Arizona sun. [volume], May 31, 1946, Image 1

About Arizona sun. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1942-196?

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
Kmul The
Arizona San
The State's Only
Necro Newspaper
Vol. 4 sc Per Copy
Political Study Council Is Proposed
False Economy Creates
Municipal Tax Problem
Phoenix, May 30. —(ALJ) —“Penny wise and pound
foolish!”
Because Phoenix city fathers in 1943-1944 arbitrarily
reduced the tax rate from $1.79 to $1.72 per hundred dol
lars of assessed valuation ,the City Treasury has lost po
tential revenues of approximately $150,000 within the
past three years, it was pointed
out by Miss Alice Mosier, City
Auditor.
And since those $150,000 of once
potential surplus is now so much
spilled milk, the present city ad
ministration is now obliged to
bring the tax rate up to sl.Bl per
hundred. Even with this necessary
increase, in his recommendation of
May 28, City Manager Odd S. Hal
seth had to slash department
heads’ 1946-1947 requests by more
than a million dollars from
$5,767,102 to $4,730,217.
In analyzing reductions in bud
get requests, the auditor’s terse
comments read like a dirge to
department heads:
“Airport field and runway
maintenance: cut.”
“Assessor all addition person
nel: omitted.”
“Automotive equipment all
fixed capital, including $41,000 for
purchase of cars and trucks: omit
ted.”
“Electrical department new
traffic signals: omitted.”
‘lFire department—six addition
al firemen and all fixed capital
items: omitted.”
“Health department—additional
inspectors: omitted.”
“Pension system operation for
employees’ retirement: cut to
$100,000.”
“Transportation department
five new busses: omitted."
“Water department operating
materials: cut.”
And so on.
“Even if we had stayed at a
$1.75 tax rate level,” the auditor
explains, “we could have built up
some reserve.”
Disinterested experts in prob
lems of municipal taxation agree
that tax rates should never be
cut during prosperous years. In
stead, surplus can be most easily
accumulated only when taxpayers
enjoy high income levels. Despite
this elementary principle, previous
city administrations—in 1939-1940
and again in 1943-1944—axed the
local budget.
“Had the tax rate remained at
$1.79, where it was in 1943, and
placed in a post-war reserve fund,”
Miss Mosier advises, “we would
now be able to provide for replac
ing our outworn city automobile
fleet”
In the name of “good govern
ment," officials who were not well
acquainted with the fiscal needs
of Phoenix took an axe to the
carefully prepared recommenda
tions of local budget experts.
The penny-wise and pound-fool
ish “good government” fixer-up
pers can now observe the results
of their ill-advised “economy” pro
gram in an antiquated and inade
quate water system, dilapidated
equipment, and wheezing jalopies
of ancient vintage upon which
city departments must now rely.
Any high school boy knows that
operating costs for a twenty-year
old car are sky high, and that
broken down machinery is costly
to maintain and run.
Today in the Police department,
only four vehicles are now in
trustworthy condition. The others
should long ago have been ped
dled, some of them perhaps to the
American Qan Company. Already
seven years behind in the develop
ment of its water work, Phoenix
now faces the need for an approxi
mate ten million dollar improve
ment head on. And although city
busses may look funny to a car
toonist, to their passengers they
are a headache.
It is hoped that a more realistic
and progressive tax program will
be worked out by the present city
administration.
Urban League To
Welcome Secretary
At its regular monthly meeting
to be held Tuesday evening, June
4, the Phoenix Urban League
Board will welcome its Executive
Secretary, Mr. John C. Williams.
He comes to the Urban League
from the Army after having served
during the war and having been
promoted to the grade of captain.
His last military assignment was
to the position of what might be
named “racial trouble shooter” for
the Commanding General of the
San Francisco Area. Mr. Wil
liams is a graduate of the Univer
sity of Nebraska and has a keen
and inherent interest in Urban
League work for which his per
sonality seems to fit him. The
Arizona Sun joins all other Phoe
nicians in welcoming Mr. Williams
to our city and sincerely hopes
that he will have the unselfish
support of our people generally.
ARIZON^SUN
Published In the Interest of the Social, Political and Economic Welfare or *O,OOO Negroes of Arizona.
Timmerman Against
Right-To-Work Bill
Phoenix, May 30—ALJ)— Honors
go to Fletcher West Timmerman,
Maricopa County Distrcit 3, this
week for being the first of all
members of the legislature running
for re-election to take a forthright
stand against the right-to-work
initiative measure. In his action Mr.
Timmerman, a railroad brother
hood leader as well as a legislator,
simply reaffirms his stand taken in
past sessions of the legislature. •
When the right-to-work bills
were first introduced in the regu
lar session of 1944, Timmerman
spoke against them on the flqor
of the House and fought against
them in committee. No one in ttie
legislature was more' 1 active than
“West” in this respect.
“Since the AFL has decided to
put every legislative candidate on
record on the right-to-work propo
sition,” Mr. Timmerman told a
Labor Journal reporter, “you can
put me on record right now. I am
sure you will not mind if I jump
the gun on your questionnaire. The
people certainly have a right to
know where every candidate for
the legislature stands on this im
portant issue. I am glad to know
that you will not let anyone
straddle the fence and get by with
it. Os course deeds speak louder
than words, and action is better
than a promise. Labor already
knows where I stand, now and in
the future.”
~ J.-
Urban League Forms
Woman’s Division
Fifty women of Phoenix, inter
ested in the welfare of the commu
nity, met at the YWCA Saturday,
May 25, at a luncheon. The pur
pose of the meeting was that of
organizing a Woman’s Division of
the Phoenix Urban League. Mrs.
Wade Church, presided as tempo
rary chairman. Dr. Anna J. Jul
ian, former president of the Chi
cago Woman’s Division of the Ur
ban League, and who has been a
visitor in Phoenix for several
months, deserves much credit for
organizing a Woman’s Division in
this city.
The officers of the Woman’s Di
vision of . the Phoenix Urban
League are:
Mrs. Wade Church, president;
Miss Madeline Houston, vice-presi
dent; Miss Irene McClellan, secre
tary; Miss Mary J. Carupo, treas
urer.
The Board of Director are as
follows: Mrs. Walter Maxwell, Mrs.
A. B. Kinsolving, Mrs. D. M. Solo
man, Miss Ethel Upthegrove, Mrs.
L. B. Nelson, Mrs. Thomas Brown,
Mrs. L. P. Hedgepath, Miss Jose
phine Roderiquez, Mrs. Lee Ben
son, Miss Phyliss Oby, Mrs. Lucille
Wesch, Miss Christina Small.
Among the distinguished visitors
present were Mrs. Anna Roose
velt Boettiger and Mrs. Grady
Gammage and Mrs. H. D. Rich
ardson of Tempe, Ariz.
Tolleson Serviceman
Drowned Last Week
Last rites were held for Clar
ence Edward Dixon, Jr., on Sat
urday, May 25, in the Chapel of A.
H. McClellan Funeral Home.
Services were conducted by
Rev. A. L. Johnson, pastor of the
Wesley Methodist Church. Miss
'Sadie Hagler rendered a piano
solo, “My Buddy.” The Tilden
White American Legion, Post No.
40, served as pallbearers and gave
flag rituals.
Clarence had served with the
Navy three years and had been
home only four days when he was
drowned while swimming with his
brother-in-law.
He was born in Manzanola, Colo.,
March 5, 1922. Relatives living in
■ Tolleson are: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
j Wilson, Sr., mother and father;
! Mrs. Helen Davis, Mrs. Mary Mit
chell, Arthur L. Wilson, Jr., Velma
Wilson, Mrs. Wilma McCarry, and
Mrs. Thelma Hughes.
Fingerprint identification was
first used in the United States in
1882 by Gilbert Thompson of the
U. S. Geological Survey. He used
his thumb print on commissary
orders to prevent forgery during
his supervision of a survey of New
Mexico.
Watch For The
Emancipation Special Edition
Phoenix, Arizona, Friday, May 31, 1946
The Arizona Sun Advocates Political Study
Council So That Young Phoenicians May
Gain Knowledge and Understanding
Os Practical Politics
* * #
Intelligent participation in politics is of primary im
portance to all citizens. To the Negro it is of special
importance because of his many specific problems that
can be solved only by politics. In view of his special and
peculiar interests the Negro should be alert to all politi
cal issues and he should be ever concerned about the
character, background, ability and attitude of holders
of public office. Having no recognized political leader
ship in Phoenix it seems altogether prudent that we take
steps for the proper enlightenment of our people in politi
cal matters to the end that they may be in position to
vote wisely and to their own advantage when the next
election comes off. The enlightenment that we need
cannot come from one source if it is to be of real value.
It must come as the result of a careful study and evalu
ation of issues and candidates which is beyond the ability
of one person. The Arizona Sun proposes a Political
Study Club whose function will be to study the issues
and the candidates for office and to report through its
columns the result of such study. Heretofore we have
voted men into office, under party labels, without know
ing much about their general platforms and almost noth
ing about what we as Negroes should expect at their
hands. The result is that we vote and never get any
thing byway of recognition or consideration in return for
our votes.
No state board or commission includes a Negro in its
membership. Nor does a Negro hold a job in the state
set-up of greater importance than that of janitor, unless
we have overlooked someone. This condtion should not
be tolerated and will never be improved until the Negro
makes an earnest effort for the needed improvement.
We should know how our senators and congressmen
voted on FEPC, the Anti-polltax and Anti-Lynch pro
posals. It is important that we know just where they
stand on the many issues now before the American people
in which ours is an important stake. Our senators and
congressmen can and should see to it that Arizona Ne
groes get some of the Federal political plums that are
being so generously strewn around throughout the coun
try. California Negroes have lots of them. Why not
we? Do we need a Political Study Club or don't we?
Mr. Joseph D. Bibb, the very emminent columnist
of the Pittsburg Courier, in his column of last week,
points out the advantages to be gained in the study of
politics. His version follows:
“Young Americans will do well to gain knowledge
and understanding of practical politics. If this commen
tator were to address graduating classes this June, he
would exhort the fledgling Americans to get active in
politics. He would not talk about the tinselled heroes
of the past, nor of abstract arid intricate heroes of living.
He would look out into “the sea of eager, young faces”
and emphasize the power in politics.
With colored Americans now votingpjn the primaries
in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, with the Supreme Court
supporting the right and privilege of colored people to
vote in the white, Democratic primaries, it is manifest
that ambitious, courageous arid energetic colored Ameri
cans have splendid opportunities before them to achieve
power, fame and freedom.
Above the Mason-Dixon line, and within those thir
teen States where the colored vote has loomed so highly
important, the influence and force of the colored vote has
not yet been exerted to full strength, but enough has been
demonstrated for the colored voter to comprehend that
he is a vital, potent factor in electing to office, the people
who run this Nation.
Politics is not a simple science. We have stated in
this column before that it is “a game of angles and not of
(Continued On Page 2)
Liquor Dealers Aid Crippled
s nsSM RMNmfeS ffljJayJbaK mab ,** 4. ■■** fJ **'**‘,
1 'QHInHBMsr / Jpv •~ "
Presentation of the S2OOO check was made on the grounds of the Arizona Crippled Children’s Home, Phoe
nix, Arizona. Attending the ceremonies were, left to right: Dudley M. Clements, past president of Arizona
Wholesale Beer and Liquor Association; Sidney B. Moeur, state director for the U. S. Brewers Foundation;
Richard C. Sim is, chairman of the Maricopa County Chapter of the Arizona Society for Crippled Children;
Francis Ames, president of the Arizona Retail Liquor Dealers Association; Irving L. Diamond, publisher
of Arizona Beverage Journal; Professor Edward M. Andres, chairman of speech defects, Arizona Society
for Crippled Children, and four of the children who are patients at the home.
The Arizona Sun is sponsoring
a state-wide drive to register
every eligible Negro in the
State of Arizona for the July
primary election.
Make yourself a committee of
one and solicit your friends and
neighbors. Show them the im
portance of exercising their
franchise.
REGISTRATION
RULES
Register Now!
State: You must have re
sided in state 1 year.
County: 6 month resi
dence
Precinct: 3 months.
If you did not vote at last
General Election in No
vember, 1944, you must
re-register.
To Register: Go to Coun
ty Recorder's office, at
the County Court House,
Phoenix, Arizona.
Vickers Quits Small
Mine Operators
Phoenix, May 30—(ALJ) —E. F.
Vickers, for forty years a member
of organized labor, has left the
Small Mine Operators Association
in protest to the endorsement of
the mine group of the so-called
“Right-to-Work-Bill.”
“I have been a member of the
Small Operators for several years,
and believe there is a definite pur
pose for such an organization, if
operated for and by the members,
but this group has definitely been
taken over by anti-labor forces who
are using these small miners, many
of whom are union men, to crucify
Labor,” said Vickers.
The following letter was sent by
Mr. Vickers to Mr. Charles F. Wil
lis, secretary of the Small Mine
Operators Association:
Dear Mr. Willis:
“In view of the stand recently
taken by the Small Mine Operat
ors Association, I am compelled to
ask that my name be removed
from your list of members.
After forty years a member of
Organized Labor, working entire
ly under closed shop agreements, I
have no way of justifying a mem
bership in an organization that
would support such a law as the
so-called “right to work” amend
ment.
Boy Scouts Plan
Carnival June ’5
Boy Scout Troop No. 7 are giv
ing a carnival at the Youth Cen
ter, 12th and Adams streets next
Wednesday evening, June 5 at 8
o’clock. Several booths will be
conducted by members of the troop
assisted by the troop committee
men.
Proceeds from the carnival will
be used to help scouts of the troop
go to summer camp.
A movie will be shown and other
entertainment features by the boys
will be presented. Hot dogs, punch
and other refreshments will be on
sale. The public is invited to at
tend.
Watch For The
Emancipation Special Edition
of the SUN, On June 19
SI LANDLORDS PAY
REFUND TO TENANTS
Phoenix, May 30. —(ALJ) —A to
tal of fifty-one landlords in the
Phoenix-Salt River Rental Area
paid refunds to 56 tenants In the
month of April amounting to $3,-
597.93, the district Office of Pric§
Administration announced. The re
funds, representing the amount of
actual overcharges, were made by
the following:
E. L. Campbelle, Avondale,
$37.50; Grace Wurst, 758 East Fill
more, $45.00; Mrs Lee Corica, 2013
N. 17th Avenue, $230.00; Mrs W. G.
Wagstaff, 219 E. Ist St., Mesa,
$40.00; F. T. McElroy, Mesa,
$240.00; Frank Lizotte, 2714 W.
Fillmore, $30.00; Quida N. Cox,
1105 E. Indian School Rd., $15.00;
Mrs. Alice Zufelt, 750 S. Newell St.,
Mesa, 37.50; William M. Way, 1835
W. Lincoln, $120.00.
Bunk House Motel, 3701 E. Van
Buren, $75.00; W. O. Hosick, 425
Mahoney Ave., Mesa, $19.00; G. E.
Robers, 412 W. Bt.h St., 50.00; Neil
Johnson, Mesa, $50.00; Dora M.
Pool, 840 N. 2nd Ave., $25.00; A. W.
Kuts-Cheraux, 1405 E. McDowell,
$60.00; Jayhawk Trailer Court, Rt.
1, Box 246, Glendale, $205.00; Home
Court, 11 N. 20th St., $39.00; B. L.
Magness, . 752 E. Culver, $41.65;
Mrs. Charline Robinson, 310 W.
McKinley, $202.50; William L. But
ler, 1502 S. 12th SL, $167.50; C. H.
Brooks, 1013 N. 9th St., $49.50.
Mrs T. F. Bircsak, 45 E. Thomas
Rd., $27.50; Mrs Mary Holman, 336
N. 2nd Ave., $25.00; E. M. Smith,
708 W. Broadway, $7.19; Harry
Saul, 1110 W. McDowell, 45.00; Q.
S. Thompson, 329 N. Patricio,
$213.50; Mrs. Henrietta Thompson,
1419 South 12th Ave., $25.00; Leb
annon Hotel, 333 N. 2nd Ave., 50.00;
Mrs. M. Joslyn, 1136 E. Taylor
$47.04; Mr. A. Fisher, 447 N. Cen
ter, Mesa, $42.00; Mrs. Vergie
Hensley, 1428 E. Pierce, $33.66;
Mrs. L. Wick, 1905 E. Cocopah
$20.00; Roger E. Martin, 4400 N.
Central, $17.00.
Archie McCain, 2101 W. Pierson,
$2.50; Cloey Holman, 17221 W.
Roosevelt, $120.00; Will Livengood,
1907 W. Jackson, $22.53; Mrs. Eve
lyn A. Gaertner, 175 W. Coolidge,
$18.00; Orville M. Mudge, 75 E.
Vernon, $198.37; Mrs. J. D. Rowe,
Aztec Court, Wickenburg, $15.50;
C. W. Brunk, 4759 N. 12th St.,
$40.00; R. A. Munger, 801 E. Amel
ia, $1.25; A. L. Doughty, 1620 W.
Roosevelt, $172.50; R. C. Kaster,
827 N. 9th St., $117.23.
W. W. Duncan, Tolleson, $78.75;
Mrs. George Moody, 2801 N. 7th St.,
$100.04; Joseph Cascio, 1713 E. Du
rango, $63.75; Orange Court, 2008
E. Van Buren, $4.97; Eunice
Lvoney, Rt. 3, Box 34, $48.00; Leon
D. Coder, 2647 N. 15th St., $32.00;
Fae L. Allen, 216 W. 2nd Ave.,
Mesa, $125.00; G. S. Billington, 203
Monroe, Tolleson, $120.00.
Commision Gets
Re-Zoning Petition
A petition to rezone Jefferson
and Madison streets, from 12th to
18th streets, from business and in
dustry to residents C and, to rezone
the south side of Washington St.
between 12th and 16th Sts., from
business B to business A, was pre
sented to the city commission at
its regular meeting Tuesday, May
28. The petition, which bore the
signatures of a large majority of
the property owners in the district
concerned, received the unanimous
approval of the city commission
which set June 18 as the date for
a public hearing on the same. Un
der the present ordnance the south
side of Jefferson Street and both
sides of Madison Street are in the
industrial A district and the south
side of Washington Street is in
business B district. The majority
of residents in the district appear
to have been in total ignorance of
the unfortunate zoning to which
they now are subjecfcpd and were
most happy to participate in a
movement for the protection of
their homes of which they are
justly proud. Wade H. Hammond
stated in an interview, that Rev.
Thos. J. Townsend, vice-president
of the Urban League, made the
principal speech before the com
mission and that he, Hammond,
member of the Urban League
Board, merely added a few re
marks to the very forceful appeal
made by Rev. Townsend. It is
noteworthy that the Adjustment
Board has recommended to the
city commission that hereafter no
automobile wrecking yards be al
lowed in other than strictly indus
trial areas and that a public hear
ing on this recommendation is set
for the same date that the hear
ing on the requested rezoning is to
be had.
'Fields lying next to forests are
seldom damaged by hail storms.
Because the temperature of the
trunks, branches and twigs of the
forest trees is lower than the tem
perature of the air, dew is formed
and carried over near-by fields by
air currents. The resulting fog
protects the fields from hail in the
summer and from frost in the
spring and fall.
Non-Politieal
Most Good For
The Greatest
Number
No. 52