North Carolina Newspapers

FORECAST: Served By Leased Wires ' of the Wilmington and vicinity — Partly ASSOCIATED PRESS cloudy and not much change ill tempera- and the Hire today and tonight; Sunday fair and UNITED PRESS With Complete Coverage of —- - State and National Newe VOL3^NO‘ 136'----WILMINGTON, N. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1947 _ ESTABLISHED 186t House GOP To Keep Pledges fo Taxpayers Speaker Martin Pledges This Following Commit tee Okay On Cuts advance answer Republicans Clearly Rec ognized Necessity Of Lov/er Income Rates WASHINGTON, March 21 —(U R)— .faker Joseph VV. Martin, Jr., tonight pledged House Republi - „,ns lo “keep faith with the peo ]e' b y giving 50,000,000 income [Layers, cuts this year ranging jfKu 20 to 30 per cent. said the plan, approved 16 w 9 "by the House Ways and .jeans committee , was “ entirely racticable” and urgently needed -not only t0 increase the stand ards of American livelihood but to stimulate a high level of national Income." His statement , which in effect #as an advance answer to any White House objections, hailed' the new GOP program—a liberalized version of the Knutson 20 per cent icross-the-board tax cut bill—as , boon to low income groups “who must have relief from crushing taxation atid unbearably high prices." "If the government ever took over the financing of business and control of jobs and wages ,” he <aid, "we would have Commu nism or state Socialism before we knew it. Therefore, venture capi tal must have incentive tax cuts. It is just good common sense to do this now before it is too *late. . . . To Keep Faith recognized for a long time the dangers of excessive taxation and the absolute necessity for tax cuts. We promised the nation low er taxes—and we shall keep faith with the people.” The new program makes all tax tuts retroactive to Jan. 1 at an estimated cost to the Treasury of 13.836,000.000 a year. Congression ti tax advisers figured that its 30 per cent reduction provisions ilone would benefit 31.155,000 low income taxpayers CAB WILL GRANT AIR FARE RAISE Sixteen Lines To Get 10 Per Cent Boost For Ninety-Day Period WASHINGTON. March 21. —(U.PJ - The Civil Aeronautics board an nounced today that it was prepar ed to grant 16 domestic airlines a 80-day, 10 per cent boost in pas lenger tares to combat increased operating costs. It said it expected to receive a formal request for the increase by April 1. Existing airline income, it added, is unreasonably low in re lation to operating costs despite an upward trend in passenger miles flown. After the boost is granted and put into effect, the CAB will un dertake a' study to determine wheth er it should be made permanent. The board also announced that as soon as formal papers are fil ed, it will approve a small, tem porary hike in fares charged on Constellations and DC-6 types of aircraft operating from the United States to foreign countries. No Announcement It made no announcement on "hat it planned to do with an an ticipated request from domestic airlines for an increase in mail carrying rates. The following airlines had pre viously agreed among themselves to the 10 per cent increase: American Airlines, Inc., Braniff Airways, Inc., Chicago & Southern A'r Lines, Inc., Colonial Air Lines, fuc.. Delta Air Lines, Inc., Eastern Air Lines, Inc., Inland Air Lines, hue., Mid-Continental Airlines, Inc., National Airlines, Inc., Northeast Airhnes. Inc., Northwest Airlines. *nc- Pennsylvania-Central Airlines Corp., Transcontinental & Westei'n Ah'. Inc., United Air Lines, Inc.. >ud Western Air Lines, Inc. MBONE’S meditations By Alley --- <SOOD BOOK SAt AN' MIT DON' Saw nothin' no-wmar '0OUT 'STRIKIN' «T TO JES' DEfDURATION"! (Reit««*4 »r t*« ••R Br* ^ 4lt»’«. tac.t Tr»4* Mirk tu u i ru omcti ) Gray Gets Cargo WASHINGTON, March 21—(JP) —The Netherlands government has agreed to let the American merchant ship Martin Behrman sail from Batavia with a dupli cate of the cargo she previously was forced to unload, the State department said tonight. (( The settlement also provides “fair compensation” to the Is brandtsen company, the ship’s operators, and reimbursement for the delay. The Martin Behrman’s cargo of sugar and other commodities from Indonesian-held territor’ in Java wag seized by Nether lands authorities. The ship was taken under naval escourt from Cheribon, Java, to Batavia and the cargo unloaded there. The Martin Behrman is com manded by Capt. Rudy Ch-ay of Southport. * SENATE OUTLAWS ‘PORTAL’ SUITS GOP Majority Overrides Strong Democratic Pro test To Pass Bill WASHINGTON, March 21 — ;u.R)— The Senate overrode strong Dem ocratic protests today and passed a bill outlawing $6,000,000,000 in portal pay suits along with any back wage and overtime claims filed under the Wage-Hour act and two other federal statutes. The measure , which opponents claim would w’reck existing labor laws, now goes . to the House which recently passed a more drastic version. If it turns down the Senate changes, agents 01 both chambers will have to work out a compromise. President Truman already ha s been put under pressure by labor, his Congressional lieutenants and Secretary of Labor Lewis B. Schwellenbach to veto the final version. But Chairman Alexander Wiley, R., Wis., of the Senate Judiciary committee, said he doesn’t think Mr. Truman will take his advice. The Senate would: 1. Prohibit all claims for portal pay—past, present and future. 2. Ban nearly all claims for back pay and overtime under the wage - hour and the Walsh - Healy and Bason-Davis acts covering federal workers. 3. Clamp a two-year statute oi limitations on the filing of future suits under the three federal stat utes. One-Year Limit The House bill provides only a one-year limit on future suits. Both versions would permit pay claims only when based on pro visions of a contract or on the “normal practice” of industry. Employers would be relieved of liability if their failure to make such payments was “in good faith,” resulting from a wage-hour ruling or a court decision. Senate approval came after the (Continued On Page Two; Col. 8) CITIZENS’ LEAGUE “AFTER” COUNCIL Veterans Group Plans Campaign To Effect A Change In Personnel The Progressive Citizens’ League — for the present composed of vet erans, young and old — is out to effect a change in the city council. They made no bones about it at last night’s meeting in the court room of the New Hanover county courthouse. This was the third meeting of the veterans, in as many weeks, and they will meet again next Fri day night at 8 o’clock in the same place. Last night’s meeting was no different from the others, insofar as their purposes are concerned. • However, last night they got down to the business of stating their aims and purposes, defining them, and naming a full slate of officers “for at least 60 days or until after the primary.” And despite the fact that there was a fire — the burning of the Grace Methodist church and the Jaycee ministrel — the meeting attracted some 60 veterans from World War II back to the Spanish American War. Officers elected last night were: Chairman, C. L. Myers, Jr., vice chairman, Harry Latimer, Jr.; secretary, Mrs. Evelyn MacDonald; and treasurer, Marcus Goldstein. Executive committee: Chairman, George E. Kidder, M. T. Craig, J. B. Hines, Solomon j sternberger, L. M. Snow, Jimmy j Holden, William Rhodes, I. B. | Grainger, and Col. Royce S. Mc Clelland. Organization Aims “The purpose of this organiza tion,” the memorandum said, “shall be to stimulate an enlightened in ! terest in governmental affairs of j (Continued On Page Two; Col. 5) SPECTACULAR FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYS GRA CE METHODIST CHURCH, SUNDA Y SCHOOL; S'RSHALL SEEKING FEDERALIZED GERMANY & />/ I 1 Peace Regime Secretary Asks Ministers to Authorize Provisional Government WARNINGS SOUNDED Bevin Tells Molotov Brit ain Will Not Tolerate One Party System MOSCOW, March 21.—(JP)—Sec retary of State Marshall asked the Council of Foreign ministers to day to authorize the Germans to establish immediately a provision al government as the first step toward creating a federalized Ger many. Marshall’s request was included in a proposed three-point plan of procedure for setting up a Ger man government which he said should be started “at once so there will be properly constituted German authorities” to carry out the terms of the peace settle ment being drafted here. British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin earleir had submitted a simi lar proposal but in much greater detailed, and warned Russia that Britain would not stand for any ‘‘one party” system in Germany. Although not mentioning Com munism by name, Bevin declared that the British “do not believe Germany should merely change from the Nazi party to another party, nor Nazi ideology to some other ideology.” Inference Clear The inference was clear, since the Russians in the Eastern zone of Germany insisted on, and creat ed, a one party system called the Social Unity party by a forced merger of the Communists apd Socialists. Bevin's stand took special signif icance in view of French Foreign Minister Georges Bidault’s dis closure that Prime Minister Stalin in a recent interview had criticized the French stand for a federalized and decentralized Germany and urged a strong central administra tion. The British Foreign Secretary said that his country felt that the creation of a one party system in Germany along with a decen tralized government which any one (Continued on Page Two; Co?. 3) PHARMACISTS” OF DISTRICT MEET Carolin? Beach Consider ed As Site Of 1948 State Convention The possibility that the 1948 con vention of the North Carolina Phar maceutical association will be held at Carolina Beach loomed follow ing a meeting of pharmacists of the Ninth District in the Woodrow Wil son hut yesterday afternoon. W. L. West of Roseboro) district president, said following the two hour session that present plans of the state organization include the serious consideration of Carolina Beach as the site of the annual as sembly. Approximately 25 pharmacists from Southeastern North Carolina were in attendance at yesterday’s meeting, with problems faced by the members’ respective business es the chief topic of discussion. The consideration of prices of current goods was also included among the topics and the presenta tion of the problems to the state convention in Charlotte April 28, 29 and 30 figured among the plans formulated at the session. Another problem facing North Carolina Pharmacists, West said, was the matter of wages and hours among employes of the profession and some concrete action toward a solution is expected to be taken by the association soon. The pharmacists were guests at an oyster roast last night, with Robert R. Bellamy and Son, local wholesale drug firm, acting as host. - , - —--——-"i Today And Tomorrow By WALTER L1PPMANN_ T_ The only certain prediction that can be made about the debate on reparation is that winning the present argument will not solve the problem. No doubt we'have substantially the better of the ar gument in that an impartial tri bunal would almost certainly hold that the Potsdam agreement su perseded the Yalta agreement. But if, as Mr. Marshall put it, “we will not follow Mr. Molotov in a retreat from Potsdam to Yalta,” we had better recognize as soon as we have won the de bate that nobody will follow us, including the Congress of the United States, if we stand still at Potsdam. We shall have to go for ward from Potsdam. * * The question is where and how, and if as is obvious there is no quick and easy answer to this question, we can at least, 1 think, turn from an endless and sterile debate about the old texts to a fresh consideration ot the ele ments of the problem. “Reparations” is a word that has been used so much that it is easy to forget what it means. It means the act of mending and re pairing damage. Now the damage (Continued en Page Three, Col. 5) $200,000 Fire Razes Grace Methodist Church - —-- ■ ■■1 -— - i A spectacular fire last night completely destroyed the Grace Methodist Church at the corner of Fourth and Grace streets. The blaze was confined to the church building by the Wilmington fire department. The above picture was snapped by Jack Loughlin of the Carolina Camera company as the flames licked at the huge tower of the church. Additional pictures on page five. Civil Service Bill Adds Restrictions Gil TO ACCEPT V ICT BY COURT Attorneys .Announce No Appeal From 30-Year Prison Term Planned Attorneys Aaron Goldberg and Xjavid Sinclair, who successfully defended Guy Ganey on a first degree murder charge during last week’s term of Superior Court, said yesterday that their client would not appeal the 30-year sent ence to the Supreme. Court. Ganey, 42, Seagate filling sta tion operator, was convicted of the second degree slaying of Julian Franklin Henderson, 27, Jacksonville drive-in attendant at his filling station last Oct. 29. According to testimony at the trial, the slaying resulted from a week-end party in which Miss Rebecca Ganey, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morton and Henderson, par ticipated. The trial consumed four days of last week’s court. Sinclair said that Ganey prob ably would be carried to Raleigh Monday to begin his sentence in the state penitentiary at hard labor. -- Lennon Introduces Com promise Measure Into State Legislature A revised civil service bill giving the governing body of the city of Wilmington the authority to name a police chief from a source other than among the present members of the force was introduced in the state senate yesterday by Senator Alton A. Lennon. The measure carried the provi sion, however, that the man select ed by the city could be named for an 18 month term only, thereby placing a definite curb on the au thority which the city council and the city manager can exercise. Although no official statement has been made by city officials about the matter, there was a general feeling among observers here last night that the compromise measure offered no solution to the current problem. The question uppermost in the minds of many was whether the city council and th manager, if the decision to go outside the city for a police chief is made, could find a qualified man who would be willing to accept the position for the term of 18 months as specified by the bill. (Continued On Page Two; Col. 6) Along The Cape Fear ONE BUSY—The Rev. Andrew J. Howell was kind enough to tell us another interesting sidelight on the tremendous amount of en thusiasm demonstrated in the Port City during the days when the rail road industry was er,landing at a rapid rate. The Wilmington and Manchester railroad had its depot on the west bank of the Cape Fear River, be ing located almost opposite the foot of Princess street. Hence that section of me water front opposite the Port City was a beehive of activity. Soon after the War Between the States, the Wilmington and Man chester line changed its name to the Wilmington. Columbia and Augusta railroad. * * * MORE CHANGES—In addition to changing its name, the line then started giving service direct to J the Port City. Instead of stopping at the depot located on the opposite bank of the river, the trains proceeded in to the city via Navassa. The Manchester railroad as it was known was a great line in the South, Mr. Howell a Mures us. And as a - matte* of fact, it played a major role in the development j of the Port city. • * • STILL VISIBLE — Now only a memory, the Wilmington, Colum bia and Augusta railroad still leaves its mark upon the Cape Fear area. The old roadbed is still visible through the swamp for those who care to see it. “One can only picture the ghosts of the traffic that rolled over that line,” Mr. Howell told us. As to the importance of the line, the author of “The Book of Wil mington” points out that the traf fic over that famous old line con stituted the exchanges with Char leston. Columbia, Augusta, Savan nah, Atlanta and further south. * ft * LITTLE HOPE—Mr. Howell says that he doubts seriously if there is any one now living who would know anything from personal knowledge of this once famous and Important railroad line. And if Mr. Howell doubts it, we will immediately cast our lot with him as we strongly contend that he if one of the best informed (Continued, on Pago Two; Col. 1) DELEGATES CLOSE STATE WSCS MEET Resolu t i o n s Expressing Thanks To City Read At Final Session Delegates to the North Carolina Woman's Society of Christian Serv ice conference were yesterday af ternoon returning to their homes following- the closing session of the threer-day meet in Grace Methodist church yesterday morning. In less than 8 hours the scene of the state wide convention, was destroyed by fire. During the meet, presided over by Mrs. Gurney P. Hood, Raleigh, conference president, representa tives of the societies over the east ern part of the state heard talks by Dr. Gloria Wysner of the Meth (Continued on Page Two; Col. 1) The Weather FORECAST: North Carolina — Partly cioudv and not much change in temperature Satur day and Saturday night. Sunday fair and warmer. (By TJ. S. Weatlttf- Bureaa) Meteorological data for the 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. yesterday. TEMPERATURES 1:30 a. m. 44; 7:30 a. m. 42; 1:30 p. m. 61. 7:30 p. m. 56; Maximum 63; Mini mum 41; Mean 52; Normal 54. HUMIDITY 1:30 a. m. 86; 7:30 a. m. 84; 1:30 p. m. 34; 7:30 p. m. 57. PRECIPITATION Total for 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. 0 inches. Total since the first of the month 4.79 inches. TIDES FOR TODAY (From the Tide Tables published by U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey). HIGH LOW Wilmington - 9:42a 4:25a 9:57p 4:44p Masonboro _ 7:27a 1:21a 7 :3C.p 1:43p Sunrise 6:13; Sunset 6:23; Moonrise 6:30a; Moonset 6:34p. Hlver stage at Fayetteville, N. C. at i a. m. Friday 14.4 feet. Damage To Edifice Exceeds $200,000' Scene Of Three-Day State Convention Swept By Blaze; Thousands Witness Fire men Battle Conflagration Wilmington’s historic and towering Grace street Metho dist church, located at the corner of Fourth and Grace streets, was almost completely destroyed by fire of an un determined origin early last night. The blaze was discovered shortly after seven o’clock by a troop of Boy Scouts and the alarm sounded but desDite GRACE METHODIST CHURCH VICTIM OF EARLY FIRE The Grace Methodist church, which was destroyed by fire early last night, was built as the result of a fire which destroyed an earlier Methodist church on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 21, 1886. According to Wilmington history, a river steamboat, the Bladen, caught fire while lying in the Cape Fear river. It drifted into the Chestnut street dock and soon flames were sweeping into the city. The fire burned so rapidly, rec ords show, that a large portion of the city up to Wilmington and Weldon railroad was consumed. The Front Street Methodist church, at Front and Walnut streets was consumed. The total ioss caus ed by the fire was estimated at more than $1,000,000. Records reveal that a “sort of martial law was established in (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) LANE EXPRESSES REGRET AT FIRE Praises Fire Department For Efforts To Keep Flames Controlled blames that consumed the Grace Methodist church last night drew many city notables to witness the worst fire Wilmington has seen in many years. Mayor W. Ronald Lane was en countered in the midst of the ac tivity and stated that this disaster was "most regrettable.” “The firemen have done an ex cellent job, considering the compli cated structure of the building. The damage has been restricted to the church and none of the sur rounding homes have been dam aged,” he added. Lane appeared on the scene about 8:30 o’clock, and immediate ly sent for a section of rope to keep observers from being en dangered by the possible collapse of the bell tower. By-standers thronged the roped area, and had to be constantly ushered back by the police, highway patrol, and volunteer Marines who had their hands full with the inqusitive ob servers. City Manager J. R. Benson also arrived at the fire about 8:30 and his statements concerning the event were very short. "No com ment” he said. Coy S. Bullard, city fire inspec tor told Lane that he couldn’t de termine the origin of the fire at the time but said he would in spect the building this morning and have his report ready for Benson before 12 o’clock. Chief Ludie Croom was a hard man to talk to during the height of activity, but toward the last, he loosened up to say that he hadn’t seen the beat of this one in a long time. The church was inspected by the fire department about 30 days ago, and found, at that time, to be safe, according to Chief Croom. It was noted in an inspection after the flames had died some what that the ceiling was com pletely destroyed, and fallen tim bers and charred masses of debris was very much in evidence. Standing in the auditorium the stars could bee seen clearly through the skeleton-like frame (Continued On Page Two; Col. 7) When Cupid Starts Firing ‘Tis Sure Sign Of Spring The sap is rising in the trees. The weatherman came through with spring right on the dot. The register of deed£ is back at his old stand, doing business at the marriage license books. Those three — the trinity fused into one — makes Dan’l Cupid. And the little devil once again is happy after an uneventful, dormant sea son during the winter months. Register of Deeds Adrian Rhodes' books show conclusively that spring has been on its way for the past 20 days despite the Weatherman’s predictions of cold, rain and some times snow. A check yesterday revealed that more than twice as many marriage licenses already have been issued this Haanth as were issued in Feb ruary and the month has anotner week to run. In February only eight couples bowed to the arrow of Dan’l Cupid. During the 21 days of March — at the close of business yesterday — 17 couples had bought licenses to marry. Tbe 17th couple this month was Karl F. Trefzer, 24, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Miss Francis L. Smith, 29, of Wilmington. “Business is getting better every day,” the girls in the register of deeds’ office said. “But we aren’t expecting the windfall this year that was the case when the boys were stationed at Camp Davis.” To which the girls in A. L. Mey land’s office quip: “Our business also i* getting better every dag. Dan’l Cupid «r ns Dan’i Cupid. he efforts of the fire department, ■vhich rushed every available piece )f equipment to the scene, the fire spread rapidly throughout the en :ire structure. The Rev. J. A. Russell, pastor, said it was very difficult to es timate the damage, but indicated that the minimum loss would probably be well above $200,000. The church was remodeled only two months ago at a cost of $14, 000. Gilbert F. Morton, City Build ing Inspector, said that in view of the current construction costs around $500,000 would be needed to replace the half-block long structure. A crowd estimated at 5,000 flocked to the scene as word spread of the fire. Police threw a rope barrier around the spot in an effort to keep the throngs at a safe distance since it was believed for a while that the tow ering spire might collapse. Several reasons for the start of the blaze were advanced, but Mr. Russell declined to attribute the fire to any one cause. He did say, however, that the flamet apparently started in the roof at the rear of the building. The be lief was expressed by one fire man that faulty wiring might have been the cause of the blaze. Feared almost completely ruin ed by the heat and water was the church’s $20,000 organ. The entire interior of the building was destroyed, as were the large stained glass windows. Lost also was Mr. Russell’s per sonal library, which wag collected during his many years in the min istry. The North Carolina Woman’s Society of Christian Service had (Continued on Page Five; Col. 1) PHONE EMPLOYES FAVOR STRIKING Preliminary Tabulat i o n Shows Southern Work ers Ready to Walkout ATLANTA, March 21—(>P)—H. F. Tweedy, vice president of the Southern Federation of Telephone workers, announced today that preliminary tabulation of a strike vote among members of the union showed 21,046 in favor of striking against 1,130 in oppositin. The vote was taken in connection with current wage negotiations be tween the union and the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph company. Discussions have been in progress about five weeks. Tweedy described the vote re sult as “staggering" and added, “it’s a clear indication that some thing is wrong in the industry." Southern Bell, Tweedy declared, “has offered their employes a big, round nothing in the way of wage improvement*.’’ “Their proposal to continue the present contract for one ye»r amounts to nothing more than • backhand slap, in the light of the skyrocketing living costs being faced by the workers,” he eaid. Demands Scaled Original demands of the union called for wage increases ranging from $15 to $20 per week but these have been scaled down slightly. The telephone company, however, has declared itself financially un able to meet the demands without making a substantial increase in telephone service rates. The Southern federation, an inde pendent union, is affiliated with the National Federation of Telephone workers and covers the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ken tucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Ten nessee. The National federation ha* serv ed tentative notice of a general strike for April 7. And So To Bed While the volunteer (ire de partment at a nearby resort was going through its practice paces some distance (rom the (ire station yesterday after noon, (ire struck at the (ire station itself. ‘A water heater located at the side of the building was at tributed as the cause of the blaze. The alarm was sounded but the wind was against the volun teers and the siren was not heard. Upon their return to the headquarters, they found neighbors had enttagniahed tti