The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, August 24, 1961, page 4 (of 24)

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Coral Gables TIMES

THE Coral Gables TIMES Established Jan. 15, 1926 Published Weekly at 364 Seville Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. | Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher JOHN T. WATTERS | President Robert M. Slane | Advertising Manager Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

Tom Blount Raises A Question, or Two

The hair-splitting decision of Tax Assessor Tom Blount that the Riviera Day School is not entitled to tax-exempt status raises several interesting questions. Most obvious among them is, Was it a correct decision? The Times is of the opinion that it was not. Within the spirit of the law, Riviera seems as entitled to an exemption as say, Deerborne, which was granted one. The law says: "Such property as educational, literary, benevolent, fraternal, charitable and scientific institutions within the state as shall be actually occupied and used by them for the purpose for which they have been or may be organized" is tax exempt. Despite the fact that Riviera's owners set up an independent corporation to own the property (to protect themselves in liability suits), it seems to us they merit the exemption. Except for a fraction owned by their children, the Lorin Coppocks own the property in its entirety. More important, however, is whether any institutions such as profit-making private schools should go free of taxes. We don't think so. Perhaps the law was passed to encourage schools years ago. The public supports its own today. Private schools are a business, the same as the corner service station, community newspaper or local department store. The owners should be taxed like the remainder of their fellow citizens and we hope the next legislature will so decide.

Remember The Times

25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK The project to beautify Coral Way got underway. There will be a 30 foot wide parkway from downtown to SW 12th Ave. with 30 foot wide pavements on each side. From there to Douglas Road the parkway will be 20 feet wide and the pavements 25 feet wide. Dade County is paying $25,147 and the WPA will finance the rest . . . Pioneer resident and builder, Mr. Bennett, predicts that when the Gables gets its bond issue straightened out the population will jump to 50,000 within five years. 10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK UM has leased one of the buildings at the VA Hospital on Anastasia in which to house its new medical school in the event the University gets its initial grant from the state to start the long-awaited School of Medicine . . . Tax Assessor T. C Blount has announced an 81 per cent rise in the tax roll since 1946 . . . The Welcome Wagon committee's automobile was stolen while parked in the 100 block of Miracle Mile . . . The city has announced it will "resist with every means," efforts by the Federal Government, to build a dam in the Coral Gables Waterway.

Editor's Mailbox

EDITOR: In reply to your editorial "The Crimes of Charles Kamen?" I hasten to advise you, and readers who might otherwise be mislead, that no Rotarian has accused the young man in question of felonious conduct. Nor is my objection to Mr. Kamen's presence in the Peace Corps based on his upsetting a Rotary meeting. Rotarians, through generous contributions to the Rotary Foundation, have long supported the cause of world peace through international understanding to be brought about by university students. Rotary Foundation fellowships are available for study in virtually every free country in the world, but the student must be from a foreign country, preferably one which uses a language other than the student's native tongue. The success of the Rotary Foundation program has depended on the selection of the proper fellows. We don't seek the prototype Joe College conformist, nor necessarily the straight-A bookworm. I recall one Rotary fellow who even grew a beard and another who, although from the United States, played a very a ble roll as the Soviet judge of a mock World Court case on the Suez Canal nationalization in 1956. Objections to Mr. Kamen's membership in the Peace Corps stem from his immature indiscretion, as evidenced by his conduct at the Rotary meeting in Miami. I take no issue with Mr. Kamen's opinion of "Operation Abolition," but the manner in which he chose to voice his opinion, in my valued judgment, clearly disqualifies the chap from representing this country abroad. I do not feel that this qualification should be looked upon as a permanent "blackball," nor as punishment for any alleged "crime." Mr. Kamen's academic record should amply qualify him for a number of positions in this country which we might anticipate will mature him, without doing injury to the convictions which he holds. I myself may well be in accord with some of Mr. Kamen's opinions . . . but certainly not with his manner of expressing them. As wise men, let us now chastise the young man. And as wise men, let us not run the risk of having the Peace Corps deteriorate by the presence of immature youth who can do irreparable damage to our country by not controlling emotions as members of a democratic society are bound to do. OWEN S. FREED 255 University Dr. (Editor's note: Mr. Freed, who practices international law here, is himself a Rotary Fellow who spent 1956 studying law in Uruguay. He also studied in Honduras in 1953. He speaks Spanish fluently and has frequent business contact with Latin America). * EDITOR: I have just read your "Mailbox" column and the short piece on Charles Kamen. Both pieces being written in defense of the person. I note that N.W.W. recalls being sensibly treated by Socialist Norman Thomas when he expressed himself at a lecture. He defends Mr. Kamen's right to express himself in the same manner. He seems to disregard the fact that Kamen did his best to disrupt the Rotary meeting with outbursts and attempted to grab the 'mike' from the speaker to express his views. He did not, as N.W.W. did, wait until the opportunity arose to present his opinions. I feel he might have received less harsh treatment had he acted as any decent person should, he was a guest at this meeting you know. As for the film itself, "Thinking Americans" might investigate a bit more before opposing a film which did not lie in what was shown. As for the sequence of film clips, the misplacing of one did little to destroy the truth of the film's message. The riots were Communist inspired, Communist led and Communist hailed! This is enough for any American to decide which 'team' Kamen is rooting for. I will be glad to forward to you the official statement by Mr. J. Edgar Hoover regarding the Communists behind the riots and their workings; it might interest you. AL POWELL 5920 SW 19th St. More Letters EDITOR: Congratulations on your Kamen editorial. Mrs. Madeline McEldowney 2306 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

EVERYBODY'S Business By Rolfe Neill

Discovery Memo to those who might not have already found it out the hard way (wife on vacation): Don't fry bacon without your pajama top on. On Newspapers As the guest of that indefatigable typewriter man, Cap Libby, I heard Dade Sen. Cliff Herrell at the Coconut Grove Rotary Club last week. Herrell gave an account of his stewardship in the Legislature. It was an interesting talk, forcefully presented. The part which most interested me, however, dealt with newspapers. The senator's remarks principally were critical. He said it was unfair to criticize, as had the newspapers, the session as do-nothing. He said some 4,000 pieces of legislation were introduced and about 500 of them became general law. "Sometimes you're performing a service to defeat legislation as well as to pass it," said the senator. In other remarks about newspapers he criticized the quality of the reporters covering the legislature, suggested that much of what they write is done out of personal favoritism for certain politicians and that often the day's output represents half-hearted or even indifferent digging on their part. He held up a clipping about the reduce-the-tax-on-inventory bill he introduced. The clipping referred to it as a "sleeper bill." Herrell then recounted the public hearings he'd held plus letters he'd sent at the beginning of the legislature in reference to the bill. He told a story about a woman reporter from a daily paper whom he said approached him about the need for more juvenile rehabilitation facilities in the state. He got the figures which proved, he said, there was no need. "Say, that would kind of knock the heart out of my article, wouldn't it?" he quoted her as saying. Herrell related he saw the story - minus his figures - splashed in a big way a short while later. So, in brief, he was sort of let down with the press although he hastened to add that personally he had been the beneficiary of a "good press." Now I know nothing of the quality of the legislature's reportial coverage nor of the facts involved in the incidents the senator cited. I do know, however, that his broadly implied criticisms of the press are in many instances true. The press is quick to rebutal if attacked. However, in my opinion, measured against perfection, we have a long, long way to go. We are, for the most part, prisoners of the "angle," the struggling for bright ways to say it. We are shackled to time in the belief (an erroneous one) that if it's older than yesterday nobody will read it (how about when they opened King Tut's tomb?). While it is proper to be inquiring of authority, do-good organizations and other organisms of society, the reporter's suspicion often turns to cynicism as he is exposed to the imperfections of the institution. The cynicism infects his approach. The list is lengthy as to our limitations. We are frequently in error and as an industry loath to admit it. You could find many faults. But there is hope. For always somebody is working with an eye on perfection. For always somebody is lacerating himself for the shortcomings of his product instead of flattering himself with whatever are its merits. The press has shown gradual improvement in this country in the past 100 years. I wish more people would examine newspapers critically. If they did so, I think they would place more value on the role of a newspaper in a free society. I've always been of the opinion - increasingly confirmed - that U.S. citizens would not really fight to maintain a free press. Is it our own fault?

INKSPOTS by INK

TOM SHELLEY AND HANS WEDEMEYER RECEIVED PERFECT ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES FOR 18 AND 23 YEARS RESPECTIVELY AT CORAL GABLES KIWANIS LAST WEEK. CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN! A WEEK OR SO AN' I'M IN SCHOOL TO STUDY NOTHIN' IN PARTICULAR THE COURSES THAT I LIKE THE MOST ARE EXTRA CURRICULAR! MOST FREQUENT COMPLAINT ABOUT CORAL GABLES CONCERNS IT'S CRACKED SIDEWALKS. I HATE ALL SIDE WALKS JUDGE CHARLES SNOWDEN HAD THE BAD LUCK RECENTLY TO BACK HIS CAR INTO ONE OF OUR POLICE CRUISERS. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE HE WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE! SOMETHING IS IMPROVING! I SEEM TO HAVE..HA, HA, FORGOTTEN MY LICENSE CORAL GABLES IS A SAFER PLACE THIS YEAR ONLY 93 ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED IN JULY COMPARED TO 123 FOR JULY OF 1960. THE SEVEN MONTH TOTAL WAS DOWN FROM 992 TO 912.