Alton Evening Telegraph from Alton, Illinois • Page 1

River Stages fi I Firm Proposes Natural For 29 food River, East Alton i ana in List and Hartford 'Box- Hearing I Before the merce Commission at Springfield WOOD KI VER June 3 Mil Commission will a hearing Wednesdaj on the H11 i Power to change th hTating value, and pric tule of gas in Wood River ant lv Ciair, Madl and Montgomery counties. The hearing will open at 9:30 I (be offices of the commission, in Centennial Building Annex a Springfield. Representing Wood 'will be Mayor Charle City Counsellor Francl jg, and Aldermen Jesse Ford I Mallory, Basis for the hearing is the de sire of the power company to sub toer stitute I heating natural gas with a higher value for the present mix ed now being furnished to the 29 cities and villages in the four I counties, The company currently furnishes la mixture of natural and manufactured gas with a heating value 565 British Thermal Units per I cubic foot to Wood River, East St Fairmount City, French Vil- llage, Monsanto, National City I Washington Park, Brooklyn, Collinsville, East Alton, Ed- Iwardsvllle, Glen Carbon, Granite Hartford, Madison, Nameoki Ipoag, Roxana, Sunset Gardens I Venice and Staunton. In the place this mixture, it proposes to fur- I nish straight natural gas with" a value of 1000 B. T.

per I cubic foot. Permission is being -sought to substitute straight natural gas in I the mains at Benld, Qarlinvllle, Gil- Hillsboro, Litchfield, Mount I Olive, and Schram City, -the is now furnishing a-mixture oi natural gas, manufactured gus, and butane with rating per square foot switch in gas types I necessitate adjustments In gas appliances and burning facilities, the company states it will for consumers without charge. City Counsellor Manning was at the Wood River council meeting Monday night whether the I switch in gas would occasion an iij- I crease or decrease in gas rates for I toe local consumers. He stated he had queried the company upon receiving notice of the hearing, and had not a definite answer. The informed him, he said, pat the price schedules Would I emerge from the developments of hearing.

The application of the I company to Jhe Commerce Corn- Won however, sets forth that change would "represent a reduction in the cost of service" for Wood River and n. other communities now I wming the gas with a 565 B. U. rating, states the natural irom the Mississippi River in accordance with a signed with that and that the iiwltch In as would enable them to operating economies. Visit Illinois, "'isouri State Parks at Pere a motor vi a if ls from 26 States Cle tour today, of iMis- Chartrf Wer state Mounds trin Progra tri was part of for the national con- on tate Parks, being held Marquette lodge, near Informal discussion for tonight on the' state parks to lies January 15,1856) 3o Copy rf ALTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 3,1941 Member oi The Associated Press Weather Forecast ALTON.

dtotidy toftlghi, Wednesday. Light early tonight. Slightly Making An Opening for Rivet Highway 6.43-Cent Bid Low on Street Oil for Alton This st phot was taken at a ppint opposite the water company's pumping statidn, near Grand avenue. The Me Adams River Road is to make an ejeit at this intersection, going over Grand avenues after the talus slope has been removed, and a pathway cut through the rock. The hard rain this morning slowed operations a bit, but work was progressing rapidly immediately afterward.

Bid Submitted by Firm on 40,. 000 Gallons Higher Than 1940 Cost Proposals Heard iort Will Go to City Council Seven Women on Jutu Heating Nelson Suits Price-Fixing Charged in Indictments 200 Organizations Persons in, 6 Indus- 'tries Named ana SAN FRANCISCO, werp accused today of fixing prices anc of other monopolistic practices, in greatest mass of indictment ever" returned by special federa grand jury here. Five food industry groups and one national defense industry were ndlcted. Those charged included .4 industrial associations, 89 rations and partnerships, and 91 officers and directors. Ball of the Individuals was at $1000 each In the food industry indictments were returned against fruit ant canners, dried fruit packers, evaporated companies he rice industry, and the sardine ndustry.

The defense group involved the manufacture and sale of battery eparators, wooden partitions be- ween 'battery plates used in automobiles, airplanes, tanks and submarines. M. S. Huberman, in charge of anti-trust prosecution, aid this monopoly was nationwide, Names of nationally-known corporations dotted the list of J94 defendants. The same special jtoy accused nine other in- iustries of monopolistic practices, Oil Shortage in fetheastForecast WASHINGTON, June 3, act-finding committee from the etroleum industry submitted rivate report to the Office of Pro- uction Management today on pros- ectlve shortages of gasoline and uel oil In the eastern states.

The meeting preceded a sched- led conference with Harold ekes, defense oil coordinator, this fternoon. In authoritative quarters it was aid that the oil men forecast a evere shortage of petroleum pro- ucts in the northeast next winter nless the transportation "bottle eck" were broken. Roosevelt May Veto Farm parity Program rc ne authoritative wlU veto oan agriculture pro in8l8ts ment minimum that source, the iro- were provided Jn 4be 1 Funds would be provided, however, by a measure now pending before the House Banking committee. it stands this legislation would authorize an Increase of in the lending power Of the Commodity Credit Corporation so that the parity loans could be financed. (Carl B.

Bobbins, the corporation's president, said yesterday that amount would have to be upped at least $242,000,000 more to provide the necessary loan funds.) But congressional farm leaders are wprklng to tack on to this bill an amendment 1 which would forbid the use of agriculture department funds for of farm pro- at lew than 86 percent Conttiiued on Page 2, Column 8. Trial of the two damage suits growing out the death than a year ago of Vivion R. Nelson 'when 'ihe was lessee of the Stratford Hotel wa continuing today in City Judge Boynton presiding, lit noon, doubt was expressed attorneys that the trial could today. The two suits, consolidated for trial, are being heard- before a jury composed of'seven women and five men. jury was completed about 2 p.

presentation of war begun-after stateinent8 'of attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants. Eleven witnesses had been called to, the stand up to noon today, but testimony of two had not been completed when court recessed for the luncheon hour. One suit is that of Lois H. Nelson, widow of V. -R.

Nelson, and her two minor daughters against Alfred Weber, Katie and John Kies for $25,000 damages. The other is that of, Mrs, Nelson as adminis- tratrix of the estate of her husband, against Roberts Jadwln for $10,000. Both suits turn on jury incurred by Nelson during a New Year's Eve bail at his hotel, Dec. 31, 1939-Jan. 1, 1940, it being alleged there was an assault on him by Jadwin.

Testimony up to noon today recited that Nelson was moved back and forth several times between his hotel and a hospital in the period before his death, and that he had undergone an operation late in February, 1940, for relief from appendicitis. Jadwin was called by the plaintiff's side as the first witness yesterday but his testimony was interrupted while attorneys argued objections before the 'judge in chambers. Widow on Stand Mrs. Nelson was called to the stand late in the afternoon. Her was not completed, and was Interrupted near the close of day so that another witness with brief testimony could be leard.

When trial resumed today, Mrs. Nelson resumed the stand, but after a recess at 11 a. m. her tes- again was interrupted so hat testimony of physicians might given and the doctors be not unduly delayed by their court ap- Dr. M.

R. Williamson, who at- V. R. Nelson from Jan. 1, .940, when he suffered fracture of he femur In an alleged alterca- lon with a visitor at New Year's festivities at his hotel, until ils death March 19, 1940, was the Irst physician witness.

Cross-examination had not been completed Judge Boynton announced he noon recess. Dr. W. W. Billings, county coroner, had been sworn as a witness ust before Dr.

Williamson took he stand, about 11:10 a. m. Patrolmen Testify Witnesses heard yesterday aft Congress Balks OnPlaii of FDR PropertyPower Wheeler and Others Attack Request Made by War Department WASHINGTON, -June 3, Substantial opposition materialized in Congress today to the War department recommendation' that President be given un' precedented power'ttf tajie, 1 any Legislative leaders, however, pre-, dieted prompt consideration for proposal which, if approved, would endow Mr. Roosevelt with even greater authority over property than' President Wilson, had at his disposal in World War days. One of ithe first to attack the War Department's legislation was Senator Wheeler (Democrat, tant) who has fought a number of the administration's defense program "Under this bill," he told reporters, "the President could take over all the property in New York, Montana or any other state and convert the' states into game preserves or bird refuges." Whgeler foresaw "a major fight" on the legislation in the Senate) and'several members of the House Military committee were cool to the proposal.

Roosevelt Approved The proposed legislation, it was Oiling the earth streets In the city' cost approximately' half a more per gallon, this year thah'last year, under terms of the lowest bid received. Menibers of the repairing streets committed of City Council met at 2 p. Monday in the office of the city engineer and took under advisement the two proposals submitted, Bids for 40,000 gallons of road oil were asked, specifications providing that the proposals including the spreading of the oil on streets designated. Co. by Wayne Cftun- ton of East Alton submitted a bid of- 6.43 cents per gallon.

Aluminous Engineering Co. of Springfield submitted a proposal of 7.25 cents a gallon less 1 percent for payment in Had 1940 Contract The Havelka firm held the contract last year, and It was noted by committee members that the current bid is ,59 of a cent higher than Its 1940 bid of 5.84 cents net. Recently Madison county received a low bid on 600,000 gallons spread of 6.7 cents, Wayne "'Counton, who was present, explained that road oil not only has advanced, but that there is a scarcity. He said his firm is able to purchase no more oil than under it? purchase arrangements with Standard Oil Co. (Ind.) as of last Whether the city could" save anything by buying oil under one contract and having it spread under another separate contract was discussed briefly, but it was pointed out that such a procedure, in some municipalities, is here.

on, 'it Is practice to have France on Verge of War Wifft Britain as Syrian Front Forms Gen. Weygand Petain Confer; Cabinet Callec Urgent Session Reportec on Tense Relations With England 'False News' Charged disclosed, had approval from received advance the President, the olf's his way grading costs 7 are; since damage by rain jiefpre 'can be put on is safeguarded against as far is humanly possible. Were oil bought direct, it was said, the city would have to take carload lots of 10,000 gallons at a time and hence do a big batch of grading in advance. Under Advisement After in which City Engineer Abraham pointed out that the city's grading program in preparation for oiling has been interrupted because the old grader has- completely broken down, the Paris Writer Asserts Na tipn Will Help Cause of Germany VICHY, France, June 3, Chief of State Marshal Petain called an urgent cabinet meeting late this afternoon, the second the day, after a conference with General Maxime Weygand, chief of France's African forces. At an earlier cabinet meeting which lasted for two hours ant was said to have been devoted to discussion of tense French-British relations, Weygand was present bu the marshal was not From this earlier session Weygand, Petain's African pro-consul was understood to have gone straight to the marshal, who Immediately-called the second meeting.

Charges Attack Prepared The Beirut French-controlled radio charged today that the British were preparing an attack against Syria. The radio said the British were campaigning with, "false news" of German troop landings on France's Near-Eastern mandate. French forces are ready to defend their "know how to reply effectively," the broadcas cornmittte decided under advisement. to take It was bids sug- moon Included Police Patrolmen ohn Heafner and Olon Smothers, who told of being called to Strat- ord early on Jan. 1 and of learn- ng Nelson had been Injured; Po- Ice Magistrate Cotter; Alfred tfeber, a defendant In one suit; Leonard, night clerk at the at time of in- ury; J.

L. Godbey, bartender at he Stratford Jan. 1, 1940:, and Tracy Coultas, who assisted Nelson mmedlately after he suffered a eg fracture, aiding in moving the otel man to his room, V. M. Jscoby, assisted by y.

L. itanns, Is appearing for the plain- ffa In the two suits, and Karl Hoagland, aviated by J. J. Midleton, for the in both uses. i Navy and the Office of Production Management.

There was considerable general interest as to whether the broad powers might be invoked to end strikes hampering defense production. In the absence of any official statement on this point, some legislators were of the opinion that the bill authorize the taking over of strike-bound plants. In addition to'permitting the President to take over for any period any type of property adapti able for use in national defense, the legislation also would authorize the chief executive to sell or otherwise dispose of the requisitioned property. Senator Wheeler said "This measure is a direct threat to every individual In the United States. At his whim, the President could take from the farmer his farm and farm machinery, from the laborer his tools and from 'the businessman his factory.

Sees Threat to Democracy "He could take over the press and radio If the President gets this bill what Is left of our so- called Vay of life 1 In order to fight for democracy abroad are we going to set up a totalitarian government here?" Chairman George (Democrat, Georgia) of the Senate Foreign Relations committee and Chairman Reynolds (Democrat, North Carolina) of the Senate Military mlttee reserved judgment on the bill for the time being, but George some senators might make tho argument that It provided full war powers and thus should not be enacted unless the nation were at war. Reynolds said he would place the legislation before his committee this Week and Chairman May (Democrat, Kentucky) of the House Military committee said he would "expedite action." WASHINGTON, June 3 President Roosevelt discussed with Continued on Page 2, Column A. gested that no award' can be made before the council meeting of June 11, ten days hence, and meantime the question of repairing or buying a new grader may have been decided. When more information as to grading possibilities is in hand, the committee will formulate a report to the council as to oil. present at the meeting yesterday were Mayor Strulf, Chairman Harry Watson and Alderman 'Jar.

rett of the streets committee, City Engineer Abraham and C. A. Bledsoe of the Division of Highways. The state was represented at the bid opening because the oil to be purchased will be used both on arterial streets, paid from MFT funds, and local streets, paid from city funds. London Names Campbell Head U.S.

'Information' LONDON, June 3 UP) The government announced today the appointment of Sir General Campbell, minister to Washington, as director-general of all British In. formation services In the United States. An announcement from No. 10 Downing street said: "In response to increasing' demand In the United States for fuller and more complete information concerning Great Britain's war effort and for improvement of the supply of news from British sources, it has been decided to entrust direction of existing British Information services In the United States to Sir Gerald Campbell, C. M.

now serving as his Majesty's minister at Washington. Campbell, whose office will be In New York, will relinquish his appointment as minister In order to assume that of director-general of British Information services." As minister held second rank In the Washington embassy under Lord Halifax, the ambassador. "radio "particularly denied. 'New York broadcast that German motorized units had landed at La- takia, in Syria, and a British broadcast that the hospital ship Canada which landed last week at Beirut from Marseille had 500 Germans aboard. Cites 'Europeanlsm' One of the exponents of former Premier Pierre Laval's policies, Jean Luchaire, writing in the Paris evening paper Les Nouveaux, Temps, declared "the neutrality painted by anglophilism which was the leitmotif of a large portion of French government circles, is already being succeeded by a military neutrality colored by Euro- peanlsm.

"But from the economic point of view as well as morale, France is ranging itself at the side of Germany. Vichy and Paris intend to conduct themselves, as far as Berlin is concerned, like Washington conducts itself where London is concerned. "The truth, which no longer can be ignored, is that France will aid Germany in the fight against the British empire in every way possible without entering the war against Great Britain." Five Automobiles in' Carrollton Accident CARROLLTON June automobiles figured in an accident near the TJmpe tavern three miles south of hire at 7 Monday, when Albert Hayes of Jacksonville was Injured. Hayes auitftined a head wound and was to a Jacksonville hoipltal Nazis Report Sinking 746,000 Tons in May BERLIN, June 3. German High Command reported today that the navy and air force destroyed 746,000 tons of British merchant shipping space In May.

Of this total, today's commu- nique said 479,000 tons were accounted for by submarines, 215,000 tons by the Luftwaffe and the remainder by surface craft. The High Command asserted that yesterday and last night the Luftwaffe sank five merchantmen totalling 21,100 tons and damaged five more in raids on strongly protected convoys off the British east coast. In addition, It said long-range bombers scored hits on a large merchantman in the Atlantic west of the Faroes, while other air units bombed the mouth of the Humber river by day. Aver Nazis Pass Through Turkey ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 2. (Delayed) in civilian clothes recently passed through Turkey to Syria with Bulgarian passports, unofficial sources asserted today.

Since their papers were In order, It was understood Turkey had taken the attitude Uie responsibility was It was reported In Ankara Germany had advised Turkey delay sending a boat to the Grew, port of Plraeui for the ambassador to Greece and his family, asserting that at present she could not guarantee safe pauuge. Say Isles Safe From Crete Fate punfiug By LARRY ALLLKN ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, June -Some of the British navy of fleers who directed the removal more than 15,000 Imperial ant Greek troops from Crete expressed the opinion today that German; must, on the basis of what hap pened 'on the island, devise other means of invasion before attempt ing to invade Britain. Nazi efforts to land sea-borne troops failed, the officers said, in spite, of the fact that Great Britain's nearest naval base was more than 400 from eastern Crete. British warships bioke up every large-scale effort by the Germans to send transports and countless fishing boats loaded with soldiers from the Greek mainland to the island. Even with complete mastery of the air, the Germans failed to.

provide the protection necessary to land men and supplies, the officers said. It. was estimated reliably here that-about 20,000 Germans drowned Continued on Page 2, Column 7. LondonPredicts Britsh Aftaek ia Soon Views Middle East Drive as Race With Nazis for Positions LONDON, June 3. UP)-M3uali- Eied observers predicted today the War' Cabinet soon would declare Syria an enemy-occupied territory, opening the French-mandated wedge between Turkey and Palestine for full-scale British attack.

Reports from Turkey that the Nazis already had landed sea- borne infantry with motorized equipment at the Syrian port of L-atakia, just east of Britain's sland of Cyprus, were interpreted some quarters as indicating the race for positions on a new warfront already was on. There were indications that British official circles would not be surprised if the Vichy government soon requested German "pro- of all French colonial possessions, Including Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East. The Brenner Pass meeting of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini In a war-strategy session jrompted almost unlimited specu- atlon as to where the would itrike Most guesses, however, involved he Suez Canal. Many observers declared they were convinced the Axis leaders had decided on a drive across iyprus and Syria to Iraq and Palestine in an effort to split Britain's Middle East forces before touch- ng off the actual Libyan thrust oward the canal. The British also are known to ie watching closely for a German move Into French North Africa an effort to seize South Atlan- ic bases and to attack British nd "Free French" African col- nies.

Some sources said such a drive Continued on Pago 2, Column 2. Strong German Help Believed Ready in East Berlin to Give Vichy a Tree Hand' toy Repel British RAF Raids Reich Hitler's Newspaper Brings Attention to Island of Cyprus (By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) France appeared today on the verge of plunging into the war against her old ally, Qreat Britain with strong German a new battlefield In French-ruled Syria in the Middle East. In Vichy, Chief of State Philippe Petain called an urgent cabinet meeting late this afternoon, the second of the day, after conferring with Generalissimo Maxime Weygand, commander in chief of France's African In Paris, populace was warned to be ready for a. practice air- raid alert first since Adolf Hitler's conquering legions swept into the old French capital. Simultaneously, the French-controlled Beirut radio charged that the British were preparing to attack Syria and declared 'that French forces, were ready to "reply Authorized Nazi quarters in Berlin, with apparent significance, said Germany Would give France a "free hand 1 rfipel any -British attempts against, ner sovereignty.

Reports Dispatches reported that a dozen freighters flying swastika'flags assigned to transport German 'troops and heavy military equipment from Rumanian to Syria, following up the asserted landing of 500 Nazi soldiers on the Syrian-coast last Thursday. Ankara observers reported seeing as many as 200 German warplanes near the Syrian-Turkish frontier. reports said the French cabinet, in the first meeting called by Marshal Petain, discussed the mounting tension in relations between France and Britain. In the battle of the Atlantic, Hitler's High Command reported that 746,000 tons of British merchant shipping was destroyed in figure closely approaching 852,000 tons of allied ships sent to the bottom In Britain's darkest hour of the World War. This was in April, 1917, when Kaiser Wilhelm's sink-on-sight campaign, backed by a fleet of 111 sea-going Uboats, sank 430 ships.

At the height of the campaign, it was reported that Britain had only six weeks of food supplies left. One out of every four ships ng United Kingdom ports never returned. Say 470,000 Tons Sunk The German High Command said hat in last month's assaults on British shipping, Nazi U-boats sank 479,000 tons while the Luftwaffe destroyed 215,000 tons. Destruction of the remaining 52,000 tons was attributed to surface raiders. In the war in the air, RAF night raiders spread "large fires" in an attack on Berlin, the London Air Ministry announced, and bombed he cities of Duesseldorf, Dulsburg- Buhrort and other targets In Germany's industrial Ruhr.

It was the 46th assault of the on the Nazi capital. Other British raiders struck at he docks of St. Nazaire, German Uboat base in France, and at Os- end, Belgium. The Germans acknowledged that Continued on 1'ago 10, Column Sabotage Hinted in Crash Of Bomber at San Diego SAN DIEGO, June 3. WP) unexplained performance of $250,000 British Literator bomb- that sideslipped into San Diego Bay and killed four aviation exerts aroused some suspicion to- ay of sabotage.

FBI and company agents, Inves- Igatlng the crash, awaited sal- aging of additional pieces of reckage for examination. Failure of the controls appnr- ntly caused the crash yesterday the jreat camouflaged ship, of ha tjfoe used jjmb Berlin, by the British to Observers said the bomber took fjf'from Lindbergh Field easily nough and climbed swiftly. Then i suddenly flipped sideways Into 10 bay. The left Wing struck. The lane was shattered and sank.

i A crash boat rescued Lewis M. McCannon, 25, of Woodstock, 111., one of the five men aboard. Seriously Injured, he was taken to the naval air station sick bay. The body of Mechanic William H. RIeser, 23, Cambridge, was recovered.

Still unfound and believed pinned In the sunken nose section of the ship were the bodies of Consolidated Aircraft's chief test pilot, William Wheatle, 38, Chester, N. one ot the country'! most able airmen; Alan T. Auiten, 28, Kansas City, assistant test pilot; and Bruce Craig, 27, Chicago, aviation engineer. A spokesman for the Consolidated Aircraft Co. said of sabotage" had been discovered, hut neither he nor FBI men would discuss the matter further,.