Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 June 1937 — Page 1

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VOLUME 49—NUMBER 93

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1937

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis, Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS

COLLEGE AVE. STREET REPAIR LEVY ORDERED

‘Misrepresentation’ Charged By Residents at Board Hearing.

TRUCK BAN DISPUTED

Assessments Total $54,000; Payments Will Be Made Under Protest, Claim.

In a stormy session the Works Board today overrode protests of property. owners who remonstrated against payment of a special assessment for the improvement of College Ave. between 30th and 38th Sts.

Charging misrepresentation by the Board, seven property holders said they were protesting the $54,321.79 levy because trucks continued to operate on College Ave., despite a city ordinance barring them. C. A. Jaqua, 3534 College Ave. charged the Board had promised the trucks would be banned from the street if property owners raised no objection to the improvement. Thomas Moynahan, Board member, replied “there was no promise

made to get the street improved and |_

there is no misrepresentation.” ‘No Bad Faith, Claim

Mrs. Minnie Muench, 3228 College Ave., said she would pay the assessment if the trucks were taken off, but charged the Board with “misrepresentation” when she said it had told ‘property owners the trucks would be barred. Replying that there had been “no bad faith,” Robert Eby, acting Board president, argued that enforcement of the ordinance banning trucks was up to the Safety Board and the police. Mr. Moynahan added, “This Board does not have police powers.” Chief Morrissey, in a letter to the Safety Board last Tuesday in answer to one calling his attention to the fact that signs prohibiting trucks had not been erected, wrote: “We ‘have neglected to erect signs because we have no definite way to route trucks and in our opinion we do not believe we could enforce this ordinance due to the fact that there are so many business places on College Ave. . . . I believe the erection of such signs would he unfair and we would be helpless to enforce such regulations.” Theodore Dammeyer, Safety Board president, said today that bridges on Keystone Ave. cannot carry truck loads and this forces use of College Ave. He $aid it would be difficult for the County to make changes on the Fall Creek bridge and for the State to fix the White River bridge so they could be used by trucks. Mr. Dammeyer also said that trucks cannot -be routed west of College Ave. and that Kevstone Ave. is the only feasible route east. When final approvement of the assessment rolls was considered today Linton Cox, 2003 N. Meridian St., an attorney, urged that the assessment be postponed “until benefit is received.” He declared, “You can't assess benefits that don’t exist.” Payments Under Protest Mrs. Muench and Dr. Henry Berger, 3239 College Ave., said the assessment would be paid “under protest.” Mr. Eby, in announcing at the end of the session that the assessment would be upheld, said: “I see no reason why the assessment should not be made because some people are violating the law. We are not responsible for that.” The urdinance prohibiting trucks was passed Dec. 18, and bids for the resurfacing were received later. Three-fourths of the total cost was paid from gasoline tax funds, while 177 property owners were assessed the remaining one-fourth. BONNET MAPS FINANCES PARIS, June 28.—Georges Bonnet, French finance minister, returned today to aid Premier Camille Chautemps in outlining a program of financial reforms for presentation to a critical Parliament tomorrow. Bonnet was recalled from his post as ambassador at Washington.

IRWIN IN POLICE LINEUP

11936 Electric Exceeded Those in 41 U.S.

Cities, Survey Indicates

Federal Power Commission’s Study Reveals Declines From Previous Year on Most Power Charges; Cleveland Level Still Lowest.

By RUTH FINNEY Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, June 28.—Forty-one cities of more than 100,000 population had lower electric power rates in 1936 than Indianapolis on the basis of charges for 25 kilowatt hours it was learned today. This was shown by a Federal Power Commission survey, which reported that residenis of 126 cities had lower electric rates at the start. of 1936 than they had a year before.

—_— ——

BROADER MERIT SYSTEM URGED

Roosevelt Committee Asks

Reorganized Civil Service Board.

By United Press WASHINGTON, June 28.—Replacement of the Federal Civil Service Commission by a single Adminis trator and a seven-member nonsalaried Board was recommended today by President Roosevelt's Committee on Government Reorganiza-

tion. The Committee also urged that the merit system be extended to all

Federal positions except a few high policy-making posts. The recommendations, in a modified form, were incorporated in a bill to reorganize the executive branch of the Government introduced last week by Senate Majority Leader Robinson (D. Ark.). Extension of the merit system was proposed in both the Democratic and Republican 1936 platforms. The Committee rcrcommended that persons now filling exempted positions be required to take qualifying examinations and be certified by a nonpolitical personnel officer that they have served with merit for a year or more. New Statement Urged

The Committee urged that a new statement of policy be issued stressing the right of Government employees to organize and to designate representatives to confer with administrative officials free from any interference. No Federal employee or person seeking employment should be required to join or refrain from joining any employees’ association to secure a job, the Committee said. It suggested that the majority of employees in any professional group, or craft, or other appropriate unit should have the right to determine the organization they want to represent them.

3 GIRLS’ KIDNAPER KNOWN, POLICE SAY

Sister Identifies Picture of Park Loiterer.

By United Press INGLEWOOD, Cal, June 28.— Olive Everett, 11, today identified a picture of a man as that of the person who kidnaped her two younger sisters, Madeline, 7, and Melba, 8, and a neighbor’s child, Jeanette Stevens, 8, police reported. Police - Captain Ed Muir refused to name the man she selected from pictures. He reportedly was an exsailor, four times arrested on morals charges. The three girls apparently were lured from Centinela Park here by a loiterer, known as “Eddie” to persons who frequented the park. Olive was awakened at her home and taken to police headquarters secretly. She furnished the only direct clue upon which one of the greatest searches in the history of southern California was being conducted. Police, firemen, Legionnaires, Boy Scouts, mounted troops, G-Men, and citizens searched the Baldwin Hills. Mr. Muir said he had abandoned hope the children would be

found alive.

Buffalo, Cincinnati and Tacoma were

VETERAN POLICEMAN

Rates Here:

Reductions were made by 95 utili- | ties, 61.3 per cent of the number ie Washington Rate Second

Cleveland still had the lowest rate in the country for customers using no more than 25 kwh a month. Those buying from its municipal plant paid 88 cents for that much current. Those buying from the

competing private utility, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. paid $1, the third-lowest rate in the country. In Washington consumers of 25 kwh paid 98 cents—second lowest rate charged by a private company. For users of 100 to 250 kwh, Tacoma, Wash. with a public plant, had the lowest rate. Cleveland dropped to fifth in the 100-kwh category and to 35th in the 250-kwh bracket. On the basis of the charge for 25 kwh, in cities of 100,000 or more population, Columbus municipal rates were tied for third lowest with Cleveland private-company rates.

seventh, Akron was 11th. Columbus private-utility rates were 15th, along with Pittsburgh. Miami Rate Maximum Houston ranked 24th. Ft. Worth and Memphis tied at 29th. San Francisco and Toledo weré 37th, Indianapolis 42d, Birmingham and Knoxville 44th, San Diego 51st, Denver and Evansville, 52d, Oklahoma City 74th, four New York City boroughs 79th, El Paso 95th, and Richmond Borough of New York 99th.

Miami had the highest rate of any -city in this category. . . .

Local Rates Really Low, Commissioner Says

Moie Cook, Indiana Public Service Commission member, today said “a fair comparative set of figures on light rates would show Indianapolis to be among the lower ones.” He explained that “variable factors must be taken into account”

and that it is “almost impossible to make a comparative check of rates.” He said Indianapolis’ rates probably will be improved as a result of the rate case now before the commission. Indianapolis Power ¢& Light Co. officials declined to comment, saying the subject of rate reduction is now before the Indiana Public Service Commission. They also pointed out a rate-cut went into effect April 1 which affected the 25 kwh. per month class of users. Before April 1, local consumer paid a 7T-cent rate for the first 50 kwh, or 2.88 for 50 kwh. Now, consumers pay a 5.5-cent rate {or the first 30 kwh, or $2.55 for 50 kwh, officials said.

35 NAMES DRAWN FOR 6 GRAND JURORS

County Jury Commi Commissioners today drew a list of 35 names from which the grand jury for: the July term ‘will be selected. Drawing was made under a 1937 law which provides that the Criminal Court judge may fix the number of names to be drawn. Formerly only six were drawn. Six will | be selected from the list. The jury probably will be im-: paneled next week.

DIES IN HOSPITAL

Patrolman William O. Fields, 2148 Oxford Ave., member of the police department more than 30 years, died in City Hospital today. He was 67. He was appointed to the force in 1903 and reappointed in 1906 after his first appointment had been rescinded in 1904. He served as .a sergeant from 1916 until 1927 and served as a lieutenant for several months. During the las: few months he had been stationed in the wagon

room as an assistant bailiff.

WITH THE SHERIFF BEFORE TRIP EAST . . . .

IRWIN HINTS INSANITY PLEA IN 3 SLAYINGS

Confesses Gedeon Killings After Consultation With Alienist.

EXPECTS ASYLUM TERM

Youth Arraigned in Death Of Model, Her Mother

And Roomer.

(Photos, Bottom of Page)

Ry United Press NEW YORK, June 28.—Robert Irwin, sculptor and former divinity

student, returned today to the scene of New York’s famous Easter triple murder, while authorities planned a quick trial in an effort to send him to the electric chair. He had been sought throughout the country before he surrendered in Chicago Saturday. He was arraigned and held without bail pending a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Samuel Leibowitz, who has defended many killers, appeared as his counsel and indicated the defense would be a plea of insanity. Irwin telegraphed Leibowitz from Chicago yesterday and asked him to take the case, He was questioned at police headquarters today after arriving from Chicago by plane, and showed delight in boasting about the details. Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine and District Attorney William C. Dodge announced Irwin had given New York policemen a statement confessing the slayings. District Attorney Dodge will seek three separate indictments for the murders of Mrs. Mary Gedeon, 54; Veronica Gedeon, her vivacious, artist model daughter, and Frank Byrnes, a roomer in the Gedeon apartment. Recognized in Cleveland Irwin fled to Chicago Friday after being recognized by a girl kitchen

worker in a Cleveland hotel. He had

worked there several weeks under an assumed name. He boasted to police he was willing to plead guilty and wasn’t afraid of the electric chair. He said, however, he thought he probably would be placed in an insane asylum. Irwin demanded and obtained a conference with a psychiatrist today before he dictated his confession to police. The elder Gedeon daughter, Mrs. Ethel Kudner had spurned Irwin's attentions, and it was because of this Irwin said he wanted to kill her “because she was the dearest object in the world to me.” Irwin said he went to the Gedeon apartment to wait until Mrs. Kudner arrived. Tells of Slayings “Veronica's mother was the first to enter,” he said. “And to pass time I told Mrs. Gedeon I would draw a sketch of her. I wasn’t interested in it because I was waiting for Ethel. I had dreamed of model-

ing her as if beheaded, with her |

head far back. “Mrs. Gedeon told me to get out. I got her throat in my hands. She put up a fight. I kept tightening my hands on her throat until she stopped. I guess I held her for 20 minutes.” The pretty artist's model Veronica arrived next, Irwin said. She went to the bathroom where she un-

Then he told how he dragged her to a bedroom, tore a flimsy chemise from her and strangled her on the bed. Then he told of how he stabbed the roomer with an ice pick.

Girl to Get $1000

For Spotting Irwin CLEVELAND, June 28 —Henrietta Koscianski, $13-a-week hotel pantry girl, who recognized a detective story magazine picture of Robert Irwin, confessed Gedeon slayer, as that of “Bob Murray,” bar boy in the same hotel, will be paid $1020, a detective story magazine editor advised her today.

FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILED DANVILLE, June 28.—Traffic on the St. Louis-to-New York line was blocked for several hours yesterday when 11 cars of an eastbound Big Four freight train plunged from the rails ‘a half-mile east of the Danville station and destroyed approximately 400 feet of track.

U.S. Gives Tips On Ways to Be Healthy If Hot

By United Press WASHINGTON, June 28—The U. S. Public Health Service today outlined the six commandments on how to live through a heat wave and stay healthy—even it you don’t like the temperatures. The rules included: 1. Don’t work too hard, physically or mentally. 2. Eat light, easily digested but filling foods, such as fresh ripe fruits, fresh garden vegetables, salads, cereals and milk. 3. Use plenty of water, both for drinking and for bathing. Add a pinch of salt to the drinking water and you may be able to prevent heat exhaustion. 4, Stay in bed the required number of hours, even if you can’t sleep. Experts say it is more important to have the proper amount of rest in warm weather than during the winter. 5. Indulge in only moderate exercises and confine these to early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense. 6. Wear summer clothing that is light in weight as well as color.

either

Mercury to Reach 85,

Bureau Says

LOCAL TEMPERATURES m...68 10a m. ... "78 91 11a m...81 7% 12 (noon).. 80 % 1p.m...83

. Mm. ... . M.... . M....

A high of 85 degrees can be expected in Indianapolis this afternoon, according to the Weather Bureau forecast. The forecast said it would be somewhat cloudy, but that no rain was in sight.

LIQUOR BLAMED IN AUTO DEATHS

Stiver Asks Help of Courts;

Eight Killed in State Over Week-End.

.. As death rode the highway once more over the week-end, State Safety Director Don F. Stiver said the toll can be.reduced by enforcement of the drunken-driver law passed by the 1937 Legislature. . Eight died violent deaths in Indiana and more than a score were

injured in traffic accidents and plane

crashes. Forty-nine persons were ordered into Municipal Court here today. Mr. Stiver, commenting on the mounting death toll, urged the cooperation of all courts in drunkendriver law enforcement. He said “the drunken driver who escapes punishment will be encouraged to drive in an intoxicated conditign again. The phrase, ‘Judge, I just had a couple of drinks,” has become too familiar.”

‘Penalties Listed

drunken driver charge 1s a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50, with the possible addition of imprisonment of from 10 days to six months. For a second offense or a violation of a court order pertaining to the drunken driving law, the penalty is more severe. The offender shall be punished by imprisonment of from one to five years. The court has no authority to suspend the sentence for any violation of’ the law for any offense. The State Police crimonological | laboratory has made a thorough study of intoxication and its effect upon drivers. The *drunkometor,” a device in the laboratory, scientifically determines whether the subject is intoxicated. Over the state, week-end accidents took a heavy toll.

Michigan Woman Killed

Miss Hanna Hicksell, 26, Muskegon, Mich. was killed and three other persons critically injured in a head-on automobile collision seven miles south of Rochester on U. S. Highway 31. Those critically injured and not expected to live were Cecilia Hicksell, 20, sister of the dead woman; Lydell Montgomery, 40, and Fred Holt, 20, both of Gary. At Hammond, Lawrence Kwolek, 60, was killed when he was struck (Turn to Page Three)

Penalty for the first offense on a |

BRITAIN SENDS PICKED FLEET INWAR GAMES

Hitler Warns of Reprisals if Spanish Loyalists Create ‘Incidents.’

REICH SEEKS COLONIES |

France and Britain to Try For Final Effort in

Nonintervention.

By United Press LONDON, June 28.—A small picked

fleet of warships and battle planes

moved into the Atlantic. today for |

“business” war maneuvers as Gov-

ernment leaders prepared for a criti- | cal week in diplomatic negotiations

concerning the Spanish civil war. Fuehrer Adolf Hitler said openly Germany would take direct action in any further incidents with Loyalis Spain, and admitted frankly Germany wanted a Rebel victory so the Reich could obtain ores. Col. Gen. Hermann Goering, Hitler's righthand man, told a world business congress today Germany would keep going after colonial territories until it got them. In apparent response to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s plea for calm Hitler had said: “Speeches in parliaments or talk of statesmen in future will not befuddle us.” Peace Group to Meet With this background, the Government made ready for a meeting tomorrow of the International Nonintervention. Committee, and the little fleet left the southwest coast for its maneuvers. The maneuvers seemed eloquent of the present situation. Briefly the problem was that two “enemy” raiding ships were preying on British merchantmen out at sea beyond the western approaches to

the English Chgnnel—raiders such: i as the German Emden in the World

War. Also, for the purposes of the problem, the main “enemy” fleet was assumed to be bottled up elsewhere by the main British fleet— whether in the Italian Mediterranean or the German Baltic was not stated. The raiding “blueland” ships consisted of a cruiser and a swift armed merchantman, its guns camouflaged. Rear Admiral F. P. Calvert; in the cruiser Southampton, was the “Blueland” commander. Seeking .the “Blueland” ships were the aircraft carrier Glorious, the cruiser Newcastle, the destroyer Brazen and two squadrons of flying boats, with Rear Admiral T. H. Binney in command. Patrol to Be Studied

The operations area extended 400 miles west of Britain's southwest tip and 240 miles south. Tomorrow, Britain and France are to advance before the nonintervention committee their plan to conduct alone the neutrality patrol (Turn to Page Three)

BOB BURNS Says WHI

There's no question in my mind that the greatest thing a man can have is the comfortin’ influence of a good wife but I want'ta tell you, when a wife gets excited about somethin’, it's mighty nice te have a husband that can comfort her with his calm reasoning. My Aunt Dutty was a highstrung, sensitive woman and use’'ta worry so much gbout what people said about her. One nighht when Uncle Beany came home, he found Aunt Dutty pacin’ the floor, almost in hysterics and Uncle Beany says, “What in the world is the matter now?” and Aunt Dutty said, “I just heard that the lady next door said that I was a brainless chatterbox.” Uncle Boany says, “Well now, don’t you pay any attention to anything that woman says—she is just a parrot—she only repeats what

everybody else in town says.” (Copyright, 1937)

BOARDING PLANE FOR NEW YORK . . . . . .

U.S M

EFFORTS

EDIATORY

IN STEEL

FIGHT COLLAPSE

Truce May Be Near in State Walkout, Hutson Hints.

CITES ‘PROGRESS’

Concessions Made by Both Sides, He Says; C. I. O. Called.

BULLETIN ‘Governor Townsend said this afternoon that Inland Steel Co, officials are in agreement with him on his plan for a peaceful settlement of the steel strike in Indiana. He said this agreement will be in writing with the State Labor Division pending the reseult of National Labor Relation’s Board hearings. He added, however, that strikers are not yet in agreement. He said also that Inland officials told him they had delayed until 4 p. m. tomorrow the issuance of a statement of policy concerning reopening Indiana plants.

State Labor Commissioner Thomas Hutson today said it was unlikely that two East Chicago steel plants will be reopened tomorrow. He heralded the delay as an indication of “progress” in Governor Townsend's moves to effect a peaceful settlement of the month-old strike.

“On the basis of present information, it is not likely that these

steel plants will open tomorrow,” the Commissioner said after a conference with 'the Governor. “We will know in two hours.” “This delay granted by steel mill officials,” he continued, “indicates we are making progress.” At the same time, he said, a definite announcement regarding a settlement of the strike in the Inland Steel and Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. plants, where 20,000 are employed, is “expected about 4 or 5 p. m. today.”

Concessions Reported

Mr. Hutson said “concessions are being made by both sides. He revealed that Governor Townsend today had carried on long distance

| telephone conversations with John

L. Lewis, C. I. O. chief, and Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins in Washington, and with Edward McGrady, Assistant Secretary, and member of President Roosevelt's mediation board, at Cleveland. Returning to his office today after several days at home, supposedly suffering from tonsilities, the Governor conferred - with Building Trades Council representatives and continued what the Labor Commissioner termed “telephone -conference” with both sides in the steel strike. Representing the Council were Charles Kern, state president, and Frank McCoy, Gary. The former said he had no statement except that “we are getting along.” He said he was interested only in getting tradesmen back to work, explaining that 35 per cent of the Lake County membership is affected by the steel strike. As the Trades Council representa-

tives left the Governor's office, three representatives of the independent union at the Sheet & Tube plant entered. They were Marshall Pippin, D. L. Ellinwcod and H. O. Brown. The former said the union includes more than 50 per cent of the employees. While the Governor awaited decisions from the warring labor factions, Mayor Andrew Rooney of the strike-ridden Indiana steel town sought additional police protection. The Governor denied that Mayor (Turn to Page Three)

Porking Calls Board

To Capital Upon Lewis’ Request.

LAW TEST LIKELY,

| Inland NLRB Quiz Is

Expected to Land In High Court.

(Editorial, Page 12) By United 1 Press

Attempts of the Federal Government to Settle the steel strike apparently collapsed todey at Cleveland. Assistant Secretary. of Labor Edward F. McGrady, only member of the Federal Steel Mediation Board remaining in Cleveland, announced he would leave for Washington late today. The decision was made after a telephone conversation with Secretary of Labor Perkins in Washington. Chairman Charles P. Taft of the Federal Steel Mediation Board also will go to Washington tomorrow for a conference with Secretary of Labor Perkins, it -was learned today at Cincinnati.

Taft plans to visit the capital for personal reasons prior to sailing for Europe Wednesday. His departure is regarded by labor leaders as frank admission that conciliation efforts of the board have collapsed.

Lewis Requests Parley

Labor Department officials rée vealed that John L. Lewis, chaire man of the Committee for Ine dustrial Organization which is spon soring the strike, had requested the secretary to ask the other two members of the board to come to Wash ington tomorrow with Taft. A steel workers union which opposes the Committee for Industrial Crganization and seeks reopening o? Inland Steel Co.s plants today ohtained a hearing before the National Labor Relations Board in its Wagner Act proceedings against Inland at Chicago. Charles A. Wood, trial examiner for the NLRB from Washington, opened the hearing which is expect-

ed to test whether the Wagner Act

requires a written contract. Four steel companies—Inland, Youngstown Sheet & Tube, Republic and Bethlehem—have been involved in . strikes called by C. I. O.s steel workers’ organizing committee . on the single demand for a written contract. Attorney Maurice E. Crites of Hammond, Ind, who said he represented the Steel Workers’ Independent Union, Inc., made a motion to intervene. Wood reserved decision on the motion but said that meantime Crites would participate (Turn to Page Three)

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

BoOkS ...e0.. 11 Bridge ....... 6 Broun ........ 12 Clapper ..... 11 Comics 16 Crossword ... 16 Curious World 17 Editorials .... 12 Fashions .... 6 Financial ..

Merry-Go-Rd. 12 Movies . 8 Mrs. Ferguson 11 Mrs. Roosevelt 11 Music Obituaries .

Scherrer .... Serial Story. . Short Story... ] Grin, Bear It 16 | Side Glances. InIndpls. ... 3 Jane Jordan. State Deaths Johnson i

‘NO MORE PICTURES, BOYS’