The Key West Citizen Newspaper, June 15, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Florido, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL. LXXV No. 142 Property Valuation UpInK.W City Tax Bills - May Be Issued A Little Late _ ‘Whe assessed valuation of real and personal pfoperty in Key West has shown an increase of $1,530,695 over 1953, according to the cur-| rent tax rolls. Valuation of the city’s real-estate is set on the tax book at $24,837,100.00 — an increase of $913,650 over 1953, : Personal property valuation is at $4;986,050,00—up $617,045.00 year. 8 g Hee of Sam P; action by County ude Gandolfo in the city further that the tax books have been “un- fairly criticized.” Some sources here estimate that it will cost the city up- wards of $50,000 to set up their own office, but City officials have said that they do not believe it will cost much more than $10,000 since they can make use of equip- ment in the Tax Collector's offic However, City Tax Collector . ehie Roberts said today that he doubted if that would work out since his office is already over- loaded and cramped for space. Equalization Board Next step in setting up the city’s tax structure is for the Equalization Board to accept the book. The board, which meets to hear complaints and pleas for ad- justments on tax assessments, was scheduled to convene last night but did not reach a quorum, The absence of Mayor C, B. Harvey from the city was the reason for the delay. The city charter pro- vides that all five members of the city commission must be present before the board can meet. Meanwhile, a tentative city budget has been prepared by City Manager Victor Lang. The city commission is expected to meet this week in their annual budget caucus to thrash out their spend- ing policy for the coming year. Deadline date for preparation of the budget and for the city com- mission to set the millage is July 1 to allow the Tax Assessor time to “extend” the books—that is to compute the actual amount of taxes to be paid by each tax- payer. No Millage Increase No increase in millage is pos- sible this year, since the current rate of 22% mills is the maximum allowed by law, This includes 20 mills for general services, two mills for the city’s share of the (Continued on Page Two) MASONIC NOTICE Dr. Felix Varela Lodge No. 64 will confer Master Mason De- gree in Spanish to seven candi- dates, on Wednesday, June 16, 1954 at 7:30 P.M., at Regular Communication of Dade Lodge No. 14, at Scottish Rite Temple. All Master Masons are cord- ially invited to attend, Fraternally, FELICIANO CASTRO, Secretary. £. U. VALDEZ, W. Master FLAG DAY SPEAKER—Chaplain Wilbur Laudenslager THE anal made an impressive Flag Day address last night at the Elks Lodge ceremonics in honor of the special day.—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. Chaplain Laudenslager Speaks | AbE ks Flag Day Ceremonies. Beach Steak Fry Is Postponed The Quarterback Club‘s steak ~ dinner for the high school base- ball team — set for tonight — has been postponed until 6:30 p. m. Thursday because of the rain. The dinner will be at the county beach. Registration For Recreation Will Be Continued Registration for the summer re- creation program sponsored by the Monroe County School Board, will be continuéd through tomorrow be- cause of the rainy weather, Wins- ton Jones, program director, an- nounced today, ‘ Children six years of age and over should register at the elemen- tary school they normally attend, with the exception of children at- tending Reynolds School. These children should register at Truman School. The summer program includes arts and crafts, sports and games, library hour, dramatics, swimming and day camp, All instructors are members of the county school staff, and have planned the program to meet the interests and abilities of several age groups. The craft and sports programs, especially will appeal to older youngsters. The summer recreation is an ex- tension of the County School pro- gram and there is no charge ex- cept for materials for model plane building classes and other crafts of this type. Florida Oldsters Needn’t Worry Over Pension Cut TALLAHASSEE (® — Florida’s old age pensioners don’t have to worry about a cut in their benefits up to June, 1955. The Cabinet Budget Commission has agreed to release the 12% million dollar old age assistance appropriation to the State Welfare | Board in a lump sum instead of in quarterly installments as is. gen- erally done. The board said the money would (Continued on Page Two) ~ Speaker Tells Way To Show Spirit Of Special Day By BILL SPILLMAN Lieutenant Commander Wilbur M. Laudenslager, USN, said last night that “The spirit and feeling of the American Flag is best shown by displaying the stars and stripes.” Laudenslager who gave the im- pressive Flag Day address in the Elks Club auditorium was hailed as being the most outstanding and | impressive speaker in this area. In speaking during the Flag Day program, he said that out of all the events of World War, the most prominent occurrence whch stands out in people’s minds is the rais- ing the Stars and Stripes on Mt. Suribachi by a group of Marines. Others Like Us Laudenslager stated that there are many flags in this world today standing as our flag did 178 years go “wanting to be free.” Frank Romaguera, program chairman for the Elk’s Club-spon- sored flag festivity, told the audi- ence that the Elks Club in 1808 was the first club of its kind to make mandatory the observance of Flag Day. Romaguera said the Elks Club meeting in Dallas, Texas, had set June 14 of each year as Flag Day and has ordered all subordinate lodges to observe the honor. In colorful ceremonies, the ad- vancement of colors into the audi- torium was carried out with mili- tary precision. The color guards consisted of members from the Fleet Reserve club, Gold Star Mo- (Continued on Page Two) Four Witnesses Slated To Talk To Grand Jury Four more witnesses today were slated to appear before Monroe County’s busy grand jury as that body continued its probe of the old Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District. | The witnesses were Robert Mor- gan, Miami accountant; Dave Mc- Callum, State Road Department engineer from Tallahassee; and two former employees of the toll district — Walter Woodside and E. G. Dickey. Clifford G. Hicks, of Marathon, former secretary of the toll dis- trict, is scheduled to appear before the grand jury tomorrow, accord- ing to James McEwen, governor- appointed special prosecutor who is working with the grand jury. y SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER Che Ken West KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1954 IN THE U.S.A. For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . Just DIAL 2-5661 or 2-5662. PRICE FIVE CENTS .S.-Cuba Ferry Line May Now Operate From Marathon Officials Of Company Meet With More Rain Is Yet To Come Don't pack away your um- brella and raincoat yet. Sam Goldsmith, the weather man, said you can look for more rain tonight and tomer row in the form of scattered showers. The rain, which began at 9:03 a. m. yesterday, totaled 1.69 inches up to 7 a. m. to day. From 7 a. m until noon to... another .88 of an inch fell, Is Hurt In Keys Crash Car Overturns After Skid On U.S. 1 Today A Miami woman was ser- iously injured at 6 a. m, te- day when’ she was riding overturned on U. S. 1, 12 miles from Key West. The sheriff's department and Pa- trolman George Bennett, of the State Highway Patrol, who inves- tigated, identified the woman as Mrs. Vivian Knight, 27. She sustain- ed cuts about the head and a pos- FUTURE FARMER GREETED—Harold Laubscher (left), man- ager of the Key West Chamber of Commerce, shakes hands with Bruce Savage, 16, one of the 19 members of the Fufure Farmers of America from Sebring, Fla., who are visiting here. The boys, with their advisor, Jack Ingle, will be here through Thursday. All of them are students at Sebring High School._—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. Carr Doesn’t Think Army Is. . “Coddling Communists” Now Perez Named sible skull fracture. She was ad- mitted to Monroe General Hospital” Mishap Described The driver of the car was nam- ed by the officers as David Myles, 29, of 315 Petronia St. He told the officers he was driv- ing about 35 miles per hour when he suddenly applied the brakes to avoid a truck which also was headed south. Myles said his car skidded and turned over. Mrs. Knight’s husband, Jobn, and Myles room here together. They are working for the Collie-Clark Corp. which is doing the repair work on the George Allen Apart- ments, Myles, police said, was driving Mrs. Knight here to visit her hus- band when the accident occurred. Writ Is Filed To Gain Custody Of Small Boy As a result of an auto crash that killed two persons, a writ of ha- beas corpus today was on file for the surrender of a 2%-year-old boy, Robert Lee Johnson, The writ, filed with the clerk of the circuit court, is returnable at 11 a. m. Monday. M. Ignatius Lester, the attorney who filed the petition for the writ and who represents the boy’s fa- ther, Arthur Lee Johnson, told this story: Early on May 28, the boy’s mo- ther, Kay Johnson, and Chief Pet- ty Officer Ernest E. Meadows died when their car crashed into the rear of a parked truck on Long Key Bridge, 17 miles north of Ma- rathon. The boy had been staying with Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Carr, of Tav-| ernier, Lester said. Mrs, Carr, he added, is a sister of the boy’s mo- ther. When the boy‘s father wanted to {take the boy from the Carr’s, Les- |ter said, they refused to surrend- er him. YOU SEE WHAT YOU BUY — at Strunk Lumber 120 Simonton St., near Coca Cola Cd b Police Chief The city commission last night appointed Bienvenido Pe- rez as chief of the Key West Police Department. Their ac- tion apparently brought to an end a heated controversy be- tween the city commission and the civil service board over the appointment. The civil service board is expected to give the appointment their approval. Commissioner Jack Delaney moved that Perez be named and Commissioner Delio Cobo seconded his motion. Commis- sioners Paul R. Roberts and Lovis Carbonell assented. May- or C. B. Harvey was absent. Post-Mortem Disclosure Of Theft Revealed Family To Repay Embezzlement By Former Governor TRENTON, N.J. ® — Sixteen charges of misconduct, including a false bank deposit of $300,000 in state funds, were made today against former Gov. Harold G. Hoffman, who died 11 days ago. Democratic Gov. Robert B. Mey- ner announced the charges at a special press conference today on the heels of a disclosure by Hoff- man’s daughter that her father had admitted embezzling $300,000 to finance his political campaigns and to pay off a blackmailing | state official, Hoffman, a Republican, who served as governor of New Jersey from 1935 to 1938, was under sus- pension as director of the state’s Division of Employment Security at the time of his death. The divi- sion had handled a billion dollars | in unemployment funds since Hoff- man took over the post some 15 years ago. Charges Told The charges covered many of Hoffman’s activities as employ- ment security director, Meyner said. Atty. Gen. Grover C. Richman told newsmen Hoffman falsely cer- (Continued on Page Two) i McCarthy Staff Director Testifies At Today’s Session WASHINGTON (# — Francis P. Carr testified today “I don’t think at this time the Army is coddling communists.” But he said he thinks Secretary Stevens .and Army Counselor John G. Adams “went to great lengths to prevent exposure” of persons who cleared Communists in loyalty investiga- tions. Carr, staff director for Sen. Mc- Carthy’s Investigations subcom- mittee, made the statements in an exchange with Army Counsel Joseph N. Welch in the 34th day of the McCarthy-Army hearings. Carr had agreed with Welch that McCarthy’s proposal to call Army loyalty board members before him was one of the main factors in bringing on the “collision” be- tween Army officials and the sena- tor. Legal Issue Welch suggested there is a grave legal issue as to whether the Mc- Carthy subcommittee could re- quire testimony from Army loyalty board members about cases they had handled. He said “honestly patriotic” persons could take the view it would be “pretty awkward to call up the judge and say how come you decided the way you iid.” Carr said: “It may be a little awkward, but I can’t see if they were doing their job and doing it right they would have anything to fear.” The issue is one which will hang over from the present hearings as McCarthy as said he intends, once they are over, to renew his efforts to get loyalty board mem- bers before him. Old Problem Sen. Dirksen (R-Ill) commented it is the old issue of separation of Powers between the executive and legislative branches of govern- ment. Dirksen said the issue will have to be settled some day, including the question of whether a congres- sional committee can question members of loyalty boards. McCarthy said it was important, (Continued on P2z2 Two) FOR SALE—New 2 bedroom house on water-front lot. Restricted, quiet and cool. Small down payment — balance monthly, 6%. 20 minutes from Key West at beautiful SUGAR LOAF SHORES. See E. R. SYCKS, REALTOR, on the. premises. ad City, Marathon Chamber Today By JIM COBB The middle keys community of Marathon has en- tered the picture as a possible terminus for a United States - Cuba ferry operation. The pessibility that the long discussed car ferry line might abandon Key West in the face of their inability to arrive at a lease agreement with the city commission for the Clyde-Mallory Dock, was advanced last night by N. C. Hines, executive vice president of the Carribean Ferry Service, Inc., one of the three companies which have been negotiating with the city for a lease to the dock. fF — ___ ______ 4 Four Survivors Of Fishing Vessel Reported Safe The Coast Guard cutter Aria- dne left Key West this morn- ing to rescue four survi from the 50. foot charter fish- ing boat Espada which went aground on. Elbow Cay, 9 miles north of Key West. The Marathon based vessel sent out a distress call at 7 a. m., reporting a hole in her bottom and that she was tak- ing on water fast. They had been bound for the vicinity of Dog Key. The Captain told the Coast Guard ‘that he was going to turn around and try to make it back to’Marathon: However, a short time ‘ater, a Miami Coast Guard plane sent to the scene reported that the vessel was aground on El- bow Cay and that the survivors were apparently in good condi- tion, : Dulles Tells Of Guatemala Terror Reign WASHINGTON (#—Secretary of State Dulles said today there is no doubt a reign of terror is being carried out in Guatemala by its Red-tinged government. Dulles also told a news confer- ence the great majority of the people in that Central American country want to clean out the Com- munists but are having to face intense Communist terrorism. He made the statement in com- menting on reports that Guatema- lan army officers have told Guate- malan President Jacobo Arbenz that he must break away from the Reds or resign. No Dependable Information Dulles said the State Department has heard the same reports but (Continued on Page Two) Simonton Street Extension OK’d The city commission last night gave permission to Al Logun, op- erator of Logun’s Lobster House at the south end of Simonton Street, to allow Simonton Street to be ex- tended 100 feet out into the ocean. At the same time, the commission agreed to pay half the cost of the 29 feet of wall that remains to be built. Logun appeared before the com- mission, along with contractor M. E. Bennett, asking that the city allow the street to be extended to alleviate a crowded parking situa- tion at the end of Simonton Street. | Logun also pointed out that a bet- ter view of the sea will be afford- ed winter visitors by extending the street. Eariica, Logun had been granted permission to fill in an area ex- tending 21-feet out into Simonton j Street to allow him access to a huge new patio and parking area. The project, which involved a huge amount of fill is virtually complet- ed at this time. Hines told the city com- mission which met in spec- ial session last night to con- sider the lease agreement, that the company has been approached by the Marathon Chamber of Commerce in an effort to have negotia- tions started with a view to running their ship between there and Cuba. ‘This morning, Hines, along with Blaine Willenborg, treasurer of the company, and Joseph H, Church, secretary. met with offi- cials of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce to talk over the possi- ‘ Meeting Held John H, Goggin, president of the Marathon Chamber confirmed the meeting and said-that the trio had “expressed an interest in coming here.” “We met.with the gentlemen but we have reserved any de- cision until we learn more about their operation,” said Goggin. “We definitely have the facilities to handle such an operation but we want to be sure that we are not being used as a lever to close a deal with Key West.” Goggin pointed out that Boot Harbor, on the ocean side of Marathon, has deep-water facili- ties to handle the boat. Two-Hour Session Last night, in a two-hour ses- sion, Hines outlined to the city commission details of the organi- zation of his company and how they propose to operate. However, the city took no action on his pro- Posal, pending the receipt of fur- ther information. The consensus of the commissioners was that the company should be required to post some kind of a performance bond or guarantee that they will start service on Sept. 1 as they Promise. The commissioners held that they should not commit them- selves to leasing the dock until they have such a guarantee. And the Gulf Atlantic Transpor- tation Company, who have also been negotiating with the city for the dock, entered a strong protest against the city granting a lease on the terms offered. In a letter to the commission, H. G. Williams, president of Gulf Atlantic, also threatened to move his proposed operation to Marathon or Miami. GATCO Comment “Please be advise that the Gulf Atlantic Transportation Company has not abandoned its plan to establish a ferry service between Florjda and Cuba. How- ever, this corporation will not in- augurate service until such time as satisfactory labor conditions and dock facilities are arranged for in Cuba, At the present mo- ment, these negotiations are pro- gressing satisfactorily. If the City of Key West enters into a lease tieup for this complete terminal to another ferry operator, this (Continued on Page Two) NOTICE! NOTICE! DR. JOSEPH J. GROOM, M.D. Eye Specialist WILL BE HERE FoR CONSULTATION On Saturday, June 19 For Appointment Call . . . Dr. J. A. Valdes PHONE 2.7821