Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 175, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 December 1929 — Page 1

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MOVE TO CUT TAX AS BOTH HOUSES OPEN Session of 71st Congress Receives Resolution for Huge Slash. ROAD CLEAR FOR ACTION Senate Expects to Effect Reduction for Coming March Payments. BV PAUL R. MALLON United Pres* Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.—A resolution proposing $160,000,000 tax reduction was dropped into the house bill hoppgr as the first legislation to be offered when tne seventy-first congress convened in its first regular long session today. Chairman Hawley of the house ways and means committee, who proposed the legislation in behalf of the administration, announced completion of a program which would make possible its adoption by the house Thursday. In the simplest terms, the resolution proposes a 1 per cent reduction upon all classes of taxpayers, iridividuals and corporations. The normal tax on individuals, estates and trusts would be reduced from 5,3 and 1% per cent to 4, 2 and one-half of 1 per cent respectively. The tax upon corporations and insurance companies would be cut from 12 to 11 per cent. Effective Jan. 1 The resolution provides that the reduction be effective Jan. 1, 1929, which makes it applicable to earnings of this year, payments for which are to be made beginning next March 15. While the house and the senate were going through the brief, formal routine of organiizng their sessions for business, the tax reduction resolution was being referred to Hawley’s committee for consideration. A hearing will be held Wednesday by Under Secretary of the Treasury Mills and the resolution will be reported to the house Thursday, Hawley said. The group which controls the House, led by Speaker Longworth and Republican Floor Leader Tilson, has made arrangements to take up the resolution Thursday for limited debate and they expect the legislation will be on its way to the senate Thursday night. Preparations already are being made to receive it in the senate and adopt it there before the Christmas fv ''days. The cumbersome senate machinery makes the same speed as the house almost impossible, but there is a general unanimity of opinion among Republicans and Democrats that the legislation will be enacted speedily because of its encouraging effect on the general business situation. The administration will swing its full force behind the resolution within the next few days. The tax cut move was the outstanding event of the convening of Mr. Hoover s congress. Leaders Call Roll At noon, in accordance with the Constitution, Vice-President Curtis and Speaker Nicholas Longworth, respectively called both -houses to order. Announcements were made that the long session was convened and the roll was ordered to be called to ascertain officially if there was a quorum present. The session was not attended fully. The thin coating of ice on the pavements outside made hazardous by continuous rain, kept many of the elder statesmen indoors, while other realizing no business was to be transacted the opening day. remained away. The usual resolutions were adopted, giving official notice that congress was in session and ready for business. Committees were appointed by the house and senate to notify the President personally. The senate session lasted only seven minutes. The first order of business Tuesday in the senate is the case of Senator-Elect William S. Vare of Pennsylvania, whose friends spent $785,000 in a primary election three years ago. By special order, the senate must take up Tuesday the Norris resolution proposing to deny Vare a seat on the ground that the expenditure of such a large sum of money is “contrary to sound public policy, harmful to the dignity and honor of the senate, dangerous to the perpetuity of a free government, and together with charges of corruption and fraud “makes Vare unfit for his seat.

The Tip-Off Basketball has started and today’s Times brir to you the first episode of Vern Boxell’s Off the Backboard Norman Isaacs, former member of The Times sports department and founder of the column, takes the tip-off for Boxell and drops in the first field goal from the center of the floor. Keep up with basketball by reading Boxell’s daily column.

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The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Tuesday; continued cold tonight, lowest zero to 5 above. Warmer Tuesday.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 175

HOTEL EMPLOYES PICTURE ROTHSTEIN JUST BEFORE END Gambler Walked to Hotel Desk, Saying, ‘l’m Shot’; State Pillories Pretty Widow With Attack on Character. By United Prelx CRIMINAL COURT, NEW YORK. Dec. 2.—The story of how Arnold Rothstein wandered up to the watchman’s desk on the lobby floor of the Park Central hotel here the night of Nov. 4, 1928, and announced he had been shot, was related today by three witnesses in the trial of George A. McManus, accused of Rothstem’s murder. They were Vincent Kelly, operator of the hotel’s service elevator; Thomas Calhoun, the watchman, and Thomas McGibney, timekeeper. None could say where Rothstein came from and the defense tossed into the mystery more and more its contention that Rothstein was shot somewhere eke than in George McManus’ room on the third floor of the hotel, as the state contends.

LAKE STEAMER FOUNDERS; 6 DIE Efforts of Coast Guard Save 18 Others. rtir Unit fid Prexs SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 2.—The battered hulk of the grain steamer Kiowa, pounding on the rocks off Sable Point In Lake Superior today, told graphically of a winter tragedy of the inland seas in which six sailors perished Saturday night in one of the most furious blizzards ever known on the Great Lakes. Heroism of coast guardsmen, who battled mountainous waves and treacherous rocks to get a line across the Kiowa’s bow T ANARUS, saved the other eighteen aboard.] The survivors, almost dead from exposure and exhaustion, were transferred from the wave-lashed wreck to the bobbing boats of the rescuers by breeches buoy. The cargo of flax seed In the steel ship shifted as the storm tossed the craft about like a bit of driftwood and made her unmanageable, survivors said. SEARCH FOB STEAMER Fate of Ship, Crew of 34 Is Uncertain. Bn United Prefix HONOLULU, T. H„ Dec. 2.—The fate of the Reardon Smith line freighter Norwich City, with its crew of thirty-four, grounded on the treacherous reefs off Gardner island, 800 miles from Heren, was uncertain today, more than forty-eight hours since word had been received from the stricken ship. The freighter Trongate was plowing at forced draft through stormy seas from Apia, 600 miles away, to answer SOS calls from the Norwich City. I. U. CLERK TRYS SUICIDE ‘Strange Voices’ Prompts Attempt by Slashing Throat. By United Prcxx BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Dec. 2. “Strange voices’’ prompted Miss Wilma Goehner, 38. clerk at the Indiana university library, to attempt suicide by slashing her throat and both wrists with a butcher knife, she told police. Miss Goehner said she was spurred by a fit of melancholia and “strange voices” which she could neither explain nor resist. She is expected to recover. Identity of Suicide Unknown Identity of a man who died Saturday night after swallowing poison in a hotel room at 343% West Washington street was unknown today. A letter found in his effects was addressed to Sheldon Porter, R. R. 18, Box 44.

SEVEN MINERS DIE IN GAS EXPLOSION

Bt/ T'nitcd Pre.it • WEST FRANKFORT, 111., Dec. 2. —Black crepe hung from the doors of seven miners’ home today as state mine inspectors plodded in the deep snow about the tipple of mine No. 8 of the Old Ben Coal Company in whose depths a gas explosion Sunday claimed the lives of the seven and trapped fifteen others. A blizzard raged above ground when the explosion occurred on the 30C-foot level beneath the surface a mile and a quarter from the shaft. A screen of shale dust was dropped automatically by a safety device, shutting off the poisonous fumes from other sections of the mine. In those protected areas, rescue workers found the fifteen survivors and brought them to the serface. The women folk of the mining town, stoical in the face of tragedy, clustered about the mine entrance despite the snow-laden wind. For hours they stood there while rescue crews from Benton arrived and began clearing away debris. Relief, manifested here by a sob, there by a handclasp, spread among the women as the fifteen who escaped were brought to the surface. Despair remained for others as it was determined who the victims were. The identified dead were: Thomas McDermott* mine examiner, 80;

Mrs. Marion Putnam, comely little Asheville (N. C.) widow, returned to the witness stand bringing with her the same composure she had exhibited Friday when she faced the unrelenting cross-examination of James D. McMurray, attorney for McManus. She wore a black dress softened with chiffon at the throat, a black hat which framed her young face and a handsome fur cloak. Married Three Times The questioning jumped from one subject to another. She said a gentleman companion who had been registered with her at the Park Central hotel in November, 1928, had left the day Rothstein was killed, about noon, and did not return for three days. Next she was required to tell how she had been married three times, one of her husbands having died, while the other two marriages ended in divorce. She told of a restaurant she once owned in Asheville, N. C., and later sold. She next denied she stole a dress in a department store in Hendersonville, N. C., in 1920, but she admitted an officer came to her room, found three dresses, and claimed they belonged to a woman who accompanied the officer. Blushes at Charge Mrs. Putnam blushed a little as she said the officer took the dresses with him and snapped out her denials that she stole them. She named another woman, finally, as having stolen them. Mrs. Emily McKay of Asheville, N. C., was called to the rail and Mrs. Putnam identified her as a frequent customer at her restaurant in Asheville. Murry began questioning Mrs. Putnam about conversations with Mrs. McKay. Murray then ended the cross-ex-amination and Assistant District Attorney John Brothers took over the witness for redirect examination. Brothers read to the jury Mrs. Putnam’s registration card at the Park Central hotel, showing she had been there at the time of the Rothstein shooting. It was noticeable that the name read “Mrs. and Mr. M. A. Putnam.” FISHERMEN ARE SAFE Five Return After Battle With Lake Ice Floes. By United Prexs SANDUSKY, 0., Dec. 2.—Five fishermen, exhausted by a night’s battle with Lake Erie ice floes and driving snow, returned to Sandusky harbor today, while coast guards and volunteer rescue parties searched the lake for them. The men, all suffering from hunger and cold, are: Captain Fred Volk of the fishing tug Steve V, and his four-man crew, Charles Volk, his brother; Joe Lake, Ed Voss and N. Climax. The crew started out early Sunday to lift their fishing nets, and were caught in the blinding snow and surrounded by floating cakes of ice.

Jewell Baker, 25, and Dewey Baker, 28, E. E. Breadon, 40; Henry Isaacs, 45, and Veto Geridini, 35. It was believed the other man killed was James Tabor, night foreman. All but McDermott and Jewell Baker were married and had families. Six blackened bodies were brought to the surface Sunday night. Rescue crews had not found the seventh. Officials said had the explosion occurred nearer the shaft, all twen-ty-two in the mine might have been killed.

AMERICAN WAR DEAD ARE BROUGHT HOME TO MICHIGAN

/(<< I Pent DETROIT, Dec. 2. Fifty-six long wooden boxes lie on flag-draped biers at White Chapel Memorial cemetery today. Over the rough boards of each box falls the silken folds of the Stars and Stripes. Beside each, a sentry stands, keeping a last vigil over the dead. America has reclaimed her own. In fifty-five of the pine boxes lie the remains of the men of Michigan who died in the frozen wastes of Arctic Russia during the Arch- :

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1929

MERCURY DUE TO HIT ZERO BY NIGHTFALL Brief Respite From Cold Ends With Sinking of Thermometers. 5 ABOVE MAXIMUM Northern Indiana Suffers Third Blizzard of This Week. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 13 10 a. m 11 7a. 11 11 a. m 12 Ba. m 9 12 (noon).. 13 9 a. m 9 1 p. m 15 A brief respite from a cold wave that gripped Indianapolis and all mid-west states Thanksgiving day was broken early today, and thermometers began to sink. It was predicted the mercury would be near zero by tonight. Temperatures Sunday at 4 p. m. reached 29 after hovering near the zero mark or three days. At 6 a. m. today the mercury had gone down to 10 degrees above zero, and at 9 a. m. stood at 9 degrees. Lowest temperatures tonight will be zero to 5 degrees above, said J. H. Armington, meteorologist. Indianapolis’ first heavy snow arrived Sunday as the thermometers crept upward slowly. Although the fall here was not heavy, northern Indiana suffered its third blizzard in a week when heavy snow fell and drifted to block highways and endanger all transportation and shipping. Tuesday will be fair generally, said Armington, bringing a gradual rise in temperature. CONGRESSMAN HURT Hill Injured Severely When Artery Is Severed. By United Prcxx WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.—Representative Sam B. Hill (Dem.. Wash.), was injured severely today when he slipped on any icy pavement and jammed the stem of a pipe that he was smoking through the roof of his mouth, severing an artery. Hill was en route to the capital from his home when he slipped. He was taken to a hospital, where physicians said he was very weak from the loss of blood. EDGE IS GIVEN OATH Former New Jersey Solon Sworn in as Envoy to France. By United Prcxx WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.—Walter E. Edge, who recently resigned as United States senator from New Jersey, was sworn today as ambassador to France. He said he would sail for Paris, Dec. 6. Governor Larson, who named David Laird Jr. to succeed Edge, has announced Ambassador Dwight Morrow, now serving in Mexico City, would replace Baird when Morrow returns next February from the naval conference in London. Baird has announced his willingness to resign in favor of Morrow.

ONE KILLED, NINE HURT, AUTO TOLL

Snowstorms and icy pavements today were held by police as chiefly responsible for traffic accidents that killed one and injured as least nine others in and near Indianapolis over the week-end. Miss Fleeta Bell Simpson, 26, of 1610 Central avenue, was injured fatally by a truck when she stepped from behind a parked car to signal a street car Saturday night at Sixteenth street and Central avenue. She died in Methodist hospital of a crushed chest and punctured rib a few minutes after the accident. Coroner C. H. Keever ordered the arrest of William Burton, 2320 North Delaware street, truck driver, on manslaughter charges. Miss Simpson is survived by her mother, Mrs. Ida Simpson, with whom she lived, and a brother, Frank Simpson, Chicago. Ed Porter Jr., 42, of 631 East Fifty-seventh street, suffered a skull fracture when his car skidded at

angel campaign of the World war. In the fifty-sixth box lies a boy from the corn lands of lowa, Private Max Kurowski of Cedar Rapids, whose old mother would rather have him sleep here with his comrades than come home. Against the assaults of Arctic cold and the forces of revolutionary Russia, the Eighty-fifth division, aided by English troops, held the tip of the Archangel peninsula, until peace recalled those who had survived. The bodies arrived from New York Sunday, amid driving snow

They’re Sure That Winter Is Here

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Here’s a group who believes only in one sign— SNOW—the sign of winter! For with the one inch of frozen fleece deposited in Indianapolis streets, parks, lakes and creeks in the last thirty-six hours, tobogganing, ice “shinny” and skating usurped the place occupied by football, nut gatherings and prep-step classes. In the top photo Miss Betty Ellwanger, 1812 Kessler boulevard, is saying good-by to fall as she kicks up her feet and says, “Let’s go sledding.” In the left center inset, a group of youths are

10 ABE KILLED IN DERAILMENT Excursionists Victims in Split Track Accident. By United Prcxx CAPE CHARLES, Va., Dec. 2. Ten persons were killed and mor2 than a score injured when a Pennsylvania excursion train was derailed at Olney, thirty-five mile.; north of here, early Sunday, in the first fatal accident on the Norfolk division in forty-five years. Loaded with week-end excursionists, the heavy train left here at 11:30 p. ip. Saturday for New York. It ran into a split rail and leaped the tracks.

Delaware and Twenty-eighth streets Sunday night, colliding with a taxicab driven by Charles Martin. 43, of 957 Stilwell street. Two were injured early Sunday when an auto skidded into a switch engine at the Morris street crossing of the Indianapolis & Vincennes railroad. At that crossing several weeks ago four were kil’ed when their car struck a freight train is charge of the same crew. Those hurt Sunday were: Miss Thelma Baumgart, 22, of 2226 South Pensylvania street, chest injury, and William J. Knannlein, 24, of 1130 North Wallace street, cut on the head. Others injured were: Mrs. Myrtle Childers, 25, Apartment B, 3101 North Meridian street, cut on head; Murray Sats, 42, of 631 East Fiftysixth street, bruised on body; Mrs. Murray Sats, cut on head and arms; John Oliver, 29, of 709 North Rochester street, hip injury.

and bitter wind. Comrades lifted the pine boxes from the train, draped a flag over each, placed them on waiting hearses and carried them to the plaza before the city hall. Before the hearses, marched column after column of troops—slowly, to the roll of muffled drums and the majestic swing of the Chopin death march. Here and there in the cortege rode an old mother or a father or brother of one of the slain, in a blackdraped car, with a gold star on the windshield.

Entered ns Second-Class Matter at I'ostofYiee. Indianapolis

playing ice shinny on Fall creek near Delaware street bridge. The right inset Is Richard Lewis Scales, 1 year old, who celebrated his natal day in the arms of his sister, Mildred Lorene Scales, 11, of 2530 North Alabama street, watching the Delaware bridge “shinny” game. The lower photo shows Miss Ellwanger and Mrs. Peggy Fetters, 464 North Gray street,' preparing for a long coaster ride. Photos of the “shinny” game and the Lewis children were snapped by W. C. Walls.

I %4 QoWS r x dayshiL MIPISTMA9 o-FDierMA-S /7\ PI2E9ENTS AEE S SENT GOD. ?

High Bid Is $11,876 Eldridge & Cos., New York, was high bid on the $875,000 city hospital bond issue which will be sold today. The premium was $11,876.

FIRE TOLL $10,000; CHILD, 2, MAY DIE

Fire and water damage estimated in excess of SIO,OOO and injuries to two persons, one a child, perhaps burned fatal. „, comprised the fire toll in Indianapolis over the weekend and early today. Playing in the kitchen of her home early today, Sarah Ann Winburn, 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Winburn, 3411 Carson avenue, pushed a chair with several articles of clothing on it, against a red-hot stove. The kitchen caught fire, trapping the child and her three small brothers, Glenn. 4; Charles, 3, and Joseph, 9 months. The mother and Genard Van Horn, a neighbor, car-

In the Campus Martus, before the city hall, a prayer was offered, while cronies stood bareheaded in the snow. Hezekiah N. Duff of Lansing, commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, then presented the bodies to the state of Michigan. The bodies then were taken to White Chapel. They will lie in state for se /en days and then be placed in a vault to await burial next Memorial day.

HIGH ST. LOUIS OFFICIAL SLAIN State Senator Is Shot to Death From Ambush. B:i United Prrxx ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2.—state Senator Joseph Mogler was shot to death today as he entered a neighborhood moving picture theater he owns here. Edward Phinny, custodian of the theater, told police two men participated in the shooting, one guarding him while the other lay in wait at the door for Mogler. When police arrived they found the body guarded by a large black cat. Mogler was president of the Mogler Amusement Company and a vice-jresident of the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America. The fact that Saturday and Sunday receipts of the theater were not taken convinced police revenge rather than robbery was the motive.

ried the children from the house. The little girl was burned badly on the body, face and arms. She was taken to city hospital. The blaze was extinguished by firemen, with SSO loss to the house. Albert Bryant, 62, rooming above the Terminal lunch, at 128 West Market street, was burned on the face and neck this morning when fire broke out in the rooming house, conducted by Thomas Riley. Bryant was found unconscious in his bedroom by Harry Van Pelt and William Bulmer of Fire squad No. 1, who carried him to safety. Flames were licking at his bed and he had been overcome by smoke. He was taken to city hospital. Other roomers escaped uninjured. The fire caused $2,000 damage. Firemen attributed it to a smoldering cigaret in a girl’s dressing room. Isaac McLean, his wife and two children were driven into the cold in scanty clothing by fire which did SSOO damage to their home above a poolroom at 150 McLean place at 4:20 this morning. Mrs. McLean awakened to find flames filling hir bedroom. The family of J. A. Brooksent of 3645 North Delaware street, was routed from the home by flames, started by a grate fire at 3:20 this morning. Mrs. Brooksent awoke to find the house blazing and aroused her daughters. Jane, 23, and Virginia, 19, to flee from the house.

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HUGE UTILITY MERGER RUNS AGAINST SNAG Late Filing of Amended Petition Causes Delay in Hearing. POSTPONED TO TUESDAY Spokesman for Insull Is Denied Opportunity to Cite Advantages. BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY First snag of what promises to be a tortuous journey for the $70,000,000 Insull utilities merger petition was struck by the petitioners after the first hearing had been in session before the public service commission less than an hour today. Petitioners had neglected until last Friday to file an amended petition. which practically rewrites the original filed Aug. 27, 1928. Consequently, attorneys representing the communities and organizations other than Insull appearing in the case were unfamiliar with the new setup. They requested time to study the amended petition. Commissioner Howell Ellis, who is presiding in the case, adjourned the hearing until Tuesday at 10 a. m. in the house of representatives. Explanation Denied In announcing the adjournment, | Ellis thwarted an attempt of the utilities counsel to have Robert M. Feustel, Ft. Wayne, spokesman for Insull interests in Indiana, explain the alleged advantages which are to accrue. A request to permit Feustel to explain was denied. Appearance of Feustel at the hearing emphasized the political angle which has become a matter of public discussion in regard to the gigantic merger, affecting two-fifths I of the poulation of the state. Feustel is a close friend and j former Purdue classmate of Goverj nor Harry G. Leslie. He supported j Leslie’s primary campaign, i The question, “Where does the adj ministration stand?” was taking I form today. In this connection, observers regarded as significant and as a possi- | ble reflection of the admiration atI titude, an editorial which appeared Friday in the Lafayette Journal and Courier, published by Henry Marshall. Praises Mclntosh Marshall is the godlather of Governor Leslie in politics and is said to be “closest to the throne.” The editorial congratulated Commissioner Calvin Mclntosh for requesting an opinion from the attorneygeneral in regard to the legality of the merger. It then cited the opinion, emphasizing that it set out that unlike utilities can not merge and transportation lines involved must parallel and serve the same territory. Furthermore, the editorial set out that the question of public welfare is involved and, pointing that the way lies against the huge combination, declares that “this is the test of the Leslie administration.” If this is the Governor’s attitude in the matter, there will be little chance for approval of the merger petition, it is predicted. Two other factors have loomed large in the last two weeks as strong obstacles to petition approval. Must Show Revenues One is the opinion of the attor-ney-general regarding legality. The other is the requirement that "present revenues” must be shown to be sufficient to meet all securities demands. Attorney-General James M. Ogden sent George W. Hufsmith, autor of the opinion on legality given to Mclntosh, to the hearing. He is prepared to rule on legal questions involved. In order to meet the legal requirements to merge, as set out in the opinion, it must be shown that utilities involved are giving the same service in the same locality, and in the case of traction lines, must parallel. Mclntosh appeared armed with the opinion and ready to question any expert testimony in regard to the location and service involved. Harvey Harmon, former commissioner who, before retiring from the commission had the original petition in charge, entered an appearance in the case as attorney in opposition to the merger. Under Insull Control Under the merger petition, the Central Indiana Power Company and the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Company and their subsidiaries will be merged into the Indiana Electric Corporation under Insull control. Seventeen local or intercounty companies, serving 344 Hoosier towns and cities, are involved. Services include electric light and power, street railways and interurbans, heat, ice, water, gas and bus lines. Decision in the case will effect directly about two-fifths of the state’s population. Freighter, 24 Aboard, Aground BUFFALO, N. Y„ Dec. 2.—The freighter Samiadoc, believed to have a crew of twenty-four, was aground today off Main Duck island in Lake Onts io, and expected to break up momentarily.

Owßlde Marlon County 3 Cents