The Times

Water Rates Fight Led By S. Miami

South Miami's bid for lower water rates was turned down by the Metro Commission prior to the freezing of all Consumers Water Company rates Tuesday. The Commission, acting on advice of its Water Committee, set unifom rates for all areas served by Consumers Water Company even though South Miami has a suit pending against it because it set its own water rates two years ago. South Miami set its rates at $1.40 for the first 500 cubic feet of water and was promptly sued by the water company. Injunction Ordered The utility received an injunction putting the water rates back to $1.50. The suit never has been settled. But former South Miami city attorney Hughlan Long argued Tuesday that if the suit is settled in South Miami's favor, the rates will be frozen and the city will have no recourse but to wait until the two-year freezing period is over. Lower rates were given county residents served by Consumers, the largest privately owned water company in Dade County. County rates were cut from $1.80 to $1.50, bringing the savings to county residents to an estimated $80,000 a year. The new rates will go into effect in several weeks following Metro acquisition of the company. This is the first cut of Consumers' rates in the 32 years that the utility has been in business.

Fire Safety Good Practice

(Continued From Page One) their portable oil heaters taken from storage and overload electrical outlights with Christmas tree lights. And this presents fire hazards. "Of course, we've got laws and ordinances," Chief Matheson said, "and the fire department enforces them, not to restrict people but to make it safe for everyone." Fire Inspector Phil Sistik stressed that the chief cause of fires is "carelessness, plain old carelessness." Sistik gave an example. "A mother is in her kitchen and she's going to make french fried potatoes. And she fills a deep fryer with grease and then goes away. Sistik pointed out that there are many different ways a fire can carelessly be started. Overloading electrical outlets, and negligent handling of cigarettes are two chief causes. Complacency is just as bad as carelessness, believes Chief Matheson. "A lot of people in Coral Gables have a feeling of complacency. They feel that because they live in a CBS home, it's safe from fire. "Nothing could be farther from the truth. 95 per cent of home fires are due to the contents of the home." Chief Matheson is sure the new, $200,000 Fire Station due to be completed Dec. 1 at Riviera Dr. and Os. Dixie Hwy., will help combat fires. But, ironically, the department knows that their biggest enemy will be "the human element" with its cohort, "plain, old carelessness."

A CANE AND DARK GLASSES are a blind person's best friends, but these four men are hoping that you'll buy a light bulb next week and save someone's vision. And they're putting out their hands to you, asking you to join them Oct. 17-31 in the Coral Gables Lions Club light bulb sale. If you accept their hand and join with them by buying a pack of eight bulbs of different wattage, you'll help provide free eye checks-ups and operations for children. Left to right and hoping you'll be cooperative when they knock on your door during the sale are, vice president, Bill May, City Commissioner Joe Murphy, Mayor John Montgomery and president Howard McQueen.

Homes Looted Of $8900 By Gables Cat Burglar

What police suspect as a professional cat burglar struck again at two Coral Gables homes during the week with an estimated $8900 in jewels and cash taken during the two breakins. Although Coral Gables police still have no leads in the case, they do know the burglar's method of operation and habits. So far, he has hit about eight Coral Gables homes during the past six months. He may walk into a bedroom where residents are sleeping to commit his handiwork and he usually has something to eat before he leaves the premises. In most of his jobs he hits the homes of the wealthy and is uncanny in his knowledge of where valuables are kept. Tuesday night, Oct. 4, he hit the home of Mrs. Robert Howard, 4014 Granada, where he entered the home through an unlocked south door and left with $500 in $100 bills. While he was in the home he entered the bedroom where Mrs. Howard was sleeping, took a suitcase, ransacked the suitcase in the living room and went through Mrs. Howard's purse where he found the money. He left a flashlight, though, on a living room table. On the night of Oct. 8, what police suspect as the same cat burglar entered the apartment of Everett E. Butler, 236 Edgewater Dr., where he left with an estimated $8400 in cash and jewels. According to police records, he entered through an unlocked rear door, ransacked all dresser drawers and went through the pockets of all trousers hanging in a clothes press. He took a jewel box in one of the bedrooms to the downstairs where he took what he wanted. He then went to the refrigerator where he helped himself to what food there was. A half empty milk bottle was found by the rear door. Jewels taken included a threekarat diamond platinum ring at $5000 and a gold antique mond watch and bracelet with about 129 diamonds on it valued worth $3000; a Hamilton diamond necklace with five droplets of diamonds on it. He found $400 in cash, too.

It's 3 In A Row For Gables Team

The Velda Dairies, Coral Gables entry in the 95-pound division of the Inter-City Athletic Conference football league, has now won its third staight victory against no defeats. Last Satuday the team defeated the South Miami entry by a score of 13 to 7. Joe Fernandez scoed the winning touchdown on an end run, just as the clock ran out. The Jaycee-sponsored 115-pound team ran roughshod over North Miami, winning by a score of 25 to 0. After winning its opener, the PBA - sponsored unlimited weight entry was defeated last Saturday by South Miami, by a score of 25 to 12. All three teams will see league action again this week.

South Miami Construction In A Slump

South Miami building permit valuations continued to slide during September, putting 1960 total figures far below the first nine months of 1959. The September 1960, valuations total was $44,525 less than the corresponding period last year and included only 44 items, including three residences, repairs and a new roof for Pullman's Furniture, 6450 South Dixie Hwy. and miscellaneous other items. The Septeinber, 1960, building permit valuations total was $68,950, putting the 1960 total figure at $1,662,396. The total for the first nine months of 1959 was $2,171,643. Residence building permits were taken out by C. J. Stoker, 6461 SW 74th St., $12,500; M. Roberts, 6241 SW 58th St., $12,000 and M. Roberts, 6231 SW 58th St., $14,000.

Motel Suit Holds Back Pool Permit

(Continued From Page One) letti, doing business as Paoletti's Restaurant, 2900 Ponce de Leon Blvd., for consumption of beer and wine on the premises. Law permits restaurants having a seating capacity of 100 persons or more to have such a license. HEARD City Manager L. W. (Jimmy) Robinson Jr. report that Coaf Gables' bill in connection with the rebuilding of LeJeune Road though Coral Gables would be approximately $19,493. Robinson said this amount is for the city to move its facilities on the road right of way prior to the road construction. This does not include facilities of various utility companies. HEARD highlight of Metro's new code on annexation which included the porvision that Florida Power and Light Co. franchise taxes would still be retained by Metro if county land is annexed to a city. The commissioners plan to oppose the provision at a public hearing on the ordinance Tuesday, Oct. 18, before the Metro Commission.

Audit Report Challenged

(Continued From Page One) at that time. Any citizen or institution challenging a tax assessment may be heard by the Board of Equalization. This is the second time in two years that the hospital's tax exempt status has come before the city commission. In 1958 City Tax Assessor Thomas C. Blount pointed out to the City Commission that he did not think the hospital should be tax exempt. On advice of City Attorney Ted Semple, the commission overruled Blount and granted the exemption. The question arose again recently by Bernard Weksler, a Coral Gables attorney who is seeking to require charitable institutions to live up to state laws covering tax exemptions.

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