F0RECAST= ' Served By Umi Wi™. 1 " of the Wilmington and vicinity: Considerable ASSOfl ATF.n PRFSS cloudiness and not much change in naaUUHlfiL) temperature today and Saturday. and the UNITED PRESS ^__ With Complete Coverage of State and National New* "voiT so—no. 135. -ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ^IZZ—,. _ ---- ESTABLISHED 1R«* Low Income Group May Get Tax Cut LENNON EXPECTED TO OFFER BILL Kermon Reports Civil Ser vice Measure Going To Senate Today The new local civil service em bodying certain undisclosed changes is scheduled to be intro duced in the Senate today by Sene tor Alton A. Lennon, the Star was informed last night. Representative Robert M. Ker mon. also contacted in reference to the measure, declined to reveal the changes ' 'hich the measure will contain, saying that he would not offer a bill in the house, leaving the measure to be offered in the upper chamber by Lennon. Kermon indicated that a com promise between the bills offered bv the police department and the governing body of the city has been reached. He refused to confirm this, however, pointing out that he mail ed letters to the parties concern ed yesterday in way of explana tion of +he stand taken on the mat ter. The decision on the bill to be introduced came after a complete itudy of the situation had been made by both he and Lennon, Ker mon said. FOURTH MEMBER NAMED TO BOARD Eugene Bullard Elected To Represent Police On Civil Service Board The number of positions filled »n the local civil service commis iion rose to four yesterday with the appointment of Eugene Bul lard, manager of the Sunshine laundry, as the police depart ment’s representative on the five man board. The one other position open is lupposed to be filled by an ap pointee of the Wilmington Min isterial Association but this organ liation has given no indication when a choice will be made. The association recently went on record as opposed to the suggest ed changes in the civil service law and it is believed that the group's disapproval of the pend ing amendments to the law is responsible for the delay in the gaming of a representative to the commission. Other members of the board chosen to date are W. A. McGirt, appointed by the governing bedy ef the city, James B. McCumber, the fire department, and Dr. J. Watts Farthing, New Hanover Medical society. Examinations for positions on the police force are scheduled to be held Saturday now that a ma jority of the places on the com mission have been filled. DUTCH UNLOADING CAPT. GRAY’S SHIP DESPITE PROTEST BATAVIA, Java, March 20—(JP) wThe Netherlands East Indies gov ernment said tonight that the American Liberty ship Martin Behrman will be free to sail next week when the unloading of her eonfiscated cargo is completed. The charterer’s representative, James W. Ryan, promptly replied that the Isbrandtsen company still considers the ship was seized along with its cargo and is the responsibility of the Netherlands East Indies government. He said the decision on whether Capt. Rudy Gray wTould re-assume command and sail the ship from Batavia before the Netherlands East Indies government agrees to Pay damages rests with the com pany's New York office, but even if the ship sails a claim for $10, COC.OOO will be pressed. The Dutch said the ship had “can moved to another quay in Batavia in order to speed up the unloading to 500 tons daily. Ryan railed the movement of the ship, which the crew refused to as ,lst' “another act in violation of international law.” He renewed ahaiges that the confiscated cargo was being reloaded or Dutch and British vessels for shipment to Europe, HUME’S MEDITATIONS By Alley r~ °ET'S ONE DIET W mant folks AN' DAT's TO EAT D£ FRUIT uv OWN WAT" LAK Good Book sat ! . . . I Rpl'aseJl by The Bell 8y»* If. I*c.) Trade Mar* ^^77 »*c. II 8 PM Offaa) 1 GOP High Command Okays Aid For Millions Of ‘Little Fellows’. The House Republican Steering committee and GOP members of the tax-framing Ways and Means committee, meeting in the office of Speaker Martin (R-Mass), re vised the Knutson bill for a 20 percent cut across the board in an effort to hush the cries of some critics that it was ‘‘a rich man’s bill.” The revision, proposed by Rep. Kean (R-NJ) and approved by the GOP leaders would give the small income group $386,000,000 extra relief, bringing the overall tax cut this year to $3,840,000,000. The full Ways and Means com mittee—1 5 Republicans and 1 0 Democrats—will consider the bill tomorrow. It will be taken up for debate in the House next Wednes day, with a vote due Thursday. New Provisions Here is how the revised bill would work: 1. A 30 percent cut for persons with taxable income (gross in come minus personal exemptions and deductions) of $1,000 or less. Kean said this would mean a 30 percent reduction for a single person earning up to $1,650; (Continued on Page Three, Col. 6) HARDIN NAMED TO BUDGET POSITION Bank Official Appointed Vice-President Of Com munity Chest Group John H. Hardin, vice president of the Wilmington Savings and Trust company, was yesterday ap pointed vice-chairman of the Bud get committee of the Community Chest by Howard A. Penton, chair man. At tile same time Penton an nounced the appointment of ten other members of the committee. They are: John M. Blass, manag er of Naco Fertilizer company; W. Eugene Edwards, of the firm of W. M. Edwards and Son; Emsley A. Lanty, president of the Bank of Wilmington; Pomeroy Nichols, treasurer of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Lewis F. Ormand, comptroller of the ACL; W. A. Raney of Raney Chevrolet com pany; Harmon C. Rorison, vice president of the Security National bank; Harry M. Solomon of S. & B. Solomon company; Robert H. Tate, vice president and trust of ficer of the People’s Savings Bank and Trust company; J. Goodlet Thornton, president of the Wil mington Savings and Trust com pany. In addition, according to the constitution of the Communily Chest, the president of the Com munity Council, the Rabbi Samuel A, Friedman, is automatically a member of the Budget committee. The duties of the committee, it was stated, are to review monthly the appropriations and final reports of the 12 ’ Red Feather” services of the Chest. Each summer, during July and August, the committee studies the budgets for the coming year of the 12 services and submits recommendations to the board of directors. The goal of the fund campaign held each October is based on the recommendations submitted by the Budget commit tee. LARGEST WHEAT CROP IN HISTORY OF U. S., EXPECTED FOR 19 4 7 WASHINGTON, March 20 —(J?) — Another bumper crop produc tion year, topper by what may be the largest crop ever, was fore cast by the Agriculture depart ment today. The forecast was in a report showing farmers plan to plant slightly larger acreages than dur ing the past two seasons. The nation’s wheat supply, now dwindling under a heavy export demand, will be replenished by a crop of about 1,212,000,000 bushels fi present prospects turn out. Last year’s crop, the largest yet grown, was 1,155.715,000 bushels. A wheat crop of the size in dicated would enable the United States to continue exports until the 1948 harvest at this season’s record rate. __ ___ j Still Another This youth, booked by St. Louis police as Melvin R. Bailey, was quoted by Detective Chief £«onard Murphy as saying he killed Eliza beth Short, the “Black Dahlia,” in Los Angeles last January. Sev eral others in various parts of the country also have “confessed” the “Black Dahlia” killing, but their stories were discounted by officials.—(AP Wlrephoto), JOINT COMMITTEE HEARS PORT PLEA Authority Chairman, Mem bers, Attorney Urge Appropriation KALdiiUH, March 20. _ m — After a short-lived economy drive had fizzled, the Joint Appropria tions committee today voted to add $899,752 to the permanent im provements appropriations bill, and then reported favorably on the measure which now carries a total of $48,432,256. The committee also held a public hearing at which members of the N. C. Ports Authority spoke in favor, of bills which would provide $50,000 annually for op eration of the authority and $1, 000.000 to be used for permanent improvements-at the state’s ports. Former Governor J M. Broughton, in advocating passage of t h e measures, told the com mittee that 60 per cent of freight handled by the Port of Norfolk is either shipped from or destined for North Carolina points. He pre dicted that development of the ports would result in the in dustrial development of Eastern North Carolina. Other Speakers Others speaking in favor of the bills were W. O. Huske of Fayet teville, Ports Authority secretary; Rep. H. S. Gibbs of Carteret and R. B. Page of Wilmington, mem bers of the authority. The largest increase voted to day was one of $500,000 for con (Continued on Page Three, Col. 4) ARMYB-29FLIES OYER NORTH POLE Converted Bomber Makes First Weather Report From World Top WASHINGTON March 20 —(&)— An Army Air forces B29 flew over the North Pole this week inaugu rating what is expected to be routine weather reports from the top of the world AAF officials disclosed today. The B29 converted from a bomber into a weather observa - tion plane was commanded by Brig. Gen. Donald M. Yates weather expert for the AAF who arrived in Washington today to report to headquarters. No effort was made to keep the flight over the Polar cap secret the airplane transmitting a weath er report from the “Position North Pole” in uncoded message available to all other nations lis tening in. The B29 left the Army Air base near Fairbanks Alaska was in the air 16 hours and 30 minutes returning to its field early Tues day morning. First Word While there have been indica - tions that the AAF has steadily increased the range of its obser vation flights from Alaskan bases the recent forced landing of a B29 in Greenland was one such indication) this was the first defi nite word of operations at the Pole. From there the distances to the mainlands pf. all the .continents is about equal. Weather men emphasized the value of periodic weather studies at the Pole. Hitherto this has been a blind spot in an area where air masses form to spill the weather (Continued on Page Three, Col. 7) Richard Better Not Open That Door; He May Get Bit DEARBORN, Mich., March 20— {IP)_ You can never tell what may happen when a door is opened. Take Mrs. Alma Wilson, for in stance. She opened hers and into her home trudged a large wood chuck. She nudged the animal with her foot and it “barked” at her. Then it took after her son Stuart, 4, who leaped on a couch. Finally, the woodchuck wandered into the basement and Mrs. Wil son slammed the door. She sent Johnny, 5, to the earner grocery to call police. By the time the police arrived, they found also in the basement a very angry meter reader, Frank Newood. Mrs. Wilson said it seemed use* less to warn Newood because “he would think it silly to be afraid.* While Newood was reading the meter, the woodchuck popped out of a coal bin. He pushed it with his foot. It bit him. The Dearborn dog catcher, Pa trolman Bruce Dean lured the ani mal away with cookies and took it to the dog pound. Ifie woodchuck bit him, too. FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN SPLIT OVER FUTURE OF GERMAN COAL RESOURCES; ACHESON SEES NO WAR BY AID PLAN i i I Diplomatic Answer Given On Hot Query Undersecretary Of State Cautions Congress That Delay Is Dangerous PRELIMINARYROUND Huge Committee Room Quiet As Marshall As sistant Answers WASHINGTON, March 20 — (*P) — Undersecretary of State Dean Ache son, weighing his words or the proposal to bolster Greece and Turkey against Communism, gave the considered opinion to day that “I don’t think it could lead to war.” But failure to act swiftly, he cautioned Congress, may produce a “chain reaction” unfavorable to the United States among other nations struggling against com munist domination. Under a barrage of questions, he told the House Foreign Af fairs committee that this country could not risk waiting for action by the United Nations — that Greece, wearily battling a Com 'munist-led insurrection, has funds ! enough for only 14 days more of vital imports. His testimony marked the pre liminary round of a searching Congressional examination of President Truman’s request for $400,000,000 in money and material and “limited” military missions to the two Mediterranean coun tries. With diplomatic caution, Ache son guardedly refrained from a 4irect reference to Rus^a. Bui there. was no mistaking the im plications when Rep. Mansfield (D-Mont.) asked his opinion on (Continued on Page Three, Col. 8) ACL DIRECTORS PROMOTE 5 HERE F. L. King Succeeds The Late F. W. Brown As Vice President F. L. King, Wilmington, was yesterday elected vice president, operations, of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad by the members ol the board of directors of the rail road, meeting in New York City. King succeeds the late F. W. Brown of Wilmington. A native of Wilmington. King has been in continuous service with the Atlantic Coast Line since April 1, 1905. Prior to yesterday’s promotion he was general super intendent of transportaion. Other appointments made by the board of directors yesterday are C. G. Sibley, assistant vice president, operations; L. S. Jef fords, general manager; J. D. Loftis, chief of motive power and equipment; and J. B. Sharpton, passenger traffic manager. All will maintain offices in Wilming ton and their appointments be came effective yesterday. 1 Sibley, former general man ager, entered railroad service in 1899 as a messenger in the offices of the Plant System, now part of the Coast Line. Jeffords held the position of chief engineer until his promotion yesterday; he entered railroad service in the engineering depart ment of the Coast Line on March 1, 1910. Loftis, a native of Kansas, join (Continued on Page Three, Col, 2) Along The Cape Fear | - ... - ■■■ .—. - TO THE SEA—The great .idea behind the establishment of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley railroad from Wilmington to Mount Airy was to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the mountains of the Tar Heel state. “From the mountains to the sea’’ was the aim of the line we have been informed by the Rev. Andrew J. Howell, author of “The Book of Wilmington.” The local depot of the railway was located on the west side of the river and north of Point Peter. Many excursion, the coaches loaded with people from all along the line came down to get their first glimpse of the ocean. And according to Mr. Howell, they carried home with them great bunches of "sea oats” as souvenirs of their initial look at the Atlantic. STEAMER, * TOO*— But don’t think for a minute that the rail road’s activities was confined merely to rail traffic. It also boasted the steamer Compton. And the good ship Compton would carry both passen engers and freight from the depot to a wharf on this side of the river. Site of the Port City terminal was.between Princess and Chest nut streets in all probability. How ever should any old-timer care to correct us on that location, we will be pleased to acknowledge our error immediately. This ride on the steamer was one of the main attractions of the excursion from the mountains to the sea. * • • ILL FATED—Most of you will recall that the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley railroad failed to prove financially successful. Hence it was liquidated. Part of the line was sold to the Atlantic Coast Line while the other part of the property went to the Southern Railroad. The dividing line for this distri bution of the old line was the City of Sanford. Surely some residents of the Port City will recall the special excursions on the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley railroad, as well as the depot located across the river. Descriptions of both, or either, would be more than welcome by Along The Cape Fear. • • * ANOTHER RAILROAD — Dur ing the heyday of railroad expan (ConMaueA an P*«e Three, Col. » Wedding Clears Muddled Romance dnrpItf'rnhtippdn»tt\ Pr®u™{naries> baJ Eileen Edwards (center) from London, England, and Theo S* (left), a coal miner, are finally married by the Rev. O. C. Mitchell (right) at Welch H“ met £rCat thp^pptT ?J",rla"d mar^ an Ex-GI from Nebraska who paid her $250 passage! nf mIat„tb® docb ln New York and they ca me to Yadklnville, N. C., to be married at the home an Ex-GI* wltl? whom S00,n 1fter ,rea1Shi?s: ?®re- and we,lt to Welch to meet Crabtree, also cauM Eilep^u falJ.en in i“ve.*n England after her Nebraska lover left for home. B» cause J£ileen is onlj 17, immigration authorities said she would have to ret her narents’ consent