The North Adams Transcript from North Adams, Massachusetts • Page 1

'Cmwctipt North Adams Adams Williamstown Massachusetts 119THYEAR NO. 215 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21,1963 36 PAGES 8 CENTS Cuban-Based MIC Planes Fire Rockets Over U.S. Shrimp Boat Rockef Firing Off Florida Stirs Tension at Capitol SNOWBOUND IN CLARKSBURG--Redmond CurHi of Horrigan CUrksburg, who works en night ihiff at Sprague Electric Co. ii shown abova half-hour aitar he got tuck going fhil morning about 7 o'clock. Drift had completely isolated Horrigan Road residents.

no lign of marks. Town plows finally through about 10 o'clock to free Curtis, who stands next to hii car, and open the road. (Transcript photo by Randolph Traboldl. JFK Sends Old Medicare Plan FL de rs In New Package to Congress WASHINGTON (AP)-President Kennedy put his battered plans for health care of the elderly into new wrappings today--part of a J10 billion, five-year plan aimed lo better life, income and housing for senior Americans. But it was bound to be old hat to Congress.

Tai Benelits Besides the expected, and once- defeated, proposals for hospital insurance for the aged through Social Security, the President asked again for tax benefits for the elderly, part of his tax message last month. The hospital insurance plan is expected to cost S5.6 billion for the first four years, the tax benefits $3.9 billion for the first five years. Thus, In this special message on problems of Ihe first ever by an American president--the two biggest money items and all but a fraction of total money package ere quite familiar. But, in addition, the President called for: More money for low Interest loans to build rental housing lor elderly persons of moderate income. New emphasis on building group residences for the elderly where central dining and housekeeping services are available, some nursing care can be provided, hut privacy is preserved.

More jobs for those past retirement age who want to work--including a directive to federal agencies to evaluate applicants and employes on the basis of ability, not age. In all, the President recom- mended 36 ways to belter the lot of senior citizens. But the heart of the program was hospital insurance. Concurrent with the President's message, a new administration bill was to be introduced in Congress. Same Basic Bill It was basically the same as a hill stymied by Congress last year.

And it did nothing to bend to previous objections of the American Medical Association to any plan financed solely by Social Security. Nor is there room in the hew bill for private or voluntary health insurance plans to get into the picture, except as additional insurance, This had been suggested lo some degree by liberal Republicans who ofiered their own Social Security-financed health bill Tuesday. Last year's administration bill- almost a twin to this year's--died in the hands of the House Ways and Means Cominillee. An attempt to move it through the Senate as an amendment to a welfare bill was defeated 52 to A3. The basic change this year is an option in benefils for insured persons.

The prime benefits slill provide for up to 90 days of paid hospital care after the insured patient has paid first $20 to $90. But the new bill allows two options, providing the insured elderly person chooses the option immediately before his fi5th birthday. Once made, the choice cannot be changed. The Insured may choose to get 180 days of paid care, after first paying days himself. Or he may choose to get 45 days of paid care without paying for any part of it.

If he makes neither choice, Arctic Wave Rolls East, Spreading Subzero Cold (Ry the As-toclatwl Press) A vast mass of icy air, powered by brisk northerly winds, stung the nation's midscclion today nnd headed into'Eastern and Southern stales. Subzero cold spread from Montana across the north central region into Ohio. Temperatures plunged lo nearly 30 degrees be- zero in northern Minnesota. Subzero readings were reported in Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Gales Wreak Havoc Gale winds and snow squalls in sections of Nev; York slate closed highways, stranded residents and caused hundreds of minor traffic accidents.

The heaviest snowfall was six inches in western New York, which was lashed by wind gusts up to 51 m.p.h. olf Lake Erie. Nearly .100 school children were stranded in western New York communities. The mercury edged to near zero in some areas, Including Rochester and Buffalo. Blowing snow, wilh amounts light to moderate, heralded advance of Ihe cold air southwestward through Kentucky and parts of Tennessee, Light snow fell in parl.s of the Great Lakes region and along the eastern slopes of the Continental Divide.

Generally clear weather prevailed in the below zero belt in the wake of Wednesday's snowy, blustery weather. Near blizzard conditioai had hit areas in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. ('old Warnings The Weather Bureau posted cold wave warnings lor most stales from western New York south to Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and northeastern New Mexico. No immediate relief from the subzero cold was in prospect for (he Midwest. The mercury dropped to near 30 below in International Fulls, this morning after a high of -22 Wednesday.

In other Minnesota cities, it was -25 in nibbing, and -22 in Diilulh and -15 in i neapolis. In North Dakota, Grand Forks reported -20 and Fargo -18. Chicago had a return of below zero with -5, wilh lower marks in northwest suburban areas. St. Louis had a mild 59 Wednesday but the mercury dropped 37 degrees in a three-hour period and this morning il was near zero.

Denver's 27 mark compared lo Wednesday's high of f7. Fairly normal temperatures prevailed in the Pacific Coast and northern Plalcau region, wilh partly cloudy lo cloudy skies. he gets the basic M-day provision of the bill. As in Ihe earlier bill, the cost of Ihe medical care would be borne largely by a boost in Social Security taxes. It would mean a maximum of $13 a year for each employe, and a like sum for his employer.

It amounts to one- fourth of I per cent for tne fil st $5,200 of the employe's income. There are now, the President said, 17.5 million Americans aged 65 or older--and that number will swell to 25 million by 1980. The tax proposals, spelled out by the President in an earlier message, include such benefits for the elderly as: A $300 tax credit for over age 65. Unlimited deductions for medical and drug expenses. The generally lower tax rates which would apply lo all taxpayers if the tax program is adopted, Fires Sweep Oklahoma Prairie Land OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.

(AP) --Prairie fires fanned by winds up to 50 mites an hour swept across thousands of acres of parched Oklahoma grassland Wednesday. An Indian Agency headquarters nnd 15 houses were destroyed and oil storage tanks exploded. Two firemen were burned and two others overcome by smoke. Officers said two fires were set by arsonists. "Farm land is dry as Under.

Since Jan. 1, Oklahoma City has recorded only .30 of an inch precipitation compared with, a normal 2.28 inches. The largest fire, near Fairfax in, northern Oklahoma, raced across an area 10 miles long and up to miles wide, destroying the 'Gray Horse Indian Agency building and two homes. Between Dillon and Drumright in East-central Oklahoma, six homes leveled when fire burned over an area seven miles long and a mile wide. A battery of oil storage tanks exploded near Dillon.

Near Slillwater, in northern Oklahoma, a fire thai covered two square miles was controlled as it licked at brick apartment buildings housing Oklahoma State University students. The university's tornado research center was destroyed. A fire easl of Tulsa destroyed tliree vacant houses, and a fire at Ihe northern edge of the city leveled another home. Minuteman Missile Passes Flightiest CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) --A Minuteman missile has flown a relatively short 1,400 miles in a successful test of its guidance system.

The intercontinental range rock- el is capable of reaching more llinn 5,000 miles, but on Wednesday night's shot it was aimed over the shorter course in order to evaluate guidance performance, Hope to Make Labor More Potent Force MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP)-The AFL-CIO Is laying careful plans at winter union meetings to make organized labor an even more potent political force on the state and national scene. Federal chiefs decided Wednesday to expand to a permanent, year-around basis previously sporadic campaigns to get the maximum number of union members and adult members of the a i lo qualify to vote and to go lo the polls. They also decided lo establish voting overseers in each of the 60,000 local unions comprising labor organizations affiliated with (he AFL-CIO. Their responsibility will be to marshal the greatest possible labor turnout in 1964 and beyond.

"We're now In this thing permanently" a spokesman said after an administrative meeting of the Committee on Political Education, the AFL-CIO political aclion organization. Union leaders acknowledged they can't successfully tell workers how to vole, but said they are confident the vast majority generally will vote for candidates and issues favored by the union. AFL-CIO drives before the 1960 and 1962 elections to get workers registered and voting were so successful, union leaders said, they are starling now to get ready for the 19G4 presidential race and for slate and national elections in later years. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. policy makers held urgent meetings today on a tension-creating new Cuban incident--the firing of rockets by Soviet-built MIG planes in the vicinity of U.S.

shrimp boat in the Florida Slraits. May Tighten Defenses President Kennedy was report- Educators Not Too Keen On Spanking (By the Associated Press) Should Junior be paddled when he becomes unruly at school? Educators over the nation have varying opinions, but generally they don't consider it as vital an issue as the superintendent of schools in Washington does. Supt. Carl F. Hanson has asked permission of the District of Columbia Board of education to spank young troublemakers.

Hanson said immunity from paddling encourages insolence on the part of some children. Nol Recommended William C. Hinkley, superintendent of Aurora, sclxwls, said that while there is no state law restricting corporal punishment, "We certainly do not recommend this punishment) as a means of discipline--certainly not in many cases." The New York Slate education commissioner, Dr. James E. Allen said, "The exercise of corporal punishment is authorized in New York slate.

Local school boards have the power to prohibit it in their districts, however. It boils down to a question of what is reasonable." In New York City, the spanking of pupils by teachers is not permitted. Irving Breyer, attorney for the San Francisco Board of Education, said California law permits corporal punishment, administered only by a principal or his assistant. Use of the practice is left to the discretion of each school board. A Montana statute says teachers may administer corporal punishment if it Is witnessed by another teacher or principal, but not wilh undue anger or without notifying the parents.

John W. Lctson, A a a school superintendent, said: "We do not officially have Authority for corporal punishment. We have what I consider complete leeway to maintain order. Certainly we don't feel we have any serious problem." "Corporal punishment can be justified only a last resort, Dr. Owen B.

Kiernan, Massachusetts commissioner of education said. "The teacher oftimes must act in place of the parents. The tesl of corporal punishment is whether it is reasonable and moderate." Peak of Defense Spending Believed Now in Sight WASHINGTON (AP)-The peak in defense spending appears in sight. But Ihere are unknowns and uncertainties that could prevent any substantial downturn or even a leveling off in the years ahead, Basis for Optimism Several key administration officials, including Budget Director Kermit Gordon, have been speaking optimistically of late. Pentagon authorities agree there is a basis for such optimism.

President Kennedy's proposed budget for the coming bookkeeping year contemplates record peacelimc military spending of about S. 7 1 billion--more lhan halt the lotal federal budget, This is about $3 billion higher than the last military spending proposals submitted to Congress by President Dwighl D. Eisenhower before he left the White House two years ago. Much of the heavy increase grew from Ihe Kennedy administration's urgent push lo (1) build up the country's conventional land, sea ami air forces and (21 speed construction of Polaru missile firing submarines and cm- placement of quick-firing Minuteman intercontinental missiles in protected bases underground, A gooo bit of this already been done. And the new budget contains money lo pay for the balance of such expensive programs as a 41-boat Polaris fleet and a force of new jet planes lo give B52 bombers greater range and endurance.

Number Boosted The number of U.S. fighling men has been boosted by nearly 200,000 above the Eisenhower strength, to nearly 2.7 million. The Pentagon has taken long strides toward re-equipping the forces with the latest and most potent in artillery, tanks, battlefield missiles, jet fighter planes, helicopters and armored troop ca ricrs. A dangerous deficiency in high speed jet transports to fly troops to danger spots overseas is well ot its way lo being overcome. The new budget provides $3.3 billion for buying new arms equip- in-lit for the Army.

This is a pcnk for Army modernization and is likely to taper off in Ihe future. However, Ihe Army is experimenting with entirely new concepts of air mobility which, il proved out, could give it a liuge new air fleet. And this would come high. So far, as one official put it, the Army has "just put It! toe In the water." Cost Saving Drive Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara has embarked on cost-saving drive, which he predicts will yield economies of $3 billion a year.

Among olher things he is trying to get defense contractors to cut down on Ihe "gold excessive refinements that go to boost but little to the utility. ed discussing with advisers the possibility of new countermcas- ures to tighten defense against Communist power based in Cuba. One serious possibility was that U.S. fighter aircraft would be given definite orders to destroy any Red planes which endangered the shipping in the Cuban area. The MIGs-slirimp boat incident occurred Wednesday but was only disclosed by the Pentagon this morning.

The Defense Department said two MIGs flew by the shrimp boat, Ala, and fired rock- eLs but did not hit it. The presence of (he MIGs had been detected earlier by radar and U.S. planes from Florida, dispatched to the area, saw the firing. A Pentagon spokesman said the Ala was in international waters, fifl miles north of the Cuban mainland. The reason for the MIG rocket firing on the shrimp boat was not clear but some officials thought it might be related to the fact that U.S.

aircraft a few days ago fired rockets across the bow of the Venezuelan freighter, Anzoategui, after it had been seized by a Communist revolutionary group, and while It was being taken to Brazil. In that case the Venezuelan government had asked the United States for assistance in recovering the vessel and Ihe rockets were fired to try lo get the freighter to slop, but it refused to do so. Troop Shlpj Near Whatever Ihe reason, the Incident injected fresh tensions into the Cuban situation at a time when they were relaxing somewhat because of a belief here that some Soviet troops, perhaps as many as 8,000, might bt leaving the island within days. This prospect, or hope, was based partly on the arrival in Cuban waters of four empty or lightly loaded Soviet ships. The ship movements were disclosed barely a day after word circulated from congressional and diplomatic sources that the Soviet government hod promised Monday to withdraw several thousand of its troops from Cuba by March 15.

Experts estimated the four vessels were of a size that could handle as many as 8,000 men--almost half the 17,000 Soviet military personnel President Kennedy said he believed were still on the island. Hijacked Vessel Heads for Home, Captors to Brazil BELEM, Brazil (AP)-The hijacked Venezuelan freighter Anzoategui and its pro-Communist captors headed for Belem separately today, in Brazilian custody. The ship is on ils way back to Venezuela and the hijackers hope for political asylum in Brazil. A foreign office spokesman predicted asylum will be granted to Ihe nine terrorists who seized the freighter at sea and sailed it to Brazil before surrendering. In Venezuela they would face (rial and possible 10 lo 15-year prison terms.

Venezuelan diplomats a i their determination to try to ex- Irariile the daring opponents of President Romulo Bctancourl. The final decision may have lo come from Brazil's supreme court. Brazilian officials took charge of Ihe freighter and the terrorist band Wednesday at Macnpa, a steaming jungle port on Hie north side of Ihe Amazon Delta, 230 miles norlhwest of Belem. President, Family Fly South Tonight WASHINGTON (API-President Kennedy nnd his a i fly south lonigtit (or a weekend by the ocean at Palm Beach, Fla. The Kennedys, including Caroline and John will stay at the ocean front estate of Col.

C.M. Paul, about a mile along the beach from the home of the Pres- ic'enl's father, Joseph P. Kennedy. Pierre Salinger, While House press secretary, said the President has no formal appointments logged during his Palm Beach stay and (hat the main purpose of the trip is for Kennedy to see his father. He said Ihe Kennedys plan lo return to Washington Sunday night, Fly Off as U.

S. Planes Approach; Incident Took Place Yesterday In Florida Straits WASHINGTON (AP) Two MIG fighter planes from Cuba fired rockets in a flight over a U.S. shrimp boat in the Florida Straits Wednesday, (he Defense Department announced today. Boat Not Hit The boat and its two-man crew were not hit, Hie department, said, but the rockets were understood lo have come very close to the boat. The MIGs flew away as U.S.

planes approached. The department said U.S. jet interceptor planes took off when unidentified targets appeared on the Key West radar a i screen. Tiie U.S. planes reported two MIG fighters made rocket firing passes at the shrimp boat, the Ala.

A Pentagon spokesman said (he U.S. planes saw the rocket firings as they were screaming out across the strails to check on the unidentified targets, which turned out to be the MIGs. The passes apparently occurred as the MIGs were headed back toward Cuba. A spokesman said he was unable to say whether the MIGs had been frightened off by the approaching U.S. planes.

The Soviet-built MIGs were not the latest models based in Cuba. There has never been any word from U.S. government sources as to whether Soviet or Cuban pilots are flying the MIGs based in Cuba. The U.S. interceptors were Marine-piloted F-iB Phantoms.

The F4B is one of the fastest fighter planes in the world. The Marine planes came from Fighter Squadron 613 based at Boca Cliica Naval Air Station at Key West. The department said the Incident occurred in international waters 60 nautical miles north of the Cuban mainland and 78 nautical miles east-south east of Key West. Area "The MIG fighters left the area of the shrimp boat when contacted by U.S. aircraft dispatched by the Air Defense Command in southern Florida," the Pentagon statement said, "There was no engagement between the MIGs and the U.S.

interceptors who witnessed some ot the firings." A said the term "contacted" meant visually contacted rather than any radio conversations or physical contact. He said four MIGs were in the area but that apparently only two were involved in the rocket pass- ts. The shrimp boat was out of Fort Myers, and owned by the Fort. Myers Seafood Packers its crewmen were identified as Paris Jackson and Benjamin Washington, both Negroes. "When rescued by a destroyer escort, Jackson and Washington reported they had been drifting about three days because of en- gine a i Hie department said.

The Ala left Fort Myers on Feb. 10 and its crew said the engine failed the afternoon of Feb. 17, the Pentagon reported. Tlie destroyer escort which rescued Jackson and Washington was identified as the Kretchmer. The Kretchmer is based at Key West.

ILs home port is Newport, R.I. Navy to Provide Floating Bases For Polaris Subs WASHINGTON CAP)--The Navy Is enlarging its fleet of tender ships and floating drydocks to provide more floating overseas bases for its Polaris submarines. Included in the new shipbuilding program submitted to Congress in the defense budget is a request for funds to construct a fifth tender and to convert another floating drydock capable of servicing the larger, 425-foot long Polaris submarines. Details were disclosed In testimony Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee by Vice Adm. Charles Griffin, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness.

For the planned fleet 41 Polaris submarines, the Navy estimates it will need six tender ships with accompanying craft. Two lender ships are now in commission. A third was launched last month and a fourth is under construction. In his testimony, Griffin explained the Navy's need for a fifth ship and the conversion of another drydock. When the concept of the PolariJ submarine-missile system was first presented, it was argued that such a system would not need foreign bases.

This view still is expressed. But the original thought lias been modified to the program of floating, bases which can provide routine supply and minor repair needs, and a change in crewi without a submarine having to make the long cruise to the United SUIes and then back to its station at sea, Artery Hardening Called Epidemic ATLANTA, Ga. (AP)--Dr. Paul Dudley White, famous heart specialist, said Wednesday America is suffering "one of the most serious epidemics of all of (he inner lining of the arleries. He told the Atlanta Medical Assembly that "we have replaced epidemics of diseases with this terrific epidemic of atherosclerosis.

It is booming wherever there is prosperity." JFK, While Harvard Student, Posed for Angel Sculpture DETROIT (API--An altar sculpture depicting John F. Kennedy as a watchful angel hovering over SI. Tlierese has been found in the basement of a Roman Catholic seminary in Memphis, Midi. The discovery was announced Wednesday by the Rev. Nicholas Maeslrini, president of Maryglade College, and Benjamin Levinson, member of the board trustees.

Stored Three Years It had been lying for three years safely packed away in the basement of the seminary. Tlie sculpture--for which President Kennedy posed when he was Harvard student--will be used on the main altar of the seminary. The Kennedy panel was found after one of Ihe Maryglade missionaries, Brother Honnld Doncda, last month saw pictures and a story about the Kennedy connection in an Italian magazine. He recalled the 12 crales in the basement that had been shipped from Rome. He unpacked them, studied them carefully and found the Kennedy sculpture.

Author-sculplor Mrs. John C. Wiley, wife of an American diplomat, and church officials confirmed the authenticity. Tlie origin was in Riga, Latvia, where the Wilcys were stationed in 1939. Young Kennedy, on a vacation, was visiting the Wileys.

"I needed a model for Ihe angel in pne of the panels," Mrs. Wiley retailed, "Jack, with curly hair and youthful serenity of expression, was literally God-sent." Intended for Church The sculpture was intended for a new church in Antwerp, Belgium. But by Ihe time it was completed the Nazis had overrun Belgium. It was shipped to where il was assigned to a new church being built in a suburb. When Ihe new church was completed, the architect said il did not fit in with the building's design.

Later it was donated for a religious exhibit in There the Rev. Felix Cazzaniga picked it up for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions Order. Father Maeslrini, in Rome lo discuss plans for conslmction of Mnr.vgl.idc, saw a panel from Ihe dismantled altarpiccc. lie requested Ihe enlire sculpture for his new seminary. So it was shipped to Michigan wilhoul any of the churchmen knowing that a young man who was lo become president of Ihe United Stales had oosed for OIK of the panels.

Tlio Weather Cold wave, clear, through tomorrow. Winds diminishing tonight. High this nflernnon near 15 above. Low tonight near 15 below. High tomorrow near 15 above,.