Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Friday, December 5, 1947, page 1 (of 8)

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CORAL GABLES Riviera TIMES

PUBLISHED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOONS VOL. 21—No. 67 (D) U.P. LEASED WIRE CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1947 8 PAGES FIVE CENTS MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

'ACT NOW' ON GERMANY, END DILLY-DALLYING, MARSHALL TELLS PARLEY

LONDON, Dec. 5. (UP)—Secretary of State George C. Marshall demanded today that the council of foreign ministers act now on fundamental German problems "in order to end the present division of Germany." "I suggest that we drop generalities expressing our desire for a central German government, and try to find out what each delegation has in mind," Marshall told the council. "Are members of this council prepared to create conditions under which German political and economic unity can become a reality?" Marshall sharply criticized statements of Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov, who during the past two weeks has urged creation of what he called an all-German government. "The United States wants there to be an 'all-German' government just as soon as there is an 'all-Germany' to be governed," Marshall said.

10,000 French Troops Battle Marseilles Strikers

PARIS, Dec. 5. (UP)—Ten thousand French colonial troops imposed virtual martial law on strike-torn Marseille today and the vanguard of 1,200,000 civil service workers answered a call to join the strike which has throttled the economy of France. Marseille strikers tried to storm the St. Charles rail station in the so-called "Red capital" of France, but were beaten back by combined security forces. The colonial forces took up security positions throughout the city, whose traffic was halted by roadblocks save for tanks and military vehicles. Flurries of disorder erupted throughout southern France and in the coal fields of the north, while in Paris the paralyzing grip of strikes and power failures stopped the subway trains for a time.

How to Keep Two Homes? 'Confidential' Says Railman

CHICAGO, Dec. 5. (UP)—Thomas Lawrence Foley, a 60-year-old railroad conductor, refused to tell today how he managed to support two wives for 22 years, housing them less than a mile apart without either wife learning about the other until last summer. Circuit Judge Julius Miner asked how he managed to keep everybody happy. "It's confidential, Judge," Foley replied. Then he went home with his first wife, Bertha, whom he married 38 years ago. They have three children, now all of age. Foley's other wife, Mrs. Eva Healy is suing to end their marriage which began in 1925. Mrs. Healy said they had two children, a boy, 12, and a girl, 9.

Union 'Make Work' Rules Under Fire of House Group

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. (UP)—Chairman Fred A. Hartley Jr., announced today that his house labor committee will open hearings within 30 days on legislation to impose drastic penalties on industry-wide strikes and union "make work" practices. The New Jersey Republican said the proposed bill would bring unions directly under the anti-trust act. "It would penalize them for anything they do that acts as an undue restraint on trade," he said. The measure would not interfere with bargaining on an industry-wide basis, he said, but would curb some labor leaders who now have "the power to tie up an entire industry."

Wage Hike Threatens Strike At Atomic Energy Plant

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Dec. 5. (UP)—A difference of opinion over a proposed 25-cent an hour wage increase for about 2,800 workers threatened today to throttle the nation's atomic energy production. The national office of the Gas, Coke and Chemical Workers' Union (CIO) today sanctioned a strike at the uranium reduction plant of the Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation plant here next Tuesday, union officials said, if negotiations now under way for a new labor contract are not completed before then. The present contract expires Tuesday.

Syria to Draft 19-Year-Olds

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 5. (UP)—The Syrian parliament voted today to draft all 19-year-olds into the army. Draftees ordinarily will serve 20 months, but the president was authorized to extend the service indefinitely in case of war. Some youths may be discharged after serving three months if they pay the governments one thousand Syrian pounds ($480).

Mayor Probes Xmas Carol Ban Ordered by Brooklyn School Chief

NEW YORK, Dec. 5. (UP) — Mayor William O'Dwyer promised a thorough investigation today into an assistant superintendent's order banning certain religious Christmas carols—including "Silent Night"—from holiday-programs in 23 Brooklyn schools. Assistant superintendent Isaac Bildersce issued the order last week. Dr. William Jansen, superintendent of schools, said he believed the order had been "misunderstood." "The order was not anti-Christian or anti-anything whatsoever," Bildersee said. "On the contrary, it was given in the spirit of seeing to it that what is done does not offend the sensibilities of even one child."

AFL Asks $7,600,000 Fund To Elect Pro-Labor Congress

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. (UP)—The AFL executive council proposed today that affiliated unions ask each of their 7,600,000 members to contribute $1 voluntarily to help elect a pro-labor Congress in 1948. Approval of the request would bring in almost $18,000,000, the amount sought by organized labor in 1948 to defeat congressmen who voted for the Taft-Hartley law and state legislators who supported similar measures in their states.

10 Hollywood Writers Indicted

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. (UP) — A Federal grand jury today indicted for contempt of Congress 10 Hollywood writers and directors who refused to say whether they were communists. Those indicted were Albert Maltz, Dalton Trumbo, Samuel Ornitz, John Howard Lawson, Ring Lardner Jr., Herbert Biberman, Robert Adrian Scott, Lester Cole, Alva Bessie and Edward Dmytryk. Conviction on the case charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

BUYER STRIKE BLAMED FOR REALTY DROP Sales Fall Under Million Mark In November

As the Coral Gables Board of Realtors reported realty sales for November dropping below the million mark for the first time since January, Realty Head Donald F. Peck, predicted the falling off to an informal "buyer strike" in new construction. Sales of new and existing properties were reported at $716,415 for November, a fall of about a third from October's $1,440,546. The only other 1947 month below a million was January, with $715,- 865. Figures for November of 1946 show the decline is not a purely seasonal one, as $1,132,000 in real estate exchanged hands a year ago. Realtor Peck said the figures were "indicative of a decided trend." Effects Being Felt Now "Building costs have gone up so rapidly in the last few months that a brake has been put on new construction. And prices of existing buildings have taken a corresponding rise, as the owners of existing homes are not to be left behind in the inflationary price wave," Peck said. The November figures bore out Peck's statement. Only 29 residences were sold in November against 45 in October. "There is a contest between a buyer's market and a seller's market," Peck explained. "The buyers are not willing to pay the price." The informal buyers' strike has been under way for three or four months, Peck said, and its effects are just being felt. Credit Tightening Washington, Peck said, is expected to tighten credit in the building industry. President Truman's Council of Economic Advisers has already warned the president that some reins are necessary to halt inflation. Peck said a close student of government policy had informed him from Washington that "real estate loans are the most vulnerable classification because of real estate inflation." Peck's adviser said real estate loans will be the "chief target" of Washington's credit tightening. In another expected move, the government will undertake a policy of "educating" bank examiners to scrutinize mortgages more closely before approval.

Social Page Tip Pays Off at $5.60

Horse players, 'tis said, rarely read the society section of a newspaper. But those who skipped the Riviera-Times' women's pages on Tuesday missed a tip that paid off. In a story on the social angle of the Gulfstream opening, Mrs. William L. Huntley of Coral Gables advised readers to keep an eye on her horse "Umptydan", stating that when he runs, he runs to win. Umptydan ran yesterday, paying $5.60 to win ticket holders.

Birthday Fete Planned by Youth Center High School Wing To Be Completed For Celebration

Completion of the new high school wing of the Coral Gables Youth Center will coincide with the occasion tomorrow night for the celebration of the second anniversary of the local institution dedicated to the youngsters of the community. Headed by Youth Center president Harry W. Morgenthaler Jr., officials taking part in the celebration will include Mayor W. Keith Phillips, city commissioners and members of the Center's board of directors. While actual construction work on the wing will be completed in 10 days, according to Center Youth Director Center ed Beckman said today that finishing up details will hold off the center's actual use of the structure until the Christmas holidays. To Have Lounge The new wing will contain a comfortable lounge room which will be available to organizations at Ponce de Leon High School for meetings and other functions. A large loggia outside the lounge room will be used by high school ping pong players and can be utilized for dancing in case of inclement weather. The lounge will be decorously decorated with soft colors adding to the motif. Following the dedication tomorrow night, high school members will celebrate with a dance in the patio. A ten-piece orchestra directed by Logan Turrentine will be furnished by the American Federation of Musicians, local 655. Entertainment will include the DeCastro Sisters, who will appear at 8 p.m. The act is being furnished by the Clover Club. The dance will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. with prizes and refreshments included on the program.

Buyer Protection Drive Launched By Rotarians

The Rotary Club was pledged today to support a program to protect buyers of land which "is either underwater or flooded waters from the wiles of "superexuberant" real estate dealers. Plans were made at luncheon today for the Rotary to join the Coral Gables Board of Realtors and Chamber of Commerce to present to the county commission a recommendation that property deeds carry the height of the land above sea level and that building regulations require floor levels above the high water mark. Dr. Otto J. Seiplein, research scientist, led the Rotary in its decision.

Two-Way Trade 'Must,' Says Chinese UN Delegate

Dr. P. W. Tsou, China's delegate to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Committee, flew to Coral Gables from Washington last night largely because he believes international trade is not a "one-way street." The Chinese agricultural expert is here to attend the opening of the Ho-Chong shop at Coral Way, where next week imported delicacies ranging from Chinese tea to Chinese jewelry will be available to Gableites. "Trade between nations must be a two-way traffic," Dr. Tsou said today. "The little store here is only a humble beginning," he said, "but it is what we want—more exchange of goods between our two countries." Second Visit This is Dr. Tsou's second visit to Florida. The first trip was while he was en route to the first meeting of the FAO at Hot Springs, Va., in 1943. That meeting, Dr. Tsou said, was called by Franklin D. Roosevelt with two thoughts in mind. First, said Dr. Tsou, FDR wanted to set up an organization to implement the Freedom from Want of his Four Freedoms. And, second, FDR hoped the 47 nations represented would find a level of mutual cooperation esteem which would carry into the projected United Nations, then still forming in the minds of Roosevelt and his advisers. Dr. Tsou headed the 20 members of the Chinese delegation to that conference and was also China's representative at Quebec in (Please turn to Page Three)

Gables to Join Glades Trek To Park Rites Special Buses To Leave City In Morning

A large contingent of Gables residents will join thousands of south Floridians early tomorrow in a trek to Everglades City, where President Truman will dedicate the Everglades National Park. Special busses will leave Coral Gables from the Greyhound bus terminal, Avenue Aragon and Salzedo St., at 8:15 tomorrow morning. Mrs. Marjorie D. Jacobsen, local agent, advised Gableites that in order to insure space reservations have to make reservations in advance. President Truman will take off from Boca Chica airbase, near Key West, at 9:25 a.m. and will arrive at Naples airfield at 10 o'clock, where he will be greeted by Gov. Millard Caldwell. The presidential party is expected to arrive by motorcade at Everglades City at 11 a.m., where the President will go to Wiley capture, remaining until noon, when he will go to the Rod and and Gun Club for a luncheon. The President will depart at 2:20 p.m. by car for the scene of the dedication ceremonies, where his speech will be broadcast at 2:45 p.m. The ceremonies will conclude at 3:10 p.m. The President is expected to discuss conservation needs at home and abroad. The opening ceremonies got under way today when Gov. Millard Caldwell bought a three-cent stamp in Florida City. The governor's purchase was a special green stamp, one of a special issue commemorating the park. State and national officials, including former Postmaster General Robert E. Hannegan, took part in the stamp ceremony.

Mrs. Nitzsche Attends Father's Funeral

Mrs. R. E. Nitzsche of 2412 North Greenway Drive is now in Trenton, N.J., attending funeral services for her father, Edward Reeger. Reeger was well known in Coral Gables, as he had wintered here for many years. He was 72-years-old at the time of his death. He was a prominent figure in the contracting business in Trenton. He was a Mason and a charter member of the Sons of Civil War Veterans. Reeger is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mary Jane Reeger, as well as his daughter, Mrs. Nitzsche. The John M. Stoddard of 1115 Columbus Boulevard is the granddaughter of the late contractor.

ALERT DRIVER TRACES TRUCK

The alertness of a by-stander, who jumped into his car and followed a truck which had collided with another automobile in a parking lot, resulted yesterday in the reporting of the truck's license number to the police. The witness was R. W. Smith of 222 Avenue Andalusia, who told police that he saw a truck strike a Ford belonging to Manley Inscho, 50, 2410 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Police checked the license numbers supplied them by Smith and will question the driver today.

RACE RESULTS GULFSTREAM PARK

FIRST RACE— Inverette | 11.10 | 5.20 | 3.20 El Ozuna | | 3.70 | 2.40 Hi Pi | | | 2.40 SECOND RACE— Victory Song | 14.20 | 6.60 | 3.90 Happy Flora | | 41.50 | 22.70 Hi Pi | | | 3.60 Daily Double 76.20 THIRD RACE— Compassion | 5.00 | 3.40 | 2.60 Combat | | 9.40 | 4.80 Lou Aldrich | | | 3.80 Tomorrow's Entries PAGE 3

On The Inside

TODAY'S WEATHER

Partly cloudy with scattered showers through Saturday. Continued warm. Moderate, occasionally gentle southeast to south winds.

Canal Widening Project Is Okayed

'Absorption by Abolition,' Merger Foe Cries In Debate PROPROPONENT GAUTIER INVADES ENEMY TERRITORY TO FIGHT FOR HIS BILL As the battle of words between legislator R. B. Gautier and Attorney Carl Hoffman over Metro-Dade consolidation moved to the Elks Lodge in Coral Gables last night, the law-maker promised Gableites their city would have the same relation to the proposed Miami county as it now has to Dade while the barrister described the whole scheme as "absorption by abolition" of municipalities. The merger is just "an old horn with a new blanket," cried Hoffman and Gautier flailed the present Dade-Miami setup as "horse and buggy government." An estimated 50 Gables citizens listened to the two opposite sides and joined in the question and answer period which followed the two arguments. Gautier flailed "duplication" of services of county and city. Hoffman said the proposition would mean 50 years of litigation before every last wrinkle is smoothed out. Stop Bickering "If it doesn't save one dime," Gautier said, "consolidation will be worth while if it can stop bickering between county and city officials." Hoffman attacked the method proposed to draw up the charter which would make Miami and Dade just Miami county. Voting for the 15 men who will draw up the charter and the commission to follow will take place at the same election means the taxpayer "won't know what he's getting," attacked Hoffman. Should the voters next November name the men to draw the charter, but fail to approve the charter itself, they "would never be through with it," Hoffman stated. The provisions of the instrument make another vote compulsory each 30 days until the voters favor the charter, he explained. Gautier countered by comparing the method to be used here with the procedure followed when the United States constitution was drawn up. "Not a bit of it," cried Hoffman. "The U.S. constitution took years to create and you plan to draw up this charter in 90 days."

Work Starts Monday Morning On Waterway

Another extensive segment of the Coral Gables Waterway was slated to be opened for development and large home building today, following authorization for widening the canal to 100 feet from South Dixie Highway to Blue Road. The work, which will be done by O. A. O'Neill, will start Monday morning when bulldozers will start clearing the 2,018 feet of canal frontage lots in preparation for ditching machines. O'Neill appeared before the city commission last night to offer to do the work at no cost to the city in return for the rock and fill he will excavate from the canal site. The canal has previously been widened from Biscayne Bay to Miller Road. O'Neill has also taken over the completion of the John A. Bouvier commission contract to extend the waterway from Riviera Drive southwest to where it will join the main canal near Biltmore Drive, north of Blue Road. No Blasting Necessary The new canal project will delay the construction of the Blue Road bridge until June 1, but city commissioners last night agreed that the importance of opening up a new stretch of waterway frontage for home development outweighed the disadvantages of delaying the bridge construction. The immediate construction of the bridge has been advocated by a group of residents in the area headed by Mrs. John E. Hissman. O'Neill assured the commission that no blasting will be necessary to widen the canal. Blasting operations on the Bouvier job recently brought protests from home owners in the vicinity who said that the concussion from the explosions was causing cracks to appear in their homes. Bouvier has employed Milton B. Garris, consulting engineer, to determine the extent of any damage. O'Neill agreed to post a performance bond, the amount to be set by the city manager, and assured the commission that he was adequately protected by liability insurance.

Wage Hikes Seen Settled Miami Plea Won't Affect Us—Smith

Coral Gables' transportation department expects no repercussions from the 35-cent wage hike, asked today by Miami Transit Company workers, Chester A. Smith, superintendent announced this morning. Coral Gables drivers were given a 10-cent an hour wage increase last week based on the union scale paid drivers of the Miami Beach Railway Company. The Miami drivers, scheduled to begin negotiations this afternoon, have asked an additional 35 cents. "Our drivers got exactly what they asked for," Smith told the Riviera-Times, "and I think that all of them are happy and understand that the city is paying as much as it can afford at this time." Smith also said that it was his personal opinion that the Miami drivers would compromise for $1.20 per hour, the same scale now being paid in Coral Gables and Miami Beach. The Coral Gables wage differs only in it does not have a time-and-a-half for overtime clause. Both are based on a 44-hour week. Coral Gables bus fares were raised from six cents to ten, local and from 12 cents to 15 for the Miami trip to achieve an overall raise for municipal workers. In Miami, E. D. Freeman, president of the bus company indicated that he would ask for a straight 10-cent fare with the elimination of tokens. "The day of the tokens is done", Freeman said. Coral Gables now sells tokens, 15 for $1.00.

Mrs. C. D. Benson Succumbs Here; Funeral Monday

Elouise Sprigg Benson, wife of Clifton Doll Benson, Coral Gables attorney, died this morning at her home, 1315 Cotorro Ave. after an illness of some duration. Funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at the Philbrick Miami Chapel with burial following in Woodlawn Park. Born in Baltimore, Md., she was married to Mr. Benson there in 1909. She was a graduate of the Maryland Institute of Art and won many awards with her paintings. The Bensons came to Miami in 1911 and Mrs. Benson had been active in church, social and civic life since that year. She was a member of the Miami branch of the American Penwomen and a past president of the Miami Women's Club. She also headed the kindergarten department of the Coral Gables First Presbyterian Church Sunday School.

Ornament Stolen

Frank L. Graham of 537 N.E. 32nd St., today reported to police that the radiator ornament had been stolen from his automobile as it was parked outside the Country Club of Coral Gables last night.

Truck, Auto Collide On Red Road

Two Fords, a truck and a coupe, collided yesterday at Sunset Drive and Red Road, but neither vehicle was badly damaged. The truck was driven by Eddie Larson, 20, Negro, of Homestead and William G. Pratt of 4512 NW 23rd Avenue was the operator of the coupe. The truckman told police he was making a left turn when the coupe cut in front of him. Pratt said he pulled hard to the left but could not avoid the truck.

Desk Man Cops Police Shoot

As Coral Gables police shot it out at the county pistol range yesterday, a desk officer, N. E. Crouch, posted the top score with a 266 out of a possible 300. Second highest score was that of Sgt. Harry Bell, whose 264 was only two points behind. Sgt. J. C. Powers and A. H. Borders tied for third, both shooting 253. Yesterday's firing was of the type known as the Florida police course, with ten shots of slow fire and 20 shots of rapid fire. The next highest scores were H. P. Pitz, 252, G. W. Tomlinson, 244, D. M. Retting, 235, Dale Edwards, 228 and Hermit Davis, 205.

WRONG-WAY LEO SCORES FOR FOE

Leo Fullwood, the Salvatore Park tennis pro, has taken up basketball, playing for the Elks Club in the Youth Center Municipal League. On the Riddle College court last night he made one-seventh of the points—for the other team. In spite of his donation, the Elks won handily, 61 to 14.

Gables Possible Site For Area Eye Bank

The possibility that Coral Gables might be the site for a South Florida eye bank was expressed today by Mayor W. Keith Phillips as he prepared to leave for Orlando for a meeting of the Florida Council for the Blind. Council members will confer with leading opthalmologists from throughout the state concerning the establishment of an eye bank in the South Florida area. Asked if there was a possibility that the bank would be located in the Gables, the mayor said it was "quite possible". He will leave tomorrow and return Sunday.

'Nightmare' a 'Dream' Again As City Bans Duplexes

Coral Gables city commissioners, accused last night of "trying to turn an individual's dream into a nightmare" by allowing duplex residences to face single family homes on Avenue Almeria, restored the thoroughfare to its dream status in an about face that rescinded permission for the multiple family dwellings. The action was one of several taken by the commissioners in a combined meeting with the zoning board of appeals. Theodore Myers headed a group of residents of the street who shouted "unfair and untrue" when Rep. R. B. Gautier and Lee Worley tried to present their plea for the duplexes in the packed commission room. Myers waved a copy of the Riviera-Times containing samples of the City-Chamber of Commerce national campaign ads at the commissioners, shouting "you advertise a residential Garden of Eden but you try to take it away from us". Mayor Decides Vote Mayor W. Keith Phillips had to cast the deciding vote in favor (Please turn to Page Three)