Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / April 26, 1947, edition 1 / Page 1
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FORECAST: - ' Served By Leased Wire* Wilmington and vicinity Somewhat of the cooler today with occasional rafn in ASSOCIATED PRESS forenoon, clearing in afternoon followed anH the bv fair arid cooler weather tonight; ITIMlTm PRL'OQ Sunday fair with rising temperatures. Ill'll lEtll rltEiSS _ ____ With Complete Coverage of State and National News ~ ESTABLISHED 186? fitness Says flay Got Cash Washington Banker Testifies Ex-Congressman Cashed Garsson Check WASHINGTON, April 25 — (/P)— * oSiarled. weather-beathen Ken - tvekian today related that he pull ,, out of a wartime lumber-deal *j,]j Andrew J. May, then House Military committee chairman, be "I decided there was sonne ting wrong.” Leroy W. Fields, 70. told a fed tn\ district court jury trying former Congressman Man and tl,iee others on war fraud charges that May faded to deliver 50 per cjnl of the stock in the enterprise >s promised. "I; was about 11 months later jj,at 1 finally decided there was something' wrong.” Fields said. “I tacided to get out because 1 never lid received any of my stock.” The witness said he wrote and telephoned from his Whitesburg , Kv. home to May in the latter’s ofrice here in the national capitol. ■ ■j’ve forgotten just how many times 1 asked him about it,” Fields said. "Did you ever get any satisfac tion?" the witness was asked. ■■Never did, never did,” Fields replied ruefully. Sensational Day Fields' story came near the end M a development - packed day in the trial of May and Henry' and Murray Garsson, war manufac turers' and Joseph F. Freeman , Washington agent for the Gars -• sons, on charges of conspiring to buy May’s influence to get War department favors. There were these other highlights: 1. Two Washington bankers said May, or "an authorized agent” of his. cashed a $5,000 Garsson firm check, keeping $1,000 cash and putting the S-t.OOO balance in May’s personal bank account here. 2. The comptroller of the Bata via, 111.. Metal Products company, headed by Henry Garsson, said the latter personnally approved with the initials "Okay H. M. G.” The payment of a $1,500 draft May drew for that company for cash. 3. Fields said that he thought all along, in dealing about the lumber firm with May7, that May owned it. Fields said he never saw nor heard about the Garssons nor Freeman. May’s counsel has argued that May's only interest in the Cum berland Lumber company was to provide lumber for the war effort without profit to himself. MURDERSUSPECT TAKES OWN LIFE Body Of Disabled World War One Veteran Found Near Wendell WENDELL, N.C., April- 25—UP)— Luther Mumford. 52, disabled World War I veteran who was the object of a wide search by Wake county officers in connection with the shot-gun death yesterday of Mrs. Luther Strickland, 41. was found shot to death early today in nearby woods. Wake County Coroner Irving M. Cheek said that Mumford obvious . ly took his own life. Near Mum ford’s body was a single-barreled shotgun which officers identified *s belonging to the dead woman’s husband, Mumford’s body was found by Alex Wall, Wendell, chief of police. Cheek said that Mumford pulled the trigger of the shotgun with a long forked stick in order to send s .12-guage load through his chest. It was at about the same point, Cheek said, that Mrs. Strickland had been struck with a similar load yesterday. House Handyman Mumford, Cheek said, served as i handyman around the Strick land home for about three years by doing cooking and other chores due to Mrs. Strickland’s prolonged iilnoss. According to neighbors. Cheek said, that Mumford had been drinking heavily for several days, and it was known that he was to have been alone with Mrs. Strick land. mother of three children, shortly before she was found shot >o death. He was seen by neigh bors to have left the house alone, Cheek said, before other members of the family retui'ned yesterday. Last rites for Mrs. Strickland "ill be held tomorrow at 3 P- m. Lorn the Wendell Baptist church. She is survived by her husband, a painter; two sons and a daughter. Funeral arrangements have not been completed for Mumford. The Weather FORECAST: •Yi'u,,d North Carolina—Somewhat *0olei‘ Saturday, occasional light rain in ,0 . cJe- ring in afternoon follow ^ "iv ,f;.ir and cooler Saturday night, •uada.v tair with rising temperatures. * F. stern Standard Time) •By I . S. Weather Bureau) ''logical data for the 24 hours 7:30 p. m. yesterday. TEMPERATURES 1:!_° a. m. 65; 7:30 a. m. 66: 1:30 P m. • ,:"0 p m 71; Maximum 79; Mini *l!rn Vlean 71: Normal 65. HUMIDITY f a. m. 97; 7:30 a. m. 94; 1:30 p- ni. 531 p. 79. PRECIPITATION *01 ^ hours ending 7:30 p- m. ",0° inches. To;ai since the first of the month 3-72 Aches. TIDES FOR TODAY u'rom the Tide Tables published by u,£ S. Coast and Geodetic Survey), w, . High Low ""Kington _ 1:47 a.m. 9:16 a.m. 2:11 p.m. 9:23 p.m. w*sonboro _12:08 a.m. 6:03 a.m. — p.m. 6:11 pm. .(,5unnse 5:28; Sunset 6:52; Moo*»rise a- Moonset 12-12a. cr stage at Fayetteville, N. C. at 8 (/Friday 12.8 feet. Wore Weather On Page Two Grissett Trial Jury To Get Case Today Judge Clawson L. Williams Will Charge Panel When Court Reconvenes This Morn ing; Long Arguments Presented BY EARL HOWARD Star Staff Writer The trial of Roy Grissett on a charge of storebreaking, larceny and receiving, drew near the finish line yesterday with the completion of arguments by prosecution and de fense attorneys, and the jury is scheduled to receive the case sometime this morning. Judge Clawson L. Williams is slated to deliver his charge to the jury as soon ”s this morning’s session begins ana m exPected to finish-' ^ 'lk sometime before noon. Ihe hearing of evbr completed yesterday morn ing and the afternoc ^ taken up with oral ar guments by Distri ^ N i Moore and Emmett Bellamy and Jam ^ ■£-' a? ' / ^ prosecution and Elbert ®un v ^ /V’vr Henry of the defense staff- ^ /% The def ^ / ci-rprise by announcing at the end of the stat, / ^£io move to offer evidence would be made on beha / ", defendant, thereby gaining the right to open and Ci jral arguments. At the end of the state’s case motions for a plea of former jeopardy, to dismiss the charge of breaking and __(Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) AFTER COURTING 60 YEARS, LOVELY LADY WEDS BALTIMORE LAD BALTIMORE, April 25—(£>>— Miss Frances Lurman, known as one of Baltimore’s “ten loveliest ladies,” and Dorsey Williams, retired master of hounds of the famed Pataps co hunt, were married in her hospital room after a court ship of 60 years. Miss Lurman sat in a wheel chair for the nuptials. She has been hospitalized since Jan uary. » The bride was one of those chosen when a wealthy cit izen left funds for a Johns Hopkins university mural to depict “the ten loveliest wom en in Baltimore.” The socially - prominent couple smilingly shrugged off inquiries about their long courtship. Their ages? “About 78.” SENATORS IGNORE THREAT OF VETO Taft, Ball Open Drive To T o u g h e n Up Senate Bill Curbing Unions WASHINGTON, April 25. — UP)— Senators Taft (R-Ohio) and Ball (R-Minn), ignoring talk of a Presi dential veto, today opened a drive to toughen the Senate's labor bill in its curbs on unions. The move promptly collided with opposition from Senators Ives (R-NY), Pepper (D-Fla) and Mur- • ray (D-Mont.). All five Senators are members of the Labor committee, and the fight on the floor brought into the open a wrangle that developed while the committee was writing the bill. The measure is generally milder than the one the house passed last week by a top heavy vote. But both would ban the closed shop, authorize court injunctions to block strikes affecting the general welfare, create a new federal mediation service and make unions subject to federal court suits. DUKE FIREBUG IS CAPTURED Nurses Surprise Man After Two Fires Had Been Started Last Night DURHAM, April 25. — — Duke University hospital’s firebug broke loose again about 11 o’clock tonight, starting at least two blazes, according to unofficial in formation. Reports r-.lso said that a nurse, who surprised a stranger in one of the hospital rooms, was hit on the head. The assailant was cornered and turned over to police. His identity was not immediately learned. Telephone information from the hospital said that “there is con siderable smoke out here.” How ever, it was not believed the fire had ' done much damage, having been extinguished before it could spread. Firemen were called to the hos pital shortly before 11 o’clock, and half an hour later were still on the job. . Earlier in the night they investi gated a call to the hospital but found “nothing more than a big blaze in the incinerator,” officials reported. ___ WMFD TO INCREASE STATION WATTAGE t Local Radio Station Granted Permission To Increase To 1,000 Watts The Federal Communication Commission yesterday granted R. A Dunlea, owner-manager, radio station WMFD, a permit to in - crease the power of the station from 250 watts to 1000 watts. This increase in power, Dunleas said, will give WMFD a complete cov erage of southeastern and eastern North Carolina. Notification of the increased power was sent to Dunlea in a telegram from Washington, D. C., lat yesterday afternoon. The tele gram, in part, stated: “The federal Communications Commission announced this morn ing that radio station WMFD, Wil mington, had been granted an ap plication for a regional frequency of 1000 watts on 630 kc for un limited time.’’ In a statement to The Star, Dunles said, “We are overjoyed that the Commission saw fit to grant our application. During the 12 years we have served the peo ple in this area we have attempt ed in every way possible to bring the listening audience the best in entertainment radio had to offer. Reach -..Wide ..Audience _ “With our increased power we wil'. be able to reach a wider au dience, and in so doing bring to the listeners a greater variety of local talent. “It has always been the policy of WMFD to present, whenever possible, local shows. This v/e will continue to do in addition to air ing the ABC network. In our years of operation we have used the op erating force behind the station and the staff.” With the increase in power, WMFD will cover an area north of New Bern and Moore-head city and west almost into Fayetteville. To the south, the increased power, according to estimates, will carry the voice of WMFD will go on the air with increased power he did indicate that it probably would be this fall. HAL LOVE BEATEN FOR PRESIDENCY State Jaycees Elect Edward T. Ellis Of Charlotte On First Ballot BY ALCOCK BROWN ATLANTIC BEACH, April 25 - Edward Taylor Ellis, of Charlotte, today was elected president of the North Carolina Junior Chamber of Commerce at its 12th annual con vention here. ' Tomorrow night, during an in augural banquet to be followed by a ball in the Surf club here, Ellis will be formally ushered into of fice. During the past year. Odell Lambeth, of Greensboro, has held the post. The Charlotte business man, who is regional director of Me - Cormick and company, won on the first ballot. Twenty-three clubs out of 48 in North Carolina represented at the convention gave him a total vote of 88. Runnerup in the brisk voting was Hal Love, of Wilming ton, who received a total of 39 votes from 11 clubs. Bob Wil liams, of Asheville, candidates for the office, got 37 votes from 15 clubs. Twelve of the state’s 60 Jaycee organizations were not represent ed at the convention, which was presided over by Lambeth, the retiring president. President’s Home Town j Lets Him Down On Plan INDEPENDENCE , Mo., April 2f, _ (yp) —Merchants in President Truman’s home town today al most unanimously rejected his proposal that retailers make a 10 per cent price cut to fight mfla tlCEven his old friend. Mayor Roger T. Sermon, couldn't see how the President’s plan could succeed in his town. Sermon , mayor here for more than 20 years and a veteran gro cery store operator, said: “Independence grocery stores operate on a 17 to 20 per cent markup. The average operating cost is 14 to 15 per cent. There is no way for them to start a overall 10 per cent reduction." C. C. Bundschu, president of Independence’s largest depart ment store, said, “We could not cut 10 per cent unless the whole salers went along with us. Our net profit will not justify or absorb a 10 per cent reduction.” PHONE COMPANIES REJECT LATEST WAGE OFFER AS SETTLEMENT BASIS; TRUMAN TO REVIEW FOREIGN POLICY Marshall Now On Way Home Secretary Of State To Report To President, Leaders Sunday Night WASHINGTON, April 25—(A3)— President Truman today invited Congressional leaders of both par. ties to a White House conference Sunday night with Secretary of State Marshall to review foreign policy developments. Marshall, returning from the Moscow Foreign Ministers confer ence tomorrow, is expected to give the Congressional leaders a de tailed report on American rela tions with Russia in advance of a radio address to the nation from 8:30 to 9 p. m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday night over major networks. Marshall will be met at the air port here tomorrow by the Presi dent. Mr. Truman left the White House this evening to spend the night on the Presidential yacht Williamsburg on the Potomac but will interrupt his cruise to greet his secretary of state. Plans Uncertain Whether the President himself will hear what Marshall has to report before the session with the congressional leaders remained un certain. No clans were announced for Marshall to join the President on his cruise, which is to con tinue until Sunday evening, and Mr. Truman may thus receive Marshall Briefing simultaneously with the Congressmen. Among those invited to the Sun day night meeting was Senator Taft (R-Ohio), chairman of the GOP Policy committee who voted for the Greek-Turkish aid measure “reluctantly” when it passed the Senate this week. Chairman Vandenberg (R-Mich) of the State Foreign Relations com mittee and Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the Democratic leader, are expected to head the Senate delegation, if Barkley returns from abroad in time. The conference will be the first Mr. Truman has held with the legislators since he discussed the $400,000,000 Greece-Turkey meas ure with them in advance of his address to a joint session of Con gress March 12. That legislation is now well on the way to final passage but two other administration proposals have met some questioning in Con gress since Marshall left for Mos cow_the Italian peace treaty and the $350,000,000 relief program for liberated lands. SEABREEZE NEGRO HELD IN SHOOTING Willis Freeman, 26, D i e d On Way To Hospital Of Pistol Wound Willis Freeman, 26 year-old Ne gro of Seabreeze died enroute to a local hospital last night about seven o’clock, Sheriff F. Porter Davis said last night, and his brother, Jessie Freeman, 35, is being held in New Hanover county jail pending a coroner’s inquest. Sheriff Davis said that upon ar rival of deputies T. Butler and E. Priest, acompanied by Coroner Gordon Doran, they found Willis Freeman had been shot between the eyes with a pistol. He was rushed to the hospital but died enroute. According to the investigating officers the two brothers had been engaged in a heated argument shortly before the shooting took place. HOUSE PASSES BILL WASHINGTON, April 25—t'P) — The Republican economy drive scored a major victory tonight when the house passed, 307 to 30, an interior depart ment appropriation bill total ling $161,413,513 — about 45 per cent less than President Truman asked. PICTURED ABOVE are crew members, includin g a Wilmington man, of the Army Air Forces’ C-82 Packet which will take off late this month from Fairfield-Suisun (Calif.) Army Air Base on a 60-day orientation flight to Japan and the Far East to demonstrate to troop carrier and airborne units the newest developments in equipment and techniques used in airborne operations. Shown left to right, standing, are: Ut. Col. William F. Mandt of Charleston, W. Va.; Capt. Albert T. Ward of San Fran cisco, Calif.; Capt. James A. Robards, Henderson, Ky.; Capt. William Cromonic, Easton, Pa.; and Calvin Evans of Scranton, Pa., Fairchild Aircraft technical representatives. Front row: T-Sgt. Harry K. Coleman, Henderson, N. C.; T-Sgt. James W. Thompson, Wilmington, N. C., and Sgt. Everett Caul der of St. Pauls, N. C. Col. Mandt, Capt. Ward and Capt. Robards were members of the crew that flew a troop carrier C-82 to AAF bases in 12 European countries last summer. TEN LOSE LIVES IN INDIA RIOTING Communal Strife At Calcutta Also Takes Toll Of Over 75 Injured CALCUTTA, April 25 — (/P) —At least 10 persons were killed and more than 75 injured today in one of the worst communal fights be tween Hindus end Moslems here in a month. Violence was concentrated in the Eastern and central sections of the city and carried into the border areas of the congested business district near Clive street, the “Wall Street of India.” The victims were killed or maimed by bombs, acid, daggers and other weapons. In some cases, the rioters fired against the police. One hysterical Hindu, stabbed several times, told how he was pursued down the street by a num ber of assailants. Another victim, a Moslem with blood-covered face, said he was set upon from a lane while other Hindus watch ed at a distance. A Hindu doctor was shot in his office. --— l TWO YOUTHS GET CARNEGIE MEDALS Wiggs Of Fayetteville Wins Award For Life Saving At Carolina PITTSBURGH, April 25. —Iff)— William James Wiggs, 16, of Fay etteville, N. C., and James W. Ivey, Jr., 15, of New London, N. C., will receive bronze medals for rescuing persons from drowning, the Carnegie Hero Fund commis sion announce^ today. Wiggs, a citation said, swam 375 feet to rescue an unidentified man, aged about 30. at Carolina Beach on Aug. 10, 1945. He pushed a tire tube to the man, and then breasted a fairly strong under current to bring him to shore as waves broke over them. Ivey saved Tobias K. Culp Jr-, 17, of New London, when a flat boat they and two other boys were paddling on a pond there sank on May 14, 1945. Ivey swam a short distance to the bank, got a rope, and towed the unconscious Culp to shore. Along The Cape Fear ! MORE HISTORY — The history of the Hook and Ladder company is continued today from facts sent “Along the Cape Fear’’ by C. C. Chadbourn. His recollections are that the fire truck was pullet’ 1 y hand and steered by a long lever in the rear. He says that the “man wl.o got the red ball had the priv ilege of steering the truck which was allowed to use the sidewalk.” “On one occasion,” he said, "the truck was passing my home with S. H. Fishblate at the wheel. The turn at Third and Orange was made too short with the result that the helmeman was thrown out into the street. Later a large horse was provided to pull the truck.” * * * THE ALARM — A bell on the market house — then occupying the center of Market street be tween Front and Water — was sounded to give an alai-i. An other means of calling out the de partment was by ringing the bell in the steeple of the First Pres byterian church. There were six wards. * * * FIRE BELL — He says the bell would be struck rapidly, then there would be a pause and then the bell would sound the number of the ward in which the fire was located. As this system depended largely upon the judgment and sense of direction of the person giving the alarm, there often was consider able delay in reaching the scene of the fire. * * * WATER SYSTEM — Water was used from cisterns strategically located throughout the city. When the cistern was out of water, the burning house was out of luck, he says. * * * PRESENT SYSTEM — The com parison, he says, between the present highly efficient department and the old Volunteer system and the cause for and developments leading to the paid system is in teresting. That story will be told at another time. MUST READ BOOKS CLEVELAND, April 25.—(JP) —Four boys accused of burn ing a dog to death were order ed by a juvenile court judge to day to read animal books and to join the YMCA and Boy Scouts. Judge Harry L. Eastman mentined “Bat, the Story of a Bull Terrier,” “Call of the Wild,” “Heroes All,” “More Tales of Dogs,” and “How To Raise Your Puppy” as ex • amples of the literature he had in mind. Juvenile officers said the boys, ranging from seven to 14 tied a terrier dog to a banana stalk and tossed him into a bonfire last month. » UNCLE SAM SEEKS FREIGHT REBATES Justice Department To Take Action Against Railroads On “Charges” WASHINGTON. April 25.—(#)— An action to recover possibly “millions of dollars” from the railroads in the wartime handling of Army-Navy freight was an nounced today by the Justice de partment. Attorney General Clark said the proceeding will be brought Mon day before the Interstate Com merce commission in a complaint alleging the government was over charged on shipments from June 3,^1941 to Oct. 1, 1946. The com plaint, he said, names 964 rail roads as defendants. Department officials declined to estimate definitely the refunds ex pected, but Assistant Attorney General Wendell Berge said in a statement that they “could run in to millions of dollars.’’ The government will go before the ICC in its capacity as a ship per, using commission proceed ings which are open to all users of transportation who desire to complain against a common car rier. Storage Privileges The department announcement said the railroads had long main tained special rates which permit shippers to store freight designed for export at ports at low charges when ship space is not immediate ly available. During the wartime traffic con gestion, when port facilities were jammed, vast quantities of mili tary and naval freight for over seas shipment were stored at in terior points. Clark said the gov ernment seeks to have the low ex port rates applied to such interior storage. He alleged the railroads made this concession to private shippers but refused it on the Army-Navv traffic. The explana tion, Clark said, was that the plan would entail other rate revisions under the old government land grant tariffs. SALE OF LIQUOR DROPS IN COUNTY Report For Period Shows ABC Business Off 7.17 Per Cent New Hanover county’s liquor sales last month amounted to $245,698.30, according to a report yesterday from Raleigh by the state ABC board. Meanwhile, the New Hanover county ABC board yesterday re leased the auditor’s report cover ing the nine months period end ing March 31. According to the local report sales in New Hanover county have decreased 7.17 percent with the cash profit during the period drop ping 8.40 percent. The net profits during the nine month period in 1946 were $391, 690.97. During the same period in 1947 the profits were $358,796.13. City Gets $150,000 The report, compiled by J. Nev land Brand, Jr., local CPA, re veals that the state of North Caro lina received $206,043.01 of the net profits New Hanover county re ceived $80,000 and the city of Wil mington $150,000. Carolina Beach received $12,000 and Wrightsviile Beach $8,000. The Wilmington Port Development commission received $7,317.38. A total of $13,592.37 was allocated to the ABC law enforce ment board. Officials of the ABC board said yesterday afternoon that $100,000 has been turned over to the four local governments since the audit was made. Of this amount the city received $50,000. county $40, 000, Wrightsviile Beach and Caro lina Beach $5,000 each. STATE WILL DROP MILK PRICE CASE Attorney General McMullan Says Evidence Don’t Warrant Prosecution RALEIGH, April 24 - i/P) —In a statement which avoided any ref erence as to guilt of conspiracy or collusion in connection with the raising of the price of milk in the state, the attorney general’s office today said that due to lack of suf ficient evidence it would not in stitute prosecution. The statement was released late today following a conference by Attorney General Harry Mc Mullan and Solicitors William Y. Bickett of Raleigh and William H. Murdock of Durham with SBI Di rector Waiter F. Anderson, The attorney general, with the aid of the SBI, last fall began a probe of the raising of the price of milk in several areas in the state to see if there was any evi dence of violating the state’s anti trust law.__ Third Of Nation To Get Less Sleep From Now On N3W YORK. April 25 — (£>)—At least a third of the nation s 140, 000,000 residents must remember to turn their clocks ahead an hour tomorrow night in preparation for the annual advent of daylight sav ing time at 2 a.m. Sunday. The lost hour of sleep can be made up 22 weeks and many sun burns and mosquito bites later, on Sunday, Sept. 28. As usual, “summer time” will meet with wide favor , iia the Northeastern sector of the nation, whose crowded cities are happy to have the extra hour of sunlight for recreation each evening. But in the South, Far West and most of the Midwest, where rural voices and votes have a strong in fluence, the change will be made only sparingly. The double-time system poses the usual problems for railroads, broadcasting networks and air lines although they are expecting little confusion because of long daylight saving experience. Union Urges $6 Pay Raise Little Progress Reported Following Meeting Of Negotiating Group WASHINGTON, April «5—(U.PJ— The American Telephone & Tele graph company tonight rejected a compromise offer by its striking telephone workers to return to work for a wage increase of $6 * week—half of the strikers’ original demand. The company’s rejection of the revised demand of the National Federation of Telephone workers was announced by George S. Dring, assistant vice president of the A. T. & T. long-lines division after an extraordinary two-hour night bargaining session at the Labor department. Dring told newsmen the Bell system just could not meet the union’s new demand. John J. Moran, chief of the long lines union, said the company re fused to make any counter-offer. He said that negotiators obviously had made little progress at the night meeting. Meet Again Today Government conciliators, who said that the wage issue was the major item of business at the gov ernment-sponsored meeting, «aid that negotiations would be resum ed at 10 a. m. tomorrow. The NFTW, meanwhile, an nounced that it had received a strike contribution ot $10,000 from President Daniel J. Tobin of the AFL Teamsters union. Tobin advised NFTW Joseph Beirne that his union would match the contribution every two weeks if the strike continues. Beirne had announced that the NFTW would call off the strike against any company willing to settle the wage controversy with a $6 a week increase. Although NFTW hopes were high, govern ment conciliators were frankly pes simistic that the wage cut would make any progress toward settling the 19-day-old walkout. REPORT SCORCHES CUSTOMS BUREAU Senate Expenditures Committee Charges Unit Guilty Of Incompetence WASHINGTON, April 25. —«!— A charge that the U. S. Custo s bureau if guilty of “gross incom petence” and that it made a “bald attempt” to defeat Congressional economy by pressure tactics was made today by the Senate Ex penditures committee. The committee recommended that the bureau be reorganized and forced to live within its House - approved appropriation of $32,500,000 for the year beginning July 1. That figure is $3,500,000 less than the bureau told Congress it needs. When the House made the cut, the bureau gave dismissal notices to some 1,500 Canadian border and port patrol officers. Congress got a barrage of pro tests from port and border cities. The Expenditures committee, headed by Senator Bridges tR-Vt), and the Appropriations com mittee, headed by Senator Bridg es tR-NH), each made investiga tions. “Unwarranted” Aiken read to tne Senate a re port from his committee which says the discharges were “com pletely unwarranted” and con stituted “A bald attempt to arouse the public into demanding a res toration of the reduction in expen ditures.” To help cure the bureau’s trou bles, Aiken said the committee will offer legislation under which employes may rotate their 40 hour work week. He said this would save $350,000 in overtime payments. In addition, he said the till would seek to wipe out a $300, t'00 fund for paying overtime in advance, with importers later re imbursing the bureau. And So To Bed While digging around in their records, the National Selected Morticians have come up with the very disturbing information that it even costs more to die nowadays than it used to. The charge for funerals in the Unit ed States in 1946 was $375 on the average, which is $42 more than it cost the year before. There are grave implications to this. Although we can’t think of any way oat of H, maybe someone should appeal to the government. If the thing were worked out right, they might decide to keep some form of the OPA after the June 30 deadline they’ve set for its de mise. Before, the OPA couldn’t do much about the cost of living. Perhaps they may be able to work something out on the cost of dying. Otherwise, our “eco nomic minded’’ Republican Congress may have to shell that 375 bucks for the OPA’* funeral.
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 26, 1947, edition 1
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