Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 1938 — Page 1

. Johnson sees. .24 Wiggam

Real Estate Board Unit Urges Laws Be Enforced.

RENT BAN "ASKED

Rehabilitation Sought To Eliminate City’s Blighted Areas.

Owners of between 3400 and 5000 gdwelling properties in the city which do not have inside running water * #should be denied the right to rent them,” the housing committee of the Indianapolis Real Estate Board reported today. - The report, which claimed that no Government housing project now provides dwellings for the lowest income groups, said that only by -the enforcement of housing regula-

tions now on the statute books could the so-called “blighted” areas of the city be rehabilitated and made to Serve an economic purpose. “The reai problem in Indianapolis today is not slums in the sense that European authorities regard the word,” the report said. “In general, the areas in our city described as bad have available, even if not in use, the necessary sanitary facilities and conveniences for decent living. Co-operation Sought . “It is our opinion minimum standards of housing should include reasonable protection from the weather, inside toilets, running water and adequate light and ventilation. Full co-operation should be given public|2 officials in the enforcement of such standards. “Owners who do not so maintain their properties should be denied the right to rent them.” The Indianapolis Water Co., in its last annual report, said that between 3400 and 5000 dwellings within the city limits do not have . inside running water. “Experience has shown that persons removed from slums and blighted areas for the erection of Govern-ment-subsidized housing units do not return to the district they vacated as tenants of the new project,” the report continued. “The high rentals of the new projects. do not solve the problem of housing for those whose dwellings are destroyed, and the displaced families are compelled to double up, or - are unloaded upon individual owners or the community to carry. “We always will have a certain class of people who have no steady work; who, because of disease and ill health, are unable to work; and a percentage of persons who are shiftless and without any prospect of a steady income.

New “Slums” Foreseen

“The solution cannot alone be be found in Government-subsidized housing, as these individuals can create new slums out of new buildings as easily as present slums were created. “Neighborhoods deteriorate long before the physical structures in such areas become obsolete. To alleviate this evil, we must be able to enforce health restrictions, both as to tenants and owners. “It is only by allowing properties to follow the natural cycle from that of housing families of higher economic status to that of providing housing for the lower income groups that persons of the lower income groups can be housed satisfactorily on an economically sound basis. “To undertake a large-scale hous“ing project would create two conditions, neither of which is desira‘ble. First, such a project would absorb most available tradesmen in the building industry at the expense of private enterprise, which would not be permitted to pursue its normal activities.

- . Points to Tax Problem

“Second, following completion of the program those dependent upon the building industry would be virtually without work with a great number of subsidized dwelling units thrown in the market and no incentive for private enterprise to enter the field.” It also said that such subsidized housing projects assume only a fraction of their normal tax obligations . through arbitrary agreements, and “thus place an increased and unnecessary burden on other individuals within the community ‘in the form of increased taxes to pay for municipal services donated to a select few at the expense of all.” The committee reported that “no emergency exists in Indianapolis for housing persons . eligible to occupy projects contemplated under the present regulations of the USHA.”

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Autos .........21 BOOKS ..e00004.23 Clapper S00 0p .24 Jomics .. 42 Crossword ....43 Surious World .42 dditorials ....,24 financial .....43 flynn sespvr es. 24 Forum ........34 Srin, Bear Bear It..42 in Indpls. .... Jane Joran ..2

Movies ........32 Mrs. Ferguson. 24 Obituaries ....12 Pegler .........24 Pyle . Questions ...,.23 Radio .......,.43 Mrs, Roosevelt. 23 Scherrer Serial Story...42 Society ....26, 27 Sports. .33, 34, 35 State Deaths...12

se 0s.

"0 00 0s

Home Construction at Highest Point Since 1929.

756 IN 11 MONTHS

Apartment Volume Joins in Steady Upward Climb.

By RICHARD LEWIS The volume of residential building in Indianapolis during the first 11 ‘months of this year reached its highest point since 1929, George R. Popp Jr. City Building Commissioner, reported today. Permits for residential construction, which includes single and double houses, totaled 756 by Dec. 1, representing a valuation of $3,227,224, Mr. Popp’s survey showed. For the 12 months of 1937, 485 dwellings were built, totaling $2,425,160. Also for the first 11 months this year, apartment construction reached its highest valuation in 10 years. Although permits for only eight apartment buildings were filed by Dec. 1, their total value of $828,-

600 exceeded by $143,100 the total] valuation of 16 apartments built in

Between 1931 and 1936, apartment construction was at a standstill in Indianapolis, the records showed. There were two built in 1930 with a valuation of $44,300, none built in the next five years, one put up in 1936 and another in 1937. Total valuation of all building and alterations and installations similarly reached the highest level since 1929 during the first 11 months of this year. It amounted to $9,680,882, compared with $15, 608,002 in 1929, and exceeded by about $600,000 the total valuation of all construction during the 12 months of 1937. All kinds of building in Indianapolis declined precipitately between 1929 and 1933, and the plunge is (Continued on Page Three)

VIGILANCE ADVISED “ON COLDS AND FLU

Response on Vaccinations For Smallpox ‘Encouraging.’

Although he said there is little need for alarm, no gbatement in the number of smallpox cases in the city is in sight, according to Dr. Herman G. Morgan, - City Health Board secretary. He also urged ine creased vigilance against respiratory infections. Forty-three smallpox cases have been reported in Indianapolis since Nov. 1 as compared with 10 for the entire year of 1937, Dr. Morgan said. Thirteen cases have been reported so far in December. “These cases,” he said, “are mild in character and there is no reason for public alarm as long as precautions are continued through vaccination. We have taken thorough measures to safeguard the health of school children and have found the response from the public encouraging.” Dr. Morgan warned that respiratory infections have increased with inclement weather. Don’t neglect common colds and light cases of influenza, he warned.

MASS EXECUTION OF SIX IS STARTED

(Earlier Details, Page 10)

REIDSVILLE, Ga., Dec. 9 (U. P). The mass electrocutions of six Negroes, all convicted murderers, began at 10 a. m. (Indianapolis Time), according to word sent out from the State Prison here today.

In 1anapo IS 3400 a HERE HELD INSANITARY: BUILDING AT PEAK

Attorney Dies

W. W. SPENCER ILL 2 MONTHS

Chronic Heart Ailment Fatal To Oldest Practicing Local Lawyer, 87.

William W. Spencer, oldest practicing attorney in Indianapolis and a State election commissioner for nearly 50 years, died at his home, 3526 Evergreen St. at noon today. Mr, Spencer died of a .chronic heart ailment, which - for two months had kept him from his office. With him at the time of death was Miss Hariett Sommers, a niece.

Lived Here Since 87

Mr. Spencer had lived in Indianapolis since 1877, when he graduated from Indiana University. Born in Jefferson County, Ind., Oct. 7, 1851, he taught school prior to entering the University. He began his law practice in the office of Duncan and Smith, and. five years later, in 1882, joined Flavius van Vorhies in the firm of Spencer and van Vorhies. In 1888 he was elected County Attorney and County Democratic chairman. He held the latter position through three elections. As County . Attorney, he sued scveral railroads for back taxes, and collected many thousands of dnllars. During that time, he aided in the purchase of land for the cons:iruction of the County jail on S. Alabama St.

City Chairman Twice

He served as city chairman for his party twice, and in 1911 was elected a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. Two years later he was chosen floor leader in the House, He was known widely as an authority on election, utility, and road and ditch laws. He was the author of the Spencer-Shivley Utility Law, passed in 1913, and which is used today. Since 1902 he had been a Democratic member of the State Board of Election Commissioners, and wrote . the compilations and election codes from that time until his death. One of his enthusiasms was his membership in Sigma Chi Fraternity, Last year, he was the oldest delegate to the national convention at Boston, and for several years had been the oldest member to attend reunions on the Bloomington campus. He was associated with several

1898, Edwin P. Ferris, his father-in-law,

(Continued on Page Three)

law firms during his career here. In

came to Indianapolis from Shelbyville and the firm of Spencer and Ferris was formed. Later, his son Edwin E. entered the firm, and a few years after that Mr. Ferris {droped out and the firm became

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1938

(CITY TEACHER

‘DOMINATION IS GRITICIZED

Resolution Before Trustees Urges Organization for Rural Schools.

[EDITOR GIVES WARNING

| Officials Hear Plea for Bet-

terment in Local Government.

(Photos, Page Five) A resolution urging rural teach-

ers to withdraw from the Indiana

State Teachers Association and form an organization of their own,

Indiana Township Trustees Association.

Another resolution facing the convention called for administration of

trustees to permit them to put direct relief clients to work on them. Meeting as one of 12 units in the annual convention of the Indiana ‘Township and County Officials Association, the trustees will vote tomorrow, the last day of the threeday convention, on the resolutions. The resolution urging the rural teachers to organize themselves claimed that the State Teachers’

" | Association was “dominated by city

school teachers” and said the rural teachers “did not have adequate representation.” One trustee said it was an evidence that “neither trustees nor the rural Jeachery like the Teachers’ Tenure Law

Wallace Speaks

This afternoon the delegates

‘|heard Thomas Wallace, Louisville

Times editor, warn them in a joint session that unless they performed their jobs well, the state and Federal governments would step in and take over as they “have in the past.” The same warning was sounded at the morning session by Leo X. Smith, Indianapolis, attorney for Center Township. He particularly urged the trustees to keep adequate records on poor relief. Also before the trustees was a resolution asking that the tax law be revised so that “appeals may be taken only by interested taxpayers from budgets questioned,” “permitting . blanket objections and appeals by groups which have no direct aren in budgets causes great confusion.” Mr. Wallace pointed out that had local governments, in the South and elsewhere, ‘policed their own territories, and had not communities seemed to regard lynchings as “jobs well-done” there would not now be agitation for a Federal antilynching law, Tax Increase Hinted

“If we praise local self-govern-

ourselves to make it good government, we may lose it. If Indiana should achieve it and maintain it, the Senate might become illustrious, but perhaps a little overcrowded. “But the 48 states are not so conducting their affairs that they are safe from further encroachments of the central government, which may, or may not, better conditions that are bad, and almost certainly will increase the burden of taxation.” Other resolutions upon whieh the Trustees will vote ask for legislative adjustment of salaries for county superintendents of schools; asking that school authorities either be prohibited from buying clothing for (Continued on Page Three) .

MERCURY DROP TO 28

HOURLY TEMPERATURES 41 10a m... 40 40 11a. m... 40 40 12 (Noon). 40 40

6 9 8 9

The Weather Bureau today predicted temperatures would fall to 28 tonight but would climb again tomorrow under clouded skies.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9 (U. P)— The temperature in Los Angeles reached 92 degrees at 2:05 p. m. yesterday, three degrees above the all-time record high of 89 for December.

Patrons in 22 Indiana cities including Indianapolis will pay approximately $350,000 less annually for telephone service, Public Service Commission members said today following issuance of their ratereduction order terminating a statewide investigation of Indiana Bell Telephone Co. rates. The phone company issued a statement saying that while it believes the new reduction is “more than is justified,” .it will accept the order and “hope that with improved business conditions we will be able to earn somewhere near a fair return on our property.” Other cities besides Indianapolis which will receive rate reductions beginning Jan, 1 are Alexandria, Auburn, Bluffton, Charlestown, Clinton, Crawfordsville, Dana, Danville, Elwood, Evansville, Fowler, Green. wood, Hartford City, Kendallville, Mishaw ka, Montpelier, New Castle, New Harmony, Plainfield, Rockport and South Bend. The order does not affect toll calls between cities within Indiana or to other states.

The ores = Teohone rate sion, effective Jan. 1:

Classification of Service

Private Branch Exchange Trunks Business, Flat Rate Residence—Unlimited Individual Two-Party Line ..... eis Four-Party Line Rural Party Line

number of calls made.

Business—Unlimited Individual Line..$13.50 Business—Measured Individual Line, Including 90° Calls per Month... Next 110 Messages per Month ., Next 100 Messages per Month .. Over 300 Messages per Month ..

teveeerenssecse

Phone Rates Cut in 22 Indiana Cities; City to Share in $350, 000 Yearly Saving

changes for the it ropelt ex-

change area were ordered by the Indiana Public Service Commis- -

Pres. Rate Per Month

New Rate Per Month

$12.00

5.50 : 045 each 04 each

5.50 05 each’ 045 each 04 each

21.09 4.50 3.75 3.00

Line.

3.00 Measured service is that upon which the rate is based upon the

the rate reduction would result in annual savings to Indianapolis subscribers of $226,221, exclusive. of the new hotel rate savings. It estimated that, of that total, business subscribers would save $123,360 and residential subscribers. $102,861.

The rate case began when offi-

24) The Commission estimated that/eral cities

cials and telephone patrons in seve

in their localities, and these petitions for local rate cuts still are pending before the Commission, Chairman Perry McCart said. Asserting that he did not know wheth-

er these local petitions eventually| would be brought to hearing or not, Mr, McCart said at least no fusther: (Continued on Five)

was under consideration today at the|

secondary roads and ditches by|’

because]

ment, but do not sufficiently exert)

TONIGHT IS FORECAST |per

Gloria Stuart

OLLYWOOD, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—Movie stars today sponsored a campaign to boycott Nazi Germany. It followed closely the snub Hollywood handed Leni Riefenstahl, German actress known as “Hitler’s girl friend.” It was undertaken at a meeting last night in the home of Edward G. Robinson.

Melvyn Douglas presided, and more than a dozen other movie celebrities attended.

They drew what they said was a “1938 Declaration of Independence,” calling upon President Roosevelt and Congress to break off all economic connection with Germany “until such time as Germany - is willing to return to the family of nations in accord=ance with the principles of international law and universal freedom.”

Mr. Douglas said the original 56 signers would include Fred Astaire, Gale Sondergaard, Joan Bennett, Bette Davis, Robert Montgomery, Claudette Colbert, Paul Muni, Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Miriam Hopkins, Groucho Marx, Gloria Stuart, Claude Rains, George Cukor, Rosemary Lane, Anatole Litvak, Aline McMahon, John Ford, Fay Bainter and Helen Gahagan. Most of these attended last night's meeting.

REV. FR. LYONS GETS RANK OF MONSIGNOR

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Pastor Is Honored.

(Photo, Page Four)

The Rev. Michael W. Lyons, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church; has been elevated to the dignity of Domestic Prelate to His Holiness, Pope Pius XI, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, accord-. ing to the Most Reverend Joseph E. Ritter, Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis. . . The ceremony of investiture is to be held ‘at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 4 p. m. Sunday with Bishop Ritter presiding. The sermon will -be preached by the RE. Rev. Msgr. Raymond R. Noll, S..T. D., Vicar General of the Diocese and rector of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral. After the Investiture, solemn vess will be chanted by the Gregorian Society, a group of laymen and laywomen, directed by the Rev. Edwin Sahm, assistant at St, Joan of Arc Church. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John O'Connell, pastor of St. Patrick Church, will be the celebrant at the solemn vespers.. Ordained in 1898 Father Lyons was born here in St. Patrick Parish on Feb. 10, 1872. He studied at Str Charles College, Ellicott City, Md., and the Mount St. Mary Seminary at Cincinnati. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Elder of Cincinnati on June 17, 1898. He was put in charge of the Mission at Shoals on July 7 of that year and in December became an iow Fes at St. John Church, Indi- + |znapous, serving the missions. On {July 1, 1900, he was appointed rector of St. Malachy Church at Brownsburg. Father Lyons was made immovable rector of St. Simon Church at Washington, Ind. in 1910. In 1912 he resigned the parish of St. Simon and became the rector of St. Mary Church at Rushville. On Sept. 4, 1919, he became rector of Our Lady of Lourdes. Appointments in the diocese have included defender of the bond—diocesan tribunal; diocesan consultor for a three-year period; pro-synodal judge for three years and diocesan consultor.

DR. RAMSEY QUITS AS DEPUTY CORONER

Resignation of Dr. Frank Ramsey as a deputy coroner, and apvointment of Dr. Donald Wood as his successor, was announced today by Dr. E. R. Wilson, Marion County Coroner. Coroner Wilson said Dr. Ramsey resigned in order to de ‘more time to his private practice. He has served as a deputy two years. Dr. Wood, a graduate of the In-

diana University School of Medicine, |

maintains an office in Broad Ripple. Ho ls a Member of ihe Stags of

St. Vincent's, Methodiss oa ony |Hospitals. He is one

, Tir es

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

Film Stars Urge Nazi Boycott

Coal Money Stolen From

Blind Woman

Mrs. Melissa A. Lindsey, 85, who is blind, told police today she put $25 in bills in a drawer in her dresser at her home, 3118 Indianapolis Ave, and locked the drawer. When she went to get it today she said it was gone and the drawer was locked. She said she had been outside the house only momentarily and police ‘said some one apparently sneaked in, unlocked the drawer. and stole the money. Mrs. Lindsey, who lives alone, discovered the theft when she went to get money to pay for coal just delivered.

ATTORNEY INDICATES MRS. HAHN CONFESSED

CINCINNATI, Dec. 9 (U.. P.)— There is “every reason to. believe” Anna Marie Hahn, Cincinnati poison murderess executed Wednesday night, made a complete confession of her crimes, Joseph H. Hoodin and Hiram C. Bolsinger, her attorneys, said today. Four envelopes which Mrs. Hahn turned over to him just before she went to her death contain the answer, Mr. Hoodin said. He will not open the envelopes for several days “until I collect myself from the exhaustion resulting from the experience of the past several days, Mr. Hoodin said.

FINAL "HOME

PRICE THREE GENTS.

D.R.T0 ASK | UND TO PROBE ~~ WORK OF SPIES

Revival of Reorganization Bill and St. Law- a

rence Seaway-Power Project Also ‘Announced by President. i : SECRET POLICE INQUIRY SOUGHT

Roosevelt Declares U. S. Needs No OGPU but Foreign Activity Must Be Watched; Lamar Hardy Resigns.

(Other National Affairs, Page 30) ae WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—President Roosevelt

said today that he will ask the new Congress for additional | : : funds so that the American intelligence services can check) Eo

up on the secret police and spies of other nations.

He also said that he would seek a Government reol’ ik | ganization project from the new Congress and wo

body his ee on ihe subject in a special message.

FRIENDLY SPIRIT

REIGNS AT LIMA

THE FOREIGN SITUATION WASHINGTON-—U. 8. considers retaliation against Japan. LIMA—Argentine stand encour= ages U. S. delegates. LONDON—Fascists warn Latin America of U. S. ‘plots.’ HOLLYWOOD—Movie notables urge-break with Germany. PARIS—General staff takes precautions to defend Tunis. 8 8 . sides

» TUNIS—Both ‘provocation. ROME—Police and students scuffle in anti-French riot. HENDAYE—~—Loyalists ~~ prepare to meet new attack.

(Another Story, Page 19; Editorial, Page 24)

charge

LIMA, Peru, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—The Eighth Pan-American Conference opens today in an atmosphere of conciliation and friendliness which promises to further President Roosevelt’s hopes for continental solidarity and united defense against outside aggression. The formal opening was set for 6 p. mn, with 136 delegates of the 21 American republics attending. The steering committee of chief delegates meets tomorrow morning to shape the conference program, and Secretary of State Hull, for the United States, and other delegates are to make keynote speeches at the first plenary meeting tomorrow afternoon It ‘was indicated that under the careful guidance of Secretary Hull and Foreign Minister Jose Maria Cantilo of Argentina the conference would get away to a friendly start on one of its most important projects—the correlation and coordination of all existing American peace treaties into a single treaty or document, and the perfection of an agreement for consultation among the republics on problems of mutual concern. It seemed increasingly likely that the conference would approve some: sort of declaration informing the world that the American Republics (Continued on Page Four)

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP GETS SCHOOL FUND

Times Special WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.— President Roosevelt today approved -expenditure of $286,800 of WPA funds for a new school building and improvements to buildings and grounds of present schools in Lawrence Township, Marion County. The WPA announced a $2,166,133 grant for a Gary disposal plant.

It's ‘Sidew

and Kresge stores.

only the necessities of life.

The Mile-of-Dimes is open 24 attendants with ‘plenty of dimes

holiday spirit moves them. from now

Mile-of -Dimes Opens— Of Clothe-A-Child Drive

(Clothe-A-Child Donors, Page Three)

“HE Mile-of-Dimes, silver lining for hundreds of Indianapolis school children now inadequately clothed, was opened today at the usual place on W. Washington St. in front of the L. 8. Ayres

From now until Christmas eve shoppers will hear the cheerful ringing of the bell, an invitation to place a dime or more on the line as a hasty contribution to the holiday of some child who wants

Up and down the sidewalk the lines of dimes will run, mounting into hundreds of dollars before the campaign ends. Last year Indianapolis put $3430.10 worth of dimes on the line, which was that much warm clothing for children.

Since it was begun in connection with The Indianapolis Times Clothe-a-Child campaign, the Mile-of-Dimes has become one of . the city’s holiday Charly features.

“WO hundred and twenty-two children have ye clothed by persons who either shopped for the children themselves, or sent in checks to cover the cost of the clothing. ‘Through the Mile-of-Dimes all persons are able to make small contributions to the campaign—and make them as often as the

Bain or shine, mow of sel, warm or cold, the Mll-of-Dimes | be oper 6 p. m. Christmas Eve,

alk Santa’

hours a day and there are always to meet any request for change.

At the same time he indi«

of Neg Deal policy by exe pressing hope of an early agreement United States and Canada on

Lakes-St. Lawrence seaway and power project. A Mr. Roosevelt emphasized that the

spy situation was by no means cleared up by the ending of the ree

Sid that the roots go down pretty eep. He said this nation needed no OGPU or a secret police to watch: the American people but it did need to watch the secret police of other .

Sistinerion. e President told newspapermen that the co-ordination of U. 8. ine

at his direction and was func ing efficiently and smoothly. Lamar Hardy Resigns

He asked newspapermen to Yee frain from speculating on the ade ous agencies involved, pointing out

i |

to nullify the work now being done,

U. 8. District Attorney for New York, who has been prosecuting spy

ation with Mr. Hardy at a White House conference yesterday.

the President discussed reorganiza= tion with a group of experts includs ing Senator Byrnes (D. 8. C.). Mr,

progress had been made in vag ; conference. Foes Are Confident : Mr. Roosevelt’s statement on ree organization came as anti-Adminise tration Democrats displayed coufie dence that they will be able to defeat any such legislation in tne new Congress unless the chief exesus tive offers further compromise with = their objections. a Asked whether there would be any fundamental changes in $e bills as distinguished from those of the iast session, Mr. Roosevelt replied (hat he did uot know, adding, howaver, that the point was a simple one ins asmuch as sll admit, even including some columnists, that we do need. improvement in government. That is the big salient point, he declared. He asserted that Congress has in formation on the subject ‘covering the past 40 years. He said that the responsibility of effecting imps ove ment in government res

in connection with reorganization he said that was entirely a Cons gressional matter.

cate that the Administration may he. prepared to allow Congressional organization legislation to be taken up in a series of related bills instea of in one omnibus measure such a was beaten in the House last session, Congressional spokesmen have ine dicated belief that several noncone ! (Continued on Page Three)

OOKING Back , 13 Years Ago—Governor “Mi Ferguson of Texas was facing peachment. . . . Drys were g ing teeth over bill before Senate legalize Joes. amet” wa wines. .

ems ol cated revifal of anothér part |

between the

the development of the Great

cent trial in New York City. He

nations. This, he said, was a fine

telligence services had been achieved

that such speculation might tend at He announced that Lamar Hardy, = “1.

cases, has resigned, effective in Jane uary. He praised Mr. Hardy's work as an “amazing job,” observing that he had talked over the whole situs =

At another conference yesterday $4

Roosevelt said today that good = | |