The Press Democrat from Santa Rosa, California • 1

jar 3 3 I I Wll OJlSlidlll Li char TER AMENDMENT TO ASK I MINIMUM FEE FOR WATER HERE i fin c-Gfc -oscasssssrti i a Tr ys a I i fill I mm I II I It I I 1-1 V. VnL- iZnrt Tafc fft ill I II 3- I I till II II Proposed Councilmen 9sPay Be Submitted to Voters 90TH YEAR-NO. 44 SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1 946 14 PAGES Charter Changes to Be Submitted to City Voters April 2 r3 rnnran City Salary Boost OK'd By Council TT ni JUL Three new charter amendments will be submitted to EX-PETALUMAN DENIES SPY CHARGES Santa Rosa's voters at the municipal election here on April 2, it was decided by the city council last night. They will include a new proposal fcr financing Santa Rosa's municipal water distribution, a part-time compensation plan for the mayor and city councilmen, and a change in the charter's 1- SERGEANT Byfi JURY AGREES m6y Rejects ACCUSED OF QUICKLY ON ttter ttcal track on Kenny A DING AZS uun iu i wiv Overwhelming Vote of Confidence Given for Attorney General in Defeat of 'Smear Salary increases for city employees were approved by the city at its meeting last night, by ordinance and resolution. Action of the council carried out 'he decision reached at a recent special meeting to provide a general wage adjustment approximating from ten to twelve per cent.

The increase is retroactive to February 1. Monthly salaries fixed by ordinance include: City Manager Joseph Ladner City Clerk Agnes Farquar 230.00 City Auditor John flawkes 337.50 City Recorder W. E. Rutherford 250.00 Chief of Police Melvin Flohr 325.00 Fire Chief George Magee 325.00 City Attorney J. N.

DeMeo 150.00 Salaries fixed by resolution included: II. Brockman, street sweeper operator $240.00 Pf ster, engineer 207.50 L. Zellner. waterworks 170.00 S. Zellner, waterworks 150.00 I.

Murray, gardener 165.00 H. Fessler, gardener 170.00 R. Whightman. gardener 165.00 V. Fowler, gardener 165.00 J.

Blake, gardener 170.00 C. Allison, gardener 165.00 3. James, gardener 165.00 M. Sousa. gardener 165.00 J.

Dollarhide. pkg. meter coll. 225.00 I. Cooke, clerk 110.00 Anna E.

Gonnella, stenographer 160.00 Eva Comalli. asst. auditor 187.50 Luella R. Kimmel. dep.

tax coll. 160.00 Irma R. O'Neal, stenographer 160.00 Tos C. Ha'deman. ianitor 130.00 J.

T. SDaulding. capt, of police 240.00 E. Tovani, sgt. of police 230.00 J.

Plover police officer 225.00 E. Biavaschi. police officer 225.00 W. L. Walker, police officer 225.00 W.

Maxwell, police officer 225.00 H. Huntington, police officer 225.00 Wm. Clark, police officer 225.00 Tom Campion, police officer 225.00 Harold Beck, police officer 225.00 Norman Dilworth, police officer 225.00 John Ellis, police officer 225.00 Jack McMullen. police officer 225.00 A. Blackman.

police officer 225.00 D. Doyle, police officer 225.00 E. Brichetto. asst. fire chief 240.00 (Continued on 2, Col.

2) Espionage Conspiracy Traced in Trial at Hamilton Field SACRAMENTO, Feb. 19 (UP) The state legislature adjourned a special session at 8:50 o'clock tonight after giving Attorney General Robert W. Kenny a vote of confidence in defeatinc a resolution charg Byrnes Says Top A-Bomh Secrets Safe Ml I I 2 I La arig present wording to avoid conflict with the state election procedures. The council agreed on the proposed amendments informally prior to last night's regular council meeting, and instructed City Attorney J. N.

DeMeo to immediately prepare the necessary legal steps for placing them on the coming ballot. Eecause of the limited time remaining, the council will meet, again at 11 o'clock this morning to act officially on the amendments. Another water amendment has been under consideration by the council ever since defeat of the "pay-as-you-go" water plant in the last special city election. Because some opponents at that time based their objections upon the fact that the proposal on the ballot contained no limitation on water charges, even though the council had given assurance of what the charges would be, the new proposal now being drafted will call for a flat one-dollar minimum monthly water-service fee for the first 5,000 gallons for domestic use. The actual text of the amendment will be submitted to the council for approval today.

Also before the council today will be wording of the proposed charter change to provide some compensation for council members, In announcing his plans to retire at the end of the present term during a council session two weeks ago, Mayor Robert Madison had urged that future mayors and councilmen be given "some compensation" for their services, contending 'that it "costs money" for a man to serve his city in the present nonpaid municipal positions. The council has agreed on a tentative recommendation of $25 per month for councilmen and $50 per month for the mayor to be submitted to voters for consideration. The third amendment proposed for the charter is purely technical in nature. At present, the state election ing him with; association with subversive groups. In another final action, a bill to appropriate $15,000,000 for schoolhouse construction in "distressed" districts was killed.

The action came when the assembly refused to concur in senate amendments to the measure which would cut the amount from and -eliminate well-off school districts from a chance at the money. A conference committee was unable to reach an acceptable compromise. U.S. Alone Has 'Know How Of Production, Cabinet Member Insists WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (AP) I By a vote of 57 to 19, the lower MISSING Los Angeles sheriff's deputies are conducting an intensive search for 6-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter (above), last reported seen entering a stranger's auto.

(AP Secretary of State Byrnes assured house defeated a resolution in-reoorters todav that he believes troduced by Thomas H. WerdeL America's top atomic-bomb secrets CountyShare Of State Aid BillAnalyzed Verdict Makes Death Penalty Mandatory For Girl Slayer SANTA CRUZ, Feb. 19 (AP) Thomas H. McMoni-gle, 31 year old school bus driver, today was convicted of first-degree murder, in the kid-nap-death of 15-year-old Thora Chamberlain. The conviction carries an automatic death penalty.

McMonigle, who sat stolidly as the case went to jury, flushed violently as the verdict was read. The state had charged that McMonigle, an ex-convict, had abducted the pretty girl from outride Campbell High School near San Jose last November 2, raped and shot her and pitched her body off a 363-foot sea cliff near here. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, deliberated 43 minutes. McMonigle evidenced no emotion when Jury Foreman Roy Mayf ield, a hardware merchant, handed up the decision but flushed a deeo red when the verdict was read. Under California law conviction of first-degree murder without recommendaton of leni-ency, means execution in the apple-green lethal gas-chamber at San Quentin.

Sanity Trial Next However, McMonigle had entered a dual plea of innocent and innocent by reason of insanity and the. murder verdict will not become binding unless he is found sane in a second trial. Judge James Atteridge set February 26 as the date for the start of the insanity trial. The same jury will hear the case. A parade of 50 witnesses during the two-weeks' murder trial presented circumstantial evidence in an effort to prove McMonigle was the slayer.

The FBI showed that McMonigle kidnaped the Chamberlain girl (Continued on Page 2, Col. 4) isaKersiieia, wnicn sougni 10 "vigorously condemn" Kenny for alleged association with subversive groups. The action followed charges that the move was politically inspired inasmuch as Kenny is viewed as the probable Democratic candidate for gover- Clue Shifts Kidnap Hunt To Oakland nor in the coming campaign. Cities and County Itself Will Divide $890,000 For Construction Bonds Ordered Sold to Proceed With Project Approved by Voters Santa Rosa's city council, carrying out the mandate of voters at the last special election, took definite steps last night toward providing the long-sought municipal hospital. The council unanimously voted authorization for purchasing a the hospital site a tract of land bordering on Montgomery drive at a price of $15,295.36.

Further, the council authorized the city attorney to proceed with sale of the municipal hospital bonds voted by the people at the city election toward financing the hospital. Action of the council followed a conference earlier in the day with the city's hospital committee headed by Tom Grace, at which it was recommended that the city ahead at once with the project. The site had been recommended earlier by the chamber of commerce hospital committee, at whicv time it was acquired by civic-minded citizens with the deed held in escrow by the Sonoma County Land and Title Company pending the city's final decision and outcome of the city bond election. The action taken last night authorizes payment of $15,295.38 to the title company for the property, which City Auditor Johr Hawkes commented was "a good buy." The resolution for purchase of the site was adopted on motion of Councilman Ray Brazil, head of the council's public-health committee, seconded by Councilman Obert Pederson. Other action taken by the council last night included: Adopted ordinance and resolution raising pay of city employees.

(See detailed account in other columns). Approved building permits amounting to $164,650 for a new fjnteticned further necessary legs! steps toward annexation of the' proposed north McDonald avenue area and an uninhabited portion of the Grace subdivision. Accepted tentative' map of street layout in Grace subdivision. Approved installation of a wooden conduit for telephone lines South street at Val-leio street by the Pacific Telephone and Telegranh Company. Adopted ordinance extending commercial zone to include Fifth street from Humb'ldt to the old Southern Pacific railroad right of way.

Adopted ordinance lequiring licenses for firms engaged in delivery or sale of vehicles, other than peddlers or firms having fixed places of business here. Engaged firm of-Thomas Whipple to prepare an appraisal report and survey on Santa Rosa Water Works (McDonald system) as recommended by the recently named citizens' water-resources committee studying advisability of purchasing the private company, with report to be submitted in 90 days. Authorized payment of bills amounting to $7,136.14. Governor to Be Guest at Citrus Fair Governor Earl Warren will be a guest at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Friday, it was disclosed last night in Sacramento as plans were completed for the annual Redwood Empire variety show, opening tomorrow evening. Announcement that Governor Warren had accepted an invitation from the fair committee was made by telephone from Sacramento last night by Senator Herbert W.

Slater, who plans to officiate at the opening. Senator Slater, following a custom of many years, will open the pageant Thursday evening with coronation of Miss Lottie Mae Hontou, chosen "queen" of the fair in a recent contest conducted by merchants of the unique community where oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines ripen in winter. Local committees have planned elaborate entertainment in the community's big citrus pavilion, featuring Russ Colwell's orchestra music for afternoon and evening dancing, singing by the noted baritone, Armand Girard, novelty piano performances by Lumir Hampl. popular songs by lovely Carol Dale, and with Larry Gray as master of ceremonies. Novel exhibits made entirely of citrus fruit locally grown will be displayed in the pavilion decorated in Redwood bark and greens.

Among exhibitors will be the Ital- are safe from spies that this country alone has the know-how. He said at a news conference that he had no reason to expect any arrests for atomic epionag3 in the United States. Barraged with questions centered around reported efforts of a. foreign spy ring' to ferret out atomic secrets in Canada, Byrnes also said: So far as his information indicates, no American citizens are involved either in Canada or in this country. He dd not care to say whether Russia is the power concerned with atomic secrets in Canada.

Should there be any arrests, this country would be as candid in announcing them as Canada h'is been. He has no position to take on a statement by Joseph E. Da vies, former ambassador to Moscow, that Russia has a "moral right" to code calls for candidates for pub Most of the argument was devoted to Kenny's participation in a Sacramento conference immediately preceding the present legislative session. Werdel charged the group sponsoring the conference was Communist-dominated and aimed to create "confusion." Assemblyman Ralph C. Dilis, Ccmpton, called the resolution "an underhanded political move," and said Werdel had it printed in the Assembly Journal without giving Kenny a chance to defend himself.

Werdel denied it was a political gesture, stating he was "against subversive activities and this is a patriotic measure." Another defender of the attorney general, Alfred W. Robertson. Santa Barbara. Democratic HAMILTON FIELD, Feb. 19 (UP) SSgt.

Frank Hirt, 31, pleaded innocent today before a general court-martial here of conspiring to pass American military secrets to a worldwide network of Nazi espionage agents while he was an air-force mechanic at Fairfield Suisun Army Airbase near here. Hirt, American-bom sergeant who went to Germany and admittedly entered spy training school under the notorious Gestapo leader Karl Bauer, denied all specifications and charges that he planned to transmit information on U. S. military aircraft, inventions and other war secrets to nine and possibly ten German operatives. His plea came after defense counsel asked dismissal of charges that he conspired and corresponded with agents in six -foreign nations and South America.

Refuse Dismissal Chief Defense Counsel Maj. Richard P. Whitker of Michigan asserted the charges were unlaw- ul under The Hague convention articles which provide that persons accused of spying must be brought to trial before the cessation of hostilities. Whitker also asked dismissal on rounds the effectiveness of the charges had expired under the statute of limitations. Court President Col.

Herefort T. Fitch. San Antonio, Texas, overruled both requests, the former on grounds The Hague convention did not apply to the present charges of conspiracy, which fell instead under federal espionage statutes. Court adjourned until 10 a. m.

tomorrow after hearing the sergeant's plea. Child in Court As the afternoon session opened, Hirt's vife Jean was admitted to the courtroom and brought along the sergeant's 6-year-old daughter Sharon, who rushed to where Hirt was seated sobbing "Daddy, Daddy, I want my Daddy back." Col. Fitch asked for order and Mrs. Hirt agreed to leave Sharon outside the courtroom if she could remain herself, to which the court agreed. The specifications, read as the court-martial panel convened this morning, charged the sergeant with "willfully and unlawfully agreeing and conspiring in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Brazil, the United States and at other places presently unknown" with nine and pos- (Continued on Paje 2, Col.

5) 31 Crimes Linked To Bay Teen Ring' OAKLAND, Feb. 19 (UP) Police said tonight that four high-school students ranainsr in dpps OAKLAND, Feb. 19 (UP) Police searched tonight for a "nervous man" driving a battered black sedan in which a small girl resembling six-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter, missing Los Angeles child, was reported seen here. Yervant A. Mermoyan of Berkeley told authorities he saw the child when the man, described as elderly and "rattled," asked help in starting his car.

The car would not start, Mermoyan said, because the ignition was not turned on. Mermoyan said the man had a speech impediment. try to find out atomic secret" with held from her by her wartime floor leader, declared the resolu- aiiies, nor, apart irom tne canaa- tion contained only one charge. That, he said, was -that Kenny Sonoma county and the cities in the county can get $890,714 out of the $90,400,000 appropriation just made by the legislature with the enactment of the "construction and employment act," which will take effect ninety-one days aftsr this session ends. Under the terms 'of the act, lh2 county's share will bs $649,000 and fhe cities' as follows: Cloverdale, $7251; Healdsburg, Peta-luma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, $10,379.

The new legislation appropriates $90,400,000, with $400,000 going for state administration. to counties, and $45,000,000 to cities. It requires that on any there must be a "state" interest and that local agencies must provide 50 per cent of the actual cost of any project, except for county road and highway projects, in which case the state may aid up to $75,000 in the aggregate for any county. Any other federal, state or local moneys available may be used to meet the matching requirement. Of the 545,000,000 for counties, one-third is set up for road and highway purposes in unincorporated territory and two-thirds for construction of projects such as hospitals and sanitariums, detention homes, schools, sewage facilities, sanitation facilities, roads, highways, flood control, fire protection and prevention facilities, and harbor facilities.

Ukiah Youth Slays Kin to Save Mother lan case, did ne care to iscuss whether a foreign country has a moral right to engage in espionage in the United States. He first learned about the Canadian spy ring last November when Prime Ministers Mackenzie King of Canada and Attlce of Britain were here to discuss atomic-bomb controls. He had no information to substantiate a published report that a Russian agent had taken a suitcase full of atomic secrets out of had "instigated or become nead of a committee for democracy." Robertson also took the resolution authors to task for referring to the legislative recommendations of the Sacramento conference as "Communist inspired." These subjects included veterans legislation, old-age pensions, aid for blind and child-care centers. Albert Wollenberg, San Francisco, also opposed the resolution. He said it "was no way to carry on a political campaign LOS ANGELES, Feb.

19 (AP) Search for six-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter, missing since last Friday, turned tonight to adjoining states as officers gave up hope of finding the child alive in southern California. So intense has been the hunt for the child and the man neighbors reported drove her away in a black coupe, sheriff's deputies said it would be virtually impossible to have kept her a prisoner here. Yesterday Rochelle's mother, Mrs. Abe Gluskoter, 30, broke down for the first time and sobbed: "I feel my child is dead." After a day spent in checking (Continued on Page 3, Col. 3) licoffice to file nomination papers 40 days before any election.

But Santa Rosa's city charter, with somewhat ambiguous wording, now provides that candidates file a "statement" of candidacy with the city clerk not later than 20 days before the election. The proposed amendment would change the city charter to conform to the 40-day requirement of the state law. While technically at present the (Continued on Page 4, Col. 5) Petaluma's School Bonds A pp roved Petaluma's $320,000 elementary school bond election carried by four to one in yesterday's special election, it was announced last night. Voting in favor of the bond issue were 892 Petaluma school district voters, while 227 cast opposing votes, the semiofficial tally of ballots revealed.

The vote was light, -as there are 5300 registered voters in the district, school officials reported. The bonds will provide funds to raze two outmoded schools and erect new structures, and provide for remodeling and purchase of additional ground around two other existing schools. forr0H tho pvhi against anything." He added that Byrnes referred to the Federal intend to support Gov. Earl (Continued on Page 2, Col. 3) Warren for -election.

(Continued cn 2, Col. 1) Bowles Raps NAM Attack On Price Curb Of the $45,000,000 to cities, pri orities are set up as follows: sewage facilities, major streets, 15 -Year'-Old Boy Shoots Stepfather to Halt Wife Beating A 15-year-old Ukiah youth was held at the Mendocino county detention home yesterday after fatally wounding his stepfather with a rifle bullet, assertedly fired after the boy's mother had been struck and knocked down by her husband. Victim of the fatal shooting, which occurred late Saturday night, is William Tompkins, a ranchworker. The youthful gun wielder was identified as Thomas Landon. Officers said the boy admitted he got a rifle, loaded it and pointed it through a broken pane in a door.

He said his stepfather had been beating and abusing his mother, and that Tompkins started after him when he saw the gun. The boy said he retreated out into the yard to a tree, and that Tompkins continued to approach him, shouting threats. According to Sheriff Beverly Broaddus, the boy said he fired once and missed, (Continued on Page 2, Col. 4) from 15 to 17, charged with in U. S.

May Reveal Nazi -Spain Link WASHINGTON. Feb. 19 (AP) Secretary of State Byrnes disclosed today that the United Stages plans to make public information about Spain which it obtains from captured German documents. He told a news conference that he could not say when such a publication would be isrucd. Allied personnel are examining tons of the captured Nazi papers, he said The United States report, he added, will deal with matters other than Spain.

schools, storm drains, and im provement of existing publicly volvement in a burglary ring operating in the eastbay district for the cast three months had owned waterworks systems. Efforts to AvertPhone Tieup Pushed By ASSOCIATED PRESS The National Federation of Telephone Workers authorized its executive board yesterday to call a nationwide telephone strike for higher wages, but Joseph A. Beirne. union president, said "all efforts" would be made to settle the dispute without a work stoppage. Asserting the independent union would "continue bargaining with the company," Beirne said the executive board "Would call a strike "after all avenues of peaceful ne- confessed to at least 21 burglaries.

Laughlin Home to Be Razed InCommercial Development WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (UP) Economic Stabilization Director Chester Bowles charged tonight that "irresponsible leaders" of the National Association of Manufacturers has threatened a "sitdown strike against the American people! and demanded their repudiation by other members of NAM. Denouncing full-page NAM advertisements as a "propaganda effort" to abolish price control, the newly selected stabilization director said its leaders, in effect, demand: "Pay us the prices we ask, or we won't produce the goods you need. He carried his hold-the-price-line battle to the American people in a (CBS-NBC) radio address t-oiice inspector Andrew Ueno-vesino and Lt. Leo Wells said the boys had admitted burglarizing the home of Peter Savino, a market owner, escaping with.

$11,000 in cash, $200 in savings bonds and a quantity of valuable jewelry. Last week Genovesino said he found $2,000 in a hub cap of the auto owned by one of the boys. The youth's two sisters were charged with receiving stolen property and were released on $1,500 bail. modern service station, a group of stores and a "drive-in" eating place, it was learned yesterday. The property has a frontage of more than 150 feet in Third street and approximately 100 feet in A street.

Brown indicated that all The Weather Cloudy with rain today and occasional rain Thursday; little temperature change; fresh to strong southerly wind off coast today. Rainfall: past 24 hours ending at 5 p. m. yesterday, .45 of an inch; seasonal, 21.20 inches; normal, 21.08 inches. Temperatures: max imum, 56; minimum, 40.

gotiation are closed." The strike authorization was voted at a meeting in Memphis, of representatives of 50 NFTW-affiliated unions, called to i map strategy in support of de Plans for another major building development in the downtown business district were disclosed here yesterday with announcement that the Laughlin residence at Third and A streets has been acquired by Roy Brown, local gasoline and oil distributor, at a price reported near $25,000. The building, for many years the home of the late John M. Laughlin, former county assessor and fraternal leader, will be razed and Brown plans erection of a buildings will be of attractive modern design, and that work will start as soon as necessary mater after protesting tp the house bank ials can be procured and the lot is cleared of the present structures. The old home is a 13 room sonunued on Page 3, Col. 7) 3 Killed, 34 Hurt In Apartment Blast NEW ORLEANS, Feb.

19 (UP) An explosion wrecked a 14-apartment negro housing project today, killing at least three and injuring 34 of the 54 residents. Five other persons were missing and believed dead. The explosion was believed to have been caused by gas leaking under the structure. State Fire Marshal Campbell Palfrey said he understood tenants had complained of gas leakages. His of- Vallejo Votes In City-Manager Plan VALLEJO, Feb.

19 (UP) A new city charter providing for a city-manager form of government was adopted today by the voters of Vallejo, 2,687 to 463. Proponents of the new charter said that Vallejo has been one of two California cities to retain the old commissioner system under which it has operated. City officials said the vote was very light in view of Vallejo's estimated population of 80,000. mands for a $10 weekly wage increase, minimum hourly wage of 65 cents and a return to the 40-hour week. The resolution, however, urged the executive board to "secure, if possible, a peaceful and satisfactory settlement of all disputes." The threat of an immediate sympathy coast-to-coast tieup in telephone service was averted earlier when a strike of 1,000 long-distance operators was settled in The NFTW claims 250,000 mem-(Continucd on Page 4, Col.

2) ing committee that Henry Fora ii, youthful president of the Ford Motor had demanded an "outrageous increase" of 55 per cent in automobile prices. His testimony prompted the committee to summon Ford as a witness. Bowles urged his radio audience to support President Truman's new wage -price program "The new, all-out attack against the forces of inflation." (Continued on Paje 2, Col. 6) REDUCTION III BUS SCHEDULE Effective Feb. 2S, the schedule leaving Santa Rosa for Bragg at 8:55 a.

m. will ooerate Sun. Man. and Holidays The 12:55 p. m.

and 5:55 p. m. schedules wilt continue to operate daily as at present. MENDOCINO TRANSIT CO. house, and has long been a landmark in Santa Rosa.

It was sold by Mrs. Laughlin, who plans to acquire a smaller residence, it was reported. Brown, operator of a chain of service stations throughout Sonoma county, is distributor of Mohawk products in this area. His plant is located on the Redwood highway south. EMPIRE GLASS CO.

HEW LOCATION 512 Fifth St Phone 548-J Window Glass Installed Re-Putty Work. Residence Safety Glass Installed DR. J. N. JACOBS DENTIST la Bank of Sonoma County Bldg.

SEBASTOPOL Hours: 9-12, 1-5 Phone 218-W 1 ice w-as investigating..