The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

a a Yesterday's High, 85; Low, 63. Telephone Riley 7311. Partly Cloudy. In Morning and Sunday Circulation FOR TODAY: THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR FIRST IN INDIANA VOL. 37.

NO. 86. WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 30, 1939. Entered Indianapolis, as Ind. Second-Class Issued Matter Daily at and Post Sunday.

Ofce, THREE CENTS. BRITISH CABINET CALLED ON HITLER REPLY City Drops Plans to Buy Water UtilityEXTRA A AGENTS FAIL TO GUARANTEE ESTATE TITLE Motion to End Negotiations Adopted by Mayor's Subcommittee, Citizens' Advisory Group. The city yesterday abandoned plans to purchase the Indianapolis Water Company. At a meeting in the office of Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan, members of the Citizens' Advisory Committee and the mayor's subcommittee adopted a motion to stop negotiations The to proposal buy the was s'abandoned because of failure of representatives of the C.

H. Geist estate, owner of the company, to guarantee title to the city in the event of purchase. Directors of the Indianapolis utilities' district and members of the city Council will meet later with Mayor Sullivan to hear the report of the two committees officially and to act on it. This will be mere formality, however, the mayor explained. Councilmen, the mayor and the utility directors, una new utilenpurchase must apin Indiprove any anapolis.

Believe Deal Is Off: The door for further negotiations, however, was left slightly by terms of the motion, but ajar both Mayor Sullivan and committee members expressed the opinion that the deal is off. If, at some future date, the Geist estate should make a title guarantee to the city, it is possible that negotiations might be reopened but it is known that H. S. Schutt, president of the water company and executor of the estate, has called off his negotiations and decided to continue operation of the company as a private utility. The motion to abandon efforts to purchase the company was offered by Frank B.

Ross, a member of the Board of Public Safety and a member of the mayor's subcommittee. It was seconded by Ernest C. Ropmember of the city Council key, and the subcommittee. The resolution is as follows: Schutt, one of the "Harry executors of the Geist estate, towith C. W.

McNear and Fred Bates Johnson, attended the last meeting of the subcommittee and stated, in substance, Geist estate would not indemnify the against unknown and state taxes and other claims that might be asserted against the Geist estate, the Indianapolis Water Company, the Indianapolis Waterworks Indianapolis Security Waterworks Company "Invest- ment Company. Must Obtain Indemnity. "Mr. Will H. Thompson, attorfor utilities district, has ney advised the city and the utilities that unless indemnity is districta there is likely substantial cost of acquisition of the property of the Indianapolis Waten, view Company.

of the attitude on the of the representatives of part Geist estate, I now move that the subcommittee and the citizens' advisory committee recommend to the common Council mayor, and the utilities district, that the city abandon all present efforts to purchase the Indianapolis Water Company." The motion was adopted with but one dissenting vote. Mayor Sullivan said one man, whose name not disclosed, favored purchase was, the utility without the guarantee because "it would be a great bargain." Although the bond market situation was not mentioned in the motion, it is known that it was considered at yesterday's meeting. The deal was predicated on the Turn To Page 3. Column 4. Princeton Balked On Water Voting to The Indianapolis Star.J Princeton, Aug.

29. -Alpolling booths were in place, ballots printed and election boards named, Princeton citizens did not vote today on the administration's plan for acquiring the water works system now operated by a private utility. The latest round in the fight was sounded last night when Judge John W. Spencer Jr. of the Vanderburg Circuit Court in Evans-! ville granted a restraining order in a suit brought by 18 plaintiffs, against the city administration.

A complaint has been filed in Gibson Circuit Court but since Judge A. Dale Eby was out of the city the case was laid before the Vanderburgh judge. The complaint alleges that proper ordinances have not been enacted by the Council. Judge Spencer, after issuing the restraining order, said the hearing for an injunction would be set by Judge Eby Sept. 11.

Herman P. Lieber, Civic Leader, Dies HERMAN P. LIEBER. Welfare Worker, Former City Council Member Was 65. Herman P.

Lieber, president and treasurer of the H. Lieber Company and prominent in business and civic affairs of Indianapolis many years, died at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon in St. Vincent's Hospital. He was 65 years old. A lifelong resident of the city, Mr.

Lieber was a member of the prominent family that provided many of the cultural and social leaders of earlier Indianapolis. His home was at 1415 Central nue. Funeral services will be held in the Flanner Buchanan mortuary, 25 West Fall creek parkway. Time of the services has not been set. Cremation will follow.

Active in public life as well as in affairs, Mr. Lieber business, the city Council and had been active in social welfare work. In 1931 he was named the year's honorary member of the Indianapolis Community Fund for his service to the city. Wins Baxter's Praise. "To recount the factors which have entered into the selection of Mr.

Lieber for this honor would be to recount the part he has taken in every good and forward movement in this community during his entire life," Arthur R. Baxter, then president of the fund, said in his announcement of the honor. "No man in Indianapolis has devoted more time, shown saner judgment, broader sympathies or given finer diplomacy to the advancement of this cause through many years, and in difficult seasons, than Herman Lieber. "In the field of art culture Herman Lieber has been an outstanding figure in raising standards of our city. In the arena of politics he played a prominent part, never' for his own benefit but ever for the good of us all.

In the business life of the city his name stands as a landmark for progressive business done upon the highest possible ethical standards. "Mr. Lieber was most unusual example of a well-rounded life of usefulness in many directions, and Turn To Page 3, Column 3. U. S.

HOLDS UP 4 LINERS FOR ARMS SEARCH Bremen, Others Kept in Port -Germans Protest -Kuhn Flight Attempt Feared. New York. Aug. collector of the port of New York tonight ordered the German liner Bremen, the Normandie of the French line and the British Aquitania and Transylvania to remain at their Hudson river piers "pending a search by customs officers satisfactory to me." The big German ship already had been subjected to a day-long search and held many hours beyond her scheduled 6 a. m.

(Eastern standard time) sailing time-a detention which a North German Lloyd Line official said had prompted the German embassy in Washington to protest to the State Department. (In Washington, however, the State Department several hours later said it had not received such a protest.) Collector Harry Durning's order followed by only a few hours the statement of President Roosevelt at a press conference that the Bremen was being held to make certain she could not be equipped for offense purposes. The treatment, President said, would be given the merchant ships of all potential European belligerents. Renew Search Today. Durning said the search of the Bremen will start afresh in the morning and that the other ships will be searched simultaneously.

in sailing of the Normandie, scheduled to leave at 9 a. and the Aquitania, due to leave at 11 a. was likely. The Transylvania was scheduled to leave at 4 p. m.

The collector said he hoped to complete the search before tomorrow night and that 100 customs men were at work on the Bremen alone. The search, he added, was "absolutely made for arms and nothing else." Today's search of the Bremen, he said, disclosed no guns -nothing subject to seizure except a camera and an ikon, a Russian religious image, which he stated were not declared on the ship's manifesto. Durning's orders to the four ships were contained in telegrams to their captains: "Pending search by customs officers satisfactory to me clearance will not be granted." Germans Voice Surprise. Officials of the German line, who said they were advised that Durwas "not fully satisfied with today's search" expressed amazement in view of the all-day scouring of the ship by dozens of customs men. It was Capt.

William Drechsel, marine superintendent of the North German Lloyd line, who said the German embassy was protesting to the State Department. Earlier, he denounced the enforced delay as "a very unfriendly act" by the United States. Drechsel said he first had called the matter to the German em- Turn To Page 4, Column 5. Byrd's Giant Snow Cruiser to Take "Straddling the Road" Course Upstate The giant "snow cruiser" which on his antarctic expedition this fall next on its route from to Boston." Northern Indiana highways over which it will pass will be closed. The highways will be guarded by state police, while a special detail of state policemen will accompany the cruiser.

Definite date for the trip has not been announced. State highway commissioners yesterday issued an order providing for closing of the roads, however, within 24 hours after they receive word from Chicago that cruiser is ready to start. T. A. Dicus, highway commission chairman, announced the plans for accommodating the gigantic machine after a conference of the commissioners and J.

T. Voshell of Chicago, representative of the Federal Bureau of Public Roads, which is arranging with highway authorities along the entire route from Chicago to Boston. Wider Than Highway. The cruiser will take up practically the entire highway width, and, on U. S.

31-part of the route, will be too wide for the pavement. The wheels, equipped with rubber tires, are 19 feet 8 inches apart (from center edge to outer edge), while U. S. 31 pavement is only 18 feet wide. Mr.

Dicus said that the tires will "ride the berm" the seven-mile stretch on U. S. 31, but that this will not harm the highway. The machine weighs 55,000 pounds, stripped of equipment and Bremen Encounters Delay on Trip to U.S. The German liner Bremen, detained in New York last night by United States customs officers, is shown here crowded with 1,600 persons on its recent arrival in America.

Many of them hurrying from war-fearful Europe, the passengers for two days were cut off from the world with incoming and outgoing radio messages banned. All vessels from Europe were crowded to capacity and cots were set up in lounges and smoking rooms. Johnson Piles Up Mississippi Lead Bilbo Backed Candidate Elected Governor on Unofficial Returns. Jackson. Aug.

Paul B. Johnson, running with the political blessing of Senator Theodore G. (The Man) Bilbo, today was elected Governor of Mississippi on the basis of unofficial returns from nearly three quarters of the state's voting precincts. Johnson held a majority of 000 votes over his rival, Martin Sennett (Mike) Conner. with returns tabulated from 1.194 of the state's 1,660 voting precincts.

It seems certain he would gO into office in today's Democratic runoff primary by a majority that might touch 25,000 votes. The Democratic nomination here means election. Conner's defeat was A blow to aspirations of Senator Pat. Harrison, who backed him, and Governor Hugh White, who also backed Conner and who hoped to have a friendly Governor in office when he is expected next year to al.tempt. to unseat Bilbo in the Senate.

Bilbo, who advocates a third term for President Roosevelt, announced his support of Johnson, while Harrison, an occasional opponent of Roosevelt policies, let it be known he was for Conner. Third Washing Stolen, Woman Tells Police Three weeks ago, Mrs. John Caylor, 365 Burgess avenue, washed, hung her clothes up in the back yard and went back into the house. When she came out they had been stolen. Two weeks ago, Mrs.

John Caylor, washed, hung 365 her Burgess clothes avenue. back yard and went back into the house. When she came out they had been stolen. Yesterday, John Cav. uh-huh, they'd been stolen again.

Mrs. Caylor told the police about it. Angry Bull Joins Chase, So Fugitive Surrenders Charleston, S. Aug. (U.P.) -Hubert Owens was held on a Federal liquor charge tonight, with the honor of his capture going to a bull.

Federal alcohol tax unit agents were chasing Owens. He leaped from his car and fled afoot into a wooded grove. The agents followed. Owens dashed into a moonlit, open field and slammed right into a grazing bull. The outraged animal joined the chase and Owens was glad enough 10 be rescued and arrested- -by the Federal men.

Chief Louisiana Engineer Ejected From Dinner Hall New Orleans, Aug. -Col. Harry Jacobs, chief Louisiana state engineer, tonight was ejected from a testimonial dinner for Brig. Gen. Harley B.

Ferguson, president of the Mississippi river commission, when Jacobs, a speech, belittled Ferguson's flood control work. Jacobs ascended the speakers' platform and expressed indignation that Ferguson had the Louisiana state engineeren due credit for the work they had done in curbing the Mississippi river. PARIS PAPERS SAY ANSWER MAKES STRONG OBJECTIONS, DEMANDS LAND SETTLEMENT Excited London Leaders Study Fuehrer's Note Until Wee Hours of Morning--Chamberlain Tells Commons Nation Not to Concede a "Jot" in Supporting Poland's Independence. INSISTS BORDER TENSION BE ENDED WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN TANK Sanitation Plant Workers Make Discovery--Three Groups Investigate. Police, deputy prosecutors and the coroner's office last night opened an investigation into the mysterious death of Mrs.

Lena Miller, 39-year-old housewife. whose body was found yesterday afternoon in a septic tank at the city sanitation plant. Unidentified for several hours. the body lay in the city morgue until it was, pointed out by the husband. Harry Miller, 39, 207 South Davidson street, early last night.

The body, dressed in the same clothing in Which Mrs. Miller had left her home hours earlier, was discovered by employes in one of about 40 open septic tanks in Eagle woods on South Harding street. It bore no apparent evidence of foul play, Dr. Norman R. Booher, deputy coroner, said.

Following a post-mortem examination last night at city morgue, Dr. Booher withheld a verdict until examination of specimens he submitted to Dr. Rolla N. Harger, toxicologist at the Indiana University medical center. Dr.

Booher said the lungs did not contain enough water to indicate death by drowning. Meanwhile, detectives began a close check of Mrs. Miller's movements after she left. her home Monday night. and investigated a report that two men, in a black or blue coupe, had been seen near the sanitation plant early yesterday morning.

Arnold Siefker, 4015 Ruckle street, master mechanic at. the plant, said the body could not have passed through the sewer. The tank itself is 125 feet long, 12 feet wide and 15 feet deep, is protected by a two-bar guardrail and is kept under flood light at night. The grounds are well lighted. Tells of Seeing Coupe.

Houston C. White, 229 Morgan street, night watchman at plant, told detectives that the coupe, bearing two men and a woman, passed slowly near the tank at 3:35 o'clock yesterday morning. He was unable to say, however. whether the car was stopped later. Detectives Donald Bushong and William Lahrman, assigned to the case, learned Mrs.

Miller left her home Monday night. Miller, the husband, told them he went out on the to smoke and returned to wife had left. He reporches ported her missing the next morning. police records showed. The body was found by Robert Turn To Page 4, Column 1.

How It Feels to Be SCARLETT O'HARA By VIVIEN LEIGH America's most envied heroine, the girl who came from England to take the leading part in "Gone With the Wind," tells her story In THIS WEEK The Star's Colorgravure Magazine NEXT SUNDAY DENY 2 SCHOOLS' PLEA FOR BUSES Board Members Accept Bids For Construction Work At Irvington. A request for bus transportation for children attending Schools 86 and 43, many of whom have 1 to walk long distances, was denied last night by the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners following a report by an investigating committee. The committee explained that many children in other schools have to walk equally long distances to school and unless transportation could be provided for all it was deemed inadvisable to grant the request. The board accepted bids for construction work on Thomas Carr Howe High School as follows: General construction work, Service Construction Company, heating and ventilating, Fred G. Janits, plumbing and sewer work, Strong Brothers, $13,478, and electrical work, Keystone Electric Company, $9,177.

Fence to Cost $4,120. The Continental Steel Corporation, with a low bid of $4,120, was awarded the contract for A. chain link fence at Broad Ripple High School. The board adopted a resolution requesting the PWA 10 make changes in its latest revised estimated cost for School 20 so a8 10 transfer unexpected balances in construction classification balances to A fund for the purchase of three lots for the site of the building. The board now owns part of the necessary land.

A recommendation by DeWitt S. Morgan, superintendent of schools, that night schools be ducted' during the coming school year at Arsenal Technical High School, Emmerich Manual TrainHigh School and Crispus Attucks. High board. School was approved Fees for the night schools will be $6 a semester hour for academic and vocational subjects and $3.50 8 semester hour for commercial subjects. Two Naval Fliers Die In Crash Off California San Diego, Aug.

Ensign G. M. Trumbower, 24 years old, naval reserve flier, and H. B. Baller, 24, radioman first class, were killed today when their scouting plane crashed in flames a mile offshore from Carlsbad.

Weather Forecast. Jim Crow says: That invasion of Germany by potato bugs might have been worse -suppose it had been jitterbugs. Indiana -Partly cloudy Wednesday and Thursday; little change in temperature. Indianapolis -Partly cloudy Wednesday and Thursday; little change in temperature. U.

S. Weather Burean Special Report. ALMANAC OF THE DAY. Sun rises 5:11 Sun sets 6:20 WEATHER CONDITIONS YESTERDAY. -Relative Humidity.6:30 a.

m.89 pct 12:30 p. m. 42 pet 6:30 p. m. 54 pet -Precipitation.

Amount during 24 hours ending at 7 p. m. .00 Total amount since Jan. 1939. 33.73 Accumulated departure from normal since Jan.

1 6.48 Dry 60 Wet 58 Maximum 85 Dry 83 Wet 67 p. Dry 78 Wet 67 Minimum 63 12:30 p. For the Same Date Last a. 66 Maximum 86 16:30 p. 80 Minimum.

Paris, Aug. -This morning's newspapers reported that Adolf Hitler's reply to Britain's proposals regarding Poland was "long and full of strong objections," with Hitler insisting that Germany's demands on Poland be met before other problems are discussed in amicable fashion. Generally the newspapers considered the situation to be "as grave A.S ever." London, Aug. 30 (Wednesday). (AP) The British Cabinet was called this morning to study a communication from Adolf Hitler which Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had indicated might turn the "precarious balance" between peace and war.

The Fuehrer's answer to a statement of the British position, described by the prime minister as not moving "a jot" from support of Poland, was received here last night amid much activity at No. 10 Downing street. There, at the prime minister's residence, Chamberlain and Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax studied the German reply until early this morning. Will Know Today. Paris, Aug.

Premier Edouard Daladier, showing the strain of days of ceaseless French preparations for possible war, said early today, "We will where we stand." He referred to Hitler's note to London. Go to Safe Ports, British Ships Told New York, Aug. New York Herald-Tribune short wave radio station tonight intercepted British admiralty orders instructing all British merchant vessels to proceed to British ports and leave Italian, German and other waters. The admiralty instructed merchantmen bound for Germany, Danish or Dutch ports, whether in the North sea or. beyond, to return to United Kingdom ports.

The same orders were given British ships in German, Danish or Dutch ports north of latitude 50 degrees north. The broadcast advised ships bound into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic to Gibraltar and await orders and for ships in or bound for the Red sea to proceed to Suez or Aden. Ships were warned not to visit Italian ports and those in Italy were told to leave, Ships plying the Black sea were ordered to the Sea of Marmora. A later order instructed vessels on the high seas to open sealed orders. Then leaving the Foreign Office about 2:30 a.

m. (7:30 p. Central standard time Tuesday), Halifax announced a Cabinet meeting had been called for later in the morning. did not the hour. There was no immediate comment on Hitler's message.

The prime minister yesterday told the House of Commons the issue of peace or war was still undecided, and that upon Hitler's answer "depends whether further time will be given to the explora- (Text of Chamberlain Speech on Page 2.) tion of the situation and for the operation of many forces which are working for peace." Among the officials who called at Chamberlain's residence while Lord Halifax and the prime minister scrutinized the reply was Sir Horace, "brain Wilson, trusters," one of who Chamber- figured in last September's crisis negotiations with Hitler. Confer Long Time. Chamberlain and his foreign minister, 40 were in minutes. conference an Frontier tension must be diminished, he said, as "the first prerequisite" for peaceful negotiation of the quarrel arising out of Germany's demands for Danzig, the Polish Corridor to the Baltic sea and other concessions from Poland. Premier Reveals Little.

Chamberlain disclosed but little of the diplomatic exchanges that have been flying back and forth between London and Berlin because of the "extreme delicacy" of the situation in which grave issues "hang precariously in the balance." "On the nature of that (the Hit- Turn To Page 2, Column 5. Admiral Richard E. Byrd will use will be driven over Hoosier roads Chicago, where it was manufactured, some parts for the transcontinental trip. The route through Indiana will be on Ind. 6 from Chicago to U.

S. 31, seven miles of Plymouth, then south on U. S. 31 to Plymouth, and east on U. S.

30 (the Lincoln highway) to the Ohio state line. It will detour in Fort Wayne because of a low underpass on U. S. 30. Among towns the machine will go through are Hobart, Plymouth, Warsaw, Columbia City and Fort Wayne.

To Reach Boston Oct. 15. The machine is scheduled to reach Boston by Oct. 15 and will be shipped aboard the U. S.

Coast Guard ship Northland. The Byrd expedition will be financed by an appropriation by Congress. The cruiser will be on Indiana highways several hours. Its maximum cruising speed is 25 miles an hour and highway officials said it probably would go much slower than that most of the way. The airplane, which the cruiser carries on special eqipment atop the machine, will not be in place for the trip to Boston.

The machine is 55 feet, 8 inches long and its minimum height is 12 feet. The body can be raised or lowered several feet by a hydraulic device. Its tires are 12 feet tall and are three and a half feet in diameter. The machine has a cruising range of 5,000 miles when, loaded. Germans Like Tenor of British Note, Is Report; Door to Peace Left Open Berlin, Aug.

-Adolf Hitler's answer to the British formula to prevent war over Poland was handed to the British ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, in the Reich's chancellery tonight. The ambassador, who brought the British proposals from London yesterday, remained with Hitler minutes. It was reported in informed quarters that, in addition to handing the German note which the Fuehrer and Foreign Minister over Joachim von Ribbentrop drafted carefully today, Hitler explained Germany's attitude orally at some length. What the German reply was to British proposals remained a pro- Immediately after seeing Henfound official secret, but hints from derson tonight, Hitler called for the informed quarters and the more Italian ambassador to Germany, optimistic attitude of everyone in Bernardo Attolico, who remained in the chancellery 15 minutes. Il Duce Kept Informed.

was open for further negotiations. Note Concilatory, Report. It was reported reliably that the British communication was, from the German point of view, "conciliatory and far reaching," and German view now was that the Reich had everything to by continuing the discussions. gain Henderson left the chancellery, presumably to make an immediate report to London. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain in the day had been given Hitler's generally and informally stated views note which the Fuehrer dispatched to London by plane before the final draft of the Reich's reply had been formulated.

It was presumed that the Fuehrer's axis partner, Benito Mussolini, was being informed of each step of the negotiations. Von Ribbentrop, Friedrich Wilhelm Gaus, undersecretary of state, and other advisers, of the Fuehrer were Hitler from late forenoon into the evening while the reply was being drafted. Under strict agreement between London and Berlin, officials said, "absolute discretion" would be maintained as to the contents of both the British note of last night and the German reply. This much, however, was di- Turn To Page 4, Column 4..