Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 7 January 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 5.

Si ' '^W>.vZv. !; - ’N§ ’ / ' PREPAREDNESS HEARINGS CONTINUE— With indications that the committee would like to question Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, father of the nuclear submarine without security restraints, members of the Senate Preparedness Committee gather for a closed-door session. In the group are (1. to r.) Sen. Ralph Flanders (R), Vermont; Admiral Rickover; Sen. Lyndon Johnson (D) Texas, chairman, and Sen. John Stennis (D), Mississippi. '

Benson Seeks Abolishment Os Soil Bank Says Administration Will Ask Congress To Abolish Plan WASHINGTON (ffi — Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson said today the administration will ask Congress to abolish the controversial soil bank plan of paying farmers for taking certain crop land out cf production. Benson to!:" a news conference the President will recommend that Congress terminate the acreage reserve program at the end of the 1958..cr0p year. But he said the administration will seek approval of a stepped-up conservation reserve program. The acreage reserve payments already have com t under strong crit'-.isn from Congress. The House voted last year to kill the plan, but the Senate voted to continue it. The two houses compromised by agreeing not to appropriate more funds for it after this crop year. Critics of the plan say that the acreage reserve has failed in its purpose of reducing crop production substantially. Farmers have grown more on fewer acres by using improved production techniques. List The Differences •’(The conservation reserve, which has been more favorable received by Congress, differs from the acreage reserve in these important respects: —Farmers must put cropland taken out of production into grass or trees or convert It to other conservation uses. They must work with the land rather than getting government payments for doing nothing as under the acreage reserve. ■ —The conservation reserve is a long-range operation, whereas the acreage reserve operates on a year-to-year basis. —The conservation reserve is open to all farmers; the acreage reserve, only to those growing basic crops eligible for federal price support. Benson told a news conference that the administration’s new soil bank recommendations will be included in President Eisenhower’s budget message to Congress Jan. 13. Special Message “Likely” Benson said the Agriculture Department's budget for fiscal 1959 “would not be more” than it was in fiscal 1958. The current budget calls for the expenditure of some $5,300,000,000. v. _ Benson said a special farm message "likely” will be sent to Congress on Jan. 15 or 16, He _ said all the recommendations to be included in that message have not been determined yet. Meanwhile, Sen. Herman E. : Talmadge (D-Ga.) said agricul- i ture is in the “worst shape" since 1937 depression days. He called for "drastic action” to help small ‘ (Continued on Page eight) INDIANA WEATHER Clearing and colder tonight. < Snow flurries near Lake 1 Michigan this evening. Wednesday fair and not so cold. Low tonight xero to 8 above north, 8-12 above south. High 1 Wednesday 24-32. Sunset to- 1 day 5:37 p. m. Sunrise Wed- i nesday 6:07 a. m. Outlook for Thursday Fair: or partly 1 cloudy and warmer. Low Wednesday night 10-18. High i Thursday in the high 30s.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER W ADAMS COUNTY

Present Petitions To Commissioners County Board Meets In Weekly Session The county commissioners heard several groups in favor of various road-paving petitions, filed the specifications for two new dump trucks for the county highway department, and conducted other -eounty business in their first regular session Monday. The commissioners will now meet every Monday, rather than twice a month, to take care of the load of busines. and because of their increase in salary. Specifications were filed, and will be advertised, for two new dump trucks. These trucks will be in addition to those now owned by the county highway department, and will be used to haul additional stone for resurfacing gravel roads and building paved triads. The Mercer county, Ohio, commissioners asked/tb rheet with the Adams county/commissioners April 4 to dispdss the joint dredging of the Cufles-Felver ditch in Mercer County, 0.. and southern Adams county. A letter from the, state highway department announced the transfer of maintenance responsibilities on the newly-paved Salem road from state highway department, which acted as contractor for the federal government and county in the building of the road. ? A petition for cleaning the William Bluhm ditch in Washington township was referred to the county surveyor. -. ' Adams county was declared “modified Certified brucellosis free" following a testing of herds of cattle last year. Not more than one percent of the cattle in fyve percent of the herds here have the dreaded disease. Clarence vetting, Herman Bulman, Herbert Hobrock, and Gustav Fuelling, of Root township, appeared to ask for the blacktopping of county road 2, the eastwest gravel road one mile south of the Allen county line, or four miles north of Decatur. Hpn-v D°hner, Herman Steele, and Mart Thieme appeared to ask for the blacktopping of county road 28, a north-south road, between roads two and four in the center of Union township. The two-mile stretch lies one mile east of state road 101. Richard Lewton, county clerk, appeared to ask that the fire extinguisher removed when the abstractor’s room was built several years ago, be replaced in the west end of the first floor.-of the court house. ■ Sty Joel Baumgartner. Raymond Baumgartner, John Baumgartner, (Cor Gri oap-f* Five) ' ' Local Man's Sister j Is Taken By Death Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Stoll, 61, of route 3, Rockford, 0., a sister of Albert Kohler of Decatur will be conducted at 2 p.m, Wednesday at the Baxter & Markin funeral home at Hartford City, where friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday. Mrs. Stoll died at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Gibbons hospital, Celina, O„ 'following an extended ilness. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Leonard Phillips, route .3, Rockford, with whom she has lived for the past three years; Miss Pauline Stoll, Columbus, O.; and Mrs. Leon Canweil, Yorktown; a son Robert Stoll, Hartford City, three brothers- Albert Kohler, of Decatur, Douglas Kohler, Indianapolis, and Donald Kohler, of Phoenix, Ariz. a < <

Rumors Persist Manned Rocket Fired By Reds No Confirmation Os Rumors From Moscow Radio, Newspapers By WALTER LOGAN United Press Staff Correspondent Reports persisted in Moscow today the Soviets had fired a manned rocket. 186 mijes into space, but there still was no official confirmation from the Kremlin. World scientists viewed the rumors with reserve and said “remarkable if true.” The rumors circulating in Western diplomatic quarters in the Soviet capital said the man aboard the rocket missile parachuted back to earth from the 186-mile altitude. There was no hint whether he survived. Informed sources in Washington said the US. Joint Chiefs of Staff received word of the Moscow rumors several hours before they were made public. Ibe reports came from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the informants said. Moscow Press, Radio Silent The Russians usually are less than reluctant to announce they have beaten the West in any, scientific fields, but they have kept silent. There was no mention of such a feat in Moscow Radio broadcasts and the official Moscow papers iSaid nothing about it. He quoted Russian scientists as saying no missile or satellite would be shot with a human being in it until it was certain the person could be, returned to earth alive. But the persistence of the reports led to belief the experimental firing might have miscued and that the man in the missile did not survive. That might explain Soviet reluctance to announce such a feat; Rolf Sohlman, the Swedish ambassador to Moscow, also reported the rumors in a telephone conversation with the Stockholm morn? ing newspaper Dagens Nyheteri He said it was Impossible to satt where the rumors originated. H<g called the rumors “firm.’’ Called "Quite Fantastic” Typical reaction to the reports came front Prof. AC.B. Lovell, director of Britain's giant space radar equipment at Jodrell Bank and one of the nation’s leading experts'on Sputniks: “It’s quite fantastic, so fantastic that it is almost unbelievable.” Dr. D.C. Martin, assistant secretary of Britain’s Royal Society and secretary of the British International Geophysical Year committee, conceded the reports could be true. “This report does not come as much of a surprise," Martin said. “One presumes it is part of their program towards space flight.” Swedish rocket expert Ake Hjerstrand, chairman of the Swedish Interplanetary Assn., added, “it is hardly believeable, indeed.’’ In San Antonio, Tex, Dr. Hubertus Strughold, known as the father (Continued on Page eight) Blue Crutches Sales Net $151.10 Here The March df Dimes-fund was swelled by $141.10 by the sales of “blue crutches” Saturday by Boy Scouts of troop 63, American Legion. The report was issued today by Robert August, Decatur chairman'for the annual fund campaign. August also reported that the highest bid received to date for auto license plate JX 1958 is S3O. Bids on the plate may be filed as the Decatur auto license bureau.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, January 7, 195?

85th Congress Plunges Into Grave Issue Os A' ' ' Space Age Survival

Nation Must , Gain Control Over Space • • ' ■W Senate Leader Says Space Control Vital To Reins Over World Washington <up) — senate Democratic Leader Lyndon B. Johpson said today that the nation which controls space will gain "total control over the earth.” T e United States must win that con 1 rol, “for the service of freedom,” he said, or Russia will exploit it “for the purposes of tyranny. ’’ Johnson made the statements at a neeting of Senate Democrats shortly before the 85th Congress, its attention focused on the arms race, opened its second session. He also issued an implied call for a new peace or disarmament taljcs with Russia: “The conference table is more important now than it ever has been, and we should welcome to its chairs all men cf all nations Gavin May Net Quit He blamed President Eisenhowemphasis on a balanced budget for *tiie U.S. lag in the space race with -Russia. Budget considerations have “ag:/in and again reappeared * as the J prime limitation upon our scientific advancement,’’ Johnson saic( in briefing fellow Democrats on his Senate Preparedness subcommittee’s missile - satellite investigation. • Meantime. Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin said there still .is a “50-50 chance" he won’t quit his job of directing Army’s development of space-age weapons. Gavin also stepped up his public fight for money to increase weapons research and nearly double Army manpower—to 28 divisions. -i, Warns Against Reprisals □avin expressed his views in an intorview after he appeared betlnued on Page Five)

Members Speak At Meeting Os Lions Give Extemporaneous Addresses Monday Three Decatur Lions club members were selected by the program chairman, Robert Lane, tr speak extemporaneously on a num her of subjects At Lions club meet ng Monday night. Lane passed out multicolored Slips, and those who received the “lucky" red, white, and blue ones were called up front to speak. Dr. Melvin Weisman spoke firs 7 on “What I like about the Decatur Lions club and its projects.” Dr Weisman complimented the clufc. on its fine programs, and stated that participation programs would increase the interest of the mem bers and add variety to the week ly schedule. M. W. Bumgerdner then told what he liked about the city of De atur, Which has been his horm for the past 30 years. After com -’itmenting the Decatur Chamber of Commerce for its interest in the community, he called forward the 'dub secretary and recited Oliver Wendell Holmes, “The Last Leaf.” J. Clark Mayclin, engineer with the Decatur General Electric plant, then spoke on “This is my life.” After kidding Lane about expecting a new automobile when the program was over, Mayclin explained how his father had been an engineer, and he had traveled over the midwest, living in Decatur longer than any other community. He was one of the first TO persons called into the secret “Oak Ridge” atomic plant during the Second World War, and was power installation engineer. Mayclin explained that he had helped engineer the rebuilding of the Decatur GE plant, and that he did not know how much longer he would be staying here.

County Traffic Toll Seven During 1957 Annual Report Made | By County Sheriff wTh« annual report of the Adwns county sheriff’a department sjbows a marked decrease in the njtasiber of personal injury and property damage accidents in the county for the year 1957, as compared with 1956. ■^Sheriff., Affolder stated that although there was only one more fatid accident, three more people’ were-killed in 1957, bringing the total number of deaths, resulting from traffic accidents in Adams county, to seven. The first fatal accident of 1957 occurred Jan. 22, when Arthur A. Zuercher, a 17-year-old senior from Geneva high school, ran into the rear of a semi-trailer on highway 27, one mile north cf Berne. Zuercher was driving to Decatur to participate in revival services at the Trinity Evangelical U. B, church in Decatur. The second fatality occurred only one week later when Robert E. Parr, 29, was killed on a county road three and one-half miles wpst and one-fourth mile north of Bertie. The vehicle Parr was driving went out of control on an icy road, slid into a ditch and hit a utility pole, throwing Parrf out of the car. He was killed instantly when the car landed on ijra after striking the pole. The worst traffic accident in Adams county occurred, on May 10 when two persons were killed instantaneously and a third victim died about two weeks later as a? result of the injuries sustained in the crash. Anthony Lawrence Laker, 22, pf Monroeville, route 2, and Mrs; IContlnuea on Page Five)

Annual Report By County Recorder _ Mortgages Values . Increase Sharply X total of 229 farm mortgages, valued at $4,354,663, were recorded in 1957, Mrs. Mabel Striker, county recorder, stated today. In 1956 two more farm mortgages were filed than in 1957, but the value of the mortgages this past year totalled $2,694,827 more than in 1956. Chattel mortgages, on personal property, also skyrocketed this year to $4,014,964, an increase of $2,304,796 over 1956 total of sl,710,1681- There were 1,074 chattel mortgages in 1957 as compared with 1,064 the year before. School fund mortgages decreased from seven valued at $10,700, in 1956, to five, valued at $7,715, in 1957. These are loans made from county funds. Town mortgages decreased from 241 valued at $1,599,491 in 1956 ■to 411,743,213. Liens increased in number but decreased in value, there being 29 valued at $27,436 in 1956, and 33 valued at $18,748 last year. Mechanic liens are filed against personal or real property fbr which goods or service have been provided, but no payment made. The total number of instruments recorded this year increased slightly, but the fees charged decreased. There were 4,197 instruments recorded, valued at $4,952.40 this past year, as compared with 4,178 in 1958 valued at $5,267.93 The year 1956 saw the greatest amount collected in fees in any recent year; others are 1955, 4,606 instruments, $5,098.10; 1954, 3,856 instruments, $2,967.75; 1953, 4,537 instruments, $3,235.40; 1952, 4,755 instruments, $3,276.55. In 1957 there were 1,074 chattel mortgages filed, 943 releases from chattel, or personal property mortgages, were filed. Other recent figures include 1956, 1.068 filed, 916 released; 1955, 1,144 filed, 1,055 released; 1954, 1,082 filed, 915 released; 1953, 1,381 filed, 1,244 leased; 1952, 1,467 filed, 1,325 released. There were 166 farm mortgages * (Continued on Page Five)

Great Britain Plunged Into Cabinet Crisis Welfare State Cost Dispute Brings On Crisis In Cabinet LONDON (UP)—A sudden dispute over the high price of welfare state socialism plunged Britain today into its worst cabinet crisis since Suez. Chancellor of the Exchequer Peter Thorneycroft and two of his aides, resigned shortly before midnight in protest against government failure to hold welfare state spending in line. •■Despite tne crisis, Prime Minister* Harold Macmillan was leaving (5 a.m. e.s.t.) on a long-planned tour of the Commonwealth nations—a 38-day trip to the Far East and Australia to restore British solidarity. Macmillan was remaining in active command’by radio but he put the cabinet under the interim leadership of Home Secretary R A. (Rab) Butler, the man many had expected to succeed Sir Anthony Eden as prime minister. Before leaving on his 30,000-mile trip Macmillan got the Queen’s immediate approval for installing a new’ tMstisury-chief. Derick Heathitat-Amory, present minister of agriculture. The shakeup promoted Capt. Christopher Soames, son-in-law of sir Winston Churchill, from a junior post at the Admiralty to secretary of state for war. Soames succeeds War Secretary John Hare who replaces Heath-coath-Armoy in agriculture. Thorneycroft resigned because the Conservative cabinet outvoted his proposal to hold the line on government expenditure even if it cut into Britain’s cradle-to-the-grave welfare system. .- * - -. ■ r This is one of the most politically explosive issues ip, Britain and the government was taking no chances in losing support of the masses by cutting the welfare zenefits first laid down by the Labor Party when it was in power after the war.

First Prayer Week Service Held Here , , *t '..■i i Initial Service Is Held Monday Night The first of nightly servicles in observance of the week of. prayer was held at the First Presbyterian church Monday evening. The series is sponsored by the Associated Churches of Decatur, with services ' held in six different churches through next Sunday evening, with the exception of Saturday. The Rev. Paul Parker, pastor of the Nuttman Avenue United Brethren chuijch, was the speaker Monday evening, taking as his theme, "Can we pray the Lord’s Prayer?” He pointed out that ’’praying that prayer implies a unique relationship to God. Can we say ‘Our Father?' Spiritually speaking, not all persons are children of The Father. To pray that prayer effectively we must be a part of God's kingdom.” . ~ Rev. Parker then, pointed out the formalism of the many prayers at the time of Jesus, and that prayer, to be effective, must be spiritual. The Rev. J. O. Penrod, pastor of the Trinity Evangelical United Brethren church, will be the speaker at tonight’s service at 7:30 o’clock at the Bethany Evangelical United Brethren church. The public is invited to attend. Wednesday's service will be at the Church of God. Thursday's at the Missionary church, Friday’s ‘at the Nuttman Avenue United Brethren church, and Sunday’s at Trinity Evangelical United Brethren churCh.

■: Candidate 1 1 I ■ Richard E. Lewton Richard E. Lewton Seeks Renomination Seeks Second Term As County's Clerk - - - '.*•« Richard E. Lewton, clerk of the, circuit ‘court, announced today that he will be a candidate for reelection subject to the decision of the voters in the Democratic primary May 6. Lewton is the fourth Democrat to announce for public office, and the first to announce for clerk. Three others announced Monday. If elected, Lewton will take office Jan. 1, 1960, as the clerk is one of two holdover offices in the county. Lewton is the 20th man to hold the position of clerk in this county. He took office in 1956, following his election in 1954. Seven men have been reelected to the office, including the last two clerks, Edward F. Jaberg and Clyde 0. Troutner. Samuel L. Rugg, the first clerk, held the office 18 years, from 1836 until 1854. Lewton also served two two-year terms as treasurer of Adams county, from 1949 until 41 1953. A graduate of Monmouth high school, and for several years an electrical contractor in Decatur, Mr. and Mrs. Lewton reside in Root townshio. The couple have six children: Mrs. Carolyn Lehman, and Barbara, Richard, Mary Lou, Kathleen Rose, and Geraldine. Lewton stated that he will wage an active campaign, and if nominated and elected he will conduct his office with honesty and integrity as hie has in the past. City Zoning Office In Annual Report 107 Applications Received In 1957 The annual report of the zoning office of the city of Decatur was released today by city engineer Ralph Roop. The total number of applications received during 1957 was 107 as compared with 162 in 1956. The cost of each application is sl. One land use., application was filed in 1957 while 8 were filed in 1956. The inspection fees on new buildings totaled $164.30 in 1957 and $146.90 in 1956 but $48.49 in 1956 inspection fees was not paid until 1957. The grand total of money received in the engineer’s office was $320.79 in 1957 and $316.90 in 1956. The zoning office granted 93 building permits in 1957. Permits rejected by the zoning office and then granted by the appeal board totaled eleven. One permit was rejected by the zoning office and also rejected by the appeal board and two permits were rejected by the zoning office and not appealed. Only one transaction was recorded during the month of December, 1957. G. Frederick Pgllinger paid $1 for a land use permit at 216 West Adams street.

85th Congress Holds Initial Session Today Eisenhower Briefs Republican Leaders .* . On Program Plans (UP) — The Session of the 85th Congress plunged headfirst today into the greatest issue before it—survival of America in the age of space. Before me new session convened at 11 a.m. c.s.t President Eisenhower briefed House and Senate Republican leaders on the program he will present to Congress Thursday for combating "Communist imperialism.’’ At about the same time. Senate Democratic Leader. Lyndonrß. Johnson sounded a warning that the nation which controls space will exercise "total control over the earth.” The President began his official day by attending special prayer service for the new session of Congress. Then for two hours he went over with his legislative leaders his forthcoming State of the Union and budget messages. Will Meet Challenge* The President was quoted as forecasting that 1958 will be a ■ better year economically for America titan 1957 was. Senate Republican Leader William F. Knowland said .after the White House conference that the State of the Union message will be a statement of "the position of the United States today and ihow to meet the threat of Communist imperialism” Knowland gave this impression of the programs to. be presepted to Congress: “I believe that the recommendations being made by the President of the United States will meet the challenges that confront us in the world today." Johnson’s warning was made at a meeting of Senate Democrats for whom he reviewed testimony to date before the preparedness subcommittee’s investigation of U.S. satellite and missile programs. No Major Business Today He said the United States must win space control "for the service of freedom." If the Russians win the space race, they will exploit jt “for the purposes of tyranny," Johnson said. The new session scheduled no major business for its first day. A number of committee investigators already were rolling or projSeveral bills were introduced.' Three new House members took their seats. But Congress was marking time until Thursday to hear what the President proposes in his State of the Union messageAgain the nation was confronted with government controlled on the executive side by Republicans and on the congressional side by Dem- < } ocrats. » Knowland said that in this context “we should put the Interests ot the country above narrow partisan interests.” He hoped the basic issues would not be subject to "carping criticism.” Can’t Ignore Soft Spots Speaking for Senate Democrats, Johnson said the new session of , Congress faces many grave issues besides the battle for space upremacy. “However urgent these military problems may be we are faced with the unchanging problem of building a strong country, not a strong military force alone,” Johnson said. Johnson said Congress "cannot ignore” the problems of the unemployed, the farmers, school children, or the problems of housing, credit, small business and conservation of natural resources. « .itlnuad on Page Five) NEW SERIAL STORY ”Justice, My Brother” is the title of the new serial story starting today in the -Daily Democrat; The story was-auth-ored by James Keene and is a western dramaof two brothers which will keep you interested and wondering.

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