Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 February 1941 — Page 1

A Financial .}..

UME 52—NUMBER 280

FOR. ECAST: Fair tonight and tomorrow; not much change in » temperatu re} lowest tonight about 25.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1941

JURY MAY HEAR PAY OFF STORY

Fire True Selesn Sajesman to Be

Asked to Appear With His| Evidence."

A fire-fighting equipment salesman, who is alleged to have charged that a “pay-off” was involved in the recent pp of equipment for the Indianapolis Department, will be invited tp present his charges and evidence to the Marion County Grand Jury. 3 ’ ! This was decided today by the Safety Board and a group of Couns c¢ilmen who met to investigate the “pay-off” charges, which were alleged to have been made privately to Council members at the meeting last Monday| night. At that time, Council was considering the (ratification of the purchases—two | aerial ladder trucks— and it withheld approval until the investigation could be completed. At today’s meeting, neither the man who, is| alleged to have made the charges|nor the regional sales

manager of [the company he works for were prgsent. The local representative wrote the Safety Board, however, that he would present all “pay-off” information publicly at the new Council meeting.| Safety Board members and Councilmen congluded that the charges |, were “merely the statements of a disgruntled | bidder, Whose bid’ was

not, acceptegl.” Frank Ross, Safety Board member, d that in view of the fact that the charges had been made, thd local representative should be invited to appear before the Grand Jury with evidence. Mr. Ross] suggestion was reiterated by Council President Joseph G. Wood and Councilman Guy Ross. Mr. Wood told the Board that the local representative “admitted he [had nojevidence of a pay-off.”

. TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

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Cla; per. Celfees 13 Movies . «1M Comics pa oo 20| Mrs. Ferguson, 14 . Crossword J... 19| Music ........ 17 itorials .... 14|Obituaries .... Fashions § ig 16| Pegler ........ 14 aliPyle....uoive til a HM Radio .... ceiest 11 .. 14/ Mrs. Roosevelt 13 . 16 [Serial Story... 20 3|Side Glances.. 14 13 Society . .+15, 16 1618 10

J| firemen.

|among thos

Four Killed, 40

Hurt as Gas

Blasts Rock S. Philadelphia

Policeman Hero Dies When

Second of Three Explosions

Levels Home Where He Hunied Survivors.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11 (U. P.).—lour persons were killed today and 40 injured, 10 seriously, when three gas main explosions destroyed

1 nearly a block of homes in South Philadelphia,

Police said there was little likelihood other bodies would be found in the debris, and that all persons rey »orted missing had been accounted

for. A patrolman, James Clark, was among those killed. He was in a home hunting survivors of the first explosion when a second blast leveled the structure. The other dead were identified

"| tentatively as Mrs. Angelina Trer-

otola, 49, and her two daughters, Lena, 21, and Maria, 15. 'The father, Carminio, 51, and a son, Rocco, 16, a deaf mute, were among those “critically injured. A fifth body, that of a child, at first was reported found, but later investigation = proved | the report false. : : The body of one of the otola; girls was found uprig a bed with wire clutched ix hands. Firemen said she appa had grabbed a light cord. All available hospital amb in the city were summoned persons less fl given first aid treatment a scene. <]

Trer-

Mass of Flames

The second and third exp came after rescueg crews reached the scene and the became a mass of flames se moments later. The explosions a jagged trench, two feet wide a foot deep, down the middle street. Utility. company trouble s immediately turned | off al mains in the area, fearing th fire might spread and cause tional explosions. The first blast occurred | most of the residents in the still were in their beds, The g part of them had not yet leff homes: when the second exp roeked the section. 1 The blasts were felt as far as Sou thern New Jersey.

‘Many Firemen Hurt

Among the injured were | many A Battalion Chief, John Cost, was hurt critically when) struck by bricks- from a crumbling wall. Two fire department captains hospitalized. Four houses were demolisl the first blast and others and crumbled in the two blasts followed. : The street was roped off and only policemen; - firemen: and / rescue workers were permitted in the area. Many residents of the.area, an

at the addi- |

Italian section, were dazed as they]

omes into the policemen.

stumbled from their arms of firemen

Small children, most: of them infthe 1

HOSPITAL FOR INSANE ISOLATED BY FLOOD

2800 Face Food Shortage: High Water Lashes Coast.

UKIAH, Cal, Feb. 11 (U.P.).— I"loods isolated 2800 insane patients today in the Mendocino State Hospital, and guards doubled precautions against any attempted break. |The lunatics were in no immeciate denger because flood waters of the Russian River and Mill Creek were several hundred yards from the| building, but authorities feared a food shortage unless the flood ebbed within three days. "| The flood that isolated the hospital and blocked highways in Mendocino County, jhreatened large areas of Northern California. The Sacramento River, its tributaries and other streams were bankful or flooding from heavy rains and melting snows. pected to strike the coast today. Eight deaths were blamed on high water or stormy weather. || Some sections were hit by “flash” floods. The San Lorenzo River gyetriowed and isolated 200 homes. 54 | undating farmland.

HOOSIERS APPROVE NEW CASH FOR DIES

Times Special | WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.—Al Indiana Congressmen will support

. [the $150,000 appropriation to con-

tinue the Dies Committee, a poll of | thé delegation disclosed kefore the vot: was taken today. Only Rep. William T. Schulte, Lake County Democrat, opposed past ~appropriations for the Commiftee which is empowered to investigate all subversive and un-

] American activities.

However, yesterday as a member of | the House Committee on Accounts, he voted to report out the $150, 000 _8ppropriation.

REPORT GENERAL DIES CAIRO, Feb. 11 (U:P.)).— The Middle East Command reported today eit Jen. Tellera, commanding

A new storm was ex-.

Fresno River and Cotton Creek build

4

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

E FOR B

SENATE 70 END HEARINGS WITH HIS TESTIMONY

Harvard Head Favors War If Necessary to Beat Axis; La Guardia Backs Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (U. P.). —Wendell L. Willkie, President Roosevelt's bitter political opponent last fall, today flew to Washington

ministration’s case for the British aid bill. In. his testimony this afternoon

Committee, it was understood he would urge further limitations, particularly one restricting its aid-to-democracies to Great Britain, Greece and China. He returned Sunday from an inspection trip to England. Late today Mr. Willkie will go to the White House and tell the President what he saw and heard in Britain, where he talked with King George, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and almost all other top government leaders. Lauds British Courage

Preceding Mr.. Willkie, Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia of New York urged approval of the bill for “purely selfish American interests” and President James B. Conant of Harvard University recommended American participation in the war if necessary to defeat the Axis, Mr, Conant, in response to questions, told the Committee that the United States should give Britain assurances that she will join in the war if there is no other ways of defeating Germany and Italy. However, he stressed belief that the pending measure is purely a bill to provide material aid, and that Congress should proceed “one step at a time.” Mr. La Guardia, who is chairman of the joint U. S.-Canadian Defense Board, paid tribute to the “courage and gallantry of the British people in the defense of their homeland.” “When that epic is written, it will

{be gn epic of civilization when the

names of Hitler and Mussolini will be used only to denote. a sort of mental disorder,” he said. U. S. Not Ready, He Says “I cannot afford to theorize about the date of an attack on us, or the causes of an attack or the probability of an attack because I happen to be the chief executive of a town on the Atlantic coast,” he said. “I want to be realistic and take no chances.” The proposed aid to Britain, he said, “is not offered because of our military strength as of Feb. 11, 1941, but because of our military weakness as of Feb. 11, 1941.”

Hitler and Mussolini are defeated, we get off very cheaply,” Mr. La Guardia added. “If the defense (Continued on Page Five)

Offers Photos

To Prove Case

CARLOS DEEDS, 1712 N. Meridian St., admitted in traffic court today that he failed to come to complete stop at 38th St. and Sutherland Ave., but he brought along proof of his excuse. Charged with failing to stop at a preferential street, he told Judge John L. McNelis: “I didn’t stop because I didn’t see the sign.” He handed the judge three photographs. Each picture. showed that the stop sign had been bent’ over and was almsot touching the ground. Judge McNelis withheld judgment.

TWO YOUTHS NABBED ON ROOF OF STORE

When the police emergency squad went to the Star Store, 360 W. Washington St., today in response to an A. D. T. alarm, they discov= ered wo youths on the roof of the g. William Montgomery, A. D. T. emergency employee, captured one youth and Sergt. Kent Yoh nabbed the second. Before they were captured, the

air pistols. A third youth, suspected of being the “lookout” for the two, was arrested today at his East Side home.

HOPKINS ON WAY TO U. S. ABOARD CLIPPER

LISBON, Portugal, Feb. 11 (U. P.). —Harry L. Hopkins was en route to the United States today on the Pan American Airways’ new refugee route. He will touch at Bolama, Portuguese Guinea; Trinidad, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before reaching New York. Mr. Hopkins had been in England a ‘month as President Roosevelt's personal envoy. He left by clipper

from New York to close the Ad-|

before the Senate Foreign Relations| ®

“If England is victorious and if}

pair threw down their ,arms—B-B y

194 | Honor Man

A. E. Baker. . . . He and Community Fung ore SYRONOmOLS,

A. E. BAKER GETS FUND'S TRIBUTE

Shares It With Workers; Directors Named at “Victory” Dinner.

A. E. Baker, mild-voiced insurance man with a reputation as a “workhorse,” was named honorary member for 1941 at the 21st anhual Community Fund banquet last night. Mr. Baker was infroduced as “Andy,” by Almus G. Ruddell, last year’s honorary member, to about 500 friends at the affair in the red-white-and-blue decorated -Columbia Club ballroom.

Mr. Baker has been a , Community Fund worker since its inception in 1920 and when his name was announced spontaneous applause, was started: and .did -not_ stop until ‘long Siig he had reached the speaker’s rum, “I am grateful for this honor, and for your kind words,” he said. “It is a grand tribute and I shall cherish it always.

Shares His Honor

“ waht to accept this honor as a representative of that large group of men and women who have worked so hard to make the Community Fund a success. It is with all of them that I want to share this honor.” Last pight was the second “Victory Dinner” at which fund workers prided themselves in. a more than 100 per cent subscription in 1940. The first was on Oct. 24, the last night of the campaign when they reported pledges of $688,719, W. C. Griffith, fund president, congratulated directors, officers and workers last night on their success and offered suggestions for further improvement in fund raising techmies. In particular, he congratulated Virgil Martin, fund manager, who was in many ways responsible for the reduction in campaign and central administration. expenses from 7.9 per cent in 1939 to 6.8 per cent. Mr. Griffith cited that the average of the goal raised in 299. Community Funds throughout the country was 97.5 per cent as compared (Continued on Page Seven)

PREDICT NAZI THRUST IN. BRITISH UNIFORMS

PHILADELPHIA, Feb, 11 (U.P.). —Former Assistant Secretary of War Louis A. Johnson believed today that when Hitler makes his attack on the British Isles he will use 700,000 Nazi pardchute troops attired in English uniforms. Mr. Johnson told the Philadelpris. . Insurance Hoeisty last night at Germany has making British uniforms for the invasion attempt. He said he doubted, however, that the invasion would succeed. “Somehow I: Welieve the Providence that guides us all is going to see to it that he does not reach England,” Mr. Johnson predicted.

A rival liquor control bill, containing that -

by the was in by Senator Orville T, Stout (R. Vincennes). Introduction of the bill by a Republican mficated the beginning of

tilled Spirits Institute and is supby : several

Senators “from both a It also has been in-

dorsed by leading liquor interests, he

said that he could ments

from Lisbon just after midnight. He | said. state-

bill. would

‘RIPPERS’ PASS IAS GOP BOLTER

ASSAILS ‘GRAB

Two Bills Go to Schricker; Dausman Says Voters ‘Didn’t Ask This.’

In the Legislature

The Hopper ..........Page 3 Textbooks .......ceevcees.. 13 Other Legislative News 3, 6, 13

Despite protests that. members had not seen br heard the amendments, the G. O. P.-controlled House today accepted Senate changes: in two of their major “decentralization” bills and sent them to the Governor, But the action came only after one Republican veteran had bolted from the party fold and another rebelled and voted against concurring in both measures. The “big ripper” bill, which sets up a State government controlled by four G. O. P.-dominated boards giving the Governor only minority voice, and the rewritten State High~ way Commission “shakeup” bill were the measures involved. Rep. Guy Dausman (R. Goshen) filed a bitter protest with the House describing the G. O. P. program as “porn of the lust of power which sired the 1933 McNutt Reorganization Act. ; An Indianapolis Republican, Rep. Alva Baxter, also voted against concurring in the Senate amerldments to both measures “because I didn’t have a chance to see the amendments.”

The Democrats Object -

Rep. Dausman is the seat-mate of Majority Leader -Frank Millis, and has had a rocky time this session, introducing tin bills which have been killed in eommitiee or on the floor. In his protest, the. Goshen "representative charged that.if the Supreme Court rules out the decentralization program, “Governor Schricker will be a king, for in him and in him alone would the Constitution invest all execuftve powers.” The Democratic minority opened the argument by objecting to Rep. Millis’ motion that the House concur in the Highway bill amendments. Rep. Millis explained them, but they were not read in full. “We don’t know what’s in these amendments and we think we have a right fo,” said Minority Floor Leader Winfield Denton. Rep. Claude Baylor (D. Speed) said he spent several hours yesterday trying to see the rewritten Highway bill, but was told by both the Sen(Continued on Page Seven)

‘SPRING’ TO LINGER HERE ANOTHER DAY

Mercury Goes to High 40s Under Bright Sun.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6a. m. .... 30 9a m. . 3 17am .....30 10am... 42 §am ....33 11 a. m, ... 47

That good old springlike weather which greeted Indianapolis today probably will linger another 24 hours or so, the Weather Bureau predicted today. The Bureau forecast continued fair weather tonight and tomorrow, with the terhperature dropping to about 25 tonight.

ROAD 62 BIDS ASKED

The State Highway Commission announced today that it will receive bids March 4 for the construction of a new 22-foot pavement linking the huge new Government powder plant at Charlestown with Jeffersonville. The new pavement will make Road 62 a dual-lane highway for 12 miles, helping relieve the

present traffic congestion.

GOP Fight Looms as Senator Introduces Rival Liquor Bill

lare sty county dry. Its decisions on granting liquor permits, however, could be overruled by the State

The G. o. P. Steering Committee proposal, scheduled to be introduced in the House today, would set up three-member county boards which would have complete control over all liquor permits without appeal to the State Commission in case of a unanimous decision. Under Senator Stout’s bill, a dry county ‘board could refuse to grant any permits, the same as the Steering Committee plan, but a wet county board would be controlled in its permit orders by the State Commission. The appointive setup. under Senator 8 1 15 .

FINAL

HOME |

t+ PRICE THREE CENTS | «4

U-Boat Base

Europe in what appeared to

marked a resumption of Nazi

Frank Stevens, United

cities are blacked out.

in civilian garb.

Balkans.

time being by an official deni Bulgaria. There was one factor which seemed to militate against any immediate large-scale warfare in the Balkans—the

weather. Although the Germans are known

On War Front

Today's War Moves. . General describes battle. Other War News

.Page 2 - avs 3 “3

to have prepared many pontoon bridges along the Danube, ice still is floating down the river and it seemed doubtful that many troops

.|could be moved from Rumania into

Bulgaria by this means or the inadequate roads which connect the two countries until winter relaxes. Airplane movement of troops, of course, . could be carried on with little interference. The Balkans were not the only crisis point. Gen. Francisco Franco an Serrano Suner of ‘Spain were jen route ‘to Italy for a. meeting with Premier Benito Mussolini and, some reports said, Adolf Hitler. Mystery surrounded the conference but Vichy heard reports that Germany wants Spanish bases from which to attack Gibraltar, British Mediterranean shipping and sea routes in the South Atlantic. On his return from Italy Franco is expected to meet his friend, Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, for discussions which may revolve around Spanish colonial dmbitions in North Africa. The sharpest R. A. F. attack of the last 24 hours was made on Hanover which was under air bombardment for six hours and was left, the British said, a sea of. fire by the end of the raid. The British Admiralty revealed (Continued on Page Five)

DEMOCRATS TO MAP STAND ON ‘RIPPERS’

A special meeting of the State Democratic Committee, the first since the opened, has been. called for next Monday noon by. State Chairman Fred F, Bays." Governor Henry Schricker will address the committee members at a Junehech on legislative matters. The Sommitiee is expected to outdts _ position Te Rept plans

Ramon

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Foreign Writer

Squadrons of Nazi troop-carrying planes roared across: the Balkans today amid multiple signs that major militeg action may start soon in that troubled area. 0 The Royal Air Force was sweeping the skies over

as far as the Bulgarian border. cel patch revealed that Rumanian railroads are clogged with military trains moving masses of iroops

R. A. F. Sweeps European Skies on 24-Houp Basis as British Warships Bombard

at Ostend. .

be a 24-hour-a-day offensive

designed to smash, if possible, Adolf Hitler's surprises bes fore the German military machine rolls into high gear. : Explosive possibilities were generating in| the Balkans, Budapest reported 60 or more German transports flying eastward toward Rumania and hinted that today’s flights = military air movements which = | had been interrupted by three days bad weather, 4

Rumanian Railroads Clogged

%

Press staff correspondent af Bucharest, transmitted a dispatch indicating that Germam military movements in Rumania may be in full swing,. y Mr. Stevens made a personal inspection of the situation His ‘heavily censored dis

Indications were that Germany is rushing preparations Bd to launch large scale movement of troops into Bulgaria where, it has been reported reliably, several thousand Nazi: soldiers already are stationed, “having entered the countrys TN | | British Expected to Act | | ¢ The British, having taken the initiative b breaking: diplomatic relations with Rumania, appeared unlikely to wait idly while the Nazi war machine gets up steam in the

Istanbul reported that British diplomats throughout the! Balkans have sent all confidential papers to Turkey for safes ie keeping and are prepared to leave at a moment's notice. «© 1 Amid these alarms Sofia remained quiet and even res i | ported belief that the atmosphere had been cleared for the

al that Nai $eoops are in:

LANDON CRITICAL

Protect Own Firms at Cost. Of Defense, He Says.

TOPEKA, Kas. Feb. 11 (U, Pym Alf Landon said today that some of the country’s $1-a-year men are trying to protect their own coms

production,

“dog in the manger” attitude so far as theim own plants are concerned. and are holding up production defense contracts by refusing to farm out to smaller companies parts

unable to keep up!'with schedules. last week on the British aid bill,:

serious in_his opinion was the cne caused by, “too many of the big industrial organizations being too much concerned about holding and

production done through using. the equipment of others.” :

Dog's Icy Stunt Cools Police Heels

it’s going to do it in spite of Riven all the time being perfectly polite about everything. Someone informed polio | this dog was stranded on a ¢ of ice near the 10th St. bile They found the river thinly £ en over and that, barring a b: the dog was in no danger. The dog wagged be tail smiled when police called him," went to the other hoe : "it returned to the ice and sat watched the police.. Since the | wouldn’t. hold . police, this turne

img ly lice finally gave

. b

panies at the expense of defense

He said that these men, whom he did not name, are adopting &

of jobs on which they have been :

Interviewed upon his return here from Washington, where he testified

Mr. Landon discussed production y bottlenecks and declared the most

All: Rumanighi t a

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FEW $1-A-YEAR EN