News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 1

TPtptc Thomat Said: Tbr 01 If one Fort Mera od (0 million people re going to find it out." Thonet Nt Department 44 CLreulatloa 14 Job Printing 0 VOL. LIII NO. 174. 53rd Year. FORT MYERS, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 11, 1937 FIVE CENTS A COPY FORT MYE NEWS MS 8 Sen.

Blach Joins Uncovers Experts Fail To Cite Cause American Girls in London Kiss Merrill After Flight Daylight Saving Hours Proposed Here in Summer State-Owned Slots Scorned By Committee Mrinlur Proposes lo Iking 'Revenue' Measure up on House Floor Despile Unfavorable Report Merchants Will Ask Council for More Time to Enjoy Afternoons ryyA Ah' A -j i it -i XA- vA V- -v, J' i TALLAHASSEK, May 10 (P) The house finance and taxation committee refused today to con-rider a measure proposing state-owned slot machines in Florida. Representative I) of Holmes 'county, who told the committee about the bill, said he would introduce it in the house tomorrow despite the committee action. Drummond estimated the state could colled $10,400,000 a year Qm the basis of 10.000 slot ma-hines, but he said this was 'conservative" because the bill would allow as many at 16,000 machines in the state. The state would take 20 per cent of the total play. The house recently voted overwhelmingly for repeal of the present slot machine licensing law on Oct.

1, when present licenses expire. Drummond and six other representatives voted against outlawing the devices. Fifty counties voted in referenda last November to outlaw slot machines. The supreme courj, held present licenses provided for operation until Oct. 1 unless the legislature made refund of unused portions.

Meanwhile, the committee on constitutional amendments rejected, 9 to 6, an amendment or a constitutional prohibition against slot machines- Members said they did not believe such a hare statement as "slot machines" should be put into the constitution, because the legislature had ample authority to prohibit such devices. "We have voted slot machines out," said Representative Scales of Taylor county, "and I don't see i 'much "need of cluttering up the ballot them." Legal Profession TALLAHASSEE, 10 (JP) Senator K. Lucas Black of Gainesville, frequently critical lawyers, was toteH into the legal profession todtjr by his fellow legislators. By a chorus of "ayes," the senate decided that Black should be permitted to practice law because he "has (he sole ambition to become a lawyer, but is incapable of ever passing the slaJe bar examination and knows it." Black told the senate he could understand the lawyers' desire to maJie him one of them, because "it would certainly lend dignity to the profession to have a good turiK-nline man in it." He objected, however, "because I'd rather have a license to steal so that I can do legally what the lawyers do under coter." The bill, introduced by Senators Wynn, Til'man, Holland, Sat age, Iteall, Clarke, Butler, Kelly, Kanner, JlcArthur Ter-vin, Hodges, Gomez, Westbrook and Beacham was debated and put through the formal motions, of passage. Merchants Suckers Thinks Legislator; Calls for Inquiry Alleges Funds of Better Business Association Being Misused TALLAHASSEE, May 10 (JP) Financial affairs and activities of the Better Business association, an anti-chain store group of independent meren -and whole-v.

may come unV legislative investigation. Rep. C. Leedy of Orange county, irked by what he called "threats of reprisal" for his opposition to the "Florida recovery act," introduced a house resolution for the investigation. Speaker Christie referred it to a committee to report on whether the whole house should consider it.

The Leedy resolution said "it alleged" the. Better. Business has 6,000 to 7,000 members, paying $30,000 to $35,000 a month. Nsed Funds Themselves Citizens of the state charge, it continued, that Robert H. Givens and Frank M.

Cooper of Tampa organized the Better Business association, used the money collected for ''their personal use" and for building a political organization "by which they seek to control the election of public officials." "It is charged by citizens of the state of Florida that the aid Robert II. Givens and Frank M. Cooper have, through the said political organization, attempted and are now attempting to control the legislature of the state of Florida by threats of political reprisals against the members thereof." Cooper, chairman of the Better Business association executive committee, said he and other organizers welcomed an" investigation. He denied any political organization and said the association's budget for this year is and not $30,000 to $35,000 a month as Leedy said. Givens, a Tampa attorney, drafted the "recovery act" to out- Continued on Page Two CONE PROCLAIMS WEEKS TALLAHASSEE, May 10 (JP) Gov.

Fred P. Cone has issued a proclamation designating May 16 to 22 "Florida foreign trade week," and May 22 "Florida maritime day." Refusal to Pay a a Spanish 'Spy' Ring in U. S. Senator Calls on Congress To Act; Ex-Ambassador Named a9 Agent of Gen. Franco WASHINGTON, May 10 (JP) Senate and house heard charges today that a "spy ring" is oper ating in the United States in be half of the Spanish insurgents.

Senator Nye (R-ND) and Representative Bernard (FL-Minn) both named former Ambassador Juan Francisco de Cardenas and other one-time officials of the Spanish embassy as involved. Nye told reporters he would introduce a resolution for a senatorial in quiry into "all subversive influences." The chairman of the old muni tions investigating committee expressed belief that "strong sentiment" existed for such an inquiry. To bolster his charge of "activities which violate and threaten American neutrality," Nye filed with the senate translations of letters he said were written by members of a New York shipping firm to various persons in Spain, Mexico, France and Cuba. Many dealt with shipments of arms and supplies to the Spanish loyalists. Bernard called on the state department to revoke the "illegally honored passports" of Cardenas, whom he described as a lieutenant of General Franco, the Spanish fascist commander, and to "expel these spies promptly from the country." He said there should be an inquiry into "their illegal abuse of the diplomatic privileges and their violation of the neutrality laws now in effect." DENIES CHAIMJES NEW YORK, May 10 (JP) Former Spanish Ambassador Juan Francisco de Cardenas denied in congress today and said he would welcome a proposed inves tigation into all active Spanish partisan "agencies" in this country.

Cardenas? wbo served successively as Spanish ambassador to Japan, the United States and France, leaving the latter post at the outbreak of the civil war, laughed at charges that he was making "illegal" use of a diplomatic passport. Ogden Hammond, Jersey City, N. banker and former Ameri can ambassador to Spain, who is associated with Cardenas in rais ing relief funds for war victims in insurgent Spanish territory, ridiculed the "spy" charges against his friend. Two Tarpon a Day Sportsmen's Topic The proposal of the livestock board to slaughter deer in Collier county, shorter hunting seasons and the two-tarpon-a-day limit will be among subjects up for discussion at 8 o'clock tomorrow night at a. meeting of the Tropical Sportsmen's club to be held in the municipal auditorium.

J. N. "Ding" Darling, noted conservationist, has been invited to speak at the meeting. RENOUNCES THRONE STOCKHOLM, May 10 (JP) Prince Charles, nephew of King Gustav and brother of the late Queen Astrid of the Belgians, tonight became the third member of the Swedish royal family in recent years to renounce rights of succession to the throne for love of a woman not of royal blood. Knuifc 'v Revenue Act iV Of Zep Blast IJosendahl Thinks Sialic Eleetrieity Not to Blame for Wreck Of Hinrienhurg LAKEHURST, N.

May 10 (JP) The Ilindenburg's flaming dive to destruction was described graphically to a commerce department investigating board today by two experts eyewitnesses, but neither was able to offer a conclusion as to the mysterious cause of the dirigible disaster which claimed 35 lives. One of the witnesses, Commander Charles E. Rosendahl, leading American lighter-than-air authority, intimated strongly, however, that in hi3 opinion natural causes, such as static electricity or lightning, were not responsible and the secret of the disaster lay within the great ship. William F. von Meister, executive vice president of the American Zeppelin Transport company, agent here for the German operating firm, confined his testimouny to what he observed when flames suddenly engulfed the ship with safe landing seconds away.

Von Meister's witness stand account of beholding a "very strong light in the upper fin" before he saw any flames excited considerable speculation at first that the light might have been a reflection from the hydrogen fire already raging within the hull before any signs of it appeared on the envelope. He explained later, however, that he meant the light was visible on the overcast sky aft the fin and was probably due to flames on the top of the envelope which he could not see from his position on the ground. Rosendahl definitely placed the outbreak of the hydrogen fire on the upper aft surface of the 800-foot long silver envelope. "I observed a small burst of flame on the after part of the ship on the top," he said, describing his first warning of the disaster. "My feeling was at once that it spelled the doom of the ship." Both witnesses -concurred that the ship approached her landing Thursday with usual maneuvers.

Rosendahl added the atmospheric conditions were, in his opinion, "entirely satisfactory" for a landing, and the ground crew was carrying out its assignment in the regular manner. After hearing the two witnesses, the three-man investigating board and its staff of tecnical advisors inspected the heavily guarded wreckage of the Hindenburg, then carefully studied the moving pictures made of the disaster, and adjourned until Wednesday. It was decided to hold no hear-IContinued on Page Two Chamberlain's Plane Finds Stowaway, 4 PANAMA CITY, May 10 (P)-Eugene Schaab, manager of the Panama City airport, reported a stowaway aboard Clarence Chamberlain's plane here today four-year-old Nickolas i s. Schaab said the child hid behind seat during an inspection trip through the ship and remained aboard when the famed transatlantic flier took off. Chamberlain did not notice his youthful passenger until the flight was under way.

Nickolas' trip proved to be a brief one, however, as Chamberlain was only taking passengers on a sight-seeing jaunt over the city. Taxi Bill tute of the municipal court of Chicago. Major psychosis, he said, are inadequate to account for the bulk of criminality. The manic depressive type of insane person, if he does anything, is likely to be dominated by a feeling of play. Epilepsy, with a half million known victims in the United States, shows no defined criminal tendencies.

Encephalitis may lead to nothing worse than pernicious begging. Alcoholics, Dr. Rotman said, may be guilty of temporarily very bad conduct, or serious crime, about which they afterward recall little. Alcoholics, he added, should be handled differently than at present. Farm colonies should be established for them.

For sex crimes he asked for new institutions. In them persons with wrong sex tendencies would be held, to protect society. There they would be given the newer method of treatment including psychonalysis, Wally Resumes Her Maiden Name 3IO NTS, France, May lOfp) The Puke of Windsor's fiancee assumed her maiden name of Waliis Warfield, Herman L. Rogers announced tonight following legal action in London. Her name under which she will marry the former British monarch is now Wallis Warfield, he said.

He explained it was "Mrs." not "Miss." Application for the chance, dropping the name of Simpson, was made to a London court fhe days ago. The former Baltimore woman's solicitors ad-lised her by telephone today the change had been legalized, Rogers said. The marriage date, he added, will not be announced before May 17. Roosevelt Heads Back for Capital As Fishing Ends Trolls for and Jacks in Lat Day on Brazos River GALVESTON', May 10 (JP) President Roosevelt completed an 11-day fishing cruise in the Gulf of Mexico today and prepared to start back to Washington tomorrow morning for important legislative conferences. The bronzed chief executive spent his last day at sea trolling for kingfish and jacks enroute up the coast from the mouth of the Brazos river.

The gray yacht Potomac, and the escort destroyers Moffett and Decaiur, left the mouth of the Brazos at 11 a. m. central standard time, for an overnight cruise to Galveston. The president will disembark around 9 a. m.

tomorrow. McLaughlin Rites Set for Tomorrow Funeral services for Charles E. McLaughlin, who died at the St. Joseph hospital in Tampa; last Sunday, will be held at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning at the First Methodist church, with the Rev. Carlock Hawk officiating and the Rev.

II. L. Wiggins assisting. Pallbearers will be John Boring, B. C.

Foxworthy, Cyrus Q. Stewart, L. B. Penrod, Ben King and Judge David Elmer Ward. Internment-will be in the Fort Myers cemetery.

Spooner and Engelhardt are in charge of arrangements. ALSO AVIATION WEEK TALLAHASSEE, May 10 (JP) Gov. Fred P. Cone today proclaimed the week of June 21 to 28 "aviation week in Florida." In issuing the proclamation, the governor said he recognized the "increasing importance of the aviation industry" and urged citizens to acquaint themselves with aviation, its benefits and advantages to Florida's economic future. CLOSE ON BILBAO Dl'RANGO, Northern Spain, May 10 (P) Under a pall of smoke rising from burning Basque towns and forests the insurgents drove their lines closer to Bilbao today.

ting 10-cent loaf ounce and half. Tallah assee Bakers have not reduced loaf but one baker said he heard a statewide movement was being suggested. St. Petersburg Ten-cent loaves now reported 14 ounces. One said plan cut to about 12 ounces due to flour prices.

Lakeland Reduced from 15 to 14 ounces, E. E. Kelley, president of the Polk County Baking company, said. Kelley said the movement "was not statewide," and that no cuts had been made in Plant City, St. Petersburg and other cities this section.

"Because of rising prices of in-gredientsT we cut the weight of the 10-cent loaf approximately five per cent today," he said. "The move should nave been made a year ago to keep pace with increased costs," A merchants' committee ask the city council to consider saving time "fast time" during June, July and August, it wa3 decided last night at a meeting of the Fort Myers Merchants' association. Harry Stucky and Bob Kramer were appointed by Sidney Davis, president, to ask the council to set the official clock up an hour during the summer montns in order to give merchants, clerks and other employes a better chance to enjoy the late afternoon sunlight hours." Daylight saving time was proposed to the merchants by Gilmer M. Heitman, and a lively discussion followed. Although a few of the merchants were definitely opposed to tampering with the clock, an unofficial showing of hands showed nine in favor and none against "fast time.

Ronald Halgrim of the News-Press was authorized to poll all of the downtown merchants in order to get a more representative show of opinion. "There are others to be considered in addition to ourselves," said Mr. Stucky. "We should find out what the public wants and then go before the city council. I would be glad to start to work an hour earlier in order to have more time for recreation while the sun shines in the afternoon." Mr.

Heitman first suggested closing at 5 o'clock without any change in time but said that he saw disadvantages of this plan and knew that it would not get 100 per cent cooperation. He said he brought up the matter of daylight saving time to "see if it would be practical in Fort v. Guy Miller suggested calling it "fast time" because some people were already prejudiced against daylight saving time because they could not understand where "it made any saving." C. L. Persons said he was not in favor of closing earlier by adopting daylight saving time because local house wives and rural shoppers liked to come down late in the day during the summer.

The suggestion that' the mer chants sponsor a community chest to avoid duplication in charity work failed to get the approval of the merchants. It was their opinion that Fort My ers was too small for this type of "organized charity." The mer chants, however, praised Mr. Sea- brook and the advertising committee for keeping down "rackets and fake advertising schemes" during the past season. 7th Victim Dies Of IJus Accident MARIANNA, May 10 Judge D. A.

Oswald called an inquest tomorrow into the school bus-truck collision which today claimed a seventh life. Mack Sheppard, 15-year-old Greensboro, Fla.r school boy, died of injuries he received in the Sunday morning accident Six of his companions were killed outright, three others were injured but 25 escaped without being hurt A negro who gave his name as L. B. Thomas and said he was driving the truck for a St. Peters- burg company (Clauson and Co.) was being held in the Jackson county jail here pending a report from the coroner's jury.

The truck and the school bus, driven by Thomas Smith, side-swiped near the Apalachicola river bridge. The Greensboro boys were on their way home from a Future Farmers of America meeting here where they won the district diam ond ball championship. THE WEATHER In Fort Myers yesterday (May 10) High low 70 seven-mile east tindj .02 inches rainfall; partly cloudy barometer 20.97 a. and 29.06 (S p. forecast: Generally fair to-day and tomorrow; light tari ff able winds and overcast skif.

Tides at Fort Myers Beach: Low 7 a. m. and p. high IS: 10 p. m.

Sun rinea sets 1th). Moon rises 6:31 a. sets Ht-W p. m. I unwound Mini uic imamc taxal'tW'Comii, wanted talk about a bill and get a 'cross-section of attitude toward it." Then he began discussing state-owned slot machines and distributed among committee members a synopsis of what he called an "emergency revenue act." After hearing him and after hearing some members reply, the committee adopted vocally, with out dissent, a motion by Representative Rogers of liroward county to refuse consideration of the measure.

If Drummond introduces it, the bill must be referred to some committee unless the house directs otherwise immediately. Since it is a revenue bill, it ordinarily would be referred to the finance and taxation committee. "The prime duty of this committee," Drummond said, "is to raise the finances for the government. Most of the people in the campaign last year ran on platforms of plenty of money for old age pensions. There have been few measures introduced for revenues." Calling his bill "clean and Continued on Page Two shown talking over plans with his before they started from Floyd to London.

Four Amendments To Constitution Of State Backed Committee Split on Plan To Establish 1 -House Legislature TALLAHASSEE. Mav 10 A plan to amend the constitution so sales taxes could not be levied in Florida met quick defeat today by a house committee. Without discussion, the committee killed a resolution introduced by Representative Sheldon of Hillsborough Four changes in the constitution were endorsed, and will be submit ted to the people if the house and senate approve them. This would abolish the office of justice of the peace, establish a new cabinet of fice of commissioner of welfare, fix the compensation of legislators at $365 a year, and broaden the homestead exemption amendment to include single persons and others who own their homes but are not the heads of families. The committee rejected a proposal for an amendment to prohibit slot machines, as members said the legislature had ample authority to do so without changing the constitution.

Representative Ray of Manatee sponsored the anti-slot machine amendment. A 6-6 tie vote resulted on a resolution by Representative Holt of Dade county to establish a one-house legislature. The committee will consider it at a later meeting. The finance and taxation committee rejected measures intended to make the state's documentary stamp tax apply to records on the saie of stock through brokerage houses located in this state. Revamp Social Welfare The house public welfare committee gave favorable reports to two bills proposing to continue but revamp the state board of social welfare.

One of the bills, by Representatives Sheldon of Hillsborough, Hewitt of Union and Mays of Jefferson, woud give the governor power to appoint the board Continued on Page Two Sheriff Jerry McLeod Electrocutes Negro RAIFORD, May 10 (P) Simee Lee Fields, 22-year-old negro. died in the electric chair at the state prison farm here today for the slaying of his common law wife in Hillsborough county. Sheriff J. R. McLeod, youthful former managing editor of the Tampa Times, who had covered several executions as a reporter, threw the switch.

The negro died calmly, declining to make a last statement. BEACH MEETING AH persons who own property on Fort Myers Beach are invited to a meeting to be held at 4:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the chamber of commerce. The possibility of incorporating the beach, barring automobiles from driving on the beach and the management of the fishing pier will be discussed. Officers and directors of the Fort Myers Beach Property Owners association will be elected, according to Hugh Mauck, president, who said he would be forced to retire Dick Merril. airline oilot.

is co-pilot, Jack Lamdie, a few hours Bennett field on a successful flight CROYDON AIRDROME, May 10 Dick Merrill and Jack Lambie, flying the Atlantic "just to break the monotony of life, arrived tonight on the first half of their round-trip flight from New York to London. Their silver twin-engined Electra, its radio apparatus damaged, first landed at North Weald airdrome, 15 miles north of London. Ten minutes later they were in the air again, and at 6:35 p. m. (12:35 EST) they came in at Croydon, 20 hours and 59 minutes after leaving New York.

The immediate reward of their accomplishment was a series of kisses by two enthusiastic American girls who rushed through tho big crowd at the airdrome. Doi-o-thy Dey, London correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Miami, Tribune, kissed Merrill as he stepped out of the plane, Peggy Reed of New York, a friend of Miss Dey, kissed Lambie. After removing the lipstick Merrill said, "We flew blind the entire way. It was a pretty tough trip." Both insisted they were in fine condition however, and expected to be back in New York Thursda', to deliver pictures of King George's coronation. Both were as casual and busily Continued on Page Two 2,100 Here Seek Social Security Postmaster Walter Walters said yesterday that the postoffice was still receiving employe applications for registration under the benefits of the social security act and that more than 2,100 numbers had been issued to persons employed in Lee county.

The postmaster said the local office had no record of the number of employers who were complying with security act regulations. "We have application cards for all persons who come under the terms of the social security act," said Postmaster Walters. "If employers have failed to give out applications, individuals can get their cards at this office and account numbers will be issued to them Mr. Walters explained that in some cases the- employers had been deducting from salaries paid out to workers but had failed to provide applications for their employes. He said that to the best of his knowledge this money was being turned in but it would not be credited to the accounts of individual employes until they had filled out the required applications for participation in death and old age benefits.

"We have nothing to do with the payment or collection of the one per cent from employes and employers," said Mr. Walters. "Questions as to payment or collections should be addressed to the collector of internal revenue at Jacksonville. Persons in doubt about participation in the government pension plan should write to Jacksonville." Thirty-three persons filled out employe applications at the post-office during April. The number was slightly higher in March.

When cards were first sent out to employers for distribution to all persons on their payrolls, it was estimated that 3,000 persons would qualify under the social security act. Persons wanting information about applications can inquire at the postoffice of Mr- Walters or Assistant Postmaster B- Neeley. I Mauck Just a Sign of Insanity Florida Bakeries Slice Bread in 10-Cent Loaves Sold for $15,000 The purchase by F. W. Denton of Houghton, and Fort My-ers of.the Mrs.

Fern Mauck residence and five adjoining lots in Carlton Grove, just off McGregor boulevard, for a consideration of approximately $15,000, was announced yesterday by the K. L. Jeffcott Realty company. The actual purchase was made several clays ago but the papers were not filed until yesterday. Mr.

and Mrs. Denton having been spending the winters in Fort Myers for the past six years, coming here on their beautiful yacht, Ingot, and for several years always tieing up at the municipal pier when not cruising in West Coast waters. Mr. Denton is interested in iron mines and foundries in the northen part of Michigan but has been spending more of his time every year in Florida. Mr.

and Mrs. Denton have already taken possession of the English and Colonial type residence in Carlton Grove, just across the Manuel Drancn Diiuge, aim have told friends that they expect to enlarge the house and landscape the grounds, including the adjoining lots. Before deciding to locate in Fort Myers, Mr. Denton spent considerable time visiting in all of the cities located on the lower East and West Coasts of Florida. The deal was handled by George R.

Lynn, of the Jeff-cott office. PITTSBURGH, May 10 (JP) The personality of crime and criminals, as discussed by several medical men at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric association here today, is different from what the experts have been arguing. There is, it was declared, a criminal type, but it cannot yet be defined so as to be recognized especially it cannot be greatly blamed on insanity or milder "psychoses." Sex has a lot to do with some types of crime quite outside of sex offenses, it was agreed. But there are no distinguishing personality traits to reveal this readily. If you refuse to pay a taxi-cab bill that may be a sign of insanity.

But you need not worry that' the "psychosis" behind this will ever drive you into serious crime. The taxicab bill example was cited as one of the outcomes of paresis by D. B. Rotman, M. director of the Psychiatric insti (By the Aworiatfd Press) Bakeries in several sections of Florida Monday reduced the size of 10-cent loaves of bread.

Cuts were reported variously from 16, and 15 ounces to 14 a and 14 ounces. Rising prices of flour and other ingredients generally were cited as the cause for the reductions. In Tampa all bakeries were reported to have cut from 154 to 14 ounces and bakers termed the movement statewide. Some larger bakeries were said to have made the reduction in Jacksonville while others did not. Miami reported large bakeries cut the loaf size but some smaller bakeries were not changing.

The largest bakery cut from 15 ounces to 142, but one dropped the size from 16 to 14. Other cities reported Daytona Beach Big bakers cut from that position,.