Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 75, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 August 1930 — Page 1

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HOPE HIGHEST IN 14 YEARS FORMOONEY MacDonald, Now on Way Back to Baltimore, Blows Lid Off Cases. BILLINGS WILL TESTIFY Prosecutors Who Sent Men to Prison for 1916 Blast to Take Stand. BY MAX STERN Timet Staff Correspondent SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Aug. 6. John MacDonald today is en route back to Baltimore and to his night switchboard job. He probably doesn’t realize it, but "the little identifier” has starred in the two hearings that have reopened the famous criminal trials, and given the first real hope in fourteen years of pardon for Tom Mooney and Warren K. Billings. The coming of MacDonald, whom most every one here thought dead, literally has blown the lid from the cases. . . When he left these things had been accomplished: Chief Justice Waste had announced that Billings would be brought from his Folsom prison cell to confront his accusers, particularly Estelle Smith, who has charged him with committing sabotage, instead of being a dynamiter; his coming will be veiled in secrecy as to the time of arrival. Prosecutors to Testify Frank P. Walsh, Mooney’s counsel, had announced he would insist that Mooney be brought from San Quentin prison for the same purpose. Charles M. Fickert and his assistant, Edward Cuhna, prosecutors of the 1916 days, had been put up on the defensive and announced they will take the stand to uphold their case, now admittedly toppling to its fall. Duncan Matheson, ex-captain of detectives, and now city treasurer, had taken the stand and publicly urged pardon for the pair because of the flimsy nature of the circumstantial evidence that convicted them. MacDonald, who, with the discredited Frank Oxman, is the only witness to have "seen” Mooney and Billings at the bombing scene, proved himself not only a hopeless perjurer, but also a psycopath. He had confessed himself drunk at the time of his identification, lied both pro and con, convinced nearly every one who heard his shifty confessions that he was not even at the scene of the crime at the time. Billings Given Alibi Estelle Smith had made a showing equally pitiful. She had made it impossible to believe the MacDonald story by placing Billings at exactly the same time 4,066 feet away from where he said he seen ’em.” She had provided Billings with an alibi almost as perfect as that of Mooney. She had reduced the entire Fiek-ert-Cuhna theory of the crime to absurdity. For she said she saw Billings on the roof of her building five minutes after the head of the parade passed her dental office at 1:51 o’clock. This would mean that, under the prosecution theory, Billings would have had to leave the building at 1:56, join Mooney at the foot of the stairs, carry the lethel suitcase three-quarters of a mile and deposit it. Like Wonderland Tale Mooney and his wife then would have to return there, travel more than a mile to get on top of the Eller building, seven floors up with no elevator running, to be photographed at 1:58. All this in two minutes. And through streets filled with marshers or sidewalks packed with people. The Mooney alibi had been introduced graphically before the court for the first time, two perjury confessions of MacDonald and Miss Smith had been introduced, the circumstances of securing both minutely gone into, the judges left to believe two self-confessed perjurers as against such men as Edward Nockels who secured the former and Fremont Older who secured the latter. To those who have packed the supreme court room for the past days the rehearing sounded like an Alice-in-Wonderland tale. Wide Latitude Given The judges have given the widest latitude and no attempt has been made to confine it to legal bounds. This has permitted much prejudicial matter to creep in, particularly through insinuations by Justice Preston. He has tried to imply that undue and improper influence has been brought to bear upon MacDonald and Miss Smith. Preston’s insinuation as to influences of the “reds” was protested by Edwin McKenzie, counsel for Billings. "I have tried to keep this hearing on an objective basis,” he said. *T most seriously object to trying any one here on any extraneous charge. My client is in jail and this is a serious matter.” The case promises to drag on indcflnltely. Elevator Crash Causes Death Bv Time* Coecimt FRANKFORT, Ind. Aug. 6 —William O. Taylor, 60, died in Frankfort of injuries sustained when a man-lift elevator in a Russiavtlle grain elevator fell sixty feet with him as he stepped upon the platMk

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The Indianapolis Times Partly cloudy and probably unsettled tonight and Thursday. Not much change in temperature.

VOLUME 42—NUMBER 75

BOMB MURDER OF WIFE LAID TO LAWYER Romance With Pretty Widow Blamed; Violence Threatened by Texas Mob

"maRILLO, Tex., Aug. 6.—Charged with murderxY ing his wife with a tiny bomb so he could pursue unhindered anew romance with a former secret tary, A. D. Payne, Amarillo attorney, was guarded from possible mob violence today in an unnamed Panhandle jail. Payne, respected in legal circles, was arrested Tuesday night unexpectedly after Gene Howe, Amarillo Globe editor, and A. B. MacDonald, Kansas City Star reporter, had laid before District Attorney E. W. Thompson a confession from Mrs. Verona Thompson, Payne’s former secretary, that the lawyer had made love to her. She charged Payne had promised to marry her after "taking care” of his wife. Fearing a mob would attempt to seize Payne in Amarillo, he was taken to Pampa, sixty miles away, late Tuesday night. Early today a crowd of men and boys stormed

HAWKS SOARS WEST, SEEKING SPEEDRECORD Reaches Wichita, Dashes on in Attempt to Beat Lindy’s Time. Bu United Press WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 6.—Captain Frank Hawks arrived at the Wichita airport at 11:33, central standard time, today in his race across the continent against time. Hawks took off from Roosevelt field, New York, this morning and made the hop to Wichita, from St. Louis, leaving the latter point at 9:31 a. m. His cruising speed was about 180 miles an hour from New York, but he expects to better his time from here to Los Angeles as he has been meting had winds. The flier paused only long enough to refuel and flew westward again at 11:45 a. m. 14 Hours, 21 Minutes The present transcontinental speed record is held by Colonel and Mrs, Charles A, Lindbergh, who flew from Los Angeles to New York last Easter with one stop in fourteen hours and twenty-one minutes. Lieutenant-Colonel Roscoe Turner holds the non-stop speed mark from east to west, which is eighteen hours and forty minutes. Hawks himself possesses the nonstop record in the opposite direction. Hawks hopes to lower Turner’s time on the present trip. After reaching Los Angeles he will remain a few days and then start back east on a flight which he hopes will break the Lindbergh record. Wants All Time Mark Hawks hopes to make the present trip in less time than any previous crossing of the continent by air. He will make further stops en route to Los Angeles, Albuquerque, N. M., and Kingman, Ariz. .Weather reports indicated that the chances were in his favor for a speedy trip. His new Travel-Air monoplane is powered with a 300-horse power motor, capable of a top speed of 250 miles an hour. Hawks expects to make the trip west in fifteen hours and the return trip in twelve. "I have a golf date at 4 o’clock this afternoon with my father at the Hollywood Club,” the flier said. Fails to Stop Here Although early dispatches had indicated Hawks might make a refueling stop at the Mars Hill airport of the Curtiss-Wright Flying Service of Indiana, Inc., the cross-coun-try flier did not put in his appearance. Attendants had made special preparations to refuel the plane with all speed. Clouds obscured the sky at the hour Hawks was expected and airport attaches caught no glimpse of the plane.

COP SLAYS BANDIT Detroit Thug Killed After Holdup of Hotel. Bu United Press DETROIT, Mich., Aug. 6.—One of two bandits, who early today robbed the night clerk of the State hotel, was killed by a policeman as he fled from the lobby after the holdup. His companion escaped. The officer had been detailed to guard the hotel. The dead thug was identified as Dominic Bocci, 25. He is believed to be one of two thugs responsible for a series of early morning hotel and i-estaurant robberies here recently.

FOUR, DANCING SINCE EARLY IN SPRING, TRADING YOUTH, HEALTH FOR $3,000

BY FREDERICK C. OTHMAN Unites Press Staff Correspondent Chicago, Aug. 6.—The loigest dance marathon the wot Id ever has known drew close to a health-shattering end today. Way back on April 11, when the trees Just were beginning to turn green, Promoter C. A. Pressey started a dance marathon in the Merry Garden ballroom. Two ccupiase still were hobbling about today, almost 3.000 hours later, to the energetic tunes of a shirtsleeve orchestra. Tired to deaih they were, with swollen hands, coloused feet and spuws they o-jd not keep erect.

the-Amarillo jail and demanded Payne, A delegation was escorted through the cells by officers and shown that Payne had been taken away. Hearing Payne had been sent to Pampa, the mob started there in automobiles, but again were outwitted when Payne was spirited away to still another jail. Payne denied all the charges, both that he had made love to Mrs. Thompson, an attractive widow, and that he had anything to do with his wife’s death. u * u MRS. PAYNE was killed and a sor, A. D. Jr., injured seriously, when the family automobile was destroyed on a downtown AmarUc. street, June 26, by a mysterious blast. The son recovered and told police that while his father generally drove the car each morning, on the day ol the blast the lawyer walked, asking Mrs. Payne to take the children downtown later.

ON A_BIG BENDER! Paid to Crawl for Year in Test

BY STEWART BROWN United Press Staff Correspondent

PARIS, Aug. 6.—Alternately sleeping one hour, working one hour and eating only tomato juice and bananas twelve times a day, two Russians are carrying out the bold experiment of a strange and rich American theosophist in Paris. The Russians, well paid and under contract for one year, are required to walk on their hands and knees as much as possible, because their employer considers human beings were predestined to w r alk on all fours and would be happier if they returned to that position.

Jealously and mysteriously, the American scientists guards the secret of his name. He does all his business through an agent, and is known to the Russians and his servants as Doctor XYZ. He is considered rich, as he drives an expensive car and pays his Russian "guinea pigs” S2OO a month each and all their expenses. The strange experiment leaked out recently when the chief Russian newspaper in Paris, Derni-

Threatens to ‘Bounce ’ Wales Off Golf Course

Bv Science Service L£ TOUQUET, France, Aug. 6.—Allen Gault wore a rather frightened air most of today, for he began it by threatening to manhanr’le the prince of Wales. Gault, groundketoer for a n ew golf course which has not been opened o the-public,-failed to recognize the heir to the British throne vhen he appeared with his party for a round of golf. He promptly ordered the prince off the grounds. The irince stubbornly refused, and said he had received permission to play the new course. Gault g*ew more determined and threatened to assist the prince from the grounds if he did not leave at once. In the midst of his demands, Gaul recognized the prince and almost collapsed from the shock. He began a lengthy series of excited apologies, but the prince stopped him with a iaugh, and a word of praise for his sense of duty.

YOUTH IS DROWNED WADING IN CREEK

Carrying a small * chum across Fall creek, near Sherman drive, northeast of the city, early this afternoon Burford (Boots) Skaggs, 17 of 2745 North Denny street, stepped into deep water and was drowned. Dale Keutzer, 17, of 2801 School street, one of several companions with whom the youth had been swimming, recovered the body twenty minutes later. Artificial respiration attempts by the boys failed to revive the victim of the creek’s treacherous beach. His friends were unable to explain the drowning when deputy sheriffs first arrived on the scene. They said Boots was an excellent swimmer. He lifted 9-year-old Dale Jones, 2976 School street, to his shoulders ‘OLD-FASHIONED’ WIFE DIVORCES FILM HEAD Frances James Martin, Director, Didn’t Like Mate’s Ideas, By United Press LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6.—Francis James Martin, film director, has lost an "old-fashioned” wife. Mrs. Beverly Martin, garbed neatly but quietly, told Judge Joseph Sproul about her husband’s views regarding her and won a divorce decree with alimony. "He said I didn’t have any ‘it,’” Mrs. Martin testified. “He didn’t approve because I do not believe in women smoking or drinking and said I was too old-fashioned.” She also said Martin falsely accused her of associating with other men. The Martins married in 1923 and separated last July 22. Princess Changes Religion By United Press BRUSSELS, Aug. 6.—Crown Princess Astrid of Belgium was received into the Roman Catholic church, to which the Belgian royal family belongs, Tuesday night. She formerly was a Lutheran.

Blonde Ann Gerry, who must have been pretty before the marathon started, clung to the neck of Mike Gouvas, who slept, hag-gard-eyed, standing up. PLUMP Theresa Zito, so weary her knees sagged, leaned on Jack Ritoff of 'e bloodshot eyes, across a roped-off square hardly larger than a boxing ring. Glaring lights beat down. The perspiring orchestra pounded out a constant rat-tat-tat of jazz. In the gloom surrounding the square Tuesday sat some 8,000 persons, principally women, waiting

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1930

eres Nouvelles, published a halfcolumn advertisement stating that a wealthy American wished to adopt a couple of Russian emigrants. More than three hundred poor Russians appeared. The agent picked out thirtyeight couples who met the proper qualifications and sent them by automobile to the American’s country residence, where he made a final choice.

and began wading the creek, they said. Near the opposite shore, in twenty feet -of water, Boots disappeared suddenly, his comrades said. The Jones boy, unable to swim, also sank. The Keutzer boy swam to the spot and grasped the Jones boy by his bathing suit when he appeared on the surface for the second time. When he had towed the Jones boy into shallow water and turned to aid of Boots, the Skaggs lad had disappeared. While one boy ran to a nearby house to telephone deputy sheriffs, the other swimmers began diving for their chum. The dead boy’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. William Skaggs. The drowned boy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Skaggs, his father being employed in the Big Four railway shops at Beech Grove. A student at Technical high school last year, the son had sought work during the summer vacation without avail. With Dale Keutzer he went to Bloomington, Ind., last week seeking work in the stone quarries there, but the two lads returned, unsuccessful, this morning. Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Marvin and Ralph, and two sisters, La Verne and Margaret. His mother was prostrated by new's of his death and is under care of physicians. HOOVER TO MAKE TALK President to Speak at Anniversary of Kings Mountain (N. C.) Battle. By United Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.—President Hoover will speak at the anniversary celebration of the battle of Kings Mountain, N. C., Oct. 7, Stuart W. Cramer, prominent North Carolina Republican, announced after a conference at the White House today. The President will leave here the night of Oct. 6 and return immediately after the speech.

for the final and complete collapse of one or another of the dancers. The spectators tossed money on to the floor, nickels, pennies and dimes. Ann and Mike and Theresa and Jack stopped dancing, scrambled for the coins. But their eyes were bleary, their hands stiff, the coins elusive. "Come awn,” howled a husky man with a time clock. “Get back to work, you kids.” THEY gripped each other, Ann and Mike, Theresa and Jack, in stolid clasps and to the boom-

Bobby JEAN, the little girl, beged to walk with her father, the boy said, and he consented. A few minutes before he and his mother reached the lawyer’s office, the son said, Mrs. Payne remarked : “ ‘Daddy told me to drive faster if it smelled smoke’!” ' A moment later the auto was blown to bits. Mrs. Payne was thrown through the top and killed. The son was mangled, but lived. At first, Amarillo police believed the bomb was intended for Payne, but were unable to find a motive. Payne, questioned from time to time during the five weeks since the explosion, offered $5,000 reward for information that would lead to solution, ‘’The good Lord must have had me by the hand,” police quoted from Mrs. Thompson’s confession. "He might have killed me as he did his poor wife.**’ She charged he had made violent love to her,

QUEER EVENTS RIDE ON HEAT WAVE’SCREST Drought May Hurt Corn, but It Brings Boon to Odd News Crop. By United Press HICKMAN, Ky„ Aug. 6.—Thirsty snakes which came in hords from the hill country, are infesting Mississippi river bottoms here. Salvaging of two barges aground here was stopped by the army of snakes wriggling along the sand bar in search for water. tt tt By United Press ALEXANDRIA, Va„ Aug. 6.—ls the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce can get two things—a lucky break and a dark cloud—there may be rain here yet. It has obtained an airplane and a shipment of rain-making powder, and is ready to "shoot” the first moisture-bearing nimbus that comes along. , a tt tt NEW YORK, Aug. 6.—On the possibility that the heat might affect the reasoning of the jurors, Judge Albert Conay in Brooklyn adjourned a first-degree robbery trial to await the arrival of cooler days. it tt tt By United Press DUQUOIN, 111., Aug. 6.—Managers of the Security coal mine, located in one district of Illinois that has received no relief from the drought, requested employes today to conserve the water supply by not taking any more baths than absolutely necesssary until after there is a heavy rainfall. tt tt tt By United Press ALTUS, Okla., Aug. 6—Winton Wey, boy aspirant to endurance honors, bargained for more than he reckoned when he climbed a tree at Eldorado about three weeks ago and said, “I’ll stay up until it rains.” A history-making drought followed. Winton was able to come down only after 369 hours when the gentle patter of a shower struck the leaves around him Tuesday night. tt tt it Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.—Blame the moon for the heat wave, says Herbert Brown, consluting meteorologist here. In a bulletin just issued he said the Lunar body, through its tidal attraction on the oceans, has caused hot winds to blow landward from the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. tt t Bn United Press THE DALLAS, Ore., Aug. 6.—The machinery of a combine ripped all the clothing off Edward Davis, wheat rancher, except a collar, belt and a pair of shoes. Rather than hold up the threshing, he cut holes in a wheat sack for his legs, had a workman stitch the top of the sack for suspenders and kept on working. FITTINGS ARE STOLEN Apartment House Thieves Back at Work. Apartment house hallway thieves renewed operations Tuesday night, taking draperies and fittings valued at $75 from the Minthome apartments, 3620 North Meridian street. ROB FILLING STATION Negroes Escape With S2O After Holding Up Shell Attendant. Two Negroes escaped with S2O after holding up Raymond Stadler, 41, of 1630 Bellefontaine street, attendant at a Shell filling station at Bellefontaine and Seventeenth streets, Tuesday night.

e-de-boom-boom-boom of the band, tried to dance. But their feet would not co-ordinate with their minds. They stepped on each other, bumped into the ropes, veered into the roly-poly orchestra leader. Finally a siren screeched. They stumbled to a row of beds and crawled in, clothes, shoes and all. Chiropodists removed their slippers. worked frantically with lotions, plasters and knives. The siren screeched again five minutes later, attendants pulled the suffering dancers from their beds and back they went to flfty-

Entered as Seeond-Clasa Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis, lnd.

promised to marry her and take her to South America when he had "taken care” of his wife. She said they made numerous trips out of town and became so attentive she was forced to leave his employ. ■ The district attorney said investigators had found that Payne took out $30,000 life insurance on his wife shortly before her death and that he had insured his son for SIO,OOO and the daughter for $5,000. * a tt THE police attached importance to two notes they said they found in Payne’s pockets. The notes, they said, were written in pencil and were similar to several other notes received by various officers. The notes attempted to explain Mrs. Payne’s death as having been caused by an accident when construction workers placed explosive in the Payne automobile by mistake, they said.

Kirkwood Wins Divorce Decree From Lila Lee

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Lila Lee Desertion Charged in Case of Noted Hollywood ■‘ldeal Couple.’ By United Press • LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6.—James Kirkwood and Lila Lee, once known as “Hollywood’s ideal couple,” were divorced today. Kirkwood, veteran actor of the stage and screen, won the decree on a charge of desertion. "I received a letter while I w’as in London in which she said all was over between us,” Kirkwood told Judge Ernest Weyland. “I hurried back to Hollywood and tried to get a reason from her, but she would give me none. Many, many times I have asked her to return.” Miss Lee has been resting in Arizona for more than a month and was not in court. Her attorneys stipulated to a default decree, saying a property settlement had been made and that the son, James Jr., was to remain with his father. BRIDGE APPROACH IS TO BE LANDSCAPED Flower Beds, Shrubs Arranged for Delaware Street Project. Beautification of the grass plots in the North Delaware street bridge approach is contemplated by the park board on completion of the paving project, Park Engineer J. E. Perry said today. Tne park department will landscape the tracts and beautify them with shrubs and flower beds. Answering complaints of residents who objected to destruction of trees in the triangular tract, Perry explained that the present growth of trees is a “volunteer growth” and would constitute a traffic hazard if allowed to remain. The present grade also must be cut to conform to the improvement, Perry said. TRADE BAD: FATHER WIPES OUT FAMILY Kills Wife, Two Children and Then Commits Suicide. By United Press CHICAGO, Aug. 6.— Slackening of trade in his tiny candy and cigar store was blamed today for the apparent temporary insanity of Frank Jelinek, 54, who killed his two children with a hammer, critically wounded his wife, and then committed suicide. The bodies of the children, Emil, 3, and Agnes, 7, their skulls crushed, were found side-by-side in a bedroom. The father had slashed his throat with a razor. Mrs- Jelinek’s skull was fractured. Burn Underbrush ito Avert Blazes COLUMBUS, Ind., Aug. 6.—A1l dry grass, leaves and inflammable material at the Bartholomew county fairgrounds have been burned off to prevent a conflaggation during the fair next week.

five minutes more of dancing, of trying to keep from falling in the middle of the floor. a tt THEY started out with twenty minutes rest an hour, then fifteen, then ten. Finally the time was reduced to five minutes an hour and that is all the rest they have had for the last eight days. They are trading their health for a pitifully small award, about $3,000 to be divided among them when finally one or another of their bodies can not be driven further. "They can’t list much longer,”

HEAVY RAINS HIT NORTHERN PARTOFSTATE Little Relief From High Temperatures Are in Sight for City. By United Press _ CHICAGO, Aug. 6.—Corn prices shot up over the dollar mark on the Chicago Board of Trade today in a strong session of buying started by the weekly government crop and weather report. Corn closed 7 cents higher, wheat followed with a rise of 5 cents and oats were 3 cents above Tuesday’s close. September corn closed at $1.01; May at $1.01%. September wheat closed at 96% cents, December $1.01%, March at $1.07% and May at sl.lO. While rains of almost cloud-burst extent struck isolated sections of Indiana Tuesday night and early today, southern Indiana continued to parch with only traces of moisture reported from scattered cities. Huntington reported the heaviest rainfall of the state for the twentyfour hours ending at 7 this morning, with 3.47 inches registered. Rochester reported 2.60 inches of rainfall, Marion reported 1,75 inches, Bluff ton 1.65 inches and Berne 1.20 inches. Indianapolis had only .02 inch during the twenty-four hour period while southern Indiana had even less. Vincennes reported .01 inch, Evansville had only a mere trace of rainfall and Columbis had .03 inch. No Relief in Sight While partly cloudy and probably unsettled weather was predicted for Indianapolis for tonight and Thursday, no relief from high temperatures was offered by United States weather bureau officials. The state forecast indicates somewhat threatening weather, but no general rainfall was indicated, weather bureau officials said today. The thunderstorms Tuesday night caused death of one woman. Mrs. Emma Olson was killed at Chesterton when struck by lightning. Water at the state penal farm at Putnamville is so low that a fire hazard exists, state officials said today. Forest Fires Are Quelled Two forest fires that raged near Underwood and Memphis were extinguished Tuesday by forest rangers and neighboring residents after a three-day battle. The fires threatened to spread to the state forest preserves, but raking and back-firing extinguished the Underwood blaze early Tuesday and the Memphis fire late Tuesday night. Four hundred acres of knob land was burned by the Memphis, but the Underwood fire was confined to brush land. 4 WEEKSJREE GOAL Limb-Loafer Champ Ends 23 Days on Perch. Four solid weeks of limb lounging today was the immediate goal of Palmer McCloskey, 14, of 328 North Temple avenue, as he completed his twenty-third <' ■ in the branches of a tree near his home. The dean of Indianapolis’ foliage squatters doesn’t plan to come down at the end of his first month aloft, however. David Smith, Beech Grove, is pressing him to closely for the mythical title, being only a day and a half behind the leader now. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 76 10 a. m 86 7a. m 75 11 a. m 89 Ba. m 77 12 Cnoon).. 89 9 a. m 82 1 p. m 91

said the steely-eyed Pressey, who has promoted fourteen similar dances. tt a a ■pRESSY hag been charging $1 •*- admission fees since Aprilll. The ballroom has been crowded nightly. “It’s an excellent business,” said he; good for every one concerned. The orchestra blared, “T Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” Ann and Mike and Theresa and Jack went back to wq(k. The 8,000 spectators cheered *

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ROAD CHIEFS DELAY ‘DECENT WAGE'DEMAND State Board Fails to Meet to Insist Contractors Pay Fair Scale. PROMISES ARE IGNORED Cuts to 20 Cents an Hour Without Justification, Survey Shows. The “sweating” of labor on state road paving jobs continued today without official censure of the state highway commission when the commission’s meeting, scheduled for today, and at which remedial steps were to be taken, failed to rialize"We Couldn’t meet today because I have not received some material from Kentucky regarding the bond sale on the Evansville bridge project,” Highway Director John J. Brown explained. "If I get this, we will meet at the end of the week or the first of next, possibly at Louisville, Ky.” The Indianapolis Times has disclosed that native Hoosiers are being hired by contractors to labor on state road jobs for as low as 20 cents an hour while the state let the contracts, in many instances to firms from other states, based on a 40 cents minimum for labor. Facts Are Presented Early in the week it was announced commissioners would convene today. Chairman Albert J. Wedeking stated "something will be done” if facts are presented showing that labor is receiving as low as 20 cents on the jobs. Although these facte have been gathered by The Times and Secretary Aloph Fritz of the Indiana State Federation of Labor, it appeared from the commission’s failure to meet today that the group does not regard the matter as of sufficient importance to cause a special meeting to be called. Asked about the labor situation. Brown said some lawyers told him nothing could be done since the contracts have been signed. He did not know whether wage cutting contractors might be barred from state work in the future unless they restored a decent wage scale, under which estimates were made and contracts let. Contracts Sub-Let Lowest wage figured by state highway department engineers on any paving work was 40 cents. Contracts were taken with this in mind and then sub-let, or carried out, enhancing profits by cutting the labor costs in two, it was disclosed. That such a cut is without justification is revealed by a study of the methods of figuring estimates employed by the department. A 40cent allowance is made for each man on the job doing the most unskilled labor. For semi-skilled this is raised to 50 cents and for machinery and truck men the scale is figured at 75 cents. Every possible item of expense is put into the estimates and labor usually figures only about 12 to 15 per cent of the total. Among the items included are interest on investment, depreciation of machinery, material costs, transportation and the like. Then a profit, never lower than 10 per cent, is added on the cost-plus basis. Foreign Labor Shipped Out All items are figured in a “generous manner,” highway engineers admit. Where contracts were signed, m&ny last year, the cut below the estimate was not based on decreasing labor costs and this Is merely an additional profit, they assert. Mass meetings were held at Linton, Ind., when contractors on paving of state Road 54 imported laborers from Michigan to work on the road job, The .Times has been informed. Labor union officials at Linton, describing the meeting of two months ago, before the slashing of wages on state road contracts came to attention of the public through investigation by The Times, said contractors, evidently fearing complaint to state authorities, agreed to use labor from the district traversed by the road. Cut Hoosiers’ Pay The Michigan foreign labor was shipped out and labor from Linton, Bloomfield and other small towns near by was employed. But, according to R. H. Tanner, secretary of the Central Labor Union at Linton, and workmen on the highway, the contractors, who had been paying 35 to 45 cents hourly to the "imported” labor, slashed the wages for Indiana residents to 20 to 30 cents an hour. Several workmen told representatives of The Times that they went to work on the highway project after being told they would be “paid what you are worth.” When they drew pay checks they found their wages were only 20 cents an hour, they declared. One workman immediately quit his job. He was rehired later at a wage of 25 cents an hour, LINE _ TO BE ABANDONED Court Approves Petition of Traction Firm, Losing Money. Petition to abandon the Indianapolis to Danville branch of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis <te Eastern Traction Company has been filed with the public service commission and ordered approved byj Judge Joseph M. Milner of superior court five. The line is losing mondjfl the petition says.