Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 54, Decatur, Adams County, 5 March 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 54.

Senate Democrats Agree . . - ' •' -1 ■ .. . Reluctantly To Approve Two Per Cent Sales Tax

First Flood Os 1963 In State

By Utoted Press International Indiana- streams spurted beyond their banks today in the first flood of 1963, an overflow fashioned from heavy rain and melting snow. Above-normal temperatures over a three-day period spawned a thaw of a snow blanket up to 10 inches deep and sent rivulets of run off water pouring into creeks, rivers and drainage ditches along with thunderstorm downpours measuring up to more than three inches. Surface water and overflowing steams created great lakes in town and country alike, closing schools and roads, threatening bridges, filling basements and causing as much inconvenience as the traffic-clogging snowstorm only four days ago. White, Wabash Climb Streams throughout the lower two-thirds of Hoosierland reached their highest levels in many months and when the flash flooding subsided as the rain tapered off to a drizzle during the night, the White and the mighty Wabash Rivers took on a burden that promised to last for days until the crests have moved slowly into the broad Ohio in the southwestern corner of’the state. Indianapolis measured 3.08 inches of precipitation in less than 36 hours. Cincinnati had 3.06 in 24 hours, Evansville 2.24, Seymour 2.71, Bedford 2.52, Shoals 2.43, Columbus 2.23, Austin 2.92, Anderson 182. and Spencer 1.61. Upstate, the precipitation ranged from a minor .12 of an inch at Smith Bend to a little less than an inch over most of the area north of Lafayette. Temperatures climbed as high as 62 at Evansville, 64 at Louis-

Drop Bill On Port Finance

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD-Senate Republican majority members today agreed on withdrawal of a s2l million economic development fund bill aimed largely at financing the start of the Burns Ditch port construction. The agreement virtually assured that nothing will be done about the Lake Michigan port this session except to free $600,000 from a previous appropriation for an independent feasibility survey of the port area. Sai. D. Russell Bontrager’s bill to permit such an expenditure was scheduled to come up for second reading today. Sen. Roy Conrad, Senate majority leader, said a caucus showed an “almost unanimous” feeling that the $600,000 in the Bontrager bill which the House Ways and Means Committee approved Monday was sufficient until 1965. Shortly after the caucus agreement to ask consent to withdraw the economic development fund bill, the measure actually was withdrawn. It had called for sls million for the port and $6 million for one of two toll bridges originally proposed for the Ohio River at Cannelton and Mauckport. The $600,000 survey fund was the latest proposal to solve the port problem this session. The House Ways and Means Committee Monday approved the amendmet which would allow the commission to spend that amount of the $1.2 million it has on hand. The money is part of a $2 million appropriation made by the 1957 legislature. Reps. Paul J. Hric, D-Ham-mond, and Ralph Dunbar, R-Os-good, opposed the action. The amended bill would remove from existing legislation * proviso which kept the commission from spending more than SIOO,OOO of the $2 million appropriation for anything except land acquisition. The survey would include a pilot study, silt tests and necessary

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

ville, 50 at Cincinnati and in the 40s over most of the remainder of the state Monday, dropping no lower than the 30s and 40s during the night. Colder Coming Tonight Highs today will range from the 30s over the northern two-thirds of the state to 46 to 54 south. Lows tonight will range from 25 to 36, and highs Wednesday from the mid 30s to the low 40s. The heavy precipitation appeared to have run its course. But occasional drizzle or rain changing to light snow was expected until early Wednesday as the mercury dips below freezing over part of the state. Climb Toward Crests The Wabash climbed nearly four feet above flood stage at its namesake city this morning on the way toward a crest nine feet higher than flood levels. It was more than seven feet above flood stage at Lafayette and had nearly three feet to go to make the crest forecast. The White was nearly three feet above flood stage at Spencer and the crest was still 3 to 4 feet away. Civil defense teams backed up law enforcement officers in lending help to stranded motorists and in evacuating a few families marooned by high water in the Indianapolis and other areas. Ice jams in streams added further handicaps to an orderly runoff of the melting snow and rain. Fog also impeded drivers, and it was blamed for a three-vehicle collision north of Fort Wayne which killed Mrs. Mannie Pittman, 36, Bedford, Monday night, raising the day’s fatalities with weather connections to at least four. ~

preparations short of selling bonds to build the port. The port commission and Governor Welsh had requested $25 million additional appropriation to construct the outer harbor and do dredging work which it was originally presumed the federal government would do. However, the Bureau of the Budget, under pressure from Sen. Paul Douglas, D-111., and the Save the Dunes Council, has failed to approve the project. Bontrager contended that the amended bill would permit the commission to go ahead with the preliminary studies which would have been necessary anyway, and the 1965 Legislature will be better prepared to consider the port problem. Tocsin Post Office Will Be Continued The Decatur Daily Democrat recevied a telegram today from E. Ross Adair, fourth district congressman, in which the congressman stated that in response to his protest following receipt of a petition from Tocsin postal patrons, the post office department today announced that it will not discontinue the post office in that town. As a result of this action, the town of Tocsin will continue to have its own post office. DECATUR TEMPERATURES Local weather data for the 24 hour period ending at 11 a.m. today. 12 noon 42 12 midnight .. 38 1 p.m 44 1 a.m 37 2 p.m 43 2 a.m 37 3 p.m. 42 3 a.m 36 4 p.m 412 4 a.m ..... 36 5 p.m 42 '5 a.m — 36 6 p.m 42 6 a.m 36 US: » Ittt 9 p.m 40 9 a.m. ...... 33 10 p.m , 38 10 a.m 33 11 p.m.' 38 11 a.m '........ 33 Precipitation Total fer the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .86 inches. The St. Mary's river was at 16.43 feet. ...

By HOBTENSE MYERS United Press International INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—lndiana Senate minority Democrats agreed reluctantly today to accept a 2 per cent sales tax as a portion of a two-part tax package to raise nearly S3OO million in extra revenue to run state government the next two years. Minority leader Sen. Marshall F. Kizer said following a caucus that “all Senate Democrats absolutely oppose a sales tax.” “But if we have to keep state government going we will take a 2 per cent sales tax,” Kizer said. The House Republicans passed Monday and sent to the Senate a five-part tax package including a bill calling for a 3 per cent sales tax. Kizer said the Democrats would replace the five-part package with a two-part package including a smaller sales tax and an "adjusted gross income tax.” The adjusted gross income levy would be a substitute for Kizer’s net income tax proposal which the GOP won’t accept. Kizer said the Democrats oppose a corporate franchise tax, a ceiling on local property taxes and a gross income surtax. “There is no need to run overtime this session,’’ Kizer said. “A tax program can be put together in 24 hours.” Earlier, the Republican majority in the House resisted reconsideration of the $1 billion-plus biennial operating budget bill Monday night. The representatives voted 53-39 to defeat a motion by Rbp. Walter J. Beneville, D-Jeffersonville, to take up the big operating budget by reconsidering their action in defeating it last Friday. Defeat of the budget bill for the first time in 100 years of legislative history was the biggest surprise of this session. Rep. Charles W. Edwards, Spencer, GOP floor leader, said the RepuNcans voted against suspension of the rules for reconsideration of the budget because a caucus “decided to leave the burden of such irresponsible defeat upon the consciences of the Democrats, at least for the time being.” 17 Republicans Bolt Democrats voted solidly against the budget Friday on grounds it was inadequate. Seventeen Republicans joined them, voting against on grounds it was too high. By prearrangement worked out during a meeting with Governor Welsh of Demoa-atic and Republican House leaders last weekend, the five-bill tax package of the GOP aimed at raising $824 million more than existing revenue methods would produce the next two years passed and was sent to the SenateDemocrats generally voted against the five bills, one of which would impose a 3 per cent sales tax on Hoosiers. But they had agreed to go along with the majority in suspending rules, a move requiring two-thirds of the House membership, 11 more votes than the GOP could muster among themselves. The purpose was to get something advanced to showdown stages in the waning days of the 61-day biennial session due to end next Monday. Sales Tax Okehed The sales tax bill passed 52-42. A bill to reduce the gross income tax rate for service-type businesses passed 63-31. A bill establishing a 4-mill corporate franchise tax on business and industry passed 58-35. A bill establishing a ceiling on local property tax rates passed 57-37. A bill permitting counties to levy a gross income tax surtax of not more than one-third the present rate if approved by a local referendum passed 61-33. A little later, the Republican representatives voted down a proposal to hike the cigarette tax from 3 to 6 cents a package as proposed by Rep. Robert L. Rock, Anderson, Democratic floor leader. A proposal which would have reinstated Governor Welsh’s recommendation for financing of the Burns Ditch port and bridges across the Ohio River and more money for the State Conservation Department was defeated 51-38. Another Rnck proposal which would have given the receipts of augmented cigarette taxes to cities and towns- lost, 47-41. Meanwhile, the Senate scheduled as a special order Os business con(Continued on Page Eight)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, March 5,1963.

Local Man's Brother Dies At Fort Wayne Frank Kimble, 73, of 2229 Thompson Ave., Fort Wayne, died at 7:15 p.m. Monday in the Fairfield convalescent home in that city, where he had been a patient five months. A native of Noble county, he had resided in Fort Wayne for 60 years. He retired in 1953 as a foreman at the General Electric Co. after 35 years of service. Mr. Kimble was a member of West Creighton Avenue Christian church and the G.E. Quarter Century club. Surviving are his wife, Elva; a son, Max A. Kimble of Fort Wayne; three grandchildren; three brothers, Martin Kimble of Albion, Dwight Kimble of Decatur, and Fred Kimble of South Beloit, JU., and a sister, Mrs. Athela Wolf of Lathrop, Mo. Services will be held at 1:39 p. m. Thursday at the Chalfant-Perry funeral home, the Rev. E. Clayton Gooden officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn memorial park. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Wednesday. Cut Mental Health Budget $2.5 Million INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — The Senate Finance Committee has slashed $2.5 million off the mental health budget by cutting a contingency fund from $3 million to $500,000, members said today. Sen. Charles Maddox, R-Otter-bein, chairman of the committee, said the slash was made at a Monday night meeting with the approval of Dr. Stewart T. Ginsberg, state mental health commissioner. The committee planned to meet again today to continue its item-by-item study of the $1 billion-plus operating budget. The committee suddenly increased its prestige in the legislature Monday when House majority Republican spokesmen indicated they would defer to the Senate to bring out a budget to operate the state for the next two years. House Democrats and a small group of Republicans joined forces last Friday to defeat the budget bill for the first time in a century.

Seven Die When Bus Plunges Into River

NEW YORK (UPD — Police searched the fog-shrouded waters off Welfare Island early today for the only unaccounted-for passenger of a bus which plunged into the East River Monday killing six other persons. Authorities said they would have to wait until dawn before bringing in grappling equipment in their quest for the body of Beatrice Sturdevant, 34, missing in the unusual accident and presumed dead. The bus, carrying 10 hospital employes to lunch, careened through a guard rail on Welfare Island, plunged down a 25-foot embankment and disappeared below the surface of the river seconds after the driver collapsed at the wheel. Four of the passengers made it safely to shore through an emergency exit. Welfare Island is a huge hospital complex about a mile and a half long and two thirds of a mile wide located in the East River between Manhattan and Long Island. Snrvivor Saves Woman One of the survivors, Richard Haas, 36, senior physical therapist at Goldwater Hospital located on the island, fought his .way through the rear exist of the bus and up. to the surface with a woman grasping his coat tails. The woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Newton, a ward clerk at the hospital credited Haas with saving

INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy and a little colder with rain and drizzle changing to light snow tonight Wednesday becoming partly cloudy and a little warmer in afternoon. Low tonight 28 to 35. High Wednesday 35 to 39 north, 35 to 43 south. Sunset today 6:41 p. m. Sunrise Wednesday 7:11 a. m. Outlook for Thursday: Mostly fair south to partly cloudy north and a little warmer. Lows mid 26s to low 30s. Highs upper 30s to mid 40s. Bill Alien Dies As Hospital Here Today Wilson M. (Bill) Allen, 60, well known Decatur man who resided at the Willow Bend trailer court, died at 7:30 o’clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital, where he had been a patient for the past eight days. Mr. Allen had resided in Decatur for the past 13 years. He came to this city after purchasing the newsstand known as Bill’s Corner, which he operated until 1960. Since that time, he had operated the Deactur Wreath Co. on West Monroe street. He was born in Van Wert county, 0., June 29, 1902, a son of Orley and Rosa Zimmerman-Allen. Mr, Allen was a member of toe Masonic and Moose lodges at Van . wert and the Scottish Rite at Fort Wayne. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Rosa Allen of Van Wert: four sons, Robert E. Allen of Nappanee, Richard F. Allen of Convoy, O„ David W. Allen of Ligonier, and P. Roger Allen of Fort Wayne; seven grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Ervin Zimmerman of Van Wert. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Thursday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Gerald Gerig officiating. Burial will be in Woodland cemetery at Van Wert. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p. m. today until time of the services. The Decatur Masonic lodge will conduct services at Bp. m. Wednesday. BULLETIN MASON CITY, 81. (UPD— Fire swept a high school buildin shortly after classes began today but all 200 students and their teachers were evacutaed safely.

her life. “It was a horrible experience because I can't swim,” Mrs. Newton said. “He pulled the rear door open and climbed out. I got hold of his coat. When we came to the surface, he pulled me up to the rocks.” Lt. Frank Fitz, a fire department skin diver, who plunged under the cold murky water to mark the bus so it could be raised, brought up the body of bus driver John Albert. “I found the front window of the bus and smashed it,” Fitz said. “I managed to grope my way inside. You could see only three or four inches ahead. “I suddenly felt a hand. His body was floating at the top of the ceiling of the bus. I grabbed hold and pulled the body out.” Four Bodies In Bus The other dead were identified as Robert Perez, 41, a physiotherapist; Rose Porter, a volunteer worker; Al Reicheldt, 56, occupational therapist; Rosa Tate, 48, ward clerk, and Catherine Quann, 57, Ward clerk. Jeanne Miller, 27, a typist and Adele Valdastri, 65, a volunteer worker, were the other two survivors besides Haas and Mrs. Newton; AU worked at Goldwater Hospital. When the bus was lifted out of the river by ,a UR. Army engineers boat four bodies still wqre in it, one hanging out of a Window.

- | X CHQGKKI B I' <■ BACK TO WORK—City room of the New York Post buzzes with activity as the paper’s first edition since the start of the newspaper strike is made ready for the presses.

Youth Sentenced To State Penal Farm Charles Norris, 18, presently residing in Fort Wayne, was sentenced to six months at the penal farm this morning for violation of probation. Judge Myles F. Parrish of the Adams circuit court recently issued a warrant for Norris on a request by probation officer Chris H. Muselman. Muselman reported that Norris had never once reported to him in compliance with the terms of probation, and had moved from Decatur to Fort Wayne, also a violation of probation. Norris was put on probation to Muselman less than a year ago for passing fraululent checks. The probation was handed down in juvenile court as Norris was only 17 years of age at the time. He was apprehended on the warrant by deputy sheriff Harold August Monday afternoon and taken into court. He was sentenced to spend six months at the penal farm for the violation at probation. “Those persons on probation have got to realize,” Judge Parrish said, “that they are just spending their time outside the prison walls.” Study Jail Area For Police Station The Adams county commissioners held their regular weekly meeting Monday, and also met with the Adams county council who held a short meeting Monday afternoon. Part of the meeting the commissioners devoted to discussion of the possible sale or leasing of land around the county jail area to the city of Decatur. The commissioners had been contacted by some of the city officlais recently about purchasing some land, or leasing it, around the jail for the purpose of building a new police station there. Although the matter was discussed, no action was taken by the commissioners but they are expected to reach a decision by next Monday. A petition for cleaning and repairing of the Harvey L. Sipe ditch and Sipe and Tinkham branch in Blue Creek township, and for tjie Rumple and Reef ditch in Jefferson township were submitted to the commissioners, signed by property owners in each of the two areas. Plans Discussed The commissioners also discussed preliminary plans for remodeling the courthouse and installing an elevator. Martindale and Dahlgren, Inc., submitted three sets of preliminary plans, and A. M. Strauss submitted a preliminary plan also. Hie commissioners met for a short time with the county council in the afternoon and discussed the possibility of combining several county voting precincts. No decision was reached, however. -L— AU Approved The council, in their afternoon session, allowed all additional appropriation requests as they were submitted to them. A total of fourteen appropriations for the cumulative bridge fund were allowed. This money will be used this summer for certain bridge construction and repairs which have been set up to be done this summer. Also approved was a total of $550 from the county assessor salary of deputies fund and repairs of equipment, to the county assessor’s fund for extra clerical help and properties, Assessor Onier Merriman had requested the council to approve the transfur.

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Claude McCallister, pastor of Monroe Methodist Church) DEALING WITH OUR FRUSTRATIONS “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.”—Psalm 69:20. , Lent is a good time to make a depth study of the things that some times "bug” us. Most of us have had experiences not unlike that of the psalmist. A would be reformer upon whom the desire to do good had backfired. Broken hearted and full of sorrow, in self pity he looked to others for comfort. Because help did not come from expected quarters he became bitter. What shall we do when things have gone wrong and no one seems to care? Don’t imagine yours a peculiar experience and develop the persecution complex. Many others have been over a similar road. Do not dwell long in a state of depression, nor try to spread your feelings of frustration to others. . Ultimately the psalmist turned from self and others to God, admitting— , , _ „ , “I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me upon high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:29, 30. In the act of praying, and smiling, and singing, our night often turns to day. When we are sour, our friends are too. When we count our blessings and find we have not fared so badly, we can dare a smile, and find the smile comes back to us.

St Mary's Is Above Flood Stage Here The St. Mary’s river measured 16.49 feet in depth this morning, and is continuing to rise, local weatherman Louis L. Landrum reported to the Daily Democrat this morning. Monday’s heavy rainfall, coupled with warmer temperatures causing snow and ice to melt, have caused considerable flooding around the area, state and nation. Adams county however, does not have any cause for concern as yet, as all roads are passable, with water coming up to the road in only a few places. Many of the streets in Berne were flooded Monday by had receded some by today. U. S. 27 had water across the road around the northern edge of Berne and about one-half mile north of Geneva Monday afternoon. Landrum reported the river today at 16 and a half feet, which is over the considered flood stage of 13 feet. This is no cause for alarm either, however, as the river doesn’t leave its banks until it reaches around 19 or 20 feet. It if reaches 20 feet, Landrum said, the Bellmont area, the N. Second street area, near the Monmouth Road, and several places in and around Pleasant Mills would become slightly flooded, although nothing serious. Two years ago in March the same situation arose and the river reached a height of 22 feet for a short time. — In addition to the rainfall and melting snow and ice, the frozen ground has made the situation worse. When frozen, such as it is now, the earth can not absorb rainfall and melting snow, which causes the water to stand on top of the ground. Many low spots in Decatur became flooded Monday afternoon, but were receded considerably by today. Water covered the back entrance street to the Homestead area and other low places around the city, but all streets Were passable today. A few stores and homes reported water in basements this morning, but the water has caused no damage as yet. With a alight drizzle of rain today and some snow and ice still to melt, tire river is expected to continue to rise. Streets and roads will not be covered again, however, unless more rain falls or the St. Mary’s flows over onto them.

SEVEN CENTS

Pair Arraigned On Burglary Charges John J. Rahrer, Jr., 19, and Paul Barany, 17, both of Fort Wayne, were arraigned in the Adams circuit court this morning on charges of second degree burglary. Circuit court Judge Myles F. Parrish granted each of the two youths additional time to employ legal counsel, and ordered both remanded to the Adams county jail until they secure attorneys and are ready to enter a plea to the charge. The second degree burglary charges stem from a burglary at the Linn Grove Hardware store early the morning of Wednesday, --- Feb. 27, in which over SSOO in merchandise was obtained. The apprehension of the pair and James Lee Wheeler, 20, also of Fort Wayne, has led to the clearing up of several burglaries in Allen, Wells and Jay counties, and Fort Recovery, 0., in addition to the Linn Grove burglary. Most of the stolen items have been recovered, mainly by the Adams county sheriff’s department and state police detective Sgt. Walter Schindler. The stolen items are believed to exceed $2,500 in total value. Wheeler is being held in custody in Fort Wayne, also on a charge of second degree burglary. Rehearsal Tonight For 'Music Man' All principal characters and members of the chorus in the Jaycee - sponsored production of “The Music Man” are to attend a meeting and rehearsal this evening at the Central Soya office basement. Everyone connected with the production should attend the 7 o’clock rehearsal. Lions Zone Chairman Speaks Here Monday At the dinner meeting of the Decatur Lions Club Monday night at the Deactur Youth and Community Center, program chairman Roy Price introduced zone chairman Ernest Lehman of Berne. After a short talk, Lehman inducted into the Decatur Lions club two new members, Richard F. Linn and Charles H. Stonestreet. Following this a group of 14 singers, who represented part of the membership of the Deactur chapter of the preservation and encouragement of barber shop singing in America, sang several harmonizing songs for the enjoyment of the Lions club members.