The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPER OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI VOL. 21 Blytheville Courier BlythevUle Daily News Mississippi Valley Leader Blytheville Herald BLYTHEVILLE, ARKANSAS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1954 EIGHTEEN PAGES Published Daily Except Sunday Sewer Plan Interest Centers on Question: WkatWillltCostMe? (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in a. series of.four articles explaining in simplified form the rudiments of the proposal for construction and financing of a citywide sewer system for Blytheville. This proposal is scheduled to be submitted to the voters at a special election. In the interests of keeping this review simple, no attempt has been made to discuss the numerous technical details of engineering and financing which would be involved in any solution that might be proposed.) Of greater interest to the average citizen than any other phase of the proposed sewer plan is the answer to this question: What will it cost me? This question has produced more disagreement and opposition than has any other single item in any sewer proposal to date.

The answer contained in the present sewer plan, however, has been more generally accepted than any other brought forth thus far. Jteason for this is that the proposed rates are fixed charges; that is, they will be the same each month for each group of users. Well, just what will these charges be? If you own a house here, the monthly charge would be $1.80. Churches will pay the same charge There is one exception, which will be explained later. Monthly sewer charges for commercial and industrial users would range from $4 to $20.

If the average amount of water used by your firm or industry each month last year was less than 5,000 gallons, the monthly sewer charge would be 14. 5,000 gallons or more but less than 25,000 gallons, the charge would be $6. 25,000 gallons or more but less than 100,000 gallons, the charge would be $10. 100,000 gallons or more, the charge would be $20. Who is included in the "commercial and industrial" class of users? The rate ordinance says these include all users of the sewer system except residences and churches.

FOE GOVERNMENT housing projects such as Chickasaw Courts and Cherokee Courts, the monthly sewer charge would be SI per apartment. The exception to the residential rate mentioned above Is that home owners in two small parts of the city would pay a S3 monthly charge. This rate was set up because, although they are located in the central part of the city that already has sewers, these two areas do not have sewer facilities. Because of their location and the proposed routing of trunk lines it is not practical to attempt to include them in one of the proposed improvement districts. Included in this rate group are houses and churches within the following areas: On tfth, Bell and llth Streets from Lumerate Bayou to the alley north of Holly Street, on Willow Street from llth to Division, and all the area from Ruddle Road east to the city limits for any parts now served by the existing sewer system.

SOME CONFUSION still exists on whether there is any relationship between these sewer rates and water bills. The answer is a flat and simple "no." The rate groups were set up on the basis of water used during 1953 simply because this was the most accurate and practical method from the engineering standpoint. It should be noted that only commercial and industrial rate groups were established on this basis. Water consumption was used as a basis for figuring because it gives the clearest idea in the vast majority of cases as to just how much a firm or industry uses the sewer system. The rates themselves are fixed.

and would not depend in any way upon water consumption. And the charges would be paid directly to the and not to the water Hence, any change in water rates here would have no effect whatsoever on sewer charges. Also, these charges would be paid by every sewer user in just those in any one section. In this way. everyone would help pay for the "backbone system" which would include the trunk lines, lift stations and treatment plant that would serve the whole city.

IN ADDITION to the fixed monthly sewer charge, residents of the proposed northern and southern Inside Today's Courier News Champs Look Like Chumps as Major Leagues Open 1954 Season Haddix Couldn't Handle Cubs as Usual Moon Was Nervous Sports Pages 14 and 15 Sen. McCarthy Has Consistently Aimed Fire at Army The McCarthy Story 8 Page 12 Osceola News and Feature Page 10 Be Proud That America Was Magnet for Toscanini Editorials 8 Great Game of Politics In Arkansas Is Not Only Uncertain Its Expensive Also improvement districts would pay whatever improvement tax would be levied on their property. This See SEWER on Page 11 Tr Pact Proposal Gets Strong SenateSupport WASHINGTON (AP) An American-British move to weld a defensive military alliance against communism "in the Pacific won strong backing today from two Senate Republican leaders. But Sen. Mansfield (D-Mont) said in a speech prepared for the who refused to spy for Red Romania in return for the safety of his (Senate that unless France grants Accepted by France's Bidault Congress Awaits AEC In Oppenheimer Case WASHINGTON (AP) Congressional groups took a wait-and-see attitude toward the government' suspension and investigation of pioneer atomic scientist J.

Robert Oppenheim- JOYOUS REUNION IN NEW YORK The Georgescu teenagers, held in "Communist Romania since 1947, plant kisses on the cheeks of their mother after arrival at Idlewild airport in New York City yesterday from Germany. Valeriu C. Georgescu, the boys' father sons, is in The boys are Peter Wirephoto) (right) and Clementin. (AP City Planning Group's Limited Concern with Sewers Cited The City Planning Commission's duties do not call for it to concern itself with the engineering feasabilities of a sewer plan and it should leave that to competent engineers, William S. Bonner, University of Arkansas professor, replied here last night to questions pertaining to the authority in connection with the proposed new system.

ies of "get back to the comments by members of the commission. No business was brought before Mr. Bonner, who spoke to the Cy aaC hurn oce oei Itoier City Council and Chamber of Commerce and City Planning Commission Feb. 24 on the establisment of a city plan, is a member of the City Planning Division of the university's Institute of Science and Technology. He spoke at a joint City Council-Planning Commission meeting last night.

He was invited here last night for a second review of the working of a city planning commission because some of the City Commision was not present at his last lecture and some of the commission members were not yet appointed. Beginning his lecture with a discussion of the steps to be taken by the planning commission in establishing and maintaining an adequate city plan. He was interrupted sesslon to pre pai-e for a quick start for 30 minutes by question from some members of the commission as to the authority of the agency over establishing a new sewer system for BlytheviDe. complete independence to Indochina the forthcoming Geneva conference may end in "unmitigated disaster" inviting World War'lII. Chairman Ferguson (R-Mich) of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and Chairman Wiley Wis) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee praised an agreement reached In London between Secretary of State Dulles and British Foreign Minister Eden to work for organization of a military alliance to guard Asia against further Communist aggression.

Shows Determination In separate interviews, both senators expressed hope that Dulles will be able to persuade the subject" the City Council or Planning Com- French to join in a "united ac- mission last night and the meeting "on" program aimed primarily at was adjourned after finished his address. Mr. Bonner Senate Group Speeds FHA Scandal Probe saving Indochina. Ferguson said the Dulles-Eden statement showed a determination of their two nations to join "in the cooperation that is essential to combat communism in the Pacific." "I hope the French will join with us in this move," he said. "We must be united if we are to save Indochina and the rest of Asia from the Communists." Wiley said he had long advocat- a Pacific pact; similar to the WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate Banking Committee North AUa ntie TreW organization raced today to beat the field to a public investigation of a multimillion-dollar housing scandal that apparently has flourished under both the Truman and Eisenhower administrations.

Chairman Capehart (R-Ind) summoned his committee to a closed The only time the planning commission is concerned with the engineering part of a problem is in setting up the design standards of a new proposed subdivsion, Mr. Bonner said. Engineer's Concern Sewers, stortn drains and water systems are not the problem, of the' planning commission except to determine the number of people that are to be served by them, he explained. The engineering aspects ol these systems (placement and location of facilities) should be the concern of competent engineers, he said. Until a city plan is established, any recommendations made by the planning commission are not mandatory, but may be rejected by the City Council on a majority vote and not a three-fourths vote as required by state law after the plan is adopted, he pointed out.

The university maintains a trained staff to work out a city plan for any municipality which desires its services, Mr. Bonner said. The cost of such a service was estimated to be between $6,000 and $8,000 for the first year depending on the objective of the planning commission and how much of the work in preparing the plan is done by the city itself. Mayor E. R.

Jackson said he thought the sewer system plan laid out by the engineers hired by the City Council would woric. The meeting last night was called to learn the duties of the planning commission, he said during a ser- of a "full and complete" probe aimed at ferreting out "the facts and the truth" of charges that Federal Housing Administration (FHA) officials allowed unscrupulous home repair salesmen to cheat unsuspecting householders. The Banking Committee, said Capehart, also will investigate allegations that slick apartment Industrial Drive At Mid-Mark About $76,000 Now In Fund to Bring Metal Plant Here First tabulation on Chamber of Commerces' drive to raise 3150,003 for an industrial prospect showed the campaign standing at about the half-way mark. Slightly more than $76.000 is now in the fund, it was revealed at a meeting of finance committee members yesterday. However, many of the business categories have filed no report at all and of those who have reported on their solicitations, scarcely any are complete.

Fifteen of these business categories have failed to make any report as yet. Missco Draft Quotas Are Set Mississippi County will. furnish 25 men for armed forces induction into the in April and seven in May as part of the total of 465 men to called from Arkansas this month and 309 in May, according to information from State Selective Service Director Col. Hansel T. Winters.

Six men have already been called from Mississippi county this month. Theft Suspects Returned Here James Garner, 19, of Blytheville and Harold D'avis, alias Idell Tanner, of Chicago, 111., were returned here late yesterday and placed in county jail on charges of burglary and grand larceny in connection with breaking into Ole Hickory Inn Apr. 3 and taking $56 in change and eight cartons of cigarettes. The two men signed waivers of extradition after being arrested in Vandalia, on a charge of transporting unstamped liquor. On hearing of their arrest, the sheriff's office here issued 'a warrant for their arrest and asked the Illinois authorities to hold the two men.

house by either dishonest or inefficient FHA millions out of government-guaranteed loans pegged well above the 'cost of thair projects. Complaints of abuses under the home improvement program, it has been disclosed, were made under both the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. Suspect apartment project financing occurred under the post- World War "middle income" housing program, which expired in 1950. Acting Commissioner Named The alleged irregularities and administrative laxities came to light Monday night when- the White House abruptly announced that FHA Commissioner Guy T. 0.

Hollyday had resigned the post to which President Eisenhower had named a year ago. Yesterday, Eisenhower named Norman P. Mason, a Massachusetts lumber dealer, to serve as acting FHA commissioner while the executive parent Housing and Home Finance Agency and the its probe. Capehart seemed somewhat miffed when he was told that Sen. Byrd (D-Va) had announced his Joint Congressional Committee on Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures would old a hearing on the situation next Tuesday.

"I don't know what authority Sen Byrd has over this." Capehart said. "There can be no question that this is our concern." Overdue The Banking Committee has jur- is diction over housing mailers. Both Byrd and Capehart said they had alerted government housing chiefs to apparent skulldrugger long ago. Sen. Douglas (D-ILL) said in a statement he feels it is past time to give the FHA "a thorough going- over." He said he has evidence of "at least 90 recent instances of FHA loans obstained under fraud in the single area of Champaign- Urbana, 111." Douglas released copies of recent correspondence with Hollyday in which the senator charged that a single lending agency had made these loans "obtained under fraud" for remodelling, alteration and improvement of homes.

Hollyday replied in a letter that FHA had made an investigation and had turned over a report 'o the attorney general "for such action as his office may find warranted." i NATO "This may be the answer to our troubles in the Pacific," he said. "But it will have to be something more than a paper agreement. If the free world really means it. a Pacific pact could be made effective." Mansfield said American aid to the French in Indochina "has carried us to the brink of full-scale involvement" in the war there. Guarantee Needed "For this reason, he said, Dulles ought to press the French to guarantee full independence to Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos as one of the "minimum conditions" to a united free world front at Geneva talks opening April 26.

Mansfield, a Foreign Relations Committee member, visited Indochina last year. "It is clear now that the administration believes our strategic stake in Indochina is very great," Mansfield said. "It is also clear that we have been committed very deeply in Indochina, probably even to the extent of military action by American forces. "It is not clear, however, that the policies of the administration have yet established the minimum seizure of Indochina without full- conditions to prevent Communist scale war. It is not clear that these conditions are even under- See SENATE on Page 11 Jaycees Ask City to Enforce Dog Licensing The Junior Chamber of Commerce here has adopted and sent to the mayor and city attorney a resolution calling for.the city to "enforce our laws pertaining to the regulation of unlicensed dogs." The resolution says "there exists in our city a situation wherein many unlicensed dogs are permitted to roam throughout the city" and that "there is a constant great danger to the health of the people of Blytheville, especially the children, due to the many unlicensed dogs roaming freely about." It also called attention to steps taken by the city in the past to exterminate unlicensed dogs.

The Jaycee resolution asks the mayor, police chief and City Council to "take immediate steps" to enforce laws concerning unlicensed dogs and to "do all within their power and discretion to remove the health danger presented by the existing situation." A letter accompanying the resolution pointed out that it was adopted by the Jaycees because 95 children were bitten dogs in the Blytheville area last year. $11,859 Raised To Date in '54 Red Cross Drive A total of $11.859.76 has been raised to date in the Red Cross' Chickasawba District annual fund campaign for $15,000. Contributions reported today include: Advance $50 Hotel Noble. $10 Dr. H.

C. Sims. Downtown Section $10 Frank Whitworth, Judge Phillip Deer, Dr. W. T.

Rainwater. $5 Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Parker, W. M.

Berryman. $4 Keith J. Bilbrey. $3 Eunice Brogdon. $2 Geraldine Listen, Myra Whittle, T.

R. Ivy, Mrs. J. M. Cleveland.

er on security grounds. McCarthy declining to elaborate, said he has affidavits purporting to show that Oppenheimer once was a member of the Communist affiliation the scientist has categorically denied. From two other persons familiar with the case came statements that the accusations against Oppenheimer had been reviewed and discounted years ago. In notifying him of his suspension, however, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) spoke of "additional investigation" last year. The AEC said in a formal statement yesterday that President Eisenhower had ordered "a blank wall" placed temporarily between Oppenheimer.

one of the chief developers of the atomic bomb, and secret data to which he has had access for over 10 years. Hands-Off Policy Pending the report, of an AEC investigating panel headed by former Secretary of the Army Gordon Gray, Rep. W. Sterling Cole and Sen. Hickenlooper (R- lowa) fixed a hands-off policy for the Senate-House Atomic Energy Committee.

And McCarthy told newsmen at Phoenix. Ariz, that, while Oppenheimer's suspension was "long should have been token years ago," he has no plans how get into the case with the Senate investigations subcommittee he heads. "I wouldn't want to Interfere anything that is being done," 'said. "As long as the administration continues to net, there is no reason for us to move in." Discussing the Princeton. N.

scientist's case with newsmen, McCarthy said, "I have affidavits that show that he was a member of the Communist party" and that he had "hired and recruited Individuals who were Communists or J. Robert Oppenheimer at least had been Communists to handle atomic work." The senator did not say who had made the affidavits. Charges Contested Oppenheimer, 49, has freely acknowledged associating with some Communists and fellow travelers years ago, but said he thinks his experience makes him more fit to serve the government. He is con- the charges and has asked for a hearing. Since June 1952 he has been an AEC consultant.

Cole and Hickenlooper said in a. See OPPENHEIMER on Page 11 Cambodia Protests Vietminh Invasion SAIGON, Indochina (AP) The kingdom of Cambodia has protested to U. N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold against an invasion of that Indochinese state by Communist- Virginia Ruth Bess, Mrs. Geraldine Green, Juanita Davis, John Mays.

Residential $10 Mrs. B. A. Bugg. $5 Mrs.

Louis Nash. Mr. and Mrs. A. E.

Huntley. $2 Mrs. W. Mrs. T.

Wade Jeffries, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Edds.

$1 Mrs. F. E. Utley, Mrs. R.

B. Stout, Mrs. J. E. Beasley, Mrs.

George Pollock, Mrs. Ed Tune, Mrs. Leroy Huddleston, Mrs. Annie Shumate, i.lrs. Minnie B.

Gann. Negro $1 Charley Simms, Fannie Jones, Letha Cole, Charley Orr, Sanders Washington. Air Base Planter's Flying Service. $10 Mr. and Mrs.

E. A. Rice. $5 Blytheville Credit Bureau. $1 J.

8. Roloson, Mrs. J. See RED CROSS on Paje 11 led Vietminh. The formal protest cable was sent to Cambodia's ambassador in Washington.

Nong Kimrny. for de- tyvery. Cambodia is not a member of the United Nations. The charge against the Communist-dominated rebels was sent to the international organization following Vietminh infantry attacks in recent weeks on towns along Cambodia's northern border with her sister Indochinese kingdom Laos. Cambodia's King Norodon Sihan- ouk is reported preparing an attack by his own forces on the invaders soon.

The protest was lodged as Cambodia went into mourning over the death Sunday or more than 60 persons in a Vietminh ambush attack on a crowded holiday train. Train Blasted Vietminh mines blew up a train crammed with people headed for the capital for the Cambodian new year. Vietminh units then came out of hiding and set fire to 88 cars, most of them full of poor people. The main violence of the Indochina war continued today around the besieged French Union fortress of Dien Bien Phu in northwest Indochina. The French high command at Hanoi said the rebels and the defenders kept up a "violent" artillery duel last night and today, but the Vietminh still had not launched their expected new all-out drive to overrun the fortress by human sea tactics.

A French army spokesman said yesterday a new massive general assault on Dien Bien Phu was expected at any moment. The French continued to dig in for the assault. They say they are confident they can turn it away. Polio Vaccine Classes Set Make-Up Sessions Are Scheduled A schedule of makeup classes for volunteer workers who missed training programs was released today by the county headquarters unit for'the polio vaccine program National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. All courses have been scheduled for the Junior Chamber of Corn- building on North Second No Official Announcement From Meeting PARIS joined Britain and the United States today in declaring it would examine the possibility of creating a collective defense in Southeast Asia "to assure the peace, security and freedom of this area." The agreement was announced in a communique issued jointly by U.

S. Secretary of State Dulles find French Foreign Minister George Bidault. Monilan Elected By Postmasters Joe Hornberger, postmaster at Manila, was re-elected secretary- treasurer of the Arkansas chapter of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States at the group's annual convention in Little Rock yesterday. Russellville Postmaster Mark Craig was elected president. Other officers include Paul Francis of Hot Springs.

Tom Morris of Berryville, Mrs. Nellie Murphy of Gallon and Thomas J. Daniel of Bluffton. vice-presidents; Frank Brummitt of Stuttgart and Mrs. Altha Davis of Pindall, membership directors.

merce Street. Unit chairman and clinic staff members are to meet at 1 p. m. on Friday. Home room record keepers will have their makeup course given at 2 and classroom mothers may receive instructions at 3 p.

m. These classes are for North Mississippi County workers who hove not had their required courses. A listing of some 32 educational talks has been released by Mrs. C. G- Redman, chairman of education.

Mrs. Joe Hughes of Osceola and Mrs. T. N. Rodman of Manila are serving as co-chairmen of the committee.

Thirty-one talks have been programmed by the committee, Mrs. Redman stated. Organizations desiring speakers on the vaccine should contact either Mrs. Redman or one of her co-chairmen. Speakers Listed Here are speakers, listed by communities: BLYTHEVILLE Elbert Johnson, W.

B. Nicholson, Dr. W. T. Rainwater, Mrs.

W. T. Rainwater, Mrs. J. C.

Guard, John Nicholson, Mrs. Charles Alford, Mrs. Robert G. McHaney, Mrs. S.

E. Tune, Mrs. Rebecca James, Harry C. Farr, H. B.

Richardson, Fred Sandefur, Kemper Bruton, Dick Payne, Robert G. McHaney, Paul Hughes. OSCEOLA Dr. D. H.

Blodgctt, Mrs. Carroll Watson, Dr. C. W. Silverblatt.

Mrs. Ted Woods, Dr. See POLIO on FafC 11 I PARIS (AP) British-American proposals for a military alliance to block Communist aggression in Southeast Asia were accepted by French Foreign Minister Georges Bidauit in discussions today with U. S. Secretary of State Dulles, informed sources said.

A. 10-nation pact Is contemplated under the arrangements announced in London yesterday by Dulles and British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden. No official Announcement of results of the Dulles-Bidault talks had been Issued by mid afternoon. But informants snid Bidault ap-. proved the Dulles-Eden plan because it "reconciles the views of the two great European powers with those of the United States." This morning's talks were devoted entirely to the Far East situation, especially that in Indochina.

The French-American discussions were extrefnely cordial, although Bidault stressed that the French are opposed to any measures being taken before the April 26 Geneva conference on Asian problems. To Meet Laniel The foreign minister and the secretary of state first met privately, then were joined by their aides. Dulles later was to meet Premier Jaseph Laniel and perhaps ex- Emperor Bao Dai, chief of state of Viet In on the Conservative Dally Mail tagged the "SEATO" label for Southeast Asia Treaty Organization on the NATO-like Pacific lineup against Red aggression which Dulles and British Foreign Secretary Eden agreed yesterday they would work for. French observers preferred PATO Pacific Treaty the Dulles-Eden project. Their 10 candidates for such a pact were the Western Big Three, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines.

Thailand, and the three SOCIATED States of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. That proposed alliance was the result of Dulles' search for the "position of strength" he believes the Western Big Three must have when they meet in Geneva April 26 with Russia and Red China to discuss peace in Korea and Indochina. Australia Willing It was the outcome of his earlier call for Western agreement that "united action" would oppose any hinese Communist military expansion into Indochina and the rest of Southeast Asia. The British and French feared any outright threat of specific "action" would spike any chances of negotiating peace at Geneva. In Canberra, Acting Foreign Minister Sir Philip McBride announced Australia would be a "willing participant in discussions on the collective defense of Southeast Asia." Foreign Minister Clifton Webb said in Auckland that New.

Zealand, the other Commonwealth nominee, also was ready to enter such talks. He added that he hoped the U. British initiative "will give heart to the French and Vietnamese forces who for so long have borne brunt of the struggle against Communist expansionism, in Southeast Asia." See DEFENSE on Page 11 Weather cloudiness and a little warmer with widely scattered thundershowers this afternoon and tonight; Thursday showers and local thunderstorms cooler northwest. MISSOURI Partly cloudy and warmer today; considerable cloudiness tonight and Thursday with showers and scattered thunder- Thursday. Maximum Minimum this Sunset Sunrise Mean temperature (midway high and Precipitation latt 24 to a.m.

Precipitation Jan. 1 to Thii Lut Maximum Minimum Precipitation January 1 17.