Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 295, Decatur, Adams County, 16 December 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVI I. No. 295.

Salary Schedules Fixed By Council

In a busy session in the council chambers Tuesday night, the Decatur city council conducted its next to last meeting of 1959, passing a salary ordinance for city light, water, and sewage treatment departments. Also, they accepted two checks from insurance companies for payment because of damage to the G. E. turbine and the diesel plant. The council accepted the resignation of J. G. Kaehr from the city’s recreation board. Dec. 30th Last Meeting The last meeting of the year is salted for Dec. 30, unless the electric utility sale demands a special meeting, the council avowed. A $8,518.54 check from the Commercial Union Group Insurance Carrier Co. was offered in full payment for the G.E. turbine failure on March 19, while a $3,019.56 payment was offered for the diesel plant malfunctioning on May 15, both of this year. The ordinance which was . unanimously approved last night will give the following wages: Light department — chief engineer, $462; assistant engineer, $351.75; operating engineer, $346.50; firemen, $336; relief men, $341.25; repairmen and mechanics, $336; line foremen, $363.30; linemen first

British Guns Salute Ike

ABOARD US S. ESSEX IN I MEDITERRANEAN (UPI) — President Eisenhower worked on his State of the Union message while cruising on the sunny Mediterranean today and received a 21-gun salute from the flagship of the British Mediterranean fleet. er, was. sailing on a westerly course betwean -Malta and. Sicily when the H.M.S. Tiger, flagship of Adm. Sir Alexander Bingley, rendered passing honors. Bingley is commander in chief of the British Mediterranean fleet and of NATO’s Mediterranean forces. Eisenhower watched from the flag bridge of the Des Moines as the British ship, passing to the starboard (right), thundered its greeting. The Chief Executive’s Sixth Fleet task force was drawn up in a column headed by two destroyers, then the Des Moines, then the aircraft carrier Essex, the guided missile cruiser Boston and two destroyers. Make Leisurely Pace The American vessels were making a leisurely 10 knots as the chief executive continued on his way to Tunisia. Earlier in the day, Barbara Eisenhower, the President’s daughter-in-law, flew by helicopter from the Des Moines to the Essex to lunch with the Sixth Fleet commander, Vice Adm. George W. Anderson Jr. Eisenhower had nearly ideal cruising weather today- The temperature was in the mid 60s with some sunshine breaking through high clouds. The task force, with the President aboard the cruiser US S. Des Moines to catch up on his rest and sleep after 13 strenuous days of personal diplomacy, was making a rendezvous late this afternoon with British fleet units between Malta and Sicily.. Eisenhower, 13,000 miles along on his 11-nation peace mission, had nothing more stremious to do today than loaf around the flag suite of the heavy cruiser and mount the bridge this afternoon to take the salute from the British cruiser, H.M.S. Tiger, flagship of the British Mediterranean fleet. Heads For Tunis Th American task force consisted of the Des Moines, the aircraft carrier Essex with White House press party aboard, the guided missile cruiser Boston and four escorting destroyers. The President’s immediate destination was Tunis where he confers Thursday vyith President Habib Bourguiba halfway between Gibraltar and . Suez. Eisenhower was expected to receive another elaborate reception in Tunisia, a newly independent Arab nation which wants Western aid without donor countries being too dominant in the use to which such aid IS From Tunis, where the President will go ashore by helicopter for a visit of about five hours, the task force will sail for Touton France, where Eisenhower meets Secretary of State Chris-

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

class, $341.24; linemen second class, $320.25, and apprentice linemen, $299.25. All are monthly wages. For the water department — foremen, $2.20 - $2.50 an hour; plumber, $2.10 - $2.40; assistant plumber, $1.90-$2.10, all to be determined by the head of the water department. Sewage Plant Pay The sewage treatment department plant operators will receive from $1.75 to $2.50, according to the superintendent and the board of public works and safety. All clerical help in any of the departments will receive not more than $1.45 an hour. All casual labor will receive not more than $5 an hour. Charles E. Holthouse, of 115 S. Fifth street, wrote the council that he was instigating a claim against the city for costs and personal injuries incurred when he fell through an open man-hole cover. Holthouse said the incident occurred Oct. 14 at 6:45 p.m. in the 500 block on Madison street, and charged the city with negligence and carelessness. He did not know the full amount of damage as he is still being treated, after spending several days in the hospital and at home.

tian A. Herter Friday after* toon. To Travel By Train The two men will travel together by train to Paris where a Western summit meeting opens Dec. 19. Early this morning the Des Moins was heading in a westerly ' direeSNh ’ from ’-'-the ■ lands toward the Tunisian coastline that juts out into the Medi-> ferratfeanThe Essex and Boston traveled 1,500 yards off the stern of the President’s ship, followed by the destroyers Mullinex, Vogelgesang, McFox and Stormes. The sea voyage from Athens to Tunis was plotted over a course of 771 miles. From Tunis to Toulon the distance will be 480 miles. Uses Helicopter Eisenhower left Athens by helicopter Tuesday afternoon in a misty overcast after lunching with his overnight hosts, King Paul and Queen Frederika. His Marine Corps helicopter took off from an improved pad near the Greek Olympic stadium, flew low in the haze near the ancient Acropolis and landed gently on the stern of the Des Moines. Pleasure craft and ships lining the Athens harbor said farewell with a . chorus of whistles while salute batteries of the carrier and cruiser boomed out a 21-gun salute. Eisenhower qiiickly peeled off his dark, diplomatic attire and (Continued on pMtfa three) Advertising Index Advertiser Pare A&P Tea Co — 3 American Legion ——7 Arnold Lumber Co., Inc. S Bower Jewelry Store 2, j 3, 6 Bower Hardware Co. - 6 Beavers Oil Service, Inc. 5 Butler Garage 5 Burk Elevator Co. 5 John Brecht Jewelry 2. 4 Briede Studio ... 2 Budget Loans 7 Cowens Insurance Agency 4 Edgewater Park „ ——_. 6 First State Bank 4A Fairway —7 F. O. O. Eagles 6 Gerber's Super Market —„„ 8 E. F. Gass Store — 2 Holthouse Drug Co. —3, 7 Jack Hurst — 5 Kohne Drug Store — 5 Kent Realty & Auction Co. 5 Kroger ——— — 1A Model Hatchery 4A Mazelins w — 4 Price Men’s Wea< i..—4 Quality Chevrolet-Buick, Inc. 5. 7 Schafers —- 4A L. (Smith Insurance Agepcy I .Smith Drug Co, ——- 2 1 Stucky Furniture Co. ... ’l—\ 2A Shaffer’s Restaurant 3 Sprunger Implement Co. 4 Sonotone 4 Schwartz Ford Co., Inc.--—__ 3A Teeple ——, ’ 5 Uhrick Bros. i._ 3A Zintsmaster Motors ———4, 6,7 U Pages

Negotiators For Aluminum Study Proposal CHICAGO (UPI)— Negotiators for five aluminum companies today considered “fringe economic proposals” made by United Steelworkers President David "J. McDonald in a top-level conference. ’ McDonald conferred with executives of the firms Tuesday in a meeting charged with hopefulness for an early settlement of contract disputes pending since the pacts expired last July 31. An industry spokesman, who declined to be identified, told United Press International thait McDonald asked aluminum executives to explore what management would regard as innovations in the tractsMcDonald also awaited a reply from Roger M. Blough, board chairman of U.S. Steel, to the union leader’s challenge to a nationally televised debate on steel strike issues. Company officials studied McDonald's proposals with their bargaining teams after the conferees adjourned temporarily, subject to call. The industry spokesman said joint talks would be resumed after the firms complete research on the proposals, believed to include requests for broadened pension programs. Neither McDonald nor the firfns proposed fuU money packages, according to industry conferees. The talks affect about 33.000 workers, including 16,000 Alcoa workers, 8,000 employes of Reynolds, 7,500 Kaiser employes, 1,400 Ormet employes and 800 OlinMathieson employes. McDonald has said he hopes to -reach agreement with all five firms by the end of this week. Work has continued at the, firms’ plants under contract extensions, subject to cancellation by either W dsyr-rfdtftsw'” | Minnie Guisinger Is Taken By Death Mrs. Minnie M. Guisinger, 85, died Tuesday at the home of a sister, Mrs fe Bertha Chalmers, 517 High street; Fort Wayne. A native of Allen county, she had lived in Coldwater, Mich., for 35 years. She had been in ill health weeks and had been at the home of her sister for the past five weeks. Surviving in addition to Mrs. Chalmers are two other sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Schieferstein and Mrs. Rose Johnson, both of Fort Wayne; a brother, Carl DeLong of Decatur; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, including Robert and Edwin DeLong, Mrs. Robert Hammond and Mrs. Francis Jacquay, all of near Decatur. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the D. O. McComb & Sons funeral home, the Rev. R. Dean Cope officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery at Coldwater, Mich.

irHL * HHKw ImEIH . ■MF • ww ■ 1 rW kW wW" ' J I L - j '* - H *« a WL NF Bl \ I , l I JK I SllllliOl - - B'l I IM * DEMOCRACY AND MONARCHY— President Eisenhower poses on the steps of the *royal palace in Athens, Greece, before hi* departure on a cruise to Tunis. With King Paul and Queen Frederika are their children standing behind. They are, from left. Princess Sophie, Prince Constantine and Princess Irene. ’

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1959.

Indiana And Michigan Indicates New Offer To Buy City Utility

U.S. Assures NATO Allies

PARIS (UPI) — The United States told its NATO allies today that it still has a nuclear lead over the Soviet Union, “both with respect to nuclear weapons and to the means of their delivery.” U.S. Defense Secretary Thomas S. Gates gave the assurance to the NATO Council of Ministers. He said the United States “is confident of its nuclear superiority.” He also warned the alliance against expected Soviet concessins that would allow Western nations to reduce their defense costs. He pledged that the United States would maintain its powerful ground, air and naval forces in Europe. Britain and Italy added their pledges to maintain or increase , present def ense forces. French Role Controversial But France’s rule in the alliance—and American criticism of it — caused controversy in the meeting amid the general show of unity. NATO Secretary General PaulHenri Spaak condemned an "indiscretion” on the part of the United States- in Awaking shacges that France, by not living up to its military was endangering the alliance. ’ ■ -ra® ’ < Gen. Nathan B. Twining, chairman of the U.S- Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the charges at a secret meeting of the NATO military committee. French Defense Minister Pierre Guillaumat said today his government was seriously concerned that the charges had been leaked to the press. Gates defended Twining and said that although he regretted the publicity given the charges, facts are facts and cannot be ignored. Rule Incident Closed “My government endorses the military substance of the speech made by Gen. Twining,” Gates told the ministers. “It is within the competence, rights, and responsibility of generals to comment on the military consequences of political decisions.” Spaak said he thought the press had magnified the disagreement. He said he felt the council would agree with him in condemning the leakage. Then he ruled the incident closed. The Franco-American tiff flared a few moments after West German Defense Minister Franz Joself Strauss said the U.S. Strategic Air Force might not be enqugh

d y of a nuclear deterrent to prevent Russian “chipping away” at h Western Europe. He appealed to NATO to build up its strength. Strauss spoke during NATO des bate on a year end military sur--0 vey that shows the Atlantic alli- ’• ance is one-third under strength s because of failure of a number of countries to live up to military commitments. Two Years Behind ’’ Strauss, speaking for NATO’s ” most exposed member, said there e must be an adequate supply of tactical atomic weapons for “ NATO’s shield forces from Nor- ' way to Turkey, and an integrated 3 air defense to back them up. All y these things should have been 3 done two years ago, he said 3 Western leaders have warned that there can be no hope of victory in negotiations with Russia ' unless NATO is strong. * The NATO powers, especially 3 France, were under strong pres--7 sure from the United States to increase their own defense strength, backed by Secretary, of State ' Christian A. Herter’s promise to 5 But the problem wasjecute and ’ljnosi of the nations involved had 'some excuse for their continuing ' inability to Seal with it. The hard facts of unpreparedness were spotlighted in the 7 NATO year-end survey being debated today by the defense min3listers of the 15 alliance ’ i These facts showed only 21 of the divisions considered the abso- ’ lute minimum for defense are now in being. Few Missile Bases Only seven intermediate ballis- ’ tic missile bases have been established along the defense line running from Norway to the Medi- , terranean. And the anti-aircraft 1 missile chain that should shield . Western Europe’s great cities and ’ industrial cities is almost nonexistent. Although all of the land units should now be capable of handling nuclear weapons, only the eight . American and British divisions have ever approached that goal. [ Gen. Lauris Norstad, the Amer- . ican officer who is NATO’s supreme commander, is said to feel he hardly could defend Europe I under present conditions if a Soviet attack was attempted. Norstad’s deputy, Gen. Jean , Valluy, recently criticized his own 1 (Continued on page ' three)

State Traffic Toll Nearing 1958 Mark INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — Indiana’s 1959 traffic death toll was within 11 of last year’s final count today. At least 13 fatalities during the first two days of this week boosted the total to 1,048, compared with last year’s final tally of 1,059. Mrs. Sarah Ann Rost, 74, Indianapolis, became the latest victime. She died Tuesday of injuries sustained Oct. 21 in a car-truck crash here. State Police provisional figures listed the year’s toll through midnight last Sunday as 1,035, six per cent ahead of last year when 976 deaths were counted during the same period. At least six victims were added to the death roster Tuesday. The deadly smashups brought the total number of traffic deaths I to 26 in five days and meant that I last year’s final total would be reached Friday—unless the upsurge in fatal accidents was reduced drastically. Dora Waltz, 77, Arcadia, was killed in a car-truck crash south of Atlanta in Hamilton County on Ind. 19 late Tuesday. Her sister, Clara, 75, was hospitalizedState Police said their car crashed head-on into a truck driven by Larry McCoy, 23, Frankfort. “ Tuesday was DuWayne Cody, 30. Jackson, Mich., who died in a truck-train crash east ’of Chesterton. State Police said Cody was working along the New York Central Railroad tracks as a communications employe when he backed into the path of an 11-car passenger train. The engine of the New York to Chicago train was damaged heavily but the passengers and crew escaped injury. Also killed Tuesday were Harold D. Lee, 19, Payne, Ohio; Donald Lee Fry, 17, Fulton, and John E. Hoover, 34, Indianapolis. Shoots Self After Argument Tuesday The estranged husband of a Decatur woman shot himself Tuesday afternoon while parked in a car with his former wife on county road 8%. The man,’ Ray E. Gordon, 44, of Kendallville, was taken to the Adams county memorial hospital, where he had a slug taken from his left side. The shooting incident took place about one mile west of the Family Inn on the county road about 4:30 p. m. Sheriff’s deputy Robert' Meyer and state trooper Alan Coppes investigated. Police said that Gordon was visiting his ex-wife and had asked her out for a cup of coffee. They apparently got into an argument, and Gordon shot himself with a .38 calibre revolver. He did not have a permit for the guq. His former wife, Frieda, of 1021 W. Monroe street, did not press any charges on Gordon, and he was released. County Officials At Annual Convention Seven Adams county officials are attending the annual state convention at Indianapolis for the association of Indiana counties Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. An eighth member will join the group Thursday for one day. ” County iiuditor Ed. Jaberg, county recorder Mabel Striker, highway superintendent Lawrence Noll, and county commissioners Stanley Arnold. Loren Heller, Roland Miller, and commissioner-elect Hugo Boerger are in attendance. Assessor Walter Koos will join the group Thursday. Bert McClellan, president of the association, will preside at all the meetings. I

Indiana-Michigan and the city board of works will consider, probably on Friday, a new contract calling for an offer of $2,099,100 for the city electric utility’ J. Calvin Hill, I&M general manager for the Fort Wayne area, told city officials Tuesday night following the city council meeting. The matter came to a head at the council meeting when Louis Jacobs, representing the Association for the Betterment of Decatur, and attorney Robert G. Smith, representing the Rural Electric Consumers association, asked what had b£kn done by the city following the voters’ mandate to sell the plant. Request Action The two, who had asked the council two weeks ago to begin , new negotiations, recalled the fact ' that Decatur voters had decided by a 777-vote margin that they i were willing to sell the plant, and favored the I&M offer, which expires Dec. 31. Mayor Robert D. Cole then ask- ' ed the city council for its opinion. Councilman E. Bauer, who is completing his second term and retiring from the council, then suggested that the council ask I&M for an offer. For the entire eight years that he has been on the council, Bauer pointed out, they have been trying to solve the electric problem. Attorney Smith suggested that the council listen to Hill, who was present at the meeting, and Hill then -sh»«. position. .* New Contract Possible It would be possible to make a new contract, effective Jan. I, to sell the electric utility for a $2,099,100 offer, Hill because the people had so voted by a 777-vote majority on Nov. 3. His legal advisors had pointed out that only a new appraisal would be necessary on the new offer. Hill stated that it would be necessary <for the city, following any offer, to request the circuit court to appoint a three-man appraisal board to determine the value of the plant. Since the offer is nearly a year old, the offer is actually worth about $120,000 more because of the depreciation of the old plant. Hill also brought up the matter of the three-year-old contract with I&M for the purchase of 7,000 kilowatt hours of electricity an hour from I&M effective Dec. 31. At present the city is buying 3,000 KWH an hour from I&M. This is almost the capacity of the transformers at the light plant. Hill told the council that because of the good relations between the city and the company, the com-

Christmas Pageant At Decatur School Sunday

The annual Christmas pageant at Decatur high school will take place Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, with a total of eight splendid scenes planned. The event will be produced in the auditorium. A total of 33 pupils will participate in the event, which was written, mainly, by the high school pupils. Jim Reidenbach will act as narrator forth efunction. Narration Writers The narrations were written by the senior English class members, Rosie Flora, Elaine Cochran, Carolyn Steele, Karen Call and Connie Kiess. The first three scenes will have Tom Grabill, Mary Beth Snyder, Jackie Cravens, Tom Cravens, Mary Lou Stetler, Donna Thieme, Tom Johnson, and John Patterson jjj v roles.. The 7 next four-scenes, the players will be Etta* Mae Soliday. Waldo Snyder, Becky MauHer, Alan Kalver, Terje Strom, Diane Sauer, Sid Beery, Taya Erekson, Pat Bauman, Barbara Johnson. Pam Walters, Bob Frauhiger, and John Cowan. The nativity scene will have Harley Wolfe. Steve Butcher, Jerry Douglas, Barry, Ellis, and Bob Theobald.

pany would not press the issue and charge the city for the additional 4,000 KWH an hour, which it could not use. Thomas W. Titus Dies Unexpectedly Thomas Wesley Titus, 53, of 225 North First street, well known Decatur resident, died unexpectedly at 9:45 o’clock Tuesday night at the Adorns county memorial hospital. He had been hospitalized for the past two weeks with a heart ailment, but his death was sudden. Born in Trilla, 111., Nov. 6, 1906, he was a son of Thomas Jacob and Alice Newton-Titus, and had resided in Decatur since 1921. He had been an employe of the Decatur post office for 29 years. He was married to Margaret Thomas July 28, 1928. Mr. Titus was a member of the Moose lodge and the Legion of the Moose, and served as governor of the Moose lodge in 1946. Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Mrs. Millon (Patricia) Gerber of Craigville, and Mrs. James (Janice) Geels of Decatur; one son, Thomas Dean Titus of Shelbyville; five grandchildren; and three sisters, Mrs. James (Mary) Strickler of Deca- • ; Beatiwd ; «fcH**thK Cswper - - of Syracuse, and Mrs. Ray (Martha) Neibel of Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Friday at the Zwick-funeral home, the Rev. - Simeon J. Schmitt officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening until time of the services. The Moose lodge will hold services at 8 p.m. Thursday. INDIANA WEATHER Fair north and partly cloudy central. mostly dpudy with chance of some rain extreme south portion this afternoon and Thursday. Continued mild with little change in temperatures. Some fog likely in the north portion tonight. Low tonight in the 30s except near 40 in the extreme south. High Thursday 48 to 55. Sunset today 4:22 p.m. e.s.t., 5:22 p.m. c.d.t. Sunrise Thursday 7 a.m. e.s.t., 8 a.m. c.d.t. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and continued mild. Lows 35 to 42. Highs in the 50s.

Teachers Direct The art classes are under the direction ot Miss Kathryn Kauffman. with the choir under the baton of Miss Helen Haubold. Clint Reed will direct the band, with Lowell J. Smith in charge of lighting and sound. Mrs. Roberta Chronister is handling the costume department with Amos Ketchum directing stage operation*. Miss Catherine Weidler- and Deane T. Dorwin are technical advisors for the narrations.

awmmn~* with OMSTMAS SEAM

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