand jury. “If it’s enough of a markup to create a suspicion of fraud,” Tinder said, “then we’ll have to look into it. But we’re not ready to accuse anyone yet.” Tinder said it Was “apparent someone made a hug£ profit?’ The paper, the Indianapolis Times, said the “scandal” involved land-buying deals in Indianapolis, Evansville, Richmond, South Bend and Gary. -AA Chairman John Peters of the highway department however, disclosed information only on a case involving purchases of right-of-way for a Madison Ave. expressway on tile Indianapolis south side. —- Tinder said after the conference that the group decided to ask that state police detectives be called into the case. Peters Gives "Facts” Immediately after the confer-. ence, the group headed for the department’s right-of-way division headquarters, where investigators expected to look over records of land purchases said to have been made in 1954 and 1955. Peters said he had “facts” on only one situation at the moment. The highway department paid $28,500 for two .houses and front parts of two lots, Peters said, on Madison Ave., and later paid $25,000 for the “back parts” of the same lots. Peters said the method of purchasing the houses and lots brought up a number of questions:. “Why did they buy the back halves? Why was a third party involved? Why pay nearly as much for the back halves as tor the front halves with the houses on them?” tvoatfaued •» >•«*• - ■