Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 287, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 April 1932 Edition 02 — Page 3

APRIL 9, 1932.

VETERANS' 6RAB THREATENS TO BANKRUPT U. S. Whole Treasury Income to Be Gone in 21 Years at Present Rate. „ (Continued From Page 1) average it was assumed to be at thfe top. In 1893 the Civil war veterans absorbed more than a third of the national revenue. Four years of treasury deficits and five years of business depression followed. Investigation of these cycles indicates that soldiers who have served in a national emergency ask, and get, increased bounties when there is a treasury surplus, although at the same time business generally is poor. No Aid to Economic Conditions There is no evidence that economic conditions improve with distribution of these huge government funds. On the other hand, business appears to get worse and it is not until veterans’ relief is reduced that improvement sets in. Until the United States began writing new theories into such relief, the history of caring for old soldiers has been the same. It has 1 been based upon disability received j in the service and the need of the j individual veteran. Careful search revealed no cases until the nineteenth century in j which expenditures in behalf of old , soldiers were permitted to cripple a nation’s treasury. Rome had the first carefully organized veteran relief system. It levied a 5 per cent inheritance tax on all legacies not to direct heirs and a 1 per cent sales tax on goods sold at auction. Each disabled legionnaire got a proportional share of these two taxes. When economic conditions were generally bad, he received less. In boom times his share was larger. He shared with the taxpayer the adversities and advantages of business conditions in the empire. Church Gave Relief In medieval times, the church cared for veterans. In exceptional cases, princes made desultory grants for this purpose, but most of the wars were of a religious nature and the bishops assumed the relief obligations. During the jeign of Queen Elizabeth, the British government formally took over the aid of exsoldiers and in 1592 the first statute was passed. It provided for the disabled who had served since March in the year of the defeat of the Spanish armada. Only those who “adventured their lives and lost their limbs or disabled their bodies” got the pensions, which amounted to 10 pounds a year to a private and 20 to a lieutenant. This theory was brought to America and in 1676 the Massachusetts Bay colony appointed a permanet committee to care for disabled soldiers for life at expense of the colony. Maryland followed two years later, amplifying the Massachusetts plan to include dependents of those who died in the service. With the outbreak of the Revolution, the Continental Congress immediately provided for care of wounded soldiers and dependents of the dead. Washington Writes Flea Then, in 1778, Washington wrote congress, urging that revolutionary officers be granted half-pay for life at the end of the year. He was frank in declaring that this was necessary as an inducement to hold his officers in the army and keep a fighting force in the field. Confronted with increasing desertions and resignations, he told the congressmen in desperation: “I do most religiously believe that the salvation of the cause depends upon it, and without it your officers will molder to nothing, or be composed of low and illiterate men, void of capacity for this or any other business.” . Under great opposition, the law was passsed, but it promised halfpay for seven years only. After the close of the Revolution, the New England states rebelled against these payments, riotous meetings of protest vrere held, in which it was charged that the pensions were against the whole theory of American government, in that they set up a favored class. Finally, the officers had to settle for five years’ half-pay. Lever for Veterans Despite the fact that Washington Urged the pensions as a special measure to meet a unique and grave situation, the precedent was established that uninjured men who had served in war were entitled to government largess. It has remained as a fulcrum on ■which veterans of all other wars have rested a lever to pry money from the public funds. In 1818 all needy men who served in the Revolution were granted pensions, after a discussion in congress, of which the following oration is typical: “Permit not him, who. in the pride and vigor of youth, wasted his health and shed his blood in freedom’s cause, with desponding heart and palsied limbs, to totter from door to door, bowing his yet untamed soul to meet the frozen bosom of reluctant charity.” Pressure for additional pensions increased after this act and in 1830 • Senator Hayne of South Carolina launched an attack in which he said pending legislation would admit a multitude of “mere sunshine and holiday soldiers.” His argument was of no avail, for pensions by 1833 were costing four and a half million dollars, having quadrupled since 1829. Aid Demand Grows The Civil war brought a repetition bn a larger scale of this same constant liberalization of pension policies the more remote the var becomes. In the 70’s a. group of lawyers specializing in veteran legislation began lobbying for more money. One, George Lemen, who made $40,000 a month handling soldiers’ claims, even founded a newspaper to promote the cause. The Grand Army of the Republic joined forces with him and formed a steam roller which nothing could stop. President Garfield pleaded in rain that he believed one-sixth of all the Civil war pensions were fraudu-

Odd Jobs —No. 4 Lucky Man Pulls Fire Alarm Any Old Time, Never Pinched

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NEWFOUNDLAND GUARDS UNEASY Governor’s Alleged Threat of Violence Causes Alarm. By United Pres* ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland, April 9.—Reports that Governor Sir John Middleton had told a citizens committee he had authority “to blow you all to hell” brought open threats today. There was no confirmation of the Governor’s alleged statement, except that members of the committee credited him with it and stuck to their story. The citizens committee asked the Governor whether he had ordered a British warship here after rioters had sacked the buildings of parliament and threatened the life of Prime Minister Sir Richard Squires. The reply credited to the Governor was: “No, I have not ordered a warship, but it is my prerogative to order a squadron if necessary, and order them to blow you all to hell.” The ex-service men on police duty were upset by the remarks attributed to the Governor. Popular feeling increased that he was delaying action on the removal of the Squires government, which the rioters demanded. Meanwhile, Squires and his supporters in the cabinet announced they would remain in charge of the government. NEWSIES IN REUNION Four Fly From Coast for Band Celebration. The four “flying newsies,” former members of the News newsboys band, who flew here from California to pay tribute to J. B. Vandaworker, director and organizer of the band, today were preparing to start their homeward journey. They were among several hundred former newspaper carrier-bandsmen who attended the twentieth annual banquet of the band alumni organization Friday night. The “flying newsies,” who were brought here on an American Airways plane, expected to spend several days visiting friends before returning to California. * FLOODS KILL HUNDREDS Two Thousand Homes Destroyed in Bessarabia, Transylvania. By United Press BUCHAREST, April 9.—An increasing loss of life, totaling several hundred was reported today from flooded areas of Bessarabia and Transylvania. Two thousand homes were destroyed. lent. President Cleveland warned the country again and again that the pension system made the high protective tariff necessary and held the general level of taxes at an abnormal plane. “God Help the Surplus” The spirit at that time is illustrated best by a remark attributed by William *H. Glassen, in his study of pensions for the Carnegie Foundation, to James Tanner, United States pension commissioner. Tanner had been a G. A. R. lobbyist for years and himself was a disabled veteran. “I will drive a six-mule team through the treasury!” he exclaimed. “God help the surplus!” By the time Civil war pension costs began to fall off, the Spanish war veterans were taking up the slack, and more. With America’s entry into the World war the Wilson administration decided to block the pension evil in advance. The war risk insurance act was passed, to take care of the whole problem, putting it on an actuarial basis. Congress Upsets Plans Congress completely has upset these plans by authorizing expenditures far in excess, both in money and liberality, to the veteran uninjured in service, of anything the world ever has known. In the past, the nation has been able to meet the increasing demands of its ex-soldiers through windfalls that came into the treasury by expansion of the frontier and industry. Today there is no frontier, and industry is expanded to the limit.

Fletcher Ave. Savings & Loan Assn. 10 E. Market St. Jrr&risi;

Herman Aker and his city job with a real puli to it.

WHEN you were at the age that ear-washing was just a plain nuisance, and ties the gafb of “sissies,” did you ever lean against a fire alarm box and wish you could pull the alarm, just to hear the fire siren? Confess? You did! Although you know now how your own children are taught never to pull a fire alarm box. Well, one of the city’s oddest jobs is that of a man who got this wish. He can pull a fire alarm box any time he wishes to. In fact, that’s his job. But he’s denied the greatest thrill of that boyhood wish—hearing the fire siren each time he pulls one of the 486 alarm boxes in the city. n n THE man, whom the Genii of Wishes make a boy again in his daily job, is Herbert Aker, 843 Bosart avenue, employe of the Gamewell department in the city hall. Aker’s job is to test every fire alarm box in the city once each month. But he can’t give those boxes a snapping “yank” and wait for the hose cart to whine its hurried way down the street. He first must open the box and tap in telegraph code to the Gamewell operators that he’s testing the specific box. With the code call made, he “yanks” the lever and makes his test. Repair of boxes and wiring are other jobs of Akers, but traveling from alarm to alarm making tests forms the major portion of his duties. # n tt HE has been around fire stations since he was 6. “I guess it was only natural that I became a fireman and later on a member of the Gamewell division,” Aker says. He has tested fire alarm boxes and placed them in readiness for their emergency calls for ten years. Aker is married and has one child, a girl. "So with a girl in the family there’s no danger of any one following in my footsteps,” Aker said. (To Be Continued.)

EX-SHERIFF IS SLAIN Oklahoma Bandits Answer Raid With Gunfire. By United Press BIXBY, Okla., April 9.—Erve Kelly, former Mclntosh county sheriff, was slain today in a machine gun battle with two men believed to have been Charles (Pretty Boy) Floyd, notorious fugitive, and mis lieutenant, George Birdwell. The battle occurred at 3 a. m. today in a timbered area near here. Kelly, A. B. Cobpjr, Burns detective, and Deputy Sheriff Long of Bixby, had gone to the reputed hideout in search of Floyd, accused in almost a score of Oklahoma bank robberies, and suspect in several slayings. PONDER USE OF FUNDS ON TUBERCULOSIS CARE Health Board May Employ Interest of Butler Endowments. The city health board today had before it a plan to use the accumulated interest on the health department’s endowments from the Butler estate for the care and treatment of advanced cases of tuberculosis. The plan was advanced by Dr. Charles W. Myers, city hospital superintendent, and Dr. Herman G. Morgan, health board officer, who reported as a committee on a survey they had made on the tuberculosis situation. The accumulated interest on the endowments amounts to $5,000. The board took the proposal under consideration. BANK ROBBERIES DROP Only Two Are Reported to Criminal Bureau During March. Two bank robberies were reported during March, five bank robber suspects were captured and six bank robber suspects were in jail awaiting trial during the month, according to a report issued today by E. L. Osborne, chief of the state criminal bureau. One bank robber Was sentenced to prison during the month. A total of 2,179 fingerprints were received by the department, bringing to 88,395 the number of prints now on file. Thirteen cases were closed and thirteen cases opened by the department, according to the report.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

CHICAGO SMILES AS JUDGES WAR Rival Investigations Make Feud Look Like Farce. By United Press CHICAGO, April 9.—What may go down in local annals as the “war of the judges” today took on all the aspects of a musical comedy extravaganza, lacking only grease paint and some pretty chorus girls. The city’s courtrooms presented the spectacle of two judges defying each other by appointing rival special state’s attorneys, rival special grand juries, and instituting rival investigations of primary election terrorism. Figures in the unusual controversy were Circuit Judge Michael Feinberg, Republican state’s attorney candidate in Tuesday’s primary, and Chief Justice Harry Fisher of the criminal court. Feinberg appointed his prosecutor and grand jury early this week, and ordered them to investigate election violence, and also his own recordin handling bank receivership cases. Judicial colleagues said Feinberg’s procedure was unusual, and Fisher ordered Feinberg to turn the jury and investigation over to him. When Feinberg refused, Fisher said the Feinberg inquiry was illegal, and promptly appointed his own investigators. SALESMAN IS ROBBED OF SIOO,OOO IN GEMS “Gentlemen Bandits’ Bind Victim in New York Hotel Room. By United Press SAN FRANCISCO, April 9.—Two “gentlemen bandits,” who apparently knew their victim were hunted today for the theft of more than SIOO,000 in gems from Bernard Landau, New York jewelry salesman. The gunmen followed Landau to his room in a prominent downtown hotel Friday night, bound him with adhesive tape and escaped with 273 mounted and unmounted pearls, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. MECHANICS TO MEET District Parley of Junior Order Will Be Held Tonight. Councils in the eighth district of the Junior Order of American Mechanics will meet at 8 tonight in the hall of Washington council No. 36, Morris and Lee streets. Stanley Bowell of Rising Sim, state councilor,' will be present. In charge of the meeting will be Paul Ford, district deputy. Councils which will be represented at the meeting are Indianapolis, Brightwood, Pleasant Hour, Washington, West Park, and Capitol City, all of Indianapolis, and Beech Grove, Maywood, Mooresville, and Noblesville. KIRKLAND STAYS IN PEN Pendleton Trustees Deny Release Is Contemplated. By United Press PENDLETON, Ind., April 9.—A reiteration of the stand that Virgil Kirkland, convicted in connection with the death of Arlene Draves, Gary, will not be released soon from the Indiana reformatory, was made by trustees of the institution at a meeting here Friday. Following recent rumors that Kirkland, sentenced to one to ten years, would be paroled in June, after he has served his minimum term, the board investigated, and intimated Kirkland would not be released.

Now Is the Time to GO ABROAD dollars buy more! LShL The cost of trans-Atlantic travel is very much lower than a few years ago . . . prices that have established new low for times. Now is the log- ‘ ical time to go abroad. Steamship passage prices have been reduced as much as 20% in all classes. Plan to go to Europe this summer ... it’s more than a pleasure jaunt. Complete Details May Be Obtained From RICHARD A. KURTZ, Manager Travel Bureau Th Leading Travel Bureau of Indianapolis S UNION TRUSTS A 120 E. Market St. RI ley 5341

HOOVER RECORD IS STRESSED AT EDITORS7ARLEY President Makes Mistakes, but He Has Program, Assert Senators. Probable keynote of the state Republican campaign was struck at the gridiron dinner of the Indiana Republican Editorial Association Friday night at the Columbia Club in addresses by Senators James E. Watson and Arthur R. Robinson. Both senators repeatedly asserted that President Hoover and his party have advanced a program to rescue the nation from the slough of depression while the opposition ap-' parently has been unable to offer a plan. “Hoover may make mistakes —he does make mistakes, but every day he has a program—every day he has a plan. He keeps on trying,” declared Robinson. Outgrowth of Parley Describing how President Hoover called in leaders of both parties last August and outlined a program for business revival and national depression relief that now is under way, Watson declared the reconstruction finance corporation, the home loan mortgage relief bill, now pending, and a score of other remedials measures are the outgrowth of this conference. Giving credit to the Democratic members of congress for aiding in the passing of special relief legislation Watson shouted: “But, by the eternals it was our program. It is the program laid down by President Hoover last August. “Can't Shun Gold” “We do not dare to go off the gold standard,” declared Watson. “It would be the most disastrous thing in the history of the world. England could abandon the gold standard because debts there are paid in currency, but here they must be paid in gold, therefore if this nation is to avert ruin the budget must be balanced.” Discussing Democratic attacks on the budget and taxation, he denounced the measure passed last week and sent to the senate as a “monstrosity.” Candidates Are Razzed The addresses were followed by the annual gridiron in which aspirants form state office were razzed gently. E. E. Neal and Earl Coble presided over the meeting. Cups awarded were as follows: Schortemeier cup for best front page of a weekly newspaper, La Grange Standard; George D. Lindsay cup for best front page on daily paper, Greensburg Daily News; Herbert E. Willis cup for best editorial page in weekly, Salem Republican-Leader; state committee cup for best Republican editorial, Waterloo Press. SALT FATAL TO BABY Pneumonia Makes Tragedy of Childish Prank. By United Press NEW YORK, April 9. —Baby Samuel Charlup, 9-months-old infant, who was fed a quantity of bath salts by neighborhood children so he would make faces, died in a hospital of lobar pneumonia late Friday. The pneumonia was brought on by imitating effect of the salt in the child’s lungs. Samuel’s throat and mouth also were inflamed intensely. CITY GIRL IS WINNER Elizabeth Bos worth Is Victor in State Latin Contest. By Times Special BLOOMINGTON, Ind., April 9. Miss Elizabeth Bosworth of Indianapolis was awarded first place in division one of the annual state high school Latin contest finals held here under supervision of the Indiana university extension department. Mary Lillian Applegate, Thorntown, and Nathan Gilbert, Wabash, won second and third places in the division. Other first-place winners included Division 2, Helen Yast, La Porte; Division 3, Lucille Proctor, La Porte, and Division 4, Virginia Gingerick, North Manchester.

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Prom Queen at De Pauw

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JOHN M’GREGOR IS CLAIMED BY DEATH

‘Honest John’ Was Familiar Figure at Courthouse for 30 Years. “Honest” John McGregor, the man who made a President “take notice,” is dead. One of the county’s most colorful political figures, McGregor, 70, former county commissioner and candidate for the Republican nomination this year, died of heart disease Friday afternoon at his home, 1636 Broadway. McGregor probably was the best known political figure at the courthouse in three decades. A Scotchman, he was unique for his brogue, his dry “highland” humor. His ofttold story of an interview with a President has been heard by hundreds. It was a decade ago when, with a delegation from Indianapolis, McGregor called at the White House. McGregor awaited his turn to meet the President in a long line. “And I sure made him sit up and take notice,” McGregor would relate, producing a tiny “calling card.” It was less than an inch square, and me name, John McGregor, was hardly legible. “It’s the Scotch in me,” McGregor said. He was born in Glasgow and had lived here fifty-five years. He served as a member of the Indiana house of representatives in 1895 and 1897. He formerly was president of the International Stone Mason’s union and at the time of his death was editor of a monthly magazine for the County Commissioners’ Association of which he was secretary. McGregor was a member'of the Masons, Scottish Rite and Shrine. Funeral services will be held at 2 Tuesday afternoon at the Wald funeral home, 1619 North Illinois street. Burial will be in Crown Hill cemetery. Survivors are. the widow, Mrs. Agnes McGregor; a son, John McGregor Jr., and a daughter, Mrs. Agnes M. Ward, all of Indianapolis. Polity Institute Opens May 13 By United Press RICHMOND, Ind., April 9.—Third annual Institute of Polity, founded and directed by Chester D. Pugsley, will be held at Earlham college here, May 13 and 14, officials of the school announced. The institute, as heretofore, will be devoted to consideration of relations of the United States with Latin-American countries and nations of the Orient.

Don’t come downstairs, Jp / sjmk Mother... m A\f use the j' // extension J wJr a telephone!” &t\ / The Economical n f f J Voice of Millions Indiana Bell Telephone Company

Miss Elaine Kenna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Kenna, has been elected queen of the De Pauw university junior prom, to be held Tonight <zmD

Stolen Liberty By United Press WASHINGTON, April 9. Henry Bruce Clark, 12, for nearly three weeks made his home under an apartment house stairway, living on bread and milk filched from nearby doorways. He said he ran away from home because “Ain’t nobody cares for me.”

WINS $lO AWARD Robert Barnhill Is First in Times-Lyric Contest. Robert G. Barnhill, 2411 Southeastern avenue, is $lO richer today because he is the winner in the Victor McLaglen movie memory contest, conducted by The Indianapolis Times and the Lyric theater. Second winner in the total of $25 in prizes is Marion Miller, Stubbins hotel, 42 West Georgia street, who receives $7.50. Third winner is Joe Schmidt, 834 Union street, who receives $5. The fourth winner is Glorysuis Pierle, 2102 South Meridian street, who gets $2.50. Those receiving a pair of tickets each for the Lyric are: Aileen Mackey. 865 North Linwood: Ada Bloemhof. 3621 Stanton avenue: Mrs. Evelyn R. Taylor. 1142 Tecuraseh street: Thomas J. White. 240 Hendricks place: Willett Bruck. 2042 Adams street: Mrs. Grace C. Kostenbader. 2758 Napoleon street: John E. Kleinherz. P. O. Box 1241: Gertrude Soeurt. 1201 North Tremont avenue. and Bernard Morley. 2249 Jackson street. Tickets at the Lyric are good next week up to and including next Friday. Names of the pictures in the contest that McLaglen appeared in are: First, “What Price Glory?”; second, “Cockeyed World”; third, “Devil With Women,” and fourth, “Devil’s Lottery.” The tickets and checks will be mailed at once. ZEP TURNS HOMEWARD German Dirigible Leaves Brazil on Season’s Second Return Flight. By United Press PERNAMBUCO, Brazil, April 9. The Graf Zeppelin was en route to Friedrichshafen today on the return flight of the second commercial trip of the season.

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ALIENISTS’ USE TO SLOW DOWN HONOLULU 1 RIAL Prosecution to Employ as Many Experts as Honor Killing Defense. BY DAN CAMPBELL United Press Staff Correspondent HONOLULU, April 9.—Swift conclusion to the honor slaying trial of four Americans appeared remote today as anew conflict arose over introduction of medical testimony for a defense of temporary insanity. Prosecutor John Kelley, who engaged Clarence Darrow in a fourday battle over the “melting pot” jury, announced he will demand the services of as many alienists as appear for the defense. Admittedly unprepared to meet this type of defense, Kelley made his announcement when he learned two prominent Los Angeles psychiatrists had arrived here with the apparent intention of serving the defense when the trial resumes Monday. He’ll Ask Delay “If Clarence Darrow uses them for the defense. I’ll most certainly ask for a continuance in order to bring equally famous alienists from the mainland,” the ruddy-faced prosecutor said. “I had hoped to finish the territory’s case in three days, but if the defense is going to change its tactics, I’ll ask the county supervisors for money to hire our own experts.” Montgomery Winn, associate defense counsel, guardedly admitted Drs. Edward H. Williams and James Orbison were here to bolster the case of Mrs. Granville Fortescue, New York society woman; her navy officer son-in-law, Lieutenant Thomas H. Massie, and two enlisted men, Edward J. Lord and Albert O. Jones. Doubt Plea’s Efficacy But while the possibility of an insanity plea has been discussed for several weeks, speculation continued as to whether this would be advanced for all the defendants. They are charged jointly with the murder of Joe Kahahwai Jr., young Hawaiian, who, a month before his death, was tried on charges of attacking blue-eyed Thalia Fortescue Massie, the lieutenant’s wife. The jury disagreed. Prosecutors conceded the likelihood of an insantiy plea by Mrs. Fortescue, mother of the attack victim, and Lieutenant Massie on the theory that sudden fury robbed them of self-control. They questioned, however, that the jury of seven whites and five Polynesians and orientals, could be convinced of this in the cast of the enlisted men. Yeggs Crack Safe; Get $75 Safe crackers obtained $75 in the office of the Chillson Sales Company, 832 North Meridian street, it was discovered today when the place was opened by the janitor, Eddie Parkham, 35, Negro, of 2203 Sheldon street.

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