Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Friday, November 7, 1947, page 1 (of 12)

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CORAL GABLES Riviera Times PUBLISHED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOONS VOL. 21 — NO. 47 (D) TWO SECTIONS CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1947 12 PAGES FIVE CENTS

HUGHES' 'POWERFUL FRIENDS' INCLUDED FDR AND JONES, PROBE WITNESS TESTIFIES

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7. (UP)—Senate investigators heard testimony today that high war department officials listed President Roosevelt and Jesse Jones as being among planemaker Howard Hughes' "very powerful" friends in Washington. The testimony was given by retired Maj. Gen. Bennett E. Meyers, wartime head of the air material command, before a Senate war investigating subcommittee looking into $40,000,000 worth of Hughes' wartime government contracts. He read from a transcript of a telephone conversation with then Assistant Secretary of War for Air Robert A. Lovett. The transcript quoted Lovett as saying: "This is one of those border line cases that can be embarrassed if we get into it. For example, Hughes has got very powerful friends here in Washington." "Yes, sir, Jesse Jones and the President and everyone else seems to be in this," Meyer replied.

'Critical Size' of Atom Bomb Called Country's 'Top Secret' By PAUL F. ELLIS United Press Science Writer

By PAUL F. ELLIS United Press Science Writer NEW YORK, Nov. 7. (UP)—Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov's statement that the atom bomb is no longer a secret raised the fateful question today of whether the Soviets have succeeded in clearing one of the greatest hurdles to the actual making of the bomb. That hurdle is the determination of the "critical size" of the bomb. The "critical size" means the exact dimensions at which the bomb will explode effectively. American scientists have agreed that even if Russia could build the great plants necessary for making bombs, she would still have to solve the riddle of the "critical size." American scientists know what this critical size is. It is one of the country's top secrets. It was mentioned many times in Prof. Henry D. Smyth's official report on "Atomic energy for military purposes," but there was no hint as to the exact "critical size." When bomb material, such as uranium or plutonium, reaches the "critical," an uncontrolled chain reaction takes place. That means the uranium or plutonium atoms begin disintegrating, releasing their binding force—the enormous energy and heat that leveled such places as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A fission or disintegration, if has been estimated, occurs in less than a millionth or a millionth of a second.

No 'Aggression' in U. S. Mind But Reds Won't Get Answer

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7. (UP)—The United States bombarded the world today with its "answer" to Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov—"The U. S. is not aggression minded." There will be no official reply. But the state department's "Voice of America" devoted most of its time to broadcasting in 24 languages, including Russian, the reaction of leading Americans and the American press to Molotov's charges. The Soviet official chose the 30th anniversary of the bolshevik revolution to charge that the United States was surreptitiously trying to build a basis for aggression and to say there is no longer any secret about the atom bomb.

'Supple Lame Apricot Gown' Chosen By Queen For Rites

LONDON, Nov. 7. (UP)—Queen Elizabeth will wear a gown of supple lame in apricot for the wedding of her daughter and Lieut. Philip Mountbatten, Nov. 20. The queen, less reticent about her wardrobe than Princess Elizabeth or Queen Mary, permitted details of her ensemble to be made public today. Form a V-shaped waistline of the queen's gown, banks of brocade are drawn up to each shoulder while the drapery is gathered and falls over the shoulders in the shape of a semi-circular draped cape. The dress has long, tight sleeves, and the full longth skirt ends in a pointed train. With it the queen will wear the Order of the Garter with its bright kingfisher blue sash contrasting with the glistening gown. The queen also will wear a hip length cape of sables presented by the Hudson Bay company, and a hat of apricot with amber tinted feathers.

Lakeland Bank Embezzler Gets 3-Year Prison Term

MIAMI, Fla., Nov. 7. (UP)—Roy L. Bruck, the "trusted" Lakeland, Fla., bank clerk who squandered $9,000 of the bank's money to fulfill a lifelong ambition to "travel, drink and gamble," today was sentenced to three years in Federal prison and fined $1,000. Bruck's plea for mercy was spurned by the court who told the youthful father that his crime was of a serious nature and should be punished severely. Bruck disappeared from his wicket in the Lakeland bank July 29 and headed for Las Vegas gambling halls with a young waitress.

Gov. Thurmond Takes Bride, 21, With Simple Rites at Mansion

COLUMBIA, S. C., Nov. 7. (UP)—Miss Jean Crouch of Elko and Gov. J. Strom Thurmond were married at noon today in impressive, formal ceremonies at the governor's mansion. It was the first time a governor of South Carolina had been married at the mansion while serving as chief executive, and Mrs. Thurmond, at 21, became the youngest first lady in the state's history. Only 20 close relatives of the bride and groom were present for the ceremony at which the Rev. C. M. Rogers of Orangeburg, pastor of the bride's home town church at Elko, officiated.

Two Dead In Louisiana Storm

GOLDEN MEADOW, La., Nov. 7. (UP)—Rescue workers dug through demolished homes and stores in this area today for additional victims of a tornado which last night left two dead and at least 10 persons injured at Galiano, La., six miles north of Golden Meadow. The tornado struck with its greatest fury at Galiano, where it killed a 23-year-old mother, Mrs. Henry Danos, and her sister, Miss Frazie Pitre, 41, dead, and an infant and elderly woman missing. The infant's crib was found floating in Bayou Lafourche, several hundred yards from the home of her father, Wiltz Danos. An estimated 50 persons were left homeless.

Thieves Loot In London Fog

LONDON, Nov. 7. (UP)—Thieves took advantage of London's worst fog in years to smash shop windows in the Oxford street shopping district last night and made off with merchandise worth several thousand dollars, police reported today. The fog was lifting today, restoring some measure of normalcy to movement about the city which had been cramped for more than 12 hours.

Fire, Police Departments Ask Raise Take Cue From Beach, Miami City Employes

Taking their cue from salary increases granted Wednesday to Miami and Miami Beach city employes, members of the Coral Gables Fire and Police departments today petitioned the city for wage hikes that would put them on an equal basis with the Miami departments. The petition, signed by every member of the two departments, will come as no surprise to City Manager William T. McIlwain, who told the Riviera-Times yesterday that he anticipated wage demands as a result of the action of the Miami city commission and predicted that the first petition would come from the police and firemen. Bus drivers have already presented new wage demands and will confer with members of the city commission on Friday, Nov. 14. The refuse and finance have also asked for a hearing. Salary Inadequate The petition, which was forwarded to the city manager this afternoon stated the present salary of members of the Police and Fire Departments is inadequate to meet the steady rise in cost of everyday living, and pointed out that many members are paying rent far beyond their means. "It is not unusual to find members paying $75 a month for an unfurnished apartment", the petition stated. The employes of the two departments pointed out that wives (Please Turn to Page 3)

Dim View Gloom Factors Cited By I. N. Parrish

I. N. Parrish, general manager of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce today took a look at gloomy factors in the 1947-48 winter tourist season here and found the picture no inspiration for "Pollyanna" optimism. "To suggest that the golden tide of new money coming so steadily into this area since the war might slacken, even a little bit, is to invite disbelief, not to say downright scorn," Parrish told a luncheon meeting of the Coral Gables Rotary Club. "I am not a viewer-with-alarm, but there are certain factors in the current situation that cannot be denied," the director of the Miami Beach Chamber said. Almost all seaboard, mountain and lake resorts reported Summer business below last year, and surveys showed that price consciousness, wholly absent here in the past two seasons, was evident in many places this Summer, Parrish noted. "Pre-season business has been (Please Turn to Page 3)

City Uses 8,000th (And Last) Sticker

Coral Gables police ran out of inspection stickers yesterday afternoon, forcing them to send a hurry-up order for more to take care of the largest number of automobile inspections in the history of the community. "We ordered 8,000 stickers, thinking the supply would be ample," Lieut. Floyd P. Brasher said today, "but when we placed sticker 8,000 on a windshield yesterday afternoon, there was still a line of cars waiting to be checked." An additional supply was expected this afternoon when the inspection station was to resume operations.

Driver Arrested On Reckless Count

Lucius F. Pratt, 2213 Red Road, was arrested yesterday and charged with reckless driving by failing to yield the right of way and causing an accident. Pratt's arrest followed an accident at Ponce de Leon and Alhambra Circle, involving his car and one driven by Harold Payne, 3950 Poinciana Drive. Police reports charged that Pratt's car entered the intersection from Alhambra Circle and collided with Payne's.

TODAY'S WEATHER

Partly cloudy through Saturday. Warmer in most sections tonight.

Peter J. West, District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge will make his official visit to the Coral Gables lodge tomorrow. The Key West official's arrival will be heralded by a reception, banquet and initiation ceremony at the Avenue Giralda home of the local Elks.

3 Apartments Projects To Cost 166,000 24 New Housing Units Seen at 'Reasonable' Rent

Construction plans for three apartment projects which will provide 24 additional dwelling units at "reasonable rentals" were revealed today by Building Inspector Gilbert B. Campbell. Building cost of the projects has been estimated at $166,000 by W. H. Adalberger, who will build them under three corporations as government sponsored "608 projects," Manfred M. Ungaro is the architect in charge. Two buildings, "housing four units each, will be built at 4900-10 Yumuri Street at a cost of $58,000 under the name of the San Ignacio Apartment Development Corporation. A two-story, eight unit structure is slated for 1608 Avenue San Ignacio, costing $54,000. It will be built under the name of the Rivi- (Please Turn to Page Three)

Gableites Hold Majority As Bowl Group Takes Off

Coral Gables residents dominated the scene at noon today as a delegation of Greater Miami business and civic leaders left by train for Baltimore and New York to represent the Orange Bowl at two major eastern football games. Headed by Mayor W. Keith Phillips and Dr. Bowman F. Ashe, president of the University of Miami, the Gableites included C. F. (Jack) Baldwin, Dr. F. E. Kitchens, M Lewis Hall, Sam H. McCormick, Richard Hunt, Robert E. Clarke, Ben Smeethurst, Chauncey Butler, Stuart W. Patton, Reg. Richard Oelkers, Jr., Gordon Anderson, Dean Foster E. Alter and Tom Rose. Traveling in four special FEC railway Pullmans, the contingent will see the Georgia Tech-Navy game at Baltimore Saturday, eyeing Tech with a view to an Orange Bowl invitation, then proceed to New York City, where they will be guests for "Orange Bowl Day" at Yankee Stadium Sunday as the New York football Yankees meet San Francisco in an all-American conference game. Mayor Perrine Palmer of Miami and Mayor Marcie Liberman of Mis ami Beach, Miami City Manager R. G. Danner and Orange Bowl President John G. Thompson were in the delegation. Others making the trip were: William Atwill, R. P. Ludwig, W. G. Ward, R. D. Freeman, Van C. Kussrow, Horace Loomis, Dr. A. F. Kasper, Oscar Dooly, Paul Scott, Avery Guyton, Jesse Yarborough, Judge George Holt, E. H. Hill, Oscar Miller, Comer Kimball, W. H. Fassett G. C. Callahan, Bob Pierce, Dr. J. H. Yarborough, R. B. Gautier, Jr., W. C. Lantaff, Lee Wortley, John Ring, W. F. Mooty, Joe Adams, Paul Marks, Ray Miller, Grover Morrow, A. A. Ungar, Perry Nichols, Frank Pruitt, Luther Mershon, Newton Lummus and Orange Bowl Business Manager E. E. Seiler. Congressman George Smathers expects to join the party in Baltimore. It will return Tuesday morning.

City Plans 3 Precincts for Gas Election New System Will B Be Used In All Balloting

For the first time in its history, Coral Gables is to have a multiple precinct election, City Clerk E. B. Poorman revealed today. Plans developed today for the special election on a proposed gas franchise, March 2, include the setting up of three balloting places within the city limits, Poorman told the Riviera-Times. Once the multiple precinct system is established, it will be used in subsequent elections. One of the precincts will be located south of Bird Road, Poorman said, adding that the main problem is the dividing up of the heavily populated section north of Bird Road into two voting places. Poorman said that he wanted to divide the area by through streets, if possible, to prevent confusion and at the same time establish permanent boundaries that will not have to be changed as the municipality grows. The state law requires that not more than 2,400 voters cast ballots in one precinct. Under the old Coral Gables system, all voting was done at city hall with a single registration book plan. Four possibilities exist for setting the boundaries north of Coral Way, Poorman said, but no lines will be decided upon until a complete check can be made. From five to seven combinations of books will be required for the new registration under the precinct divisions, Poorman stated. All Coral Gables voters will be required to re-register between January 2 and February 14.

Frehling to Talk In WBAY Series

Dr. Stanley Frehling will be the first speaker on a new series of broadcasts sponsored by the Dade County Unit of the American Cancer Society which will be heard each Monday over Coral Gables Radio Station WBAY from 1:45 to 2:00 p.m. Mrs. Clyde A. Epperson is commander of the unit

SOUNDS LIKE MEAT ON TABLE

Mrs. Gerard Ptit, 125 Pros-pect Drive, is having squirrel trouble and wants the Coral Gables police to do something about it. Mrs. Ptit phoned police headquarters yesterday and complained that the bushy-tailed animals are eating all the fruit from her trees and that she wants the law to some down with guns and shoot them. One officer, on hearing her complaint, commented, "Show me those squirrels. With the food costs are rising, I'll be glad to shoot them for my own table."

Youth Center Gets Gloves In Addition to Jaycee Cash

"And don't pull the punches," Jaycee member Chick O'Domski (right) tells Youth Center Director Ed Beckman as he presents him with six pairs of boxing gloves to be used in Center bouts. The Jaycee trio in the rear includes Sam Elcook, President Ben Turner and Bunny Lovett. Contemplating future fistic encounters in the first row are Everett Lee, David Casey and Jerry Degen.—Riviera-Times photo by Binner. Adding to a $250 cash donation, members of the Coral Gables Junior Chamber of Commerce yesterday presented the Coral Gables Youth Center with six pairs of eight and ten-ounce boxing gloves to be used in the semi-monthly bouts held at the local recreation center. In making the presentation, Jaycee President Ben Turner announced that the organization has adopted the Youth Center as its main project and that Jaycees will take an active part in the center's drive for capital and occupational funds. The Junior Chamber recently printed 1,000 booklets, telling the story of the Youth Center, which are being mailed all over the world in answer to hundreds of inquiries concerning the founding and organization of the juvenile headquarters. E. D. Rogers, chairman of the men's division for the drive, which begins Nov. 15, complimented the Jaycees for their interest in the project and added that their help will be invaluable when the campaign begins. He also repeated his plea today for volunteer workers to assist him in making solicitations in the business district when the drive gets under way. "We're going to need plenty of help," he stated, "so I'll appreciate anyone that is willing to work phoning me at 4-6559.

Alert! Gouveia Spots Hot Car on Rounds

The alertness of Police Officer Charles Gouveia resulted, yesterday afternoon, in the returning of a stolen car to its owner. Officer Gouveia was making a daily check on parking meters and spotted a car parked overtime. When he checked the license number he recognized it as a stolen vehicle. The automobile was stolen on Miami Beach from Solly Begner, Tides Hotel. It marks the second stolen car Gouveia has returned in the past two months.

Negro Drops Dead

Clovis Bailey, Negro, dropped dead at noon today as he was climbing the stairway leading to the office of O. B. Sutton, justice of the peace. The body was removed by the sheriff's office.

Apartment Project For Clark Acreage Seen in Zoning Move Miami Slates Public Hearing For Monday

Prospects for the developmem of a large apartment and hotei area on the 130-acre Clark tract just east of Coral Gables at Coral Way and Douglas Road were revealed today with the announcement of an open hearing of a request to change zoning on the tract. Frank Stearns, secretary of the Miami City Planning Board, told the Riviera-Times today that the request for the hotel sites had been made by Herbert Sawyer, attorney for the David H. Clark estate. He added that Edward Moylan, Jr., Miami real estate broker, was also active in the arrangements. Moylan's plans to sell the tract at auction were announced last month. The open hearing has been set for 7:30 Monday evening in room 600, Dade County Courthouse. Neither Sawyer nor Moylan could be reached today for a statement. The area proposed for zoning changes does not include the strip of lots fronting on Coral Way and Douglas Road, which are zoned for business.

Trustees Scotch Rumor Harding Will Be Replaced

Persistent rumors that the University of Miami's Head Football Coach Jack Harding would be replaced by the university's athletic director and replaced as football coach were emphatically scotched today by members of the university's board of trustees. According to the rumor, Harding was to have been retired as head coach at the end of this season by action of the board of trustees at its last meeting. No mention was made of a possible successor but speculation was rampant on the choice of a replacement. When queried on the authenticity of the report, Julian E. Eaton, chairman of the board of trustees, said, "I have presided over every meeting of the board as chairman and the matter has never been discussed." Roscoe Brunstetter, a member of the board who attended the meeting at which the action was reportedly made, said: "I've never heard anything said on the matter, if it was discussed I was not informed." Other members of the board of trustees who were at the meeting could not be reached for comment. President Bowman F. Ashe, Coach Harding and several members of the administration are with the football team in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Hurricane's game there tomorrow.

Sales of Realty Top $1,440,000 During October

Real estate sales figures released today showed $1,440,546 worth of property was sold during the month of October in Coral Gables, according to Donald F. Peck, president of the Board of Realtors. A breakdown of the sales shows that 45 residences were sold for $821,936; six apartment buildings for $394,835; one duplex for $31,000, and 198 vacant lots for $283,475. This is an increase of $335,946 over September and brings the total sales to $11,285,350 since Jan. 1.

Here's How the City Employe Looks at It Bread Costs as Much Here As Elsewhere By CLIFF WILMATH

By CLIFF WILMATH George Warner has been piloting a Coral Gables bus for 21 years. He is married, has one daughter and a grandson. He has lived in the Gables since 1923. He likes the town and like his job—BUT "I have never been one to complain," Warner said, "But things are really tough for bus drivers now. If I didn't own my home, I don't know what I'd do. "We get $1.10 an hour. We buy our own uniforms, including pants for $12, shirt for $3.50 and cap for $3.50. "If we can get a 10-cent-an-hour raise, it will take the edge off and we'll be able to keep our heads above water." Warner ventured this opinion this morning when the Riviera-Times sought expressions from a cross-section of city employes on the question of pay increases. At the fire station, F. J. Neff, who has been a Gables fireman for 22 years, said, "We're just underpaid, that's all." Neff is married, has two sons and rents an apartment in Miami. "I would say that the cost of living has gone 50 per cent higher than the salaries of city employes in the last five years. The city has not increased salaries in proportion to the increased living cost. "Linemen or electricians get $2.25 an hour for 40 hours. A fireman puts in 72 hours a week and draws $262 a month, or an hourly wage of 90 cents. "Miami firemen have been granted a 10 per cent retroactive increase and so has the Miami Beach department. "It costs a fireman in Coral Gables as much to live as it does these fellows in the other cities. We have to pay 15 cents for a loaf of bread just as they do and we want the same pay that they're getting in Miami," Neff said. At police headquarters Sergeant Robert Crittenden said that the petition which is being circulated by city employes tells the story. (Please Turn to Page 3)

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