Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 305, Decatur, Adams County, 29 December 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 305.

~ i VOTE TO END NEWS STRIKE — Carrying “Out to Win” signs, members of the striking newspaper deliverers unton gather outside Manhattan Center for a meeting to explain a new contract that led to a settlement of the 19-day-old New York newspaper strike. After hearing an explanation of the contract, the members of the union voted by secret ballot to adopt it.

Giant Presses Roll Again In ’ New York City Costliest Strike In Newspaper History Ends At New York NEW YORK (UPD— The giant presses of nine major New York City dailies, stilled 30 days by the costliest strike in newspaper history, rolled once more today, sending forth sorely-missed papers for a news-famished public. Newspapers began hitting the streets this morning, a few hours after the Mail and Deliverers Union Sunday night voted 2,091-537 to accept a new two-year contract. The reading public, which normally devours 5,500,000 weekday newspapers, and 8 million on Sunday, eagerly snapped up the papers as they reached the news stands. On all sides there were exprssions of relief that the frustrating news blackout was over. The two morning tabloids came out with jubilant headlines across their front pages. “We’re off and running again,*’ the New York Daily News announced. And the New York Mirror bannered: “Hello again!” TTie prolonged strike had not only gotten on people’s nerves but had dealt a hard blow to the city’s economy. It cost the publishing business an estimated 25 million dollars in advertising and circulation revenue and additional millions of dollars in losses to department stores, specialty shops, theaters, movies and other concerns. Also about 15,000 newspaper workers — editorial employes, printers, pressmen and others—were idled without pay for almost three weeks, losing more than four million dollars in Christmas-time wages. The publishers granted a $7 package and agreed to distribute the package so the men will receive a $3.55 a week raise the first year, and $1.75 a week more the second .ar, making a wage increase of >5.30 over the two-year period. In addition, the publishers granted other changes. They cut the bundles from 53 pounds to 50; agreed to give a ninth holiday (Columbus Day) beginning the first year of the contract They granted a maximum of three days sick leave, and three days leave when relatives die. *The publishers also agreed to extend the territorial jurisdiction of the union beyond the present 50-mile radius from New York. BULLETIN Arthur H.-Zest, 64, of Hoagland, died at 12:55 o’clock thia afternoon at the Adams county memorial hospital, approximately 10 minutes after admittance. INDIANA WEATHER x Mostly cloudy tonight, colder north portion. Tuesday partly cloudy north, cloudy south with chance of snow or rain extreme south. A little colder most sections Tuesday. Low tonight 24 to 30 north, 30 to 38 south. High Tuesday mostly in the 30s. Sunset today 5:29 c.d.L Sunrise Tuesday 8:06 ,a.m. .c.d.t Outlook for Wednesday: Tartly cloudy worth and central, cloudy with rain or snow south. Continued cool. Low Tuesday night low 20s north and central, upper 20s south. High Wednesday generally mid 30s throughout state.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT \ 7 ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

State Traffic Toll Is 19 Over Holiday Five Killed Sunday On State Highways United Press International Traffic accidents killed at least 19 persons in Indiana during the 102-hour Christmas holiday period, and many persons were injured so critically their deaths later may send the toll even higher. Five fatalities Sunday, the last occurring five minutes before the counting period ended, shot the toll upward as thousands of Hoosiers drove home from holiday visits. Safety officials had predicted the toll would be 15. Fingerprints identified the victime of a Saturday night accident on Ind. 3 near Huntertown as Ernest Leo Kassanits, 44, Fort Wayne. Kassanits was injured fatally when a borrowed car struck a utility pole. He died two hours after the accident in Parkview Hospital at Fort Wayne. Five highway victims Sunday eluded Harvey Couch Jr., 36. Muncie, killed when his car went out of control on Ind. 3 south of Muncie and strack a tree, and Mrs. Isis Hoss, 60, Washington, killed in another one-car crash on Ind. 46 near Riley when a car driven by her husband hit a slick spot on the road and turned over. A five-vehicle accident on Ind. 150 east of Paoli killed Mrs. Delores Boyer, 26, Overland, Mo., early Sunday. Her car slid into ■the rear ot an automobile driven by her husband and was struck by an auto transport. Two. other cars then piled into the wreckage. Just five minutes before the 102-hour holiday period ended Sunday midnight, Diana Gates, 16, Bedford, was killed when a car in which five persons were riding struck a big truck on U.S. 40 east of Brazil. Driver of the car was Dick Green, 16, Brazil. Driver of the truck was Hester Miller, Sellersburg. Twelve-year-old Shirley Marie Dick, Kentland, was the fifth Sunday wreck victim. A car driven by her mother, Berngdine, 41, was struck by a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train on the main street of Goodland. Mrs. Dick and two other children were injured. Eight-year-old Diane DiPaolo of Michigan City, died Saturday of injuries suffered in a two-car crash late Friday. Her mother was charged with failure to yield right-of-way. Continued on page five Fort Wayne Building Is Swept By Flames Downtown Building Destroyed By Fire FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UPD — Fire swept a four-story building in downtown Fort Wayne today and raged out of control for hours. The blaze was discovered by a hotel guest in the pre-dawn hours. Robert Schoenherr, 33, a fireman, was hospitalized from smoke inhalation while fighting the flames. The building housed the Shoppers’ Center on the first floor, Gen* eral Finance Co. offices on the second, and warehouse storage space for Frank Appliance Store on the third and fourth. The building was located at Calhoun & Berry Sts. It was described as a “total loss” by firemen after they controlled the flames and kept them from spreading to other structures. Firemen believed the blaze smoldered for hours before it was discovered.

French Embark On Grim Era Os Austerity Stringent Finance • Program Launched By French Leaders PARIS (UPD—France embarked today on the grimmest era of austerity in living memory —a life of government enforced “truth and severity.” Not even in the dark days foltowing World War II had this country faced a program of such financial stringency as that offered by President-elect Charles de Gaulle and his government in their weekend adjustment of the nation's finances. Observers said France probably would find a firmer financial footing but the cost might wen be a loss by De Gaulle of some ot the popularity which swept him into power this year as the new strong man-president of the Fifth Republic. New Franc Announced The moves were foreshadowed Saturday when France devalued the franc. At a two-hour news conference today, Finance Minister Antoine Pinay disclosed that the government had received “large scale” backing from the central banks of Britain, West Germany, Belgium and Holland to protect the newly devalued franc against fresh speculation. He said help also came from the central clearing house in Switzerland of the 17-nation European monetary agreement. But he did not \ say how much backing France’s neighbors provided. i Pinay 1 added that the United States also offered help, but “the fends made available by the above-mentioned banks did not make it necessary to accept the American proposals.” He qualified this by saying that "for the time being, we don’t need these offers.” . The prices of gold and gold coins rose in moderate gains when the Paris Bourse opened today, but there was no panicky buying, and government officials said there seemed to be no sudden rush on gold because of the 17.55 per cent devaluation. De Gaulle Uses Powers The austerity program effective today was forecast by De Gaulle in a “blood, sweat and tears” television address to the country Sunday night. He said in blunt words he was going to put France “on a basis of truth and severity. M The announcement probably was the first great disillusionment for the 79 per cent of the Continued on page Hva Three Accidents In City Over Weekend Tortland Ambulance Involved In Wreck Three accidents occurred within the city over the weekend. One mishap involved an ambulance from Portland in the process of transferring a patient to a Fort Wayne hospital. The patient was reported suffering from a broken back sustained earlier in the day in a head-on collision near Portland. 1 » The two remaining accidents were considered as minor mishaps. The accident involving the ambulance occurred on 13th street near Dayton avenue Sunday at 2:42 p.m. The report of the police officer showed that a car driven by Twanette Magley, 19, Decatur, was attempting a left turn off 13th street while headed north. At the same time, the ambulance driven by Stanley Paul Teeter, 29, formerly of Geneva, a driver for the Baird funeral home in Portland, attempted to pass the Magley auto, and struck the car on the left rear fender. The driver of the ambulance stated to the investigating officers that the siren and red flashers indicating an emergency run were working at the time of the collision. Witnesses in the Magley auto, other than the driver, Sue Petrie and Marjorie Kohne, both of Decatur, stated to officers that they did not hear or see any red flashers or siren. Mrs. Richard Nixon, of route three, Portland, the patient in the ambulance, was injured Sunday noon near Portland in a head-on collision while riding in the family auto with her husband and three children. When the accident occurred here, Mrs. Nixon was being transferred to a hospital in Fort Wayne after hospital attendants at the Portland hospital discovered that the patient was suffering from a broken back. Continued on page fir*

Decatur, Indiana* Monday, December 29,1958.

Great Britain, 10 West European Nations Begin Reforms Os Currencies

Nation Counts 596 Deaths In U.S. Traffic Holiday Death Toll Below Predictions Os Safety Council United Press International Motorists in closing hours of the Christmas holidays heeded “get scared” warnings and saved the nation from what traffic experts predicted might be a record toll. A United Press International count at 10:30 a.m. c.s.t. showed at least 596 persons killed in traffic mishaps during the holiday period between 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and midnight Sunday. Eight persons were killed in plane accidents. 96 in fires and 100 from miscellaneous causes for an overall total of 800. California led the states in traffic deaths with 59. Texas had 46, Illinois 38, New York 34, Ohio 27, and North Carolina and Pennsylvania 25 each. , Five states, Delaware, .Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming and New Hampshire, reported no fatalities, and North and South Dakota and Utah had one each. Used Extra Precautions . Early in the holiday period the rate was climbing at a pace higher than in 1956 when 712 persons tost their lives on streets and highways dtiring a four day Christmas observance. But the rate slackened off during the final two days, and safety experts attributed it to strict raffle .enforcement and extra precautions by motorists. A spokesman for the National Safety Council said, “We are grateful that, bad as it was, the toll ended up so much lower than we had feared it would be in the early hours of the holiday.” “We attribute this sudden improvement that came midway in the weekend,” he said, “ft> allout traffic enforcement throughout the nation, to the shock of the early toll as imparted to the public by news media, and to the drivers themselves. “We sincerely hope this shock carries over into the New Year holiday period." Less Than Predicted The council had made a preholiday estimate of 620 traffic deaths. A council spokesman said that “as bad as the figures are, they still have come down almost onethird” in the closing hours of the 102-hour holiday. "It now looks as though the final toll will not be nearly as far above our pre-holiday prediction Continued on page five Valid Loophole In Indiana Time Law Ruling Is Given By Marion County Judge INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — A Marion County judge ruled today that local governments can operate on “fast” time despite a 1957 state law aimed at abolishing it except during five summer months. Judge Norman E. Brennan in Superior Court 3 decided that the Indianapolis City Council lawfully changed office hours to have the effect of keeping “fast!’ time all winter.“A valid loophole exists in the state law,” Brennan said, "whereby local governments can regulate their own hours and the court is without power to require citizens to accept or reject those hours.” Brennan ruled in an injunction suit in which a taxpayer, George Karres, sought to enjoin city hall from changing office hours. Brennan also cited a 1956 state referendum in which Marion County voters preferred yearTound fast time by a 3-to-l margin. Brennan ruled that Indianapolis did not violate * the law and therefore was not in jeopardy of losing state funds which the law provides may be withheld from violators.

Heavy Rains Soaking Carolinas, Virginia Minor Flood Threat Along Some Rivers United Press International Heavy rain continued to soak the Carolinas and Virginia today, •ending the New River over its banks and bringing the threat ot minor floods along other rivers. Weather forecasters said the New River was expected to climb about three feet above flood stage art Galax, Va. They said the rain Would probably end later today but predicted possible further flooding at the Roanoke, Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear river bain the nation’s midsection, an Invasion of cold air was expected to chase a spell of spring - like weather that saw the mercury zoom to a record 51 degrees in Chicago Sunday. The previous high of 50 >r the date was set in 1889. An arctic air mass pushed into tiie nation’s north central section I Sunday and surged southward through the Dakotas into Nebraska. Temperatures tumbled an average of 20 degrees under the Influence of the cold air, plunging to near zero early today in North Dakota and to the 20s in Nebraska. The heavy rains that petled the east Sunday narrowed to the VirMnias and North Carolina during tee night. More than 3Vfe inched of rain doused Roanoke, Va., and nearly an inch fell at Richmond and Norfolk, Va. Dense fog developed in the mild air over the Mississippi Valley, blanketing parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana along the Ohio Valley. The fog was blamed for a rash of traffic accidents, including one which killed four persons near Greenup, 111. A light plane crash near Fairfield, Hl., when the pilot became lost in the fog. One woman was killed in the wreck, and two other persons were injured. Opinion Is Received On City Appraisers Judge Sent Opinion On Utility Value Judge Myles F. Parrish of the Adams circuit court Saturday received a letter from attorneygeneral Edwin K. Steers of the state of Indiana on his question of whether a freeholder must be a resident of the county according to the terms of the statute for appointing three appraisers for the city electric utiltiy. Steers points out to the judge that while there is no decision on the specific statute which the judge quoted, on a similar statute, the Illinois court has allowed that the freeholder need not be a resident. In some 30 Indiana statutes. Steers continues, the legislature alludes to freeholders, but in most of them qualified this by the adjective “resident”. The fact that in the specific statute referred to by the judge the term resident is omitted indicates, Steers says, that the legislature intended its omission. Steers states that while it is his opinion that thp freeholder need not be a resident of • the county, the attorney-general is restricted by .Jaw to giving legal opinions to the governor, state officials, and members of the legislature, and that this opinion is not to be considered as being a precedent of his office, merely his personal views. In concluding, Steers states that he hopes that this will help the judge reach his own conclusion in the matter; Judge Parrish was petitioned Dec. 1 to appoint three freeholders to appraise the value of the city utility before it is sold. He was still attmepting to find three men late this morning to take the job as appraisers. The appraisers must be freeholders of the county, but not residents or voters of the city.

Ladoga State Bank Is Robbed By Lone Gunman Small Montgomery County Bank Robbed Os $2,100 In Cash LADOGA, Ind. (UPD—A gunmn robbed the Ladoga State Bank today while the bank’s board of directors was holding a business meeting in a back room. First reports indicated the bandit escaped with $2,100. Ernest Ball, 56, the cashier, said the bareheaded bandit forced Mrs. Eva Williams, 56, a teller, to hand over the money from a cash drawer. The gunman, described as “long-faced,” and wearing a gray sports shirt, gray suit and gray top coat, escaped in a black sedan believed to be about 17 years old. While the holdup was in progress, a customer walked in. Officials said the bandit forced Mrs. Williams and Elmer Thomas, the customer, to lie flat on the floor while he grabbed the money and fled. Ladoga is a small southeastern Montgomery County town near Crawfordsville. Ball said he and six other directors of the bank, including President Frank Davis, were in a rear room separated by a closed door from the main lobby where Mrs. Williams was alone handling the bank’s business during lunch hour. Mrs. Williams said a stranger came in, walked up to her window and pointed a nickel plated revolver at her. “Give me the money,” he said. “I wouldn’t do that if I *ere you,” she said she replied. “You'll get caught.” The bandit didn’t reply but kept the gun pointed at Mrs. Williams. While she was stacking up small - denomination currency, ■ Thomas came in. The bandit pointed the gun at Thomas. Mrs. Williams said she crawled toward a telephone while the bandit’s back was turned but he heard her movement and ordered her to lie still. Ball said the bank was held up 20 or 25 years ago. Robert Elliott, owner of a gas station nearby, said he saw the man leave in a black car with mud covering the license plate.

Mrs. Harriet Nye Is Taken By Death Services Tuesday For Decatur Native Mrs. Harriet Nye, 63, a native of Decatur, died at 7 a. m. Saturday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ralph Snyder, Bryan, O. She had been ill for two years. She was born in Decatur January 2, 1895, the daughter of Chauncey and Minnie M. Watts-Wilder. Her husbapd, Fred Nye, preceded her W death, as did one son, William. Mrs. Nye was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran church, Fort Wayne. Surviving in addition to the daughter are a son, Robert C. Nye, of Indianapolis: five grandchildren: four sisters, Mrs. Grover (Bessie) Turner, Fort Wayne; Mrs. Merrill (Edwina) Buckley, of Fort Wayne: Mrs. Lawrence Johnson, of Findlay, O.; and Mrs. Richard (Doris) Harkless, of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at St. Luke’s, the Rev. J. Luther Seng, officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn memorial park. Friends may call at the C. M. Sloan & Sons funeral home. The body will be removed to the church at 11:30 a. m. Tuesday.

State Budget Under Committee Study Building Requests Studied By Group INDIANAPOLIS ‘ (UPD — The Indiana State Budget Committee met today to consider almost four million dollars in construction requests from various state institutions, including two million dollars in federal funds for completion of the new Employment Security Division Building. The largest request came from the Fort Wayne State School,] which sought $949,000 for construe-, tion of buildings at its new Oak] Park site. The request was for| $214,000 for work on a powerhouse I and $735,000 for construction of the first buildings. Indiana University requested $500,000 to begin construction of a new 2*6 million dollar geology building approved by the 1957 Legislature. Other requests included Indiana State Prison, $36,000 for construction of a new main sewer to replace one built in 1888; Central State hospital, $16,100 tor a building to house water softener: Indiana State Farm, $20,000 for a powerhouse addition, and Indiana University, for planning a new hospital unit at the Indianapolis Medical Center. The committee also considered several salary requests, including an increase from $10,500 to $12,000 a year for the superintendent of the Fort Wayne State Schotfl; annual SI,OOO increases for the superintendents ot the State Deaf School, Indiana State TB hospital, and Southern Indiana TB hospital, and a request from Public Counselor George DivOn that his salary be increased above its present SB,OOO. Several townships requested funds from the Educational Contingency Fund. Center Twp., Delaware Co., requested $36,322 to cover a deficit. The township previously was allocated $134,000. Polk Twp., Monroe Co., asked for $16,613 to pay transfer tuition to Clear Creek Twp., Cleveland Twp., Elkhart Co., requested $51,000 to pay transfer tuition to Elkhart city schools. Washington Twp., Elkhart Co., asked for $14,000 to pay current operating expenses. One Person Killed In British Crash American Pilot Is Slightly Injured' IPSWICH, England (UPD-One person was killed and several others injured today when a flaming U. S. Air Force jet fighter sliced between a group of houses and slammed into a garage at Kesgrave near hers. The pilot, Ist Lt. Charles L. Prescott, Santa Monica, Calif., ejected himself from the FIOOD Super Saber and parachuted to safety before the crash. He was treated at a local hospital for shock and minor Injuries. Two houses ar 4 the garage were destroyed by fire, and several other houses and a group of unoccupied trailers were damaged. A number of dogs were killed when debris plunged into their kennel area. Prescott was on a training flight from Sutton Heath Air Base, which is shared by the U. S. Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The crash occurred 5% miles from the base. The body of a young woman was recovered from the wreckage of the garage struck by the plane. She was identified as Mrs. Elizabeth Aggis, 28, Kesgrave, who worked at the garage as a clerk. A deep crater was left where the plane dived into the rear of the garage, and wreckage was strewn over a wide area. Police moved in to guard the scene of the crash.

Predict Move Will Aid U.S. Foreign Trade 11 Nations Begin Removing Wartime Financial Chains LONDON CUPD — Britain and 10 other Western European nations today began removing the last of their wartime financial shackles in a series of currency reforms regarded as the most importmant economic development in Europe’s poet-war history. Currencies of the 11 nations became “externally convertible” which means any foreigner could change them for the first time into “hand” U.S. dollars. The nations hope for full convertibility by the end of 1959. More than half the world’s trade is still conducted in pounds sterling. Businesses could amass great sums of British pounds but could not exchange them for dollars. Now they can to a limited extent; Britain hopes to remove those last limits soon. Another major economic move is in the offering. On Jan. 1 six continental European nations — France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg—launch a common market project. Eventually this project will merge them into a solid economic bloc of 180 million population, as large as the United States. Stimulate American Trade U.S. officials predicted the currency reforms will stimulate American trade ’ abroad and strengthen the economy of Europe. Europeans saw the move as a determination to return to the pre-war sound money basis and to end the centuries-old economic divisions of Europe. The action taken by the 11 European nations in moving toward sound money was praised by the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. State Department and members of Congress. Americans saw improved business for themselves. The currency reforms were announced Saturday by Britain, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland and became effective at market openings this morning. The Swiss franc and West German Deutsche mark already were rock hard and the Italian lira was sound. First market reaction today came from Switzerland where there was a minute fluctuation of die Swiss franc. The Swiss National Bank upped its buying price for the dollar by one centime to 4.29% Swiss francs. Scrap Payments Union Another major economic development in Western Europe was scrapping of the European Payments Union which for eight years has acted as a clearing house of debts for Western Europe. In its place was put a European monetary agreement with 600 million dollars capital and much tougher rules about lending out funds than the old EPU. The moves were timed to Continued on page f ,v * Mrs. Lelia Kiggins Dies At Noon Sunday Mrs. Leila Kiggins, 75, mother of Mrs. Ethel Foor of this city, died at noon Sunday in the Adams county memorial hospital, where she had been a patient Since Christmas day. She had been ill two years. A lifelong resident of Van Wert county, 0., she was born Sept. 26, 1883. near Convoy, Ohio. fi In addition to the daughter, a brother, Clifford Meyers, of Convoy, 0., and a grandson, survive, Mrs. Kiggins was the widow of Frank Kiggins, and a member of the Convoy Methodist ..church. Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the H. D. Smith funeral home In Convoy, 0., and burial will be in the IOOF cemetery. Friends maw call at the funeral home after 4 p. m. today.

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