Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 February 1939 — Page 9

/agabon From Indiana —Ernie Pyle

He's Goggle-Eyed After. That Underwater View at Silver Springs; i's Like a "Walt Disney Epic."

ILVER SPRINGS, Fla, Feb. 18.—If I were writing a guidebook of -America, which I'm not, I would say: _ “The tourist must by all means see Silver Springs before he jacks up the old trailer and settles down to die.” 5 Silver Springs is a small body of water in Central Florida. It connects with a river which wanders more than 200 miles to the sea. There are salt- ! water fish in here which ‘have swam the 200 miles upstream, and like it so well they pep Surrounding the | ttle lake (about two blocks square) are all kinds of curio stores, restaurants, concessions and what not. But the main attraction is down under the water where they've left nature alone. : You go out over the lake in glass-bottomed boats. There are seats along each side of the boat, and a sort of manger in the middle. You lean on the manger rail and look straight down through the bottom of the boat. When you get in, the thick growth of under-water reeds is right up against the glass, the water is that shallow. But you haven't gone 50 feet until suddenly the floor of the lake drops off, like a precipice, and you are staring into a vast hole more than 50 feet deep.

Mr. Pyle

The water is as clear as air. You can see through |

it almost as if there were no water there. You see fish swimming around; you see an old dinosaur backbone; you see an old sunken boat of the Spaniards; you see a few empty whisky bottles. The colorings and formations in these holes are fantastic beyond description. People around you burst out with expressions of awe. There was one old lady oh our boat who had come here and taken the boat ride every year for 19 years. It’s foolish for me to try to describe what you see through the glass bottom of the boat. It just won't go into words. But I can honestly say this: That I believe Carlsbad Caverns and Silver Springs are the two outstanding spots of small, fantastic natural beauty in the United States. I don’t mean to include them with such gargantuas as Grand Canyon or Mt. McKinley. - Those are colossal and bold, while these are equisitely fine brushwork. Carlsbad: Caverns is best, of course, but in its way Silver Springs is just as fantastic.

Something New This Year

Silver Springs has the exaggerated colored beauty of a Walt Disney epic. Down there you see mountains and glaciers and snowstorms in puppet fashion. And it’s all natural—man hasn’t monkeyed with it. : This year they have something new. It’s called a Photo-Sub boat. Instead of looking down through glass, you descend into the deep bottom of this boat, sit down, and look out horizontally through underwater portholes. : This ride tickled us to death. People without heads would swim past. We could see their bodies under the water, but the surface of the water makes 4 ceiling and you can’t see up through it. . Everything becomes fantastic. You see fish swimming by, and if you thought the coloring of the reeds was wonderful from the glass-bottomed boat, from this boat they become unbelievable. Once I read a description by William Beebe of what he saw from his famous Bathysphere, in which he descended thousands of feet into the ocean. The world he described down there was so wonderful and beautiful I couldn’t even grasp it. This Photo-Sub at Silver Springs is a sample of the same thing.

~~ My Day

By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

~ Lower Prices for Consumer Topic Of Women's Conference at Ithaca.

THACA, N. Y,, Friday.—Again, I have to begin with | yesterday's doings. On arrival at Cornell I went at once to the meeting of the heads of the various women’s organizations. There, one of the city merchants, a grocer, a member of the credit organization and a producer, were discussing the consumer-producer-dis-tributor problem from the point of view of its relation to the home and especially to the woman in her capacity’ as housewife and buyer for the family. The constantly reappearing question of pressure salesmanship and installment buying also came up for con-

sideration. | Of particular interest to me were the various ways suggested by the merchants whereby the cost of purchasing could be reduced to the’ consumer. For instance, if the housewives gave their orders twice a week and deliveries only had to be made on those days, the cost of many articles could be greatly reduced. If cash were paid, if people returned things less frequently, the merchant's overhead, which is passed on in cost to the consumer, would be less. The housewife would have to be as well organized in her home as if she were running a business.

Labor Saving Kitchen | ~ I have seen twq_ interesting exhibits this year, one ‘a rearranged kitchen in a farm house which saves the mother of the family many steps, the other was "an exhibit to teach people how to buy textiles of

various kinds. An interesting exhibition of historical costumes was put on in the afternoon by Helen Virginia Meyer and we attended a tea given by the Home Economics ub girls and in the evening the master: farmer din- : Che She citations for the farmers and their wives and the young people who received the 4-A award ere, as usual, most inspiring. : v "This morning I started at 9 o'clock to visit an NYA resident project which is established in connection with the Biggs Memorial State Hospital for tuberculosis. The youngsters work in every department on maintenance, even in the laboratory and f-ray department. p ey Oe related training in their resident center and it looks to me like one of the most interesting projects that I have ever seen anywhere. Three of the girls in the hospital had written to ask me to visit them, so I had an opportunity to see them also.

Day-by-Day Science

— By Science Service the Yankee land stock, America apparently owes the development of most of her most outstanding scientific men. A survey of the names in American Men of Science, starred for their emjnence, reveals that New England contributed far more, in proportion to general population than did any other section of the country. - The yield of 77 per million in the wooden nutmeg country was double that of the Middle Atlantic States (37 per million) and tar outdistanced that of the East North Central (30), Pacific (27), West North Central (22), Mountain (17), South Atlantic (11), and South Cen-

tral (4). | «of those who received’ American bachelors degrees,” writes Prof. Stephen S. Visher, of Indiana University, in reporting his survey to the American Journal of Science, “nearly 30 per cent graduated in the East North Central States, 22 per cent in New England, but less than one-eleventh in the South. For their doctorates, over one-fourth of those with American doctorates went to New England, nearly onefourth went to Middle Atlantic universities and a like number to those of the East North Central States.” Very few women are included among the starred

ingenuity and curiosity of New Eng- r

scientists. In 1937

8 iN

, nine women were starred—three

(0 \y,

he Indianapolis

(Last of a Series) ‘By William R. Crabb

THE average taxpayer

finds his bread and rent and baby’s shoes a lot cheaper than they were in ’29. TL He feels entitled, therefore, to ask: : “Why has the State’s cost of living risen to a near alltime high?” The first answer must be that nearly one person out of every five is receiving assistance from some type of relief prograLl.

The second, and less obvious, reply is that during the last half-

dozen years the State gradually.

has been subsidizing the local governments. . At least a part of the theory behind the pouring of State funds into cities and counties is that property owners, pinched by the depression devaluation and the lowering of income, would find some measure of relief in lower property taxes. » u 8 UT despite the State's gener- _ osity, property taxes in 37 of the counties (or 40 per cent) actually were higher in .1937 than in 1932. ; ‘And here, the taxpayer has comng to him the biggest “why” of all. Taxpayers and business groups also are asking this question. The Governor's Tax Study Commission devoted a large portion of its lengthy report to an analysis of State distribution. Several suggestions have emerged from the reams of statistical and analytical matter on this subject. For example, the Interorganization Council believes that the methods employed, in deciding how 'much money should go to each local unit for governmental functions show a diversity and lack of co-ordination which should: be eliminated. The Commission, on the other hand, suggests that the taxpayers scrutinize the spending policies of their local governments to determine whether the State funds are being spent wisely. ” ” ”

ERE are principal ways the State distributes several millions to local governments each biennium: 1. For each teaching unit the State grants not less than $700 annually to school corporations. A “teaching unit” consists of 35 elementary school plpils in average daily attendance or. 25. high school pupils. E 2. Revenue from the T-cent State property tax levy is distributed to school units. This

distribution is based upon the fol- |

lowing formula: The State Board of Education fixes a minimum amount each unit must spend to conform to State standards. If a 50-cent property rate for the district, based upon the assessed valuation of the particular county, does not yield this minimum when supplemented by other district money, the State makes up the

| difference.

3. A total of two million dollars annually is allotted cities and towns for highway maintenance according to population. Additional funds are given counties according to vehicular miles of traffic and the number of motor vehicle registrations. 4; One-third of the net collections from excise taxes are distributed to school corporations on the basis of average daily school attendance. The proportion going to cities, towns and counties depends on the location of licensed retailers and alcoholic beverages dealers. : 5. The State gives the counties 90 per cent of the revenue from the general intangibles tax. The allocation is made on the basis of assessed valuation of real property. In each county, 75 per cent goes to school corporations and the rest to the county general

fund. 6. The State’s allotments to counties for public : welfare pur poses are on a straight “matching” basis. Local expenditures

are matched at varying percent--

ages for different phases of the

program. This type of State subsidy,

* PERSONS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1939

8 = =

Number of Persons Receiving Aid From Major Public Assistance Programs in Indiana During Last Eight Years

of Local

Governments Hike State Expense

PERSONS

700,000

600,000

500,000)

LEGEND fo SECURITY AID

930 193) 932 P33 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938

700,600

WRA ia 770 TOWNSHIP DIRECT RELIEF co [em A.

600,000

NN] F.E.R.A WORK RELIEF NN ocAL WORK RELIEF

iN I

ipoafe iti! q,0e00° 44 >

500,000

Fg UT 0 JEL ele 1 Why

400,000

TTT

300,000

200,000

TMM rar, OErErE

100,000

= a w

0 930

"7 1931

Duplication of persons on direct township relief and FERA program indicated by overlapping of cross-hatching. :

ser. MMi ri ina SEPT mm mses.

1932 1933 1934

pt Q

A (931

Serr SSS

1935 1936

193%

records show, has developed to such a degree that in 1937 a dozen counties received more funds from the State than they raised through their own levies. Brown County got 2.28 times as much, Crawford County 1.59 times as much, and Harrison County more than 15 times as much.

However, Marion County, the most populous in the State, received less than ‘one-fifth as much from the State as it raised through taxation. In 1932 no county received State grants in amount equaling their total levies. EJ 2 ”

HEN, too, the lower cost of living has been reflected. in the actual operating expenses of local- governments. Taking one such item for example, we find that the total expense of assessing properties in the State has dropped from $1,973,000 in 1932 to $1,490,000 in 1937. The Tax Study Commission cites some examples of apparent inequalities among counties as regards to actual benefits to taxpayers from present distributions: Rural Brown County’s per capita wealth in 1937 was $410. Populous Elkhart County's was $1170. Brown County, nevertheless, had $48 per capita to spend for governmental services, whereas Elkhart County had only $36. Populous St. Joseph Coundy’s per capita wealth was nearly $1250. Rural Parke had only $800. There was only $35 per capita available for St. Joseph, whereas Parke had $41. ” 8 ® ND the State has poured thousands of dollars into Pike County—enough to make a $6.50 per capita increase in 1937 over 1632. Although relief costs increased $67,000, debt service requirements were down $35,000. Yet property owners in Jat county found their 1937 tax levy 12 cents higher. ‘Governor Townsend in his special budget message to the Legislature this week reminded the

State Aid to Local Governments Since 1928

Million of Dollors

TO COUNTIES FOR GENERAL PURPOSES

TO CITIES FOR GENERAL PURPOSES

1928 1929 1931

EDUCATION

HIGHWAYS

1936

representatives that of the total

-financial outlay called for in the

biennial budget bill, “28 million dollars will be returned to local units of government to reduce property taxes, and are not spent by the State for State purposes.” The Tax Study Commission points out that if the State had not increased its aid to counties “it would have been virtually impossible for many units to function as they have.” In five counties, the tax rates would have been $7.22, $5.60, $5.39, $5.18 and $5.09. : By June 30, 1941, Indiana’s cash balance of $24,000,000 (spring, 1938) will have dwindled to little more than $1,600,000 according to present trends. But the State’s distributions to cities and counties will show no decreases. They will be five-fold what they were just a few years ago.

Merit Tests for Poll Clerks

By Burt Garnett

Times Special Writer ASHINGTON, Feb. 18-The practice of awarding election day jobs to illiterate ward-heelers and political plug-uglies has been tolerated by.the American public only because of its apparent inevitability. In the City of Milwaukee, however, this age-old bonanza for pap-hungry political machines has largely played out. For the last two years, election workers have been chosen on a merit basis. In all likelihood, Milwaukee's example will be followed in other cities. The decision to challenge the system of appointing poll workers on the say-so of ward committeemen was taken by the city election com-

|mission of Milwaukee in January, .11937, after an investigation had re-

vealed that discrepancies in the counting of ballots in the 1936 election was largely the result of incompetence on the part of election officials. The first examination wes held in February, 1637. Of 1200 persons €xamined, 750 passed, and 350 were appointed to fill the city’s 1990 election jobs for the biennium 19381939. . Examinations were in writing and covered spelling, simple arithmetic, civic information, tallying, filing of names, checking of errors, and numerical filing. Substitute schoolteachers were hired to rate the papers.

Side Glances

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1—What is a clearing house association? 2—How long is a fathom? 3—Who was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? J : 4—For what government agency do the initials FDIC stand? 5—What is the correct pronunciation of the word mus tache? : 6—Name the longest river in Russia. ¥ » ” 2

Answers

1—A union of banks in a city, to © provide speedy- settlement of their claims against each other. :

2—Six feet. :

3—Famous Austrian musical

composer. 4—Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. } 5—Mus-tash’; not. mus’-tash. 6—The Volga. ss 8 8

ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis: Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannot be given mor can

Everyday Movies—By ‘Wortman

write again and tell us whether or not

Entered ss Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind,

Indiana's Financial Headache Relief Costs and Subsidizing

Our Town By Anton Scherrer |

Manual High School 44 Years Old Today, but It Really Was Started _ Long Before by Farseeing Group.

)RTY-FOUR years ago today, Manual Training High School got its start. It’s older than that, however. By a dozen years, at least. At any rate it’s very doubtful whether a school of that kind could have been started in Indianapolis as early as 1895 had it not been for the old Gewerbe Schule on E, Maryland St.,, in the block where the County Jail now stands. The Gewerbe Schule, the Teutonis

equivalent for Trade School, was the work of a group of hand picked enthusiasts. More specifically, the. . work of men like Dietrich Bohlen, Herman Lauter, Otto Stechhan and Clemens Vonnegut, a group which for temper and temperament had everything beat in Indianapolis at the time. Sometime in the Eighties, these gentlemen put their heads together and decided that what Indianapolis Myr. Scherrer needed most (next to a coliseum, of course) was a place to teach boys the use of tools, at least, drafting tools.

They got going with a faculty comprising Bernard Vonnegut, Arthur Bohn, T. R. Bell and A. Lindenberg. Mr. Vonnegut and Mr, Bohn taught descriptive geometry, architectural drawing and design. Mr. Bell had charge of machine drafting, and Mr. Lindenberg, an architectural sculptor at the time, taught free hand drawing and ornamental modeling. It was a mighty fine faculty and nobody knew it better than the fathers of Indianapolis boys. At any rate, the boys kept coming in such numbers that finally the faculty didn’t know what to do. It was at this stage that the Gewerbe Schule asked

money, but it did something even better. It put Wile liam H. Bass, the very pick of the Public School System, on the Gewerbe Schule’s faculty. It was the

first intimation of the School: Board’s interest in manual training.

Authorized by Legislature

opened a department of manual training of its own in Shortridge High School in charge of Mr. Bass. Meanwhile, the lack of money and the additional room required for such a department became apparent, and in 1891 the Legislature passed an act. authorizing a special tax to build a real-for-sure manual training high school. It was at this stage that Otto Stechhan peeled his coat and worked like everything for the passage of the bill. . Well, that’s how Indianapolis got the Industrial Training High School with Charles E. Emmerich as

its principal. Both were unlike anything in Ameri at the time. ) I hea

of Manual Training High School. That was because

| some fastidious souls in our midst thought the orig=

inal name sounded too much like a penal institution, Later it became the Charles E. Emmerich Manual Training High School. This was after Mr. Em merich’s death. For the life of me, I can’t remember much about that first day 44 years ago. I guess I was too excited. I seem to recall, though, that most of the 500 kids who turned up that morning arrived on their bicycles,

Jane Jordan—

Finances May Be Real Cause of Bride's Unhappiness, Reader Thinks

This letter refers to the case of a bride of six months whe is working to heip buy a home. She would be happy except that her husband does not like friends to call, not even his parents.

your article on Feb. 13 is rather limited, I believe you have failed to sense the trouble with this woman’s husband. Basically he is worried about finances, in my opinion. Each instance mentioned as causing trouble is one where extra money is required.A man wishes to please his bride but when she

resents anything which hinders his wading out. A

by working outside the home, generally, and when this is necessary his pride is hurt. I think an itemized

the trouble. } have had experience along this line myself. Reading

habit. G

» ® Answer—TI think we are all in¢lined to read our own personal experiences into the problems of others. Evert after a careful rereading of this letter I see no indication that financial troubles have caused this young husband to retreat from the society of others. . It isn’t particularly expensive to have friends drop in during the evening, and when parents call upon

their children, it doesn’t reduce the exchequer. Men usually are not inarticulate about their resentment of

heousehold expense. If your theory is correct, we could

expect the man to complain about the money his wif spent. :

resents the fact that his wife works. Doubtless he needs the money she earns to help in buying their home and cannot afford to object to her working out= side that home; but it is quite possible that he feels inferior and inadequate because she does so. : . Many men have been caught between their desire. to be helped in earning the living and their desire to do everything themselves. A strongsconflict between passive and aggressive desires could well account for his gloomy attitude without the additional slant of indebtedness. : Another response to this letter suggests that th young wife may not be quite as friendly as she believes herself to be but that she prefers to let her husband bear the blame. That is to say that she reads into her husband’s behavior certain antisocial feelings of her own. I did nbt interpret her letter in this manner

at all. : It would be woman would any of these:

suggestions have struck her as having an element truth in them. - JANE JORDAN.

t your problems 2 letter to Jane Jordan who wi: i. Jour Questions in this cqlumn daily.

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

«VINCE 1933 a new political dynamic has made if appearance in Europe. Fascism on the offensive. .Germany. and. Japan have .perfected “the ne! aggression, waging war without de ‘teeth’ of their own protests

interesting if the young

Soon as they had the idea, they put it into effect.

the Indianapolis School Board for help. The School | Board could not legally give the Gewerbe Schule an: §

The name was changed later to that

leads him into the deep waters of indebtedness, he man does not want his wife to help make the living

your daily column has become a most pleasing Ra

Not long after that, in 1888, the School Board |

5. A

NEAR JANE JORDAN—While the information in

account of this couple’s income and expenses will show

The husband cannot see daylight financially. "I d

A more plausible explanation is your idea that he 4