Shamokin News-Dispatch from Shamokin, Pennsylvania • Page 1

ARNOLD'S BOOK BIMDErvYi hamoMi'lTewDisiD)atch Good Evening Lest you forget only two more shopping days 'til Christmas. 1 Weather Cloudy, probably occa- sional light rain or snow tonight and Saturday; not quite so cold tonight. Largest Circulation of Any Daily Neivspaper in 'Sorthumherland County VOL. Il-No. 81 OISHATCH (Estato.

Combined Sept. 18. 1733. With DAILY KEWS (Estab. 1883) SHAMOKIN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1934-16 PAGES UNITED PRESS FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE PRICE: TWO CENTS vvmj mmm mm Careers Reach Nobel Heights A New Hauptmann DRASTIC COMMITTEE SHAKEUPS PLANNED Crippled Miner Will Spend 6th Christmas In Shamokin Hospital CHRISTMAS PARTY TO BE GALA EVENT FOR KIDDIES pi) 1 Democratic Leaders Planning to Deprive Republican Minority of All But Few Memberships.

PROPOSED MOVE IS FAVORED BY BYRNS U' I- if I -v I I I Business Gains Are Indicated By Bonus News Christmas Check Custom Revived By Many Companies. Br The 1934 Nobel prizes for literature and drama rewarded two geniuses who have grown gray in the pursuit of their arts: Dr. Selma Lagerlof (left), Swedish author, and Luigi Pirandello, Italian playwright. They are pictured after ceremonies in the Opera House at Stockholm during which King Gustav personally bestowed the prizes. AAVWMWW Social Security Aim Of Power Program Tills new picture of Bruno Hauptmann reveals how life in the Flemington, N.

jail has agreed with him. Gone are the haggard lines that marked him during his fight against extradition from New York. His shrewd, alert attention distinguished his court appearance to force the prosecutors to stipulate charges they will make in his trial. Williamsport Jurist Frees Coal Truckers Holiday Just Another Day for Pain-Racked Local Man, Who Was Injured in Fall of Top. CHECKER PLAYING IS MINER'S HOBBY Christmas this year will be happily celebrated by millions of people the whole world over, but to John Valiko, for six years a patient in the Shamokin hospital, it will be just another passing day.

Six years ago Valiko, a resident of Springfield, was permanently in jured when struck by a fall of rock and coal at the Enterprise colliery. He suffered a broken back and was taken to the Shamokin hospital where today he is still confined to that institution, a semi-invalid. Resting in a wheel chair, because he is unable to walk, and paralyzed from the hips down, Valiko was interviewed by a representative of the News-Dispatch and talked freely despite intense pains in his back which, he says, he suffers every time the weather is stormy. Changing his posture in the wheel chair, in order to sit more comfortably, Valiko unraveled a story of his misfortune which he said occurred six years ago. Employed as a miner at the Enterprise colliery, he and several other workmen were engaged in the dangerous task of robbing pillars.

A fall occurred, Valiko said, and before he could leap to safety a large rock struck him across the back and knocked him down an 18-foot pitch. Fellow-workers went to his assistance and carried him to a first aid station where a brief examination revealed that he was seriously injured. He was rushed to the hospital where an examination revealed a broken back and a torn spinal cord. An emergency operation was performed and a piece of bone, five inches long, was removed from the vertabrae. From that day until this, Valiko has been a semi-invalid, paralyzed from the hips down.

Unable to use his legs, he spends quite a bit of time on a wheel chair, but in. the evening is tenderly lifted to his bed where he remains until the following morning. Valiko said he submitted to a second operation almost two years (Continued on 8th Page, Col. 1) WIDOWED MOTHER GETS $900 AWARD Settlement Made in Suit Growing Out of Death of Youth. Mrs.

Elizabeth Crone, Sunbury, formerly of Shamokin, was yesterday awarded $900 for the death of her son, Joseph Crone, former Sun-bury high school football player, who was killed more than a year ago when a truck he was driving was wrecked by a truck owned by the Mausdale Quarry Company. Mrs. Crone sued for a larger amount but when the case was called for trial in the Montour county courts, settlement was effected and the case did not get to the jury. POWDERBLAST E. I.

DuPont Plant at Jes-sup Scene of Fatal Explosion. SCRANTON, Dec. 21. (U.R) An explosion at the E. I.

duPont de I Nemours company works at Jessup last night killed three men and destroyed a pressroom at the plant. The dead: Lloyd Myers, 33, Geof-rey Taylor, 32, both of Jessup; and William Martin, 53, president of the borough council of Jermyn. The blast, accompanied by flre, was heard nearly five miles away. It wrecked the pressroom where the: victims were employed, and broke; windows in several nearby Physicians and ambulances from! surrounding communities were rush-1 ed to the scene. As they sought to recover the men from the blazing building, families of other workers at the ulant eathered at the site fearful that some friend or relative had been caught in the explosion Rescuers recovered the men within an hour after the detonation.

Their bodies wore seared to such an DRIVE PLANNED ,10 HELP SCOUT ORGANIZATIONS i Future of Nine Local Troops Depend on Fund Campaign. $3,000 NOW NEEDED Plans are being developed for a drive for funds to maintain the Boy Scouts program in the borough and Coal Township. First attention will be given to canceling a floating indebtedness of $3,000, incurred during the past year. The officers of the Shamokin Boy Scouts Council point out that all expenses in connection with operating the scouts organization have been eliminated, including the cancelation of any salaries to executives. Annual contributors to the support of the Boy Scouts program will be contacted during the next several days, with the expectation that suf ficient funds can be obtained to pay off all debts before starting the new year.

A general campaign for funds to restore the scouts organization to its former usefullness and vigor will be launched early In January. The future of nine Boy Scout troops depends on successful outcome of the drive. RENN AGAIN HEADS COUNTY FARM GROUP Annual Meeting of Association Held at Sunbury Yesterday. Ira J. Reun; Augustaville, was re elected to the presidency of thej Northumberland County Farm As sociation at the annual meeting held yesterday in the court house at Sunbury and where more than 100 farmers gathered for what proved to be a most Interesting session.

Other officers elected are: Secretary, G. F. Krick, Paxinos; treasurer, John Geise, and vice presi dent, Claude Knoebel. -I YOUTH SHOT AS HE DRAWS GUN Weapon, Accidentally Discharged, Inflicts Multiple Wounds. Lee Sponenberg, 18, of Briar Creek, near Bloomsburg, is a patient in the Berwick hospital, Berwick, with severe bullet wounds of both legs, received when he accidentally r11srhrc7P1 ft revolver as he was wlthdrawing it from his left hip pot to subdue his father, Harry Sponenberg, when the latter became a menace about the home.

The youth placed the weapon ic his pocket before entering the room where his father was on a rampage. Finding it necessary to protect himself and others of the household, young Sponenberg was in the act of withdrawing the weapon when it iSSS'ffiS a moment Inter. A high calibre bullet had entered the left thigh, passed thru the leg Infn th riirht Mm r1f nnrt came out at the right ankle. With blood gushing from the several wounds, the wounded youth was taken to the offices of a physician at Berwick and then to the, hospital. Unless blood poisoning sets in, the victim is expected to recover.

SCHOOLS CLOSE FOR HOLIDAY VACATION Sessions Are Suspended In Shamokin Borough and Township. The public schools of Shamokin borough and Coal Township closed for the Christmas holidays this afternoon after appropriate exercises, with studies to be resumed for the new year on Wednesday, January 2, 193S. All boroutsh teachers today received their Christmas pay checks for the last quarter of the month. Including all salaries due from the district to the close of the year. The total wages paid today Irom the school district treasury was $9,000.00, including all employe.

i i I I i STUDENTS JOIN IN XM AS PARTY Senior and Junior High Groups Stage Holiday Fiesta. PLAYS PRESENTED For the first time in the history of the school, the entire student body of both the Junior and sen'or high schools of the Trevorton high schools were tendered a Christmas party in the high school auditorium and gymnasium last evening. Two hundred and fifty students, and 15 members of the faculty attended the At 8:00 sharp the entire group gathered In the high school auditorium, where students of the dramatic and glee clubs presented an entertainment suitable for the occasion. Great applause came from the audience when the talented students who went through their performances like professional actors, revealing the ability of students from both clubs. The dramatic part of the program was under the direction of Miss Carolyn Reeb, and the musical part under the supervision of Miss M.

Ar-(Continued on 11th Page, Col. 2) Councilmen Busy Packing i Thousands of Bags of Candy and Delicacies for Yuletide Fetes. BURGESS SHISSLER TO DIRECT PROGRAM "The big event of the merry yule-tide celebration for thousands of kiddles of this city and Coal Township will be conducted with elaborate ceremony promptly at 2:00 on Christmas Day, with the stage all set at the handsomely decorated municipal tree on Eagle lawn, North Franklin street. Several councilmen have been busy at the boro warehouse during the past week, packing thousands of bags of candy, sugared popcorn, lind oranges, so that no child of the community shall be forgotten on Christmas, the happiest day of all the year. Santa Claus and a cavalcade of motor trucks loaded with barrels of Jwckaged candy will leave the municipal warehouse at 1:30 Christinas afternoon, with Old Saint Nick 3erched high on the first truck.

The Shamokin band will lead the impressive procession east on Independence street to the scene of youthful jollification at Eagle lawn. Chief Burgess A. G. Shissler will 3)e the master of ceremonies, present- Luc xvcv. xiftwici Jkuumio, Ob.

"Michael's Lithuanian church, who deliver the invocation, followed ty the Rev. J. N. Wagenhurst, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, who will offer a prayer. The choir "of the Welsh Congregational church and the Shamokin band will add to the enjoyment of the occasion in tL selected nroaram of annrnnriatp tnusic.

The big feature of the kiddies' Christmas party will be reserved for (Continued on 8th Page, Col. 5) LEGISLATION IS DISCUSSED BY UJ.WABOARD Mine Safety Measures Also Considered By Tri-District Group. KENNEDY ATTENDS The executive boards of the three anthracite districts of the United Mine Workers of America met yesterday at Hazleton, where Lieutenant Governor-elect Thomas Kennedy, international secretary-treasurer of the labor organization, was a guest of the district officials. The members of the board were unanimous in expressing themselves In favor of a constitutional convention, old age pensions, mothers' assistance funds with counties being required to contribute, a minimum wage and hour act under the state NRA, extension of the Public Works program on relief and a new system of unemployment relief without the present attendant red tape. Other social legislation and mine safety measures were discussed and statement outlining their position on these issues will be made from tri-district headquarters within the next few days.

BEVERLY HILLS, Dec. 21. See where the doctors say "President Roosevelt is in great physical shape and ready to fare congress on January 3." Well, that being the case from one training camp, I would like to report from the other train ing camp. I have examined congress and they are In great rhape physically (I said physically). Mentally the boys are befuddled, but they are In the "pink." That's what the fellows with the dough are afraid of, there Is too many of 'em in the "pink." Remember the date and tune in on the biggest show on earth, bar none.

Yours, 1114 WtNiuiht IrnditaM. la BY EDWARD W. LEWIS United Press Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (U.R) House Democratic leaders plan to "crack down" on the Republican minority in the next congress, depriving them of all but a few memberships on important committees. House Majority Leader Joseph W.

Byrns, virtually "speaker designate" of the next congress. said today he favored such a move in the Interest of the preponderant Democratic majority. Under the plan Republican rep resentation on house committee! would be reduced to give important committee assignments to Demo crats. "Some Republicans are on two or three committees," said Byrns, "I don't think that is treating ourselves right in view of the fact now have a representation of three out of four members." The change will be proposed at the party caucus shortly before the congress convenes. It is expected to be supported overwhelmingly by Democrats, many of whom are angling for posts on important committees.

Democratic strength In the next house will be 322 to 101 Republicans, compared with 312 Democrats and 114 Republicans at the close of the 73rd congress; There (Continued on 2nd Page. Col. 5) mm of car ME HIGHWAY TO BE PROBED Truck Discovered in Flame! Near Ashland Moun-tain Road. WILL QUIZ OWNER State highway patrolmen at Mount Carmcl are engaged today In investigating the mysterious bunr- lag of a truck said to be owned "jjr jacK raimer, inis city, round burning this morning on the Ashland-Mount Carmel mountain, near Ger- mantown, Just north of Ashland. A passing motorist saw the burning truck about ten feet off the road and in the woodlands.

As flames threatened to spread to the forest, the motorist hurried to Mount Carmel, notified the patrol headquarters and Patrolman Milton Rauen-zahn responded. Arriving at the scene, the patrolman summoned firemen from Ashland, and the Washington Fire Company responded. Chemicals were used in extinguishing the flames enveloping the truck and in halting the spread of a mountain fire. After the flames had subsided, Patrolman Rauenzahn found the name of "Jack Palmer, Shamokin, Pa." inscribed on the side of the truck and plans to interrogate the owner, if found, as to how the fire occurred. There was no evidence of a wreck and no one was in the vicinity who knew anything concerning the fire.

jKULPMONT FIRE CO. ELECTS OFFICERS Elected WMmi NO. 1 Fire Company Last Evening. The members of Kulpmont Fire Company, No. 1, last evening held the most largely attended annual gathering of the company In the history of the organization.

The meeting, for the purpose of receiving reports and election of officers, was enthusiastic and good fellowship prevailed. The following officers were elected: President, Albert Selesky: vice president, Joseph R. Tasym: treasurer, William Ramsey; financial secretary. Charles Rurtciwicz: recording secretary. William Klokls; three years.

Leo Wydra, H. Evert and S. Evert; trustee, two years. Joseph GoiinsRi; foreman. Edward Polltza: a.slstant foreman Herbert Shoffstall: fire chief.

Joseph Polltowskl; chauffeur, Joseph Politza, and atssWant chauffeur, Paul Mellck. The reports of officers showed the company to be In excellent fInancUJ ccndltlnn. Numerous enterprises are to ko staged during the coming year to advance the Interests of the com- I'd ii and the community as a whole. GIFT TOTAL GROWS By United Press Christmas bonuses to employes, which in boom years of 1928 and 1929 totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars, are' reappearing this year a United Press survey showed today. Various industrial companies and organizations this week announced Christmas gifts to employes.

Some stock exchange houses announced payments to employes. Bonuses in Wall Street came as a surprise inasmuch as securities business has been at a low ebb all year some companies operating in the red but private estimates were that 25 to 30 6f the smaller houses would make Christmas disbursements. The bonuses in Wall Street houses announced thus far generally are about two weeks salary. One house, Carl M. Loeb announced a bonus ranging from two to fix weeks salary, dependent upon length of service.

The New York Cocoa Exchange announced a week's bonus to all employes while members of the New York Curb Exchange are giving their annual Christmas party to children of Lower Manhattan. I Santa Claus will distribute a sweat er and a pair of shoes each to about 2,500 children. The Douglas Aircraft Company, today announced a pay in- crease of five per cent, to 2,000 'employes effective Dec. 31. Christmas distributions include: Schaeffer Pen Company of Ft.

Madison, bonus to 1,000 employes which will total about $40,000. Mesta Machine Company, a (Continued on 2nd Page, Col. 7) XMAS TREES IN ABUNDANCE ARE FOR SM HERE At Least 5,000 Trees Offered By Dealers of Community. TREES PRICED LOW The local supply of Christmas trees was never more plentiful than this year, with every available side street in the business district occupied by a display of pines, Norway spruce and hemlock. Each vendor of yuletide evergreens secures a license at city hall and pays a fee of $1 a day or $5 a week, before he is assigned to a sales location.

No fee is required when the trees are sold In a house-to-house canvass. The Christmas evergreens on local, display are trucked in from various hillsides and nurseries, including Clearfield and Snyder county nurseries, Mahanoy Valley, Irish Valley, Ralpho township and Columbia county. The low cost of tree decorations this year has greatly stimulated the sale of Christmas trees, with young unemployed men taking active part in the merchandising enterprise. It was estimated by a Christmas tree merchant yesterday that there are 15 different distributors conducting local sales, with the supply of a few dealers running from 600 to 800 evergreens of various kinds and sizes, with prices ranging from 35 cents to one dollar. The total number of trees brought in is estimated at close to 5,000, First Broadcast CALLANDER, Dec.

21 (U.R) The Dionne quintuplets made their volres Iveard throughout Citiiiida and the ulled Slates lat night. Phonograph records had been made of their goo-gooi and their waitings and theft wers pUyed before microphones for the edification of radio listeners. iiii iiirr" i bu uv vi vcu lit a itsr dent's Proposals. COURT TEST LOOMS BY LYLE C. WILSON United Press Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec.

21 (U.R) Social security and more federal spending are involved in the electric power program President Roosevelt will present to congress next month. Whether federal development of power projects will provide more social security or less for the American people is disputed now. In one form or another the issue ultimately will reach the supreme court. Mr. Roosevelt and a majority of congress are in general agreement that power development is a proper field of government endeavor.

The administration program "divides naturally in two parts. First there is Mr. Roosevelt's plan to aid individual cities. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York has obtained a promise of federal aid for a municipal light and power plant which would be built only if the private utilities serving New York City refused to lower rates. PWA funds have been lent to many smaller communities desiring to generate their own electrical, power.

These allocations probably will continue with new funds to be voted next winter if additional municipalities want help in (Continued on 8th Page, Col. 2) TRUCK AND SEDAN FIGURE IN CRASH None Hurt But Vehicles Are Slightly Damaged This Morning. Three Shamokin people figured in a minor motor collision near the intersection of Water and Market streets this morning. A coupe, owned by Lewis Welker and driven by his brother, Robert, was traveling north on Market street when a utility company truck, operated by Claude Dent, collided with it. None was hurt although both cars were slightly damaged.

The driver i of the truck, it is reported, was try-! ing to make a left turn when the collision occured. ANNUAL FOOD SHOW AT LOCAL THEATRE Capitol Presents Film Entertainment to Aid Salvation Army. The Salvation Armv's annual Christmas food show will be held tomorrow in the Capitol theatre, when the management will present "A Strange Adventure." The show will start at 10:00 tomorrow morning. Persons will be admitted to the theatre on presenting at least one item of canned food instead of tlckPts. The food thus received will be turned over to the local Salvation Army unit and will be used to fill Christmas baskets for the poor.

7 Die as Airplane Goes Down in Storm Netherlands Air LinerjTUp CC MJAn Burns After Crashing I II A EL VHW) 111 Appeals of Truckers Up held By Lycoming County Judge. COSTS NOT SETTLED A score of coal truckers got a "break" In Lycoming county court at Williamsport yesterday, when Judge D. M. Larrabee ordered all appealing truckers discharged, but did not make disposition of the costs. Williamsport police have been unusually active in recent months in arresting truckers for violations of a city ordinance governing the transportation and sale of hard fuel products.

Many truckers were arrested for operating without city permits while others were arraigned on technicalities. All the accused truckers had been taken before Alderman Charles S. Jackson, who fined them. Then followed a succession of appeals, sponsored by Williamsport truckers and who enlisted the coopertaion of regional truckers. In the appeals heard by Judge Larrabee, counsel for the coal haul-continued on 2nd Page, Col.

3) CONCILIATION UNIT HAS BUSY SESSION! Forty Cases Sent to Umpire James Gorman for Abdication. The anthracite conciliation board yesterday held one of its busiest sessions in months in the headquarters offices at Hazleton, where Secretary Chris J. Golden, formerly of this city, presented list of forty cases lodged with his office. The conciliators spent the entire day in going over the grievances lodged by miners of the three anthracite districts and after making some adjustments, sent forty cases to Umpire James J. Gorman for ad judication, A number of the cases to be decided by the umpire are from District No.

9 and were presented by President Mart F. Brennan. Portable Typewriters Remington and Underwood. The gift with a future. Shamokin Equipment 422 E.

Sunbury street. Adv, in Desert. CRAFT BUILT IN U. S. BAGDAD, Irak, Dec.

21 Burned wreckage of the Netherlands air liner "Uiver" was found today 10 miles south of a lonely blockhouse in the desert. Its seven occupants, three passengers and crew of four, all Netherlanders, were killed. British royal air force airplanes found the wreckage of the great "flying hotel," an American built Douglas transport which finished second in the England-Australian air race. It was believed the plane might have been struck by lightning. It crashed south of Rutbah Wells, a desert blockhouse fort guarded by Irak soldiers the only building within 50 miles.

The terrain is nearly level, and in normal circum stances an airplane could land easily. The liner sent out an SOS call Wednesday night, after passing Claza, on the Palestine const, en i route from Cairo to Bagdad. It was believed it crashed soon afterward. The scene is a dismal one, Bc- tween Rutbah Wells and Bagdad i there is only a furrow ploughed by that identification was dif-(Continued on 8th Page, Col. 2) jficult.

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