Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 116, Decatur, Adams County, 16 May 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 116.

City Diesel Plant Out Os Operation At Least Week From Breakdown

A cracked cylinder lining, the third since the diesel was installed a few years ago, will have the diesel electric generating plant out.for at least a week* probably longer, L. C. Pettibone, superintendent, said this morning. The diesel crew, working under AlbdW “Bub” Cook, labored until 9 p. m. Friday opening up the No. 8 cylinder so that the amount of damage could be ascertained. No. 12 piston has also been removed thi smorning, and there is some damage to the piston, but not apparently to the cylinder liner. ’ It will be several days before the full extent of damage is known. Five cylinders of the huge 12-cylinder engine will have to be cleaned after their pistons are removed, to see how much damage was done. f Repair Needed The trouble at the diesel plant yesterday will mean the repair of the five pistons damaged by the fire caused by the cracked cylinder wall, and the replacing of the cylinder lining. ItMmocks out of operation the diesel plant, which has been used during the day’s . peak operation to provide 5,000 KW of power for the city. Die main steam generator, which accounts normally for 5.000 KW of the load, is also out of order from the trouble six weeks ago. and is not expected to be back “on the line” until late next week, or later. In No. 8 a very tiny crack, hardly visible to the naked eye J when the cylinder wall is cold, but opening up when the wall is heated on operation, was found. This crack allowed tremendous pressure to bear on the piston, wearing large gashes and dents in the piston sleeves. This was the second fire in the diesel since it was installed about nine years ago. The first is believed to have been worse, but not to have lasted as long. One Line Only _ Meanwhile, all of the city’s power was received over the one temporary line from the Preble

Democrats React To Eisenhower Scolding

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower scolded the Democratic - controlled Congress this week for not acting on his “very badly needed” proposals to solve the housing highway and wheat problems. The Democrats reacted by stamping 'committee approval on their own housing, wheat and aid-to-schools bills. In a rare special message to the Senate and House Eisenhower called for passage of his recommendations to boost the gasoline tax cents a gallon, add money to the government’s dwindling authority to insure home mortgages and cut the giant wheat surplus by reducing price supports. The next dav the House Rules Committee approved a $2,100.000,000 Democratic housing l»ll containing the mortgage funds the President asked. But the measure also has a number of public housing and other provisions Eisenhower opposes. A coalition of conservative Republicans and Democrats hoped to trim the measure by $800,000,000 when the House takes it up Tuesday. Eisenhower had proposed a $1,650,000,000 housing plan. OK’d Wheat Plan The House Agriculture Committee okayed a plan to cut wheat planting allotments 30 per cent in 1960 and 1961 and increase price supports to 90 percent of parity from the current 75 per cent. The Senate Agriculture Committee voted to let farmers choose between a similar scheme which would cut plantings 20 cent and boost supports to 80 per cent of parity, and a rival idea in line with Eisenhower’s thinking which would keep. present wheat acreage and chop supports to 65 per cent of parity. The House Education Committee approved a four-year, $4,400,000,000 Democratic pr ogr a m

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

station, partly through the temporary bank at the steam plant, and partly through the portable transformer near the diesel plant. Any interruption of the one line will throw the city completely out of electricity, except for the old 2,000 KW and 1,000 KW generators held in standby at the steam plant. Indiana-Michigan, which has two other lines built within two miles of the city, awaiting the building of a substation, stated that the city was in as good shape as would be possible without a substation, but that another mechanical failure would cause a serious problem. On Friday while some of the power lines were only temporarily out of order, others were off for a considerable time. A number of telephone calls from irate housewives wondering wheii they would have power for their ironing, washing, cooking, etc., were received whife temporary jumps were 'made to the portable standby transformer at the diesel plant. Workers Off ’Wayne Novelty was off nearly an hour during the two electric emergencies, and the workers lost the time. Several beauty operators reported that their shops were without power for some time. One line was not returned until 1:30 p. m., because of trouble in a major cable. This trouble has not yet been isolated. Pettibone indicated that the diesel would be completely serviced and checked while it is out of operation. An engineer from Lima-Baldwin-Hamilton will help supervise the removal of the cylinder lining, which is a very delicate operation. An engineer from Fort Wayne was called in to check the control bank and find the breaker that was thrown, keeping the diesel from obtaining necessary power from the steam plant to combat the fire Friday. The board of works was called into emergency session Friday afternoon to make a first-hand

which would provide federal grants to the states for school construction and higher teachers salaries. Ended In Tumult As for the President’s plea for a bigger gas tax to put the federal highway building program on a pay-as-you-o basis, there appeared no chance for approval. The Senate Commerce Committee hearins on Lewis L. Strauss’ appointment as commerce secretary ended in tumult after 16 sessions. A shouting woman spectator was ejected by police from the final hearing after she accused Strauss of financing the Russian revolution. Chairman Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) said he hoped to take a vote Tuesday. The confirmation of another Eisenhower appointee, Undersecretary of State V C. Douglas Dillon, hit an unexpected snag. A vote was postponed until next week after Sen. Russell B. Long (DLa.) threatened to use “deliberate, dilatory tactics” to delay the confirmation unless he was given time to explore Dillon’s role in the foreign aid program. Other congressional news this week: States rights — The House Judiciary Committee approved a broad states rights bill aimed at nullifying a Supreme Court decision which held that sedition, and certain other laws were exclusively a federal responsibility Fair trade— The House Commerce Committee approved a ‘Tair trade’’ bill to permit manufacturers to set minimum retail prices for their products. Unemployment — The House Ways & Means Committee tentatively rejected a labor - backed prosposal to set federal minimum standards for the amount and duration of state unemployment payments. NOON EDITION ~

investigation of the emergency. An Indianapolis Insurance investigator, who will determine • his company’s liability for damage, will arrive in Decatur this afternoon to investigate. He has had to wait until the five cylinders are opened to determine damage. Death's Dismissal Is Upheld By Court The dismissal of Decatur policeman Dale Death by the city board of works and safety was upheld in a four-page opinion handed down by special judge John W. Macy, of Winchester, in the Jay county circuit court Friday afternoon. Death had instituted a civil ,suit against the city, asking: reinstatement to the police force and salary retroactive to the date of his dismissal. The plaintiff will now be charged with all court costs, according to the ruling by Judge Macy. Death, however, will have recourse to file a petition for a rehearing at the circuit court in Portland. This petition must be filed within 10 days of the date of the verdict. The verdict, howeVbr, will be in effect until further action is taken by the plaintiffs attorneys. The board of works and safety dismissed Death from the police department after a hearing in which he was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer; absent without leave from his job and conviction of public intoxication. The criminal charge of public intoxication, however, was set aside later by action in the Adams circuit court. Death was arrested Nov. 1, 1957, by a fellow officer following an accident near the Standard Food Market on Second street, fie was charged with public intoxication and found guilty by the city court. This decision was later reversed in the Adams county court when Death changed his plea to not guilty. He then instituted the suit against the city and asked for a change of venue. It was granted and the hearing was heard in the Jay county circuit court under special judge Macy. The Friday afternoon opinion is the result of all previous action. Four Persons Hurt In Accident Friday Friday night at 11 o’clock, four persons were hospitalized for injuries suffered in a one-car crash on U. S. 27 near Connie’s market, when the vehicle they were riding in failed to negotiate a curve and struck a guard rail. The driver of the vehicle, Charles L. Peffley, 42, Lafayette, was arrested by the investigating qfficer and is scheduled to appear in city court Monday, May 25, to a charge of reckless driving. Injured persons include: the driver, Peffley, injury to the right hip; Salomie Graber, 25, Lafayette, laceration above t h e right eye; Samuel L. Weaver, 24, Lafayette, abraisions to the head and neck; and Simon Graber, 24, Lafayette, injuries unknown. All are being administered treatment at the Adams county hospital. Investigating officers Charles Arnold, of the Adams county sheriff’s department, and state trooper Alan Coppes, estimated S6OO damage to the vehicle.

School Boys Face Burglary Charges ATTICA, Ind. (UPI) — Two Attica high school sepiors faced btlrglary charges today, filed after they admitted robberies and a fake holdup report to finance a class trip. Sgt. James M. Frazer of Indiana State Police said Kenneth Shephard, 17, and Francis Snyder, 18, R. R. 2, Attica, gave statements clearing up a dozen burglaries in the Attica area and admitting a report of a $144 holdup at the gas station where Snyder worked was a hoax.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, May 16. 1959.

Seek Secrecy At Conference

GENEVA (UPD—Delegates tothe East-West foreign ministers’ conference fanned out across Europe during a week end recess today, leaving technical experts to work on proposals for easing the deadlock that developed during the meeting’s first week. High American officials were still hopeful that the Russians would consent to substitute secret sessions for the publicized meetings that have been held .sp far in the conference. Diplomatic observers said the West probably would moderate its demand for “all or nothing” acceptance of its package peace plan if Gromyko indicated in secret sessions that he is willing to yield some ground. .Secretary of State Christian A. Herter flew down to Rome for the day for policy talks with Italian leaders, and French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville flew to Paris for the week end. West German Foreign Minister Henrich von Brentano remained in Geneva today—he is scheduled to' dine with Herter tonight—but he was expected to leave late tonight or early Sunday for Zurcih to visit friends. East German Foreign Minister Lothar Bolz flew to Berlin last night, and West German Press Secretary Felix von Eckardt left early today for Bonn to brief Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on developments. Only two top delegates—British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko—were expected to Report Over 2,200 Signers To Petition The association for the betterment of Decatur held an informal meeting at the Fairway Restaurant this morning for a partial report on the receipt of the petitions they are' circulating. The reports are that with several petitions still outstanding, there are already more than 2,200 signers. The final day for signing the petition will be Tuesday, and anyone who wishes to sign, but can not reach any of the places where petitions are available, may call 3-2143, and a petition will be brought to them.

v MM! a A *l* Jjk Mrl I raff mE -ffW J I -’4 f IMmS waMl' ! flß* gB cts aBwW t Il tiF Bi UH ». MSB ft®) £> BS mI •. IM IK ’HI 1 w r JU '"F." /: wBRNB* Wl WEST HEARS SOVIET COUNTER-PLAN- British Foreign Secre- -t Ipry Selwyn Lloyd (center) turns to listen to Soviet .Ambassador to Britain Jacob Malik (in doorway- as they leave Geneva confer- ” 1 ences. Lloyd, who was chairman of Friday’s meeting, declared he would study the Soviet counter to the West’s peace plan. The counter-proposal by the U.S.S.R., asked a treaty that would keep . East Germany communist and pull West Germany out of NATO, among its 48 points all of them favorable to Russia.

spend the entire week end in Geneva. The conference’s first week revealed that East and West ar# diametrically opposed in their positions on the key issues under discussion, but diplomatic observers said there still appears to be Some hope of compromise. American sources expressed a cautious belief that enough progress will be achieved here to justify a summit meeting later this year. Decatur Librarians To District Meet ‘ Four women, associated with the Decatur public library, will attend : the annual district meeting of the Indiana Library association and library trustees association at Wabash, May 19. Miss Bertha Heller, librarian, ’ Miss Etta Mallonee, assistant li- [ brarian, Mrs. Martha G. Heller, children’s librarian, and Miss ■ Frances Dugan, library trustee, ; will participate in the ses- : sion at the Wabash Carnegie pub- : life library Tuesday, : (The seven-hour program will i feature guest speakers, a luncheon at the Honeywell Memorial Community center, guided tours, a busines session, and nformal meetings to share and evaluate ideas common to the librarians and trustees. Dr. Mary Royer, professor of education at Goshen College, will deliver an address, “Literature for Children,” and Melvin J. Slater, of Fort Wayne, will talk on “Tears on your Fingers.”’ The business session will include election of new officers, reportsfrom various committees, and invitations for next year's meeting. A discussion on new harmony for Indiana libraries will follow. ° Registrations for the meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will close at 4 p.m. with a punch bowl as refreshment for travel. Margeret Helfrick, district chairman, will welcome the delegates and Mrs. Edward K. Jones, hospitality chairman, will introduce the various* celebrities.

Nikita Says Package Plan Unacceptable MOSCOW (UPD — Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev said today Russia will not reject the Western Geneva plan out of hand because it contains some points that can be discussed. The actual plan, however, is not acceptable to the Soviet Union, Khrushchev said. The Soviet leader said the Western powers know their “package” plan is not acceptable to Russia but s #4hey submitted it be-" cause they warrbwr to ' provoke sharp Soviet criticism and then blame the Soviets for the failure of the Geneva foreign ministers’ conference. Khrushchev spoke at a ceremony during which he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize today. The Soviet Union will not be provoked into sharp criticism of the Western package plan, Khrushchev said, and will try to explain what it cannot agree to in the proposal, which was submitted to the foreign ministers’ conference by U.S. Secretary of State Christian A." Herter earlier this week. Khrushchev said the separate problems outlined in the Western plan must be considered separately and not as a packageHe reiterated the Soviet position that a German peace treaty must be discussed first and then the problem of West Berlin. Unification is something the German people can decide for themselves, he said. Khrushchev said the plan was inspired by advocates of the cold war and by a man who is not even in Geneva — West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Temperatures Hit State Record Lows United Press International Temperatures fell to record lows in Indiana today, ranging as low as freezing and accompanied by scattered frost.' It was 32—freezing at Goshen and 33 at Fort Wayne. A recording of 35 at Indianapolis was three degrees lower than the previous record low for May 16, established in 1897 and equaled in 1904. Evansville’s low of 39 also set a new record for the date in that southwestern pocket area. It was the third morning in a row that the mercury plunged into the 30s in Hoosierland, where normal minimums for this time of year range from the upper 40s to the 50s. A moderating trend was scheduled to start today, continuing to Monday when the outlook was for “partly felotidy and warm.” The 35 at Indianapolis was within one degree of the coolest temperature ever recorded in the Hoosier capital so late in the spring. The record is 34, established in 1925 on May 25. Other overnight lows included 36 at South Bend and Lafayette and the Cincinnati area. A cloud cover over the northern area may have spared that section from frost. The weatherman in his morning rundown on temperatures and conditions around the state did/ not mention frost at any point except Indianapolis. The cold temperatures came after another chilly day Friday in which top temperatures ranged from 47 at South Bend to 58 at Evansville A few more scattered showers were recorded.

Highs today will range from around 60 to the upper 60s as warmer air filters into the state. Lows tonight will be in the 40s, probably about 10 degrees warmer than today’s minimums. Sunday’s highs will advance to the upper 60s and lower 70s. Crane Boom Kills Hammond Workman HAMMOND, Ind. (UPD—Robert Carneal, 48, Hammond construction worker, was killed Friday when a crane boom fell on him after a cable snapped as he worked on a sewer project. » ■ . Five Persons Killed As Fire Sweeps Home ST. LOUIS (UPD—Five persons, including three children, were killed when fire swept through a onestory frame home in suburban Riverview early today. The county coroner’s office idenRobert Bennett, and their three children: Dihne, 9; Robert Jr., 2, and Sherry, 1. The five died of smoke inhalation, the coroner’s office said.

Seven Youths Killed By Train

MATTOON, 111. (UPD — Seven youngsters on their way home from a formal high school spring prom were killed today when a Chicago-New Orleans passenger train plowed broadside into their car. -Six of the car’s eight occupants, all clad in party formals and dinner jackets, were pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital here, including three girls and three boys. A fourth girl, Dorothy Thomas, 18, died at the hospital several hours after the crash. The boy believed to have been driving the car, Ivan Moon, 22. remained unconscious and in “very bad shape,” hospital au-, thorities said. The .victims’ bodies, some hurled 100 yards, were so badly mangled Shelbyville High School Principal C.R. Segley said he could not even recognize girls’ dresses be had seen at the prom a few hours before. The six apparently killed instantly were identified as Jerry Hill, 18, Ilene Moon, 16, Lyle Pfeiffer. 18, his sister Loraine. 17, Judy Keen, 18 and Jerry Ray Hays about 19. No one was injured on the south bound Ilinois Central train that struck the car at an unguarded country road crossing two miles north of here. Coles County Deputy Coroner J.E. Caudill said frenzied confusion spread through town when police and hospital personnel, attempting to identify the dead, called parents to ask if their children had arrived home. “I have two girls,” Caudill said. “When they called me, I knew only that they weren't home.” Segley said he thought the theme of the annual junior-senior

uieiiie ui uiv dance had been the Mardi Gras, I but “that was hours ago. I don’t know. There has been so much since then.” The prom was a combination birthday celebration for the Keen girl, who was 18 Friday. Funeral Held Friday For Hoffman Infant Elisa Hoffman, two-day-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hoffman of Monroe, died at 12:40 a.m. Friday in the Wells county hospital. The child was born prematurely on May 12 to Donald and Shirley Bailey Hoffman. Survivors are the parents; three sisters, Dianne, Cynthia, and Cheryl, all at home; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoffman, Monroe and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Habegger, of Berne; the great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.Charles Myers of Portland, and Mrs. Peter Bailey, Monroe. Graveside services were conducted Friday at the M.R.E. cemetery, the Rev. Robert Magary, pastor of the West Missionary church, officiat-

Steel Negotiators Study Basic Issues

NEW YORK (UPD — Steel wage negotiators, under Washington pressure to come up with a peaceful, non-inflationary pact, today began some serious homework on basic contract issues. The negotiators—four from each side—recessed their joint bargaining talks until Tuesday to give them time to prepare arguments and counter-arguments. The "brass tacks’’ bargaining talks which began on Monday have produced no apparent progress on a new contract covering 500,000 steelworkers. The present three-year agreement expires at midnight June 30. At a joint press conference Friday, the negotiators told reporters they would spend the next three days doing some “serious” research on basic , contract issues. Union Wants Increases Neither side has given an inch on the stands they took prior to the start of the joint talks. The industry wants a one-year contract extension as a means of halting inflation. The union wants substantial increases in wages and fringes and says the industry can

afford to grant these demands without resorting to a price hike. President Eisenhower has called upon both sides to come up with a new pact that will not necessitate a price increase. The industry said there is only one way to accomplish this: freeze wages. Hie union called this suggestoin economic nonsense. Sen. Jacob Javitis (R-N.Y.) Friday again urged the White House to call both negotiating teams to Washington in the event they fail to reach a new agreement or if they come up with a pact that threatens to increase inflation.

Former Decatur Man Indicted At Celina Indictments of breaking and entering on three counts, and larceny on two counts, were returned against' Charles R. Johnson, 26 formerly of Decatur, by the grand jury in the court of common pleas, in Celina, 0., Friday afternoon. attorney Dean James i stated today that the grand jury returned the five indictments reviewing the case Friday. Johnson is charged with breaking and entering at the Buckeye Farm Supply, Rockford, O.; the Rainbow Drive-In in Celina, O.; and the Franklin school, near Montezuma, O. The larceny charges are for grand larceny, on the first couht, and petit larctuy on the second indictment. ------. - James st. ted that arraignment and trial d-.tes are expected to be set early next week in the court of common pleas at Celina. Johnson is the last member of an alleged five-man burglary ring to be brought to trial on their confessions to 150 crimes in the surrounding area over a period of 18 months. Melvin LoVelette, 23. formerly of Decatur, also connected with the burglary ring, received a one to 15 year sehtence at the Ohio state penitentiary, Tuesday In Van Wert. Two teenagers also implicated. were sentenced earlier this year to the Indiana boy’s reformatory, and a third adult, also from

this city, served the sentence imposed by the Van Wert court. Fall From Hospital Fatal To Patient TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (UPD— Authorities sought to determine today whether Hosea Johnson, 68, a retired janitor, fell or jumped from a second-floor window at St. Anthony’s Hospital Thursday night. Johnson was killed in the fall from the window of a private room where he i was a surgical patient. Missing Boy's Body Is Found In Creek GREENSBURG, Ind. <UPD— The body of 4-year-old John David Gross of Adams was found in three feet of water in a creek today, hours after he disappeared from his home. Neighbors and police organized searching parties and scoured the countryside when the boy’s parents reported he had not been seen since supper time. . Authorities believed the boy fell in the water while playing and drowiied.

A Look Towards Washinton ( The negotiators are conducting . their crucial contracts talks with . one eye cocked on Washington. In 1956, White House pressure , was responsible for ending a 34- . I day strike and bringing about a , three-year agreement which has . given steelworkers a 62. 5 cnets an hour increase in wages and r fringe items. The industry says ‘ that contract was a primary fact- . or behind the last wage-price spi- , ral. ... r ___■ '■ Informed industry sources said ■ the President will keep pressure on both sides during the negotiations but will interfere directly if he can help IL The industry has taken the government’s interest as a mandate to hold the line on employment costs and prices in 1959. But the union insists its demands are not inflationary. Neither David J. McDonald.., president of the United Steelworkers Union,nor* R. Conrad Copper, chief industry negotiator has given any clue as to what they have discussed or what progress has been made.

nas oeen maue. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and warmer today. Mostly fair and not so cool tonight. Sunday partly cloudy and warmer. High today around 60. Low tonight low 40s to upper 40s south. High Sunday upper 60s north to low 70s south. Outlook for Monday: Partly cloudy and warm with scattered showers in most sections beginning in the western sections late Sunday or Sunday night .

Six Cents