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I nj FORD, EDISON LAY LASH ON WETS’ VIEWS Auto Magnate and Electric Wizard Opposed to Dry Law Repeal. 'SANE FOLK WANT BAN’ Amendment Held ‘Greatest Force for Comfort and Prosperity.’ BY PAUL R. MALLON I mtrd Pres* Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON. March s—Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison were summoned to the defense of prohi bition today as the drys opened their case at the house judiciary committee's hearings on proposals to repeal or modify the eighteenth amendment. Both the automobile magnate and the electrical wizard hailed the dry Jaw as a great force for comfort and prosperity in telegrams read before the committee today. "I still feel that prohibition is the greatest experiment made to benefit tnan,'’ Edison said in his message. “My observation is that its enforce ment generally is at least 60 per cent, and is gaining, notwithstand ing the impression, through false propaganda, that it is a lower per cent.” Questioned by La Guardia Ford wired the committee from Florida that the eighteenth amend ment is “the greatest force for the comfort and prosperity of fie United States’Vand that “the sane people never will see it repealed or any dangerous modification.” The telegrams were presented by Bamuel Crowther, an economic writer, who was the first witness summoned by the drys. Crowthers delivered a lengthy argument in support of his contention that “la boring men are purchasing more comforts with money they formerly spent in the saloon.” A f ter Crowther finished his state ment he was questioned by Repre sentative La Guardia <Rep., N. Y.) : a wet, who asked a series of ques tions designed to show the witness was not well versed in economy. Drys in Complaint Drys complained to Chairman Graham about La Guardia’s search ing analysis of import and export trade figures. “What's the source of your in formation that liquor is selling at SSO a gallon?" La Guardia asked. “From friends who have made purchases.” “For legitimate purposes?” “No.” “You still associate with those friends?" Half a dozen drys on the commit tee shouted protests and the witness said, “Let's not go into that.” Graham ruled the question unfair. ACCUSED OF PAYING FOR WIFE'S MURDER Hichita Merchant Charged With Bribing Laborer to Kill Mate, WICHITA, Kan.. March s.—Ben Turner, ice and salt merchant of Anthony, Kan., today stood ac cused of paying: a fellow-townsman to kill his wife on “a down pay ment of $65 and $35 to come/’ The alleged confession was ob tained by officers from Joe Sutton, laborer, who told them he killed Turner’s wife. Turner still owes him $35. Sutton said. The woman's body was discovered Wednesday. POLICE SHAKEUP IS ORDERED AT BUFFALO Change Climaxes Outburst of Crime, Including Killing of Youth. Bv r nited Pres, i BUFFALO, March 5.—A shakeup in the Buffalo police force today climaxed an outburst of crime which included the killing of a youth who had stolen bread for his family, the holdup of an insurance company cashier on the eighth floor of an office building and three lesser holdups. Austin J. Roche, police commis sioner, announced that five detec tives. seven headquarters clerks end five members of the auto squad have been returned to patrol duty. WALES ON MOTOR TRIP Prince Recovering Rapidly From Attack of Malarial Fever. Bv r iPress NAIROBA Kenya Colony. Af rica. March s.—The prince ot Wales Is recovering rapidly from an at tack of malaria. He motored sev eral miles today. No Foolin' Bv United Press CHICAGO. March s.—Good new* for wives who have listened to regular lectures from their husbands about spending too much for clothes. The doctor's thesis written by Miss Louise Cowles of the Uni versity of Chicago, reviewing expenditures of thousands of families, asserts husbands spend 10 per cent more on clothing than their wives do. Complete Wire Reports of UNITED PRESS, The Greatest World-Wide News Service The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Thursday; somewhat colder tonight; lowest temperature, 25 to 30 degrees. VOLUME 41—NUMBER 255 Arrested Albert F. Meurer Arrest of Albert F. Meurer, for mer city councilman, resulted to day from his refused to pay a fine for alleged improper park ing. He will be tried Thursday. CITY BUSINESS MEN'S ’LEGGER SUSPECT HELD Checks Signed by Leaders in Professions Found in Possession. One source of “bonded” whisky, said to be supplied to prominent Indianapolis physicians, attorneys and business men, has been closed, federal dry agents claim, with ar rest of Irvin H. Sudbrack, 361714 East Sixteenth street. Sudbrack was held to the federal grand jury under $4,000 bond on liquor charges today by John W. Kern, United States commissioner. Police who arrested Sudbrack sev eral days ago claimed to have con fiscated tw’o pints of “bonded” whisky on his person. A raid on his home, it was alleged at the hearing, revealed twenty-three gal lons of alcohol ana a quantity of alleged counterfeit, whisky strip stamps and other materials for con verting alcohol into “whisky.” It was stated at the hearing that checks signed by several prominent professional men were found in Sudbrack's pocket when he was ar rested. several of the signers of the checks admitting they had pur chased liquor from him. BROKERS INDICTED IN EMBEZZLEMENT CASE 'Frisco Sextet Alleged to 1...ve Aided Bank Defalcation. flu United Press SAN FRANCISCO. March 5. George N. Keyston, president of the San Francisco Stock Exchange, and five members of his brokerage firm today faced charges of "aiding and abetting” persons indicted for em bezzlement of $550,000. Keyston and the others of the brokerage firm of Lies, Keyston Cos. are charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury. Bail has been set at $5,000 each. The indictment charges that the six men “aided and abetted" three employes of the Bank of Italy, re cently Indicted on charges of em bezzling $550,000. The money alleg edly was used for speculation. LAY BASIS FOR SUIT ON BOARD SALARIES City Controller Refuses Voucher of Sanitary Commissioners. Asa basis for a friendly suit to test legality of $3,600 annual salary of city sanitary commissioners, the sanitary board today sent a voucher to City Controller Sterling R, Holt for payment of salaries on that basis. Holt rejected the voucher. J. W. Noel, attorney for B. J. T. Jeup and O. C. Ross, the commissioners, indicated he would file suit to ob tain the maximum salary’, allowed by the law as long as construction work continues at the city sanitary plant. The state tax board eliminated the $3,600 salaries from the city’s budget, supplanting them with mini mum wages of SSOO. BOND ISSUE ACCEPTED City of Vincennes Gives Commis sion 5100,000 for Memorial. The George Rogers Clark Memo rial commission, meeting at the statehouse today, executed a con tract with the city of Vincennes, accepting proceeds of a SIOO,OOO bond issue toward construction of the memorial to the famous pioneer. The memorial is to be built in Vin cennes. STUMP DINNER SPEAKER Attorney Talks Tonight at Session of Illumination Conference. Albert Stump. Indianapolis attor ney, will speak at a dinner tonight in connection with the second an*- nual illumination conference, spon sored by the Electric League of In dianapolis. MEURER, HELD IN AUTO CASE, BALKS AT FINE ” Ex-Councilman May Force Probe of Traffic Zone Collections. CHARGES LAW NEGLECT Nonpayment of Fees Is Revealed in Check of City Books. BY CHARLES E. CARLL Thorough airing of the city’s methods of designating and collect ing fees for “unloading zones” along i the curbs in downtown streets is I expected to follow the arrest today and refusal of Albert F. Meurer, 4426 East Tenth street, former city j councilman, to pay a $2 fine for ! alleged improper parking. Meurer’s action resulted in his ; arrest on the charge, but h& was released on his own recognizance. He j will be tried before Municipal Judge ' Dan V. White Thursday. Through his attorney, Howard M. Meyer, Meurer will contend the sec j tion of the ordinance for providing for establishment of loading zones is ! unconstitutional and invalid. Meyer also will contend that in many in | stances the order has not been ! heeded. Tiiis will be supported by the argument that the privilege I can not be granted unless fees, re ; quired in the ordinance, are paid. Car Given Sticker Meurer received a sticker when he parked his auto in the fifty-four foot zone in front of the Hume- Mansur building on East Ohio street. Under the city traffic code, own ers of the building must pay an annual rental of SSO for the first eighteen feet in the space and $lO for each additional foot. This would make the annual fee for tills space $4lO. At city hall A. C. Thomas, deputy in the controller’s office, where the ordinance provides the money shall be paid, said there is no book In which such payments might be re corded. Paid in 1922 Tire only document available In the controller’s office, Thomas said, were those showing payment for the use of “silent policeman” to mark off the restricted zone. In 1922 a sum of $lO was paid by the Hurne- Mansur Company for the standards, of which $5 was to be refunded, rec ords show. In addition, records show occu pants of only twelve premises in the city paid for “silent policemen” during 1929 and none have paid fees this year. Thomas stated a similar record was kept at police headquarters but this could not be obtained by Meyer today due to the absence of Captain Louis Johnson, traffic de partment head. 150 DEAD IN FLOOD Big Oam Breaks: Thou sands Are Homeless. Bv United Press PARIS. March s.—The prefecture of police at Montauban officially re ported today the deaths of 150 per sons at Moissac as the result of the breaking of the Tarn dam, as the climax of the worst floods in south western France in half a century. Three thousand residents of the town are homeless, the police report added. FLIERS’ BODIES FOUND Plane Wreckage Is Discovered on Ranch of Will Regers. Bv United Press SAWTELLE. Cal.. March 5. Bodies of three men were found to day in the wreckage of an airplane which had smashed into the side of a small hill on the ranch owned by Will Rogers, noted humorist and actor. The men were believed to be Morey Johnson, Los Angeles, owner of the plane, and W. G. Hogge and Jean La Voie, both Los Angeles fliers. GETS $5,000 REWARD Gotham Taxi Driver Returns Purse Containing $45,009 in Jewels. B’i United Press NEW YORK. March s.—Clodo miro Ruiz, taxi driver, envisioned today a home in Porto Rico with the $5,000 reward he received after returning a purse containing $45,000 in jewels to Mrs. John E. Parsons. He found the jewels in his taxicab. HIGH - COST OF CAUTION Woman Loses 51.200 Ring WTien She “Outwits” Supposed Robber. Bv United Press EVANSTON, 111., March s.—Try ing to outwit a man she thought was a bandit cost Mrs. George H. Bab cock a $1,200 ring. Mrs. Babcock slipped the ring into her glove. The supposed robber went on. When the cautious woman shook out the glove the ring was missing. INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,1930 Spends Cash Freely !BlllilßßßwS^^™Mwcwwßiilw^fir^Sßß^SlßlWMßWWP^BWWswroWWwWlHHßßß^wgwßßß^wow^^^wTO^9m9w???rewßwcSßw9gw Governor Harry G. Leslie, who is spending money lavishly to make the state mansion a bower of luxury. ADMITS ATTACK, SLAYING OF BOY I - Hold Clinton Man In Brutal Murder. By United Press CLINTON, Ind„ March s.—An ad mission of an attack upon, and sub sequent murder of 11-year-old ' Glenn Judson, was made today Iby Clifford Siders, 29, Clinton, police said. Siders was arrested after an at tempted attack upon some school children, and during questioning confessed that on last Oct. 31, he attacked young Judson and beat him to death with a stone. Siders also admitted that he made several attacks upon women and children since the murder, the of ficers said. He was paroled from the state prison about eight months ago, aft er serving part of a term upon con viction on v a statutory charge. Officers had been working on the Judson murder since the crime was committed, without results. ALICE WHITE VISITING PARENTS OF HER FIANCE Silent as to Wedding Plans When She Arrives in Chicago. Bv Press CHICAGO. March s.—Alice White, 98-pound film flapper, spent her time today getting acquainted with the parents of Sidney Bartlett, bro ker-actor to whom she is engaged. Miss White was silent as to their wedding plans. Her only comment on arriving from California Tues day was that “they should ‘turn on the heat’ in Chicago.” SETS 45 AS MINIMUM AGE FOR CANDIDATES Responsible Offices Need Older Men, Civic League Stand, A resolution declaring “all rfe sponsible offices In local as well as county and state government be held by men past 45,” was adopted by the Garfield Civic League, which met Tuesday at the home of Mrs. Zelma Davis, Blue Ridge drive. “Men who have gone through the storms of life and have carried the burden of the taxes should be recog nized,” the resolution set out. CORONER PROBES DEATH Murder Is Hinted After Finding of Negro’s Body in CanaL ■What he believed to be the mur der of John Brown, 32, Negro, 551 West Seventeenth street, was being investigated today by Coroner C. H. Keever, Body of Brown, missing a week, was taken from the canal near Seventeenth street Tuesday. Death apparently had resulted from a frac tured skull. HE’S A GOOD PROSPECT Bachelor, Awarded 520,000 House, Is Besieged With Proposals. Bv United Press DETROIT, March s.—Cecil Co ville. bachelor, was awarded a $20,- 000 house *'/s week by the Detroit Builders' Association. Since then at least seventy-five women, seven proclaiming themselves widows ex perienced in housekeeping, have called or written and offered their hands in marriage. / CONVICT KILLS PRISON KEEPER Chief Auburn Warden Is Stabbed to Death. By United Press ALBANY, N. Y., March s.—Ed ward Beckwith, principal keeper at Auburn prison, was stabbed fatally by a Qopvict at the prison, today, according to advices to State Com missioner Raymond Kieb from War den Hoffman. The stabbing occurred in the prison dining room, near the end of the noonday meal, Hoffman said. Tire slayer was ascertained and is being questioned, he said. All prisoners were returned to their cells and conditions were quieu, Hoffman reported. It was not as certained what led up to the stab bing. Beckwith was stabbed four times in the abdomen with a knife. He struck his assailant, knocking him to the floor, and then collapsed. Several prison guards leaped upon the convict and beat him insensible with clubs, according to prison of ficials. TAFT IS IMPROVED Ex-President Rallies After Restful Night. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, March s—Wil liam Howard Taft, was “much brighter” this morning after a.rest ful night, attendants at the home reported. He was able to recognize the family housekeeper today and smiled wanly as he wished her a "good morning.” PERFECT IN PRACTICE Drill Turned Into Tragedy as Ad jutant Is Killed, Chief of Staff Shot. Bv United Press REVAL, Esthonia. March s.—The Esthonia self-defense corps went through a practice drill at 4 a. m. today in anticipation of Communist demonstrations Thursday, but i sentry became confused in the dark ness and shot the chief of the army’s general staff. In addition an adjutant who ignored a sentry was killed. HUNT TO GO ON TRIAL Alleged “Banana Kid,” Charged With Banditry, Before Collins. Kenneth Hunt, alleged to be the “Banana Kid,” who perpetrated nu merous recent holdups on Indianap olis taxi drivers this winter, will be brought to trial at the afternoon session today before Criminal Judge James A. Collins. Hunt is charged with auto banditry and robbery, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was arraigned Monday before Cqllins. COLD HITS FRUIT CROP Southern States Suffer From Drop. Says U. S. Survey. Bv United Press WASHINGTON. March s.—The sudden drop in temperatures near the close of last week, following the abnormally warm weather during February, has caused considerable damage to early fruit in southern states from South Carolina to Okla homa, the weekly bulletin of the United States weather bureau said today. Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis STATE’S MONEY SPENT LAVISHLY BY LESLIE ON LUXURIES FOR MANSION Governor Draws $833 Monthly From Maintenance Fund for Home, Then Pays Store Bills Exceeding $15,000 From Emergency Contingent Fund COSTLY KNICKNACKS ARE ON LONG LIST Chief Executive Also Adds Second Secretary to His Office Staff Without Approval of Legislature or Budget Committee for Expense. BY BEN STERN Governor Harry G. Leslie, besides drawing $833.33 a month from a specific fund for maintenance of the Governor’s mansion, has spent more than $15,000 from the $200,000 emergency contin gent fund to furnish the mansion in an extremely luxurious manner. The vouchers showing the purchases are on file with Archie Bobbitt, auditor of state. Bills for the many articles purchased were made directly chargeable to the maintenance fund, but the vouchers signed and approved by the Governor call for their payment from the emergency contingent fund. Oriental rugs, gold imperial dishes, goblets and finger bowls, “antique bronze cigaret boxes,” mirrors in “antique gold frames,” dozens of asb trays, bridge and table lamps, furniture and knicknacks have been purchased from the emergency contingent fund. While buying this, Governor Leslie has been receiving the $833 a month for upkeep of the mansion granted by a complaisant legislature. This money is, of course, in addition to his salary of SB,OOO a year. The same legislature granted him $4,800 for "equipment,” purchased a Lincoln seclaj^. Without approval of the legislature or the budget cofn mittee, Leslie has employed an assistant secretary, Gaylord Morton, at a salary of $250 a month. Morton's pay comes from the contingent fund, al though the 1929 appropria tion measure specifically de clared that all salaries for employes of the executive de partment must come from the annual $20,000 personal serv ice appropriation. The Gov ernor has a chief secretary, L. 0. Chasey, who receives $333.33 a month. The present Governor is the first in the history of the state to have ! two secretaries and the first to be j given more than S2OO a month for upkeep of the mansion. He obtained this increase from the budget com mittee through insistence that many improvements were needed in the household. The executive mansion is located at- Twenty-seventh and Pennsylva nia streets. Buys Gas From Fund Leslie has resorted to the emer gency fund to buy SIOO gasoline books a month. The emergency fund, according to the vouchers, paid for a $25 port folio, vanity sets, desk sets and mis cellaneous other luxuries. Records of the budget committee disclose that Ed Jackson in 1928 was given $2,000 to repair and paint the mansion. And then used but $1,793. Leslie in the first year of his term has spent almost $2,000 for im provement of the mansion, in ad dition to $15,000 for furniture, rugs, drapes, tableware, linens and accessories. One of the vouchers drawn on the emergency contingent fund is for $lB2 for the “gassing of the man sion” to free it of vermin. Arabian Awning Bought Another voucher, approved June 21, 1929, calls for payment of $424.48 for “Arabian awning complete, two window awnings complete, and nine re-covers.” These, as all the other vouchers quoted, were drawn on the emer gency contingent fund and bear the signature of Leslie in approval. Among the large vouchers is one calling for the payment of $3,160.07 on four contracts for furniture, lamps, and accessories. The items listed included two ash trays, one for $9 and the other for 520.25; a cigaret box of “antique brass” for $7.65; 24 bridge and table lamps—2s had originally been or dered, but one for S9O was returned —a card table and four chairs, $104; four other card tables for $99; a vanity and mirror “with antique gold frame,” $245; a commode with a mirror “with antique gold frame,” $315; four lamps for the boys’ room, 1 totaling $76.77, and miscellaneous other items. Evidently realizing that in spend ing thousands of dollars of state i money for furniture and knicknacks I he was exceeding the expenditures of all other Governors, Leslie, on May 2, 1929, four months after he entered office, addressed the follow ing letter to Lawrence F. Orr, chief of the state board of accounts: “Dear Sir—The residence main tained by the state of Indiana for the Governor is badly In need of repairs and painting and some bet terments in the way of carpets, draperies, etc. “Would the above, in your opinion be just expenditures from the Gov ernor's emergency contingent fund?” The letter was presented by Orr on the same date to the state bud get committee, meeting with the Governor present. Minutes of the meeting declared that, upon motion of State Repre sentative Sam Farell of Hartford City, a member of the committee, “it was ordered that the commit tee approve such contemplated ex-; pendltures lor the Governor’s resi dence, to be made from the Gov ernor’s emergency contingent fund, and any expenditures needed for other betterments, equipment and improvements for the proper upkeep of the Governor’s residence, to be drawn against such fund.” Bought Before Permission Yet before such permission was; granted by the budget committee, Leslie on March 4, 1929. tw-o months . after taking office, personally had j approved the expenditure of $173.75 for the purchase of imperial gold-incrusted dinner plates, bouil lon cups, tea sets, etc., and approved two other bills. The expenditures which followed were made under consent of the budget committee and thousands of dollars were spent for articles which clearly are not within the province of the permission given. Some light was thrown on the controversial matter of what expen ditures may be met from the Gov- J emor's emergency fund, when At torney-General James M. Ogden this week gave State Auditor Archie Bobbitt an official opinion that Bob bitt should honor the Governor’s voucher on the contingent fund for $685 to repay Paul V. McNutt for personal expenses incurred while serving on the Indiana corporation survey commission. The factor of budget committee approval did not enter into this case, but Ogden traced the history of the emergency contingent fund. Such appropriation v*as made as i early as 1852, he said, but with no direction as to Its use. Tells of Other Funds He related the subsequent appro priations of the “Governor’s Military Contingent Fund” in 1877, supple mentary to the “Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund,” and then added: “In 1903 there was an appropria tion again for the ‘Governor's Emer gency Contingent Fund,’ with no ' limiting directions as to its use and this procedure, generally speaking has been followed up to the present time.” After quoting the language of the $200,000-a-year "Governor’* Emer- HOME TWO CENTS gency Contingent Fund” appropri ated in 1929, Ogden declared: “It will be noted that this fund Is not defined and no express lim itations are placed tipoo It* use. “In my opinion, however, Its char acter as ‘public funds* is not changed by the above fact, and m a matter of course it mnst be used by the Governor In the furtherance of or to meet the necessity of SOME EXECUTIVE FUNCTION within the scope of the duties devolving upon him in his OFFICIAL CA PACITY. “Thfe Constitution vesta the ex ecutive powers of the state in the Governor. He is the commander in-chief of the military and naval forces of the state. He is required by the Constitution to transact all necessary business with the officers of government and 'to take care that the laws be faithfully exe cuted.” McNutt Case Cited Ogden camo to the conclusion in the McNutt case, which Involved the question of an expenditure in connection with a resolution, rather than an act, that the resolution “does not have the binding force of a law; that in the absence of express limitation in the appropri ation or other law. the Governor has a wide discretion in the use of his “emergency contingent fund.” The resolution, which provided the commission should serve without pay, was without force to forestall the McNutt reimbursement, he held. Copyright. 1930. by The Timet*. U. S. POWER GROUP CHANGES PROMISED Interior Secretary Charge* “Fric tion” in Commission Staff. Bv PnitedPress WASHINGTON, March 5. A shakeup in the personnel of the federal power commission staff was promised the senate interstate com merce committee today by Secretary of Interior Wilbur, chairman of the commission. Wilbur testified there was "too much internal friction,” adding that a "more harmonious” staff would be obtained as soon as congress has decided on the permanent setup of the commission. Hourly Temperature 8 a. m 36 10 a. m 40 7 a. m 36 11 a. m 41 8 a. m 36 12 Cnoon).. 42 9 a. m 38 1 p. m 46 Truth Dodgers Bv United Press TOPEKA. Kan., March 5. Hard liquor may be found in Kansas and the state may be considered by some as “drip ping wet,” but the Kansas state legislators don’t want to hear It, Least of all do they vant Walter Liggett, Washington magazine writer, to investigate conditions and Tuesday in two votes, they decided not to call Liggett a “liar” and not to pay his expenses to Topeka to view liquor charges before a legis lative committee. Tlie incident was defined as poor advertising—not for Lig gett—but rather for the Sun flower state. Ontalde Marten County S Cent*