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

ST. LOUIS POST- DISPATCH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1961 ST. LOUIS POST- DISPATCH 3 A CHARGES TRIES TO DESTROY MERIT SYSTEM Says Firing Was Part of Effort Asserts Collector Undermined Authority, Hurt Morale. Edison J. Watt charged last night that his dismissal as St.

Louis county collector by Revenue Director James W. Hopkins was part of an effort to destroy the merit system in the Department of Revenue. The assertion was made in three hours of testimony by Watt before the Civil Service Commission at the cominission office, 115 North Meramec street, Clayton. The commission is investigating circumstances of Watt's dismissal. Afterward, Watt told a reporter that he plans no court challenge of an opinion by St.

Louis County Counselor William E. Gallagher that the collector's dismissal was proper and not subject to review. Watt said he no longer could administer the collector's office effectively under Hopkins. Charges Interference. In a lengthy statement read to the commission, Watt said Hopkins interfered with his conduct of the office of collector, undermined his authority, hurt morale in the office and in generral rendered him as ineffective as possible.

"I am convinced that Mr. Hopkins had no intention of permitting me to run the office, to institute a true merit system or to be the collector," Watt said. "Within three weeks of my appointment, a pattern was established by Mr. Hopkins of going consistently around me by giving directions to the personnel without consulting me or even informing me. When I questioned Mr.

Hopkins, he admitted that he was doing just this, intended to continue it, and said it was his right and duty to do so. This practice continued throughout my term of office." Change in His Absence. Watt told of an occasion last August when he for several days and returned to find that his chief deputy, James F. Bell, had changed procedures in the office. Watt said he called a meeting and insisted that supervisors channel all information concerning office procedure through him.

"Mr. Hopkins was on vacation that week, but at 8 the next morning was in my office," Watt said. "He launched a tirade garding the meeting I had held, called Mr. Bell in, and in his presence told me, 'Ed, I had hoped you would sit here in your nice private office like a lame duck and let me run this office through Bell'." Other Charges. Watt listed these additional accusations against Hopkins: 1.

Hopkins refused a request that Watt make himself familiar with the collector's office in the weeks before his appointment was officially announced, so that "I was not in the office until 8 o'clock on the morning" that he went on the payroll. 2. Hopkins was not present on that first day, May 4, and made no effort to introduce Watt to the staff or show him about the office. 3. Hopkins "was difficult to find when I needed him and was either unavailable or in a hurry." After the first few weeks, he called no regular meetings of the collector and assessor to co-ordinate activities.

4. While Watt was considering several persons to be his secretary, Hopkins hired Mrs. Mae Cremins for the job. Since he had no choice in the selection, Watt said, "I wasn't sure to whom her greatest loyalty would be given." 5. Hopkins fired Watt's chief deputy on short notice, despite Watt's opposition, and placed another deputy on a day-to-day basis.

6. Five other experienced employes were fired by Hopkins. so abruptly that morale of others was damaged. 7. Hopkins kept Watt in the dark on budget matters, never informed him as to how much money was available in various accounts and did not consult him in preparing a budget for the year.

8. Until late August, Hopkins never consulted Watt about appointments in the collector's office. 9. Bell was appointed chief deputy July 14, although Watt Missouri- Illinois Forecasts Missouri (except northwest): Mostly cloudy and mild tonight with a few showers; low 40 to 45; continued cloudy and mild tomorrow with the high 60 to 65. Southern Illinois: Cloudy and mild tonight and tomorrow with a few showers in extreme south and southwest portions; low tonight 40 to 45; high tomorrow 60 to 65.

Ready for Occupancy by U.S. Agencies -By a Post -Dispatch Photographer. New Federal Building between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets 011 Market street which is ready for occupancy. Federal employes assigned to building will start moving next Friday. Move is expected to take 30 days.

Agencies moving include Veterans Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Coast Guard, Civil Service Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation and General Services Administration. "had never met him nor did I participate in any way in his selection." Watt said, "It became evident that Mr. Bell was coached by Mr. Hopkins to take over as much authority as possible in the office and to bypass me by reporting directly to Mr. Hopkins." Watt said he instructed Bell to review methods used in the bookkeeping section, but "instead, Mr.

Bell, apparently under instructions from Mr. Hopkins, devoted his time to studying the operations in all of the various sections of the office." 10. Hopkins publicly criticized Watt. After newspapers carried the director's statement, Hopkins told Watt he had been misquoted and the information "must have come from some other official in the courthouse." Watt said he had information that Hopkins called reporters into his office and gave them the critical statement. On the day Hopkins informed him of his dismissal, Watt said, the revenue director said he would like to have Watt as his assistant when he the position is established.

"He even went so far as to say, 'Well, I think you would work out fine, because you could take care of office procedure and I could take care of Watt said. Defends His Record. Watt defended his work as col, lector. He said methods he instituted resulted in tax bills being mailed by Sept. 19, six weeks earlier than usual.

Total -manhours to accomplish the year-end collections, he said, will probably be fewer than were required last year. Under questioning by commission, Watt said that the "direct obvious political ference" he experienced from Hopkins was Hopkins's continual bypassing him in dealing with Watt's subordinates. He cited as the most direct example of political interference an experience in which Joseph Vishy, an administrative assistant to Supervisor James H. J. McNary, brought a to his office, told Watt the man was a friend of Vishy's uncle, and asked the collector "to do what I could for the gentleman." The visitor represented a firm with delinquent and penalties totaling $25,000 since 1948, Watt said.

He said he told the man he could not reduce the amount of the bill nor waive penalties. The man then paid part of the bill, Watt said. To questions by the commission, Watt conceded he had not been asked to compromise himself. "But," he said, "obviously one can draw the conclusion Vishy did not take him over there just to take his tax bills out." Tells of Mail Incident. In response to questions, Watt also defended himself against charges by Hopkins that mail containing $1,000,000 in tax payments was found lying unguarded on a desk in the collector's office one night.

Watt said the office was locked and equipped with a burglar alarm, night crews were duty and an employe had failed to carry out instructions to put the mail in a special closet. Watt, a former employe of Southwestern Bell Telephone was named collector after placing first among persons taking a qualifying civil service examination. Hopkins dismissed him end of his six-month probationary period. He charged that the collector's office under Watt was disorganized and in a state of confusion. Hopkins has declined to testify under oath before the commission, but has offered to answer any questions put to him by commission members.

He was not present at last. night's session. Witnesses for Watt will be called when the investigation is resumed at 7 p.m. Monday. Bell is serving as temporary collector for 30 days until a successor to Watt is selected.

Khrushchev, Ho Chi Minh Meet. MOSCOW, Nov. 10 (UPI) Premier Khrushchev met with Communist North Viet Nam President Ho Chi Minh yesterday for talks in a "warm and friendly atmosphere," Tass News Agency reported. $3400 IS STOLEN IN TWO COUNTY SAFE ROBBERIES $2000 Theft at University City Appliance Store, $1400 at St. Ann Drug Store.

About $2000 was stolen from the office of Routman Sales 8.494 Olive boulevard, University City, by burglars who broke into the building through the roof, University City police reported today. Melford Routman, co-owner of the appliance firm, told police the money was missing from the safe, and an undetermined sum was taken from a cash register. In addition, electric razors and wrist watches were stolen, he "Police said entry was gained by choppinte.st hole in the roof of building. The burglars then dropped through into an office, where they punched the combination off the safe, police said. The thieves apparently got on the roof by jumping from a porch of an adjacent building.

Houtman told police he discovered the burglary this morning when he opened the shop for business. Drug Store Robbed. In another burglary, about $1400 was taken from a safe in the St. Ann Rexall drug store, 10513 St. Charles Rock road, St.

Ann. Police said entrance to the a rear door. The burglars Epparently battered the safe open with a sledge hammer, police police said. The burglary was discovered by the store proprietor, Frank Brown, when he went to work this morning, police said. Eighteen fur pieces including 12 mink wraps, valued at a total of $19,210, were taken in a burglary at the Elsa Brady Shop, 8139 Maryland avenue, Clayton, police reported yesterday.

Store executives told police that dresses and purses also were stolen. The number and value were not determined, police said. Patrolman Kenneth Schmidt was inspecting a car seat and brief case from an automobile which had been reported missing yesterday when he discovered the store nearby had been robbed. Iron bars over a rear window been pried away and the locks on windows had been broken, police said. Maplewood Home Robbed.

A sealskin coat valued at $1500 and a diamond bracelet worth $500 were stolen from the home of Mrs. Della Vance, 7485 Hazel avenue, Maplewood, she reported to police yesterday. Oliver Bagbys, owner of a delicatessen, was robbed of $80 by two men last night in the store, 2601 Bellevue avenue, Maplewood, he reported to police. Bagbys said he was alone in the store when the two young men entered. One of them jumped over the counter and took the money from the cash register.

The other ordered Bagbys to lie on the floor. The men, one of whom said he was armed, forced Bagbys to MORE BEAUTY, MORE VALUE IN EVERY Hess Culbertson Diamond 250. 295. 350. Regardless of so-called wholesale or discount prices, Hess Culbertson values are seldom equalled and never excelled.

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thru Fri, "til 9:30 City, County Legislative Heads At Odds Over Merger Proposal Aldermanic President Cervantes Favors Plan Council Chairman Grantham Opposes. The cleavage between political leaders support and oppose the proposed merger of St. Louis and St. Louis county widened today when heads of the principal legislative bodies in both areas disagreed on the merits of the proposal. A.

J. Cervantes president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen announced his support of the proposal, but Russell E. Grantham county councilman from the Fifth district and chairman of the County Council, stated his "unalterable opposition." Cervantes, a member of the Missouri Committee for the Borough Plan, which will cir: culate initiative petitions for an amendment to the state constitution to effect the merger, said the present situation is "sheer folly." He said the trend in the United States and the world is toward consolidation and merger to achieve efficiency and economy. "We will have better and even more efficient government for the metropolitan area when we are united," he said.

"I have supported and will continue to support any legal method that will lead to this accomplishment." Grantham said he was leave the store with them after they saw the proprietor press a button when getting on the floor. They released him and fled after they saw a police cruiser coming down the street. No weapon was displayed. A. C.

McGee, a former convict, was captured today within minutes after he had robbed the Union Easton Drug Store of $860. Armed with a shotgun with the stock sawed off, McGee entered the drug store and demanded money from Mrs. Leo Hiken who was standing near the cash register. While the holdup was in progress, a clerk, Steve Stephanski, ran out of the door and informed Hiken who called police. Patrolman Raymond Schroeder and Sgt.

Edward Grabowski drove at once from the nearby Page Boulevard Station to the scene where Hiken directed them to where McGee was hiding in a hallway near 1515 Union boulevard. McGee surrendered without a struggle and the money was recovered. The shotgun used by McGee was not loaded. SPECIAL! Aluminum Christmas Tree $495 Cash Carry Indoor set 35 miniature lights $1.79 Phone PR. 1-9600 NETTIE'S FLOWER GARDEN 3801 S.

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METIC BIN EMBEZZLER PUT ON PROBATION FOR EIGHT YEARS posed both to the idea of merger and to the amendment method by which it would be a achieved. A constitutional amendment would have to be approved in a state-wide vote. "The attempt to achieve citycounty merger through the device of a state-wide vote is an obvious attempt to prevent the citizens of St. Louis county from having a dominant voice in their local government," he said. "I am unalterably opposed to uninformed and relatively uninterested voters deciding our problems for us.

The St. Louis County Council has long advocated that we retain our municipal type of government, with a program of consolidation and stabilization of our existing municipalities and a county government with increased powers to provide needed area-wide services. "This is what we feel the people of the county prefer and will support. The proponents of this merger plan have not seen fit to confer with the elected representatives of the people regarding this ill-timed and ill-conceived plan, and I certainly hope it will not jeopardize the fine progress we have made and are making for the solution of our governmental problems." MITCHELL M. GRALNICK DIES; SHOE COMPANY PRESIDENT Mitchell M.

Gralnick, president of the A. Gralnick Shoe 1315 Washington avenue, died today at Jewish Hospital of leukemia. He was 49 years old and lived at 7437 Tulane avenue, University City. Mr. Gralnick was president of the MC Club of St.

Louis county, a philanthropic organization, and was financial secretary of the Creve, Coeur Township Democratic Club. He was past president of the Men's Club of Shaare Zedek Synagogue and the St. Louis Shoe Wholesalers Association. His company will observe its seventy-fifth anniversary next year. Surviving are his wife, Mildred, and two sons, Abram and Herbert.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Rindskopf undertaking, establishment, 5216 boulevard, with burial in Chesed Chel-Emeth Cemetery. Admits Stealing 881 From One Employer to Repay Thefts From Another. BROADWAY LOT SOLD FOR REDEVELOPMENT The first conveyance of land to a private redeveloper in the South Broadway Shopping Center was to be made today by the Land Clearance me for Redevelopment Authority. The site is the southeast corner of the intersection of South: Broadway and Soulard street.

It was purchased by S. E. Mazur, optometrist, for $11,236 for construction of a $100,000 building. Of 4500 square feet of floor space, Mazur plans to use 2700 square feet in 10 rooms for his practice and rent the remainder to a tenant. Construction is expected to be started before Dec.

1, the authority announced. The shopping center is to be part of the Kosciusko Urban Renewal project, between Second and Seventh streets and Convent and Dorcas streets. The center is to include six blocks of commercial buildings on Broadway between Marion street and Russell avenue. Demolition of blighted buildings has been started. SHOW OPENING AT SHAW'S GARDEN The annual chrysanthemum show at Missouri Botanical (Shaw's) Garden will open tomorrow in the floral display house.

The display will be open to the public without charge Mondays through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends until 10 p.m. Thousands of chrysanthemums, all grown at the garden, will be displayed in a Japanese garden setting designed by Paul A. Kohl.

Among unusual features of the show will be a Japanese moon gate to display hanging baskets of flowers, and another oriental gate with rush roof which will be flanked by beds of large single-flower varieties. U.A.R. Rocket Tests Reported. CAIRO, Nov. 10 (UPI) Informed sources said today the United Arab Republic carried out a series of successful rocket tests in the last six months.

Government circles declined to comment on the reports, and details of the reported tests could not be learned. Familiar Quotations "We Live By Admiration, Hate and Love." -Wadsworth "Clothes from Steiner's Win Admiration." -Steiner BOTANY 500 for STORE ARROW CLIPPER- RESISTOL CRAFT MEN HICKOK NUNN-BUSH INTERALLIGATOR WOVEN JOCKEY ALFRED STEINER. 7319 1608 S. GRAND MANCHESTER BROADWAY, GRAVOIS OPEN 3 NITES BUDGET PLAN Specials! Values! Buys! DAYS Shop all three stores, Downtown, Crestwood and Clayton for extraspecial savings for you, your family! PER CENT RISE IN DEPARTMENT STORE SALES HERE Dollar volume of department store sales in the St. Louis area last week was 8 per cent higher than in the comparable week last year, the Federal Reserve Bank of St.

Louis reported today. In the Eighth Federal Reserve District, which includes St. Louis and extends into seven states, department store sales last week were 5 per cent higher than they were a year earlier. In the United States, the sales were 3 per cent higher. For the four weeks ended last Saturday, sales in the St.

Louis area were down 1 per cent from volume a year earlier. Sales in the Eighth District were unchanged, but in the nation they were 2 per cent higher. Thus far this year, sales in the St. Louis area have been 1 per cent less than in the comparable period last year. Sales in the Eighth District have been about the same.

Sales in the United States have been 2 per cent higher than they were a year earlier. GETS TWO YEARS FOR THEFT OF JEWELRY FROM WINDOW James Wynn of the 3900 block of Kennerly avenue was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty of stealing jewelry from the window of Jaccards store at Crestwood Plaza. Wynn was sentenced by Circuit Judge Noah Weinstein in Clayton. When arrested Oct. 16, Wynn was on probation from a threeyear prison sentence for burglary.

Probation subsequently was revoked. Wynn was caught by two men shoppers who heard glass breaking and saw the man running toward an automobile on the parking lot. Police said Wynn had jewelry valued at $2420 when he was arrested. Clarence John Blase, Caseyville, was given a two-year suspended sentence and paced on eight years' probation today after he admitted embezzling $16,881 from one firm, principally to repay money he had embezzled from another employer earlier. Sentence was imposed by Circuit Judge Robert L.

Aronson. As a condition of probation, Judge Aronson directed Blase to make restitution by paying 500 now and making monthly payments of $50 in the eight-year probationary period. Blase was charged with stealing the funds from Marco Sales Inc. Blase was charged with embezzling funds from the Marco pany, an air-conditioning sales firm at 4232 Forest Park boulevard, when employed there as an accountant between March 1960 and last March. Blase told investigators that he had embezzled funds from the Marco firm to make restitution of funds he had embezzled from an electrical appliance firm which employed him previously, officials said.

His previous employer, for whom he worked for seven years, went out of business in 1959 and a closing audit uncovered the shortage, Blase said. He said he repaid a total of $14,000 of the $16,000 he had embezzled from the earlier employer. He said he used the earlier funds to improve his house. Blase told the court he will sell his home and automobile to obtain funds for the initial restitution payment. He is employed as a bookkeeper at a heating and home improvement firm, he said.

Plane, Body of Pilot Found TUXEDO, N.C., Nov. 10 (AP) -The wreckage of a plane and the body of its pilot, E. Sigurd Johnson, a professor at North Carolina State College, were found in mountains south of Tuxedo yesterday. Johnson left Asheville last Friday en route to Charlotte. be USE THE BUDGET PLAN at DOWNTOWN ST.

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