Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 1

I BR I BRA AH WEATHER REPORT Temperature for 24 hour period ended at 5 p. m. Sunday Maximum 85, minimum 46. Monterey Bay Area Clear tonight and Tuesday but fog Tuesday morning; little temperature change. atraranteed Paid Circulation Sentinel-News Daily 93rd Year No.

196 SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1948 TEN PAGES CALIFORNIA STATE 96 gillis. calif -9- jyatiw wits gl SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1948 XVsi! A rn i o) o) iU Jl JVU ziLj ir ft ft When Burglars Go Into Action no7Ar TF0H fnnin Fsiritt To Establish Program For State Meet Much For Him Fit NSLi 1 A 1 'J ''I i I Heat Was Too Norman V. Smith, 48, a beach VIax Xf si 3 li-rnr-ii iiii' ifr1 imiii Bi'iniih visitor from Fresno, is being tuck- the Santa Cruz hospital by Per-ed in comfortably after he was rigo ambulance, but discharged overcome by the heat near the later in the day. iota Dime Store, Economy Hit By Burglars The F. W.

Woolworth store and the Economy Drus store, both on Pacific avenue here, were burglar ized last night, police reported. The thieves entered the five and dime store by dropping through a skylight into a rear office. They knocked the combination lock off a safe and drilled out the mechanism holding the outer door. However, they were unable to force the inner door, protecting an undisclosed amount of money. They did take a minor amount of merchandise.

At the drug store, the burglars drilled 35 holes in a circle into the outside wall of the stock room, pushed the piece out, and crawled into the store. They took $110 from the cash register, and stole 150 fountain pens from the stock. Manager Dan T. McNamara told police that the regular receipts of the store, hidden elsewhere in the room, were not found by the burglars. Newsstands To Ban Sale Of 45 Comics Cracking down on so-called comic books which have been giving bad dreams to the kiddies and sleepless nights to their parents.

Santa Cruz newsstands will rid themselves of 45 titles considered unsuitable to juveniles, police reported. The action is in direct consequence of a recent code of standards adopted by comic book publishers in co-operation with church and school authorities. Captain Donald Lynn of the police department said that no pressure was being exerted by the department, but that all news dealers in the city had willingly agreed to stop the sale of such "comics" that were put on the undesirables list because of an undue stress on crime or sex. Those titles included in the list were All-top comics. All-true Crime, Authentic Police Cases, Blue Beetle, Crime Does Not Pay, Crime and Punishment, Crimes by Women.

Crime Detective, Crime Exposed, Crime Fighters, Crime Reporter, Exciting Comics, Expos- Famous Comics, Gangsters Can't Win, Gay Comics, Guilty, Headline Comics, Jo-Jo, Joker Com ics, jumoo uomics, justice uom-ics. Kid Eternitv. The Killers. Law- Rural School Trustees Obtain Budgets Back From Board To Raise Sights For State Funds Pit Reno, Aug. 16 (U.R Three official inquiries began today to learn the cause of a fire and explosion which levelled half a block of downtown Reno Sunday, killing five and injuring 180 persons.

The district attorney's office, the police department and the coroner's office each began separate investigations. They concentrated on learning what caused the explosion that turned a third-rate fire into a major tragedy 30 minutes later. Police Chief Lorenz Greeson reported investigators still had not discovered what caused the earth-shaking blast. He said earlier reports that a quantity of dynamite had been stored in the rear of one of the buildings had been discredited and it was now believed the explosion came from a large quantity of paint stored in a basement. Coroner Laurence Layman said a joint inquest into the deaths of three firemen and two spectators who perished in the flaming wreckage would be held Wednesday.

Reno Fire Chief Karl Evans said all firemen had been accounted for and that it was believed the death toll would remain at five unless additional bodies of spectators are found in the wreckage. A crew of workers, aided by a giant clamshell crane, continued to clear the debris in search of additional possible vic tims. Hospitals reported that the three persons critically injured of the 32 hospitalized were showing improve ment today. They estimated that all told, about 180 persons most of them spectators struck by flying glass and bricks when the burning building exploded were given medical treatment of some kind. Most of them were released immediately.

Supervisors Continue Hearing County supervisors met again this afternoon at 1:30 for further hearing on the preliminary county budget to take up a number of problems sidestepped earlier in the morning session. Among other business discussed in the morning besides the school budgets, were several departmental changes made in both salaries and maintenance, which will be reported tomorrow at the completion of this afternoon's session. Auditor George Kriz stated that on the basis of the preliminary budget as published, the tax rate inside the city at this time comes about $2.49 and outside of cities, $2.54. This does not take into consideration changes in the preliminary budget, public utilities assessments and school district budgets. In addition to the above figures there wil be a 17-cent junior college tax and a 15-cent tax for the mandatory school for physically and mentally handicapped children of the county, new this year.

toe lerway With State Senator n. Ray Judah presiding, the second joint Santa Cruz county highway conference got underway at the Hotel St. George here today. Four chambers of commerce and other community and civic clubs sent delegates to complete plans for a county-wide de'ega-tion to appear before the state highway commission in Sacramento Thursday. On the proposed top priority list of the highway delegates is completion of the Morrissey boulevard link of the new Rob Roy-Santa Cruz highway and a four-lane bridge over the Pajaro river at Watsonville.

San Lorenzo valley chamber of commerce officials were expected to put up a strong demand for inclusion of the Waterman gap road San Lorenzo drive realignment as a top priority project. A Watsonville plan to include the Werner hill project in the county-program was scheduled to be dropped at the request of the Pajaro valley residents as it is not in Santa Cruz county. In Scmiu Cruz Buyers7 Meat Strike Has Little Effect The buyers' strike here doesn't seem to have affected meat sales as much as it has in other cities. Of 18 meat retailers polled, nine said that there had been no change in sales, six said that there had been a decrease and three said that sales had actually increased. Those butchers who that sales had decreased estimated that business had dropped from 20 to 30 per cent.

One butcher said that though sales had dropped a little, business hasn't been what it should all summer. Another said that out-of-town shoppers seemed to be buying as much as ever while local buyers were cutting down on consumption. Meat markets who reported sales were the same said that there had been a slight drop-off on the higher cuts and that in general meats were a little harder to sell. One butcher said that though there was no change in sales, customers were complaining about higher prices. Two markets said that sales had been increased since the buyers' strike began last week and estimat ed that 10 to 20 per cent more meat had been sold.

A third market said that they had had the biggest week in the history of the store and had topped all records up to date. Jack Diggins Back On The Job Jack Diggins is back on the job again after being lost in the region above Lompico while hunting and rescued Saturday night. He said today that he felt a little weak and suffered from poison oak and scratches but other than that he was unharmed. He suffered no other ill-effects except a sore throat which he thought he might have gotten from drinking stagnant water from some of the streams. Diggins wishes to thank all those persons who aided in his rescue and the search.

jf I si rf1 '1 it. ZT -i 9 UVU(t OS UyBB Cfitty Tninr Neal D. Smith, 45, eased himself into the chair in the former mayor's office in city hall today and assumed the duties of the first city manager ot banta Cruz. He didn't stay there for long. All morning, 3Iayor Sam Clarke McXeely took the new city manager on a grand tour of all city offices, introducing him to department heads and employees, and helping him to a first impression of the governmental setup he will henceforth head as chief executive.

Smith also paid a call on Chamber of Commerce Manager Phil Breck, and was expected to meet additional Santa Cruzans during a luncheon at the St. George hotel. The city council will meet the manager during a meeting at 7:30 p. m. tonight, and during tomorrow's council meeting, the public will be able to witness the first session of the city government complete with city manager.

Smith expressed delight over the fine weather welcoming him at his new post, and confessed to a reporter that he had met so many people this morning, he probably would not recognize more than a handful for a while yet. However, he is going to work i immediately. Meeting people will be his first task, and even while he was being introduced to more and more of them, he requested a copy of the city budget for preliminary study and familiarization. An inspection of the physical facilities of the city also ranks high on the city manager's program in order to enable him to form a quick picture of the com munity. Smith said that he planned to look over the sewer plans possibly today in order to be "able to follow the proceedings at the council meeting tomorrow.

(Bids on sewer pipe for the Fair avenue to Oxford way 21 inch line will be opened during the session tomorrow night). "I don't wish to be the spectacular type of Smith told a Sentinel-News reporter. "I'd rather proceed slowly and methodically in order to do justice to the job to which the people of Santa Cruz have appointed me." Before his appointment to the S10.000 per year Santa Cruz post, Smith has been assistant city manager of San Diego, city engineer of that city, and city manager of Ontario. He has held several responsible engineering positions, is an expert on water resources and public works. He is married and has two sons.

Pending permanent settlement, Smith will reside in a hotel here. His family is due to follow him to Santa Cruz soon. 302 Signers On Petitions At Capitola President Jack Rosensteel of the Capitola Improvement club called in the 15 petitions for incorporation of Capitola yesterday and there were 302 names. This morning John Battistini of the publicity committee said club members are "very encouraged" as the petitions have only been out four days. The goal is to secure 1000 names by September 1.

The petitions are in circulation again today. Due to not being certain as to how many names are needed to get the board of supervisors to call an election, R. V. Dell, Capitola realtor, is checking with county officials today. The club feels that if 1000 names are secured it will leave a wide margin.

So far, Joe Tabacchini, the resort owner, is topping the petition field as he secured 39 signatures. Pleasure Point petitions are in charge of E. M. Gramm, president! of the Capitola chamber of commerce. The improvement club wish- es to form Capitola into a separate city of the sixth class with a mayor and city council.

Those circulating petitions are: Jack Rostensteel, Marge Brown, R. V. Dell, George Marsdon, Jack Baker, John Battistini, Mildred Adamson, Joe Tabacchini, Larry Wessell. Charles Pearson, Will Braycott, Bob Bruce, and Mabel Hawk. Mrs.

City Recreation Groups To Meet Here Tonight The city recreation commission will meet in a special session tonight at 8 o'clock at the city hall council chambers to discuss the building of a cement dance floor at the Covered Bridge picnic ground at DeLaveaga park. The dance floor was requested by officials of the Labor Day program committee. to of it av Wt 3-- XA wishing well. He was taken to and change them without public hearings." Auditor George Kriz pointed out that the supervisors had no jurisdiction over the school budgets, but merely set the tax rates from the figures contained thereon. "The board will not fix the tax rate today as we have not yet obtained the utility rolls expected from Sacramento this afternoon," he reminded the group.

"Give us our budgets back," Mrs. Nelson pleaded, "and we will take whatever responsibility there is." The district attorney pointed out that it was not legal but added that the only objection if any, to the action would probably be from the taxpayers of the individual dis tricts. The trustees pointed out tha since it was the taxpayers them selves who would benefit by the unusual procedure, it was not like ly that they would object. Kriz asked if the county was not leaving itself open for a tax mval idation proceeding. "You might be, but it is a hy pothetical problem," the district attorney answered.

Mrs. Nelson said that she had contacted the state school department at Sacramento and that she was informed by it that similar acts had been done in other counties. Asked if any action had been brought against the counties in law suits, she replied "no." "That is a cross you fingers tac tics," Miss Borina said and with that the budgets, with the consent of Kriz, were returned to the schoo trustees with the admonition to return them to the auditor before the end of this day. "I have no objections but they are sticking out their own necks," Kriz said, to which the trustees enthusiastically agreed. George Osman Again Head Of Church Group Rev.

George A. Osman, a veteran of more than 50 years religious work, was re-elected president of the Northern California Conference of Advent Christian churches at the Advent Christian camp ground con vention on 26th avenue yesterday. Elder Osman will be serving his sixth term in office. He has served the church in many states of the nation on both the east and west coasts. He has also served as pastor of the Advent Christian church on Elm street.

The annual northern California conference of the church is now in session at the Corcoran lagoon grounds. Two other Santa Cruz men were named officers. They are Treasurer Frank Johnson and Auditor C. L. Hunt.

Other new officers of the conference are: Rev. Eugene Bezanson, San Francisco, vice president; the Rev. H. H. Holland, Napa, secretary; Mrs.

Saide Metsler, Fresno, assistant secretary, and Frank Johnson, Santa Cruz, treasurer. Trustees are Tom Dillworth, Modesto; Mrs. Emma Marnock, Palermo; Mrs. H. Stillwagon, Santa Clara; the Rev.

A. B. Cargile, Sacramento. Sam Dodge of Oakland was named to an auditor's position along with Hunt. One of the highlights of the Sunday sessions was a report of the recent national conference held at Plainville, Conn.

President Osman made the report. 'IM --Too J- A Top: Larry King, 15, of 520 Chestnut avenue looks over the door where burglars entered the Economy drug store on Pacific avenue last night. Center pix: K-t -r -s is i i M-. if 1 'J 111 i I t' H1 breakers. Law Crime, Margie, Murder, Penalty, Phantom La-Idies, Public Enemies, Ranger Com- ics, Real Clue, Screen Comics, Smash Comics, Super Mystery, Teen Comics.

Thrilling Comics, rv sit Hi i i a si -'I Facing a loss of state funds this year similar to that of last year, county school board trustees admittedly "stuck their necks out today" and demanded and got back their submitted school district budgets. Various school districts in the county were represented at the first hearing by the board of supervisors this morning on the pre liminary county budget, which promises to be a stormy session be fore the final okeh is stamped upon the opus. Spokesmen for the schools, who included Mrs. Esther Nelson, district superintendent of Salsi-puedes union; Howard Hazeltine, principal of the San Lorenzo union, and others pointed out that the school districts again stood to lose considerable money because they failed to qualify under the maximum tax rate required for the state funds. The county assessor's office was responsible for the unfortunate con dition this year, the trustees point ed out in point-blank terms.

The extension of time granted his office by the state board of equal ization in making up the assessment rolls for the county gave them no time from which to figure their dis trict assessments, they stated. Assessment raises in the district not known when their budgets were required to be completed, but now known with the completion of the assessment rolls, were the cause of the discrepancies. In addition to the thousands of dollars which the districts stand to gain from state aid, this year there are further benefits which the dis tricts may receive. Mrs. Nelson said These include bus purchase and transportation refunds and other items not set forth by the trustees, Mrs.

Nelson pointed out that al though the amount of increase re quired to raise the tax rate to the maximum figure, a few cents on the district tax rates, would more than compensate for the benefits derived from the state funds. Secondly, in the long run, it would cost the districts more to op erate if the maximum rate is not set, they argued. District Attorney June Borina told the supervisors that the return of the school budgets was not legal, but admitted along with Milton Am-idon, clerk of the Salsipuedes school board, that as long as the assessor was granted additional time to compile his assessment rolls, the same unfortunate condition would exist, year after year. "I don't like to take this position," Miss Borina said, "but it is not legal to return the budgets Fire Wrecks $9000 Home Near Amesti Watsonville, Aug. 16 (U.R)A recently re-modeled and re-furnished home in the Amesti district was completely destroyed by fire last night at a loss estimated by the owner, Harry Sherwood at $9000.

Called to the scene almost an hour after the estimated start of the blaze, firement of the Corral-itos forestry station were unable do anything but prevent spread the flames to other buildings, Ted Reaves of the forestry station reported. Sherwood told Reaves that the six-room home had just been remodeled at a cost of S2000 and that included S2000 worth of new furniture. Clothing and other belongings were also a complete loss. Another City Booster 4s' 's shows Officers John Gleason, police department detective taking fingerprints from the cash register; below, the hole punched into the outer wall to gain entry into the building. of less than 200 miles.

It said cost per bus mile had increased 50 per cent since the company was formed in 1931. The petition said Greyhound had never had a fare increase and had made two fare reductions in 17 years. DISABLED MONTEREY FISHING CRAFT SAVED San Diego, Aug. 16 The fishing boat Two Brothers of Monterey, with Francisco Grillo of Pacific Grove as owner and master, was towed to customs dock here by coast guard patrol boat. The Two Brothers was disabled off Coron- fdo islands when a key was sheared me propeuor snaiu 4 I I I 1 I I True Crime, Underworld, Wanted, War Against Crime, Women Outlaws.

Young Romance, and Zoot Comics. Two Hurt In Crash Near Rob Roy Manuel Padilla, 55, driver, and his passenger, Joe Bellmonte, both of Aptos, were in the Watsonville hospital today after an accident at 2:30 a. m. near the Rob Roy junction of the Larkin valley road. According to the CHP, Padilla was blinded by lights coming toward him, crashed the machine into a culvert and overturned.

Both he and Bellmonte were taken to the hospital by Mehl's ambulance where they were reported in serious condition. Walter Smith, Plasterer, Dies In Texas Walter I. Smith, 58, a plastering contractor in Sanla Cruz for the past 25 years, died in Milford, August 13 from a sudden heart attack. He and his wife and daughter, Mrs. Mary Tallman, were vacationing there.

He was a member of the Plasterers' union in Santa Cruz; member of Santa Cruz Lodge No. 96 IOOF; a member of the Encampment of the IOOF No. 30 and the Plaster Contractors' union. In addition to his widow, Lurline of Santa Cruz, he is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Mary Tallman, Mrs.

Grace Duke of Santa Cruz, Mrs. Dorothy Chisholm of Freedom, Mrs. Mildred Scimeca of Santa Cruz and one son, Paul E. Smith of Santa Cruz. He was the brother of Mrs.

Ruth Laswell of Oakland, Noble M. Smith of Oakland and Orville S. Smith of Santa Cruz. There are also seven grandchildren. Rev.

B. F. Janes will conduct ser vices in White's chapel Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment jn Oakwood cemetery. Greyhound Seeks Boost A JA 2S Capitola boosters are circulating petitions to gain enough signatures so an election can be held to make the resort town into a separate sixth class city.

As of kt'J' a Mi'U. rj I Yr-" fi.iiiiii'iiiiiiiiniiiiiiiim in ii im. i rr im mi inSim X' '-Ql i mi 1 1 ir i San Francisco. Aug. 16 u.R Pa-, cuic Greyhound lines today peti tioned the state public utilities 1U1 Oil UlllCdSC lii idles on service inside California: The bus line proposed to charge two cents a mile for the first 50 miles, with 1-10 cent decrease for each of the next 50 miles up to 400.

The proposed increases will not effect regular commuters, F. Ackerman Greyhound president, said. "Commutation fares are not affected by this application. It applies to one-way tickets." ne comuanv claimed nad lol in the first five months of 1948 on its traffic on snort hauls i a last night, 302 of a goal of 1000 names had been secured. Vice-President Delbert Arnett of the Capitola Improvement club holds a petition for Bradley M.

Mac donald, a restaurateur, to sign..