The Coral Gables Times

4 THE CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, December 28, 1961 THE Coral Gables TIMES Established Jan. 16, 1926 Published Weekly at 364 Sevilla Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. | Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla.

How to Live With a Monster (II)

We believe Metropolitan Government for Dade County is needed. But we do not believe it is needed — nor that it is desirable — in the unlimited form in which it exists today. It is a monster with a built-in appetite (its charter) capable of gobbling us all (the cities of Dade). The Times would curb that power. At the heart of the matter is how much authority you think Metro should have. We happen to think it has too much. Hear some samples from its charter: "Metro shall exercise all powers and privileges granted to municipalities..." (Sect. 1.01). "No enumeration of powers in this charter shall be deemed exclusive or restrictive..." (Section 1.01). "This charter and the ordinances adopted hereunder shall in cases of conflict supersede all municipal charters and ordinances..." (Section 8.04). The courts have shown us in Coral Gables that the business of setting your own building code standards is wishful village thinking by us citizens who thought we could have Metro and a Coral Gables. In fact article 13 of Section 1.01 plainly states: "No municipality shall be entitled to require examinations or any additional certificate of competency or impose any other conditions for the issuance of a municipal license except the payment of the customary fee." This is the language of a document one-third of whose preamble consists of this line: "to endow our municipalities with the right of self-determination in their local affairs." Alas, it is an empty phrase, signifying nothing. But the two dozen municipalities of Dade County can get some of their prerogatives back if they will act. We have deeded them away for now and we can be sure that power given does not long lie unused. We must insist on redesigning the Metro charter. Instead of a document which would reduce Coral Gables to being a vassal of Metro, let us have a Charter with a Bill of Rights for cities. Give us a charter with the ironclad guarantees that the Gables or any other city can set the highest of standards for building, zoning or any other area it chooses. Give us a charter that if it must err in the apportionment of power, will reserve that greater part of sovereignty to the cities. The pill of centralization is often dropped down our throats coated in the sugar of "efficiency" or "savings." The truth is that most of us citizens would even rather pay a little more if need be in order to keep our government close at hand where we can know it and be known by it. And the further truth is that for all the glorious promises of money saved and more efficient administration, they are mostly the happy plans of governmental dreamers. The reality is most always harsher than the dream. Next Week: More about that Bill of Rights

The Things We've Got

It was not, as far as we can tell, the dictates of reason that caused Metro's transit authority to announce last week that it was no longer coveting the Coral Gables bus system. Rather, it was the simple inconvenience of not having enough money to acquire the system. But for whatever the reason, we're grateful for the delay. We're grateful because this newspaper believes the Gables does not have to give up its well-operated system in order to receive better interconnecting service. Neither must it give it up in order for Metro to achieve its goal of efficient countywide transportation. So we find, in the end, the transit authority doing what only a few months ago it said it couldn't: Working with the Gables bus system in an arrangement that accomodates and benefits all. And we commend the City Administration for going ahead and buying new rolling equipment at a time when the transportation future here is uncertain. Patrons of the system are not being penalized by the indefiniteness that existed until last week and, no doubt, will rise again In the future once Metro gets a few extra dollars in the cash box.

"What's Your Feeling About Fallout Shelters?"

ART TIMES

By Robert S. Hurwitz Bravos for the Miami Museum of Modern Art. Bravos for Bernard Davis and his continued willingness to deck his walls with the "difference in paintings" others are too timid to try. Bruce Larson now showing a prodigious display of painting dynamite, soundly smashes the modern art sound barrier by causing loud cries of indignation and mistrust by the sleeping "it's not art" critics. Larson's show of non-objective paintings spin your senses in a whirl of color, vibration, dynamics, and originality not usually seen in this area. It takes only a split second glance to get lost in the dramatic effect of dancing color, alive with the vitality of mystic forms and pelting paint. And to say the least, there's plenty of oil on the brush before space is conceived. His darting, dabbling, brush plants areas of built-on paint . . . not where you'd think they should be, but where the artist intuitively knows they must be. In "Designation" Larson typically leads you emotionally into a secret world of thought. His onrushing planes of jagged line carries your eyes forward. He then contrasts with delicate but deliberate receding colors that take you back into space as far as you personally want to go. He deftly keeps your attention by alternating his values and crafting his line. This show demonstrates modern movement in contemporary painting today. Its comments will evoke all of the standard smart set cliches. So if you're so inclined, don't waste your breath. If, however, you view this show without preconceived notions, the revelation of under-standing will be worth your while. Not every work is good—some are downright miserable—some should not even be shown. Perhaps deciding the good and rejecting the inferior is a lesson in art appreciation you need. In some paintings Larson gets lost in errors and can't recover—so let's just say he makes mistakes (don't we all) and failed. But when he is inspired by an inner vision that displays before your eyes forms, colors, patterns, and textures that provoke personal response within yourself then we say his painting has succeeded. In Bruce Larson I find real hope for the future school of "Personism". "Personism" that art which allows the artist to express pure thought and emotion according to his individual desire without fear of contradiction from the outside. Robert Drapers, Mirell Gallery in Coconut Grove is displaying the paintings of Reyna V. Youngerman and the sculpture of her daughter Judith Gindy. Renya opens her eyes wide to the local scene and records the interest of our own back yard. By mixing off the brilliance of the tube fed colors and a careful blending of dulls, she depicts well "View from the Columbus" "Dreamboat," and "Twelve Noon." Miss Youngerman uses a short cut to detail by capturing the image without depending upon exact representation. Her historical approach to painting Florida is welcome indeed. Judith Gindy makes her debut in sculpture with a showing of figures in interpretive dance.

BOOK ABOUT FLORIDA SHIPWRECK

A new addition to the Coral Gables Public Library is the "Journal of Jonathan Dickinson." This journal, of especial interest to Floridians and historians, has been out of print for years. Jonathan Dickinson sailed from Jamaica Aug. 23, 1696, on the barkentine "Reformation" with his family, and others. They were shipwrecked off the coast of Florida near what is now known as Jupiter Inlet.

EVERYBODY'S Business By Rolfe Neill

After the Ball Some post-Christmas impressions: Why is it that women don't recognize that a knit dress is one of the most difficult of all types to be worn becomingly on a feminine form? Two gifts per child are enough. More than that are confusing to the recipient and discarded. The most attractive holiday displays are the simplest. The more elaborate they are, usually the less distinctive. Strands of single colored lights are far more effective than the multi-colored ones. The jokes about fathers and electric trains are true. Beyond the big dinner and the gift opening, families spent little time doing things together during the holidays. * * * History I didn't know that Mrs. Ed Preston of 1215 Alhambra Cir., is the daughter of the Gables' first elected mayor, Fred Hartnett, himself a former holder of that office, introduced me to Mrs. Preston on the street last week. Mrs. Preston's late father, Philip E. Montanus, was elected in 1929. He had first come to the Gables on one of Geo. Merrick's chartered buses, liked what he saw and moved his family in. * * * His Reply Leslie Simmonds writes to say: "Enjoyed that pgh. in your column quoting The New Yorker, I've been reading that mag since about 1930. "They sure echo my sentiments on that bomb shelter bit. There's nine million questions that cannot be answered: "'When you come out — if you come out — what will you eat, who will have buried the millions of dead and on and on and on.' Alas, Les, I don't think anybody has those answers. * * * Headlines The Link, bulletin of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, had some original headlines in a recent issue to go with the Christmas Story. Here they are: Tourists Flood Town, Baby Born, Humble Husband, Startling Story, Educational Expedition, Political Prognostication, Astronomers Astounded, and Innkeepers Embarrassed. * * * He Was Here Seen walking on Miracle Mile last week among us ordinary folks, was ex-baseball star Ted Williams. Instead of a bat, his hands were full of packages. * * * She Says A lady, greatly disturbed if she may be judged by her voice called recently to question the advisability of reprinting a piece on these pages which questioned the halo put around Sam Rayburn's head. I guess it's newspapers' fault — particularly those which print mostly one viewpoint — but don't readers understand that an editorial page should be a skirmish area, where opinions of all ranks may clash? Ugh, I don't want to be a priest presiding over a funeral each week but a midwife present at the noisy, pulsating, hectic birth of ideas.

MAILBOX

EDITOR: As a travel agent I am deeply grateful for the publicity given to the establishment of a joint airlines office at the University. Aslo for the editorial that appeared in Dec. 14th's issue. I would like to point out in connection with this editorial in which it was stated that our argument should be directed to the airlines and not to the University, that the airlines would never have established themselves on th University had they not first been invited to do so by the University. I consider that the only solution to this situation would be to have the University officials reverse themselves on this decision and ask the airlines to close the office which the airlines have indicated they are willing to do. I believe it is up to the University officials to stop this trend of commercialism on the campus immediately. R. H. HUNTER Holiday Hunters 5830 Sunset Dr. South Miami

Remember The Times

25 YEARS AGO It was the week that a special election was called to vote for a method of refunding $11 million in debt. The city owed $8,389,000 in principal and $2,842,300 in accrued interest. Mayor Roscoe Brunstetter, who spearheaded the plan reminded voters that they could not vote unless their poll taxes for the years 1935-36 were paid. 10 YEARS AGO The First Orange Bowl Junior parade with six divisions, 40 floats and 10 bands took place. A crowd of 2,000 teenagers was expected. The Miami Hurricanes won 14-0 against Clemson in the Gator Bowl. The Riviera-Times announced the annual Baby Derby would be underway at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. ONE YEAR AGO A luncheon was held at the Coral Gables Country Club to honor Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker for his outstanding service and inspiration to American youth.