Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

Illinois, Friday, September 25, 1953. DECATUR HERALD Supreme Court Rules Vet Center Funds Up to Board Circuit Court Ruling Reversed The Illinois Supreme Court vesterdav reversed a Macon County Circuit Court order directing the Board of Supervisors to increase its 1952-53 appropriation for the Macon County Veterans Center. The high court, ruling on an appeal by the County Board, held that the amount of money to be appropriated was strictly a matter for the Board's discretion. The Supreme Court made no de. cision on the constitutionality of the Bogardus Act, under which the Macon County Veterans Assistant Commission operates the Veterans Center.

State's Attorney Kenneth E. Evans, arguing against the order issued by Circuit Judge Martin E. Morthland, contended the fixing of the appropriation was at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Unless this discretion were abused, any requirement for the Board to follow appropriation recommendations of the Veterans Assistance Commission would be unconstitutional, Evans said in his brief to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that there was no evidence of abuse of the Board's discretionary authority.

The Veterans Assistance Commission held that the Board could be compelled to appropriate sums, upon recommendation of the commission, to properly compensate its officers and emploves. The commission sought a mandamus after the County Board reduced its recommended 1952-53 appropriation of $7,400 to $4,000. Judge Morthland, last December, held that the Board acted arbitrarily and capriciously in fixing the appropriation. He said that in an effort to eliminate the Veterans Center, the Board tried to do indirectly what it could not do directly. Attorney Charles E.

Lee, chairman of the Veterans Assistance Commission, had no comment last night. He said he wanted to see the text of the Supreme Court decision first. However, Supt. William C. Storev of the Veterans Center said the ruling means he "more than likely" will look for other employment.

The Board's appropriation reduced the superintendent's salary from $3,600 to $2,100, and the secretary's salary from $2,400 to $1,500. The 1953-54 budget of $4.240 provides $120 raises in line with increases generally granted county emploves. Storey said he did not know if operation of the office will continue, but he said that under the salary fixed, the office will be "under a handicap. Storey said that since the appropriation was reduced, the office has had contributions totaling from veterans organizations which form the Veterans Assistance Commission. Chairman Harry Seitz of the Board of Supervisors said the decision "lets each side know where it stands." He said he still thinks the Veterans Center is a "worthwhile organization." Seitz did not vote last 'December on the motion, approved 18 to 9, to appeal the Circuit Court order.

The County Board from the first opposed appropriation of tax funds to operate the Veterans Center, which for several vears was supported either by the Community Chest or voluntary donations. Some supervisors argued that its services duplicated those of the Illinois Veterans Commission office. Others feared that under the Bogardus Act, primarily a law for the relief of indigent veterans, the county might someday be faced with sub. stantial relief appropriation. The Veterans Assistance Commission said it wanted only administrative expenses.

The Commission, with support of veterans organizations and some supervisors, contended there is enough work for both offices. The County Board made the original appropriation, under the Bogardus Act, after' the Veterans Assistance Commission obtained 'a Circuit Court mandamus in 1950. At that time, the county unsuccessfully contended the act tional. There was no appeal from the first mandamus. The Veterans Assistance Commission was organized to secure a taxsupported office after the Veterans Center had been operated with private funds from 1947 to 1950.

The Community Chest dropped the Center in 1947. Appropriations for 1950-51 and E. Grand Heads City's 1954 Street Plans Millikin's New Freshman Class Has 12 Sons, Daughters of JMU Alumni Millikin University's new freshmen class includes 12 sons and daughters of Millikin alumni, Mrs. Stanley Broughton, alumni director, said yesterday. They automatically become members of the Sons and Daughters of Alumni, a group organized through the Millikin alumni office.

In all, there are about 65 sons and daughters in the group, Mrs. Broughton said. The new members and their alumni parents are as follows: Nancy Ash, Harristown, Mr. and Mrs. E.

Glenn Ash; John Dieterich, Kansas City, Dewitt Dieterich; Rae Ellen Fawley, Richmond County Crop Hail Damage Light in '53 Hail damage in Macon County has been unusually light this year, B. A. Jones, Farm Bureau Insurance general agent, said yesterday. Jones said Macon County had been "unusually favored" in a vear when hail damage in the state as a whole is at a peak. Hail damage over the state has been the worst in many years, Jones said.

"The crop insurance have taken a beating this year," he said. The Farm Bureau's insurance firm, Country Mutual Fire Company, has had about 10,000 hail damage claims this year, compared to the normal 6,000, Jones estimated. Other company agents report their firms affected proportionately, he said. Claims in Macon County this vear number about 230, about the same as last vear. But the greatest hail damage this year has been 70 per cent, compared with 100 per cent in some cases last year.

The hardest hit area this year was in Austin Township northwest of Warrensburg, Jones said. Losses in some cases ran to 50 per cent after another storm in the Oreana area. The northern portion of Illinois, beginning around Farmer City and Bloomington, has been hit exceptionally hard, Jones said. A big storm Aug. 16 near LaSalle damaged corn heavily, he added.

A storm which hit Sangamon County Sept. 11 resulted in 330 "heavy" claims with his company alone, Jones said. He said the unusually hot and dry weather this summer contributed to the hail damage. Losses in Macon County were substantially below those in other. areas because the few storms which struck here were light and hit only in small areas, Jones believes.

Shepherd Quits Grigoleit Job Edward L. Shepherd, 402 N. Oakland has resigned as sales manager of the Grigoleit Company, plastics manufacturers. Shepherd said last night he could not reveal future plans at this time but would leave Decatur in the near future. John L.

Howie Grigoleit president, said he expected a replacement to be named soon. 1951-52 were made on the basis of recommendations of the Veterans Assistance Commission and were not questioned by the Board. The 1951-52 appropriation was for $6,900. The death of Supt. Fay Ickes, who had long experience in administering veterans affairs, was given by supervisors as one reason for reducing the salary a successor who would have less experience.

Prior to the September 1952 budget meeting, the Republican Board majority, in a caucus, voted to drop the Veterans Center from the budget. They subsequently voted the $4,000 appropriation on advice that failure to make an appropriation would be grounds for a court action. Judge Morthland took note of the caucus decision in declaring the Board has tried to do indirectly what it could not do directly. Heights, Mr. and Mrs.

Daniel E. Fawley; Robert Mahlon Flint, Decatur, Clarence R. Flint; Merle Taylor Fox, Virginia, Mrs. Frances E. Fox: Rose Lee Galloway, Pawnee, Mrs.

Pauline Galloway. Reta Ann Heger, Decatur, the late Jerome Heger: Jav Thomas Kennedy, Fairbury, William Kenneth Kennedy; Alvson Mann. Decatur, Mrs. Eleanor Scranton Mann; David S. Seligman, Robinson, Leslie R.

Seligman; Norman Thompson, Decatur, Phares A. Thompson; Judith Ann Pease, Springfield, Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Pease Jr.

SEN. SMITH SPEAKS League of Women Voters Hears Talk on Legislation Many voters talk of economy in state government but few would want to do without the major state programs, State. Sen. Elbert Smith told the League of Women Voters vesterday. About 100 women attended the membership luncheon of the League in the Decatur Club yesterday.

Minor economies in state appropriations can be made by such actions as serving oleo instead of butter in state institutions, Sen. Smith said. Major savings, however, would mean doing without some of the educational, highway or welfare services, he added. The process of legislation is long one, Sen. Smith pointed out.

He cited the example of the highway legislation. Money, was appropriated for a study of the problems in 1947, the commission made recommendations 1949, a program was adopted in 1951 and modifications are being made this year. He added that effects of the legislation will not be fully known for another 10 years. 11th Youth Surrenders Charles "Monty" Betts, 19, of 1557 N. Water St.

yesterday surrendered to sheriff's deputies on a charge of robbery. Betts was the 11th member of a gang of youths charged with a series of beatings and robberies in the Decatur vicinity last week. Chief Deputy Sheriff C. W. Peebles said Betts admitted that he took the purse of Arlie Holmes, 27, of 1812 N.

Clinton St. on Danceland Road on the night of Aug. 15. "Holmes was lying on the highway after he had been knocked out and I took the purse from his pocket," Peebles quoted Betts as saying. Betts had been working in Bloomington and learned that officers were looking for him.

He surrendered at the sheriff's office yesterday morning. Arraigned before Justice Fred Hale yesterday afternoon Betts pleaded innocent to a charge of robbery. He was placed under $2,000 bond pending a hearing before Justice Fred Hale Sept. 29. He was jailed for failure to supply the bond.

Four other alleged members of the gang are in County jail. Five others are free under bond pending preliminary hearings. Released yesterday was Carlos Tackett, 21, of Cerro Gordo, on $2,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing on a charge of robbing Holmes. 350 in JMU Night Classes New enrollment at Millikin University Evening School's opening session last night has pushed the total to 350, Director Earl Kiefer said. Kiefer said an additional 75 students, most of whom enrolled last night, have signed up for night courses since last week's registrations.

Enrollments will still be accepted at the Tuesday and Thursday sessions next week, Kiefer said. The added enrollment still has not made possible the opening of any classes for which inadequate numbers registered last week. Courses in labor problems, stay tistics and introduction to philosophy have been abandoned as a result, Kiefer said. The long- proposed improvement of East Grand Avenue to connect with 22nd Street heads the 1954 motor fuel tax street program outlined by the City Council yesterday. Moving promptly to provide for the heavier flow of traffic from industrial developments northeast of Decatur, the Council expects to get work started on East Grand next vear.

The program does not include at this time a grade separation for Grand at the Illinois Central Railroad. Work on the street improvement could be started earlier at less cost. Other projects in the program, which is expected to cost in excess of a half-million dollars: Widening and resurfacing East Eldorado Street from the Illinois Central to 20th Street, deferred from this year's program after the state rejected bids taken in Julv. Resurfacing Van Duke Street from Eldorado to Packard Street (five blocks). This brick street.

which includes the only Wabash Railroad grade separation between Monroe Street and Fairview Avenue, is rough and has large holes. Resurfacing the 200 Block South Water Street, immediately west of the County Building. The last street in the city with wood bricks, it is deteriorating and has been subjected to heavier traffic since the new city parking lot was opened. The cost of East Grand Avenue work is expected to be around $250.000. About the same amount is estimated for East Eldorado, but half will be refunded by the state in connection with the Route 36 development there.

Finance Commissioner Don F. Davis said the city has available some $300,000 in motor fuel tax funds and will receive another $300,000 by this time next year. The program which received Council agreement must have state Highway Division approval before the end of the year if the city is to continue receiving gas tax allotments. City Engineer John M. Weir said his department will start survevs on the East Grand Avenue work shortly.

Mavor Robert E. Willis pointed out this project will involve acquiring some residential property and an agreement with the Park District on cutoff through Torrence Park. He said negotiations with the District will not be started until surveys are made to locate the proposed route through the park. The City Plan Commission recently listed the Grand Avenue extension as the most urgent one involving city financing alone, in connection with street improvements for industrial traffic. Just this week, planners expressed a preference for a new commercial zoning at the Grand-Jasper Street intersection because of of the proposed intersection because the proposed Grand Avenue improvement.

Specifically involved is the plant the Caterpillar Tractor Company will build. The industry will hire some 2,500 workers. The Grand Avenue extension has been a part of the master city street plan since 1937 and would provide the only east -west through street north of the Wabash Railroad. Several individual projects have widened and improved Grand from Fairview Avenue eastward to within a block of the Illinois Central on the east side of the city. Plans call for widening Grand to 36 feet from Calhoun to the park, where widths now vary from 28 to 30 feet.

Locust Street, for the connection with 22nd Street, would be widened to 40 feet. No improvement is scheduled for East Grand from Clinton to Calhoun, a two-block segment which would be a part of a grade separation at the IC tracks. Council members had no immediate comment on grade separation plans, which would involve the railroad as well as the city and required more planning, engineering and money. The East Grand improvement could be used, however, by crossing the IC a at grade or by detouring south two blocks to use the Condit Street subway. In this manner, incoming industrial traffic could be diverted from 22nd Street before it reaches the daily jam at Eldorado and 22nd Street.

Tax Objection The Decatur Women's Club filed an objection in County Court yesterday to its 1952 tax bill of $159.80. The organization contends that while the assessed valuation for its building at 308 W. Main St. was $19,300, the actual value of the building was 1954 Street Improvements GRANDES NOR show the locations of 1954 city street program improvements. Ex- 4 4 AND ELDORADO OAK MATH WOOD 00.

The heavy black lines on the map tension of East Grand Avenue is Duke Street No. 3, and resur- Local Talent Is Sought for 'Bells A'Hoppin' Local persons with any talent or specialty act may try. out for parts in "Bells A'Hoppin' at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the YMCA. Walt Williams, a representative from the John B.

Rogers Company of Fostoria, will arrive in Decatur Sunday to take over preparations for the show. The home talent production is a project of the Decatur Lions Club. It will be presented Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at 8:15 p.m. in the Masonic Temple.

Williams will select the 160 persons who will have parts in the show, assisted by David Langlois, chairman of the Lions Club casting committee. The show will consist of two parts. The first half of the show will be a musical revue with local talent. The second part of the entertainment will be a minstrel show put on by Lions Club members. All proceeds of the show will go to the YMCA, General Chairman Harry Gidel announced.

The club has made a pledge to the YMCA but they are hoping to exceed the pledge by presenting a local talent show. Green Store Moving Here Montgomery Ward Co. has leased its building at 326-325 N. Water St. to a St.

Louis chain department store firm, Manager Robert Wilson said yesterday. Wilson said the lease had been made with the John Green Department Stores. A representative of Green has been in Decatur supervising preparation for the new store, Wilson said. The firm plans to open for business around the end of the month in the south portion of the Montgomery location, which has been used for storage and display, according to Wilson. The firm has 30 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

Louis Foglia, a representative of the firm will be in Decatur Monday. The John Green Stores are advertised as being "America's fastest growing department stores." A notice in the front door directs persons with shipments for the store to notify the Greenberg Mercantile 1511 Washington St. Louis. THREE BOYS HELD ON AUTO THEFT CHARGES Three Decatur bovs, 11, 12 and 13, were returned here from St. Charles Mo.

yesterday to face charges of stealing an automobile. State police arrested the youngsters in St. Charles after they had taken a car owned by Jack Spencer of Moweaqua from i its parking place in the 200 block West Wood Street. The boys told Sheriff David M. Peters they were headed for Utah to visit relative of the oldest of the trio.

No. the East Eldorado-Route facing the 200 Block South Wa36 project No. resurfacing Van ter Street No. 4. Customers Not Rushing to Make Checks Good Peter's Faith Shaken By Harold M.

Stalker Of The Herald Staff William C. Peter's faith in mankind is at a low ebb these davs. Peter is operator of Peter's Market at 555 W. Wood St. He is not happy with many of the persons for whom he cashed checks immediately prior to Aug.

17 when his safe was burglarized of $5,200 in cash and checks. Peter said vesterdav that $3,300 of the amount stolen from his safe consisted of checks he had cashed for customers on Aug. 14- 15-16. In advertisements on Aug. 20 and Aug.

27 Peter appealed for cooperation of customers in reporting checks cashed at his store on those three davs. Peter said that approximately 50 per cent of the checks lost in the burglary have been reported but no word has been received from the remaining check cashers. Yesterday he said that many of those who had reported had failed to make them good after having apparently stopping payment. "If the authorities ever find those checks that were stolen I will come out all right," Peter said. "But if they were burned, I'm stuck, from the way it appears now." Peter said he carried $1,500 LANG FOUND GUILTY Probation Requested on Drunk Driving Conviction Charles J.

Lang, 343 W. Green yesterday was found guilty of driving while intoxicated after trial in County Court. Moultrie County Judge Rodnev Scott presided at the trial which started yesterday morning. He gave the guilty verdict when the trial concluded at 2:30 p.m. Lang was arrested May 23 after his car was involved in a traffic accident at Main and Eldorado Streets.

At the start of the court hearing yesterday he waived trial by jury. Judge Scott ordered Lang's driver's license sent to the secretary of state's office for possible action on revocation. Lang asked probation. Action on the guilty verdict was delayed ing a report from the probation officer. Contest Winners Shirley Holland, 4, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Hugh Holland won the Little Queen contest at the Latham performance of "Flying High," the Warrensburg-Latham local talent play last night. Dallas Dempster, 3-months old, won the king contest, Everett Lee Holmes, was named crown duke and Susan Buckles won the duchless contest. The second performance will be at 8 p.m. today in Warrensburg High School.

insurance on the cash he kept in his safe at the store pending deposit at a bank. He pointed out that his actual loss would not have been large if all the checks he cashed had been reported and made good. Peter took a dim view of the success of learning the whereabouts of the stolen checks from Leonard B. Voss, 36, of 805 W. Packard St.

who has been named by accomplices as the inside man in the market burglary. Voss, a former meat cutter at the Peter Market, is held in countv jail charged with the $10,000 holdup of Mike Frank on Aug. 20. Voss also is wanted as a suspect in a lumber company burglary in Camden, Ark. on Aug.

27. Pals under arrest there named Voss in the Peter safe job, police reported. "I'd like to go up and talk with Voss some day," Peter said. "I'd sure like to recover those missing checks." Because of his experience Peter said check business has dwindled at his market. He said he cashes checks when he knows the customers well or when he has enough cash, but many checks are now turned down.

"You can't be a good -Joe and win when it comes to this check business," Peter said. Farm Bureau Expansion Poll The membership of the Macon County Farm Bureau is being polled for its views on a possible expansion project. O. E. Jacobs, president, asks members three questions: 1.

Should the Farm Bureau leave the office at its present location and buy adjoining ground? 2. Should the Farm Bureau stay in its present location without buying more ground? 3. Should the Farm Bureau move to an outlying area? Jacobs said the Farm Bureau has cash which could be used to buy additional ground around at the present location at 404 S. Water St. Adjoining lots now sell for from $8,000 to $12,000, he said.

A move to an outlying area could be financed in part by sale of the present lot and buildings, he said. Membership in the Farm Bureau has grown from 1,500 in 1940 to about 3,000 today, Jacobs said. Man Found in Store Police early this morning were questioning a Decatur man, 24, who was captured in the Block Kuhl Company store at 10:40 p.m. Lt. Otto Salefski said the man had not given a satisfactory explanation of his presence in the building.

No charges had been filed. WCIA-TV Sets Nov. 15 for 1st Broadcast Station WCIA-TV in Champaign plans to begin regular television broadcasts Nov. 15, August C. Meyer, president, said in Champaign last night.

Meyer said present plans call for test patterns to be started late in October. The station will operate on VHF Channel 3 and will send a strong signal for more than 100 miles, Mever said. The transmitter tower being built just west of Seymour is up 100 feet and will be increased at the rate of 100 feet daily, Meyer said. A height of 800 feet, giving an average height of 1,000 feet over surrounding terrain, is planned. The transmitter building at the tower has been completed and 11 tons of transmitting equipment moved in yesterday.

Engineers will start installing it Monday and complete the job in about three weeks, according to Mever. Installation of equipment in the studio in downtown Champaign: is 95 per cent completed, Meyer announced. The station has affiliations with the Columbia Broadcasting System land the DuMont Television Network. Plans are already being made to televise the state high school basketball tournament semifinals and finals next Spring. The station's first programs were originally planned for the middle of October.

But a protest by Decatur Station WTVP of WCIA's proposed tower location near White Heath held up preparations for the first telecast. WTVP objected to location of the tower so close to Decatur. The two stations later reached an amicable settlement under which WCIA agreed to locate its tower on the original site near Seymour. WTVP in turn agreed to drop its objection to WCIA's proposed tower height of 1,000 feet over adjoining terrain. Station WCIA-TV is owned by Midwest Television, Inc.

Merrill Lindsay, vice president and general manager of Station WSOY," Decatur, is a director of the Midwest firm. MRS. OSCAR ROHRBAUGH'S MOTHER DIES IN INDIANA Mrs. Annabelle Hiser, mother of Mrs. Oscar Rohrbaugh, 1526 W.

Riverview died in her home at Ft. Wayne, Ind. at 8:30 p.m. vesterday. Mrs.

Hiser became widely acquainted in Decatur during her frequent visits here. She had been ill only two weeks. Funeral services will be Saturday afternoon in Fort Wayne. The family requests no flowers. Besides two other daughters, Mrs.

Hiser leaves three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. SHAFFER TO TALK AT END OF CBS CHEST BROADCAST Charles L. Schaffer, chairman of the 1953 Decatur and Macon Countv Community Chest drive, will give a one-minute talk at the end of a national Community Chest radio broadcast Sunday night. The CBS program, to heard locally over WSOY from 10:30 to 11:30 P. m.

Sunday, will feature President Eisenhower. Well-known figures in the entertainment field will also take part. Schaffer will conclude the show with a brief description of the 1953 Community Chest drive starting here Oct. 1. Officials to Elect The County and Township Officials Association of Macon County will elect officers at a meeting at 7:30 p.m.

today in the Township Garage, 2400 N. Woodford St. The Rev. Carrel W. Flewelling of Central Christian Church will show slides of his world tour.

Smiling for St. Teresa Cheerleaders for St. Teresa football game. The St. Teresa the girls are: Miss Patricia Dur- Miss Teresa Dowd, Miss Mariann High School have been perfecting team meets Unity of Tolono at bin, Cheerleader Captain Teresa Schwalbe and Miss Barbara their routines this week in prepa- 8:15 p.m.

today. Left to right, Shea, Miss Sandra Langsfeld, Stack. ration for the school's first home (Herald and Review Photo).