Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

I a a a a Illinois, Tuesday, December 7, 1954. DECATUR HERALD 3 Approval Seen Of 1-Cent Hike In Sales Tax By Olive Ruth Hewett Of The Herald Staff It is likely the Illinois Legislature will approve the suggestion to increase sales tax from two to three cents at the next session, according to Maurice Scott, attorney for the Illinois Taxpayers Federation. The Springfield attorney spoke yesterday at the Rotary Club luncheon in the Hotel Orlando, outlining probable legislation that willaffecttaxpayrnies6.915 The proposal to raise the state sales tax has solid support from educators and many individuals interested in schools, Scott said. He predicted William Stratton will endorse the bill because of the great popular demand. Educators hope part of the increased tax income will be earmarked to provide 100 per cent payment of school claims on state aid in various funds.

Schools are now receiving 98 per cent payment on distributive fund claims and less on some special education claims. Beginning in January the monthly payments will be cut back to about 88 per cent of claims, according to an announcement last week. Scott said if the sales tax is increased part of the money will probably be given to the state welfare program. Among other legislation that will probably be introduced, Scott mentioned a few bills that will affect school finances. Bonding power of school districts may be increased, he said.

At present districts are limited to five per cent of their property valuation. Scott said this limit works a hardship on districts with all 12 grades, such as community unit districts. Formerly the state had many school districts that provided only elementary Or only high school grades, each having the five per cent bonding limit. The limit may now be raised to 10 per cent for community unit districts. Another bill may permit school districts to license trailers in their boundaries.

In many industrial neighborhoods, Scott said, children from trailer families crowd schools but their parents pay no school taxes. To relieve the widespread teacher shortage, Scott said the Legislature may pass a bill permitting retired teachers to teach as substitutes for 60 days a year without losing pensions. Other possible legislation directly affecting city, township and county governments was listed by the attorney. These laws would: Permit cities to levy a half-cent sales tax without a referendum Raise corporate tax rate limits for city and county governments Establish a Department of Personnel Administration to reduce turnover of state employes Allow classification of property for taxation purposes Increase the length of time allowed for assessors to list property so that they may do a more thorough job Increase the monthly allotment for dependent children from $40 to $50 Require all ad valorum bond issues to be sold by public advertisement and bidding. SEWER TUNNEL DRYING WORK NEAR COMPLETION Interceptor sewer contractors hope to complete installation of wellpoint system for tunneling under the Wabash Railroad yards by the end of this week.

The system, which involves feet drilling the wellpoints tunnel every 7 course, or along designed to dry out the ground under the yards. When the installation is completed, water will be pumped from the ground to help prevent cave-ins which halted tunneling several months ago. Supt. Tom Gallagher of KennyGroves contractors yesterday said tunneling will begin as soon as possible after the wellpoint system goes into operation. The tunnel east of 22nd Street will be 900 feet long.

Boys' Chess Club The YMCA boys' division chess club will meet at 7 P. m. today with R. L. Fletcher as supervisor.

David McGill, boys' work secretary, said the new club eventually will elect officers and have matches with other YMCA chess teams in Central Illinois. Clothing Stolen About $50 worth of clothing was stolen over the week end in burglary at Jenkins' Bargain Counter, 804 N. Water police reported yesterday. School Union Asks Court Writ Dismissal Union employes of the Decatur Public Schools yesterday asked the Macon County Circuit Court to dismiss an injunction prohibiting them from striking to back up contract negotiations. The employes filed the suit through Local 279, AFL Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers, which represents them.

The employes, about 60 in number, struck Nov. 1 in support of contract terms. Late that day Circuit Judge Martin Morthland issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the strike and the workers returned to their jobs the following day. Efforts to work out the dispute since have been unsuccessful. The schools have, however, put in effect a new wage schedule since the strike.

The schedule provides $15 a month pay increases and revises hourly rates for extra work and "standby" work for school affairs. a It is over terms of the extra and "standby" work that the union has voiced objection in the past. An answer to the union's request will not come until a court hearing is held. Judge Morthland said last night he has not set a hearing date and doesn't know yet when it will be set. In its answer to the schools' request for the injunction and motion to dismiss it, the union charges it is illegal under both the federal and state Constitutions.

In addition, the union claims the injunction was issued contrary to terms of an Illinois statute prohibiting injunctions. The union says the strike did not endanger the public welfare, as the schools claimed, and denies the schools' claim that the strike threatened their ability to carry out constitutional requirements of providing an education for pupils of the district. Also, the union denies it unlawfully combined or conspired force agreement by the schools to terms of employment. The 'union says the injunction takes from it the right of free speech guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says that citizens of the U.S.

shall not be deprived of their rights "of life, liberty or property!" without due process of law. The injunction also violates the state Constitution provision guaranteeing free speech, the union claims. 30 SCOUTS ADVANCED IN RANK BY BOARD Thirty Boy Scouts last night were advanced in rank by a Scout Board of Review. Advanced to first class rank were: Gary Bennington, Troop 8 Bruce Kilborn, Troop 5 Warren Farrell, Troop 11 Leonard Grider, Troop 11 David Hickman, Troop 30. The following boys were advanced to second class: Gay Meyers, Troop 35 Charles Hunt, Troop 23 Lloyd Grace, Troop 94 Sam Walker, Troop 30 Donald Tucker, Troop 23 Dallas Kidd, Troop 23 James Switzer, Troop 23 Bob Moore, Troop 7 William Eaton, Troop 7 David Owen, Troop 7 Gary Willets, Troop 7 Richard Sullivan, Troop 7 Roger L.

Shoop, Troop 7 Thomas McKenzie, Troop 23 Bob Kerby, Troop 10 Larry Wise, Troop 23 Phil Scott, Troop 21 Larry James Johnston, Schuyler, Troop 21 John Cizek, Troop 25 Ronald Scribner, Troop 25 Dick Bridgman, Troop 25 Jesse Peters, Troop 30 Roger Chamberlain, Troop 30 Duane Johnson, Troop 94. Traffic Arrests Garrett W. Wieborg, 1720 E. Prairie paid $29 for speedng 50 miles an hour from 700 to 300 South Jasper Street. COWGILLS APPLY FOR MACON ACRES JOB AGAIN Mr.

and Mrs. Harvey Cowgill have filed an application with County Clerk Laurence for reappointment as steward and stewardess Macon Acres Nursing Home. The Cowgills have held the positions since July 1953, and it is expected that the County Board will give them new appointments in its December session next week. Other jobs to be filled by the Board are county veterinarian and county physician. Dr.

M. J. Dills is the full time veterinarian and Dr. V. T.

Turley serves as physician on a fee basis. Atkins May Be Candidate for City Office State Rep. James L. Atkins, defeated for -election last month, said yesterday he is considering a candidacy for mayor or commissioner in next spring's city election. Atkins, a Republican, said he will not decide on whether to contest the November election until he makes up his mind on entering one of the city races.

Seeking his third term in the Legislature, Atkins has said he feels he has "a substantial basis" for contesting the election of Democrat Robert W. McCarthy of Lincoln. The canvass of votes in the three-county 28th District (Macon, Dewitt and Logan) gave McCarthy a 371-vote margin over Atkins. A contest for the office would be filed in the General Assembly. Atkins said he has had a lot of encouragement to run either for mayor or one of the commissioner nominations in March 1 city primary.

Mayor Robert E. Willis is not a candidate for re-election. Atkins said, however, that he did not think it would be wise to seek another office at the same time he was contesting an election. Atkins denied County Building reports that he had decided against the contest and was attempting to line up a job in Springfield. First elected to the General Assembly in 1950, Atkins was reelected in 1952.

He was renominated last spring over opposition from within the GOP organization here. Dinner for Fair Fund Tomorrow More than 200 tickets have been sold for the Decatur-Macon County Fair's $10-a-plate dinner here Wednesday night. H. Ray Myers, chairman of the fair's special projects committee, said yesterday 220 tickets have been sold for the fund-raising event. The dinner will be at 6:30 p.

m. in the Masonic Temple. W. B. Peterson of the Illinois Agricultural Association staff, Chicago, will speak on "How Farm and City People Can Work Peterson heads the state Farm Bureau's marketing division.

A short talk on the fair board's plans for the permanent fair site and the 1955 fair will be given by H. W. "Hube" Elliott, fair president. The dinner tomorrow night is a project to raise money for the fair's program of buildings and improvements on the new site a mile northwest of the junction of Routes 48 and 121. Fair board members will meet tonight in the county Farm Bureau Building to discuss plans for buildings and the grounds layout.

Served 30 Years in Northeast Decatur Lindamood Retires as Mail Carrier the apron. Equipment and supervisory, personnel are being furnished by Intrusion Pre-Pakt Company of Cleveland. (Herald and Review Photo) Dam tinue day and night until it is finished. Estimates are three to five days. A compressor forces the mixture through hoses which are placed in holes drilled in HELP KEEP DECATUR FREE FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS S.D.DAY (SAFE DRIVING DAY) DEC.

15th MUNICIPAL PARKING LO 5: per hour 10 hour met. METERS ACCEPT NICKELS OR QUART THIS LOT UNDER POLICE REGULATIO OVER- -PARKING SUBJECT TO PENAL ENFORCED 7 DAYS A WEEK EXCEPT 4AM TO 9AM. Sign Publicizes Safe Driving Day Patrolman Forrest Edwards Day. The sign calling atof the police traffic division tention to Safe-Driving Day was erected at the city parking points at the date Dec. 15, on lot by the police department.

which the city will observe S- (Herald and Review Photo) Vehicle for Testing Capabilities Of Drivers to Be in Decatur Monday Decatur auto drivers will an opportunity to test their capability behind the wheel next Monday, Chairman Ralph Jostes of S-D Day announced yesterday. The Transit Casualty Company, in cooperation with Decatur City Lines, is sending its safety bus to Decatur, where i its testing facilities will be available to the public. The goal of S-D Day Dec. 15, is a 24-hour period free of reportable accidents. Jostes said the plan is to park the bus on the Central Park square.

The bus, which has a variety of testing devices, was here a year ago for Decatur City Lines drivers. One of the devices is a transitometer, which determines how long a motorist takes to move his foot from the accelerator to the brake, and how far his car Bids Opened On Rt. 36 Buildings Officials from the Paris District of the state Highway Divison opened bids yesterday for three business buildings and five residences to be demolished for Route 36 improvements. Bids were submitted on all the structures and were taken to the Paris for study. They were opened in the office of Supt.

Alan N. Buck of the county highway department. Business buildings included an ice cream manufacturing and sales structure, 2172 E. William a brick store, building, William and 22nd Streets and a brick filling station, Eldorado and 20th Streets. Tax Hearings Set County Judge Gus T.

Greanias yesterday set Jan. 10 for the beginning of hearings on abjections to 1954 taxes. The hearings are expected to start with preliminary conferences between the office of States Attorney Kenneth E. Evans and attorneys for the objectors, primarily railroads. Boat Dock Option have traveled during this interval.

Members of the Junior Woman's Club will help carry out the testing program. The bus will be open from about 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jostes said Boy Scouts will distribute S-D Day posters in the downtown area this week. The Decatur Association of Insurance Agents is providing 750 posters, which will also be displayed in garages, service stations and factories.

Members of the Junior Association of Commerce will stencil "S-D Day" on downtown intersections and sidewalks in another move to make the city conscious of the safety program. Prior to S-D Day, some 650 school patrol boys will wear special arm bands. SANTA HOURS TODAY Santa Claus will be in his house in Central Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 4:45 p.m. At 5 p.m.

he will give his daily radio broadcast on WSOY and at 5:45 p.m. today he will be on television from WTVP. Last week he counted 5,650 visitors, parents and children, with the big crowd of about 1,200 on Friday. His busiest hours are late afternoon when schools are dismissed. For the first time in 30 years, veteran of World War I and William T.

Lindamood will not be delivering Christmas mail to residents in northeast Decatur. The veteran letter carrier retired Dec. 1 after 30 years of service. For most of that time he has remained in the same neighborhood, preferring to stay where he knew his patrons and could give the best service. His route is bounded by North Main, Condit, Division, and Broadway Streets.

Lindamood is now spending his time catching up on work around his home at 138 E. Divi- Russell K. Shaffer advised the City Council yesterday he will exsion St. and he plans a trip to ercise his option to renew his con- California soon. tract for operating the boat dock He began carrying mail in the in at the Nelson Park beach.

least part of as a substitute regular Sewer Lateral Plans Needed, Group Told -Clock Work Floodlights blazed from the top of the Lake Decatur dam last night as the Sangamo Construction Company started. New Treasurer Appoints Two Two appointments were announced yesterday by County surer John W. Alsup, who completed his first day i in office by assuming responsibility for about 2 million dollars in tax funds. Democrat Alsup named Floyd R. Van Hook as his chief teller, replacing Hansen Verner, who resigned.

He also appointed Mrs. Helen Gregory as a clerk. County Building sources said that William C. Storey, former superintendent of the Macon County Veterans Assistance Commission, is expected to join Alsup's staff around Jan. 1, probably as a teller.

Retiring Treasurer Clarence A. Sablotny returned to his former post of chief deputy treasurer and turned over to Alsup $1,500,000 in collectors funds, nearly 000 in the county treasurer's account and $276,000 in the gasoline tax fund. Van Hook, 43, was the Democratic candidate for circuit clerk in 1952. He was office manager for Dawson Wikoff Funeral Home for several years and has also been a field auditor for the state Revenue Department. Mrs.

Gregory, a Democratic committeewoman, has been working in the tax extension office of County Clerk Laurence Tangney. No changes were made in the staff of Sheriff C. W. Peebles, the second Democrat to take over a county office yesterday for the first time. Former Sheriff David M.

Peters will act as Peebles' chief deputy until Peters is seated in the Legislature in January. County Clerk Tangney began his 6th term and County Judge Gus T. Greanias his third term yesterday with no more formality than providing space for customary floral gifts. Jan. 25 Candidates' Deadline for Filing Prospective candidates for mayor and commissioner in next year's city election have about six weeks before the deadline for filing petitions as candidates.

The first day for filing petitions is Jan. 10 and the last dav for filing is Jan. 25. The city primary will be on March 1, and the city general election will be on April 19. 1954 Christmas Seal Receipts Abreast of 1953 The 1954 Christmas Seal sale is running a close race with the 1953 sale on daily receipts.

Yesterday $745 was received in mail in the sale conducted by the Macon County Tuberculosis Association, bringing the total to $13,299.50. Mrs. T. E. Gunn, chairman, said the total figure the corresponding day of the 1953 sale was $13,172.

The seals are now on sale at three downtown postal substations, located in the Linn Scruggs, Block Kuhl and Stauber's stores. Arrangements are being made to put the seals on sale in outlying substations. Each year the TB association gets a group of requests for replacements on seals which have been lost, ruined by moisture or accidentally destroyed by the ily youngsters. Yesterday they had a new story of seal destruction. One woman asked for more seals, saying her parakeet was attracted by the bright colors and ate the seals.

in Progress on Apron pumping a concrete mixture beneath the apron of the dam to fill holes which have been washed there. The job started about noon. yesterday and will con- BOY CRITICAL David Nosek, 8, Hurt When Auto Hits Bicycle David Nosek, 8, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F.

Nosek, 527 Melrose was in critical condition in Decatur and Macon County Hospital last night with injuries received about 8:30 a.m. yesterday when his bicycle was struck by a truck in the 2100 block North Broadway. Attendants at the hospital said last night the boy's condition had shown little change since the accident. He received head, chest and internal injuries. The City Delivery truck which hit the boy was driven by.

Wayne Bryson, 23, 907 W. Waggoner St. The driver told police that he was going north on Broadwav when the boy on his bicycle rode into the truck's path from the back of a southbound Decatur City Lines bus. The child was taken to Decatur and Macon County Hospital in a J. J.

Moran Sons ambulance. Home Builders Elect Swartz Carl E. Swartz of J. J. Swartz Company last night was elected president of the Home Builders Association of Decatur.

Swartz succeeds Cecil Madaus, who recently was named president Carl E. Swartz of the Home Builders Association of Illinois. Other officers elected by the Decatur organization: William Berry, Stylecraft Homes, vice president: James L. Mays of South Shores Development Corporation, secretary: Jack Huff of C. N.

Gorham Sons, treasurer. The group's January meeting will be a social meeting, with wives as guests. PARK DISTRICT MOVING OFFICE FRIDAY, SATURDAY Decatur Park District will move to its new office building in Mueller Park Friday and Saturday, Supt. Lacy Chandler said yesterday. The new office building will be open for business Monday morning.

The Park District offices are being moved from the Decatur Club to the new building. Induction Call Macon County Selective Service boards will send nine men for induction on Jan. 6, Mrs. Evelyn Adams, chief clerk, announced yesterday. Local Board 162 will furnish two men and Local Board 163 will furnish seven.

In addition, Local Board 163 has been instructed to send four men for pre-induction physical examinations on the same date. An Association of Commerce committee last night was brought up to date on the problem of extending sewer service to areas where it is needed. The information was given to the Decatur neighborhood committee by Sanitary District officials in a meeting in the A of offices. The discussion pointed out that there is a need for some comprehensive planning for the future, that the Sanitary District limits could logically be expanded on at least three sides and that leadership should be given to areas within the Sanitary District which want to obtain sewer service by building laterals. Sanitary District officials reemphasized that they have found no "easy answer" to the question of financing further improvements, extensions and planning.

Engineer Alex Van Praag Jr. said the 4 million dollar interceptor sewer program is nearing completion and suggested that now is the time to make a careful study of the Decatur area to a sewer plan for the future. Edgar H. Allen, chairman of another A of committee on Decatur's future, agreed that a "comprehensive general plan" should be worked out. Walker H.

Mills, Sanitary District attorney, said the district is considering such a plan but indicated that the cost of extensive planning might be too high for the district's limited finances. The possibility of expanding the district limits to take care of developments north, east and south of the present limits was discussed by Sanitary District Supt. W. D. Hatfield.

Residents of areas outside the preesnt limits must initiate the annexation procedures to come into the district, he said. Mills reviewed the possibilities for financing lateral sewers in areas within the district. Residents of smaller areas can raise the money themselves, he said, but special assessment financing appears to be the only way of paying for laterals in larger areas. Mills said the Sanitary District has not entered the field of special assessments because it is not at present set up to collect assessments. Administrative costs will increase considerably if the district establishes a collection department, he said.

John H. Crocker, chairman of the Decatur neighborhood committee, said his group will meet again next week to consider what recommendations it will make on the sewer problem. WILLIAM D. CLENDENEN DIES IN CHICAGO William D. Clendenen, 35, a native of Decatur, died at 9:30 p.

m. Monday in Illinois Central Hospital, Chicago, after a short illness. Mr. Clendenen was a graduate of Decatur High School and the Winthrop School of Nursing, Chicago. He had been a private-duty nurse in Chicago for several years.

He leaves his wife, Margaret; two sons, William and Jude, and a daughter, Mary, all of Chicago; his mother, Mrs. William F. Clendenen, Decatur, two sisters, Mrs. Charles Querrey, Decatur, and Sister Viatora, OFM, Garrett, and a brother, John, Decatur. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

MRS. RUTH L. BAILEY DEATH RULED SUICIDE A coroner's jury last night ruled that the death of Mrs. Ruth L. Bailey, 8 Fairview was suicide by drowning while mentally depressed, Coroner Harold B.

Brintlinger said. Mrs. Bailey's body was found in Lake Decatur near Shaffer's boat dock at Nelson Park Sunday afternoon. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Dawson Wikoff Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today. William T. Lindamood November, 1924, and in January, 1925.

member of the American Legion and National Association of Letter Carriers. His wife has been active in the NACL auxiliary, holding local and state offices. Lindamood recalls his first year as a Decatur mail man. He delivered mail from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., drove a truck to pick up mail from substations for two hours and then finished the day with two more hours on foot, collecting mail from downtown collection boxes.

Except for the usual number of dog bites and falls on slippery porches Lindamood's career as a mail man has been uneventful but characterized by dependable service to the residents on his route. I Woman Hurt in Fall Mrs. Kate M. Fulton, 80, of 125 S. Union was reported in fair condition last night at St.

Hospital, where she is being treated for injuries received about 1:30 p.m. yesterday in a fall in the 100 block South Main Street. Mrs. Fulton received bruises and a bad cut over one eye in the fall. She told police she tripped over an imperfection in sidewalk.

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