Moberly Monitor-Index and Moberly Evening Democrat from Moberly, Missouri • Page 1

AND MOBERLY EVENING DEMOCRAT VOL 31 ASSOCIATED PHESS A.KU WIDE WOKXJD VTJLI, LEASED WIRE! SERVICE MOBERLY, MO. AUG. 27,1949 MOBEKLT INDEX, E8T. IBM. MOBERItY DEMOCRAT.

EST. MOBERLY MONITOB, ESTABLISHED 1869 tfO. 49 Statement Calls on Missourians to Defeat Plan to Hold Up Program by a Referendum; Hints Court Battle to Keep Issue Off Ballot JEFFERSON CITY, Aug. 27 Forrest Smith signed today a bill doubling Missouri's two cent gasoline tax. One of the extra two cents goes for low type rural roads.

Smith issued a statement calling on Missourians to defeat a plan to hold up the program by referring it to popular vote in the November, general election. He urged citizens to refuse to sign referendum petitions. Simultaneously opponents of the tax increase announced they will start circulating referendum petitions sometime next week. They said their campaign to get 55,000 signatures and put the referendum proposal on the ballot is all ready to go. Hints Court Fight If the petitions are filed the the governor hinted legal steps may be taken to keep the proposal off the ballot.

He cited a section of the 1945 constitution which bars referen- dunas on bills affecting the public peace, health or And he' said in his opinion the gas tax bill is such an emergency measure. If the petitions are filed, he said, the secretary of state could refuse to certify the proposal for the ballot. Then it would be up the opponents to try to force him to act through a law suit. As finally passed after bitter legislative battles, the bill calls for raising the two cent per gallon gasoline tax--the lowest in the nation--to four cents. Allotment Plan Revenue from one of the extra pennies would be used to build low type rural roads, with the state Highway Commission cooperating with county courts in the program.

The money would be allotted one-fourth on the basis of county area, one-fourth on population and one-half on needs as determined by the state commission. To share in the state aid, out- state counties would, have to levy a road and bridge tax of at least 35 cents on each SI 00 assessed valuation. Metropolitan St. Louis and Jackson counties have to levy 12 cents. Baps "Selfish Interests" Adverse Testimony To Be Turned Over To Department Heads WASHINGTON, Aug.

--Senator Hoey (D-NC) said today any adverse testimony government officials in the five percenter inquiry will go to their superiors--except in the case of Maj. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan. Hoey told reporters about that after disclosing that "in a measure" Senate investigators are looking into the bank accounts of Vaughan, who is Mr.

Truman's military aide. A special subcommittee headed by Hoey is checking on improper influence has figured in the handling of government business. Vaughan is scheduled, to testify when the public hearings are resumed next Tuesday. His name has come up at the inquiry nearly every day. Turns Silent In reply to questions, Hoey said the committee plans to turn over to the justice department evidence it has gathered about th affairs of John Maragpn.

Maragon is a normally talkative man-about-Washington who suddenly turned silent yesterday when the committee sought to question him about a lot of matters. They include testimony ay a committee investigator that Maragon made deposits of 608-61 in checking accounts over a five-year period. Maragon previously had sworn at a hearing behind closed doors that his income over the same period to- talled only around 830,000. Senator Mundt (R-SD) called it "a clear cut case of But Maragon asserted his constitutional right at yesterday's session and refused to discuss the matter. He did so on the ground it might tend to incriminate him.

"Different Matter" Hoey said that in addition to the Maragon evidence, testimony regarding any government officials whose names have cropped up at the inquiry will be turned over to the departments concerned. A newsman asked whether that meant the testimony dealing with Vaughan would be laid before Mr. Truman. Hoey said the committee won't take the initiative in that case. 'We won't send it unless the President should ask for it," he replied.

"That's a different matter. It is the President's prerogative to ask for it if he wants it." HOSTAGES OF RUSSIANS---Peter H. Sellers (left), 18, of Philadelphia, and Warren Oelsner (right), 20, of Oyster Bay, N.Y., are being held as hostages by the Russians in the Soviet zone of Germany, Oelsner's brother, Edward C. Oelsner, said in New York. He said the had informed him that the two students had fallen into Russian hands while on a bicycle tour and that as a condition of their return, the Russians are demanding that the U.S.

military government return three Russian army deserters said to have fled to the U.S. zone. (AP Wire- photo) Tropical Gale Cuts Wide Swath Destruction Across Florida Nature Goes on Awesome Bender ashes $1,400,000,000 Hiiitary Spending Bills Economy Bloc's Battle Will Resume Monday; Vast Reductions Must Be Okayed by House, With Protests Shaping Up Over Air Force Cut WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 Senators congratulated themselves today on a $1,400,000,000 slash in defense biggest reduction in any one bill in the history our Ve The le words were those of Senator Thomas who is guiding a multi-billion dollar military money bill through the Donald Gene Hart, 9-month- old son of Chariton County Clerk and Mrs. Donovan Hart.

Keytesville. was taken to university hospitals in Columbia this morning for treatment for infantile paralysis. The baby was brought to Woodland Hospital at 5:30 o'clock this morning, where tests showed the child suffering from the disease. He was taken immediately to Columbia. His Woodland Hospital physician reported the child quite ill with some paralysis In his right arm.

Oil Rotes and In Oiling operations are under way on Route in this county and on Route in Randolph and Chariton counties, according to a bulletin issued by the state highway commission. The bulletin is for a period ending Sept. 7. Route is being oiled for seven miles east of Highway 63. Route is being oiled from Prairie Hill east to Route 3.

In Chariton county, Route is being oiled between Routes 5 and 129. Motorists are advised to avoid these roads if possible while work is in progress. Real Estate Dealer Dies KANSAS CITY, Aug. 27 UP) Herbert V. Jones.

71. widely known Kansas City real estate dealer, died today. In his statement ing the signing, Lit out at what he called the selfish interests opposing the bill. He charged these "selfish interests are raising a huge slush fund to continue to keep approximately one-half of Missouri's farmers in the mud." "The criticism raised against this bill has come from 'selfish interests' and from the uninformed," he said. "The bill is not, as has been charged, the handiwork of any so-called 'court house It in no way circumvents the jurisdiction or powers of our present state Highway Commission.

It in no way enlarges the power of myself or any future governor over the state Highway Commission or the state highway department, xxx" The referendum campaign is being sponsored by the Missouri Petroleum Industries Committee (dealers), the Missouri Petroleum Association (jobbers), the Missouri Bus and Truck Association and the Missouri Automobile Club. Conferences The governor tried unsuccessfully to halt their referendum plans by a series of meetings with opponents. He used some of the same arguments in his statement today. "The 'selfish interests' are willing to retard Missouri's program --not only in delaying more and better roads but also in holding up school and rural health improvement programs," he said. "Public roads and public schools have always been inseparably related." Speaking of Bus arid Truck Association opposition, he said it appears "that some of the very people threatening to stop Missouri's road building program are the ones doing the greatest amount of damage to our present fast aging road system." Only Four Lower Even the tax increase, the governor noted, only four states will have a lower gas tax--Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Michigan.

He promised that if the program is not held up by the referendum plans, "new road construction under this act will very (Continued on Page 3) Senate. The huge cutback ordered by the Senate yesterday included two items: A cut of $1,118,000,000 in House-approved funds for army, navy and air force spending during the 12 months which began July and a $275,000,000 reduction in money that both chambers had earlier approved for stockpiling critical materials. House Must Approve The reductions must be okayed by the House, where some leaders already were protesting sharp slashes in funds for the air 'force. Although Senators workcu past their usual quitting time last night they still failed to complete acti-n on the huge military money bill. As it came from the House it contained $15,900,000,000.

As it stood today it carried about 14,800,000,000. Remaining Issues These are the remaining issues, to be fought out in the Senate Monday: 1. An attempt by Senator McClellan (D-Ark.) and a long list of Democrats and Republicans to direct President Truman to chop from 5 to 10 per cent off all the funds that Congress votes this year. 2. An effort by Senator Wiley (R-Wis.) and other dairy state Senators to restore a former military ban against use of oleomargarine for butter.

3. A move by Senator Douglas (Dill.) to additional millions from the big military bill by sending it back to the ap- proprations committee with instructions to slice it further. Strike Starts At Goodrich Union Labor's First Major Walkout for 4th Round Pay Hike majo" Heavy Property Loss, Hundreds left Homeless Hurricane Swirling Northward; Thousands Of Homes Damaged MIAMI, Aug. 27 renegade tropical hurricane whirled out over the Gulf of Mexico for a second, punch at Florida today leaving one dead, hundreds homeless and property damage in the millions in the state's rich resort and citrus areas. Somewhat tamed as it crossed land, the freakish storm was expected to resume hurricane strength in a six to eight hour crossing of the Gulf probably to the Apalachicola Tallahassee area.

"Winds will continue to increase in northwest Florida," said W. R. Davis, Miami storm forecaster. "The center will cross the coastline again around nightfall, nossibly a bit earlier or later, according to the storm's behavior now that it is over water again." ReneW Evacuations Once again, evacuation of planes and persons from spots was under way, just as it yesterday on the Florida east coast. The storm cut a wide swath of destruction on its way across the peninsula after pounding the east coast and searing the Lake Okeechobee region.

It swept through Florida's rich citrus belt and was last reportec by the weather bureau over Pasco county on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico above Tampa. Red Cross disaster officials reported at least 500 homeless in the coast city of Stuart. By James F. Fowler WEST PALM BEACH, Aug. watched sheet metal flying through the air last night.

I saw winds hurl chips of concrete 100 feet in the air and lift of water higher than palm trees. Nature on a bender is an awesome sight. Nature unleashed her fury on this winter resort colony. I braced against the fabulous Palm Beach Biltmore Hotel and watched- 110-mile winds scoop 40-foot waves out of the Atlantic and hurl them onto the manicured lawns of this playground of the wealthy. From the sixth floor of the George Washington Hotel in West Palm Beach I saw the -wind twist sheets of corrugated steel from a service station and hurl followed the brunt of the storm them over a 3-story building.

I found the streets littered with "The hotel building shuddered as though slammed with a giant fist with the powerful gusts that exceeded 125 miles an hour. I watched the wind play weird tricks. At least 10 heads were snapped off parking meters. A service station operator had chained a batch of new tires, together but i the wind's force snapped the chain and the tires rolled merrily away. An iron utility pole was bent like a hairpin.

A gust clipped a pedestrian off his feet and skidded him at least 20 feet down the street, smacking him against a utility pole. I saw ladies' frocks sucked from a dress shop and hurled into the street. In the half hour lull which broken glass, foliage, signs and boards intended to serve as battens. During the height of the storm violent blue flashes caused by falling power lines looked like miniature lightning. In the four hours crammed with spectacular sights, the most impressive came when the wind lifted a huge section of roof from a two story garage, eased it back in place momentarily, then hurled it into the air where it was lost in the driving mists.

The entire area is a shambles. Oldtimers already are comparing this storm to the famous storms of 1928. Whether this hurricane can meet that disaster in damage remains to be seen but first show the damage extensive. Senate Votes Big Expansion Of Air Force Biil Passed After Changes in Wording Of House Measure WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 for a big expansion of the air force won Senate approval by unanimous consent today after brief discussion.

It passed the 70-group air force bill previously approved by the House after striking out a Section that spelled out the 70 combat groups and other units. Retained in the bill, however, was the House-approved authority for "24,000 servicable aircraft or 224,000 airframe tons ,000 W114U11 J-o juJiW)i wj. 1 for a fourth round of postwar estimated more than i wage increases was launched to- oil the city's 7.000 homes had day. The CIO struck B. F.

Good- been damaged. The baseball park rich, one of the rubber indus- grandstand collapsed. the air try's Big Four. Ordering some Good- ioy -Bicycle Cor Injuries Robert Joseph Miller, 15-year- old son of Mrs. James Miller, of Excello, died at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon in Samaritan Hospital in Macon as the result of injuries sustained when he was struck by an automobile Wednesday afternoon.

Young Miller sustained a skull fracture when his bicycle col- lied with a car on Highway 63 south of Macon as he attempted to cross in front of the vehicle. Red Cross Receives G.i, Dividend Blanks The Red Cross office has received application forms 'for the National. Service Life Insurance refunds and veterans may call there and receive assistance in filling them out. To Have New Lighting -System Negotiations have been completed for the purchase of a lighting system for the Junior College athletic field, it was announced today. The new system will include 40 of the latest type Westinghouse reflectors.

Engineers believe the system will give twice as much light as reflectors formerly used. Since night football was begun here the Junior College has borrowed reflectors from the park board. Purchased through Missouri Power and Light Company from Junior College athletic depart- ment funds, the new system will enable High School football teams to get in plenty of after- dark practice before the opening of the season. All the team's games will be played at night. The team has been handicapped in previous years not being able to practice enough under the lights.

And the cost of transferring the old reflectors from Rothwell Park to the Junior College has been a considerable item of expense. Purchase of the system' also will enable the Junior College to hold night track meets. Afternoon meets have never attracted many spectators- rich workers in seven states, to strike, President H. Lloyd of the ClO-United Rubber Work- said: "Unfortunately, the company showed not the slightest interest in reaching an amicable settlement. We were compelled take this action to protect the interest of our Picket Lines Out Lloyd made this statement Dayton, where negotiation, on a new contract broke down last night just before the old one expired.

As authorized by the union membership, the strike started at 12:01 a.m. today. Right on time, URW's biggest Goodrich local here set up picket lines, halting work by 11,000 employes. The other plants at Los Angeles, Cadillac, Tuscaloosa, Miami, Clarksville, Oaks, also were ordered to strike. So 'far as could be determined early today, the call to employes in other Goodrich plants was 100 per cent effective.

Truman Appoints Three Assistants To Secy. Johnson WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (fP) -President Truman today nominated Paul H. Griffith, Marx Leva and Wilfred J. McNeil to be assistant secretaries of defense.

He sent "their names to the Senate for confirmation. Griffith, like Secretary of Defense Johnson, is a past commander of the American Legion. He has been personal assistant to Johnson since last March, when Johnson took office. A native of Uniontown, he is 52 years of age and a veteran of both world wars. McNeil, 48, is a native of Boone, Iowa.

In his new post he is expected to serve as comptroller with responsibility 'for budget and fiscal matters. He was a rear admiral in the supply corps of the naval reserve during the last war. Leva, 34. is a native of Selma, Ala. As assistant secretary he is expected to handle legal matters and serve as counsel.

Leva served in the navy in World War II. Three More Polio Deaths in St. Louis ST. LOUIS, Aug. 27 Three more deaths from infantile paralysis were reported today in the St.

Louis area. Daniel Langhauser, Beckemeyer, 111., and Moore, 4. of, Steelville, died at St. Mary's Hospital in. East St.

Louis. Rosalie DeGo- nia. 3, of Mineral Point, died in city hospital here. Thirteen new cases reported today in St. Louis and St.

Louis. County, Guards Patrol Streets Two companies of National Guardsmen patrolled the streets to prevent looting of stores whose windows had been smashed. West Palm Beach Sheriff John F. Kirk said they were needed to curb vandalism in the city's badly hit business district. A number of bridges were im- because of washouts and wind damage.

Florida East Coast and Atlantic Coast Line service to the north halted at Stuart and four trains were reported stalled this side of St. Lucie bridge. Bridges Impassable Two bridges were impassable around Lake Okeechobee. But the lake itself--big killer of the 1928 hurricane--behaved like a Iamb as the hurricane swept past. U.

S. Army engineers said water was well below the danger level. That took the pressure off at the start. Stuart reported six casualties and Fort Pierce two. The only death to date was the swimmer drowned off Miami yesterday.

Red Cross and National Guard units teamed up to evacuate 60 storm refugees in West Palm Beach when winds whipped off the root of a hurricane shelter. Estimated 100 mile per hour winds broke a skylight and blew off a section of the roof of the Conniston school four miles from downtown West Palm Beach. HancI-to-Kancl Chain Rescue units boarded an emergency bus and drove through the storm to the school. The refugees formed a hand-to-hand chain to reach the bus. They were taken to the court house for shelter.

Another 200 refugees at the (Continued on Page 3) force to buy--if Congress vides' funds later--all the airplanes regarded as necessary for an expansion to 70 groups. Senators said the House language spelling out the 70 groups 22 separate squadrons and 61 air reserve groups was meaningless because a group or squadron varies widely. The Senate also struck from the House-passed bill authority for both the army and air forces to develop and buy guided mis' siles. These are the push-button type, long-range of th future wars of which the Ger man buzz bombs and rocket; were a forerunner toward thi end of World War II. 7, of Larry Mayor Goes U.S.

SUBMARINE LOST IN ARCTIC--The snorkel-equipped U.S. submarine Cochino, shown at her launching in. Groton, in April, 1945, was lost while on a training cruise in Arctic waters. An explosion in. the -battery and fire destroyed the vessel, the Navy Department announced.

The announcement said seven persons lost their lives in the accident. (AP. Wirephoto) Minister Saw Dr. and Mrs. F.

L. McCormick left here this morning for Minnesota on a trip on which Motaerly's big hunting mayor hopes to shoot some of the bears invading vicinity of Two Harbors, Minn. A report on the number of bears roaming the countryside there was brought to Moberly this week by Dr. Allen Duncan, pastor of the Coates Street Presbyterian Church. Dr.

Mrs. Duncan and their children returned Tuesday from a vacation spent at a cabin near Two Harbors. Hew Storm Threat May Be Developing In Atlantic Ocean MIAMI, Aug. 27 that a new storm threat was developing in the Atlantic arose while forecasters were heavily occupied today. The weather bureau acknowledged the report to this extent.

A Pan American Airways forecaster stationed in Dakar, on the West African coast, reported to the U. S. weather bureau that a tropical low had moved into the Atlantic from the African coast. These lows sometimes develop into hurricanes. No" reports of such a development have been received, but a hurricane hunter will scout the distant Atlantic area.

Cardinals Blast New York, 5-2, in Opener of Twin NEW YORK, Aug. 27 Musial poled two home runs, Chuck Diering and Enos Slaughter one each and the St. Louis Cardinals came up with a triple play to squash the New Giants 5 to 2 in the first game of a double-header today. The triple play, fifth in the National League this year, was the Cards' second while Musial's homers boosted his output to 25. Brooks.

Defeat Cubs BROOKLYN, Aug. 27 -Home runs by Carl Furillo and Billy Cox featured a 6-run 6th inning rally today that gave the Brooklyn Dodgers a 6 to 1 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. The first two runs of the uprising scored when Hank Sauer misjudged Jackie Robinson's fly, the ball falling fpr a double, Marvin Rowland Marks 60th Year With the Wabash Marvin Rowland, 113 Elizabeth street, this week marked 60 years of service with the Wabash Railroad company halt a century as locomotive engineer. Rowland, who will ts 78 years old tomorrow, began Wabash employment with the railroad's bridge and building department, fired locomotives for the next four years and then was promoted to engineer. The veteran "hogger" pilots one of the road's top-flight trains, the "City of Kansas between Moberly and St.

Louis. Expedition in Turkey Hunts Noah's Ark DOGUBAYAZIDI, Turkey, Aug. 27 An American expedition to find Noah's Ark arrived here last night beneath the towering height of Mount Ararat. The party is expected to set out on its quest within the next and military 24 hours. Local political President of State WCTU To Speak Here Annual County Convention to Be Held Here Thursday Mrs.

B. Blanche Butts, president of. the Missouri W.C.T.U., will be the featured speaker at the annual convention of the Randolph County Woman's Christian Temperance Union to be held Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Trinity Methodist Church. Central Union will have a brief business session at 10 o'clock and the convention will begin at 10:30 o'clock Thursday morning.

Morning worship will be led by Mrs. Ed Graves. During the morning session, reports will be given by officers and department chairman. Election of officers will be held and chairmen for the new year will be appointed. Plans for the year's work will be made.

A covered-dish luncheon will be served at 12:30 o'clock in the church dining room. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 o'clock. There will be special music by Mrs. Stella Eisenstein and Miss Jeanne Eisenstein. Worship service will be led by Mrs.

Martha McCullough arid Mrs. Butts wll give the convention address. St. Joseph Seeks Federal Funds for Housing Project ST. JOSEPH, Aug.

27 (,8 --The St. Joseph housing "authority will seek federal funds for construction of 2,400 low rent public housing units here. Louis Kranitz, executive- secretary, said the proposed project leaders welcomed the Americans as they arrived with foil authority to explore this highly militarized area on the Turkish- Russian frontier. The' party is headed by Dr. Aaron J.

Smith of Greensboro, N.C. It was accompanied by state officials and newsmen on the journey from Erzurum. The Russians have charged that the expedition is really a spying operation directed against the Soviets. Weather CENTRAL MISSOURI: Partly cloudy tonight and Sunday with occasional showers and a little cooler Sunday. Low tonight in middle 60's.

High Sunday near 85. MISSOURI: Partly cloudy tonight and Sunday, with occasional local showers or thun- LC3 J. i will cost an estimated derstorms Sunday and over 000 to 324,000,000 west portion tonight: little He said an application for the i change temperature; low first 1,200 units will be filed in tonight 65 to Sunday i i QJ: Qfk Chicago within a week. I 85 to 90. Firemen on a Bear Hunt-Draw Line at Climbing Into Tree POPLAR BLUFF.

Aug. 27 (7p) Poplar Bluff firemen went on an honest-to-goodness bear hunt today but they drew a line on climbing a ladder into a tree where the bear had taken refuge. Hugh Whittenberg. local business men. brought a three months old black bear home with him last week after a hunting trip in Minnesota.

The bear got loose last night, climbed a nearby tree and was sleeping soundly on a limb when located by the owner. The young animal would only show teeth menacingly 'when Whittenberg pleaded with him to come down. Finally firemen were called. Whittenberg climbed up and put a rope around the bear's neck. He was then yanked down unceremoniously and was terribly put out at the disturbance..