Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 August 1946 — Page 12

polis Times AGE 12. Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1946 Sg ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ President ! Editor Business Manager A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER / Owned and published daily (except Sunday) by olis Times Publishing Co, 214 W. Maryland st. Postal Zone 9. eh Member of United Press, Scfipps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit Bureau of Circulations. Price in Marion County, 5 cents a copy; delivered by carrier, 20 cents a week. y - Mail rates in Indiana, $5 a year; all other states, U. 8. possessions, Canada and Mexico, 87 cents a month, RI-5551. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

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THAT CITY TAX RATE

(CLIMAXING a serief¥of-hearings marked by absence of any “average taxpayer,” the city council has adopted the all-time high tax rate of $2.07 on each $100 of taxable property as next year’s rate. A 49-cent increase is represented by the rate, which was adopted by a 5-to-8 vote. The levy will raise $11,475,666 of the $13,788,170 authorized by the budget approved by the council. The remainder will be raised from municipal revenues and gasoline taxes.’ : Further study is to be made of “nuisance taxes” as a possible source of revenue, but the councilmen appear to abandon the idea of a payroll tax which was in the picture for a time. The council seemed to go about the business of budgetmaking and pruning in a realistic manner, realizing that the costs of government have increased and that a higher levy could not be avoided. “The tax rate is too high,” agreed Council Finance Chairman Herman E. Bowers, “but we need new sources of revenue if we are to finance the city otherwise.” The astonishing aspect of the whole tax question here is the public indifference to the process of establishing the levies which will have to be paid. Indiana has sound laws permitting taxpayer participation at budget hearings and before levies finally are set. However, there seldom is anyone in evidence at hearings except those appearing for special interests. The small taxpayer frequently benefits by such representation. However his interests are not protected as they would be by militant personal appearance of individual taxpayers or épokesmen for organizations representing the "average taxpayer.

REPARATIONS CONFUSION

USTRALIA has proposed a permanent reparations commission to take the matter of war claims entirely out of the hands of the Paris peace conference and the Big Four council of ministers. The idea seems to make a lot of sense. Even before the peace conference convened, the Big Four had approved Russia's demand for $100,000,000 in reparations from Italy. Since that time Greece, Ethiopia, Albania and Yugoslavia have filed claims against the same country totaling approximately $6 billion. Obviously, Italy has neither the money nor the goods to satisfy such demands. To date, there has been no inventory of enemy state assets and no evaluation and balancing of the claims against them. Nor would any impartial student of recent history suggest that Russia’s claims against Italy should have had priority over those of Ethiopia and Greece, for example, two nations which were actual victims of Italian invasion, as Russia was not.

There is more here than meets the eye, of course. By mortaging Italian economy in practical perpetuity, Italy would be made a slave state of her creditors. This would force her into the Russian orbit, for neither Greece nor Ethiopia would have a large voice in a greup of creditors headed by the Soviet Union, supported by her tough satellites, Yugoslavia and Albania.

RUSSIA has used her creditor position to become permanently intrenched in her occupational zone in Germany. There she has taken title to manufacturing plants in the name of the Soviet Union, operating them in Germany and shipping the products to the homeland. As the biggest industrialist in that part of Germany, the Soviet Union will dominate German economy, even without support of an army of occupation. The only out for nations like Italy would appear to be something such as the Australian propesal, with a reparations commission operating like a bankruptcy court and working an equitable distribution of available assets. Similar treatment would apply to Germany, Austria and Hungary. Russia has not taken kindly to the Australian plan, but unless some such live-and-let-live program can be Svejved, we have the veto, too, and should not hesitate to use it.

DANGEROUS MEAT PAUL PORTER, OPA chief, promises “the toughest pro-

Hoosier

*1 do not agree with a word that you say, but | will defend to the death your right to say it." — Voltaire.

Forum

"Houses in England Built Only For Ex-Soldiers, but Not Here"

By Disgusted, Indianapolis What can be done in a situation like this: We wish to buy a house. One which can be obtained under a G. IL

; loan, as my husband, like many other veterans, does not have a thou-

sand dollars for a down payment, Two months ago we located a house, after many weeks of hunting, which we decided was within our reach. This house—one of twenty or s0 in the process of construction—was labelled with a notice stating that it was erected under a veterans housing plan, and would be available to a veteran up to 30 days after completion for the sum of $7350. We went to see the owners right away and were told that though they preferred to finance the sale themselves (with a $500 down payment),

it could be obtained through a G.I loan, and would be available in about 30 days. Nothing could be done about a loan until the house was completed, so we watched its progress, and a month ago we again visited the owners, and were given a verbal option on the two houses we preferred. Last week the houses appeared to be more or less complete, and we received a telephone call from the corporation saying that they were now available—but not under a G. I. loan. The corporation itself would finance the transaction, with a down payment of $750 and monthly payments of $70 for two years, after which it could be transferred to FHA. We were also told that they expected to be able to increase the original price, in which case the extra cost would be added later. All the houses, incidentally, still bear the previously mentioned notice. This new arrangement is quite beyond our means, and in addition—to further our trust in man's word—we were informed that the houses on which we had been given an option were already sold. After the expiration of the 30 days the houses will be available to anyone, doubtless at an even more handsome profit to the company. ; I am an Englishwoman, and I know the answers which criticism from we “foreigners” evokes. Nevertheless, although the housing eituation in the old country is equally bad, the government maintains a very strict control, and such houses as are erected are solely for the ex-soldier, and within his reach. I know, because my father is a builder. » » 5 “JOHN STELLE DID NOT BUY STATE FARM TURKEYS”

By John Stelle, Arketex Ceramio Corp. Brazil, Ind.

In stopping at the Arketex

holder and president, between my duties as national commander of {the American Legion, I was amazed {at what is a near libelous statement on John Stelle, national commander of the American Legion. I am sure that your paper attempts to quote correct news but apparently the statement by Mr. Sherley Uhl was not correct. John Stelle, as an individual, never bought any turkeys from Mr. Hemmer or anyone connected with the state farm of Indiana but the facts are as follows: It has been the custom for several years for the Arketex Ceramic Corporation, Brazil, Indiana, of which I am a stockholder and president, to give to each employee’s family a Christmas basket, of which turkeys are a part, and, after seeing the article, I inquired where the turkeys were bought in 1944 and our secre-tary-treasurer informed me they were bought of the Indiana state farm of which F. J. Hemmer was superintendent, in the usual manner, as all other transactions of purchase are carried out by our corporation. Our cancelled check shows payment in full to the Indiana state farm, February 8, 1945.

Editor's Note: Mr, Stelle errs in stating that The Times said he personally bought any of the turkeys in question. The Times quoted a special state examiner's report that the Arketex Ceramic Corp. had bought the fowl and stated this corporation was “owned by John Stelle, national commander of the American Legion.” The news story in question quoted the examiner as saying that “the foregoing purchasers are in no way held lable” and that “all . . . paid Mr. Hemmer for produce received.” The state charges Mr. Hemmer failed to deposit the payments to the account of the Indiana state farm. No reflection has been made nor is any

Ceramic Corporation plant, Brazil, Indiana, of which I am a stock-

intended on Mr. Stelle or on the Arketex Corp.

Side Glances—By G

gram yet” against black marketing of meat when price ceilings go back. But a good many people seem to share | “the skepticism of W. K. Jackson, president of the U. S.! Chamber of Commerce, who observes:

: “Old-timers who remember how the enforeement of | prohibition worked in the 20s are inclined toward a show- | me attitude now.”

The government, with all its resources, couldn't enforce | prohibition because millions of citizens wanted booze and | were willing to pay bootleggers to supply it. If enough | citizens are willing to pay above-ceiling prices for steaks, | roasts and chops, black marketeers will take the risk of | serving them, despite Mr. Porter's 2500 enforcement agents. No doubt about that. « LH Whether it's a speakeasy or a black market, it can’t | do business without customers. And to all who are tempted | to patronize meatleggers we commend an article in the | Saturday Evening Post by an. anonymous black-market |

suspension, Meat carved from diseased animals in filthy im i A provised slaughterhouses. ‘Meat collected along country roads at igs in hearses, these being the vehicles least likely to be undertaking parlors and corner saloons, then sold for as a ‘three times OPA ceiling prices. ders of this article will have to get pretty hungry gry before they contribute to a revival of the black For ou ja, if we San get meat from reputable 1g the stamp of established packers, vegegoing to gain a recruit. :

operator who describes the stomach-turning details of the | underground traffic that flourished before OPA’s temporary |

and searched. Meat stored in the back rooms of

albraith

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auto, a radi

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1946 BY NEA SERVICE. INC. 7. M. u. "All | want to borrow is the down payment on a house, Dad—I can

little necessities mysalfl"

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“IMMIGRANTS WHO COME TO U. 8. LOVE AMERICA” By J. M. C., §. Rybolt st. Who is American? It's too bad J. E. R. of Indianapolis cannot remember that somewhere along the line of his ancestors there is bound to be a foreigner. Well, in my case, I am glad I can. It would be a pity to be as prejudiced as he is. Nevertheless, my parents are true Americans. They pay their taxes, vote as naturalized citizens and obey the laws of the land. Also, they gave me all the schooling they could afford, bought their home and help raise the food that perhaps J. E. R. needs to sustain his health. I say let them come! Because they come out of love for America, and because of this love they will make our country richer. In your estimation, J. E. R, exactly who is an American, actually, in this country? Not even the Indians—since they were here before America was known, # » s “TAKE METAL TOKENS UNTIL SUPPLY IS USED” By M. S., Indianapolis Keep it up Mr. Dawson, I am for you. The streetcar company has asked for it. You buy tokens then they change the fare and put those old stubs out to the public. And that’s not all. They crowd you on the cars like cattle. You work all day, stand up all the way from work. Let them put more cars on. One person bought 25¢ worth of stubs, three fares to come out, and the motorman kept the large one. What for? The streetcar company is making enough the way it is. I have some metal tokens. What am I supposed to do with them? Give them back to the company free of charge? So keep it up, Mr. Dawson. I am for you. Let them take the metal tokens that people have until they are gone and then sell them the new stubs. » ».» “DO SOMETHING ABOUT CAR FARES, REASONABLY” By 8. Presti, 1838 Olive st. I read your editorial of Aug. 23. You seem to agree that the Indianapolis Railways should be permitted to raise the fares. I suggest to you that you make a public recommendation that if an increase is granted it should be on the transfers. Leave the token fare at 4 for 25c, charge 3c for the transfers. That would be the logical increase

Why make one pay 8%c for say ten blocks and ‘the other 10% for seventy blocks? Why not charge the one that takes two or three rides? Even if that has to be me. Yes, do something, but do it reasonably. That will cause no bad feeling and the company will make the million that it intends to spend. » » ” “AGREE WITH BOWERS ON REID OFFERING ‘BRIBE'” By A. J. W,, Indianapolis Judging from the front page of The Times Friday and Saturday, the case of Indianapolis Railways vs, the patrons has The Times leaning toward Reid, et al. Not just “one hothead” is against the skulduggery methods used for the utility. You could learn if you could serve your readers by taking a city wide poll. The statement of Reid Friday is as Bowers stated Saturday, “a bribe to the public.” Here is one who remembers your article the railways’ appeals to Go Gates to intercede. What could you call that?

" » ” “DAWSON IS USING CHEAP WAY TO GET PUBLICITY” By C. A. 8, City , Of all the cheap ways to get publicity, Mr. Dawson ‘picked the cheapest. If he really wanted to test the legality of the metal token vs. paper tickets he would have

with the operator like a common thug. I think his actions both shameful and degrading.

8-28

o, a maid and any other

| | mouth, do I hate.—Proverbs 8:13.

DAILY THOUGHT | The fear of the Lord is to hate | evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward

; “nu a A I do hate a proud man, as I hate the engendering -of toads.—Shake-

battled it out in court instead of| cure.

rl,

ANY LITERARY TREATMENT of gambling which has for its purpose the suppression of that curse must, of necessity, include some mention of my father. “Father's definition of gambling was so unyielding that it evert included raffles. Indeed, he refused to attend church for fear it might involve him in bazaars and fairs, And I distinctly recall that he stayed out of saloons the week before Thanksgiving lest he have the luck to bring home an dllicitlyacquired turkey, The result was that when I attained the age of 16, 1 was a reasonably erect and upright youngster so far as gambling was concerned. As for my other virtues, the less said about them the better. I bring up the state of my morals at the age of 16 because that was the year Father conceived and carried out a trip of some magnitude and splendor. Without telling a soul about his plans, he packed up the whole family and took us all for a ride. After skirting the Mediterranean, and goodness knows what else, we finally landed in Switzerland where he tucked us away in a quaint little watering place called Baden which was so old that even the ancient Romans knew about it.

Big Winnings "BADEN HAD ALOT to recommend it in the way of pretty walks and scenery. The most attractive thing about the old town, however, was its modern Kurhaus, a gay rococo palace set apart in a lovely garden for the entertainment of its bored visitors. Well, I had the run of the Kurhaus. Father, always intent on watching over my education, had provided me with a season ticket of my own; and it was a pleasant enough experience for with it went a number of privileges including the opportunity of listening to the jolly music on the terrace every afternoon. I still remember that it was a 15-piece orchestra with one man handling the whole tympani department, a job that calls for at least three men today. When the music was done, it was. my habit to go to the reading room of the casino which was loaded down with newspapers from all parts of the world; indeed, from places as far away as St. Petersburg, Constantinople and Persia. Shows how many, many years ago that was, I can’t remember exactly whether the newspapers happened to be dull that day or whether it was because of the way I was seated; but, whatever the reason, I distinctly recall that one afternoon I saw a crowd of excited people out in the foyer apparently

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.—It’s going to take a year before you see any of these new-fangled prefabricated houses actually being erected for veterans. To date the so-called “new era in low-cost homes” has mostly been an era of photography. There have been pictures widely shown of round houses, aluminum houses, steel houses, glass houses,

and what have you. Each one, its designers claimed, was the answer to the nation’s housing shortage.

Radical Types Prove Successful

WELL, THE GOVERNMENT, in its ponderous way, has been busy analyzing claims of these designers. Results of many tests and studies are gradually separating the screwball from the practical. Surprising is that many of the designs considered most radical and screwball at first glance are proving under test to be most practical. The government isn’t saying yet just which companies and designers have the best chdnce of winning “guaranteed market” contracts. These contracts pledge the government to buy any houses which it approves for large-scale construction and which the manufacturer is unable to sell. But there are several firms whose prefabricated houses are withstanding the tests better than the rest. Announcement of the winners of these contracts is expected to be made in several months. It is expected to be next summer before the successful companies can begin putting prefabs on the market. These prefabricated houses constitute about 40 per cent of 1,500,000-house goal of the governments veterans’ emergency housing program for next year. In other words, close to half of the houses you will see going up next summer under this program will resemble some of the pictures you have been seeing.

‘No More Cold

NEW YORK, Aug. 28.—The pleasant clang of bony skull on bonier skull resounds around the land once more, and all the Pennsylvania boys with the long names have flown South, to acquire culture and a southern accent in Dixie's. citadels of learning. The football season is upon us, but I shall face it unafraid. Everytime I get gloomy about taxes or the United Nations, I-reflect that this year I will not have to watch, let alone cover, any football games, and it is better than a shot of benzedrine. The only pleasant aspect of Pearl Harbor was that it liberated me from the sports desk, and I often wonder about the score of that Dec. 7, 1941; ice-rimmed conflict between the washington Redskins and a club whose name escapes me.

Hard on the Stomach

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT the saltmines of’ Siberia and how tough it was in Alaska. I come right back with a reference to a contest bétween Georgetown university and Bosfon college in 1941, or the 1937 playoff game between the Redskins and the Bears, when the Chicago field was iced like a birthday cake and your fingers fell off when you hit a typewriter. Ernie Pyle used to say that he had been sick in more hotel rooms than any other man. I have been colder in more pressboxes than any Eskimo in any igloo. My internal economy is shot, battered and ravaged by pressbox coffee. Pressbox coffee is made of sulphuric acid and quinine, tinctured with nail

British Foreign

LONDON, Aug. 28.—The Brifish cabinet this week faces a series of major decisions affecting the entire range of ‘world policy. As a result of some of its own muddling and more bad luck, but chiefly because of the Soviet's ‘antiBritish campaign and the split between Russia and the western blocs, many diplomatic crises now come to a head all at once.

Leaders Are Worn OF THE TWO MEN WHO CARRY the heaviest hurden of these dec'sions, Prime Minister Attlee is worn down with many other labors and Foreign Minister Bevin is sick. The third man, Sir Stafford Oripps, has been sent out of the country for a rest

Here in brief are just some of the foreign questions facing Attlee and Bevin, and their probable answers: To stand pat with the United States against the Russian diplomatic offensive or offer another compromise to break the Big Three deadlock at Paris and elsewhere? They probably will attempt the difficult feat of doing both—while continuing to stand with the United States, try to persuade Secretary of State Byrnes to join Bevin in.a conciliation move toward Molotov. . Influencing such a policy are the “back bench”

labor party group hostile to American. “capitalism,”

OUR TOWN . By Anton Scherrer ~ ( Father's Quiet Lesson on

- frowned on that, too.

Gambling moving towards a pre-determined place, and getting there mighty fast. For want of something better to do, I left my chair to learn what all the commotion . was about; with the result that I was sucked into the stream and swept into a sumptiously-appointed room which, without anybody telling me, I immediately recognized as a gambling hall, ’ Almost immediately I was gambling, too. It was 80 easy to catch on. When I entered the room, my week's allowance (flve Swiss francs, the equivalent of an American dollar) was still intact in my pants’ pocket, I handed it to the croupier, a frame at a time, with such happy results that I was at least 10 pounds heavier when I turned up at the cute little house Father had leased to serve as shelter during our stay in Baden. 1 was in somewhat of a quandary as to how to handle the situation when I met Father that evening, Time did not permit me to disguise my newly acquired weight, nor did I have the necessary spade with which to bury my treasure. And, besides, European houses were notoriously short of closets a half cen tury ago. Finally, I decided to be as forthright as possible about the whole matter, a decision probably inspired by the fact that I was so proud of my achievement that I wanted to tell Father about his precocious son. Instead of blowing me up, as I had every reason to expect, Father congratulated me on my success, Had I had any sense at the time, I might have suse pected that he had something sinister up his sleeve. I still remember how he went about it. He asked me how I was going to spend the money, I said I might buy a watch—certainly I had enough to buy the finest one produced in Switzerland—bug he discouraged the idea. Next I proposed buying a complete set of Gibbons’ “Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire” thinking that might impress him. Father

Better Teacher Than Gibbon FINALLY, IN SHEER DESPERATION, I asked him what he would do granting, of course, that he was in my fortunate position, To my amazement he advised me to return to the casino the next day to see whether I couldn't double my wealth. Elated at the outcome, I invited Father to be my guest, Well, the next day the croupier cleaned me out, and right before Father's eyes, too. I felt awful bad about letting Father down like that, but he didn’t seem to mind it in the least. As a matter of fact, Father tried to whistle a tune when the two of us walked home that evening, the only time I ever knew him te wake music of his own.

IN WASHINGTON . . . By Peter Edsor 40% of 1947 Homes To Be Pre-Fabs

The Fuller house—the round one hung on a mast and made of aluminum—has proved to be one of the big surprises to the government experts. At first it was considered the most radical idea offered. Laboratory tests are showing the real common-sense behind its design, however, and its practicality. On the other hand, the idea of houses made with metal panels was at first considered to have the most possibilities. This idea is turning up with many bugs, though none of them are said to be insurmountable, One trouble with metal as an interior and exterior surface is that it tends to “sweat” on the inside during cold weather. Condensation forms on the walls in the house, due to contact between the mois~ ture in the air and the cooler metal. There are ways of getting around this trouble. But it makes meta} panels more expensive. x One of the most importanj aspects of the whole emérgency program is the, /benefits the public will reap from it five to 10 years hence—probably the only good which will come out of the present housing shortage. The government is putting the building industry ahead about 30 years. It is trying to take the important errors out of prefabricated and in« dustrial houses before the veteran moves in

Still Not Fully Developed

PREFABRICATED HOUSES the veterans will bee gin to occupy next summer will be far from perfect, But they will be many times better than they would have been if the government hadn’t taken a hand in the business, and they will serve their purpose. The persons who will really benefit are those wha can sweat out their present living quarters for five or six more years. The houses they should find on the market then will have most of the bugs removed and will be really worthwhile.

REFLECTIONS . . . By Robert C. Ruark

Football Press Box’

parings and brass filings. And I dine today on bland foods, as a result of pressbox sandwiches, which were confected of cold walrus blubber between two pieces of cardboard. If baseball writers are the kings of sportswriting, football writers are the peons, No football writer should ever miss heaven, because he has had his hell regularly in Philadelphia’s municipal stadium, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, when Army be< labors Navy in the mud, snow or ice. A working reporter can get more saleable ine formation from a deaf mute than he culls from the average football coach, who is so charged with caus tion, pessimism and a haunting fear of alumni that his only vocal exercise is a low wail, punctured by excuses. His antithesis is a professional football owner like G. P. Marshall of Washington, whose vocal cords first inspired physicists in their quest for the chain reaction.

No More for Ruark

PRESS BOXES ARE generally situated behind the brass band and the cheering section, for the purpose of obscuring any interesting play which might be happening on the field. Football stadiums are usually located 21 miles from the nearest regular transportation, and are serviced by busses which leave 10 minutes before the reporters finish their over« night leads. That, my lads, is football, and it may be for you but not for me. I get my fun out of hitting myself regularly over the head with a 10-pound hammer,

WORLD AFFAIRS . . « By Ludwell Denny

Problem Highlights

the old foreign office crowd, still thinking Britain's only salvation is a balance of power between the Slav and Yankee giants, and the fact that the weary Attlee and Bevin have too many problems on hand, ‘Maintain a united front with the United States,

WEDNTS Bla Scripp OPA

WASHING has reached na car often are ti vey disclosed to OPA ceiling deals. Public i cities report wic genious ways o control regulatic Scripps-Howal vestigated the opportunities to cars at prices fi

High Eva In Evansville, known to have and sold each al Pittsburgh . re for fabulous pri the Mexican bo In Los Angele made on a racke car purchaser | an auto for a | fancy price bef to buy it outrig! Dealers there were sold at “ film colony peo ings were off. Here's the wa is operating in INDIANAPOL cars to individu fide deals but “knockdown” of individual sells lot operator fo to $500, and t it for a bigger apolis Times re $1700 for a 19 $2150 trade-in change for a Po for which the ¢ $3300. Many re such a practice. CLEVELANDvealed transac used-car dealer pedo 8 for $281

France and Turkey against Moscow's demands for i bases in Turkey and virtual control of the straits, or 5

seek compromise? No compromise. Pressure Poland for free elections as soon ag pledged or patch up the quarrels? Probably remain firm on election issue but give Warsaw a good face saver in agreeing to some of its demands for dew militarizing Gen. Anders’ anti{-Red army m exile Strike back at Tito’s provocative acts and policies In the Trieste area or play down this dispute as well as the United States’ Yugoslavid dispute? Probably future London notes and moves will he

far more restrained and conciliatory than recen§ |

Washington blasts, but there will be no compromise to let Tito have Trieste.

Buy Moslem Support

GIVE THE NEW NEHRU government in India a full trial as constituted or renew efforts to brin Jinnah's Moslem League into coalition? . . While maintaining a bold front, probably a mere vigorous attempt than ever will be made behind the scenes to buy Jinnah's co-operation at almost any

- #

$1650 in cash @ mortgage, with insurance and An auto editor Dodge for $2950 $3650 . and a $2250, all far at HOUSTON-] dealers offerin makes of cars at $1000 to $15( porter was ask sedan with ¢ speedometer. KNOXVILLE are said to ha “available” for the ceiling pri