Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 56, Decatur, Adams County, 7 March 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 56.

Apportioning Near Showdown

INDIANAPOLIS (UP I)—Republicans in the Indiana House defeated a series of Democratic amendments and advanced to a final showdown a bill to carry out immediate reapportionment of the legislature. The bill passed second reading as the GOP majority systematically tabled eight Democratic motions to change proposed House districts so they would favor that party. But the way it stands now, the bill is virtually unchanged from the way it was passed by the Senate 40-8 after failing there the first time 24-23. The main difference was that the Senate had left the House membership to be elected on an at-large basis, to permit the House to outline its own districts. The House did this. Third Beading Next The bill now goes to third reading and a final showdown in the House, where it is likely to be supported by most Republicans and opposed by most Democrats. If it passes, it goes back to the Senate for concurrence in amendments, or to a conference committee if that concurrence is not given. As approved on second House reading, the bill made no change in the Senate districts that body had worked out. It did specify, however, that an additional Lake

House Passes Hike In Cigarette Tax

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — The Indiana House passed 68-19 and sent to the Senate Wednesday night a bill to raise the state cigarette tax from 3 to 5 cents a pack, partly to provide tax relief for cities ~and towns. The measure was given a fair to good chance of approval by the Senate. One cent of the two cent increase would be distributed to local communities to enable them to reduce local property tax rates. The distribution would amount to about $3 million a year. The other cent would include about $5 million for state contributions to five reservoir projects, $600,000 for promotion of tourism in Indiana, and $200,000 for completion of the Indiana World War Memorial. The bill was backed by the Indiana Municipal League. The House also passed 55-35 and sent to Governor Welsh a bill making Indiana a participant in the federal Kerr-Mills program of medical aid to the aged. The vote was on party lines with the Republicans favoring and the Democrats voting against. The

'Swenko' Machine Is Donated To Hospital An anonymous benefactor has donated a life-giving “Swenko” machine, which permits freezing of stomachs to cure stomach ulcers, to the Adams county memorial hospital, the hospital board announced today; " The machine has already been used twice, and is the first such machine in the entire area; Fort Wayne still did not have one in any of its hospiatls when this unit was received and put into use. Hie freezing process is used to reduce the stomach tissues to a very cold temperature, and to permit the tissues to heal normally without being damaged again by stomach acids. Local phyisicans and surgeons have been quite interested in its possibilites and use.

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Richard C. Ludwig, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church) THE IMPORTANT QUESTION Matt. 26:63—“Die high priest answered and said unto Him, I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." This was a crisis moment in history, when the high priest, Caiphas, asked this question to the Prisoner before Mm. Heaven and earth almost stood still, awaiting His reply. If He had said “No," all hope of life and salvation would have been dashed to pieces forever. But listen to His reply, “Thou hast s?id” — the customary way for declaring, “Yes, I am!” Because of this statement, made under oath, the council declared Him worthy of death. Today, too, ho one will condemn Christ to the cross because He taught the golden rule, because He preached the Sermon on the Mount, because He insisted that men should love one another, because He pleaded for the poor and warned against the hufiuis of war. But as soon as His Word teaches that He is both God and Savior, that without Him there is no forgiveness of sin, that He is the only way to heaven, then many are ready to say, “Away with Him! Let Him be crucified!” This is still the important question for every individual: Do you believe Christ when He declared that 1 He is Son of God and the Savior of the world? The disciple Peter answered this question with the confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;" and Jesus pronounced Mm “Blessed!” —

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

County senator be elected for a two-year term in 1964 so that 25 senators would be elected every two years as at present. There was a change in the House districts as approved by the House Legislative Apportionment Committee which had worked out the plan. The committee had paired Grant and Huntington Counties, and Blackford and Delaware Counties. But the House adopted an amendment leaving Blackford and Grant as a House district, as at present and Delaware and Huntington Couhties as separate districts. Step Toward Solution The House action seemed to be a major step in the direction of solution of the thorny reapportionment issue, one of the top issues in this legislative session. Under terms of the bill, reapportionmept would apply to the 1964 elections, bringing a redistricting for the first time since 1921 although the Constitution requires it every six years. The Republican majority plan included the immediate reapportionment program plus a constitutional amendment which would change future mandates on redistricting from every 6 to every 10 years if approved by the 1963 and 1965 legislatures and at a voter referendum later.

Kerr-Mills program is considered an alternate plan agreeable to opponents of President Kennedy’s medicare program. The House also: —Passed 57-32 a concurrent resolution calling for * study of the taxation problems of the aged. —Defeated 65-20 a bill raising hunting and fishing license fees to $5 for hunting and fishing, $3 for hunting and trapping, non-resident fishing to $4.50 and non-resident deer to $25.50. In the Senate, Sen. Marshall F. Kizer, D-Plymouth, staged a losing battle to gain at-home registration erf voters in counties of 80,000 or more population. But he forced Lt. Gov. Richard O. Ristine to cast the deciding vote. The present law allows the smaller counties to register voters in home visits by election officials but bans such procedure in big cities. Kizer tried to amend a House bill on county election boards to remove this restriction, declaring the law was of doubtful constitutionality because “it creates two classes of citizens.” Sen. Keith Fraser, R-Portland, warned that “the large number of voting applications that would be solicited at residences would lead to corrupt practices and open up the way to registration frauds.” “Smaller counties can handle this more carefully,” Fraser said. The vote on the amendment was 23-23 and Ristine voted against it to break the tie.

Music Festival At School Friday Night The public is invited to attend the annual music festival of the ton combined high school choirs Decatur, Berne-French and Bluffand bands, which will be presented at the Decatur high school auditorium Friday evening at 8 o’clock. Tickets, priced at 75 cents for adults and 50 cents for students, may be purchased from any band or choir member.

Woman's Body Is Found Near To Baer Field FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UPDThe body of a woman tentatively identified as a telephone operator missing since Wednesday was found in a ditch near here today, her throat slashed and her hands tied behind her back. State Police said preliminary investigation showed she apparently was dumped in the ditch along a lonely road near Baer Field, a mile east of Indiana 3. She was tentatively identified as SaUy Jo Weisenberg, 21, Fort Wayne, employed by the General Telephone Co. at its Tecumseh branch. State Police Sgt. George Coon said her hands were tied behind her with a piece of leather. When found by a passing motorist, Trais Willett, about midmorning, the body was covered by a coat. The brown-haired woman had one shoe on, another was found nearby. She also was partly dressed in a sweater, police said. They said a convertible compact car registered in her name was found parked at an outdoor theater, about five miles from the scene where the body was found. It contained keys, her purse and identifications and other personal belongings. Authorities said the woman’s parents were enroute here from their home in Richmond to establish positive identification. Miss Weisenberg had been missing since Wednesday morning, authorities said. State police said they were investigating on the assumption the woman was on a date Tuesday night and failed to return home. It was not determined immediately whether she was raped, but an autopsy was expected to be performed, authorities said. They also said the body bore numerous bruises and lacerations, indicating that a struggle may have preceded the slaying. Charge Non-Payment Os Parking Tickets Six affidavits against a Decatur man have been filed in city court for failure to pay parking meter tickets. City attorney Robert S. Anderson filed the six affidavits against Dale Stout, a North Second St. resident, Wednesday afternoon with city court Judge John B. Stults. “ The parking meter violations have been unpaid by Stout for some time, and he was contacted by letters informing him of the unpaid tickets. He still did not pay the fines, however, resulting in the filing of the sit affidavits. What could have been paid for 25 cents within 24 hours, and 61 after the first day, will how cost Stout at least $8 apiece. He wfll be given time to pay file tickets at $1 and costs, a total of 68 each. If they still remain unpaid, a warrant will be issued for his arrest and he will have to appear in city court to pay the violations, which will then cost 610 and costs, or a total of 617 each. Judge Stults and city attorney Anderson also explained that this procedure is being constantly followed on such flagrant violations, where a person is contacted several times and still will not pay the fines. Both said that some Decatur residents have been paying their parking meter fines and later claiming to neighbors and friends that they are unpaid. This is untrue, the judge and city attorney pointed out, because if not paid after repeated warnings, affidavits are filed for each unpaid ticket.

Emergency Visits Only At Hospital ~ Visitors will be limited to emergencies only at the Adams county memorial hospital because of respiratory infections. Cal E. Peterson, president of the hospital board, announced today. Many of the patients have come down with respiratory diseases and flu, and also many of the nurses and nurses aides and other staff members are ill, making the hospital short - staffed, Peterson explained. The public will be notified again as soon as it is safe to allow visitors, he concluded. U. S. Helicopter Shot Down In Viet Nam SAIGON, South Viet Nam (UPI) — Communist Viet Cong ground fire today shot down a U. S. Marine H 34 helicopter in Quang Nam Province about 350 miles north of Saigon, an American military spokesman said.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, March 7,1963.

Biennial Budget Bills Out Os Committee To Floor Os State Senate

Flood Waters Spread Death, Destruction

By United Press International Icy flood waters spead death and destruction throughout the East today. Drinking water was contaminated, power lines were driven down by high winds and towering ice floes swept down rain-swollen rivers to drive thousands of persons from their homes. The death toll from three days of flooding rose to 21. At least eight other persons ere dead after a late-winter snow storm hit the Midwest and flayed the Northeast with 55-mile-an-hour winds, snow and sleet. A lake dam, weakened by the heavy rains, burst at Norwich, Conn., during the night and sent flood waters up to 12 feet deep swirling through a four-mile section of the city. At least six persons were killed, six injured and two missing. Power failures plunged the,area into darkness and about 350 persons fled their homes as the surging water caused damage estimated in the millions of dollars. Lock gates at the Shetucket River dam at Norwich were frozen shut and officials feared rising pressure would send the ice- 1 choked river churning through the streets. Nearly all Ohio streams, with the exception of the Ohio River, were receding today, but a state of emergency was declared on the Ohio University campus at Athens. A midnight curfew was imposed on men students for the first time. More than 1,500 persons—including 700 university students—were taken from the flooded area. The Ohio River, which crested at Pittsburgh Wednesday, continued to surge toward a crest downstream and officials at Cincinnati, Marietta, Portsmouth and smaller Ohio communities made emergency preparations. The Ohio was expected to crest at Cincinnati at 60 feet, or eight feet above flood stage, by Sunday. In Pennsylvania, serious flooding continued today from Newport to the mouth of the Juniata River, Duncannon, Pa., Mayor John Wells declared a state of emergency. Rescue workers helped residents from their homes at Duncannon, Amity Hall and Newport. Ice jams towered 30 feet high on the Juniata River where it meets the Susquehanna. Flood damage in the Chartiers Creek valley was expected to reach 810 million. The flood situation by states: Ohio— The Ohio Water Pollution Control Board asked more than 100 flood-stricken communities to check their water supplies for contamination. Residents in the Urichsville - Dennison area of Tu s carawas County had only two days’ supply ' of drinking water on hand. The (Continued on Page Eight)

Oratorical Contest Planned By K. C. The Decatur Knights of Columbus, council No. 864, will again sponsor an oratorical contest to determine a winner to send to the district K. of C. contest, it was learned today from Bob Eiting, grand knight. The oratorical contest will be held Monday, April 8, and any student in public or parochial high school in the area may participate. The subject this year is “Belief in God Preserves Democracy.” This year, Eiting explained, the winners of the district and state contests will receive a larger prize than in previous years. The contest is expected to generate enthusiasm among contestants as well as members of the local council. The local K. of C. will hold regular meetings Monday, March 11, and Monday, March 25. All members are urged to attend both meetings.

Some Phone Service Out As Cable Cut Telephone service was out in the northern portion of the city this morning due to an underground cable being cut by a construction company working in the area. C. Ivan Heare, plant superintendent of Citizens Telephone Co., said this morning that the construction company reported the mishap about 9:30 o’clock this morning and the Citizens Co. immediately dispatched a crew to repair the damage. The cable cut is located between Third and Fourth streets, just south of Marshall St., or near the alley west of the Gillig and Doan funeral home. The phone company crew went quickly to work on repairing the 101-pair cable that was cut by the construction firm that was working in the area. Heare said that approximately 150 stations are out of service due to the accident, and that the seryice in the area would be repaired “as soon as possible,” which was hoped to be sometime today. He explained that the frozen condition of the ground might possibly hamper the repairing of the broken cable.

Fort Wayne Market Robbed Ot $31,000 FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UPI) — Two men held up a supermarket near here today shortly after a money delivery and escaped with an estimated $31,000 in cash. Police said assistant manager Ralph Essner, who made the estimate, and a cashier, Doris Leaman, were confronted by two gunmen in a small office of Rogers Market and were forced to hand over the money from a safe. The market is located east of here. One of the bandits was described as in his mid-30s, the other in the mid-20s, wearing a black coat, black hat and glasses. It was not determined immediately how they made their getaway, but witnesses said they were seen running through the market’s parking lot. Messner said a Brink’s truck had made a delivery of the money only a few minutes before the robbery. The large sum apparently was for cashing pay checks of industrial workers Messner said he was ordered to lie down while the bandits took $4,000 from a cash drawer and the rest from a sofe. Mrs. Leaman said the men put the money in a brown paper sack and fled after telling Messner to stay on the floor for 10 minutes.

INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight and Friday. Bfief snow flurries tonight and again Friday afternoon afternoon o might. Not much temperature 7 change. Low tonight 25 to 30 north, 38 to 35 south. High Friday mid and upper 30s north, 37 to 46 south. Sunset today 6:43 p;m. Sunrise Friday 7:08 a.m. Outlook for Saturday: Light snow o rfhirries central and north. No important temperature changes. Lows in the 20s and low 30s. Highs in the 40s. DECATUR TEMPERATURES Local weather data for the 24 hour period ending at 11 a.m. today. 12 noon 32 12 midnight .. 36 1 p.m 34 1 a.m. ........... 36 .2 p.iii 86 2 a.m. -3« 3 p.m 36 3 a.m 36 4 p.m 38 4 a.m 34 5 p.m 33 >5 a.m. 34 6 p.m 38 6 a.m. ... 34 7 p.m 38 7a m 34 8 p.m 38 8 a.m 40 t p.m. ............ 38 9 a.m. .rifc-...:. 42 10 p.m 36 10 a.m. ... 46 11 p.m. 36 11 a.m. 42 Preefyltatldß Total for the 24 hour period ending* at 7 a.m. today, .0 inches. _ The St. Marir'a river was at 18.07 feet.

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — The two biennial budget bills, calling for appropriations about $227 million higher than present taxes will produce, came out of committee to the floor of the Indiana Senate today. The actual deficit, however, would be about 8252 million, including about $25 million conservatively estimated by fiscal experts as needed to restore a favorable surplus to the state general fund. Tne Senate Finance Committee completed work on both proposed budgets for the 1963-65 biennium late Wednesday night, and the measures were ready for action in that branch of the legislature as the 61-day biennial session dwindled to only four more working days. Legislative leaders predicted they will have to stop the clock and run overtime, ending the session sometime Tuesday, the day after the Constitution says the lawmakers must finish. As reported out of committee, the operating budget totaled about $1,125,000,000, about S3O million below the amount approved by the House and requiring about $195 million in added revenue through new or increased taxes. Building Budget Cut The construction budget called for expenditures of about $54.4 million, about $3 million lower than the House-approved amount and requiring about $32 million in additional revenue. Thus, the two bills before further surgery is performed on them call for about $227 million more thin anticipated revenue* the next two years. Sen. Roy Conrad, R-Monticello, Republican caucus chairman, said he believes “we will be finished sometime Tuesday.” He said part of the reason would be “a wait for the printers to get the bills ready." Other legislative leaders were less positive about the chances of an overtime —. House Speaker Richard Guthrie said “things are in the position where they could all fall into place in time, but we don't know.” House Democratic minority leader Robert Rock was more inclined to agree with Conrad. “Even when we reach agreement on a tax program, the mechanics of working it out, getting it written and checked will tend to work against us,” Rock said. No Trax Frogram There has been no agreement on a tax program but the essential fact the state needs more money than it expects to produce with its present tax system finally has been established. The operating budget still has a long way to go. In addition to passing second and third reading in the Senate, it must go to the House for approval. The construction budget already has passed the House but when it leaves the Senate, the House must concur in amendments or a conference committee will have to thresh it out. The Senate Finance Committee cut s3l million from the operating (Continued on Fi.ge Six)

Samuel Diehl Dies Wednesday Evening Samuel DieM, 81, of 828 North 10th street, a retired carpenter, died at 9 o’clock Wednesday evening at the Adams county memorial hospital, where he had been a patient for two days. He had been in failing health for several years. Born in Kirkland townsMp June 27, 1881, he was a son of Samuel and Clarissa Ann Stults-Diehl, and was married to Jessie Brown July 15, 1903, in Monroe. Mr. DieM spent most of his life in and near Decatur. Surviving in addition to his wife are two brothers, John DieM of Riverdale, Mich., and Fred DieM of Reading; and four sisters, Mrs. Charles (Lillie) Johnloz of Craigville route 1, Mrs. Pearl Dayman of Alma. Mich , Mrs Daisy Rickord of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Arthur Garner of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Sunday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Sylvester Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p. m. Friday until time of the services.

James Kortenber Is Council Candidate James H. Kortenber James H. Kortenber, of 349 Mercer avenue, filed late Wednesday for city councilman-at-large on the Democratic ticket, subject to the May 7 primary election.

The at-large council post is now held t»r Bernard J. (Cocky) Clark, who has stated that he will not be a candidate for election to the post; he was appointed to replace the late Frank Braun. Clark has stated that he may be interested in mavor or street commissioner. A native of Decatur, Kortenber is the son of the late Joseph F. Kortenber, a lifelong city fireman and Democrat, and Mrs. Hazel Tumbleson Kortenber, who formerly lived on Johns street. He is a 1948 graduate of Decatur high school, and has been employed for the past six years by Haugk’s Plumbing and Heating, and also runs Kortenber Insulation. Married to the Former Jeanne Holthouse, Kortenber is the father of six children: Christopher, 11; Gregory, 9; Bradley, 8; Nannette, 6; Marla, 3; and Mitchel, 1. Christopher, Bradley and Nanette are pupils at St. Joseph’s school. Kortenber is the first candidate to announce for the Democratic primary this spring. He is also a graduate of DeForest School of Electronics in Chicago, and is a member of the Democratic party, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Holy Name society, and St. Mary’s Catholic church. Kortenber has been interested in politics for many years, and was one of several applicants for appointment to the city council when Clark was appointed. He was elected precinct committeeman in precinct 1-C, which votes at the jail, last spring, and has served as precinct committeeman since that time. Kortenber had filed for the appointment to fill the unexpired term of the late Frank Braun in 1961. Braun retired from his coun-cilman-at-large position November 7, 1961. Clark, Kortenber and Morton Railing all filed for the appointment to fill the unexpired term. Clark was selected by the city council to fill the term, receiving three votes to one for Railing.

First Report Made On Red Cross Fund Robert M. Kolter, chairman of the Red Cross fund drive in rural Adams county, today submitted the first report of donations to the campaign. The quota for the 1963 drive is $10,906, of which the Decatur Community Fund paid $5,876, the Berne Community Fund $1,830, and the Geneva United Fund $240.63. First donations are as follows: Late 1982 fund ... $10.25 Monmouth Jr. Merry Maids 4-H Club — 3.00 A Friend .... 5.00 Union Chapel Faithful Workers ...z......:.— . 5.00 Anthony Spangler 2.00 G. W. Sprunger 5.00 Mr. & Mrs. H. H. Stoner - 5000 Total $8026.88

SEVEN CENTS

Local Man's Father Dies At Fort Wayne Charles Friend, 83, former Monmouth and Berne resident, and father erf Royal Friend, 908 N. 3rd street, died at 9:55 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph hospital, in Fort Wayne, where he had been hospitalized since Jan. 3 with a heart attack. A native of Auburn, he was born May 1, 1879, the son of Amos and Jessie Stanburg Friend. He lived in Berne before moving to Fort Wayne. He Lived at 528 E. McKinnie avenue. A retired farmer, he was employed at General Electric Co., and then, for 14 years at the Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. as a maintenance man. He was a member of the Fort Wayne Gospel Temple. Survivors, in addition to the son, include two daughters, Mrs. Harry Lee of Huntington; Mrs. Paul Goble of Columbia City; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchil-dren; and one sister, Mrs. Id* Kaufman, Buffalo, N. Y. Friends may call at the C. M. Sloan and Sons funeral home after 7 p.m. today. Services will be at 1 p.m. Satunday in the funeral home, the Rev. Carl R. Bennett officiating. Burial will be in the Roselawn cemetery in Auburn.

Albert N. Sprunger Dies Last Evening Albert N. Sprunger, 87-year-old prominent retired business man of Berne, died at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Berne nursing home, following an illness of seven years. A lifelong resident of the Berne community, he was born in Monroe township May 21, 1875, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham A. Sprunger. He was married to Elma Welty Oct. 14, 1907, and she preceded him in death in 1961. Mr. Sprunger was one of the founders of the Berne Milling Co., Berne Condensery, Globe Hatchery and Berne Furniture Co. He had also been associated with the First Bank of Berne and the Community Exchange Co. He had also served as a member of the Berne town council. Mr. Sprunger was a member erf the First Mennonite church and taught a Sunday school class for more than 50 years. Surviving are one son, Orlando W. Sprunger of Berne route 2; five daughters, Miss Lucretia Sprunger of Berne, Mrs. Herman (Cecilia) Hilty of Bluffton, O„ Mrs. Leonard (Marguerite) Wiebe of Orosi, Calif.; Mrs. Leland (Winifred) Gerber of Bluffton, 0., and Mrs. Dwight (Phyllis) Suter of Pandora O.; 19 grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Baumgartner of Berne, and Mrs. Fred (Ella' Sprunger of Fort Wayne. Two brothers, one sister, two halfbrothers and two half-sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held at io~a;m. Saturday at the Fl r s t Mennonite church, the Rev. Gordon Neuenschwander and the Rev. Marvin Zehr officiating. Burial will be in MRE cemetery. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home in Berne after 10 a.m. Friday until time of the services.

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