The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, September 15, 1949, Page 1

THE DAILY VOL. LXXIII., NO. 11,299 Juneau Tug Afo FIVE DIE INFLAMING WRECKAGE BULLETIN — FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Sept. 15—(®—The Ladd Air Force Base reports the death of five airmen in the flaming wreckage of a C-47 transport plane on Bar- ter Island. ‘The plane attempted a landing in a fog at the military outpost 400 miles northeast of here in the Arctic Ocean, The twin engined transport plane was on a supply mission and crashed at high speed. An Air Force Board an investigation. RED BASE ON YUHWAN DESTROYED CANTON, Sept. 15—#P— A Na- tionalist amphibious force damaged or destroyed all military establish- ments on Yuhwan Island, 230 miles south of Shanghal, in a daring raid today. The island is an importan Red base off the coast of Chekiang province. - An official announcement said the amphibious force landed under the protection of naval gunfire. It withdrew, the announcement said, after accomplishing its mis- sion, the first of its kind by the Nationalists in the Chinese civ- i1 war. The small Nationalist Air Force assigned to the defense of Kwang- tung province began attacks on Red forces there. COLD WAR BY RUSS CONTINUES ON TITO (By Associated Press) The Cominform’s private cold war continued with Yugoslavia de- nouncing as “lies and slanders” re- (cem Hungarian chhrges that Pre- mier Marshal Tito’s government had _Dlotted against Hungary's Com- ,munist regime. i Foreign observers in Moscow said Russia would view gravely any Greek invasion on Albanian soil. ‘These sources said recent Greek- Albanian developments contain “diplomatic dynamite” and added that any movement of Greek troops across the Albanian border would have serious consequences. The Washington Merry - Go- Round By DREW PEARSON (Copyright, 1949, by Bell Syndicate, Inc.) is making ASHINGTON—Fey the first time since Franklin Roosevelt ap- pointed the majority on the Su- preme Court, you can write it down that the “nine old men” will now rule against FDR’'s general polit- ical philosophy. This turn to the right will be ap- parent shortly after court convenes in October, and would have taken place even had not Justice Wiley Rutledge passed away last week. It will be emphasized all the more, however, with his death. There will now be three differ- ent and distinct groups on the Su- preme Court, with generally diver- gent points of view on most sub- Jjects. Group No. 1—The militant liber- als have now been reduced to only two men—Justices Hugo Black and William O. Dogulas. Up until Frank Murphy’s death, they con- trolled the court because they could usually persuade Stanley Reed or one other Justice to go along with them. Now a definité minority, Black and Douglas, will still have a powerful impact on the nation, will probably become like Holmes and Brandies in their ringing, his- toric dissents. But their influence over the court majority will be no more. Group No. 2—The conservatives are represented by Felix Frankfurt- er and Bob Jackson. Jackson, more astute than Frankfurter and a more (Continued on Page Four) MAIL COLLECTION AT 12 LOCATIONS WILL START SOON Bid Invifation for Vehicle Service fo Be Posted Next Week Establishment of mail collection service from boxes in downtown and residential locations has been approved by the Post Office de- partment according to announce- ment by Assistant Postmaster Gen- eral Burke.. Mrs. Crystal Jenne, Juneau Post- master, says that invitation for competitive bids on vehicle service will- be posted in the Federal Building early next week. Full re- quirements will be given in the notice. The mail pick-up will start, she | said, as soon as posts and boxes have been put in place and the contract granted for vehicle ser- vice. All collections will be scheduled to connect directly with postoffice closing hours for outgoing mail. Collections will be made from five large boxes in the business dis- | trict twice daily, except Sunday,| | when there will be one collection. { In the residential district mail {will be picked up from seven small | letter boxes once a day except Sun- day, when there will be no collec- | tions. | Location of the boxes is expected to follow the tentative plan sub- mitted by Postal Inspector Donald Brewer with his recommendations after a recent visit to Juneau. by carrier 1Is i Delivery service |deem¢d impracticable as yet by both Inspector Brewer and the Assistant Postmaster General in {charge of the Division of City De- ;livery Service, according to word |sent by Fourth Assistant Postmast- er General Walter Mayers. He says, “Climate and irregular arrival of mails would make it dif-| ficult to maintain carrier schedules. Besides, a sufficient number of patrons are not in favor of the| service to justify the heavy ex- pense.” HOPES OF PASSING DEFENSE MEASURE BRIGHT, BARTLETT PETERSBURG, Alaska, Sept. 15 —(P—Prospects for Congressional passage of the Alaska Military Con- struction bill—now snagged in the; National House of Representatives —Ilooks brighter. That was the word of Alaska's Delegate E. L. Bartlett at a meet- ing of Petersburg businessmen late; yesterday. ! He credited the recent visits to Alaska of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Air Secretary Symington for his optimism. “I am really encouraged aftel |talking with Gen. Omar Bradley,” he said. “He is fully alert to the need for pressing forward vigorously | with the construction program. “I believe the Joint Chiefs can, !nnd will, make such a compelling demonstration on Alaska’s defense needs on their return to Washing- ton that Congress will 'oe forced to act. g “Surely we cannot afford to lose the entire 1950 season, which would be the case if the bill is not passed i at'the present session. “I was particularly glad to note that Congressman Hugh Mitchell of Seattle (D-Wash) always Alaska's good friend, accompanied Syming- ton.” Bartlett later boarded a plane for Ketchikan. He said he expected to leave for Washington, D.C., from Ketchikan today or tomorrow. CIVIL SERVICE EXAM The U. 8. Civil Service Commis- sion announces an examination for Ammunition Inspectors (Surveil-| lance) for filling positions in or- dnance establishments of the De- partment of the Army throughout the United States. The’jobs to be filled pay from $3351 to $4,479 a year. The age limits for these jobs, 18 to 62 years, will be waived for vet- erans. Further information and applica- tion forms may be obtained from the Commission’s local secretary, JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURS MINTON 15 CHOSEN FOR HIGH COURT Truman Announces Ap- pointment to Fill Va- cancy Caused by Death WASHInu1UN, Sept. 15—(P— Sherman Minton of Indiana, who attled in vain for the 1937 Roose- velt plan to put younger blood on the Supreme Court, today was chosen by President Truman to serve on that bench. inton, in 1937 a Democratic, pro-New Deal Senator, now is Judge of the Seventh U.3. Gircuit Court of Appeals. That Court has head- quarters at Chicago and embraces the states of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Mr. Truman announced his de- cision at a news conference today. He said Judge Walter C. Lindley ot the US. Court for the Eastern District of Illinois will succeed Minton on the Appellate Court. Casper Platte, now a Circuit Judge of Illinois, will succeed Lindley. Minton, 58, will fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by tae death of Justice Wiley Rutledge. DEMOCRAT-PROTESTANT A Democrat and a Protestant, Minton served in the Senate from 1935 to 1941. He had the desk next to Mr. Truman’s when both were in the Senate. Minton is a protestant but his wife is a Catholic, There has been no Catholic on} the Supreme Court since Justice Frank Murphy died in July. There had been speculation that the Presi- dent might chogose another Catholic until he named Attorney General Tom Clark, a Protestant, to succeed | Justice Murphy. RIZE IN POLITICS Minton’s rise in Indiana politics was coincident with the Governor-; ship of Paul McNutt who later be- came Federal Security Commis- sioner, War Manpower Commis- sioner, High Commissioner and then Ambassador to the Philippines. Minton was Public Counselor of the Indiana Puklic Service Com- mission when he was elected to the Senate. He was defeated for reelection. As a Senator, Minton was an em- | battled “New Dealer” ana a vigor- ous fighter for the Roosevelt ad- ministration’s measures. He fought hard for President Roosevelt’s plan to add -new Justices to the Supreme Court to the number of those over age 70 who did not retire. As the age of the Justices then stood, the plan would hee enlarged the court from nine to 15 members. | The court at that time had de- clared unconstitutional major legis- lation which the President backed as essential to the country. WEATHER REPORT (U. S. WEATHER BUREAU) (This data is for 24-hour pe- riod ending 7:30 a.m. PST.) In Juneau—Maximum, 54; minimum, 48. At Airport—Maximum, 53; minimum, 49. FORECAST (Juneaw and Vicinity) Partly cloudy tonight and Friday. Slightly warmer with the low tonight around 46 and the high Friday near 60. PRECIPITATION (Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a.m. today In Juneau .38 inches since Sept. 1, 3.34 inches since July 1, 14:35 inches. At Airport — .20 inches; since Sept. 1, 1.70 inches; since July 1, 9.19 inches. EQUALIZATION BOARD MEETS The Equalization Board will meet for the last time in the City Coun- cil Chamber of the City Hall to- night at 8 o'clock. city Clerk C. L. Popejoy pointed out today that this will be the last| opportunity for Juneau citizens to complain about what they think are unjust assessments of their property. At the Board meeting last night Mrs. T. D. Hockman, located at the Post Office, Juneau. six cases were heard and adjust- ments were made, "RECOGNIZING" OF FRANCO SPAIN I WORK, McCARRAN Senator Assigned fo Job Says Truman-President Talks to Newsmen WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 —~(P— President Truman, after announc- ing his choice of Federal Circuit Judge Serman Minton for a Su- preme Court berth, touched brief- ly on other matters at his news conference today. Told that Senator McCarran (D- Nev) on a visit to Europe will discuss the question of this coun- try ‘“recognizing” Franco Spain, the President said emphatically that McCarran is cn his own and can make no commitments for the U. S. governrhent. The President brushed off Re- publican John P. Saylor’s capture of the Democratic House seat in Pennsylvania Tuesday. He first DAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1949 gnakon Rocks BIG CONFAB 15 PLANNED, 4 NATIONS Foreign Ministers fo Meet in U. S. - Many Issues fo Be Taken.Up (By the Associated Press) Russia is expected to ask for a new meeting of the Big Four For- ‘eign Ministers when her top diplo~ mat, Andrei Y. Vishinsky, arrives in New York for the United Na- tions General Assembly. All four Ministers are slated to head their delegations at the Lake Success meeting which starts Tues- day. Britain's Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman already are in the U'S. When the Foreign Ministers said he had no comment, but then|endeq their Paris meeting on Ger- asserted that back in 1947 there many last June, they agreed to was the same sort of barometer and it didn’t work cut. He did not spec= ify his reference to 1947 Strike Views He said he hoped the steel com- panies and the CIO Steelworkers’ Union will get together and settle their dispute. He agreed with a reporter that there is a difference between accepting his fact finding board's recommendations as a basis for settlement and accepting them outright. He believes the former interpretation is the way the mat- ter has been understood all around. Mr. Truman said he could not comment on a definition of “stat- sm” by Senator Wherry (R-Neb) because he hasn’t read it. If the Senator has a definition, the Presi- dent said, it is one more than tis dictionary’s. Mr. Truman had com- mented last week that dictionaries disagree on what the word means. Plugs National Guard The President put in a plug for the impending recruitment drive for the National Guard. He said the defense of the country will{ jdepend almost entirely on the re- serves when there is peace in the world. H recalled his own enlistment in the Guard nearly 45 years ago, and said when he was promoted from the rear to the front rank, he re- jarded- it as the greatest promo- don he could receive. PEACE PROPOSAL 1S MADE BY GOVERNOR IN ISLAND STRIKE HONOLULU, Sept. 15—(M—Ha- walii's Governor needled a new peace proposal into the Islands’ tangled 138-day CIO dock strike today. His formula: Boost wages 14 cents an hour, resume work, set up a new contract. Gov. Ingram M. [Stainback first put the proposal to the striking In- ternational Longshoremen’'s and Warehousemen's Union. Then he laid it out for Hawaii’s seven struck stevedoring firms. Both sides said they will consider it. The ILWU's 2000 stevedores struck May 1. They wanted to hike their $1.40 an hour to $1.75. Their figure has been scaled down since, but never on terms the employers would accept. 14 IN, 14 OUT ON PACIFIC NORTHERN FLIGHTS YESTERDAY Pacific Northern Airlines yester- day carried a total of 28 passen- gers with 14 in and 14 out of Ju- neau. From Anchorage, passengers were: Sgt. R. M. Altman, Mr. Mc- Dermott, Mrs. Bernie Riton, Eliza- beth Alender, John Higgins, Daniel Knutson, Melvin Bannister, Ed Compton, Gust Johnson, Roy Wiita, Eleirt Sundby, Earl Burton. From Yakutat: Oscar Frank, Art Charles. For Cordova: W. Baker, Karl J. Larsen, Ray H. Stevens, Helen Stevens, Capt. J. H. Williams, Dan Ralston. For Yakutat: Harold Heaton. For Anchorage: E. Evans, Leslie Voss, Dr. Carter, Leigh Kerr, Alfred Owen, Drew Waldron, Patricia Wilde. meet informally during the U.N. session to discuss their next meet- ing. Informed sources in Moscow said | Vishinsky will seek an early con- ference. Major issues still to be solved include the possible future economic and political unity of] Germany, an independence treaty tor Austria and the reconciliation of divergent Allied views on who should write a Japanese peace treaty. NEW BLOWS PLANNED Diplomatic circles in Washington predicted new blows against Com- munism in Europe and the Far East | might be struck during the cold war strategy talks now in, progress in the American capital. These talks, which Bevin and Sec- tetary of State Dean Acheson began on Tuesday, were broadened today to include Schuman, who arrived rom Paris last night. “Top items for discussion include the developments of the new West German state, a review of nego- tiations with Russia on the Aus- trian treaty, exploitation of the Yugoslav-Russian split, and steps to halt Communist expansion in the Far East. EXPLOSION SINKS BOAT IN OREGON NEWPORT, Ore., Sept. 15—®— An unexplained waterfront explo- sion among closely jammed fishing boats today sent one to the izattom of the harbor and damaged three others. The 40-foot Canadian fishing hoat Cluny, with two men sleeping aboard, was shattered and caught fire. The blast apparently originated in that vessel. Its skipper, A. R. Rogers of Vancouver. B.C., jumped uninjured into the water and swam to safety. His crewman, Ian G. Forbes, suffered second third de- jree burns. His condition in a| Toledo hospital was reported not| serious. ! The adjacent 32-foot fishing Loat, Grayhall, skippered by Lyle Joy of Portland, burned to the waterline. Joy was aboard but| escaped unhurt. Two other koats,| the Salar, of Canada, and the For-| 2st, were damaged slightly. Coast Guardsmen and local fire-, men fought flames for two hours. SOROPTIMIST (LUB WILL MEET FRIDA Initiation of three new members | | meeting of the Soroptimist Club when it meets tomorrow for its' noonday luncheon at the Terrace| Room of the Baraof Hotel. Presi- dent Alice Thorne reminds Sorop- | timists that this will be a regular business meeting, the proposed so- cial meeting with Delegate Bartlett as a guest speaker having been abandoned because the Delegate was unable to remain over for this week in Juneau. Other business of routine nature| will be transacted and a full at-| tendance of Soroptimists is urged to meet the new members and par- | ticipate in the business session. OF 430 PRISONERS | prison from work farms. They seiz- MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” PRICE TEN CENTS Five-Pronged Program for Alaska Defen Out; Be Put Upto (_o_ngress‘ BREAK UP SUIT FILED AGAINST BIG FOOD CHAIN Civil Action Taken by Af- toney General McGrath ' Against A & P ‘ WASHINGTON, Sept. 15—@— Attorney ‘General J. Howard Mc- Grath today filed suit to break up the great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company’s nationwide food chain. The civil action was brought in Federal District Court in New York | City this morning. \ It is a followup to a criminal conviction of the A. and P. Com- pany under the anti-trust statutes at Danville, Ill, three years ago. The conviction was affirmed in the U.S. Colirt of Appeals at Chi- cago early this year and the com- pany paid fines totaling $175,000. | In New York, an A & P official} branded the suit as “a threat to the welfare and living standards of every American citizen.” Entering a general denial of the government charges, a spokesman for the big focd chain said “the whole basis of this attack is the fact that we sold good food too cheap.” “This is not just an effort to destroy A & P, but an attack on the entire system of efficient low-cost, low-profit, ‘mass distributfon" whi this company pioneered,” he said. The action in New York requests a court erder requiring A. and P. to separate its manufacturing and processing business from its buying! and selling business and to separate its present seven retail store divi- sions into seven independently owned retail food chains. The Justice Department proposes | l |to dissolve the Atlantic Commis- | sion Company, A. and P.'s wholesale purchasing and sales agent in the produce markets. MANY ARE KILLED OR WOUNDED IN BREAK: SEOUL, Sept. 15.—(P— Seventy- eight persons were killed or wound- ed today in a break by 430 pris- oners from the jail at Mokpo, a seaport 200 miles south of here. Ten guards and 68 prisoners were reported shot in a battle at a village two miles from Mokpo. Twenty-eight of the prisoners and 10 guards were known to be dead and 40 other prisoners ‘Were dead or wounded. The prisoners staged theif break yesterday while being returned to ed guns and ammunition and fled to the hills. Police, Army and Navy units pursued. SOURDOUGHS MAY BE IN JUNEAU FOR 1951, | JOHN RECK REPORTS With a resolution passed at his| suggesticn to hold part of the 1951 Sourdoughs Convention in Juneau, | John Reck arrived here yesurdny} from this year’s convention held in Los Angeles. Not only that, Reck got the Sour- | doughs to donate $100 for erected at the Pioneers’ Home and | se Is Mapped SEATTLE, Sept. 15—(®—A five- pronged program for imiproving Alaskan defenses was in Rep. Hugh Mitchell's brief case last night as the Washington State Congressman returned from a flying inspection of Alaska with Air Secretary W. Stuart Symington. “It’s lJudicrous that the Territory should be left virtually unguarded for want of paltry appropriations,” Mitchell declaréd, adding he was zoing to push his “defend Alaska” program on his return to Cungres.s‘| He listed these five needs: 1. Improved housing for mili- tary personnel. 2. Expansion of port facilities. 3. Methods for better distrizu- tion of vital oil supplies. 4. Extension and improvement of the Alaska road network. , Gulf of Alaska 6 CREWMEN - REPORTED AS BEING SAFE Early Mofig Disiress' Calls Send Planes and Ship fo Rsscue The Juneau owned tug Afognak is a wreck on Palm Point in the Gulf of Alaska but the crew of six is reported safe and ecfforts are being made this afternoon to res- cue them. The six persons aboard the Afog- {nak are listed as follows: ' Fred Brandes, Master, storekeeper at Angoon. Lee Christy, Chief Epgineer. Jim Rohns, Assistant Engineer. Curtis Bach, of Douglas, Mate. | Bucky Sadler. Arthur Johnson. 3 former 5. Expediting of further studies| on the necessity and feasibility of a connecting railroad link between the United States and Alaska. He said Symington agreed with him thoroughly on the need for housing. Air Force mechanical personnel is leaving th2 service rather than serve in Alaska in high-priced, inadequate housing. He cited a sergeant paying $150 a month for a tarpaper shack with no sanitary facilities. “We are well on the way to an improvement of the vital Radar net- work,” Mitchell said. “The Congress already has authorized an $85,- 000,000 Radar screen in recognition of Alaska defense needs. The eco- nomy-at-all-cost program appar- ently will prevent an appropriation,” he added, taking another crack at “these in econdmy at price of national security.” “They must be voted down over- whelmingly. Funds must be made available immediately for adequate defenses.” He said he was confident he could enlist support of all Westezn Con- gressmen and many Eastern sea- board members ‘“when they are told of the true state of defense affairs in Alaska.” 5C'S PRESIDENT SEES FAINT HOPE FOR NEW MILL HERE President of the Juneau Spruce Corporation gave little hope of a new mill for Juneau in the near future. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce meeting today in the Baranof Hotel, H. F. Chaney, pres- ident of the Coos Bay Lumber Co., as well as JSC, said the most he could see possible is a “small mill within five or six years.” JSC had planned on big govern- ment orders for the next six years, he said, This hope had fallen, and ithe big opportunity this year for the mill to make up the loss due to labor difficulties had gone with the fire. However, he pointed out that the company would encourage any Al- askan group to take over the Ju- neau Spruce Corporation properties here for “just about one-third of their value.” He also said they would encour- age any Pacific Northwest lumber operators, on the lookout for op- portunity in Alaska, to rebuild on the JSC millsite. Mayor Z. J. Loussac of Anchor- age, a member of the Alaska Hous- ing Authority, told Chamber mem- bers that Juneau should get about 75 low-income housing units under plans made possible by recent hous- ing legislation. About 50 per cent of these units theiwould be for members of the arm- | will be the chief agenda at the statue of “The Prospector” to be|ed forces and veterans, he said. Chamber President Fred Eastaugh ngress wg advocate y - t thei The Afognak is owned by James V. Cole of Juneau and has been under charter this summer to the Columbia Lumber Company towing barges from Sitka to Whittier. Pre- sumably the tug was proceeding to Sitka from Whittler when it began leaking. CREW Gues OVER SIDE Early this morning the Coast Guard reporfed that six persons had abandoned the stricken Afog- nak in the wind-whipped Gulf of Alaska. The Coast Guard said the tug radioed that the six persons went over the side in a 14-foot life boat at 2:28 a.m. The message said no land was in sight. The vessel at that time gave her position as six to elght miles off Cape 13t. Elias and the craft was leaking badly. The message said the crait was shippirig ‘water In heavy seas and winds up to 45 to 50 miles per hour was prevailing but gave no other detalls. DISTRESS CALL ‘The distress call was picked up by “Commander” .at Kodiak al radioed to the Seattle office of the Coast Guard. o Headquarters immediately . an- nounced that one P-3V search plane was already in the area and |a B-17, with a life boat was enla from Elmendorf Air Force near Anchorage and a navy tug and a PBY plane from Kodiak was on the way to the stricken tug, amnd a vessel, the Mary M was dispatched from Cordova. LOCATED ON ROCKS At noon today the Empire re- celved an Associated Press dispatch oS (Continued on Page Defense Sey.: Johnson Talks About Alaska Military Housing Big Prob- lem-Must Get Action at |+ Once from Congress LOS' ANGELES, Sept. 15.—B— Secretary of Defense Johnson said today Congress must solve Alaska's military housing ° problem—*“the most serious problem we face in that area”—even if that means tak- ing it up in a separate bill. A bill now pending would provide $138,000,000 for such construction, Johnson said, adding: “We must get action on this bill even if it becomes necessary to treat the construction needs for Al- kaaka as a separate item by the Con- If funds are not secured soon, |he said in a statement prepared for a news conference, part of the the promise of $1,000 more for it.|said that one Juneau resident had |construction forces that have gone “I met people that I had not seen | turned over a cabin for the use to Alaska to do the job will be for 20 or 30 years,” Reck said. “It wasn't possible to walk a block in| of a Coast Guard family. Guests at the meeting today in- | dissipated. | Johnson said family housing in Seattle without being stopped by |cluded C. N. Rohda of Seattle, R.|Alaska is so inadequate and sub- someone I knew. And there was D. Egge of Sealand Construction!standard that men often are com- no rain during the month I was|Company, Seattle; Marlin Feero, pelled to leave their families be- gone.” He reports that business is slow | with not a thing moving in the | Juneau; and F. E. McDermott, JSC, Anchorage. C. C. Staples, FHA chief here, | hind while they serve there. | “While such sacrifices are nor- mal in war, it is unfair in time of San Francisco harbor because of |was welcomed as a new member peace to ask our servicemen and the Hawailan Island strike. Carl Hansen, Roy Peterson and E. L. Hursley of Seattle are regis- tered at the Baranof Hotel. of the Chamber. HERE FROM ANGOON Patrick Paul of Angoon is regis- tered at the Baranof. their families to suffer hardship out of proportion to the standards of living enjoyed by our servicemen in | other parts of the world,” Johnson declared. 3