Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 255, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 March 1930 — Page 1

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

FORD, EDISON LAY LASH ON WETS’ VIEWS Auto Magnate and Electric Wizard Opposed to Dry Law Repeal. 'SANE FOLK WANT BAN’ Amendment Held ‘Greatest Force for Comfort and Prosperity.’ BY PAUL R. MALLON United Press Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, March 5.—Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison were summoned to the defense of prohibition today as the drys opened their case at the house judiciary committee's hearings on proposals to repeal or modify the eighteenth amendment. Both the automobile magnate and the electrical wizard hailed the dry law as a great force for comfort and prosperity in telegrams read before the committee today. "I still feel that prohibition is the greatest experiment made to benefit man,'’ Edison said in his message. “My observation is that its enforcement generally is at least 60 per cent, and is gaining, notwithstanding the impression, through false propaganda, that it is a lower per cent.” Questioned by La Guardia Ford wired the committee from Florida that the eighteenth amendment is “the greatest force for the comfort and prosperity of fie United States" and that “the sane people never will see it repealed or any dangerous modification.” The telegrams were presented by Bamuel Crowther, an economic writer, who was the first witness summoned by the drys. Crowthers delivered a lengthy argument in support of his contention that “laboring men are purchasing more comforts with money they formerly spent in the saloon.” After Crowther finished his statement he was questioned by Representative La Guardia (Rep., N. Y.) : a wet, who asked a series of questions designed to show the witness was not well versed in economy. Drys in Complaint Drys complained to Chairman Graham about La Guardia’s searching analysis of import and export trade figures. “What's the source of your information that liquor is selling at $50 a gallon?" La Guardia asked. “From friends who have made purchases.” “For legitimate purposes?” “No.” “You still associate with those friends?" Half a dozen drys on the committee shouted protests and the witness said, “Let's not go into that.” Graham ruled the question unfair.

ACCUSED OF PAYING FOR WIFE'S MURDER Hichita Merchant Charged With Bribing Laborer to Kill Mate, WICHITA, Kan.. March s.—Ben Turner, ice and salt merchant of Anthony, Kan., today stood accused of paying: a fellow-townsman to kill his wife on “a down payment of $65 and $35 to come/’ The alleged confession was obtained by officers from Joe Sutton, laborer, who told them he killed Turner’s wife. Turner still owes him $35. Sutton said. The woman's body was discovered Wednesday. POLICE SHAKEUP IS ORDERED AT BUFFALO Change Climaxes Outburst of Crime, Including Killing of Youth. Bv r nited Pres, i BUFFALO, March 5.—A shakeup in the Buffalo police force today climaxed an outburst of crime which included the killing of a youth who had stolen bread for his family, the holdup of an insurance company cashier on the eighth floor of an office building and three lesser holdups. Austin J. Roche, police commissioner, announced that five detectives. seven headquarters clerks end five members of the auto squad have been returned to patrol duty. WALES ON MOTOR TRIP Prince Recovering Rapidly From Attack of Malarial Fever. Bv r iPress NAIROBA Kenya Colony. Africa. March s.—The prince ot Wales Is recovering rapidly from an attack of malaria. He motored several miles today.

No Foolin' By United Press CHICAGO. March 5.—Good news for wives who have listened to regular lectures from their husbands about spending too much for clothes. The doctor's thesis written by Miss Louise Cowles of the University of Chicago, reviewing expenditures of thousands of families, asserts husbands spend 10 per cent more on clothing than their wives do.

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The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Thursday; somewhat colder tonight; lowest temperature, 25 to 30 degrees.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 255

Arrested

Albert F. Meurer Arrest of Albert F. Meurer, former city councilman, resulted today from his refused to pay a fine for alleged improper parking. He will be tried Thursday.

CITY BUSINESS MEN'S ’LEGGER SUSPECT HELD Checks Signed by Leaders in Professions Found in Possession. One source of “bonded” whisky, said to be supplied to prominent Indianapolis physicians, attorneys and business men, has been closed, federal dry agents claim, with arrest of Irvin H. Sudbrack, 361714 East Sixteenth street. Sudbrack was held to the federal grand jury under $4,000 bond on liquor charges today by John W. Kern, United States commissioner. Police who arrested Sudbrack several days ago claimed to have confiscated tw’o pints of “bonded” whisky on his person. A raid on his home, it was alleged at the hearing, revealed twenty-three gallons of alcohol ana a quantity of alleged counterfeit, whisky strip stamps and other materials for converting alcohol into “whisky.” It was stated at the hearing that checks signed by several prominent professional men were found in Sudbrack's pocket when he was arrested. several of the signers of the checks admitting they had purchased liquor from him. BROKERS INDICTED IN EMBEZZLEMENT CASE 'Frisco Sextet Alleged to 1...ve Aided Bank Defalcation. flu United Press SAN FRANCISCO. March 5. George N. Keyston, president of the San Francisco Stock Exchange, and five members of his brokerage firm today faced charges of "aiding and abetting” persons indicted for embezzlement of $550,000. Keyston and the others of the brokerage firm of Lies, Keyston Cos. are charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury. Bail has been set at $5,000 each. The indictment charges that the six men “aided and abetted" three employes of the Bank of Italy, recently Indicted on charges of embezzling $550,000. The money allegedly was used for speculation.

LAY BASIS FOR SUIT ON BOARD SALARIES City Controller Refuses Voucher of Sanitary Commissioners. Asa basis for a friendly suit to test legality of $3,600 annual salary of city sanitary commissioners, the sanitary board today sent a voucher to City Controller Sterling R, Holt for payment of salaries on that basis. Holt rejected the voucher. J. W. Noel, attorney for B. J. T. Jeup and O. C. Ross, the commissioners, indicated he would file suit to obtain the maximum salary’, allowed by the law as long as construction work continues at the city sanitary plant. The state tax board eliminated the $3,600 salaries from the city’s budget, supplanting them with minimum wages of SSOO. BOND ISSUE ACCEPTED City of Vincennes Gives Commission 5100,000 for Memorial. The George Rogers Clark Memorial commission, meeting at the statehouse today, executed a contract with the city of Vincennes, accepting proceeds of a SIOO,OOO bond issue toward construction of the memorial to the famous pioneer. The memorial is to be built in Vincennes. STUMP DINNER SPEAKER Attorney Talks Tonight at Session of Illumination Conference. Albert Stump. Indianapolis attorney, will speak at a dinner tonight in connection with the second an*nual illumination conference, sponsored by the Electric League of Indianapolis.

MEURER, HELD IN AUTO CASE, BALKS AT FINE ” Ex-Councilman May Force Probe of Traffic Zone Collections. CHARGES LAW NEGLECT Nonpayment of Fees Is Revealed in Check of City Books. BY CHARLES E. CARLL Thorough airing of the city’s methods of designating and collecting fees for “unloading zones” along i the curbs in downtown streets is I expected to follow the arrest today and refusal of Albert F. Meurer, 4426 East Tenth street, former city j councilman, to pay a $2 fine for ! alleged improper parking. Meurer’s action resulted in his ; arrest on the charge, but h& was released on his own recognizance. He j will be tried before Municipal Judge ' Dan V. White Thursday. Through his attorney, Howard M. Meyer, Meurer will contend the secj tion of the ordinance for providing for establishment of loading zones is ! unconstitutional and invalid. Meyer also will contend that in many in- | stances the order has not been ! heeded. Tiiis will be supported by the argument that the privilege I can not be granted unless fees, re- ; quired in the ordinance, are paid.

Car Given Sticker Meurer received a sticker when he parked his auto in the fifty-four-foot zone in front of the HumeMansur building on East Ohio street. Under the city traffic code, owners of the building must pay an annual rental of SSO for the first eighteen feet in the space and $lO for each additional foot. This would make the annual fee for tills space $4lO. At city hall A. C. Thomas, deputy in the controller’s office, where the ordinance provides the money shall be paid, said there is no book In which such payments might be recorded. Paid in 1922 Tire only document available In the controller’s office, Thomas said, were those showing payment for the use of “silent policeman” to mark off the restricted zone. In 1922 a sum of $lO was paid by the HurneMansur Company for the standards, of which $5 was to be refunded, records show. In addition, records show occupants of only twelve premises in the city paid for “silent policemen” during 1929 and none have paid fees this year. Thomas stated a similar record was kept at police headquarters but this could not be obtained by Meyer today due to the absence of Captain Louis Johnson, traffic department head.

150 DEAD IN FLOOD Big Oam Breaks: Thousands Are Homeless. Bv United Press PARIS. March s.—The prefecture of police at Montauban officially reported today the deaths of 150 persons at Moissac as the result of the breaking of the Tarn dam, as the climax of the worst floods in southwestern France in half a century. Three thousand residents of the town are homeless, the police report added. FLIERS’ BODIES FOUND Plane Wreckage Is Discovered on Ranch of Will Regers. Bv United Press SAWTELLE. Cal.. March 5. Bodies of three men were found today in the wreckage of an airplane which had smashed into the side of a small hill on the ranch owned by Will Rogers, noted humorist and actor. The men were believed to be Morey Johnson, Los Angeles, owner of the plane, and W. G. Hogge and Jean La Voie, both Los Angeles fliers.

GETS $5,000 REWARD Gotham Taxi Driver Returns Purse Containing $45,009 in Jewels. B’i United Press NEW YORK. March s.—Clodomiro Ruiz, taxi driver, envisioned today a home in Porto Rico with the $5,000 reward he received after returning a purse containing $45,000 in jewels to Mrs. John E. Parsons. He found the jewels in his taxicab. HIGH - COST OF CAUTION Woman Loses 51.200 Ring WTien She “Outwits” Supposed Robber. Bv United Press EVANSTON, 111., March s.—Trying to outwit a man she thought was a bandit cost Mrs. George H. Babcock a $1,200 ring. Mrs. Babcock slipped the ring into her glove. The supposed robber went on. When the cautious woman shook out the glove the ring was missing.

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,1930

Spends Cash Freely

Governor Harry G. Leslie, who is spending money lavishly to make the state mansion a bower of luxury.

ADMITS ATTACK, SLAYING OF BOY Police Hold Clinton Man in Brutal Murder. By United Press CLINTON, Ind., March 5.—An admission of an attack upon, and subsequent murder of 11-year-old Glenn Judson, was made today by Clifford Siders, 29, Clinton, police said. Siders was arrested after an attempted attack upon some school children, and during questioning confessed that on last Oct. 31, he attacked young Judson and beat him to death with a stone. Siders also admitted that he made several attacks upon women and children since the murder, the officers said. He was paroled from the state prison about eight months ago, after serving part of a term upon conviction on a statutory charge. Officers had been working on the Judson murder since the crime was committed, without results.

ALICE WHITE VISITING PARENTS OF HER FIANCE Silent as to Wedding Plans When She Arrives in Chicago. Bv Press CHICAGO. March s.—Alice White, 98-pound film flapper, spent her time today getting acquainted with the parents of Sidney Bartlett, bro-ker-actor to whom she is engaged. Miss White was silent as to their wedding plans. Her only comment on arriving from California Tuesday was that “they should ‘turn on the heat’ in Chicago.” SETS 45 AS MINIMUM AGE FOR CANDIDATES Responsible Offices Need Older Men, Civic League Stand, A resolution declaring “all rfesponsible offices In local as well as county and state government be held by men past 45,” was adopted by the Garfield Civic League, which met Tuesday at the home of Mrs. Zelma Davis, Blue Ridge drive. “Men who have gone through the storms of life and have carried the burden of the taxes should be recognized,” the resolution set out. CORONER PROBES DEATH Murder Is Hinted After Finding of Negro’s Body in CanaL ■What he believed to be the murder of John Brown, 32, Negro, 551 West Seventeenth street, was being investigated today by Coroner C. H. Keever, Body of Brown, missing a week, was taken from the canal near Seventeenth street Tuesday. Death apparently had resulted from a fractured skull. HE’S A GOOD PROSPECT Bachelor, Awarded 520,000 House, Is Besieged With Proposals. Bv United Press DETROIT, March s.—Cecil Coville. bachelor, was awarded a $20,000 house *'/s week by the Detroit Builders' Association. Since then at least seventy-five women, seven proclaiming themselves widows experienced in housekeeping, have called or written and offered their hands in marriage. /

CONVICT KILLS PRISON KEEPER Chief Auburn Warden Is Stabbed to Death. By United Press ALBANY, N. Y., March 5.—Edward Beckwith, principal keeper at Auburn prison, was stabbed fatally by a convict at the prison, today, according to advices to State Commissioner Raymond Kieb from Warden Hoffman. The stabbing occurred in the prison dining room, near the end of the noonday meal, Hoffman said. The slayer was ascertained and is being questioned, he said. All prisoners were returned to their cells and conditions were quiet, Hoffman reported. It was not ascertained what led up to the stabbing. Beckwith was stabbed four times in the abdomen with a knife. He struck his assailant, knocking him to the floor, and then collapsed. Several prison guards leaped upon the convict and beat him insensible with clubs, according to prison officials.

TAFT IS IMPROVED Ex-President Rallies After Restful Night. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 5.—William Howard Taft, was “much brighter” this morning after a restful night, attendants at the home reported. He was able to recognize the family housekeeper today and smiled wanly as he wished her a "good morning.” PERFECT IN PRACTICE Drill Turned Into Tragedy as Adjutant Is Killed, Chief of Staff Shot. By United Press REVAL, Esthonia. March 5.—The Esthonia self-defense corps went through a practice drill at 4 a. m. today in anticipation of Communist demonstrations Thursday, but a sentry became confused in the darkness and shot the chief of the army’s general staff. In addition an adjutant who ignored a sentry was killed. HUNT TO GO ON TRIAL Alleged “Banana Kid,” Charged With Banditry, Before Collins. Kenneth Hunt, alleged to be the “Banana Kid,” who perpetrated numerous recent holdups on Indianapolis taxi drivers this winter, will be brought to trial at the afternoon session today before Criminal Judge James A. Collins. Hunt is charged with auto banditry and robbery, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was arraigned Monday before Collins.

COLD HITS FRUIT CROP Southern States Suffer From Drop. Says U. S. Survey. By United Press WASHINGTON. March 5.—The sudden drop in temperatures near the close of last week, following the abnormally warm weather during February, has caused considerable damage to early fruit in southern states from South Carolina to Oklahoma, the weekly bulletin of the United States weather bureau said today.

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STATE’S MONEY SPENT LAVISHLY BY LESLIE ON LUXURIES FOR MANSION Governor Draws $833 Monthly From Maintenance Fund for Home, Then Pays Store Bills Exceeding $15,000 From Emergency Contingent Fund COSTLY KNICKNACKS ARE ON LONG LIST Chief Executive Also Adds Second Secretary to His Office Staff Without Approval of Legislature or Budget Committee for Expense. BY BEN STERN Governor Harry G. Leslie, besides drawing $833.33 a month from a specific fund for maintenance of the Governor’s mansion, has spent more than $15,000 from the $200,000 emergency contingent fund to furnish the mansion in an extremely luxurious manner. The vouchers showing the purchases are on file with Archie Bobbitt, auditor of state. Bills for the many articles purchased were made directly chargeable to the maintenance fund, but the vouchers signed and approved by the Governor call for their payment from the emergency contingent fund. Oriental rugs, gold imperial dishes, goblets and finger bowls, “antique bronze cigaret boxes,” mirrors in “antique gold frames,” dozens of ash trays, bridge and table lamps, furniture and knicknacks have been purchased from the emergency contingent fund. While buying this, Governor Leslie has been receiving the $833 a month for upkeep of the mansion granted by a complaisant legislature.

This money is, of course, in addition to his salary of $8,000 a year. The same legislature granted him $4,800 for "equipment,” purchased a Lincoln sedan. Without approval of the legislature or the budget committee, Leslie has employed an assistant secretary, Gaylord Morton, at a salary of $250 a month.

Morton's pay comes from the contingent fund, although the 1929 appropriation measure specifically declared that all salaries for employes of the executive department must come from the annual $20,000 personal service appropriation. The Governor has a chief secretary, L. O. Chasey, who receives $333.33 a month. The present Governor is the first in the history of the state to have two secretaries and the first to be given more than $200 a month for upkeep of the mansion. He obtained this increase from the budget committee through insistence that many improvements were needed in the household. The executive mansion is located at- Twenty-seventh and Pennsylvania streets. Buys Gas From Fund Leslie has resorted to the emergency fund to buy $100 gasoline books a month. The emergency fund, according to the vouchers, paid for a $25 portfolio, vanity sets, desk sets and miscellaneous other luxuries. Records of the budget committee disclose that Ed Jackson in 1928 was given $2,000 to repair and paint the mansion. And then used but $1,793. Leslie in the first year of his term has spent almost $2,000 for improvement of the mansion, in addition to $15,000 for furniture, rugs, drapes, tableware, linens and accessories. One of the vouchers drawn on the emergency contingent fund is for $182 for the “gassing of the mansion” to free it of vermin. Arabian Awning Bought Another voucher, approved June 21, 1929, calls for payment of $424.48 for “Arabian awning complete, two window awnings complete, and nine re-covers.” These, as all the other vouchers quoted, were drawn on the emergency contingent fund and bear the signature of Leslie in approval. Among the large vouchers is one calling for the payment of $3,160.07 on four contracts for furniture, lamps, and accessories. The items listed included two ash trays, one for $9 and the other for $20.25; a cigaret box of “antique brass” for $7.65; 24 bridge and table lamps—25 had originally been ordered, but one for $90 was returned —a card table and four chairs, $104; four other card tables for $99; a vanity and mirror “with antique gold frame,” $245; a commode with a mirror “with antique gold frame,” $315; four lamps for the boys’ room, totaling $76.77, and miscellaneous other items. Evidently realizing that in spending thousands of dollars of state money for furniture and knicknacks he was exceeding the expenditures of all other Governors, Leslie, on

May 2, 1929, four months after he entered office, addressed the following letter to Lawrence F. Orr, chief of the state board of accounts: “Dear Sir—The residence maintained by the state of Indiana for the Governor is badly In need of repairs and painting and some betterments in the way of carpets, draperies, etc. “Would the above, in your opinion be just expenditures from the Governor's emergency contingent fund?” The letter was presented by Orr on the same date to the state budget committee, meeting with the Governor present. Minutes of the meeting declared that, upon motion of State Representative Sam Farell of Hartford City, a member of the committee, “it was ordered that the committee approve such contemplated ex-; pendltures lor the Governor’s residence, to be made from the Governor’s emergency contingent fund, and any expenditures needed for other betterments, equipment and improvements for the proper upkeep of the Governor’s residence, to be drawn against such fund.” Bought Before Permission Yet before such permission was; granted by the budget committee, Leslie on March 4, 1929. tw-o months . after taking office, personally had j approved the expenditure of $173.75 for the purchase of imperial gold-incrusted dinner plates, bouillon cups, tea sets, etc., and approved two other bills. The expenditures which followed were made under consent of the budget committee and thousands of dollars were spent for articles which clearly are not within the province of the permission given. Some light was thrown on the controversial matter of what expenditures may be met from the Gov- J emor's emergency fund, when At-torney-General James M. Ogden this week gave State Auditor Archie Bobbitt an official opinion that Bobbitt should honor the Governor’s voucher on the contingent fund for $685 to repay Paul V. McNutt for personal expenses incurred while serving on the Indiana corporation survey commission. The factor of budget committee approval did not enter into this case, but Ogden traced the history of the emergency contingent fund. Such appropriation v*as made as i early as 1852, he said, but with no direction as to Its use. Tells of Other Funds He related the subsequent appropriations of the “Governor’s Military Contingent Fund” in 1877, supplementary to the “Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund,” and then added: “In 1903 there was an appropriation again for the ‘Governor's Emergency Contingent Fund,’ with no ' limiting directions as to its use and this procedure, generally speaking has been followed up to the present time.” After quoting the language of the $200,000-a-year "Governor’* Emer-

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gency Contingent Fund” appropriated in 1929, Ogden declared: “It will be noted that this fund Is not defined and no express limitations are placed tipoo It* use. “In my opinion, however, Its character as ‘public funds* is not changed by the above fact, and m a matter of course it mnst be used by the Governor In the furtherance of or to meet the necessity of SOME EXECUTIVE FUNCTION within the scope of the duties devolving upon him in his OFFICIAL CAPACITY. “Thfe Constitution vesta the executive powers of the state in the Governor. He is the commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the state. He is required by the Constitution to transact all necessary business with the officers of government and 'to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” McNutt Case Cited Ogden camo to the conclusion in the McNutt case, which Involved the question of an expenditure in connection with a resolution, rather than an act, that the resolution “does not have the binding force of a law; that in the absence of express limitation in the appropriation or other law. the Governor has a wide discretion in the use of his “emergency contingent fund.” The resolution, which provided the commission should serve without pay, was without force to forestall the McNutt reimbursement, he held. Copyright. 1930. by The Timet*. U. S. POWER GROUP CHANGES PROMISED Interior Secretary Charge* “Friction” in Commission Staff. Bv PnitedPress WASHINGTON, March 5. A shakeup in the personnel of the federal power commission staff was promised the senate interstate commerce committee today by Secretary of Interior Wilbur, chairman of the commission. Wilbur testified there was "too much internal friction,” adding that a "more harmonious” staff would be obtained as soon as congress has decided on the permanent setup of the commission. Hourly Temperature 8 a. m 36 10 a. m 40 7 a. m 36 11 a. m 41 8 a. m 36 12 Cnoon).. 42 9 a. m 38 1 p. m 46

Truth Dodgers By United Press TOPEKA. Kan., March 5.— Hard liquor may be found in Kansas and the state may be considered by some as “dripping wet,” but the Kansas state legislators don’t want to hear It, Least of all do they want Walter Liggett, Washington magazine writer, to investigate conditions and Tuesday in two votes, they decided not to call Liggett a “liar” and not to pay his expenses to Topeka to view liquor charges before a legislative committee. The incident was defined as poor advertising—not for Liggett—but rather for the Sunflower state.

Outside Marion County 3 cents