St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 3

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1946 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH PAGE 3A Planning Merger 6ARR FAMOUS Ozark Robbers Caught, Killed in Battle With Officers 25 PCT. PRICE RISE ANTITRUST SU TS PITTSBURGH FIRM DESPITE PROSPECT CHARGE REBATING -1 WEr MV MERGER PLANNED OF ROLL-BACK AND TO EYEDOCTORS Civil Actions Name 7 Concerns, About 5000 HOLD LINE PLEAS Department Store Stockholders to Vote on Consolidation Proposal. Individuals, and Ask for Injunctions.

Commerce Department Points to Rapid Jump in Face of Opponents' Action Awaiting Final Fate of OPA. MC-RTON J. MAY rHab If if) I J. WASHINGTON. Jujy 23 (AP) The White House made public without comment yesterday a statement asserting: that prices have risen rapidly since OPA went out of existence despite efforts by price control opponents "to keep prices at a minimum" until a final decision on OPA's DEPUTY SHERIFF E.

KIN AID (left) nd SHERIFF LOGAN PEERY of St. Clair county exhibit the robbers' weapons. The body of PHILIP CRONJN. one of two tin robbers killed in a gun battle with officers yesterday, lies at the scene, near Osceola, Mo, CHICAGO, July 23 (AP) The Department of Justice today filed two civil suits in Federal Court charging optical wholesalers and approximately 5000 leading eye doctors throughout the country with violating anti-trust statutes. Willis L.

Hotchkiss, special assistant to the Attorney General, said the alleged Sherman Act violations took place by fixing prices on spectacles through the device of reb ling to the eye doctors approximately half of the price paid by their patients for glasses. One suit named as defendants Bausch Lomb, Rochester, N. and for subsidiary companies as well as 30 eye doctors who, Hotchkiss said, were named in a "representative capacity." Charge of Rebating. These 30, he said, represented some 3000 doctors who he said regularly received rebates from Bausch Lomb and its four subsidiaries Riggs Optical Company-Consolidated of Chicago; Riggs Optical Company, of San Francisco; Mclntire, Magee Brown of Philadelphia, and Southeastern Optical of Richmond, Va. The other suit named as defend MEN'S WHITE SHIRT MRS, REPETTO ILL BUT RALLIES FOR 105TH BIRTHDAY SHORTAGE RELIEF NOT LIKELY SOON TWO KILLED AFTER HOLDUP OF HUMANSVILLE (M0.) BANK Sheriff and Deputy Shoot It Out With Robbers 4700 Found in Auto Two Women Seized Later.

late. The statement, prepared by the Commerce Department, asserted that spurt in prices following: the lapse of OPA controls June 30 "boosted the Bureau of Labor statistics index of daily spot market prices for 28 -basic commodities 25 per cent during the first 16 days of July." "Perhaps the most striking aspect of the recent behavior of prices is that the large increases occurred despite the prospect of the reimposition of OPA controls and of a rollback to June 30 Survey Indicates Situation Celebrates as Usual, Receiv Stockholders of the May Department Stores operating Famous-Bar and those of Kaufmann Department Stores Inc. of Pittsburgh, will vote on the program for consolidation of the two firms, negotiated by their officers. About $25,000,000 stock value is represented In the proposed consolidation. Morton J.

May, president of tho May Co, and Edgar J. Kaufmann, president of the Pittsburgh firm, in letters mailed yesterday to stockholders, stated that the directorates of the two companies had agreed in principle on a plan of consolidation. This plan calls for issuance, to the Kaufmann stockholders, of May Co. stock In the ratio of one-fifth of a share of $3.40 cumulative preferred stock of a new series, and nine-twentieths of a share of common stock, for each outstanding sharo of Kaufmann common stock. The outstanding capitalization of the May Co.

would be otherwise unchanged. May said a close relationship had existed between the two companies for several years, and that they have shared buying offices in Chicago and abroad. The May Department Stores in addition to Famous-Barr here, operates large department stores in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Denver and Akron, O. The Kaufmann store, now celebrating its 75th anniversary, has an estimated sales volume for this year, in excess of $50,000,000. Its management is to remain unchanged under the consolidation plan, and its officers will have representation in the affairs of the May Department Stores Co.

The negotiations in connection with the consolidation were conducted with Goldman, Sachs Co. of New York. ing- Members of oodahty She Joined 61 Years Ago. Will Remain Acute Until Last Quarter of Year. R4 ilk M-fi Most will have to keep EDGAR J.

KAUFMANN on wearing their army and navy he seized an automatic pistol from ants the American Optical of Southbridge, "a voluntary shirts for two months longer, at least. And fathers of teen-age girls the automobile and fired. Peery shot the ether as he raised his association," and the American Optical Co. of Southbridge, head over the hood. a corporation, plus 20 doctors In their machine was found had better try to retrieve the white shirts now being worn with blue jeans by their daughters, for the men's white shirt shortage is likely to remain acute in St.

Louis named representatively for 3000 $4700 and a rental slip for an automobile, issued at Hartford, and answering the description of the Chevrolet coupe they were driving. until the last quarter of the year. This was the consensus of owners Mrs. Caterina Repetto celebrated her one hundred and fifth birthday today at her home at 4519 Aldine avenue. The celebration consisted of the customary visit of the members of the St.

Charles Borromeo Sodality to which she has belonged for the past 1 years. Although bedfast for 15 years and suffering from a recent illness that threatened to postpone the anniversary party, Mrs. Repetto rallied several days ago and announced that the party would be held as usual. Although her hearing is poor, her mind is alert and active and she reads her prayer book and newspapers daily. She makes her home with her youngest daughter, Mrs.

Eugenia O'Donnell, one of four surviving defendants representing the eye doctors as a class there was none in the St. Louis area. ROCHESTER, N.T., July 23 (AP) The Bausch Lomb Optical Co. said today in commenting on the Chicago suit that it does not believe "any violation of the law can properly be charged." "From pioneer days It has been the practice of doctors in the western and southern states to dispense glasses for their patients, either directly or through their wholesale suppliers, most of whom are not affiliated with any manufacturer," M. Herbert Eisenhart, president, said.

"The cost is no greater than where others perform the retail function." The bank reported that $5600 doctors throughout the country. In each suit the eye doctors, doing business with the defendant companies, were sued as a class. Hotchkiss said among the 3000 doctors who were sued as a class as doing business with Bausch Lomb and the 3000 doing business with American Optical there was some overlapping and that in all about 5000 doctors were involved. Hotchkiss said that only licensed doctors were involved in was taken in the robbery. This would leave $900 unaccounted for.

Dwight Brantley, Federal Bu reau of Investigation agent in Kansas City, said Cronin, who used also the names of Moulton, Fulton, Holton and Marshall, was the suits, which exempted op charged with violating the White Slave Act in a complaint filed in Boston, March 20. The woman involved, a minor, is the tometrists who, he explained, need not possess medical degrees, but of men's shops polled by the Post-Dispatch today. Despite reports of increased production from the Census 'Bureau in Washington, only a "trickle" of shirts is reaching St. Louis stores, they said. "We dole them out to old customers and veterans," the president of a large downtown store said.

"Last Friday we got five dozen shirts which disappeared in an hour. Nobody even asked the price. Apparently, price Is no object to the shirt-hungry." All stores reported they were maintaining former OPA ceilings of from $1.75 to $3.45 a shirt. "When finally get their hands on a shirt, they're tickled to death," a Wellston store owner said. "Some have been trying to buy one for as much as 10 months.

Three months ago we got our last dozen white shirts. But, brother, you don't put that kind of merchandise in the window." merely examine eyes and prescribe glasses for them. Op girl arrested in Pittsburgh, Brant children out of her family of 11. Her husband died in 1916 at the age of 77. Her present family includes nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and four ley said.

The robbers had an automatic tometrists operate as retailers while the optical firms act as wholesalers, and their only prof Body Found on Street Identified. The body of a man found lying in front of 912 Palm street early Sunday was identified yesterday as that of John E. Melson, 55 years old, 2122A North Fourteenth street. Elmer Melson, 2244A Madison, a son of the dead man, identified the body at the morgue. Melson, a laborer, died of a heart attack, an autopsy disclosed.

pistol identified as one stolen by two men who held up a Spring- it is in the difference between the price for which they sell the glasses and the price charged rieid taproom last week and took $700. them by the wholesale company. Sister Here of Robber Last Saw On the other hand, Hotchkiss RAIL REORGANIZATION BILL SPONSORS WIN TEST YOTE WASHINGTON, July 23 (AP) Backers of a bill to change reorganization procedures for some bankrupt railroads won a test vote on their measure in the House today. By a standing vote of 120 to 79 the chamber agreed to a resolution making the reorganization bill the next order of business after disposition of OPA legislation. A rejection would have had the effect of sidetracking the bill for this session of Congress.

said, the eye doctors receive one Him in 1923. Wiley George Frizzell was a professional fee from the patient OSCEOLA, July 23 (AP) A straight-shooting sheriff and his deputy ended an "Ozarks vacation" for two robbers near here yesterday less than 30 minutes after the Humansville (Mo.) Bank was robbed. Sheriff Logan Peery and Deputy J. E. Kincaid caught the pair changing license plates in a brush-fringed country lane and killed both of them in a gun battle.

One of the sets of plates had been stolen in St. Louis last month. From social security and draft cards found on the robbers, they were identified as Philip Joseph Cronin, 45 years old, of Lawrence, Essex county, and Wiley George Frizzoll, address Unknown. Will Reynolds, resort operator, said they had posed as brothers named Drum at his place, where they had spent two weeks with two women. "They were very handy with pistols," Reynolds recalled.

"Much of their time was spent at shooting at sticks in the river." Two Women Held. A few hours after they had been killed, one woman was picked up at Pittsburg, by police who intercepted a Nevada (Mo.) taxicab in which she was a passenger. Later Frlzzell's wife, Evelyn, was arrested ta Parsons, Kan. Police said they admitted being with the two gunmen earlier and at first gave the name of Drum. The pair entered the Bank of Humansville, about 20 miles southeast of here, at 1:20 p.m.

Waving two pistols, one announced: "This is a holdup. All of you get down on the floor." 'The three bank employes, four customers and a salesman, complied. While a bandit with two pistols stationed himself at the front door, the other entered the cashier's cage. He was armed with a revolver and carried a canvas sack. "Who works the safe?" he asked.

O. C. Simms, the cashier, replied that he could not open it because it was equipped with a time lock. Threatens Cashier. "Well make you open it," the bandit threatened, but the man at the door said, "let's take what we can and get out." MERRY MOTOR CO.

Dirtet Witt) STUDEBAKER FACTORY brother of Mrs. Cora Bohjechec, 14 (rear) South Sixteenth street. Police here notified Mrs. Bohje they examine, and then obtain additional money through the alleged "kickbacks." Millions a Tear. He said rebates paid to doctors great-great-grandchildren.

BAG CONTAINING POISONOUS BAT POWDER DISAPPEARS Police and city health department inspectors today were looking for a canvas bag containing three quarts of calcium cyanide powder which disappeared this morning from an alley in the rear of 2031 Franklin avenue. The white powder, used to kill rats, is very poisonous. Walter F. Koch, superintendent of inspection in the rat control division of the health department, asserted that it would be dangerous for anyone not trained in using the powder to attempt to FREE BAND CONCERTS TONIGHT 1947 PASSENGER CARS Complet. Lin.

Bf Truck! Pins iServIc chec of Frlzzell's death at request of the Missouri State Patrol, which by wholesale optical companies 46 Yuri In Business MFRRf MOTOR CO. 580 DELMAR FO. 4320-4321 reported Frizzell's wife, Evelyn, had refused to claim his body. ran into "many millions of dollars each year" and added the practice Mrs. nonjechec told a Post-Dis Free band "concerts, sponsored by the Division of Parks and Playgrounds, will be held tonight at 8 o'clock in Columbus Playground, Tenth and Carr streets, and O'Fallon Park, Harris and West Florissant avenues.

had been going on for many years patch reporter she had not seen The Department of Justice is her brother since 1923. Two weeks asking that the defendant com ago, however, she received a postcard from him sent from Nevada, panies be enjoined from paying rebates and that the defendant doctors be enjoined from receiving kill rats with it. When the powder is exposed to moisture, he she said. He was married to the former Evelyn Haley on June 23. 1945, after meeting her at Union Station, Mrs.

Bohjechec said. any reoates. Hotchkiss said the 30 doctors pointed out, a poisonous gas, prussic acid, is produced. named as representative defend subsidy payments to non-ferrous metal producers cannot be gauged accurately, since, in general, the larger private sellers have not established market prices for the products. Moreover, because the payments were made on mar ants in the Bausch Lomb case Two employes of the rat con Police are investis-atine to de received as "kickbocks" $307,550.46 trol division, who were dusting termine whether Frizzell and in 1944.

rat burrows with the powder, left He added the 20 doctors named ANOTHER SHIPMENT OF THE NEW Cronin were the pair who held up an ice company branch office here and a tavern in St. Charles last the bag in the alley while they inspected the rear of a building ginal production, that- is, produc in the other suit received levels," the statement said. "Without this prospect overhanging -the market, price increases would most certainly have been greater and more general. "There is another reason why the recent changes are not a fair test, price-wise, of what would have happened if ceilings had been lifted under different circumstances. It is to the interest ef those groups in the community who have been lobbying to end price controls to keep price Increases at a minimum during the Interim while the fate of OPA Is decided by Congress.

This consideration has undoubtedly motivated some of the voluntary hold-the-line' agreements which have been widely publiciied by industry Following is the text of the White House release: The spurt in prices following the lapse of OPA controls at the end of June boosted the Bureau of Labor Statistics index of daily spot market prices for 28 basic commodities 25 per cent during the first IS days of July. Farm products, foods and imported good's have generally shown the greatest response to inflationary pressures. Only seven of the 28 commodities showed no change in prices over this period in the case of four of these seven commodities, prices are determined by the Government. As a result of the recent prlc spurt, the B.L.S. Index has risen at a much faster rata since the Japanese surrender th during the comparable period after World War I when the country was experiencing a serious inflation.

As of July 16. the be sic commodity Index was 35 per cent above the level of last August. In October 1919 also 11 month after the end of the First World War the Index was only 23 per cent higher than in the month of the armistice. About one-fifth of the increase since August 1945 had already occurred by the end of June, due to the fact that prices had been steadily pushing upward even under the restraining influence of price controls. The 28 basic commodities index quoted above is a highly sensitive barometer of price change and does not measure the increase in the general price level.

The B. L. S. wholesale price index which covers the prices of about 900 commodities rose half as fast as, the basic commodity index during the comparable period. Following World War I the broader wholesale price index almost kept pace with the more sensitive daily index, suggesting that the present lag in general wholesale prices may only be temporary.

140 Pet. Silk Price Rise. The largest percentage price rise so far this month is in the price of silk, which had risen more than 140 per cent by July 16. Other spectacular increases were recorded for shellac, hides, cocoa beans and coffee, among the imports, and for hogs, lard, tallow, butter and corn among the farm products. Corn, selling at $2.27 a bushel, was actually priced higher than wheat.

Steel scrap, copper, tin, rubber, burlap and sugar were the only commodities in the index to show no price change since June 28. Such price behavior, however, was not a reflection of the operation of market forces. The prices of tin, rubber, burlap and sugar are, in effect, set by the Government. Trading activity for the remaining commodities copper and steel scrap has been virtually at a standstill due to the many uncertainties in the current situation. If the above commodities are eliminated from the index, the price rise for the first 16 days of July stands at almost 35 per cent rather than the 25 per cent indicated for ail 28 commodities.

A rnmntritnii Af nwwnt Ti-tVa tion in excess of specific quotas at the Franklin avenue address. 676.38 in 1944 and 1945. June 21. Their descriptions tally Among the individuals named as When they returned a few min with those of the men in the local utes later, the bag had disap holdups, police said. Also, one of YOU'LL THOROUGHLY established for the various producers, it cannot yet be determined to what extent the removal of the subsidy will reduce output and raise prices.

A price peared. ENJOY FE DINNERS the license plates in the hoodlums' automobile yesterday bore the VERS HARP increase applies to all production and benefits producers, regardless Aftsr tnck.4 awmy an FE Dinner, yo hiv. that "rtally fmiinil 9 Poles Sentenced to Death. WARSAW, July 22 (Delayed) (AP) A Polish military court at Bialystok sentenced nine men to death and 14 others to from six to 15 years imprisonment today for terroristic activities. Ball PontJ of their production performance.

Retail Food Prices. CA number of one reported as lost June 20 by the Lone Star Cement 317 North Eleventh street. In the St. Charles holdup, two men about 40 years old fled with $4500 in cash and checks after forcing three employes of yie Golden Buffet and a customer into a side room. Sheriff Lester For FE Food in.

finttt anility, pertly prepared and seasoned lust rlihtl OPEN 7 A. M. to 8 P. M. DAILY 12 Washington (1) 353 Olive (3) 101 Markat (11 lit N.

Stfc (1) The full impact of the recent The other bandit then emptied increases has not yet been trans mitted through the price struc the cash 'drawer into the sack and both men fled. In a few min ture. Spot surveys of the Department of Labor on July 2 and July utes the sheriffs office was noti Plackmeyer of St. Charles county. fied by telephone.

accompanied by Mrs. Louis Warn Peery and Kincaid spotted the 9 indicated that retail food price increases were generally spotty, with many stable foods remaining unchanged in pripe. the latter er, an employe of the tavern, and her husband, left for Osceola this bandits 30 minutes later. As they pulled up behind their automobile. morning to view the bodies.

date, however, an increasing num the sheriff stepped out with revolver drawn and Kincaid. fol ber of stores were charging sub Two men who held up the City Ice Fuel Co. branch at 2704 Lafayette avenue, left empty REPEATER PENS World't imooihett writing pan. Rolls the ink on dryl It's salf-blotting. Evan wrifa dry whan jubm.rg.d und.r watar.

Reloads with a cartridge in 15 saconds. Can't laak at any altitude. You can't avan shake the ink out. Writes on any paper or linen, textiles, etc. Makes to 8 carbon copies a time.

handed after John Paubel, mana lowed with a rifle. The gunmen ran around the machine, one firing twice. The one identified as Frizzell was killed by Kincaid as ger. persuaded them there was no stantially higher prices for meats and other foods. Many outlets for consumer goods advertised shortly after the demise of OPA that they would follow a policy of maintaining ceiling prices; but.

I money in the place. generally speaking, these' state people for failure to abide by our recommendations in this respect," ments were qualified either by statements that ceiling prices he said, "but I believe we will would be kept only for existing MISSOURI FOLK VISIT CAPITAL, HAVE CHATS WITH TRUMAN WASHINGTON, July 23 (AP) Today was another Missouri day at the White House. R. Adm. Sidney W.

Souers, former director of the ne Central Intelligence Authority, called to say goodby to President Truman have to do so soon. There have been 20 rat-bite cases reported so far this month compared to 22 in June and 28 in May, he said. Some of these are due, possibly, to rats entering homes after being evicted from rubbish piles. This would show the need for making all buildings WRITES 3 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS WITHOUT REFILLING before returning to his business interests in St. Louis.

Lt. Gen. rat-proof, he said. Hoyt S. Vandenberg recently was (Depending upon how much yoa writ.

named to succeed him. Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie F. Green- GRASS CATCHERS H5 well of Hayti, Mo, dropped in for a personal call during the morning.

Greenwell is district governor of Lions International. FOR LAWN MOWERS Good Quality Fits Sim 14" to 20" 5 Later in the day Mr. and Mrs. 49 A. E.

Weston of Neosho, other old friends, got a chance to chat with the President. Delivwles COLORS BLACK BLUE MAROON CEntral 2774 Tae to tlae oV swimmin hole in Wolfs SWIM TRUNKS Do your diving and "dunking" swimming and sunning in style with new Swim Trunks from Wolff's. Plain shades or slightly noisy prints, $3.95 Others in wool knit and flannels. Mail OrJ.r. SLOAN STORES Promptly Filled.

PROPERTY OWNERS REPORTED stocks or that prices would be increased only to cover higher costs. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the recent behavior of prices is that the large Increases occurred despite the prospect of the reimposition of OPA controls and of a rollback to June SO levels. Without this prospect overhanging the market, price increases would most certainly have been greater and more general. There is another reason why the recent changes are not a fair test, price-wise, of what would happen if ceilings had been lifted under different circumstances. It is to the Interest of those groups in the community who have been lobbying to end price controls to keep price increases at a minimum during the Interim when the fate of OPA is being decided by Congress.

This consideration has undoubtedly motivated some of the voluntary 'hold-the-line' agreements which have been widely publicized by industry. Nevertheless, prices have risen at a very rapid pace, as was to be expected in view of the basic inflationary pressures in the economy the heavy demands of businesses to replace and expand plant and equipment and to rebuild inventories, and the demands of consumers for long-awaited durable goods and for a variety of other goods which are in short supply relative to the total available purchasing power. 6R. R200 223 S. VANDEVENTER Name Engraved No Charge.

INDIFFERENT TO RAT-PROOFING Co-operation of property own a) ARE YOU IN A HURRY? ers in the rat-proofing of buildings, as required under the city's new rat control ordinance, has been "Indifferent." Walter Koch, supervisor of inspection for the 50 $3 no75 to rat control section of the citys Shaarar Chavrolat't fast, expandable lorvica on body, Health Division, said today. Special Group of Terry Cloth Beach Jackets, SI 0.95 "We have not begun prosecuting mechanical and paint work is what you are looking for. Pricas to fit your puna. with those after World War I reveals that the prices of corn, steers, butter, lead and zinc have already passed the highs of the earlier postwar period. Several other commodities are now selling at higher prices than In October 1919.

The elimination of subsidy payments is, of course, a factor in the recent price rise, but the actual increases in prices have generally been greater than the former subsidy payments. This is particularly true in the case of livestock prices. Xhs impact of the removal of tojoy Oatimg em lb Mutiswippi SUMDArSt WEEKDAYS IOmci-Mm. I "The Pen House of St. Louis" 813 LOCUST SATURDAY AFT.

I atOOSnjCHTS. mm tm. Mo. 7TH and OLIVE (1) 1 1 man's storm axclvsvafy.