Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 272, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 March 1932 — Page 5

MARCH 23,1932

PAVING TRUST GRIP BROKEN IN MUNCIE; HEAVY BURDEN IS CARRIED BY TAXPAYERS Assessments Far More Than Value of Lots Weigh Down Property Owners, After ‘‘lmprovement” Orgy. DALE HALTS CONTRACTORS’ GRAB Asphalt and Concrete Barons Piled Up Fat Profits During Hampton Administration of 1926-30. By Timm Fpgrial MUNCIE, Tnd., March 23.—Fat years with profits rollfcnsr up like a gigantic snowball, have ended for the Muncie paving trust. Property owners, buried under an avalanche of public improvement assessments, are beginning to dig their way out. Add to this the fact that the city tax rate has been cut from 89 cents Dn SIOO assessed valuation in 1929 to 69 cents in 1931, and the George R. pale administration appears to have good ground for its claim that it is Conducting city business in an economical and efficient manner.

The day for jamming through paving projects whenever contractors preded, or wanted, money passed kvith the end of the John Hampton administration, in January, 1930. Carry Staggering Burdens Today, as a result of this contractors' harvest from 1926 to 1930, |cores of building lots and other Blasses of realty carry assessment burdens of four to six times their getual value. Lots in various sections of Munpie worth not more than $l5O have |BOO to $1,200 municipal plasters. On books of Lester Holloway, city Controller, are more than 25,000 accounts—not, of course, all separate [lieces of property, but some with our, five and six assesments against hem, each assessment being rated fcs a separate account. It was a golden day for the contractors when Hampton assumed offer in 1926. The first two years were profitable enough, but 1928 and , 1929 were mint years. Easy to Get Contracts It was easy, under the “system,” Vn order street improvements. And, !jy some coincidence, virtually all he good contracts went to two vluncie firms which waxed wealthy Under the Hampton regime—Curtis iV Gubbins and the W. M. Burch po. With amazing regularity, regardless of high or low bids, concrete tjobs went to Curtis & Gubbins for $2.44 a square yard and asphalt projects to the Burch firm for SI.BB. Bo great became the ennui of these concerns that they rarely bothered to change their figures, even to get B little credit for imagination. Concrete, it may be said here, is being laid under contracts given by the Dale administration for $1.37 to $1.60 a square yard. No asphalt jobs have been let. With their coffers already well filled, contractors made . one final clutch at profits just before Dale’s entrance to office. Sixteen jobs were let, almost all of them on long streets, paving, curb and gutter. Grab Is Halted But the present mayor acted promptly to halt the grab. He canceled ali contracts. The battle now is on in court, with concrete and asphalt firms seeking to obtain injunctions to prevent reletting. Two projects which stand out as glaring examples of paving trust tactics are those in H. C. R. Wall’s {Second addition and Whiteley, where many Negroes live in small homes. During Hampton’s term a project (was shoved through by which five Streets in Whiteley were paved, each for a distance of four blocks. Water-bound macadam (which is pierely crushed rock, rolled) was Used. For the twenty blocks, the price was $60,561.50, at the rate of approximately $1.95 a square yard. Reputable engineers say that $1 p square yard is a fairly high price. {Some lots were assessed around S2OO, others as high as S6OO. Lot Owners “Smothered" In the Wall addition, which still. Jn many parts, resembles the wideopen spaces, there are streets which have everything—paving, curb, gutters, water, sewers, lights. The pssessments in many cases were far more than the sparsely inhabited property is worth today. The contractors wallowed in gravy and the Jot owners now wallow in debt. As another example of how high the paving trust rode in the latter half of Hampton's term, and how it had been checked by Dale, there still Is a claim of nearly $60,000 which the paving trust is trying to collect. A fund of $30,000 had been appropriated yearly for intersections, which city is obliged to maintain. In 1929 two firms, despite the $30,000 limit, did work on intersections for which they turned in bills of approximately $90,000. Refuse to Pay Claims These had not been collected ' when Hampton passed out of office, and. from present indications, will not be. Certificates of indebtedness now are in the paving firms' vaults and payment of them is refused regularly by the Dale administration. One of the big fights of Dale and his aids was over a $2,000,000 intercepting sewer and disposal plant. They consistently have fought the project—incidentally, one of the kind which can mean immense profit to officials who think first of their own purses and later, in a casual way, of what happens to the taxpayer. Despite pressure of every kind which" could be brought, to bear, this project has been halted, after expenditure of about SIO,OOO for an engineer's survey. Gravy Offered Dale “So great was the pressure and so tempting the offers,” said Holloway today, “that we can prove, through dictaphone records, that one man. vitally interested, told “ Mayor Dale, When this goes over you'll find “so many thousand” dollars in your lap.”’ Cities which have paid exorbitant sums for fire equipment might study with profit the reduction in costs effected by the present Muncie municipal administration. In 1929, under Mayor Hampton, the city bought a pumper and a lad-

der truck from the Seagrave company, for No. 5 station, paying $3,975 each. In 1930, another pumper and a ladder truck were purchased, from the General Fire Truck Cos. of St. Louis, at $5,350 each. Protest was made by a council committee that inferior equipment had been bought at this low price, and an effort was made to block the sale. The same day that the council complaint was voiced, an expert representing the National Fire Underwriters’ Association arrived in Muncie, inspected the equipment, and declared it the best i hat could be bought. There were nb more objections from the council group on that score. Save on Fire Hose A saving in proportion was made on fire hose. Bills show that under the previous city administration the price was $1.30. Under the present regime it was bought for 85 cents. Seventeen miles of streets were kept in repair during 1930, at a cost of $15,000 by the street department, under the efficient direction of William Daniels, street commissioner. Cost was kept at a low figure simply because no jobs were let to contractors, and there was no contractors’ profit. All work was done by department employes, and the savings were made in materials and labor. And it might be mentioned that wages of street and park department laborers were not cut to effect any saving. Instead, they have been raised from 40 to 50 cents an hour. Tax Rate Is Cut The tax rate of Muncie, fixed In 1929 to be collected in 1930. was 89 cents on SIOO assessed valuation. In 1930 it was cut to 86 cents. In 1931 it was reduced to 69 cents, with a drop from $66,000,000 valuation in 1920 to $65,000,000 in 1930, and to $64,000,000 in 1931. Streets of the city have been kept in good shape, but a clash between mayor and controller and city council, which has resulted in a prolonged legal battle, will nullify much of the work, unless the fight soon is settled. * The strife is over expenditure of the gas tax, which must be used for street maintenance. More than $40,000 now is tied up, with th* controller playing safe, the council marking time, and taxpayers clamoring for action on the part of both factions and the court. Hope Comes at Last Constant resort to legal action has handicapped municipal operations in Muncie, to detriment of taxpayers, but the Dale administration has one outstanding achievement to its credit—the grip of the paving trust on the city has been broken and property owners have some hope today of staggering from under the heavy burden piled on them during Hampton's term. The next hope of the city is to work free from the stranglehold of the utilities. Os the 69 cents collected on every SIOO of assessed validation in the city, two utilities—the Indiana General Service Cos., which furnishes lights, and the Muncie Water Co.—take 14 cents.

SCOUTS WILL HOLD STAGE NEXT WEEK

2.300 Khaki-Clad City Lads Plan Annual Observance to Get Public’s Eye. Boy Scout week, held annually during the spring vacation of public schools, will be observed next week by 2.300 Indianapolis Scouts. Feature of the week, which will open Sunday, will be a speech Monday night by Gunnar Berg, national director of Scout training. Berg will speak at the final session of the Scoutmasters' training course at the Central Christian church. Sunday will be devoted to Sunday school and church attendance. Scouts will participate in church services. I Parade Scheduled Tuesday Instruction of Scouts as police and fire reserves will take place Monday. Twin features of Tuesday will be a parade in the morning and a Father and Son banquet at the Central Christian church at night.; Eagle Scouts will take over the reins of state and city governments for an hour Wednesday as part of the observance of Civic day. Court of Honor Thursday Court of honor and roundup will feature Thursday's program. The event in Tomlinson hall will be open to the public. Window displays and demonstrations, presenting merit badge and other scouting subjects, will be held Friday and Saturday. A committee of judges will grade the windows. A pageant and stunt program, to be held at 8 Saturday night in Cathedral high school auditorium* will cloy the week.

Clears Marlene Dietrich of ‘Love Theff Charges

— w \ \K ||i|f> -r-iiflifrfffTr / / \ \m ■ / /

Mrs. Rita von Sternberg, Jasper von Sternberg (lower left) and Marlene Dietrich (lower right).

I! if United Press Hollywood, March 23. Mrs. Riza von Sternberg, former wife of Joseph von Sternberg, motion picture director, will dismiss damage suits against Marlene Dietrich, screen star, it was announced by Paramount today. The suits charged Miss Dietrich with libel and alienation of affections, assertedly based upon an article in a Budapest paper. The situation was adjusted, it was said, after Paramount offi-

TAXPAYERS CALLED TOR-ORGANIZATION

State Conference Is Called at Claypool for March 29; Program Outlined. Indiana taxpayers have been invited to attend a conference at the Claypool March 29 to form a militant taxpayers’ organization, according to letters mailed throughout the state today. The call, entitled “A Call to Action!” carried the following heading; “Taxes must come down—the day of reckoning is here, ‘for these are the times that try men’s souls’,” and outlined a three-point program. It states that because of the confusing discussion of tax problems brought about by selfish interests, we wish to set out that this organization establishes as its fundamental purpose: On Actual Value ‘ Limitation of taxes at a maximum rate of 1% per cent on the actual value of the property; to establish a tax consciousness in the minds of the people, and to outline a system of new corporation i and. individual income taxes and other taxes to be employed solely in relieving the property tax.” The call asks all county and | state organizations, in harmony : with the proposed program, to .send two delegates and two alternates to the meeting. Signed by Officers The message was signed by officers elected at conference of cen- | tral counties at Marion, Feb. 27, when the plans were made for a state-wide organization or federation to include many organizations now functioning for tax relief. The meeting is expected to adopt a constitution, elect officers and decide upon a program of tax relief. Signers of the circular are: John

Gone, but Not Forgotten

Automobiles reported to police as stolen belong to: Leo M. Melladv. R. 2. Brookston. Ind.. Chevrolet coach. 627-261. from Otterbein. Ind. A. W. Griffith. 4906 Central avenue. Ford sedan. 39-777. from 200 Fast Market street. Gordon Wills. 1034 Roache street, Nash coupe. 52-981. from Blackford and Michigan streets. George W. Watkins. R. R. 2, Box 477. Ford sedan. 18-353. from Market and Delaware streets. Lawrence Oolev. 934 South Missouri street. Essex sedan. 65-186. from 716 North Capitol avenue.

BACK HOME AGAIN

Stolen automobiles recovered by police belong to: John F. Sweeney. 327 Prospect street. Chevrolet coupe, found a* Greenfield. Ind. Hannah Sullivan. 549 Parker avenue, Willvs-Knight coupe, found at 2500 English avenue. Judge Smoked 58,690 Cigars By United Press PETALUMA. Cal.. March 23. Police Judge Charles N. Collins, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday by smoking his usual seven cigars, estimated he had smoked 58,6)0 of them to date.

All In/ Intestinal poisons are sapping; Aa jour energy, stealing your,pep. 5 jEkjrjSl making you ill. Take MI B EnSna —NATURE’S REMEDY— the / 111 safe, dependable, vegetable /TONIGHT laxative. Keeps you feeling / TO MORROW right. Get a 25c box. H ALRIGHT 77i All •Vegetable Laxative

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

cials had received a letter from Dr. Sandor Incze, editor of the Budapest Neues Wiener Journal, that statements credited to Miss Dietrich in an article by hifci “entirely were a fabrication and without foundation.” Mrs. Von Sternberg received a copy of the letter, and wrote the actress: “I wish you to know that Dr, Incze’s letter is acceptable to me ... I beg to advise you that I accordingly have directed my attorneys to dismiss all litigation against you.”'

H. Aiken of Ft. Wayne, chairman; David F. Maish of Frankfort, vicechairman: H. H. Evans of Newcastle, secretary, and Joh N. Dyer of Vincennes, assistant secretary. EASTER CAROL SERVICE PLANS ARE COMPLETED Miss Margaret Harrison to Direct Violin Section at Ceremony. Final arrangements were made today for the tenth annual presentation of the Easter carol service at 6:30 Sunday morning on the north steps of the Monument. Miss Margaret Harrison, Butler university graduate, who has participated in the chorale presentations annually, is in charge of the violin section of the group. The chorale was instituted and is directed by Mrs. James M. Ogden. Those in charge of arrangements for the presentation at Indianapolis churches are: Mrs. Paul Koertge and Mrs. Ambrose Aegerter. Beville avenue Evangelical; Mrs. E. S. Cummings. Third Christian; Miss Esther Bohm and Mrs. Bruce Shields. Norm Methodist; Miss Clara Catherine Meek. Central Christian; Mrs. J. H. Green, Fiftyfirst Street Methodist: Miss Elsie Adams, College Avenue Baptist: Miss Mary Margaret Hirschmann. Broadway Evangelical; Mrs. Jamls G. Haston. Roberts Park Methodist, and Mrs. Herbert Grimes, Mej ridian Street Methodist. PLAN NEW BETHEL CLUB Business men, gardeners and farmers living in and near New Bethel will form a community club at a meeting to be held Monday night at St. John’s Lutheran church, in Five Points. James E. Fischer will speak on “Community Consciousness, Best Type of Citizenship.” Ladies of the church will serve a dinner prior to the organization meeting.

vil.fi AN K JS/

The Fletcher American National Bank

CHANGES URGED AT MARKET BY MAYOR'S GROUP Elimination of Stands From Sidewalk, Angle Parking Among Suggestions. Suggestions for improving the city market, adopted by the special market study committee at its final session Tuesday, today were before Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan for consideration. Proposals made by several women's club groups, which resulted in naming of the committee, were concurred in by the committee in its report. Principal recommendations are elimination of outside stands, except in case of overflow from inside the market; installation of a checkroom on the east side of the market accessible to motorists; elimination of live poultry and game from the market as a sanitary measure, and a ninety-day trial of angle parking around the market. Competitive Bidding Urged Other important suggestions are that the market code be adhered to strictly in the future; that dry goods and other articles not permitted by law be removed from the market, and that stands be leased each year by competitive bidding, as provided by law. No recommendation for a change in management at the market is made in the report, although members discussed this matter during their hearings. Suggestion is made that there are 100 many restaurants at the market, taking up room needed for other stands, and that they are equipped inadequately to meet sanitary requirements. It is proposed the number be reduced to two. Further recommendations would require all standholders to build their stands to conform to a uniform standard; require all signs to be uniform; require barrels, boxes and other objects to be kept out of aisles; that stands be painted in standard colors; that deliveries be made before 8 a. m., between 12 and 1 p. m. and 4 and 5 p. m. Peddling Is Deplored The report also urges that all sales be made from within stands; that children be barred from peddling articles in aisleways, that hot water be provided for cleaning stands, that certain sewer improvements be made and that two policemen assigned to the market be assigned elsewhere. The report criticises standholders for using the limited parking space around the market for their own cars, crowding out customers. The committee is composed of John F. White, chairman; Councilmen Ernest C. Ropkey, Leo F. Welch, James A. Houck and Clarence I. Wheatley; William F. Hurd, building commissioner; Mrs. C. A. James, Mrs. E. E. Eschback and Mrs. Mary Kynett, the latter three representing women’s clubs. The report will be referred to the safety board by the mayor.

JAPANESE PREJUDICE IS CHARGED TO U. S. Always Has Been Partial to China, Says Far East Expert. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 29 .--The United States for a quarter of a century has been prejudiced against Japan and in favor of China, Frederick Moore of Washington, former councillor to the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs, said Tuesday before the institute of far • eastern affairs. “The United States gives sympathy to China,” said Moore, “but does not provide food for the scores of millions who are on the permanent verge of starvation. The Japanese, in Manchuria, have provided safety of life and opportunities for labor and commerce which have enabled millions of Chinese to live in comparative peace and prosperity. That is the reason millions have migrated from China to Manchuria.”

STATE UPKEEP OF ROADS INCREASING

Improvements Are Started on 206 Miles Recently Added to System. Maintenance and improvement of more than 200 miles of county and township roads recently taken into the state system is under way, John J. Brown, highway department director, announced today. The work is being done on fifteen roads, with a mileage of 206.76 as follows: Road 3. Markle northeast to the junction with old Road 3. south of Ft. Wavne, sixteen miles in Wells and Allen counties. Road 230. New Haven east to the Ohio state line, ten miles in Allen couWv. Road 59. Linton through Sandborn to Road 58. 11.46 miles in Greene and Knox counties. Road 157. Bloomfield north to the ClavOwen countv line. 21.5 miles in Green and Owen counties.

Strauss Brings a New Kind of Hat to You *' ‘3.50 —Made of new fur— - —Made of fine fur——Made by one of the foremost Hat Makers in America. Os a quality, and of • a character that you have never seen at this figure! . Colors —clear and rich, service Grays in several shades from dark to snow. Oxfords Tans —in the new tones. Greens —the new, the wearable greens—s4.9s Large, small’ and medium shapes— You’ve never known hats so fine, sell at sc little, $3.50. L STRAUSS & COMPANY

Fletcher American's 1 t * ninety-three years of successful, banking experience is an asset valued by commercial depositors

Capital Surplus Undivided Protits & Reserves Five Million/ Six Hundred Thousand Dollars

Road 36. from Road 31 south of Kokomo to Road 9. 24.30 miles in Howard and Grant counties. Road 32. Perrvville on state Road 63 west to the Illinois state line. 5 4 miles in Fountain countv. * Road 36. from Road 67 near Pendleton to the Henry-Randolph county line, 5.4 miles in Fountain county. Road 36. from Road 67 near Pendleton to the Henrv-Randolph countv line, 31.8 miles in Madison and Henry counties. Road 36. from Henry county line to the intersection of Road 227 near the Ohio state line, twenty-two miles in Henry and Randolph counties. Road 38. NoblesviUe to Pendleton, fourteen miles. Road 132. Pendleton through Lapel to Road 32. 7.55 miles. Road 157. from the Owen county line northwest of Clay City, 5 5 miles in Clay county. Road 244. Andersonville to Road 29 southeast of Shelbyville, 21.1 miles in Rush and Shelby counties. Road 267, Mooresville to Plainfield. 7.1 mil?s. Road 887, from Road 27 to Road 38, 3.85 miles Road 161. from Warrick-Dubois county line north to junction with state Road 64. 5.2 miles.

PAGE 5

14 ROUIEDJI FIRE Early Morning Flames Cause Damage of SBOO. Fire early today routed fourteen persons, including a 7-months-old baby, from a frame residence at 2717 College avenue. The house is owned by Mrs. Jennie A. Kane. Loss was SBOO, consisting principally of damage to furniture by smoke and water. Insurance was carried on the house, but the contents were not insured. Besides Mrs. Kane, those living in the house were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Saladin and daughter, Mrs. Blanche Deer and daughter Peggy, 2; Mr. and Mrs. Jack McCoy and daughter Marjorie, 7 months old; Miss Mabel Kane and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Merrin and two children. 2 and 6. Firemen said fire started in oilsoaked rags left in a closet beneath the rear stairway.