Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 91, Decatur, Adams County, 17 April 1963 — Page 1

VOL LXI NO. 91.

Senate Passes Tax Package

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—Governor Welsh today asked House ( minority Democrats to reconsider their unfavorable attitude toward , a Senate - passed tax package which had appeared doomed in ( the Indiana Legislature for lack of , House support. The Senate Tuesday passed the 1 tax package, 27-20, calling for a ’ one-third increase in gross income tax rates and a 2 per cent corporate net income tax with Demo- ( cratic minority members almost ( unanimously supporting the meas- < ure and five Republicans helping ] them. , Welsh did not urge the Demo-1' cratic representatives to accept the package. But he requested f that they take the matter back to < caucus for another discussion before reaching a definite decision, according to Rep- Charles W. i Kirk, Jr., D-Floyd Knobs, caucus < chairman. - ] Welsh’s cautious intervention 1 furnished a new spark to hopes that the revenue issue would be < solved before the week is out, ; ending a long 98-day deadlock and 1 permitting the lawmakers to go 1 home by the legal end of the 40- < i Wheat Referendum ’ Meeting On Monday ' 1 “What’s your stake in the 1963 i wheat referendum to be held May 21?” i This question will be discussed t at .a meeting Monday evening at 1 the Farm Bureau Co-Op building, announces Leo N. Seltenright, ; county extension agent. All Ad- ( ams county wheat growers and ( other interested persons are wel- ( come. ; Jack Armstrong, Purdue Uni- t versity extension agricultural I economist, will discuss the 1963 ( wheat referendum programs and ( analyze possible alternatives. Per- j sons attending the meeting will have an opportunity to ask questions. County agent Seltenright points Out that for the first t ime farmers with 15 acres or fewer of wheat , will be eligible to vote in the referendum if they indicate thenintention to participate in the 1964 wheat program prior to the May 21 vote. The Adams county meeting is one of a series of 76 educational , meetings at which Purdue person- 1 nel will speak. These meetings will provide farmers with factual in- i formation which may be helpful to them in deciding to vote. Two major issues are involved in the wheat referendum. One is how high wheaf prices should be supported and the other how wheat production should be kept in line with needs. The two programs from which growers will choose are: One limits production to market and export needs, provides an average price support of 92 a bushel on the bulk of their crop and offers payments for wheat acreage diverted to conservation use. The other provides no limits on production or marketings, Price supports would be available to those growers who stay within their allotments at 50 per cent of parity, about $1.25 a bushel.

Street Lights Discussed

Street lights were again one of the main items of business Tuesday night, as the local city council held its second meeting this month. Two petitions were received for lights, another light and its pole was asked to be moved, and councilman Lawrence Kohne, head the light committee, submitted a report of recent progress. Mrs. Manley Foreman, 1210 W. Monroe St., requested a light be erected in the alley behind her home. The alley runs east and west between 12th and 13th streets, between Jackson and Monroe streets. ‘ .* Mayor Donald F. Gage. explained to Mrs. Foreman that the council at present is erecting street lights, and is not constructing alley lights, but will consider her request when more lights are installed. A petition for street lights on the east side of N. Tenth street, between Nuttman Ave. and Dayton, was submitted and the petition was referred to the light committee for its consideration. presents Petition Herb Kitson, a resident of 633 N. Tenth St., submitted the petition, explaining that all property owners of the area requested to be relighted had signed fee paper. A letter was read from Mr and Mrs. J. H. King, 604 Nuttman Ave., explaining that a light pole constructed near an alley at their residence was causing a problem

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

day special session Saturday. Combined with this renewed hope was the prospect that by the time the House Democrats caucus at 130 p.m., Senate Democrats will descend on them in droves and give them a hard sell on why they should support the tax plan as a prbbable last resort in preventing a second special session. Seate Democrats broke up a caucus during the noon hour, and caucus chairman Sen. William Christy, D-Hammond, said they had agreed to “put all the push we can to get the Senate-passed bill accepted.’’ "We discussed several other plans and couldn’t agree,’’ said Christy. “This is it!" Earlier, the chances of House approval were considered dim because representatives of neither party felt like going along .with the Senate solution. But House Republican and Democratic caucuses shortly after Senate passage pulled the rug out from under the optimistic legislators who hoped the break in the Senate logjam would carry over to the House and permit the lawmakers to go home Saturday after 101 days in session. There were indications the package would receive no more than 30 favorable votes if sent to the House floor for a showdown. Should it fail to be approved, the issue would go to another conference committee. At least two senators prepared' return appearances for tax plans I that previously were rejected in I the Senate. Sen. John Ruckelshaus, R-Indi-anapolis, said he will offer a plan calling for a 3 per cent adjusted gross income tax with a $3,000 exemption for a married couple and SSOO exemption for each additional dependent; a 2 per cent sales tax with a $6 per person credit, and a 2 per cent net income tax on corporations with a $25,000 exemption for each. Decatur Temperature Local weather data . for the 24 hour period ending: at 11 a.m. today. 12 noon 50 12 midnight .. 48 1 p.m 48 1 a.m 48 2 p.m 48 2 a.m 48 3 p.m ... al 3 a.m4B 4 p.m.*4B 4 a.m 46 >5 p.m. 48 5 a.m 46 6 p.m 49 € a.m- 50 7 p.m 50 7 a.m 52 8 p.m 48 8 a.m 56 9 p.m 48 9 a.m 60 10 p.m 48 10 a.rh. — 54 11 p.m 48 11 a.m. — 62 Raia Total for the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .0 inches. The St. Mary's river was at 1.70 feet. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy with some scattered showers or thunderstorms tonight. Cooler north tonight Thursday partly cloudy and cooler, with scattered thundershowers central and south. Low tonight 48 to 55 north, 55 to 65 south. High Thursday 58 to 68 north, 70s south. Sunset today 7:25 p.m. Sunrise Thursday 6:04 a. m. Outlook for Friday: Showers and scattered thunderstorms with temperatures ranging from lews in the 50s Thursday night to highs in the 60s Friday.

r - . ■ ■■ - ■"' • —— ■ by blocking a good portion of the I driveway to their garage. This matter also was referred to ' the light committee, for a solution , to the problem. Near the end of the meeting, i Kohne read a complete report of the second step in the city’s new street light program. The report is detailed elsewhere in today’s , Daily Democrat. Old Lights. I Also discussed was what to do , with the old street lights that were > taken down to be replaced by new lights. The council agreed that • many should be kept for replace- ■ ments of other lights of the same i type, but that those which were ■ on Second street will probably ■ have to be junked. The council discussed proposed street work for this summer, and ■ was in agreement that first on the ■ agenda should be the Seventh , street. Dierkes and Dayton streets i area. Many petitions have been received from property owners in those areas, and all three are in poor . condition. Not as much street work , will be done this summer as last, - but the major area of work will be - those three streets. An ordinance was adopted ap--1 proving a contract between the i city and the Schwartz .Ford Co. for > purchase, of a 1963 model chassis - and cab truck. The contract is a i lease-purchase deal with the city

City's Street Light Program Is Outlined Lawrence Kohne, chairman of the city council's electric light committee, outlined to the council Tuesday evening the recent street light work done in the city. In all, this second step in the council’s re-lighting program has seen 126 new and modern lights installed, with 103 removed. Most of those removed were of the small-type variety. , According to Kohne’s report, 37 new street lights were installed on Monroe street and 46 new lights on Mercer Ave., the two areas where the major share of re-lighting was done. A total of 21 lights were installed on Monroe street west of the Pennsylvania railroad crossing and 16 east of the crossing. Some 33 lights were removed from Monroe. 46 on Mercer On Mercer Ave., south of the Erie railroad track, 35 new lights have been put up, and 11 have been installed on the north side of the crossing. In all, 47 lights were removed from Mercer Ave. In addition, 10 new lights were installed on the south side of Nuttman Ave., with six new lights installed on N. First St. and three on S. First St. Other*areas of installation and the number of new lights installed, according to Kohne’s report, were as follows: intersection of Line and Elm streets, one; Parkview Drive, four; Stratton Place, six; intersection of U. S. 224 and 16th St., one; ' intersection of U. S. 224 and Kemi per Lane, one; W. Monroe St. I (west of 13th St.), five; Lewis Drive, three; Westlawn Drive, one; Highland Park, two; intersection of Adams and 16th streets, one Plans have already begun for a third step in the re-lighting program, as the council passed an ordinance Tuesday evening for additional appropriations, one of which was for $20,000 to be used tor installation of more of the new, modern lights. Plan Commission Hearing April 30 The city planning commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday, April 30 to hear a petition from Mies-Dawson Realty, Inc., for rezoning the area east of Villa Lanes, where a proposed shopping center is to be built. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., April 30, and will be held in the city court room located on the second floor of city haD. The commission will consider the petition that the land be rezoned from R-l residential to C-A general-commercial. The property is located west of 13th street and north erf Ntttfiman Ave: (U.S. 224), and covers 10.9 acres Members of the planning commission are: Chalmer Deßolt, president; Harold Teeter, vice president; Ralph E. Roop, secretary; Mayor Donald Gage, councilman Lawrence Kohne, councilman Clyde Drake, Al Beavers and Kenneth Hirschy.

paying $750 during 1963, and 3187.50 ’each month of 1964, with the exception of December when the payment will be $162.50. Water Truck Total price of the truck is $2,975, and it will be used by the fire department. A 1,000 gallon tank will be installed on the rear of the truck, for use in carrying an extra water supply to rural fires. Reason for the lease-purchase deal is that the money for the truck is coming from the four townships protected by the city’s new fire plan. Each township pays SSOO a year for fire protection. ' Mayor Gage said he had received a complaint recently about an alley that runs along the Pennsylvania railroad track, between Dayton street and Meibers street. According to the complaint, the alley’s cinders have been causing quite a dust problem. The council decided to have the alley Shot with oil to hold down the dust. A letter from the state board of health giving its approval to the Elm street sewer to be constructed soon and communications between city attorney Robert S. Anderson and the Indiana public service commission, concerning the Pennsylvania railroad crossing, were also read, 5 Following the reading and allowof the bills, the council adjourned until its next scheduled meeting, Tuesday, May 7.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, April 17, 1963.

Big Steel Unanimous In Breaking Price Line As Bethlehem Steel Joins

Democratic Dinner Scheduled April 26 Kb. - i JO Ron Ross A pre-primary Democratic dinner will be held at the local Youth and Community Center Friday, April 26, it was announced this morning by Dr. Harry H. Hebble,, Democratic county chairman. A fish supper will be served at 6:30 p.m., with a town hail type of public meeting, with audiende participation, to be held at 8 p.m., Hebble explained. Ron Ross, prominent Fort Wayne Democrat, will emcee the affair, with Delmas Bollenbacher and Robert Kolter of Adams county serving as co-chairmen for the dinner and meeting. All Democratic candidates from Decatur and Berne in the May 7 primary election will be introduced, and a panel discussion will be held. Dr. Hebble is currently arranging a panel, and already has Mayor Garland Stickler of Columbia City and Mayor Charles Decker of Bluffton to serve on the panel. More panel members will be added in the next two weeks. Sponsoring the pre-primary dinner are the Democratic Woman’s dub, in charge of decorations and the meal; the Demorcatic central committee, the Jefferson clul? and the Young Democrats organization. Miss Rosemary Spangler, Adams county recorder, is in charge of ticket sales, and tickets may be purchased from any member of the sponsoring organizations or members of the central committee. Louisa Buechner Dies Early Today Mrs. Louisa Charlette Buechner, 91-year-oM. resident of Willshire, 0., died at 6:35 o’clock this morning at the Van Wert county hospital. She had been in serious condition six days following a cerebral hemmorhage. She was born in Willshire township Feb. 6, 1872, a daughter of Frederic and Sarah Shell-Lilli ch, and was married to John Buechner in 1900. Her husband preceded her in death in 1937. Mrs. Buechner was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church at Schumm and a charter member of its Ladies Ai d society. She was also a member of the Valparaiso Guild and the Women’s Missionary league. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Lillian Schinnersr of Fort Wayne; two sons, Leo Buechner of Lima, 0., and John Buechner of Sacramento, CalV: three grandchildren and seven great-grandchil-dren. She was the last surviving member of a family of 13. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Ziofl Evan- . gelical Lutheran church at . Schumm, the Rev. Elmer Braun ; officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Cowan & Son funeral • home Until 12 noon Friday. The • body will lie in state at the church I from 1 p.m. until time of the services.

NEW YORK (UPD—Bethlehem Steel, the nation’s second largest producer, today announced selective price increases averaging a little more than $5 a ton, making Big Steel’ unanimous in breaking the steel price lineThe announcement of hikes in the price of three sheet and strip steel, items by Bethlehem President A.B. Homer followed closely on the heels of National Steel Corporation’s decision to up the price of selected products an average of $6 a ton. National is the nation’s fifth-ranked producer. The firms apparently do not foresee a slapdown from President Kennedy similar to the one that made Big Steel back down on across - the - board price increases just a year ago. The nation's largest producer, U.S. Steel Corp., raised its prices Tuesday, and Bethlehem’s announcement made unanimous Big Steel’s decision to try Kennedy on selective increases. 9 Firms Hike Price Altogether, nine steel firms have announced price increase since April 9. Bethlehem said its price adjustments would go into effect immediately. National will tag its products with higher prices starting Thursday. Homer said the new Bethlehem prices represent an increase of about 1 per cent in the total billing value of all rolled steel products sold by Bethlehem. He said the decision to raise prices was made “after due consideration of 'market conditions and cost and profit performance.” His announcemet represented a change in position since Wheeling Steel made the first break in steel prices eight days ago. A few hours before the Wheeling announcement Homer said “There is considerable doubt in my mind whether the market at this point would support a price increase in steel.” “Os course, you never know until you try it,” he said. Today Bethlehem, the only big steel holdout, tried it. Giant U.S Steel, which bore the brunt of President Kennedy’s wrath last year when the industry tried to raise prices, announced it would make selective increases of $4.85 a ton on flat rolled steel which constitutes approximately 29 per cent of its sales. Fourth- ranked Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., sixth-ranked Armco Steel Corp., and eighth-ranked Inland Steel Corp., announced their own increases within hours of the nation’s largest producer. It remained only for Bethlehem Steel, ranked No. 2, to join the other four top producers in the price scramble. Third-ranked Republic Steel announced its hikes Monday. Can Absorb Increases One of the industry’s leading trade publications, Iron Age magazine, said the present market can absorb the price increases because conditions are vastly different from a year ago when Kennedy raised bitter objections. Inventories are low, demand is brisk and picking up and the labor situation is quiet, the magazine said. The raises were expected to make the United Steelworkers Union more determined in its demands for higher wages. It has the right to re-open contracts with 11 leading steel companies anytime after April 30 and can strike 90 days after re-opening if it does not get what it wants. President Kennedy conferred with his economic advisers at the vacation White House in Palm Beach, Fla., on the latest moves by the industry. There was a possibility he would amplify his recent statement that while he was opposed to across-the-board increases by the steel makers, he did not believe “selective price adjustments up or down” were out of line-—— Taken At Word Apparently taking him at his word, U.S. Steel and others made their selections, although U.S. Steel’s increases were lower than the $5-$7 general range of hikes announced by other firmsPrices on the New York Stock Exchange dropped after the announcement by U.S. Steel President L. B. Worthington. Apparently investors feared that Big Steel’s joining the other firms in the increases might prompt Kennedy to force the industry to back down again, observers said.

Unanimous In

I —“ ‘ ‘ Parade, Dinner Thursday Precede Wildcat Program

Plans were completed Tuesday ■ night for the public dinner Thurs- | day night to kick off the Decatur Wildcat League program, and to honor the Wildcat League founder, ; Dale W. McMillen, Sr., Carl A. Braun, commissioner, said today. Tickets for the dinner are still available at the First State Bank, Zoss Chevrolet, Ralph Gordon at I&M, Holthouse Drug store, Wertzberger's Confectionery, General Electric, Contral Soya personnel office, and at Holthouse-on-the-Highway. Tickets may be reserved by calling Bill Zoss at 3-3148. The dinner will start promptly at 6:30 p. m., following a parade through the city. Those who would like to see and hear more about the Wildcat League, but who will not be able to attend the dinner, are invited to come at 7:30 p. m. for the program. Chairs will be arranged for them. Ladies Decorating Wives of the Optimist Club members will busy themselves Thursday decorating the dining area for the dinner. • Heads of all the service clubs will be present as co-sponsors representing the men of the city as hosts for the rally. W. Lowell Harper, vice president of the Decatur Rotary club, will represent that club in the absence of its president, George Auer, who will be out of the city on business. Caliope In Parade The Shrine club steam caliope has been secured by Clarence Ziner and Clyde Butler for the parade, which will include the Wildcat League founder, “Mr. Mac,” and Mayor Danild F. Gage riding in the lead convertible, a special “Wildcat” Buick secured for the parade. Bill Kuhnle, board member, will have charge of a carload of Decatur boys in their caps and T-shirt's with Wildcats on them. The boys will also be guests at the dinner and meeting. . Charter Presented The new board met for three hours Tuesday evening to iron out last-minute problems, and to prepare for the season's play. Wil- ' liam R. Bower, league president, presented the charter to the local group, and explained what it means to be in the Wildcat program. All members of the board were quite enthusiastic, and encouraged by the work that has already been done. Many fathers of young men interested in Wildcat League play are planning to attend Thursday, and many are bringing their sons, so they will know the meaning of the league. 8% - 15 Can Play Primarily, the Wildcat league will accept any youngster 8% years to 15 years of age, regardless of where he lives, his color, beliefs, or religion. Every boy who signs up, and tries to live up to the rules, will make a team, and will get to play in every game. Boys who are 8-10 will play in the Kijty League; they must be 8 by Jan. 1, and cannot be 11 before Aug. 1. Each game will be limited to five innings or IVi hours of play, approximately. The rules are the standard ones, except that base runners may not lead off, , steal, or advance on a passed ball (some of the smaller boys don't pitch or ?atch too well!) All boys appear in the batting order, and take their regular turn at bat-. Three strikes and the batter is out whether or not the catcher catches the ball. No metal cleats may be worn. Helmets are worn by bathers and base runners. The pitching distance is 45 feet, and the ■ distance between the bases is 60 ■ feet. Free substitution is permitted when team is on defense. 11-12 Year Olds i The 11-12 year old boys are in the Kat division, where six innings are played. Base runners may not lead off, but may steal after ball

leaves pitcher’s hand. The Tiger division, for boys 1315, plays seven innings, or two hours. Metal cleats may be worn. Batters must wear helmets, pitching distance is 54 feet, 75 feet between bases; free substitution on defense. The boys will play two games a week, with one scheduled practice. A player is expected to attend all scheduled practices and instruction sessions and all games, un-

Workshop On Mental Health On Saturday M Ob Dr. Robert J. Lehman A mental health workshop for all ministers and teachers of Adams county will be held Saturday at the educational building of the First Mennonite church in Berne, under sponsorship of the county

Council Votes Fund For Police Station

I The city council passed an ordinance Tuesday night calling for certain additional appropriations, one of which will make available funds for the construction of a new city police station located on the former steam plant lot. Before adopting the resolution, the council asked for any complaints to the additional appropriations, and there were none. The additional appropriations are as follows: $17,000 for construction of a new station; $17,500 for renovation of city hall; $20,000 for further insallation of new lights in the city; $1,250 for purchase of a new truck for the fire department; $29,000 for renovation of a certain portion of the steam plant to be used as a street department headquarters; and $6,000 for repairs to the roof at the Youth and Community Center. Final Hearing The additional appropriations will not be referred to the state board of tax commissioners who will establish a hearing date within 15 days. The hearing will be held in the county auditor’s office and any remonstrators will be given a final chance to object. Mayor Donald F. Gage explained to the city councilmen that he had received two complaints in the last week from members of the. retail division of the Chamber of Commerce, who were opposed to moving the station out of the downtown area. It is known that several Decatur merchants oppose the moving of the station to the old steam plant location, since it would move the station away from 'the downtown area. Mayor Gage questioned police

SEVEN CENTS

less excused by the director. The league does not interfere with church, Sunday School, Scout, other worthwhile activities, but regular attendance is necessary for the youth to benefit. Parents may attend all games, practices, and instructional periods, but they are expected to remain at a respectful distance and will not interfere with any of the activities—the program has been designed for the boys.

mental health association. Dr. Robert J. Lehman, noted psychiatrist of Louisville. Ky., will be the lecturer and chief resource person. A native of Berne and graduate of the Berne-French high school, Dr. Lehman teaches at the University of Louisville and conducts workshops, in addition to maintaining his own office. The workshop will open with registration and an informal coffee period from 9 to 9:30 am. Dr. Lehman will address the group in the morning session on the subjects, “Juvenile delinquency, its understanding in relationship to the problems of the average youth,” and “Emotional maturity, its application in regard to good mer> tai hygiene.” Only cost of the workshop will be the noon luncheon at $1.35. The afternoon program will consist of small round-table discussion groups for the first period, with Dr. Lehman speaking at the concluding session, scheduled to close at 3 p.m. Mrs. Sherman Stucky, president of the county mental health association, and her officers are in charge. They have named as cochairmen Robert Scheidler, Decatur high school teacher, and the Rev. Robert L. Cox, Betne, president of the county ministerial association.

I chief James M. Borders, who explained that moving the location of the station had absolutely nothing to do with any changes in police operation. Necessitate No Changes Borders said that the location of the station had no bearing on the routine of the city police officer. “The policemen does not sit around the station,” said Borders, "he is making his daily rounds in the police car.” “The officers do not sit around the station waiting for calls to come in,” Borders explained,” contrary to the belief of many people.” If a robbery is committed in the downtown area, the radio-operator does not run to the scene after receiving the call, but immediately dispatches the message to the patrol car, Borders said. “So it makes no difference where the station is located,” the veteran chief stated. It was pointed out that on two of the three working shifts employed by the city police, Civilian radio operators are used. City, attorney Robert S. ..An<ier». son also pointed out another reason for constructing a new station on the steam plant lot — “the city owns the ground.” Anderson said that the council had attempted to purchase a lot in the downtown area, but there were just no suitable locations and? or suitable prices. ‘■‘Why purchase a lot for SIB,OOO on which to locate a $17,500 building, when actual location has no actual bearing on the Work of the police department,” is the thinking of the council.