The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 1

TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE NET PAID CIRCULATION APRIL AVERAGE Daily Sunday 116,497 55TH YEAR No. 148 Entered as second class matter at the Postoffice at Tampa. under the act of March 3. 1879 TAMPA, FLORIDA, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1949 PRICE FIVE CENTS Complete Leased Wire Service ASSOCIATED PRESS and UNITED PRESS A. P.

WIREPHOTOS EASY PICKING Volcano's egi si a ic Diack -4 10 GVT TE BlAMt U.S. Still Hopes To Get Eisler Seeks Other Ways To Lid Blows Off; 17 Die Tax Go Issue But On With Spending Return Him After British Free Him Tampa Gamblers, Idle Colombian Students Buried in Torrents of Lava in Seconds POPAYAN, Colombia, May 27. U.R) Seventeen university students scaling the Purace volcano were killed when the snow-covered mountain erupted suddenly, after 16 years of inactivity, just as they neared the crater. The eruption came without warning. Two students had dropped behind the main party.

They were only slightly injured, and were the only survivors. Horrified by the tragedy, they said some of their companions were buried within seconds in a torrent of lava, that some were incinerated by the Senate Adds $2 Million To Appropriations Bill; House Version Needs $52 Million New Revenue TALLAHASSEE, May 27 (P) The Florida Legislature started spending with one generous hand today while groping with the other for cash it Is hard put to find. WASHINGTON, May 27. (U.R) The State Department today all but gave up hope of extraditing Gerhart Eisler from Great Britain, but still sought ways of returning the fugitive Communist leader to this country. Future of the case appeared to hinge on where Eisler goes, when and if he leaves Britain.

If he should go, or pass through Western Germany, for example, American authorities there could take him into custody. A State Department attorney said department legal officers had advised the Justice Department mat a British magistrate's order, freeing Eisler was final and it should drop all efforts to extradite him. But a State Department spokesman said later that this was a "misunderstanding." The spokesman went on to say, however, that "apparently" the United States has no further recourse under the Anglo-American extradition treaty on 1931. But the spokesman insisted the In Shutdown, Seen As Moving To Jacksonville John R. Italiano Is Cashier of One of Two Big Plush Gambling Clubs, Which Are Owned by Same Syndicate; Tampans Reported To Have Bought a Big Share; Writer Tells What He Saw in Clubs and Gives Their Names and Addresses in Jacksonville This is the second of three stories dealing with ambling and politics at Jacksonville.

The house finance committee re jected by vote of 16 to 9 one of the major revenue bills before it Repre sentative MacWilliams' proposal to legalize and tax off-track race bet bookmaklng to raise some $30,000,000 a year. searing blast, and the others were killed in a rain of fiery rocks and ashes. The disaster occurred yesterday but the news of It was delayed in reaching here. At the same time, the senate was adding more than $2,000,000 to a com-mittee-sponsored record general ap propriations bill that as introduced State and Justice Departments are Gives Account Napoleon Montealegre, 20, one of called for nearly $33,000,000 a year in still seeking possible ways of forcing Eisler's return. new taxes.

the survivors, gave the following account from the hospital bed where he is recovering: The house received from committee its own version of the biennial spend Attorney General Clark said shortly after the magistrate's decision was announced that the Justice Department would continue to "exert every effort" to return Eisler, who jumped "We left Popayan in a truck at 2 www r-' amm ing bill, calling for $26,000,000 a year in extra money. o'clock Thursday morning. We wanted But even before the house started to investigate the cause of the red glare visible for some nights around the crater. consideration of the big general ap After an hour. Luis Avila felt tired propriations bill it passed several measures calling for special allocations of nearly $5,000,000 including for tuberculosis sanatoria and I stayed behind with him.

We stretched out on the ground. It felt By J. A. CLENDINEN Tribune Staff Writer JACKSONVILLE, May 27. Tampa gamblers may be moving into the wide-open Jacksonville racket and its estimated take of $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 a year.

Reports both here and in Tampa say the Italiano interests, now suffering from a forced shutdown of gambling in Tampa, have bought a stake in the super-deluxe Peacock Club on the outskirts of Jacksonville. Courthouse records do not show any change in the Peacock ownership. However, the 1949 Jacksonville city directory lists John R. Italiano as cashier at the Embassy Club, the other principal heavy-money gambling spot. There is connecting ownership between the Embassy and Peacock.

John Italiano is identified at Tampa as a first cousin of Red Italiano, long a figure in Tampa politics and named in court recently as one of the enemies of Jimmy Velasco, assassinated Tampa bolita operator and political fixer. Velasco's killing, and disclosures of racket operations, forced Tampa gamblers to close up. They have stayed closed for almost five months. Same Trio Owns Both State Beverage Department records show the same three men as own extraordinarily hot. "As our companions reached a Tampa 'Deal' for Judges Upset Again $23,500 bail and fled the country on a Polish liner.

Justice Department officials admitted privately they were astonished at the action of Britain's chief metropolitan magistrate, Sir Lawrence Dunne, in quashing the extradition proceedings against Eisler. The State Department attorney, who discussed the case with newsmen, had said that the United States had hoped the magistrate would base his ruling on a loose definition of "perjury" and not on the strict definition of-British law. Differ In Reaction point 2400 feet from the top, they halted and opened a bottle of rum As County Commissioners Shift Votes ers and operators of both the Embassy and Peacock. Liquor licenses issued in September. 1947.

list them as Jerome C. Middleton, C. J. Williams Members of Congress differed in and Lewis Sheilds. their reaction to the British decision.

to celebrate the success of the climb. "We, 900 feet behind, waved our handkerchiefs in sign of congratulation. "They resumed the ascent. When they were 600 feet from the crater there was a deafening explosion. Jet of Fire "We saw an enormous jet of fire shoot out of the crater.

Rocks began to rain down everywhere. "We saw our companions being bombarded by burning rocks and swept by a torrent of lava down the slopes. "I dragged Avila under a boulder, as The Embassy and Peacock are Jacksonville's best known and most Several thought the magistrate had widely advertised night spots. Both run daily newspaper ads, which tea ture floor shows and food. Taxes Side-Stepped Everybody was talking about where to get the money, but little was being done about it.

Tax bills were shunted aside while the spending went on. There was still some favor for a special session to take care of finances, but Governor Warren sent up a message that he believed there is "ample time" in the remaining week of session to find adequate revenue. Representative Phillips of Hernando said he will ask the house tomorrow to work every night next week to solve the problem of finances. While the senate moved slowly through the appropriations bill, item-by-item, the house worked on a long calendar of "pet 1)1115" chosen for prior consideration by lot. All spending increases were opposed.

House Urged To Cut In the house, Representative Saunders of Clay, urged that everything be no choice but to free Eisler, some ac cused the British government of "in The first sight that greets the entering customer, however, is the gratitude," and others thought this By JIM POWELL Tribune Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE, May 27 All was not well today within Hillsborough County's now somewhat smelly political "deal." In Tampa, Hillsborough's county commission stated at a regular public meeting that it knew nothing about the "deal," that it was purely a concoction by the politicians at Tallahassee, and that, furthermore, it would not go along with it in any shape or form. Under the terms of the "deal, the legislature would pass a bill creating two new circuit judgeships in Hillsborough; Governor Warren. would appoint I. C. "Nelson" Spoto, his political lieutenant in Tampa and now county attorney, to one of the judgeships, while County Judge Brooker would be appointed to the other; Representative Branch 'would get Judge Brooker's county judgeship; while Spoto's county attorney post would go to Senator Sheldon, Representative McMullen or Representative Moody.

Moody In 'Deal' Representative Moody was a late comer in the scramble for Spoto's county attorney job, and Commissioner Moore said at the Tampa meeting that it was thi that prompted him to bring up the matter and put the commission on record as not having any part of the "deal." According to Commissioner Moore, Moody is a member of the official county commission family and that "now was the time to put all the cards on the table." However, those close to the political picture in Tallahassee say it was not Moody who prompted Commissioner Moore to action. Rather, they say, it was Spoto and his almost constant presence, at the Governor's ear in Tallahassee. The political story in Tallahassee goes like this. Commissioner Moore, (Continued on Fae 4 Column 7) country was lucky to be rid of the Red agent. gambling room.

In the Peacock it is to the right of the entrance and In clear view, There is no closed door, nobody to look you over before admittance. Sen. Ferguson Mich.) told the Senate the magistrate's ruling con In the Embassy, the open-door gambling room is to the left of the an awesome river of lava ran near entrance, and during orchestra intermissions the click V)f dollar chips on stituted "a very narrow construction of the word He also said by, spattering us and burning Avila. "When I last saw our friends they the green-topped tables is quite audible in the lobby. Holdup Got $18,000 At Embassy he believed that Communist pickets "Intimidated" the court.

An indication of the business done by these clubs was provided by a were being engulfed by the lava and for a few seconds I could hear their holdup at the Embassy last March. The three bandits got away with $18, horrible shrieks amid the The State Department attorney said the court apparently had held that Eisler's alleged offense of making 000. As the Peacock is a bigger and fancier place, its receipts presumably are even better. Purace had its last major eruption in 1899. There was a minor one 16 People who get around the state say the Peacock, built about two false statements in a passport visa came under a category of British law years ago.

Since the first of May, Surprise Witness In known as "false statements under oath." This, he explained, is not among the 27 extraditable offenses listed In years ago, is one of the plushiest layouts to be found outside the Miami-Palm Beach Gold Coast. It looked awful plush to this reporter. The bartenders wear gold jackets with Peacock shoulder insignia, and the draped and carpeted gambling room is almost ballroom size. An entire convention group was there that night, and the courteous croupiers behind the roulette and dice tables were keeping busy. At the Embassy a couple of nights previously, the croupiers were playing tiddlywinks with the chips.

It was an -night in an off-season and (Continued on Page 7 Column 4) the Anglo-American treaty. Law Cited there had been occasional signs of activity, including three small explosions. The inhabitants of this city of which is only 18 miles from the volcano, were awed by the coincidence of the eruption just as the students reached the crater. The superstitious suggested the volcano resented the intrusion. Former Land Owners Fight City Move For Drew Acreage By BILL BLALOCK Tribune Staff Writer The city's plan to acquire more Drew Field land for future develop Under British law, perjury is strict defined as a false statement by a sworn witness in a judicial proceeding.

Since Eisler's alleged false state ment was made on a passport appli cation it would not fall in this cate gory. DUPREE GARDENS THREATENED BY The attorney said both perjury and ment of a sports center and municipal golf course met a head-on attack yes- THE WEATHER Forecast For Tampa and the Tampa Bay Area Fair and Continued Warm Today and Sunday With Afternoon Westerly Winds Up To 16 Miles Per Hour. For Florida Partly Cloudy to Clear and Continued Warm Saturday. For Later Weather Information Listen to Radio Station WFLA at 7:15 and 7:45 in the Morning, at Noon, at 2:45 and 6 in the Afternoon and at 11 at Night. Tampa Temperature High 95 Low 67 at 5:15 A.

M. Rainfall Total for 24 hours ending 7:30 P. 00 Total this month to date 1.13 Total since Jan. 1 4.53 Deficiency since May 1 1.33 Deficiency since Jan. 1 7.58 Barometer 7:30 A.

M. 30.02 7:30 P. M. 29.98 Tampa Tides High 1:23 P.M. Low 9:35 P.

M. Weather Elsewhere WASHINGTON, May 27 (JP) Weather Bureau Report of Temperature and Rainfall for the 24 Hours Ending 8 P. M. High Low Rain cut 10 per cent to avoid new taxes. A minority bloc, led by Appropriations Chairman Leroy Collins, sought unsuccessfully to hold the senate bill to committee recommendations on every point.

But the senate voted $3000-a-year salary raises for supreme court Justices, removed restrictions on the Governor's contingent fund which will in effect give him more money than he requested, and boosted appropriations of several other executive departments almost to budget commission recommendations. The house appropriations committee bilj as introduced gave most executive departments what the cabinet budget commission had proposed. But it held college budgets down. That was the principal difference between the house and senate bills. The senate committee had restored college fund cuts by the cabinet.

Mathews Asks Increases Senator Mathews, of Jacksonville, one of the authors of the pending $70,000,000 sales and transactions tax bill, led most of the moves to increase items in the appropriations bill. He argued the state can afford, to finance its adequately and, because of its steady growth, must give them more money. Senator Ray, of Bradenton, however, talked against authorizing expenditure of money "we haven't got and don't even have in sight. It's just pure foolishness in the light of existing conditions." Senator Pope of St. Augustine Rutledge Case Called CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 27.

(IP) A surprise witness in the murder trial of Dr. Robert C. Rutledge, testified today that the late Byron C. Hattman flashed a knife and made a death threat in her presence last August. The witness was Mrs.

Agnes Scham-berg, 65-year-old janitress in a St. Louis plant. District Judge Heiscrman interrupted the final pleas of the jury after the defense asked that testimony be reopened so Mrs. Schamberg could testify. Dr.

Rutledge, 28-year-old St. Louis children's specialist, is charged with stabbing Hattman to death here last Dec. 14 during a fight which involved the young engineer's alleged seduction of the doctor's blond wife Sydney, 23. Came Into Plant Mrs. Schamberg said the man'whom she recognized from a newspaper picture only last evening as being Hattman came into the plant where 6he worked last Aug.

15. "He said, 'I'm Barney from the Emerson plant and asked to use the phone," she testified. (Associates of Hattman at the "false statements under oath" are covered in a British law known as "an act to consolidate the law relating to perjury and kindred offenses." The magistrate apparently classified the charge against Eisler as a "kindred offense," not perjury. The treaty states that extradition shall be granted "only if the evidence is found sufficient under the laws of the high contracting party applied to." Senate Republican Leader Kenneth 6. Wherry, thought the magistrate had provided an economical way (Continued on Page 3 Column 4) Bruce Blank Legislators Rap Warren Payroll, But He Gets It TALLAHASSEE, May 27 The senate heard a strong attack today on the way salaries are being paid in Governor Warren's office, but refused to deny him use of his contingency fund for regular office expenses.

Such a restriction would have forced him to cut salaries or reduce his staff, which Sen. Henry S. Baynard said was twice as big as former Governor Caldwell had in December. Since he took office, Warren has been using money, from a contingent fund left by his predecessor to pay extra members of his staff and Colin English as coordinator of higher education. Has Three Funds Actually tlie Governor has three Russia Halts All Trains To Berlin In Strike BERLIN, May 27 Russia halted all trains to Berlin today, just 15 days after the blockade was ended, and said rail traffic will be barred until striking railroad workers end their walkout.

The Soviets also threatened to resume air-to-ground firing in the air lift corridors. Once again the major source of supply for the western sectors of Berlin, the air lift this week has averaged 850 flights and 5800 tons of goods each day. The Russian authorities announced they were halting rail traffic 24 hours after they pulled switchmen and other workers off duty, apparently in an (Continued on Page 3 Column 1) BIG GRASS FIRE A fast spreading grass and woods fire threatened Dupree Gardens, Tampa snow place on State Road 41, 18 miles north of here, yesterday afternoon, but was brought under control after four hours of fighting by 50 volunteers from the neighborhood. The fire, apparently started by a match or- cigarette flicked from a passing car, was discovered by Carlton C. Cone who has a ranch nearby.

He called W. Dupree, owner, in Tampa, and meantime neighbors organized a volunteer fire fighting unit. More than 400 acres of the Dupree estate, surrounding the gardens, was burned, including 100 citrus trees. Many volunteers, some of them from Dade City, worked through the night to prevent a new outbreak. Forest and grass fires have become a critical menace in rural sections be- pansp nf a rnnt.innpd Inns drouth.

A the former owners of terday by property. They won the first round when the EISLER HOLDS PRESS MEETING IN SALOON; SAYS HE'S GOOD RED city board delayed final action and called a special session for Monday morning at 10 o'clock to hear further arguments from them The board heard the plan lashed as "fantastic and and the proposed use of $70,400 of utility tax funds for the purchase was declared Emerson Electric Company plant in large area in tne mterbay section was (Continued on 9 Column 6) 'burned Thursday. a violation of "a moral obligation" to the people to keep such funds for warned the senate "this thing will get away from you" if the boosting of (Continued on Page 4 Column 1) funds, which in the senate bill showed up as $43,640 for salaries; $10,000 for expenses, and $54,000 for contingencies, a total of $108,240 a year. streets and drainage. Delay Use of Money Rita Hayworth, Looking Lovelier Than Ever, Becomes Bride of Moslem Prince But before the property owners popped their attack, the board had decided to delay approval of the usp Asheville 68 40 Atlanta 80 58 Atlantic City 65 49 Birmingham 84 55 Boston 54 50 .35 Buffalo 54 41 .01 Chicago 62 51 Cincinnati 55 40 Cleveland 55 41 .17 Dallas 90 69 Denver 80 51 Detroit 57 41 Duluth 58 37 Jacksonville 91 64 Kansas City 78 60 .66 Little Rock 87 64 .08 Louisville 75 51 Memphis 83 62 Miami 85 78 Paul 68 45 New Orleans 90 67 New York 64 47 Norfolk 66 51 .29 Philadelphia 64 .48 Pittsburgh 59 42 Portland.

Me. 54 46 .31 Richmond 68 46 .08 St. Louis 72 53 San Antonio 93 69 San Francisco 60 50 Seattle 65 53 .02 Washington 67 45 .01 of utility tax money. Board members said they had re Warren's budget for salaries is lower than the Caldwell budget, but Baynard said this did not reflect true conditions, inasmuch as salaries were paid from other funds. In fact, he said, four employes were paid from funds of another department.

The senate appropriations commit ceived urgent requests from friends Pay Raise For Garcia May Fizzle TALLAHASSEE May 26 (By Staff Writer) The proposed pay raise for Manuel M. Garcia, attorney for the State Racing Commission, may be destined to a lingering death in com and from former property owners by telegram from Tallahassee to delay until they could reach here and be tee recommended that contingency heard. funds be no longer used for regular The attack was made on the plan expenses, but this was opposed by in a meeting of the board called for the purpose of authorizing Mayor Hlxon to place a bid with the War friends of the Governor In the senate. "This is the first time any such limit ever has been suggested," said Sen. John E.

Mathews, of Jacksonville. "The Governor of a state should Assets Administration in Atlanta fo: have a contingency fund that he can 720 acres of Drew Field land and to draw from utility tax funds to buy it. Included in the tract is a two-mile, quarter-mile wide strip along (Continued on Page 9 Column 3) (ANOTHER PHOTO ON PAGE 9) VALLAURIS. France, May 27. (U.R) Rita Hayworth, who used to dance in Brooklyn, put on a $1000 gown, spoke a tremulous "oui" and became the princess wife of Aly Khan today in a town hall ceremony performed by the Communist Mayor of Vallauris.

The bride, who was never lovelier, arrived eight minutes late, and the groom fumbled With the ring, but, otherwise the double ring ceremony came off without a hitch. From the specially whitewashed room where they became man and wife, Rita and Aly fled immediately to his million-dollar chateau L'Horizon. The bride and groom still showed signs of nervousness at the reception where Rita cut the large three-layer wedding cake. The guests princes and potentates, diplomats and millionaire socialites drank champagne, feasted on caviar and successfully steered themselves clear of the perfume-scented swimming pool where guards had been posted to keep them from falling in. Short Reception But the great chateau fell silent to Dtp IlintmHirrirr xi-- jsA mittee or on the house calendar.

The raise, which would more than double Garcia's salary and fix it at $7500, is incorporated in a house bill that was referred yesterday to the appropriations committee on motion by Rep. Shep-perd, of St. Johns County, chairman. HOUSE PASSES BILL TO RAISE MAYOR'S PAY TALLAHASSEE, May 27 (By Staff (Additional Weather on Page 15) TEMPERATURE HITS 95 TO SET RECORD The temperature hit an all-time high for May 27 in Tampa yesterday. The weather bureau at Drew Field reported the mercury climbed to 95 degrees at 2 P.

M. before steading and starting down again. spend as he finds necessary." "Embarrass" Warren Sen. Walter G. Walker, of Daytona Beach, said he did not see the purpose of setting up a contingent fund if the chief executive did not have the right to use it.

He called the recommendation of the committee an effort to embarrass the Governor. "Let us not set up a precedent (Continued on Page 9 Column 5) VOTE MACHINES APPROVED FOR MARION COUNTY Garcia Writer) The house of representatives today passed and sent to the senate a bill raising the pay of the mayor night the reception lasted only four hours in contrast to the all-night AP Wirrphoto Gerhart Eisler LONDON, May 27 VP) Gerhart Eisler leaned against a bar tonight, grinned, and said: "As you see, I am no bogey' man. I'm no mastermind. I'm Just an average, decent Communist, working every day to become a better Communist." Eisler, Just freed by a British Judge who refused to send him back to the United States, was answering questions at a news conference in the Green Man Pub. Eisler said he called the conference at the pub instead of the Polish embassy ox the nearby Polish Institute because he did not want any political bias attached to it." TALLAHASSEE, May 27 (By Staff Shepperd said today that any bill reaching a committee this late in the session will "probably never see the light of The bill was earlier approved by the committee on business regulation.

A companion measure is on the senate calendar after approval by the senate committee on miscellaneous legislation. Garcia, a Tampan and ardent Warren supporter, now gets $3000. He tried to get the bill introduced as a committee bill by the house business regulations group, but failed, and it was introduced by another Warren man, Rep. Charles J. Schuh, of Pinellas.

of Tampa from $6500 to $10,000 a year. Passage followed approval of the Hillsborough County delegation. The bill was sent to the senate for con-uurrence by Senator Sheldon. Writer) Legislative action was completed today on a bill to authorize use of voting machines in Marion County elections. 787,112 PEOPLE Live within 100 miles of Tampa 3 hours easy driving time to the Florida West Coast shopping center.

(Authority: State Census 1945) parties all along the Riviera. And Moslem prayer rugs were laid out so that Aly, the prince who some day will become spiritual leader of 12,000.000 Ismaili Moslems, could take Rita for his mate according to the laws of Mohammed. The champagne flowed so freely and the orchestra played so fluently (Continued on Page 9 Column 6) The house passed the bill on ap proval of Reps. Marcus Frank and Hixon RITA CUTS HER WEDDING CAKE Film Actress Rita Hay-worth, now Princess Aly Kahn, uses a sword to cut her wedding cake while the Prince watches during their wedding reception. (AP Wirephoto via radio from London).

Farris Bryant, both of Ocala. It was introduced and passed in the senate was introduced The measure Wednesday. by Sen. Wallace Sturgis, of Ocala..