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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 15, 1939
Page
1
In Portsmouth New Hampshire divers prepare to descend on the sunken submarine Squalus as seas moderate after a pause. Pontoons damaged in the first lift are readied alongside the Falcon while repairs or towing to the navy yard are considered. Over 150 dives were made previously as 25 divers would be needed for a full study.
Thirty four thousand young men in Britain join King George VI army for peacetime training as Queen Mother Mary inspects arrivals at Shorncliffe Camp. Across the globe in Tokyo talks open over the British Japanese dispute at Tientsin while demonstrations flare at the British embassy. In Washington and Paris officials weigh neutrality policy and German spy probes unfold as Franco and Ciano discuss mutual aid.
Washington dispatch notes House leaders add transportation legislation to adjournment agenda. Key provisions include repealing land grant revenue losses, RFC loan authority, and sharing bridge costs with benefits to railroads. ICC would oversee water transport and rate changes with rail and motor carriers.
Elizabeth Harris five months old daughter of Mr and Mrs Hood Harris near Courtland died after a brief illness. Mrs Harris formerly lived in Decatur. The death occurred last night and the family mourns the loss of their infant girl.
T J Carney president of G Roebuck & Co notified the Jefferson county commission he is willing to cancel a lease on the old courthouse site in downtown Birmingham. The remark came during today's county session and could end the long lease dispute.
In Baton Rouge Louisiana the grand jury indicted LSU figures in a sprawling scandal headlined by Dr James Monroe Smith former LSU president and two aides. Indictments include embezzlement forging and receiving stolen property with counts totaling twenty nine against the four men and separate charges against Jackson Caldwell Lorie and Smith.
A coast guard seaplane vanished after attempting to bring ashore a sick man from the Ketch Atlantis. Lost were Lieutenant Gleetmer, John Radan, and the unnamed ill man Priest. The Atlantis position was reported near latitude 39.30 and longitude 70.30. Yeoman Hayes and radio operator Evers were injured. mechanics Salters Simon and Whalen survived.
Alabama officials prepared to resume the 1939 legislative session on Tuesday as Governor Dixon joined a sea meeting at Point Clear. The recess judiciary committee criticized last administration spending, while a minority report may be filed. The code committee urged adjourning on the 49th day to finish codification, with a January return for a final day and a potential extra session to adopt the new code.
Decatur based Speake Warren Ratliff department store on Second avenue announces extensive interior remodeling to expand several departments. D W Speake heads the firm as a fixture supplier visits soon to recommend alterations for optimal display and customer service. New fixtures will be added and the interior redecorated and refloored.
Minneapolis reports a fatal WPA riot as Governor Stassen vowed peace with labor leaders. The clash left one dead and at least 17 injured or gassed when police clashed with several hundred WPA strikers and onlookers near sewing project workers.
During rioting one man was killed and nearly a score of men women and children were injured as WPA projects were shut down by state administrator. Federal agents probe reported insubordination as strike leaders meet Governor Stassen in St Paul.
Chaos erupts on Second Street north near the sewing quarters as riot guns fire from armored police cars and rocks fly from a building top. Bystander Emil A. Bergstrom, 65, of Minneapolis, dies after being shot in the head. shooter remains unidentified amid a mass mêlée that injures nine others including a 14 year old.
Plans are nearly complete for a barbecue and school rally at East Limestone School near Capshaw on July 20. Principal A A Brackeen said the event will be the biggest yet with musical numbers at 10:30 and 11 then talks by Dr J A Keller and P O Davis. A noon barbecue follows with an afternoon program of music and softball games, ending with stage shows starting at 5:30 and 8 o'clock.
TVA officials and city representatives meet in Nashville to restart talks on acquiring Tennessee Electric Power Co. after Congress authorized TVA bonds for its share of the 78.6 million dollar TEPCO deal. A new agreement and transfer date must be set with ongoing discussions extending to Chattanooga and area municipalities.
United States and British consular officials heard that a Japanese sentry in Wu Hu slapped two American women missionaries a American boy and a Canadian missionary. The incident occurred July 3 at Wu Hu and prompted representations to the Shanghai Japanese consulate which promised to investigate. The group included Mrs Walter Haskell of West Plains Missouri her 14 year old son Winston Miss Anna Stocks of Bristol Connecticut and Miss Bertha Cassidy a Canadian born Advent Christian Mission worker.
The American Legion Morgan County Post No. 15 in Alabama adopted a resolution urging the Civil Service Board to reconsider postmaster applications in Decatur. It claims veterans were omitted from the eligibility list and asks Congress to ensure justice and to notify Congressman Sparkman, with official minutes recording the action taken on July 13, 1039.
Kansas City July 15 E Mont Reilly former Puerto Rico governor indicted by county grand jury on forgery charges tied to payroll padding in the city department of public works. He is a Republican and ally of Tom J Pendergast democratic boss now jailed for tax evasion.
Senator Murray of Montana announced that a group of WPA wage supporters in the Senate would suspend attempts to revive pay scales in Congress. He said strikes nationwide had proven embarrassing to their cause and the effort would be paused temporarily.
The Civil Aeronautics Authority ordered substantially higher standards for private flying instructors to address the high accident rate. The move aims to improve safety by tightening qualifications and oversight for flight instructors across the industry.
Washington reports indicate Congress will adjourn in about three weeks without acting on the neutrality act revision. President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull pressed to repeal arms embargo provisions as senators from both parties weighed the stalled foreign relations agenda and the chance of a special session if war erupts in Europe.
L W Gentry and C C McWhorter resigned as mayor and city clerk at a town council meeting citing rising duties and to devote time to personal matters. Lowe Harris elected mayor and Rex Burgess chosen city clerk to replace them amid recent public works progress including a $30,000 water system and a $13,000 WPA street upgrade.
In Providence Ky 19 of 28 miners in two shafts were found dead after an underground blast. Rescue teams with gas masks continued efforts for nine others in a separate section about 1 200 feet down and 250 feet below the surface as rain drove crowds away.
Prof. E. Alverson reports to the state department that Decatur school enrollment rose to 3630 this year from 3566 in 1938. White high schools housed 985 students, negro high schools 961, white elementary 1684, with 88 teachers averaging 42 pupils each. Negro schools show the greatest congestion with 66 students per teacher.
The Tennessee river stood at 20.4 feet today, falling. Temperatures ranged from 69 to 96 degrees with no rainfall. Local thundershowers are forecast tonight and Sunday in Tennessee along with generally fair conditions in the extreme portions, warmer in east and central areas, and fair weather in Alabama and northwest Florida. Winds are gentle along the coasts, mostly westerly, with a weekly outlook of showers across the South Atlantic States starting Monday, temperatures expected to be normal or above.
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