Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 January 1941 — Page 1

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Cloudy with 3 rain tonight and tomorrow; Slowly rising temperature; lowest tonight 35 to 40.

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B | SCRIPPS — HOWARD 8

VOLUME 52- NUMBER 266

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1941

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

Nazis Seek to Shut

JUDICIARY ‘A’ GIVES ITS 0. K. T0 RIPPER BILL

‘Delays Action on Measure To Decentralize State’s Institutions.

Riding rough-shod and ruthlessly over all quibbles and differences, Republican legislative leaders pushed forward their reorganization of State government today, and hope

to have their “platform” measures approved by both houses by the first week in February. In the House, leaders said their part of the ‘“decentralization” program should be approved and ready for Senate action within seven days. The House Judiciary A committee today voted to report favorably on the “ripper” bill, keystone of the G. O. P. program to strip Governor! Schricker of his executive and patronage powers.

Public Hearing Set

. The Committee, however, delayed action on the State Institutions Bill which would “decentralize” control of the institutions by creating -21 individual bi-partisan boards. A public hearing on this proposal will be held next Tuesday in the Supreme Court chambers. Although he voted with the Republican majority to sanction the “ripper” measure, Rep. H. H. Evans (R. New Castle), G. O. P. floor leader in the 1939 session, expressec doubt that the measure would stand up under. a Constitutionality test. “Sooner or later we are going to’ have to make some afnendments,” Rep. Evans said. “The people elected a man to run the Department of State. He ought to be allowed to run that department without having | A souple, of gther. fellows to.run it |

Rep. Evans asked the committee to invite Governor Schricker and Lieut. Gov. Dawson*to sit with the Committee while the bill is being discussed,

Attorneys Drew Bill

Rep. Frank P. Millis (R. Campbellsburg), majority floor leader, said it was useless to discuss the measure further and moved that it be reported out. He said that seven attorneys, including a former attorney general, had drafted the measure, and that the constitutionality was “a matter of opinion.” In the discussion on the motion Rep. Evans said the constitution gives the Governor police power, yet this measure puts the Conservation Department, whose game wardens have police authority, under the Lieutenant Governor. In the Senate, G. O." P. leaders said about five days would be required to secure passage of the State Institutions, State Police, Welfare Department, Attorney General and other G. O. P, steering committee “shakeup” measures.

Up for Second Reading

Up for secord reading in the House today was the bill to repeal the 1933 McNutt Reorganization Act. A repeal clause for this act also lis included in the “ripper” bill and Democrats charge that the double move is designed by the Republicans to create confusion if the G. O. P. program is declared un(Continued on Page Five)

NAZI BOMBSIGHTS INFERIOR TO U. S.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (U. P). —Three different types of German bombsights, obtained from captured warplanes in Great Britain, have been examined by United States military experts and found inferior to our own, it was learned today. The sights, designed for, different types and altitudes of bombing raids, were reported to have been given to the United States defense chieftains by the British as part of the policy to keep our Army and Navy abreast of development of ~ war equipment, The exchange of information, is cargied out in return for release of our new type equipment to Br Britain. —— Co FIRST LADY TO FETE 125 WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (U. ~—Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelf; | By receive 125 board members of the General’ Federation of Women’s Clubs at a White House tea today The tea will follow routine Diy sessions. Mrs. Harriet Elliott, defense consumer Susectol will address the board tonight.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE tial

Clapper veces O|Movies ...... 14

10

Smid . Editorials ... Fashions. , 11, Forum ...... Gallup Poll .... Homethaking.

12

Senator Roger Phillips . . , “that’s never been done before”

PHILLIPS RAPS GOP MEASURES

Favors Elective. Atiormey General but Hits Interim Appointee.

Senztor Roger Phillips (D. New Albany), Senate minority leader, announced today that the Democrats expect to fight “to the last ditch” against most of the G. O. P.

‘reorganization bills,

.“WLy, the whole business stinks to high heaven,” he declared. “No honest man could support most of those measures.” Senator Phillips seid he would isupport the G.-Q. FP. bill to make ‘the’ attorney general's office elective, {but oppose the bill for hiring. lattorney to fill the ‘interim before thé election.

Plan to Hire Attorney

“The Republicans introduced the attorriey general bills Monday,” Mr. Phillips said,’ “and yesterday they

uncoristitutional for their dominated | committee to appoint an attorney general to fill the interim, “So they decided not to appoint an aiforney general but merely to hire a private attorney to give the state legal advice during the coming two years. Why, that's never been done before ‘in the state's history.” Mr, Phillips asserted that the Republicans wanted to give the job to Arch| N, Bobbitt, state G. O. P. chairman. He said he would offer an amendment to kill the measure wher; it comes up for second reading later this week. The G.'O. P. bills making the attorne¢y general's office elective originally provided for tlie appointment

‘of an attorney generdl to fill the in-

terina before - the. election by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretary. of State, the latter two Republicans,

. May Name Advisor

But on the advice of attorneys that under the Constitution no one but the Governor could fill a vacancy in the attorney general's office, an amendment was written into the measure in.Judiciary A committee meeting providing for the hiring of an attorney by the same Republi-can-dominated committee. G. O. P. leaders believe that by this procedure a Republican will be named as “legal advisor” until an Silgrney general is pected 4 in 1942,

SCHRICKER INVITES COMPROMISE TALKS

Renames 7 Bureau Heads; Silent on ‘Ripper.’

By NOBLE REED 'The 2doors of the Ciovernor’s office will be “kept open” to any Republican legislators who wish to discuss compromises on executive control of the Government, (iovernor Henry PF. Schricker announced today. He offered to discuss provisions of the G. O. P. reorganization “ripper” bill with Republican leaders after he announced the reappoint ments of seven State officials. ose renamed were: ‘Hugh A. Barnhart, State Excise director and chairman of the Alcoholic Beverages Commission; Thomas R. Hutson, of Brazil, State Labor Commissioner; Frank J. Viehmann, of Indianepolis, State Insiarance Commissiorier; Clem Smith, of Terre Haute, State Fire Marshal; C. Anderson Ketchum, of Cireensburg, State Budget Director; I. L. Needler, of Marion, State Purchasing Agent, and Dr. J. Leon |€a8s srd Axby, of Lawrenceburg, State Veterinarian, | The Governor declined to discuss |’ the possibility of his veto action on

the “ripper” bill if it is passed, ex1]

| (Continued ¢n Page Eight) | PHILLIPS REACHES ROME States Ambassador William Phillips

1 op

arrived from

| Mediterrane: in bottleneck | Sicily narrcws emerged tcday as

ATL

DIVE HOMBERS

HOPE TO RULE SICILY STRAITS

England Waits Test, and Assembles Forces for New Dri re in South. |

By [UNITED PRESS |

An attemdt to block th midat the

the probable Axis counter-raove to rumors that Great Britain| is assembling forces for new major campai igns in the 3 eastern Medite! ‘ranean area. Marshal | Hermann Coering’s crack dive-bomber squadrons already are attempting to close the 87-mile gap of water between Sicily and Africa through which British men of war, troops and supplies must funnel from the western to the eastern Mediterranean. Reports circulated from Iudapest that Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini woul meet soon with the French Naval and Army chiefs, Admiral Francois Darlan and Charles Huntziger. |

Vital I'rench Bases Sought

Object of the conference, it was suggested, would be a new attempt to obtain I'rance’s vital naval bases

on both sides of the Medit¢rranean,| j

particularly - Toulon in France and sizerte in | North Africa, ¢nd, possibly the remnants of tho French fleet. If Nazi dive-bombers and Fascist submarines could operate rom Tunisia as ‘ell as Sicily and Italy’s (yibraltar-like island of Flantelleria which lies 62 miles from &icily and 35 miles : ‘rom Africa ‘in the center of the narrows the British might be forced to Shandon the MediterraAeA supply ro So far, while ioral shipping] has been diverted to the long and costly ro ite around the Cape of Good Hope, Britain’s overwhelming

found out that it probably would be |

naval pridominance in the Mediterranear. has enabled h¢r to pass military ¢ onvoys through ‘he inland seg, under protection of the independently ‘operating western and eastern !Vlediterranean flzets.

May Step Up Aid to (Greece

' The western British flest is based on Gibriltar and the eastern fleet at Alexandria. Londoii buzzed with re ports that Britain shortly will step up the tem- | po of her war effort in the eastern Mediterranean. It was suggested that an| expeditionary [force may come to Greece’s aid ia Albania. Thus far British assistance to Greece has been limited to small Royal Air Force squadions, antiaircraft units and naval help. Other | developments iricluded: A standstorm apparently had slowed up operations to reduce the Italian gjarrisonyat Tobruk although men and were [still being brought up by the British and the Italians reported R. A. F. activity both in Libya and East Africa. Britain was virtually without German air force action bec! ause of bad weathe!. The R, A. F. carried out smell scale attacks in Norway, principally at Mandal, | Forus and Stavanger, where a mbtorship in the Rarbor was bombed. Melbourne confirmed that British losses ‘vere very light in the sweep into Libya. Australian casualties up to Jan. 14 were listed :s 296. The Australians had borne the brunt of the fighting. There were Spanish reports that defenses of Gibraltar | were being streng ‘hened, possibly in anticipation of an Axis drive jpgaihst ‘that vital | fortress.

WAFSHIP RULES SEA, SOVIET PAPER SAYS

MOSCOW, Jan. 15 (U. P.).—The Soviet newspaper Trud said today that Mediterranean wir operations have shown that air | {power could not control Sea operatinns and that the heavy battleship still is the primary instrument of seapower. Trud’s analysis of the Mediterranesn war said all indications pointed to a British >ffort to deliver a knockout blow against Italian forces in Africa.

| By RICHARD LEWIS Irfluenza serum, recently developel by the Rockefellsr Foundation in New York City, is now being tested at the Indianapolis City Hos- | stood pital, it was {earned today. Already in its sixth week the test

Pacific Coast flu wive, spreading eas ward; already has touched India 1apolis and othe: parts of In-

Fhysicians on the City Hospital res:arch staff have been vaccinated wits the new serum. The principal res ction, it was reporied, was a sore

jar. No case of flu has developed

along ihiosg,, vaccinated so far, it i reported. |

| ROME, Jan, 15 (U. P.).~United|ws i

in Rome today by trainjt

where off Key West.”

ADVISORY GROUP TALKS SAFETY

Studies Statistics Showing One Fatality Every 4.4 Days for 5 Years.

The Safety Board’s traffic advisory committee met at City Hall today in an effort to cut the City’s traffic death toll—a toll which has averaged one fatality every 4.4 days in the last five years. The Committee of 24 civic leaders, businessmen and officials was named by Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan. Its function is to help the City solve a traffic problem which has grown steadily worse. The group faced a traffic situation which the Police Accident Prevention Bureau has summed up in its annual report like this: 1. Total traffic deaths 1935 . . . 412. 2. Average of persons killed a year since 1935 . . . 82.4. 3. One death every 4.4 days or every 106 hours. 4. One traffic accident every 65 minutes. 5. One fatality for every 98 accidents. 6. Every thirteenth person Killed since 1935—a school child. 7. An average of one school child killed every 60 days since 1935.

Last year, 91 persons died on Indianapolis streets as the result of traffic accidents compared with 54 deaths in 1939.

Increase Probable

On the basis of fatal accidents so far this year, the committee faces the probability of an increased number of traffic deaths this year. The record of this year and last year to date is:

since

County City Total 1 0 1

1981...v cs. 2 3

Meanwhile, the Accident Pre(Continued on Page Eight)

COOGAN BACK HOME ; HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 15 (U. P.).— Jackie Coogan, famed “kid” of the silent screen and plaintiff in a $4,000,000 accounting suit against his parents (wo years ago, revealed today that he has returned home and

is living with his mother and stepfather, Arthur Bernstein.

City Hospital Tests New Flu

Serum as Disease Spreads

the nation before being released to the public.. Some quantities of it have been shipped to Britain for experimental purposes, it was under-

As Hospital research attaches studied the effects of the new serum

is being made at a time when'the [on

disease mortality rate,

Dr. Homan G, Morgan, City Health .

in subpenaing police officers into arrests were made in connection learned from Inspector Jess McMurtrie that Patrolman Ed Miers was assigned yesterday to investigate the pinball machine situation. Mr. Blue announced today that he plans: to make’ a “day by day” investigation of gambling in Indianapolis. In summoning the police into court yesterday, he charged lack of co-operation by Chief Michael F. Morrissey in a gambling investigation.

3 Machines Seized The arrest of five persons on gaming charges and the seizure of three pinball machines in three separate establishments last night indicated a new interest by police in the machines. Circuit Court Judge Earl R. Cox granted an injunction last October, on petition .of the Southern Automatic Music Co., restraining police ‘rom “interfering with any of the devices known as the Leader and Landslide electric marble machines, licensed, sold or operated by the plaintiffs,” or from “interfering with the LAWFUL use and operation of said devices while said devices are lawfully used.” Judge Cox explained today that the injunction covers only the machines installed by the plaintiff company. Police, however, said many other operating companies have installed hundreds of pinball machines of a different type, labeling them “Leader.” Many of these latter devices, it was said, have illegal “free game” arrangements.

No Ban on Seizures Judge Cox said ‘he told Chief Morrissey several days ago that the injunction does not prevent police from seizing such machines being used for gambling purposes. “When this case was before me in court,” Judge Fox said, “I warned the plaintiffs that although their machines might be legal, I would not tolerate their use in drug stores and places where school children might play them and waste the lunch money given them by their parents, “Chief Morrissey tells me the machines are in a lot of drug stores. I told him .that if I were chief, I would seize these machines and arrest the operators. And that goes for any devices where there is the element of gambling.”

me that the case on which I issued the injunction merely was a scheme to open up the city to the machines, I will wipe out the injunction im-

In Criminal Court : yesterday, Sergt. Charles G. Burkett. testified before Judge Dewey Myers, under questioning by Prosecutor Blue, that

Judge Cox said if “anybody shows |

Pinball Machine Operators On Pins as Police: Open 'War'

Assignment of City Patrolman to Investigation Coincides With Surprise Subpenas From Blue’s Office.

Operators of the hundreds of pinball machines which flooded the city several months ago saw their future blurred today in what appeared to be the start of a police cleanup of the machines. Coincident with Prosecutor Sherwood Blue’s surprise action yesterday

Criminal Court to testify why no with punchboard seizures, it was

MAN IN BLACK COAT’ FIRED A GUN--10Z10

Indicates Defense as Cafe Murder Case Opens.

Fred Iozzo’s defense during his first degree murder trial will be that an unidentified - “man in a black coat” fired a revolver during a melee in the Iozzo tavern in which 16-year-old Virgil Disher Jr., was killed. This was outlined by his counsel as the frial began in a crowded Criminal Courtroom today before Special Judge Frank A. Symmes. The defense will further attempt to prove that ‘he bullet was fired while the slain youth was on top of Dominic Iozzo, son of the accused, beating him with an empty beer bottle and that the same bullet which. killed Disher wounded young Iozzo. Floyd Christian, Noblesville, attorney for Iozzo, said the defense testimony will show that the Disher party had been on a round of taverns before coming to the Iozzo Cafe and that the party was ordered out because the closing hour had been reached. Instead of going, some members of the party argued and just preceding the shooting Dominic Iozzo struck. one of the members, Mr. Christian charged. Albert Ward, deputy prosecutor, said that the State will prove that members of the Disher party had not been drinking excessively and (Continued on Page Five)

STOCKS SLUMP NEW YORK, Jan. 15 (U. P)~ Stocks declined today for the fourth consecutive day. Volume ‘was around: the lightest this year.

Eleven of the Navy’s motor torpedo boats are viewed from the air as they dash out of Lower New York for duty in Southern waters, “someThe deadly, swift little craft raise foaming wakes as they start toward their new stations. They can do more than 70 miles an hour and are manned by 20 officers and 150 men. The flotilla is commanded by Lieut. Comm, Dearl S. Caldwell.

SUB CHASERS . ALSO WANTED

House Group 0. K.’s Spending $300,000,000 to Protect Warships From Air.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (U. P.) = Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson, chief of the Navy's Bureau of Ships, said today that the Navy is asking Congress for money and authority to build 280 “urgently needed” submarine chasers, mine sweep-

ers and motor torpedo boats. He said most of them could be built this year on the Great Lakes. He made that announcement before the House Naval Affairs Committee, which approved a bill authorizing the Navy to spend $300,000,000 to provide warships with better anti-aircraft defenses. The committee acted speedily after Admiral Robinson testified that the dive bomber is a very serious threat to the fleet, He said that even with the new money it would take two to three years to equip U. £ warships with topside shields and more anti-aircraft guns.

Shipyard Expansion Urged

Mr. Robison said that the Navy had asked the Appropriations Committee to speed the program for additional small vessels ahead of the regular budget. He accepted a suggestion by Naval Committee Chairman Carl Vinson that it be included in legislation now before the committee. In the new budget, Mr. Robinson explained, the Navy asked authorization for 400 of these small craft. It is requesting immediately appropriations for only. 280. Committeemen asked Mr, Robinson to explain the Navy's reasons for wanting $315,000,000 additional funds for shipbuilding. + He said that $25,000,000 would be used to expand private shipyards to build the 280 small vessels, and the rest to pay for the ships. Mr. Robinson and Rear Admiral W. R. Furlong gave the Committee their views on the -ability. of warships to withstand bomb attacks. Dive bombers are. a very real menace to warships, and no one has been able to devise protection

(Continued on Page Eight)

In First War

LONDON, Jan. 15 (U. P.).—Prof. Arthur Lloyd Janies, internationally famous phonetics expert, was remanded in custody for nine days today on the charge that he stabbed

Britain's first “war nerv severely from shock after a narrow

escape from death in a pre-Christ mas air raid, and bot ad bean in

Noted Briton Kills His Wife

his musician wife to death in Great|

Nerves Slaying

der her maiden name, Elsie Owen, as an organist and violinist and as professor of violin at the Royal Academy of Music, dying of stab wounds at the James’ Hampstead villa yesterday. James, 56, short, heavily * built,

SY TO 10 hss

IF REICH WINS, HOUSE IS T0LD

Speed on Aid- Aid-to-B Britain Bil Urged in Order to Beat ‘Aggression.’

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (U. P.) —~Secretary of State ; Cordell Hull, declaring that “Germany could easily cross the Atlantic” if Britain falls, urged today speedy enacts ment of the Administration's aid-to-Britain bill in order to defeat ‘aggression and ty

rannical rule.” He told the House Foreign Affairs

against this hemisphere, particularly across the south ‘Atlantic, would be an easy matter “unless we are pre= pared to do what Britain is doing = now.” Mr. Hull was the first witness as the Committee opened hearings on the historic measure in an ate mosphere surcharged by the per= sonal exchange yesterday between: | President Roosevelt and Senator Burton K. Wheeler (D. Mont. | j leader of the opposition forced. = The President denounced Senator Whedar, , tactics as dastar Mr. ul told the Committee that the American people were “more united on aid to Great Britain than on any other subject.” He saith that this nation must not be “deterred or diverted” by German threats from giving air “to the victims of aggression,”

Condemns Nazi Cynicism

the proposed British-aid measu

violated international law — pare ticularly those provisions which would permit British, Greek or Chinese warships to be serviced and outfitted in American ports and out= lying bases. . Asked at one point if he conside ered the pending measure “abso= lutely necessary for the defense of the United States,” Mr. Hull res plied: “I have been unwillingly driven to the consideration to which you refer.” Mr. Hull declared that “German forces could cross the English Channel in an hour's time were it not that Britain is well armed and fighting every hour of the day to prevent the crossing,” and added: “If Germany wins, the Atlantio would provide little barrier.”

Hopes to Keep Sea Control Withholding aid to Britain, Mr,

peace but would consolidate thas ; position of the Axis powers and allow them to prepare for further conquest. vi The bill, he added, would make it g

provide for the security of this nas tion and this continent. “Contro. of the high seas by law abiding nations-is the key to the

“Should that control be gained by the partners of the trie partite pact (Germany -Italye Japan), the danger to our country, great as it is today, would be multis plied manyfold.” Mr. Hull said the Johnson vy

and other debt-defaulting nati would not appear to be inyel (Continued on Page Five)

‘SOUTHERN WEATHER’ | TO REMAIN WITH US’

LOCAL TEMPERATURES am... 32 10 a. m... 35° a m.... 33 11 a. m.... 36 a m.., 33 12 (noon). 37 a. m.,.! 34 1p m... 38

Typical Deep . South’ winter weather . remained today and is scheduled for tonight and tomors

~|row in Indianapolis, a sharp con-

trast from [the cold temperatures: we had at this time last year. ‘ There: will be rain tonight tomorrow and a rising tempera; with the lowest tonight 35 to 40. Quite a bit of ice was reported in the La District, north from Lafayette west from Roche: ; however. ere was also around Veedersburg, Crawfordsvill and Frankfort. Rain was fallin over most of the state. °

ELWOOD COUPLE IN

winning. MISSING AIRPLA

MIAMI, Fla. Jan. 15 (U. Pra Three Coast Guard planes tod continued a search for two p aircraft wi

Committee that a German move =

“rotten and kr 3

Hull ‘$id, would not bring about ah

barring credits or loans to Britain