The Key West Citizen Newspaper, June 11, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL. LXXV No. 139 Ken West Citisen THE CHARTER FOR SEA SCOUTS—Sea Scout Ship 250, which is sponsored by the Fleet Reserve As- sociation, received its charter last night at ceremonies held at the FRA Home. In the foreground, Harry Williams. skipper of Ship 250, receives the charter from Aubrey B. Lane, FRA president. Beans ot eine 108 Hook on--Citionn, Batt Photo, Sybil, Free Bus Tours Thro’ Naval Station May Be Re-Scheduled Chamber’s Appeal Is Answered By Senator Smathers, The free Navy bus: tours through the Nayal Station may be.re-scheduled, it. was gram “from Sen, _ Smathers (D.-Fia.) The following is the text of a Chamber of Commerce statement handed to the press by Harold Laubscher, manager of the chamber; The Navy Department has been asked to investigate possibilities of re-scheduling the daily bus tours through Key West Naval Station. This word was received today by Mrs, Mary Lee Graham, president of the Key West Chamber of Com- merce, in a telegram from Sena- tor George Smathers. Appeal Sent ‘The appeal for further investiga- tion into the matters came as a result of a special meeting between chamber officials and a represen- tative of the Key West Naval base. This committee, ¢: George Check OF 2 e Hears Skin ee Diving Expert Eddie Ciesinski Tells Of Nation’s Fastest Growing Sport At Meeting “Underwater fishing is probably the most musrepresente dsport in the world.” That was the comment of Eddie Ciesinski, a nationally known lead- er among the fast growing “‘skin- diving” fraternity, in an address of |before the Key West Rotary Club - ¥. Vv. Chamber vice-president; Paul J, Sher, chairman of the chamber’ Hotel-Motel Divison; Mel Levitt; aur Neil of the La Concha Hotel; Henri -Trembley of Ramonins ; and Luther Pinder, owner of Ocean View Ho- tel. Captain C. L. Murphy represent- ed the Navy. At a meeting of the chamber’s board of directors on April 21, the fact that the operator of a local sightseeing boat objected to the Navy bus tours was discussed. At that time the Chamber went on record thanking the Navy for its provision of the service and ex. Pressed the hope that the tours could be continued indefinitely, Time Controversy The controversy between the Na- ‘vy tours and the sightseeing boat operator centers around the fact that the Navy bus leaves at 2p, m. daily, the same time as’ the after- noon sailing of the sightseeing boat. Because of need for the bus by the Navy at almost all hours ot the day, Captain Murphy stated at the April meeting thaé it would be impossible for the tour to ori- ginate at any other hour. At several times chamber repre- sentatives have requested the sight seeing boat people to change their afternoon sailing hour to 3:00 P. m. to avoid conflict. , The chamber, realizing the value of a glass-bottomed boat here as a tourist attraction, has consistent- ly stated that both the sightseeing boat and the Nayy yard tours — be made available if pos- Boat Recommended President Graham stated today, “the chamber has highly recom- mended the glass-bottom sightsee- ing trip to tourists. Even though Captain Montgomery was not a (Continuea on Page Two) bf at their regular meeting yesterday. “Most people think that under- water spear-fishing is a kind of slaguhter but I can assure you hat it is much more difficuit to spear a fish than to catch him on a hook and line,” Ciesinski said. “Actually, a great number of un- derwater enthusiasts are not in- terested in spearing fish — they just like to go under and look a- round and make photographs,” he said, Experienced Diver *Ciesinski is a man who knows whereof he speaks—he has been addicted to underwater pursuits for 20 years. His underwater talents have proved to be of value in the filming of two movies in the past year. He worked on the underwa- ter scenes for the 20th Century Fox Production “12 Mile Reef” and re- cently returned from Nassau where he worked on the much-heralded movie adaptation of “20,000 Lea- gues Under The Sea.” Ciesinski, in relating the story how he first became interested in diving, said that he went all through Florida 20 years ago in search of a place to settle, “I look- ed at a map and saw a string of Keys with Key West at the end of them — and I settled here and ‘started diving,” he said. Crude Start Ciesinski pointed out that he first started off in a “crude way,” div- ing for Conchs and crawfish with a glass-bottom bucket of the type used by sponge fishermen. Then, Ciesinski said that he hap- pened to meet a Frenchman visit- ing in KeyWest who supplied him with a crude diving helmet which allowed him to see cleafly under- water for the first time. However, the helmet was not suitable and (Continued on Page Two) - |Roberts Tells Of Preliminary ty Tax Assessment <He Not Find ‘any Equalization By BILL ‘SPILLMAN City commissoner Paul (Blondie) Roberts said today in a statement to The Citizen that on preliminary examination of the city tax assess- ment rolls, he does not see an equilization in the tax assess- ments. Roberts said that his prelimin- ary checks were centered around various parts of town. He pointed out that his special attention had been directed to looking over assessments around the south part of the island between Reynolds and White Streets. Roberts said that he did not want to be quoted on any actual dis- crepancy which he believes exists since he is not a qualified assessor. He said that he is basing his opin- ions on sales and accepted values of. porperty. Low Assessments He pointed out that lots which are for sale for four and five thou- sand dollars are assessed at about one fifth of the amount of the sale price. Roberts in commenting on a re- cent sale of land for $192,000 which was assessed for $8,700 said that it is just one of the many reasons why he is going te request that the city hire some legitimate engineer- ing assessment firm to go over Key West assessments thoroughly. Roberts added that he did not want to see taxes raised but did want to see fair, up-to-date asses: ments for everyone and then “‘low- er the tax millage.” He asserted that the people who own half the island should be paying half the taxes. Gandolfo’s Land Claude Gandolfo, county tax as- sessor and part owner of the land recently sold on north Roosevelt | &d. Boulevard that Roberts had com- mented on, said that the county | &4. had the land assessed for $8,700. The land sold for $192,500, 22 times the amount of the assessment. It has been the past procedure of the city tax assessor to copy assessments made by the county. Gandolfo stated that the assess- ment on the property in question was made as of the first of the year and the land was only 10 per cent filled at that time. Gandolfo did not state the cost of fill. Policy On Bay Bottom He said that it had been his policy to set an assessment of $250 an acre on bay bottom land that had been bought from the state at $500 an acre. The assessment controversy started when the city commission- ers declared their intention to look (Continued on Page Two) » SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER ” KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1954 New Housing Project In The Works For Navy The Key West area may get over a million dollars in Navy housing, it was learned today. Franklin G. Floete, assistant secretary of defense, made the proposal to the House Armed Services Committee in Wash- ington. The proposal calls for 20 units to be built at the Naval Air Station, Boca Chica, at a cost of $273,500, and 83 units at the Naval Station to cost $1,084,000, The housing units would be for officers and top-grade non- commissioned officers. End Of Station Tours OK By Montgomery Operator Of Boat Says His Business Has Picked Up By DENIS SNEIGR “Stopping the free Navy bus tours has helped my business im- mensely,” Clyde Montomery, op- erator of a sight seeing boat, said today. Montgomery complained to the Secretary of the Navy, saying the Chamber of Commerce sponsored | ‘ bus tour of the Navy Station was competing «vith private enterprise and hurting his On orders. from ~ on were cancelled last’ the Chamber of Commerce, has asked Sen. George Smathers (D.- Fla.) to intercede with the Navy for resumption of the tours. Montgomery and his wife today called at The Citizen office to tell their side of the story. Their glass-bottom boat, the Fire- pall, is used for sight seeing tours. “We noticed the difference Tues- day, the day the tours stopped,” Montgomery said. “We have to have at least 12 passengers to make the trip pay. We also operate Wednesday and Thursday (this was at 9 am.) have enough re- servations to make the trip today.” Afternoon Trip Montgomery added that Tuesday. — except for weekends when the Navy tour did not operate — was the first day they had made an af- ternoon trip in almost two months. “Cancellation of the tours could not possibly have been a surprise to Chamber of Commerce offi- cial Montgomery said. ““We had called on Laubseher in person or talked with him by phone at least a dozen times about this matter.” Laubscher said yesterday that cancellation of the tours “came as a surprise to the Chamber of Com- merce and local Navy officials.” Background Given Here is the background of the squabble between Montgomery and the Chamber of Commerce as told by Montgomery: “The glass-bottom boat began op- erations Jan. 2, 1953 and carried fair crowds in the morning and big crowds in the afternoon. when the weather permitted,” he said. “When the free bus tours began last October, our business imme- ey fell off,” Montgomery add- waits Montgomery,” he continu- “keeps a daily record of the number of Passengers on the boat (Continued on Page Two) CASA MARINA THEFT IS INVESTIGATED Police today are investigating an alleged theft of $15 in cash, two bathing suits and a $35 radio taken from the beach house of the Casa Marina Hotel early this morning. _ Police Officer L. Soriano stated IN THE U.S.A. Write To Sen. Smathers— Urge Resumption Of Naval Station Tours For Quick Clilenidoticn, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . Just DIAL 2.5661 or 25662. PRICE FIVE CENTS racer, Local Housing Board Asks 3- Year Poinciana Lease Group Acts In Effort To Prevent Rent Increase On Housing Units SPECIAL SPEAKER—Nestor Morales was special speaker at the Lions Club installation of officers and Ladies Night dinner held last night. Morales’ brother, Edelmiro, was installed as president of the club.—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. “|Edelmiro Morales Is Installed As New Lions Club President Alfonso’s Suit Against Hudgins Is Dismissed A suit in Federal Court against Hudgins and Alfonso, Inc., Keys building company, has been dismissed, it was learned here today. The svit was brought in the Federal Court, Miami, by An- tonio Alfonso against the com- pany and Henry C. Hudgins, alleging that Hudgins handled the company’s affairs. to the detriment of Alfonso. Judge John W. Holland dis- missed the action with preju- dice to Alfonso’s claims. Lawyers May Seek Loopholes In Race Law RICHMOND, Va. (#—The attor- neys general of the Southern states may meet this summer in an ef- fort to find legal loopholes that would permit the states to continue their traditional system of racial segregation in the public schools, A suggestion for such a meeting was just about the most tangible thing that emerged from yester- day’s 15-state, closed-door confer- ence on problems resulting from the Supreme Court’s decision at separation of the races in schools. Won't File Briefs Most of the states indicated they will not file briefs, as the Supreme Court invited them to do, before the court issues its final decree, (Continued on Page. Two) Delinquent Tax Warrant Filed A warrant for the collection of $120,190.73 in delinquent state sdles and use taxes today was filed against Alonzo Cothron, of the Circuit Court, show- ed 850.52 in taxes, $21,462.63 in penalties, and $12,877.58 it in- terest warrant named Cothron, Ams B Enterprises, and the A B Lumber Company © Attorney Speaks On Pan Americanism At Ladies’ Night Event Edelmiro Morales was installed as new president of the Lions Club last night in front of an estimated 71 Lions and their Lionesses. The “Ladies Night” event was marked with good food, frolic and laugh- ter. Nester Morales, brother of the new president of the club, was in- troduced as guest speaker by Ger- ald Saunders. He spoke on the sub- ject of “Pan Americanism — A New Way of Life.” Nester Morales has been active in Pan American acitivites for ma- ny years. He is a Miami attorney and at present is a member of the City of Miami Inter-American Committee. In-his speech, Morales praised the Lions Club for its charity driv- es and told of the happinéss he ob- served among the members. Prosperity Aid He also said that Key West as well as south Florida is prosperous because of the commerce promot- ed by the Pan American Union. The principals of the Pan Am- erican Union, Morales pointed out, prevents the American countries from being held back by tradition. He stated that when countries get involved in the past, they usually fold because of not looking forward to the future. The meeting was highlighted by Periodie news reports of the inning scores of the Key West High School base ball game that was in pro- gress up in Fort Pierce. The scores were received with cheers and ap- plause. Paul G. Albury, outgoing presi- dent of the club, expressed his ap- Preciation for the great honor that it had been to serve as president for the last year. He said that the club was the greatest of its kind on the face of the earth. Albury urged the Lions present not to be just dinner members but to be members who worked toward club goals. Business Carried On Albury announced the organiza- tion of the Lions bowling team. A letter was read to the club from Mrs. Herman McNeal ex- pressing thanks for the “beautiful wristwatch” that she had received from the Lions Club. The watch had been received as a prize for ;her son’s letter on Mother’s Day being one of the top ten letters of the contest. Walter Burns was given stand- ing ovation in appreciation of his splendid work in handling the af- (Continued on Page Two) x The Key West Housing Authority Board met last night in a special meeting and resolved to negotiate a three-year lease with the Poinciana land owners that would enable the housing projects to remain in Public Housing Administration hands. Attorney William V. Albury, legal adviser to the local housing board, said that the move was made to at- tempt to keep the rents of the project apartments as they Two Are Hurt In Noon Collision ‘Two men were injured in a collision at about 12:45 today between a Navy truck and a private automobile. The crash occurred at the intersection Avenue and The driver of the Navy truck, Robert Giove, and an unidentified sailor in the truck were injured. The un- idientified man was taken to the Navy Hospital, where his condition was described as critical. The driver of the private man, ‘Information In Larceny Case Amended Wording Altered On Charges Against Bateman, Cothron An amended information charg- ing Alonzo Cothron and Brooks Bateman with grand larceny to- day was filed with Harry Dongo, clerk of Criminal Court. Alonzo is a contractor and Bate- man is former general manager of the old Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District. The original information was filed April 28 by John Marsh, Dade County solicitor, who was appoint- ed by Acting Governor Charley E. Johns to probe the affairs of the toll bridge district. | Filed Today Marsh filed the amended infor- mation today. It charges that Cothron, between Sept. 9, 1953 and (Continued on Page Two) 2 Women Fined After Tavern Altercation A woman who objected to a bar- maid “feeding” her husband drinks was fined $10 in city court Thurs- day, when she was convicted of disturbing the peace. The barmaid was also fined for becoming involved in a fight with the woman. The fracas took place in the Golden Nugget Bar on Duval Street. A highlight of the battle, accord- ing to testimony before Muni- cipal Judge Enrique Esquinaldo, Jr., was when the barmaid allege- ly came from behind the bar and grabbed the aforementioned wom- an and tore her dress off. The at- tack was unprovoked, the woman testified. The barmaid gave a different version of the fracas. She said that she came from behind the bar to buy a pack of cigarettes when she was attacked. The woman, who lost her dress admitted that she didn’t like that barmaid feeding her husband drinks because he was a “mean so and so when he got drunk.” She stated that her husband was so mean at one time that it re- quired five shore patrokren and a policeman to put him in the paddy wagon. now stand. It has been reported pre- viously that if the land own- ers take over the projects the rents will probably be raised immediately because of increased taxes. Albury added that the housing authority-is stepping into the mat- ter because the Navy has- indi- cated that it might take over the Projects. He said that if the Navy takes over the units everyone will lose because the Navy doesn’t pay taxes. City Reaction Asked Albury also said that the reso- lution passed states that the nego- tiations will be carried out for the three-year lease if the city has no objection. He said that the officials of the city are being contacted for comment on, the resolution. The city has just finished sign- ing a contract to let the land own- ers take over some of the pro- jects and operate them for profit in exchange for land which is to be made into a public park. “The whole action is centered around rents,” Albury stated. “We don’t want to see the rents raised.” Situation Today The Poinciana housing situation now Shapes up as follows: 1, The Navy, after learning of plans of the city to turn over pro- jects to the owners of the land, requested* a decision from the Bureau of Yards and Docks on possible Federal condemnation proceedings with the Navy taking over the projects. 2. The city has signed a con- tract with two of the realty own- ers to allow them to buy the build- ings from fhe FHA and operate the projects at a profit. The city has also indicated intentions to purchase the remaining Poinciana projects and operate them with rents remaining the same as pres- ent. 3. The local’ Housing Authority wants to step in and negotiate a lease on the land and operate the units themselves for at least an- other three years. Suicide Attempt. Is Averted By Alert Women Death by suicide was averted this morning by giving artificial respiration to a young woman who had strangled herself into unconsciousness by a cord tied around her neck. Police Officer L. Soriano stat- ed in his report that he was call- ed to an Eaton Street address, where a woman was _ reported trying to kill herself. Two wom- en, who were on the scene, said that they had discovered the man laying on her bed with sash cord tied around her neck, the report stated. Soriano said in his statement that the woman was still black when he arrived and that the two women gave artificial respiration until she regained consciousness. The woman, Soriano reported, stated that she had tried to kill herself because her husband had had trouble last night. The hus- band reportedly had left and wasn’t coming back. No. charges have been placed against the woman. IT COSTS MONEY TO BUILD WITH CROOKED LUMBER SAVE — at Strunk Lumber 120 Simonton St., near City Hall