anaheim-gazette 1948-01-01

'48—We Hope It's Great! We don't imagine there will be too many sighs of regret at the passing of 1947. It was a year of accomplishment, but its trials and tribulations were formidable, too, and many will carry over into the New Year. What of 1948? Economists predict that agriculture and industry will reach the highest production goals in the history of America. That means full employment, and it should also mean lower prices as shelves fill with goods that plentiful dollars now pursue in vain. Religious leaders predict a re-awakening to the spiritual values in daily living, and a re-birth of feeling for the Golden Rule. That could mean better understanding among Nations as well as individuals, and peaceful settlement of disputes that now darken international horizons. Political observers predict revitalized public interest in the way Government is run, and in the caliber of the men who seek to run it. That means more ballots, and a stronger democracy. We can't qualify as experts in the field of prognostication, but we humbly predict that the old car won't hold together much longer, that the Mrs. will want a fur coat next winter, that Junior will ask for an increase in his weekly allowance, and that unless we get more newsprint you won't get more news. change their minds. They're a bit fickle you know. In fact, a good many experts believe that in spite of the present warm sentiment in the President's favor, he'll be turned out into the cold on January 20, 1949. Apparently they feel that one of the other prominent citizens who is trying to get into the White House will convince the owners that he's make a better tenant than Mr. Truman. Well, that's one of the troubles you run into when you rent a house instead of buying it. Food and Friendship Although we have been pouring food and supplies into Europe ever since V-E Day and even before, only now is this help receiving the measure of publicity it deserves in the countries receiving it. The food gathered by the Friendship trains is now being distributed in Europe. This time the people over there are very much aware of who sent it and of the generosity that made it possible. Reporting from Paris, Drew Pearson, the originator of the Friendship train idea, says that French dock workers, trainmen and the transportation companies expressed the same inspired cooperation in getting the food unloaded and moved to its ultimate destination as did the American workers and transportation lines in gathering and Political observers predict revitalized public interest in the way Government is run, and in the caliber of the men who seek to run it. That means more ballots, and a stronger democracy. We can't qualify as experts in the field of prognostication, but we humbly predict that the old car won't hold together much longer, that the Mrs. will want a fur coat next winter, that Junior will ask for an increase in his weekly allowance, and that unless we get more newsprint you won't get more news. And, just to be different, we won't offer a resolution for the New Year. That's really something you should do for yourself, anyway. But we can—and most sincerely do—wish all our readers the happiest and most prosperous of New Years. Farewell, '47; enter, '48! Leap Year The manhunting season is on. Every unmarried male is a legitimate target. And every unmarried woman has a license to track down the man of her choice and get his name on a marriage license—if she can. History doesn't show clearly where this idea originated of making leap year a combination of 366 Sadie Hawkins days. Back in Scotland, however, in 1288 a law was passed giving the unmarried gals a free hand at man-snaring every fourth year. The law provided that if the man refused her without good reason, such as already being betrothed, he had to pay a fine which varied according to how much he was worth financially. We don't know yet how rugged the 1948 season will be, but every now and then if you see a man dashing up the street with a blonde in hot pursuit you can be pretty sure that she isn't chasing someone who snatched her purse but is simply exercising her quadrennial privilege. Well, leap to it, ladies. We wish you every success in your efforts to take a husband. (But be careful whose husband you take.) Good News In counting up the debits and credits for 1947 the nation finds that there was a substantial quantity of good news that may have been overshadowed at times by the news that wasn't so good. The fact that the Federal Government wound up in the black (not mourning) for the first time in 16 or 17 years was not only good, but remarkable, news. The drop in the national debt from around 280 billion to 257 billion was also very heartening. But, don't expect it to drop that much every year. It won't. The 860,000 new dwellings started in 1947 won't solve the housing shortages but... stantial quantity of good news that may have been overshadowed at times by the news that wasn't so good. The fact that the Federal Government wound up in the black (not mourning) for the first time in 16 or 17 years was not only good, but remarkable, news. The drop in the national debt from around 280 billion to 257 billion was also very heartening. But, don't expect it to drop that much every year. It won't. The 860,000 new dwellings started in 1947 won't solve the housing shortage but they will at least provide better living quarters for 860,000 families, and probably a lot more since many of the buildings were multiple-unit structures. Continued full employment with more than 60 million persons on the job was another chunk of good news that we'd like to have more of in 1948. So, you see, 1947 wasn't such a bad egg, after all. Of course, it was in hot water a good deal of the time and that's what may have made it seem hard boiled. The Independent Voter When the renewal of the White House lease comes up for consideration next November, the decision for or against the present tenant will largely be decided by the independent voters of the country. According to the Gallup poll, one voter in every five disclaims any ties with either the Democrats or the Republicans. Neither major party has enough permanent strength to swing an election. Each time the nation goes to the polls, therefore, the politicians must work hard to woo the independent group. As of right now, says Mr. Gallup, the independents favor the Democrats by a percentage of 57 to 43. That must be sweet music to the ears of the Truman family, especially in view of the housing shortage. But with the decision on the renewal of the lease still ten months off the landlords may Neon Nights Science has gone too far this time in its eternal tinkering with nature. Not content with smashing atoms and peppering rain clouds with dry ice, now the lab boys are working on a way to turn night into day. University of California scientists have announced that by beaming electronic power into the gas-infested stratosphere, the night sky will light up like a giant neon tube. The thousand eyes of the night, apparently, will all look like beer taverns. Many advantages are claimed for the new age of neon nights. The traffic accident rate should drop sharply because highways will be ribbons, and crime should diminish. But there are deeper, sinister implications. What of all the little creatures that walk by night? Owls and tom cats can be expected to take a dim view of bright nights. And what does the future hold for lovers lanes and lovers? What kind of a world will it be for LeRoy and Cynthia—driving home from the Junior Prom and suddenly struck by the earth-shaking discovery that their two hearts beat as one—when the night provides no more privacy than Hollywood and Vine at the noon hour? John Phillip Sousa, world famous band leader and composer of "Stars and Stripes Forever," joined the U.S. Marine band as second trombone player when he was 13 years old. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, the United States had no Navy department or ships and only a few armed merchantmen. The Spanish set foot on California soil just 50 years after Columbus discovered America. IN THE DAYS OF LONG AGO 75 Years Ago JANUARY 11, 1873 The vintage of 1872—a frost, occurring late in the spring of last year after the vines had commenced to put forth their leaves, damaged very materially the crop of grapes. In view of the fact that 1872 was the most disastrous year that the vineyardists of Anaheim have yet experienced, we have prepared a table showing the number of vines in the settlement and their yield. Referring to the table we find that the frost did not affect all the vineyards equally. The vineyards of Heiman & George and Mrs. Schneider were very lightly touched while those of Boldt, Fischer and Hartung yielded only about one quarter of a gallon per vine, while the average yield is one and one quarter gallons. The table shows only the vines growing within the "fence." Outside of this fence and in the immediate vicinity of the town are over two hundred and fifty acres of vines which will bear grapes during the present year of 1873. There are twenty-one distilleries in Anaheim and a large amount of brandy might be made, but by reason of the high tax there is no brandy made except for private consumption. Following are the names of the vineyardists mentioned in the table: Langenberger & Co., Heiman & George, H. Kroeger, Th. Reiser, H. Richter, W. Konig, D. Strodthoff, Mrs. Schneider, P. Hammes, A. Bittner, C. Lorenz, L. Dorr, Mrs. Schmidt, J. Errington, R. Luedke, J. Fischer, H. Bremmerman, J. Hartung. We were honored with an introduction to W. J. Gurnett of Oakland on Tuesday evening. Mr. Gurnett expressed in unqualified terms his admiration for our section of California. The skating rink in Los Angeles has been closed for the season. There is no doubt but that the skates and the right to use them in Anaheim could be got cheap. Open a skating rink, Pete. Passage and staterooms on the coast steamers can be engaged ahead by making application to H. McLellan, the agent, in Los Angeles. Remittances can be made through Wells Fargo and Co. Mr. McLellan the agent for the P. M. S. S. Co. was in town this week collecting salvage for the Orizaba. The Farmer's Club of Fairview had a preliminary meeting on last Saturday evening. Hon. Edward Evey was elected president pro tem and N. H. Mitchell secretary. The resolutions passed by them are published in our advertising columns. Their next meeting will be held this evening in the Fairview school house. All are invited to attend. The Board of Supervisors met in regular session at Los Angeles on Monday and transacted the following business: W. W. Maxey was appointed road overseer for the Azusa district. A number of miscellaneous bills were allowed. The board ordered paid $600 for What I like about building its simplicity. Not stand; nothing to read Take for example the recent days ago by a subcommittee on Appropriations. The ment, as you will recall, about cuts in its budget, passed this bill last spring. There had been complaints about the Boston office sent investigators there. The following letter to subcommittee's report. Itery of the Boston office Memorandum, and "Persisted to Mr. Denis W. De internal revenue, from Jo office deputy. It says: "In considering field I thought you must list employees who ner tickets for the Hand There were 57 names promoted after the date were already at top grade retired, one died. It may occur to you thing called a "Hatch Act activities from the federal lector of internal revenue got into a little difficulty the collector in the Boston laney, tried to help him." 25 Years Ago JANUARY 11, 1923 The Ebell society will before many moons have sufficient money in the treasury to build the beautiful club house, which is the ambition of every member. For some time the society has owned a valuable lot on Broadway, and only a few days ago an acre of ground on North street, between Lemon and Palm was purchased. It is set to three year old Valencias which are certain to grow into money. It is not probable the club will ever build on this ground, but it is undoubtedly a safe and sane investment. The society held its regular meeting Monday afternoon in the parlors of the Elks club house. The ladies were entertained by nobody had thought of opposing Talbert. Talbert was re-elected supervisor of the second district without opposition. He was appointed supervisor in 1909 and was elected at the next election and each succeeding four years since that time. Monday was the hottest January day recorded in this section in 45 years. The thermometer reached 90 degrees, which is above the normal for a mid-summer day. A drop of two degrees was registered on Tuesday. The weather man states that the warm weather will continue throughout this week. Only one bid was received for building the treatment plant for to far this time in its nature! Not content and peppering rain now the lab boys are turn night into day. California scientists have timing electronic power dratosphere, the night is a giant neon tube. The night, apparently, haverns. The claimed for the new traffic accident rate because highways will should diminish. Per, sinister implication little creatures that and tom cats can be view of bright nights. Future hold for lovers kind of a world willanthia—driving home and suddenly struck discovery that their two men the night provides Hollywood and Vine A world famous band "Stars and Stripes" S: Marine band as when he was 13 Of the Revolutionary had no Navy departed a few armed merchant on California soil Columbus discovered owned a valuable lot on Broadway, and only a few days ago an acre of ground on North street, between Lemon and Palm was purchased. It is set to three year old Valencias which are certain to grow into money. It is not probable the club will ever build on this ground, but it is undoubtedly a safe and sane investment. The society held its regular meeting Monday afternoon in the parlors of the Elks club house. The ladies were entertained by Mrs. Delnar Devening and Mrs. Estelle Walker, who sang solos with Mrs. McBride accompanying them. All these ladies are from Fullerton. There was a session of community singing also, with Mrs. G. H. Goodale at the piano. Reports from each section showed interesting programs arranged for future meetings. Mrs. Amalie Prohling, Anaheim's oldest citizen, measured by the years of her residence, suffered a serious accident several days ago. She fell, breaking her hip, but according to reports from her home yesterday she is making splendid progress toward recovery, and although she will be confined to her bed for a couple of months, complete recovery is expected by her physician and friends. Mrs. Prohling is 85 years of age. She came to Anaheim with the Pioneers and settled here when the site was only a mustard patch. She was married here 62 years ago, being the first bride of the city, and has made her home here ever since. All Anaheim will sympathize with her and hope for a speedy recovery. Thomas B. Talbert of Huntington Beach was again unanimously elected chairman of the board of supervisors of Orange county. It was done as a matter of course, Monday was the hottest January day recorded in this section in 45 years. The thermometer reached 90 degrees, which is above the normal for a mid-summer day. A drop of two degrees was registered on Tuesday. The weather man states that the warm weather will continue throughout this week. Only one bid was received for building the treatment plant for the outfall sewer to serve the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange and Fullerton. This bid was by the Water Works Supply Company of Los Angeles. The price being $39,987. It was taken under advisement, and will be acted upon at a joint meeting of the councils of the four cities. Mrs. Pauline Harker died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Julia Lane, at Fullerton Monday. She had been a resident of Anaheim for thirty years. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at McAulay's parlors, interment being in Anaheim cemetery. Total number of births in Anaheim in 1922, according to City Clerk Moniti's records, was 270, against 214 in 1921. Deaths inside the city last year numbered 142 and in the previous year 113. L. A. Stoppel of this city plead guilty to bootlegging in Judge Brown's court Monday, and was fined $200, besides being handed a ninety-day jail sentence. Officers Moody and Nickles arrested him and found the evidence in the mattress of his bed. At noon Monday Judge G. B. Brown took over the office of Justice of the Peace from Judge J. S. Howard, who has filled the office for a long term of years. The new domestic science station of the Ebell club met Friday at the Elks club house. Mr. W. E. Duckworth made high scores at cards, Mrs. C. F. Grim second and Mrs. Victor Bonnat third. WASHINGTON AS SEEN By CONGRESSMAN JOHN PHILLIPS What I like about bureaucracy in Washington its simplicity. Nothing hard to understand; nothing to read between the lines. Like for example the report released a few years ago by a subcommittee of the Committee Appropriations. The Treasury Department, as you will recall, put out propaganda but cuts in its budget, just as soon as we used this bill last spring. There had been complaints, before that, but the Boston office, so the committee it investigators there. The following letter is printed with the committee's report. It is on the station of the Boston office, marked Internal memorandum, and "Personal." It is addressed to Mr. Denis W. Delaney, collector of internal revenue, from John E. Burns, chief vice deputy. It says: "In considering promotions in the field I thought you might like to have one list of employees who purchased dinner tickets for the Hannagan reception." There were 57 names on the list. 32 were noted after the date of the memo. 20 were already at top grade. Two resigned, one red, one died. It may occur to you that we have some called a "Hatch Act," barring political vities from the federal service. The color of internal revenue for Connecticut into a little difficulty with that act, so a collector in the Boston office, Mr. Dey, tried to help him. He wrote a personal letter to Matt Connelly, secretary to the President, in which he said: "You may recall that I talked with you regarding Frank Kraemer, collector of internal revenue for Connecticut, and his difficulty...I do not know what you can do, but it does appear a shame that one of our boys is being penalized for doing what comes naturally. Let me know what I can pass along to Kraemer?" Someone ought to write a song for the 1948 campaign, with the title, "Doing What Comes Naturally." Mr. Kraemer, by the way, is now under indictment. You may get a smile out of such letters, if you want, but no smile, I'm afraid, over the missing records of income tax returns, nor over the $1,911.57 collected from employees for the "March of Dimes" campaign against infantile paralysis, and still lying carelessly in the back of a filing cabinet, months later; 15,950 dimes, 80 nickles, 200 pennies, 164 one dollar bills, seven two-dollar bills (bad luck for somebody!), three ten dollar bills, and one one-hundred dollar bill, together with $2.57 in loose coins not with the rest; add it up, I make it $1,911.57. The report is in the hands of the President, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General. I think a copy should go to the Massachusetts grand jury. I rise to call your attention to the fact that this was the third department or agency to put out false or misleading information about its budget cuts. The first was the Post Office Department, which reported that deliveries would have to be eliminated, so the Postmaster General came down in person to apologize for the false statements. The second was the Customs Bureau, which tried to make people think that funds for narcotic enforcement had been cut. Mr. Johnson, who put out that propaganda, is no longer head of the bureau. Telephone Rates Increase By EARL G. WATERS (Western News Service) In case Mr. Telephone Subscriber is wondering how, at a time when business was better, the Pacific Telephone and Graph Company has just wrangled its rate increase of the year from the California Public Utilities Commission, a few noble facts have been gleaned from the records of that august body. Apparently, things are not so rosy for phone company as would appear at first glance. One might think, with the company's time peak load of subscribers and itsinuing conversions to the dial system, phone moguls would be literally rolling through. Well, the phone company says it isn't so. The crux of the whole dispute is some-what called "net return." Under California law, public utilities are entitled to "a reasonable return on property located to public use." When a utility tries before the commission and proves that it is not receiving a reasonable return, the commission must grant an increase. Early this year the phone company petitioned the commission for rate increases deemed to step up its annual gross revenues some 30 million dollars on the grounds that its net return was not sufficient. This application is still being subjected to public comments by the commission. Public utility mission rate experts are now studying phases of the company's operations. The rate increases you have been read about are temporary orders of the comision, known as emergency interim orders are granted upon the sworn testimony submitted by the company. When the comision issues its decision the interim orders put the window. For the record, this increase came about like this: The first, for ten and a half million dollar-affected basic rates and tolls, and was used after the company testified it had forced to grant wage increases totalling together to oppose the rate increase challenge that. They brought in an expert who testified that a fair return should be 5.5 percent. That was Dr. Ralph E. Badger, nationally known rate expert. Then Mr. David Kosh, another rate expert, representing the U.S. Treasury, said he believed a fair return would be between 5 and 5.25 percent. In either case, if the views of those opposing the rate increases were accepted in the final decisions, and if the figures of the phone company were accepted by the commission, Mr. Subscriber could look forward to another increase in his phone bill next spring. However, as stated, the commission's own experts have yet to testify, which they will do starting January 26, and no one yet knows what the state's witnesses will develop. It could be that these experts might find a few miscalculations in the phone company's figures which would change the present 4.5 return estimate to something nearer what the commission might decide is a fair return. In that case there would be no further rate increase granted. But for the benefit of Mr. Subscriber who is still trying to dope out now come these increases are necessary when the company is replacing in the flesh operators with dials and doing a land office business, the phone company, under oath, has submitted these facts. In 1940, telephone operators were starting at a base salary of $15.00 per week. In 1946, these salaries had risen 100 percent. The cost of a dial telephone hand set increased 21 percent in that period. A small PBX switchboard rose 32 percent in price. Central office equipment went up 21 percent. In some instances costs for outside plant facilities rose as high as 203 percent. (Two hundred three). Contrary to the popular conception, operator employees have increased rather than decreased. The company explains that while Brown has moved into one of the ground floor rooms of the her building on East Center will hold court there until new city hall is completed. attempt was made either day night or Sunday night to prize the Vogue Shoppe on Center street. A portion of green on the rear door had removed and marks indicated an attempt had been made in the door, but the thief up the attempt, probably been frightened away. new domestic science sec. of the Ebell club met Friday the Elks club house. Mrs. Duckworth made high score, Mrs. C. F. Grim second, Ms. Victor Bonnat third. Mrs. J. T. Lyons, Mrs. R. B. Herman, Mrs. H. R. Grove and Mrs. Fred Peck were the hostesses and served luncheon. After an investigation the supervisors have officially declared that the townships of Anaheim, Fullerton and Huntington Beach have each more than 9000 and less than 12,000 population. Salaries of justices of the peace and constables are regulated by the population of the township. Miss Nina McClellan entertained the Monte Carlo Whist club at her home on Placentia avenue Friday afternoon. Mrs. William Jackson made high score. An appetising luncheon was served by the hostess after the card game. Miss Jessie Boyd, who has been spending a vacation with her mother, Mrs. Eva Boyd, has returned to her work in the north. The members of the Y.M.C.A. baseball league held a chicken dinner Monday night. Dr. Newkirk, chairman of the athletic committee, acting as toastmaster. Marriage licenses were recently issued to Alex E. Dutsi and Veda M. Jensen, Harry W. Andrews and Frances Bliss, and A. J. Van der Veer and Lucille M. Chaffee, all residents of Anaheim. The common guava grows profusely in the Hawaiian Islands. This fruit is rich in vitamin C and high in pectin. It has long been used in jams, jellies, and pastes.