Shamokin News-Dispatch from Shamokin, Pennsylvania • Page 1

AH'JOLD 800K BINDCRY. tri sis. hamokin News-DisBatcl Good Evening Rather hard to determine who's bluffing who In Europe's war game. Weather Showers this afternoon and early tonight; generally fair Wednesday; colder. Largest Daily Newspaper Circulation in Northumberland County VOL.

VI NO. 173 DISPATCH (Estab. t8S8) Combined Sept. IS. 1933 Wltb DAILY NEWS (Estab.

1893) SHAMOKIN, TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1939-12 PAGES UNITED PRESS FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE PRICE: THREE CENTS rv -x A IP Ull! mm 0 HIS WfflKHlFS I I II I 11 1 I II 111 I I uuuu Petrova Returns Let Freedom Sing: Marian Anderson in Capital BORO SCHOOL BOARD WILL FLEETS TO PATROL STRATEGIC POINTS IN MEDITERRANEAN REFINANCE BOOTLEG MEN SEEK PUBLIC HEARINGS ON COALBILLS Delegation Goes to Harris-burg for Conference With Chairman of Joint Legislative Committee Battle Craft Reported Concentrating Off Entrance to Adriatic as Chamberlain Seeks New Agreement WANTS ASSURANCES ON GREECE Massed about the pool before the Washington monument, an Easter Sunday crowd of 75,000 hears the capital debut of Marian Anderson, Negro contralto, shown, inset, singing from the steps of the Lincoln memorial. Amplifiers carried the strains of "Ave Maria" beyond Constitution Hall, from which Miss Anderson was barred by the Daughters of the American Revolution. By WEBB MILLER LONDON, April 11. (UP) Great Britain and France sent war fleets into the Mediterranean today to back up their diplomatic demands for an end to Italian expansion in the Balkans and the withdrawal of Fascist soldiers from Spain. Under secret orders to dominate strategic points in the Mediterranean, the warships of the democratic powers were reported massing off the entrance to the Adriatic Sea as Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sought a pledge that Italy would avoid endangering the independence of Greece.

Developments included: 1. King George returned to London from Windsor Castle to get a last-minute report from Chamberlain, who is expected to announce a British guarantee of Greek and Turkey frontiers on Thursday unless negotiations with WALKOUT OF TEACHERS IMMINENT; LAWYERS PREPARE FOR TAX HEARING BONDJSSUE Lower Rate of Interest on $205,000 in Five Per Cent Bonds Will Be Gained by Conversion DISTRICT TO SAVE SUBSTANTIAL SUM Plans for converting $205,000 in five per cent bonds of the Shamokin School District into a new issue at lower rate of interest were approved last evening at the regular monthly session of the school board. The new issue will be advertised for sale at two and one-half to three and one-half per cent, inclu sive, the interest rate to be at the option of the bidder. C. C.

Collins and Company, in- vestment brokers of Philadelphia were directed to proceed with the preliminary arrangements necessary before the bonds can be offered for sale. B. H. Shoemaker, represent ing the Philadelphia finance agency. pointed out that the market for high grade bonds is good at pres' ent, and suggested a three and one' half rate, with the issue to extend over a period of 20 to 22 years.

The board approved a resolution to call in for redemption outstanding five per cent bonds totaling $205,000. These bonds are callable July 1, 1939. The refinancing at low er interest charge will effect a subn stantial savings for the school dia trict. During the early stages of the meeting the school directorate in structed Secretary Earle G. Fox to communicate with the district state senator and two members of the Legislature, requesting support of Act 45.

amending the Teachers' Tenure Act. Attorney Francis Reamer, school district solicitor, was authorized to loin in the petitions with other government units seeking to recover overdue taxes from the Philadelphia Reading Coal Iron Company The Board was informed the amount of outstanding taxes due (Continued on Page 5. Column 4) ZERBE SCHOOL Premier Benito Mussolini make it unnecessary. 2. Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax conferred with Soviet Ambassador Ivan Maisky on the Russian attitude toward lat.psf rlpvelnn.

A woman and her dog: Black-eyed Olga Petrova, famed actress of another day, arrives in New York with goggle-eyed dog after several years In southern France. IMPETUS ADDED TO PLAYGROUND PROGRAMHERE Sixteen Persons Attend Open Meeting Held in S. H.S. Building MANY IDEAS OFFERED Interest in fostering a playground movement in Shamokin Borough was given added impetus last evening at a meeting in Sha mokin High School auditorium. sixteen individuals attended the session at which Dr.

Paul E. Wit-meyer, superintendent of borough public schools, served as temporary chairman. Organization, promotion and program were the three phases discussed. Another meeting of the group has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 19. Any person interested in the playground movement is eligible to attend these meetings, Dr.

Witmeyer said. Efforts will be made to have representatives of various fraternal, social and civic organizations attend. Among constructive ideas gleaned at last evening's meeting were the development and conducting of a community survey to determine how much space is available for playgrounds; organization of work to provide programs for playgrounds; creation of a board of trustees and other administrative officers, and a recommendation to contact the playground committee of Shamokin Borough Council, appoinwa (Continued on Page 3. Column last l) Township Board Told of Teachers' Intention to Strike PLIGHT 'DESPERATE' Coal Township teachers served notice on the, district school board today that 'unless all delinquent salaries are paid in full on or before April 15 the entire teaching staff will strike. Official notice of the teachers' intention to strike for their salaries, presented to the board by John Mangle, president of the Coal Township Teachers' Association, was contained in the following declarations: "We, the undersigned teachers of Coal Township School District, de clare that we will, after April 15, 1939, discontinue the performance of our duties as teachers in tne district of Coal until we shall have received payment of our delinquent salaries in full.

"We also declare that we will not resume the performance of our duties as teachers in the district of Coal after April 15, 1939 until every teacher in the said district shall have been paid in full and rein stated to his or her former position free from any penalty for his or her action in" this affair. "We further declare that we will not resume our positions as teachers in the said district of Coal until any teacher who does not sign this declaration and does not take action similar to ours, is removed from his or her position. "We further declare that we will endorse the action taken by the Anthracite Teachers' Association at the meeting to be held at Blythe Township High School on Thurs- (Contlnued on Page 5. Column I) oDIRECTORS IN Hearing on Tax Issue Will Be Held in Philadelphia Friday R. POLICIES HIT Hope for averting the threatened strike of school teachers in several districts of Northumberland County was near the vanishing point today, since hearing on a petition to the federal court to compel the Philadelphia Reading Coal Iron Company to pay almost one million dollars in back taxes will not be held until Friday the day set for the teachers' walkout.

Judge Oliver B. Dickinson yesterday set Friday as the date for hearing, after presentatior of the petition by Attorneys John L. Pipa, and Harold F. Bonno, representing a large group of solicitors from Northumberland County districts. Pipa and Bonno urged that the hearing be held yesterday immediately following presentation of the petition demanding payment of P.

R. taxes, but company lawyers present in court asked for more time to study the averments in the petition. Counsel for the county taxing bodies told Judge Dickinson that coal company officials asserted early in the present bankruptcy proceedings that if relieved of interest payments on bonds the company could pay some of its taxes. "But they have paid neither interest nor taxes," Pipa told the court. Judge Dickinson said he saw "no reason why" the company should not at least pay current taxes, and classified them as operating expenses after company counsel contended that to pay the taxes would deplete CTie company's finances to such an extent that it would not be able to meet its operating payrolls for the mining employes.

Both Bonno and Pipa said the county and its municipalities were in "a desperate plight" because the company has withheld the taxes and pointed out to the court that he gave the company authority more than two years ago to pay necessary operating expenses. "But," they contended, "we haven't been paid a nickel." "I sympathize with you very much," Judge Dickinson said, "but, of course, the answer they don't have any money is a pretty good reason for not paying the taxes." (Continued on Page 7, Column 4) REGION GROUPS TO MEET HERE TONIGHT A committee of bootleg miners, headed by Earle Humphrey, was to confer today at Harrisburg with Assemblyman E. Kent Kane, chairman of the joint Senate-House mines and mining committee. Members of the region committee, composed of representatives of bootleg miners, breaker men and truckers from Mahanoy City to Shamokin, said they would ask Kane to schedule public hearings on all legislation affecting the bootleg coal industry. Kane recently introduced a series of nine bills in the assembly and Anthracite operators are sponsoring several others.

Both sets of Anthracite measures provide for elimination of bootlegging. Miners, breaker men and truckers of the Northumberland County area were scheduled to meet in Red Men's Hall here this evening preliminary to a region-wide conference Sunday at Mananoy City. Sponsors of tonight's meeting said that if necessary a march will be made on Harrisburg to impress the assembly with the seriousness of sudden termination of bootlegging, particularly if no steps were taken to provide other employment for men now engaged in the outlaw industry. Before leaving Shamokin this morning Humphrey said that obviously both the Kane committee and the operators were determined to wipe out bootlegging at any cost. He indicated the bootleggers would determinedly resist these efforts to dislodge them.

NEW PARKING RULE FOR EIGHTH STREET Parking cars on the east side of Eighth Street, between Independence Street and the Reading Railroad tracks, will be strictly prohibited in the future, Chief Burgess G. W. Shade declared today. Congested traffic conditions on Eighth Street compel enforcement of the "no parking" rule on the east side of the street at the location mentioned, the municipal executive said. "No parking'' signs were placed on the east side of the street a couple of years ago.

Lax enforcement after a few months was followed by a general failure among motorists to observe the parking restriction. REPORT SUBMITTED BY PAROLE OFFICER Reese Jeremiah, Shamokin Northumberland County Parole Officer, yesterday submitted his first quarterly report of his activities to the county court. The official, who assumed the duties of oifice at the beginning of the year, reported total collections of $7,448.36. Of these receipts $5,762.20 was paid out in desertion and non-suiwort cases, while 686.18 rerresented collections of court costs and distribution of wit ness fees. Expenses of the official in makinsr the collections and in investigating persons who failed to report while on parole totaled for the three-month period.

which is which when they are shown him. Elektro responds to the human voice. The spoken word sets up a series of electrical impulses which cause him to perform functions which are almost human. When he talks, his lips move in rhythm to his speech-making. He has a repertoire of 36 Requiring three years to create, Elektro weighs 260 pounds; he is seven feet tall; and has feet 18 inches long and half as wide; he is composed of 900 hand-made parts; he has a frame of steel, a body of aluminum.

Elektro's "brain" includes an "electric eye," 48 electric relays and signal lights and weighs 60 pounds: his "spinal column" is made of wire-enough to encircle the world at the equator. If the energy of all his 11 motors could be applied to a single task, it wculd be great enough to lift 550 pounds one foot a second. A number of male teachers in Coal Township indicated today that rather than submit their families to continued destitution they will engage in coal bootlegging after the teachers' strike is called this Saturday. Many of the teachers come from mining families, and they declare they have enough general experience to work as laborers and truckers. NEW HARD COAL BILL SUBMITTED TO LEGISLATURE Measure Endorsed by Operators Introduced by Rep.

E. Kent Kane CARRIES TAX CLAUSE HARRISBURG, April 11 (U.R) An operator-endorsed bill to authorize state intervention on an experimental basis in the hope of rehabilitating the ailing Anthracite industry was before the Legislature today. If enacted, it would impose a five-cent tax on each ton of hard coal produced until March 31, 1941, to defray costs of the modified system of state control of production, prices and marketing methods. The bill, drafted by Walter Gordon Merritt. chief counsel for the Anthracite Institute, New York, to embody recommendations of the operators, was introduced last night (Continued on Page 7.

Colujnn 5) DANVILLE MAN KILLS HIMSELF Aged Farmer Commits Suicide on Anniversary of Kin's Death Norman Kitchen, 73, residing on a farm near Danville, committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart with a 12-guage gun in the wragon shed of his farm. The suicide of Kitchen came on the ninth anniversary of the death of a son, Harold Kitchen, and it was seven years since the death of the aeed man's wife. His son's widow and resided with him. Mrs. Harold Kitchen was working about her home and heard a shot in the wagon shed.

Hurrying there she found the lifeless body of her father-in-law. with the tell-tale shotgun lying close by. Deputy Coroner A. H. Klase, Danville, was notified and after an in vestigation said an inquest would be unnecessary.

Members of the family were unable to give any reason for the aged man's sudden decision to take his life, as he had enjoyed gcod health. A son, brother, sister and five grandchildren survive. ENROLLMENT OF LEGION POST IS B00STEDBY 93 Drum and Bugle Corps Will Have New Equipment for Memorial Day SHOOT WILL BE HELD Membership in Lincoln Post No. 73, American Legion has been in creased 93 members through a campaign which closed at last evening's meeting. The charter will remain closed for another year Commander Thomas Pratt declared at the close of the meeting.

Arrangements are being made to outfit the Drum and Bugle Corps with new uniforms and equipment for Memorial Day. The new outfits will correspond closely to the pres ent uniforms. The drum corps is be ing recruited to full strength and will take part in the Diamond Jubi lee celebration in this city, the state convention of the American Legion at Williamsport and a number of other state functions. A competitive rifle shoot will be staged by members of the Sons of the Americal Legion Rifle team on Friday evening. Members of the Junior Rifle team of Warren Ameri- Continued on Page 3.

Column 1) Sponsor Defers Showdown on Controversial Assembly Measure HEARING PLANNED HARRISBURG, April 11 (U.R) The House Welfare committee's plan to exact useful work from able-bodied persons on relief and "decentralize" public assistance adminis-istration appeared headed for defeat today. The controversial plan, embodied in a bill sponsored by Welfare Chairman John E. Van Allsburg, Erie, and unanimously approved by the committee, has the personal endorsement of Speaker Ell wood J. Turner, and other influential members of the majority bloc, but Public Assistance Secretary Howard L. Russell ooposes it and has drafted his cwn "essential'' relief law amendments, presumably with Governor Arthur H.

James' approval. Van Allsburg riele.red a showdown fight on his plan last ni.ht by having the bill recommit to the Welfare committee for "further stuc'y and possible amendment," (Continued on Page 7. Column 6) Notice The annual meeting of the Miners' Savings and Loan Association will be held at the office of the company, 66 E. Independence Street. Shamokin, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, April 18th, 1939.

at 8:00 p. m. E. C. BURDISH.

Adv. Secretary. Van A llsbarg Relief Bill Facing Defeat 2 Proposals Studied v. ments. Four Soviet warships were in Mediterranean waters but Moscow remained an uncertain factor in the anti-aggression lineup.

Lord Halifax has been attempting to bring Russia definitely into the so-called peace front and British sources expressed confidence of Soviet support in event of an emergency. 3. The firm attitude taken by Britain and' Fiance appeared to be influencing the smaller European nations toward the democratia front if they are unable to maintain a neutral role. A British pledge oX military -aid to Rumania and Turkey as well as Greece is expected to be given if necessary. 4.

A hijh British source said arrangements were complete under which Turkey would attack Bulgaria if the Bulgars with or without the aid of Italy should invade Rumania or Greece. 5. France's cabinet, estimated to have called up 400,000 men in addition to her normal 650,000 armed forces, ordered the French fleet to join the British in the Mediterranean as the cabinet met to study developments, especially in Spain. Lord Halifax, Chamberlain and the heads of the British armed forces were in almost constant consultation. Earl Stanhope, first lord of the admiralty; Admiral Lord (Continued on Page 3, Column 2) TWO HURT WHEN TRUCK AND CAR CRASHON ROAD Two Women Accident Victims Treated by Physi- cian for Injuries MACHINES DAMAGED Two persons were injured last evening at 11:00 in a crash between an automobile and a truck on Shamokin-Mount Carmel highway, near Exchange.

Involved in the crash were Ted Barni. 2656 East Tilton Street. Philadelphia, trucker, and Anthony Kalbarczyk, 717 Spruce Street, Kulp mont, who was driving a sedan. Pennsylvania Motor Policeman George Jones reported Kalbarczyk was driving west on a slight curve as the truck in charge of Bami approached from the opposite direction. Mrs.

Emily Barni. 30, wife of the trucker, and Miss Helen Zelin- skie. 331 South Beach Street, moum Carmel, riding in the cab of the truck, were throvn against the windshield and suffered minor in juries. Both were taken to the office of a Mount Carmel physician, where Mrs. Barni was found to be suffering from body bruises and.

shock. Miss Zelinskie received a fracture of the right elbow. Patrolman Jones said damage to Kal'jarczyk's automobile will aggregate $125, while the Barni truck damage Is said to be $75. To Meet Fiscal Crisis BUSY MEETING Board Plans for Com-mencement and Decides on Tax Questions COLLECTOR BONDED Completing plans for commence ment, exoneration of a group of citizens from paying taxes and set' ting the tax collector's bond and commission were the major items of business transacted last night at the regular meeting of the Zerbe Township school board. Rev.

H. B. Rittenhouse, pastor of the Trevorton Baptist Church, was selected to deliver the annual calaureate sermon to members of the senior class on May 28. Unani mous vote was recorded in favor of the minister after a motion was sponsored by Lester R. Derk and Dr.

R. W. E. Wilkinson. A rotating system is used in naming the minister to preach at the annual ser- vices.

On the motion by Lester R. Derk, seconded by Charles Holman, several Zerbe Township citizens were ex onerated from taxes amounting to $86.00. Names of persons seeking exonerations were submitted to the board by Tax Collector Ben Brau-bitz. On a motion by Dr. R.

W. E. Wilkinson and William Neihart the tax collector's bond was set at $15,000 for 1939-40. His commission was set at five per cent, the same as in previous years. Michael Yurkovsky, operator of Bear Valley Colliery, appeared before the board and asked for cooperation in seeking a 25 per cent reduction in taxes on the land (Continued on Page 5.

Column 3) COUNTY TO SUPPLY FLAGS AND MARKERS Northumberland County Commissioners are urging heads of all veterans' organizations to file promptly their requisitions for flags and bronze markers to be used Memorial Day in the decorating of graves of veterans of all wars. The commissioners said the mark- are for graves not previously narked. They expect requisitions for flags for veterans' graves to total 3,000. Mechanical Man Can Talk, Walk and Count Up to Ten POLICE STAGE 2 GAMBLLNGRAIDS Slot Machines and Punch-boards Seized by State Officers State Police from the local barracks made two raids last evening, one in Shamokin and the other in Mount Carmel, during which they confiscated three slot machines and a record number of punch-boards. The Shamokin raid yielded two slot machines and 19 punchboards, while the Mount Carmel raid yielded one slot machine and nine punchboards.

The officers said the number of punchboards seized made a record for the local barracks for two raids. Proprietors of the two business places were ordered before justices of the peace to pay fines and costs. After the hearings the State Police will await official order of court for the transfer of the gambling devices to the recently-elected vault in the sheriff's office at Sunbury. The machines will be stored there pending court order for destruction, when county officials will extract all money from the devices and report the total receipts to the court. James Continues Search for New Ways to Cut Governmental Costs TAXES BIG PROBLEM HARRISBURG, April 11 (U.R) House and Senate leaders drafted two alternative programs today for meeting the new stats fiscal crisis precipitated by the Dauphin County court's invalidation of the foreign corporation franchise tax.

Most legislative leaders admit tedly held the belief that new taxes this year or next are inevitable. Governor Arthur H. James, how ever, continued to search for new ways of cutting governmental costs and was reported by his associates as keeping his mind open on the tax question. These two proposals for meeting the court's decision, which if upheld by appellate jurisdictions will cost the state $11,500,000 in revenue during the next two years and in refunds, were being prepared by Republican leaders in the House and Senate: 1. Separate budgets for the two classes of current obligations, one for ordinary expenses; the other for relief, deficiencies and the possible refunds, to be met by a new emergency tax program.

2. A one-year budget to cover all (Continued on Page 12, Column 1) PITTSBURGH, April 11 (U.R) A mechanical man who does just about anything except think for himself today formally took his place among the wonders of the twentieth century. He made his debut at a luncheon attended by Pittsburgh business and newspapermen. His name is "Elektro." He is the creation of engineers at the West-inghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, headed by J. M.

Barnett. Although Elektro will entertain crcwds at the 1939 New York World's Fair, he was not built solely for that purpose. The functions that make him tick all are used in world industry. Elektro walks, talks and counts up to 10 on his fingers. He has a vocabulary of 77 words; he smckes cigarets; he can distinguish two colors red and green and saysj.