Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 55, Number 87, Decatur, Adams County, 12 April 1957 — Page 1

Vol. L.V. No. 87.

ARMY DIGS IN MYSTERY CRATER v A COBPS OF ARMY bomb experts are working in their second day of probing a deep, wide bole in the back yard of id-year-old Pat Murphy’s home in San Gabriel, Cal., where, the boy said, something landed ‘with a thud" early Tuesday morning. The demolition experts haven’t found anything yet, but point out the crater may contain a dud explosive missile. \

Officials Dig Info Files Os Highway Dept. State Detectives Probing Apparent Lush Land Profits INDIANAPOLIS (UP)—Law enforcement authorities dug into files of the right-of-way division of the Indiana State Highway Department Friday in an investigation of what appeared to be lush profits for a "middleman" in a landbuying deal. Detectives operating from a Statehouse annex sought to learn the identity of a mysterious “Dean Burton" whose name appeared on papers involved in an Indianapolis land transaction in which the property owners got $2,500 for portions of two lots which later brought $25,800 from the state. “Burton" was described as a behind - the - scenes figure who bought the property two or three years ago from the original owners along the route of the Madison Ave. Expressway now under construction, and sold it to Lawrence A. Peak, apparently for $3,000. Peak later sold it to the state for $25,800. Officials said they will question Nile Teverbaugh of Monroe City, right-of-way chief in the administration of former Gov. George N. Craig, about the identity of "burton.” Teverbaugh’s name was signed as notary public on deeds transferring the properties from their original owners to “Burton." Peak was identified as the father of Robert Peak, an attorney in Milan, the home town of former highway chairman Virgil (Red) Smith. Marion County Prosecutor John G. Tinder indicated a grand jury may be called to study the case. “It’s enough of a markup to create a suspicion of fraud, and we have to look into it," Tinder said. It was "apparent someone made a huge profit," he said. Highway Department Chairman John Teters said the information he had so far indicated there was only one right-of-way buyer involved in the deal. He said it apparently was an employe who survived a wave of suspensions soon after Peters took office Jan. 15. Meanwhile, Highway Safety Director Curtis Rardin resigned an outside job as a salesman for a stock broker. He said he quit because of reports he sold stock in a company headed by Peters to firms which had contracts with the Highway Department. Rardin said he saw “nothing irregular” in the sqles. He conceded he sold some Wabash Finance and Loan Corp, stock to “one or two” contractors after he took the highway job. Peters said he was "not aware” that Rardin was selling to contractors because “I don’t go. down through those stock certificates.” Peters said Rardin's action would be improper if he was “encouraging" contractors to think their purchases would help them get contracts. Otherwise, he acted properly, Peters said. Reported irregularities in landbuying in other parts of the state were investigated. Peters said he heard of other cases involving the Cut The Budget Nights Friday And Saturday •This applies only to the federal budget, the state budget having already been established.

Decatur Stores Open Friday And Saturday Nights This Week!

.i : 'l . .> ■ DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Early Action Vital In Growing Dispute American Officials Seek Early Action WASHINGTON (UP) — Early action is needed to settle the growing dispute over the international status of the Gulf of Aqaba and the adjacent straits of Tiran, American officials said Friday. Failure to face up to the issue may result in a new Middle East explosion. Saudi Arabia already has threatened to open fire on any Israeli ship heading through the straits to the gulf port of Eilat, Israeli is counting heavily on this commercial route as an alternative to die Suez Canal. Officials said the Saudi Arabian warning and the recent passage of an American ship through the Straits of Tiran into the Gulf of Aqaba make the dispute “hot again." In the midst of this tense situation, the United States and King Saud of Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement reaffirming their pledge to oppose "Communist activity and other forms of imperialism and any other dangers that threaten peace and stability” in the Middle East. The statement, made public Continued on Pare Eight* Junior Town Meet Scheduled Tuesday Will Be Broadcast Saturday, April 20 Hugh J. Andrews, principal of the Decatur high school, announced today that Gene Baxter and Edwin Bean, senior class members, will be speakers on the WOWO junior town meeting. The program will be recorded at Sturgis, Mich., high school Tuesday, and will be broadcast on radio station WOWO, Fort Wayne, Saturday, April 20, at 8:30 a.m. Ron Ross, public service director of WOWO, is moderator and producer of the junior town meeting series, now in its 13th season on WOWO. Also appearing on the program will be students from the Sturgis high school. The topic for discussion will be “Are there enough incentives to recruit more and better teachers?” The Decatur students appearing onthe program are under the supervision of the social Studies and speech departments of the high school. Baxter and Bean are also both athletes and also members of the high school choir. The school's speech class will attend the meeting at Sturgis and take part in the discussion period. 95 Are Registered At Catholic School A total of 95 children were registered this week for enrollment in the first grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic school next fall, according to a report released today by Sr. M. Rosemary, C. S. A., school principal. This number, although probably incomplete, is already higher than any first grade registration in the history of the school. It is estimated that by next fall the enrollment in the first grade will be up to 100 or more. Registration was conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at the school. Any parent who failed to register a child if the youngster is to enter school next fall, is urged to do so as soon as possible.

69 Candidates For Graduation At Decatur High List Is Announced For Commencement Exercises May 23 Names of 69 Decatur high school seniors, candidates for academic, general and commercial diplomas, were announced today by principal Hugh Andrews, and Thursday, May 23, was set as commencement for the graduating class. Following is the complete list of candidates and the type of diploma which each seeks: Dewayne Leslie Agler, academic; Stanley Eugene Alger, academic; Karen Sue Allison, commerical; Jack Duane Barlett, general; Carolyn Sue JtoMatt, Gene Edward Baxter. *md«»ic; Edwin Seth Bean, academic; Helen Kay Bollinger, general; Delilah Mae Brown, general; Sara Ellen Brunnegraff, academic; Phyllis Mae Byrd, general; John Michael Cole, academic; Max Leon Daniels, general; John T. Dor win. academic; Connie Joan Douglas, general; Elaine Ellen Evans, general; Gloria Lou Fugate, academic. Linda Lou Gamsby, academic; Donald Gase, general; Mary Lou Gaunt, general; Judith Aim Gephart, general; Katherine Lizetta Goelz, academic; Jay Hawbaker Gould, academic; Sharon Colleen Gray, academic; Kenneth Leroy Hawkins, general; Ronald Eugene Hesher, general; James Floyd Bullinger, general; Sharon Jane Idlewine, general; John Edward Isch, general; Marilyn Jo Jefferies, academic; L. Pauline Hathaway, general; Jerry Wayne Kaehr, academic; Tony Allan Kelly, academic; Stanley Eugene Kirkpatrick, academic. James Fredrick Klenk, academic; Alice Evelyn Krueckeberg, academic; John Wayne Ladd, general; Dennis Dewight Lobsiger, general; Mary Ellen Longerbone, commerical; Janet Sue McKean, general ;Twannette Lou Magley, academic; Sharon Lee Michaud, academic; Don Robert Peterson, general; Sue Petrie, academic; James Lyle Plasterer, general; Linda Lou Pollock; general; Chamler Walter Reinking, general; Vera Jean Roop, commerical; Gerald Eugene Rumple, general; Rita Ann Runyon, general; Madge Joanne Scheiderer, general. James Karl Schnepp, general; Paul Edgar- Schmidt, academic; Fredrick Lee Schott, general; Theodore Ross Schrock, academic; Charles Jacob Shaffer, general; Kathryn Ann Shaffer, academic; Beverly Ann Singer, general; Donna Kay Small, academic; Lowell William Smith, academic; Glen Leroy Strickler, general; Larry Lee Strickler, general; Barbara Jean Suttles, academic, LaVerne Ellen Thieme, commerical; Kenneth Allen Vanhorn, general; Virginia Ann Vetter, commerical; Lorraine Anne Walters, general; Ellen Joan Welch, academic; Carolyn Jean Wiegmann, commerical. Says Postal Service Already Curtailed AMARILIO, Tex. (ffl — Mrs. M. A. Howell thinks .the threatened cut in postal service has already gone info effect. She complained that a birthday card she mailed to Mrs. George Thomas three days before her birthday arrived three days late. The women live less than three miles apart.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, April 12, 1957.

Sharp Curtailment Os Mail Service Slated At Midnight Tonight

More Budgets Are Axed By House Group Information Agency Budget Hit Hardest In Economy Drive «. WASHINGTON (UP)—The House Appropriations Committee swung its economy ax Friday at the State and Justice departments and the U.S. Information Agency, chopping their budgets for the new fiscal year by more than 15 per cent. At the same time, the committeg assailed what it termed increased government secrecy, swollen payrolls, home-front propaganda, and “such niceties” as swimming pools and cabin boats sought for State Department employes abroad. The information agency’s budget was hardest hit by the committee and was target of some of its sharpest criticism. The committee made a roundhouse cut of almost 38 million dollars in the USIA’s budget, approving only 106 million dollars. The reduction of some 26 per cent provided the agency with almost 7 million dollars less than it got last year. •»**. -. > . , ■ >, •. The USIA was told to quit trying to "propagandize the American public” and to restrict itself to a “good sensible job overseas.” This apparently was a crack at the agency for secretly spending SIOO,000 to subsidize a Hollywood adtiCommunist movie for home consumption. The film proved to be a flop. Die committee, in its eighth crack at President Eisenhower’s record $71,800,000,000 peacetime budget for fiscal 1958, approved a monfiy bill for the three agencies and related functions carrying only $563,799,793 of the $655,649,802 asked. The cut of more than 100 million dollars brought total reductions claimed by the House and its Appropriations Committee so far to $1,141,175,479, applied against budget requests totalling $14,968,542,403. Assuming all cuts genuine as claimed—a fairly broad assumption—this averages out to a reduction of about 7.6 per cent. That percentage applied against the President's overall request for $71,800,000,000 would mean a reduction of more than five billion dollars. The figure is significant in light of House Democrats avowed intentions to push for a tax reduction if the budget can be cut by only three billion dollars. The State Department got SIBO,382,743 of the $277,714,522 it wanted —a cut of $47,331,809. That is approximately a little less than the agency got this year. The committee also cut $7,600,000 from a request for $18,500,000 for Eisenhower to spend on trade fairs, subsidization of jazz bands, Continnrd on Pa*e Eight

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Benj. G. Thomas, „ Bethany Evangelical United Brethren Church) ' * “EVERY NEED OF YOURS” “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.” Philippians 4:19. * This is not a promise to supply our wants, rather our needs. Wants are things extra, surplus, luxury. Needs are essentials, requirements, necessities. A prisoner of war discovered that moldy bread met a need but a bath was a luxury. Jesus twitted his disciples about their lack of faith, “faithless generation,” “O ye of little faith.” How often we have failed our heavenly Father because of our lack of faith. God will supply our needs. Many are the illustrations of what God has done for men in extremities.—food, shelter, clothing, finances. Paul is declaring what he has experienced: “God will supply every need of yours.” In Troas he gave direction. In Philippi he gave songs and conversions in the prison. Thru the Philippian church he provided for Paul even-when he was a prisoner in Rome, so that he wrote: “I am filled . . I know how to be abased and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, aboundance and want. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Financial Status Os Center Revealed Community Center Problems Discussed A profit and loss statement, showing the exact financial position of the Decatur Youth and Community Center, was distributed last night to a joint meeting of the city administration, city counit, recreation board, and the Decatur Memorial Foundation by Carl Gerber, chairman of the recreation board. During the month of March a net profit of $41.56 whs shown by the center. . The meeting was called so that each of the groups vitally interested in the running of the center could appraise the work, ideas, and progerss of the others. Three Decatur accountants — Glenn Ellis, Jay Markley, and Ray Leitz, were highly praised for their voluntary work which made the financial statement possible. Heads of all four groups praised their civic service. Gerber, head of the five-mem-ber recreation board, opened the meeting. Under the law, the recreation board is charged with the legal responsibility of running the community center. Gerber turned the meeting over to J. Ward Calland, president of the Decatur Memorial Foundation, Inc., for the discussion period. The foundation was responsible for conceiving the idea of the center, raising the funds and building it, without cost to taxpayers. On its completion, the building was turned over to the city of Decatur, so that tax funds could be used to support the activity. Die foundation now helps raise money in drives, assists the recreation board with advice, and accepts donations tax-free to the youth center. All members of the Decatur city council were present, and listened to the open discussion that took place. The members contacted this morning stated that they felt they had received valuable information and understanding from the meeting. The council is responsible for approving or denying the requests for funds from the recreation levy of the city tax rate. % Mayor Robert Cole, city attorney John De Voss, and city clerktreasurer Mrs. Miriam Hall, represented the city administration. The mayor, as chief executive of the city, has the responsibility cF planning the city tax rate, and caring for city property. The city attorney is responsible for the legal administration and advice necessary for runinng city property, while the clerk-treasurer administers the receipts from the community building in a fund set up for that purpose. Regret was expressed on the part of Calland, Mrs, Roy Kalver, secretary of the foundation, and others, at the resignation of O. M, McGeath as managing director of (Continued on Page Two)

Cold Spring Weather Grips United Stales Temperature Near To Zero Mark In Northern Midwest By UNITED PRESS Icy temperatures gripped the nation Friday and plunged close to the zero mark in the northern Midwest in one of the coldest springs in history. Arctic blasts from central Canada moved east, from the Midwest into the Ohio Valley and south to Texas Thursday night and April snow blanketed the country from the lower Great Lakes to Texas. The winter-in-spring flurries also hit in Colorado and North and South Dakota and mingled there with freezing rain to give highways a treacherous coat of ice. Temperatures near zero, 30 degrees below normal, were forecast today for parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Freezing temperatures also were expected to hover over northern Illinois and Indiana, as well' as southern Missouri and northern Oklahoma. The grim remains of winter followed a pattern .of continuous spring snow storms which have whipped across the Great Plains into the east and given vent to devastating tornadoes in the South. More than 100 deaths have been blamed on this year’s weath-er-vicious spring and the threat continued. Gray sxies with rain and possible snow also were expected in the East. Snow blanketed northeastern New York Thursday night Farmers in the drought-stricken Southwest and Plains States were not entirely glum about the weather, though. Reports said there was hope the spring snows would give the necessary precipitation for the blight areas to “bale themselves out” with heavy crops this year. A light plane being‘ferried from the Bellanca Co., Alexandria, Minn., to Kansas City, Mo., was reported lost in a Missouri snow storm near St. Joseph, Mo. In Illinois, an air force jet training plane winging its way from Alexandria, La., *as forced to make an emergency landing at Joliet Airport because snow covCoßtl»vrd on Pace Eight

First Auction Held At Monroe Thursday Plans Second Sale Saturday Afternoon More than S7OO was grossed by the Monroe rural fire department’s auction Thursday night at the Adams Central school of baked goods, foods, and small appliances, it was announced today. An auction of larger goods, including a good amount of farm machinery, will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at the school grounds. The new Monroe rural fire truck is expected to be delivered today, and will be driven through Decatur before the sale takes place Saturday. It will then be on exhibit at the sale site. At the auction Thursday night, one cake brought sll, and another $9.50 in spirited bidding. Several outright donations were received, including one for S2O, and another for $3. Several hundred persons were present in the school gym for the affair, which started at 7: SO’ p.m. Memberships in the rural fire company will be available Saturday to anyone within a 10-mile radius of Monroe. There will be no charge to members for fire runs. The new white truck includes Howe fire fighting equipment mounted on a Ford F-800 chassis. A new water tanker has also been ordered, it was announced last night.

Higher Farm Income

Predicted For 1957 Five Per Cent Hike Predicted For Year WASHINGTON (UP)—The Agriulture Department is standing on its year-end prediction that farm income in 1957 will be "probably about 5 per cent higher” than the $11,800,000,000 farmers banked to 1956. “I see no reason to change the prediction now,” said an economist who helps prepare farm income estimates for the agricultural marketing service. “So far, there is nothing in the farm income picture to warrant a change in the outlook. It seems to me the prediction of last winter is holding up very well.” At that time, the forecasters based their predictions for 1957 on continued strong demand for consumers, increased shipments of farm products abroad, the soil bank, and reduced hog marketings. Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson also said last winter “the outlook for agriculture appears encouraging. Our markets are expanding at home and abroad. Surpluses, are declining. Farm prices have improved and net farm income rose slightly in 1956 after a long downward slide. The prospect is for further increase in 1957.” He reiterated the same sentiment several times in recent Weeks. . - But even with the strong con* sumer demand, more export trade, more soil bank payments, and reduced hog marketings which causes prices to rise, the farmer is not out of the woods. There is the matter of high production costs. The agricultural prijce report for mid-March showed that farm prices rose 1 per cent during the month, but that farm purchasing power remained unchanged because production costs rose, too. The March issue of the department's publication, “Die Demand Bnd Price Situation," showed cash farm marketings totaled about 4% billion dollars to January and February, slightly more than in the same months of 1956. Prices averaged 4 per cent higher than a year ago, but the volume of marketings was down a little. Harry Miller Dies Thursday Afternoon Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon Harry A. Miller, 64, retired Root township farmer, residing three and one-half miles northwest of Decatur, died at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at the Clinic hospital in Bluffton. He had been ill six years and in critical condition for the past five weeks. Born in Kalida, Ohio, Aug. 24, 1892, he was a son of Samuel and Arinda Ladd-Miller, and had resided near Decatur for the past 20 years. He wax married to Clara Kelly Nov. 25, 1914. Mr. Miller was a member of the Assembly of God church. Surviving in addition to his wife are five daughters, Mrs. Cedric Fisher, Mrs. Don Koss and Mrs. Roger Singleton, all of Decatur, Mrs. John Andrews of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. William Berron of Celina, Ohio; two sons, Edward Miller of Fort Wayne, and Gene Miller of Decatur; 18 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three brothers, Roy C. and Lloyd Miller of Jonesville, Mich., and Charles Miller of Bryan, 0., and three sisters, Mrs. John Steman of Jonesville, Mich., Mrs. Russel Yager of Hillsdale, Mich., and Mrs. Nellie Kelly of Fort Wayne, A son, Clarence; died July 27, 1956. Two brothers are also deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. George Yarian officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening until time of the services.

Six Cents

House Group Recommends s4l Million : ■ ■. - ' House Group Votes Recommendation Os Additional Funds WASHINGTON (UP)-The House Appropriations Committee Friday recommended an extra 41 million dollars to tide the Post Office De- . partmeht over between now and July 1. This was six million dollars short of the amount demanded by Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield as the sum needed to head off a sharp curtailment in mail service effective at midnight Friday. There was no immediate word from the Post Office Department whether the postal service cut stiH will go into effect. . Rep. Earl Wilson (R-Ind.) said . the 41-million-dbUar figure was . agreed on by a 37-10 vote. Summerfield had said that the . postal service curtailment—includ- ( ing an end to almost all weekend t service—would go into effect and > stay in effect until Congress votes . extra funds. I The 41-million-dollar supplemental fund now goes to the House for Jtts eertaZaapproval Monday. The ’ Senate is expected to take up the issue the following day. , May Rescind Action In approving the sum the committee at a closed session, rejected a 17-miilion-dollar allowance recommended last week by a subcommittee and also turned down a Republican proposal to give Summerfield 43 million dollars. Summerfield earlier ordered post offices to close Saturday. Saturday mail deliveries have been ordered cancelled. There remained a possibility, however, that with the assurance that extra funds are to be provided Summerfield might yet rescind the action. He told the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday afternoon “nothing can stop" the cuts “except money from Congress." He insisted later the emergency appropriation must be signed by President Eisenhower—not merely approved,by a congressional committee—before the cuts could be cancelled. 1 “ , Cuts Appear Inevitable 1 That appeared to make the postal cuts certain to go into effect at least for a few days. But L. Rohe Walter, Summerfield’s special assistant for public relations, said early today that “something still might be worked out.” Walter said it was "conceivable” that a strong request from the Appropriations Committee coupled with approval of emergency funds would vuable Summerfield to rescind orders for the cuts. “There is no desire on the part of the Post Office Department to cause undue hardship or disrupt the mail service,’’ Walter said. But he said the committee would have to enable Summerfield to cancel the cut order within “the legal requirements.” Summerfield told the Senate committee that he would be violating the federal anti-deficiency law if he continued full operations without necessary funds. Summerfield said he was ready to cancel all or part of the cuts depending on how much of the 47 million dollars Congress appropriates. ' Early Action Seen ’ Chair man Carl Hayden (D-Ariz.) of the Senate Appropriations Committee told reporters that if (Oontinuea on Klaui < INDIANA WEATHER Fair north, partly cloudy and a little colder south with freeing temperatures over entire state Friday night. Saturday generally fair and continued cold. Low Friday night 18-28. High Saturday 37-47. Sunset 7:29 p. m., sunrise Saturday 8:11 a. m.