The Cuero Record (Cuero, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 90, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1962 Page: 1 of 6
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VOL. 68—NO. 90
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CUERO, TEXAS, THURSDAY, MARCH 1,1962
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Milch of the attention on taxes
in Texan during recent years
has been focused on the state
government and its fiscal prob*
Itois, but While this has been
going on most of the cities and
ctemfies in the state have !*eh
contending with their own prob-
lems.
There are 954 counties la Tex-
as, upwards of 800 incorporated
dtles and towns, 1.650 school
districts, end mows than soo
special districts such as water,
drainage and the like.
, Tfhe Texas Commission On
State and Local Tax Policy has
just released a survey Showing
that the State of Texas and
these 3,300 local political subdi-
visions in 1960 collected total
revenue amounting to $2.4 bil-
lion. Of this, ad valorem taxes
cat property provided about one*
third of the total, or $753 rilil-
lkon.
This increase to $753 million
In, property taxes, In the 25
years since 1935 to 1960, has
grown from a little over $130
million back there in Ihe mid-
dle ’30’s. The increase has been
prodigious in the last 15 years.
It amounted Only to about $30
million in the 10 years from
1935 to 1945, then leaped up-
ward by $137 million from 1945
to 19150. bv another $172 million
from 1950 to 1955, and try
another $265 million from 19o5
to I960.
..The commission notes that
“the property tax grew slowly
prior to and during World War
II. but this growth was acceler-
ated rapidly thereafter and the
tax Is now increasing at the
rate of more than $50 millkxt
annually. Even if the growth
rate does not Increase Still
more, it la Sufficient to insure
that Texa* state and local gov-
ernment will collect one billion
dollars in property taxes in
1965.”
It is figured that of the ap-
proximately $800 million in pro-
perty taxes r»ow being collected.
56 per cent is being paid by
business and industrial taxpay-
ers, 35 per cent by individuals,
and nine per cent by farmers.
Cities, counties, school dis-
tricts and special districts de-
pend upon property taxes for
the bulk of their revenue, but
the state’s share of ad valorem
taxes has been dropping stead-
ily.
Tlie commission reports that
“school district taxes, in the 25-
year period, jumped from 27
per cent to 43 per cent of the
total, increasing nearly 10 times
in dollar amount. Cities Increas-
ed their proportion from 26 per
cent to 29 per cent of total col-
lections. County collections in-
creased four-fold in dollar
amount, but declined as a per
cent of the total. The signifi-
cance of state property tax col-
lections fell from 16 per cent, of
the total in 1935 to five per cent
of the I960 total. Special dis-
tricts about held (heir own rela-
tive to total property tax col-
lections.’’, .
A per capita comparison of
property taxes with neighboring
states shows that the Texas per
capita is considerably higher,
amounting to $78.32 as as a ins t
*43.64 In Louisiana, $56.34 in Ok-
lahoma, $13.42 in New Mexico
' i Continued on page -6.1
Cuero Hits Low Of
29 Degrees, Trend
Is T oward Warmup
A low of 29 degrees was recorded early Thursday In
Cuero. A strong north wind was still bearing down on
the city at 10 a. m., when the temperature was at 31
degrees.
High and low temperatures during the 24-hour per-
iod which ended at 8 a. m. Thursday were 44 and 29
degrees.
During the same 24 hours, .02 inch of rain and sleet
was measured at the weather recording station at CP&L
dam hear Cuero. Sleet fell from 9:25 to 10:05 a.m. Wed-
nesday and from 6:30 to 6:35 a.m. Thursday.
County Agent Gilbert Helde-
man said unless the weather
gets colder, about the only ef-
fect the freeze will have agri-
culturally is to freeze back
Johnson grass, com and graz-
ing crops that were up.
He said the cold weather will
delay planting, especially com
and hay crops. “It will take a
few days of warm weather be-
fore the ground will be warm
enough for planting,” Heidemen
said.
Ranges and pastures will be
hurt because grass was just
getting started,” the agent re-
portal.
Farmers burned smudge pots
today to ward off the chill that
remained from a vegetation-
killing cold wave that already
has dealt multi-million-dollar
crop losses to North and East
Texas and menaced the Kio
Grande Valley.
The worst appeared to be ov-
er. The U.S. Weather Bureau
said warm Gulf air already was
moving across the state, rais-
ing temperatures very grad
ually.
A cloud cover apparently kept
tenpieratures from falling any
lower than they did in South
Texas and the Coastal Plains.
Bui the cold air dropped the
mercury to freezing ail the way
to Houston, Palacios, Victoria
and far south of Saitt Antonio.
Ten degress recorded at Dal-
hart, Childress and Abilene was
t h e overnight low, compared
with 37 at Brownsville and 38 at
(Continued on Page 6)
6 PAGES
Newsmen
OutOnWal
Hace Heats
By CARLTON WILSON
Ufilted Press International
The Texas political temperature rose to the 1
point today. Late Wednesday, a press confers
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful former Maj, Gen.
win A. Walker threatened to become violent.
Walker’s news conference at Austin broke up
Walker ordered photographers to stop taking pic
him. And a supporter threatened United Press Int
tional photographer Bill Thompson with "a face f
fist” if he took one iftore picture.
In other action on the
WOLF-DOG — Charles Gohmert, felt,
and brother, Donald, display a black
half wolf-half dog they killed on tee
Ernest Richter ranch about nine miles
south of Otero. The animal, Which has well
features, Is believed to be the off spring
of a wolf and dog. The mole animal has
been roaming tee countryside for six years.
Several of its off spring were killed earlier.
Also In on tee hunt was Preston Gohmert
it. - -Record Photo
#. D, CARROLL
W.D. Carroll
Announces For
School Board
VV, D. Carroll, retired Negro
j school teacher, Thursday issued
his formal announcement as a
candidate for Cuero School
Board in the Apr. 7 election.
Fallowing is Carroll's state-
ment :
“It is with deep humility and
a fervent prayer that I enter my
name for a place on the Cuero
School Board in the election on
Apr. 7. .
“Although I am a retired tea-
cher, I stiU have n deep interest
in the education and training of
the youth. I am an a dive- mem-
ber of the Baptist Church and
Masonic lodge. I stand for a
school system of the highest
quality for all children.
“The sentiment for a Negro
on the Cuero School Board is in-
creasing. This is because of the
Christian maturity reached by
our citizens and a desire to see
democracy in action in our com-
munity.
“I will appreciate the vote of
all who are in sympathy with
this modem trend in community
affairs.”
New York
Air Crash
Kills 95
NEW YORK (UPD - A Los
Angeles - bound American Air-
lines 70l jet plane crashed and
exploded on the takeoff at Idle*
wild Airport today. Police and
fife department spokesmen- re-
ported all 95 persons aboard
were believed to have died in-
stancy.
The big Jet wavered in its take-
off. plunged into a swampy bird
swefutry at the edge of the At-
lantic Ocean, and burned.
The plane flipped over after
the impact. As rescue crews
rushed into operation, police
units assigned to the astronaut
parade were suddenly switched
to the disaster scene.
A Coast Guard helicopter, one
of the first units on the scene,
radioed backs “There is no sign
Cf life.”
• The plane was American Air-
line* Flight 1, a luxury nonstop
it leaving New York
g.m. EST and due in Los
at 12:15 p.m. PST,
spokesman for the airline
there were 87 passengers
eight crewmen aboard.
Charier Amendments
In Today's Record
Proposed amendments to
the City of Cuero charter
appear elsewhere In Thurs-
day’s edition of the Cuero
Record, Citizens will vote on
the amendments in the an-
nual city election Apr. S.
The amendments will be
published In full at least one
more time before the elect-
ion.
If voters approve the *•
mendments, Cuero will get a
elty council-city manager
form of government.
Insect, Plant
Disease Clinic
Set March 14
The homestead-home improve-
ment committee erf the DeWitt
County program building com-
mittee has planned an insect
and plant disease clinic Mar. 14.
Mrs. J. M. Massey, chairman,
said the meeting wUi be in the
ication building auditorium
First Baptist Church in Cu-
from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m.
Registration will begin at 8:45.
Extension Service specialists
wffl tSe In charge of to# ptrigram
as follows: Agronomist Dr. J,
Neal Pratt, lawn fertilization,
watering and general care;
plant pathologist Dr. Robert C.
Lambe, plftnt disease; and en-
tomologist James Deer, insect
control.
These men are experts in
their field and will have timely
information to offer, Mrs. Mas-
sey said.
All persons interested in home
grounds care are invited to at-
tend. There are no charges. The
meeting is open to the public.
Members of the homestead-
home improvement committee
are Mrs. Massey, Chairman,
Mrs. Earl Buenger, Miss Ema
Golunert, Mrs. Wm. Kozelski,
Mrs. J. W. Parker, Mrs. Fred
Henneke, Mrs. Bob Cone, Mrs.
Edwin Thieme and Mrs. Claude
Thigpen.
Ninth Grade Science
Projects On Display
Science projects prepared by
ninth grade students will be on
display Mar. 5-8 at Cuero Junior
High School in observance of
Public School Week.
Students whose work will be
on display are Lawrence Hen-
neke. Clair GoodWyn, Linda
Koehler, David Lewis, James
Zitelman. Ann Krueger, Corrine
Hutchison, Alex Hernandez, Is-
mael Garza, Ann Adcock, Al-
bert Molienkopf, George Black-
bum and Randy Smith.
Others are Toby Summers,
Tommy Lucas, John Tieken,
Jerry Hanus, Mike Koenig, Bev-
L*k> Triano, Elaine Harral and
Susan Jarvis.
The projects were entered in
the Victoria High School Science
fair in Victoria Feb. 23-24. Ap-
proximately 350 exhibit* were
displayed by students from Vic-
toria, Cuero, Port Lavaca and
El Campo.
Lawrence Henneke received
honorable mention for his pro-
ject, “Vehicle at the Future,”
in the physical science division.
“Vitamin C” by Beverly Piep-
er and Linda Calliham and
“Blood Grcwpilind Transfu-
sions” by Phyllis Alexander
Fiepesv -Unda Calliham, and Unda Bauer received H6n-
Burned To Death
FORT WORTH (UPI)-
F, W. Reed, an elderly
invalid, was burned to
when fire destroyed her
Fort Worth home.
Mrs.
semi-
death
North
Phyllis Alexander. Linda Bauer,
Ricky Wheeler, Marjorie Wat-
son, Catherine Fritz, James Na-
thoi Russell Jacobs, Don Cage,
Burn Victim
Still Critical
/• * -
Calvin HendersOn remained in
critical condition Thursday in
Stratton Hospital, where he was
taken early Wednesday after
suffering multiple bums in a
house fire in the 160 Hock of
Keller St.
Henderson, an aged Negro,
was found in weeds near the
house by O. D. Green, a neigh-
bor who rushed to the scene.
Henderson, who is unable to
walk, crawled out of the bum-
house.
Besides bums, he also suffer-
ed from exposure.
Die house be lived in was
completely destroyed. A house
nearby also caught fire and wai
heavily damaged.
Both buildings are owned by
Ellen Stevens.
orable mention awards in
biological science division.
Johnnie Baker served as fa-
culty Sponsor.
Pythian Sisters Host
District Convention
Cuero Pythian Sisters will
host the District in convention
Saturday at Knights of Pythia*
Hall. Included in the district are
Cuero, Corpus Chriati and Ingle-
side.
Registration will start at 2:30
p.m. Meetings will be held at 3
p.m. and 8 p.m.
All local members are urged
to be present.
L H. Berger
Services lo Be
Held Friday
Louis H. Berger, 79, resident
of Cuero Since 1935, died at 6:45
a.m. Thursday in a local rest
home.
The body lies in Mate at Freu-
nd Funeral Home* where ser-
vices Will be conducted at 2:30
p.m. Friday. Rev. John Jacobs
of St. Mark's Lutheran Church
will officiate.
Burial will be in Hillside Cem-
etery. f|l|
Mr. Berger was bom at Seb-
roeder on Mar. 23. 1882. He
was the Son of the late Mathias
Berger and Sophie Meyer Ber-
ger. _______
He WaS married to Magdalo-
»* Tderek NoV. 16, 1906, at
Mission Valley.
Mr. Better moved from his
farm at Schroeder to Cuero in
1935. He operated Berger Gro-
cery Store (MS S. Esplanade un-
til 1966, when he retired.
He had made his home at the
local rest home for the past
three years.
Survivors are the wife of Cue-
ro; a sort, Atvirt Berger of Sch-
roeder; a sister, Mrs. Emelie
foerek of Cuero; three grand-
children and three great-grand-
children.
natorial scene, Democratic
tender Marshall Fortnby
make his first state-wide
tonight.
Formby said he will
the problem of Washington
fluence in the governor’*
“If the people of Texas
really understand just
much influence is inv
Formby said, “there would *—
much resentment over
state.”
Houston Democrat Don
borough is on a business
pleasure trip through the
er Rio Grande Valley. In
tion to drumming up
Yarborough plans to attend the
El Charro Days celebration at
Brownsville. ■*’
John Cwmally telegraphed the
Texa* Bar Association that he
was one of two
the governorship who failed
say if he would confer with fie
association on judicial
menta, simply betaus*
never asked that
the bar. ’ Y-'iSttKK
H elected,
confer1
ing any
tOtotimjed on page 6.)
Sherwin-Williams
Offers New Painf
Slierwin-Williams A-100 Latex
house paint is now being sold at
the Sherwin-Williams Co., 202
E. Main St.
Marvin Junker, manager, said
A-100 Latex paint is the great-
est advance in house paint In 50
years. He said outstanding re-
He was preceded in death by suits are obtained on wood or
Killed In Crash
BEAUMONT (UPI)-A small
foreign-made automobile crash-
ed into the rear of a truck in
Beaumont killing Ltoyd D. Sher-
man, If, of China, Tex. Sherman
was A Circulation employe of the
Beaumont Enterprise and Jour-
nal newspapers.
Mantel L. Mueller
Trains In Panama
Airman Second Class Maned
L. Mueller, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Eric W. Mueller of Rt. 1, York-
town, is assigned to a United
States Air Force unit now parti-
cipating in Exercise Banyan
Tree HI in Panama.
The joint training maneuver
for air and ground forces will
continue through the early part
of March.
Forces of the U. I, Carrib-
bean Command, elements of the
new unified United States Strike
Command, and Air Force com-
bat and support forces from the
Tactical Air Command and Con-
tinental Air Command are en-
gaged in the training exercise.
The maneuver is designed to de-
velop the combat readiness of
the Strike Command to deal
with situations ranging from a
“show of force” to a “genera)
war” at any spot in the world.
Probers Find Widespread Corruption In
Federal Highway Program, None In Texas
a son, Lionell.
Truck Overturns
On Icy Bridge
A pickup true!: driven by Per-
cy C. Bell, 46, of Goliad over-
turned about 12 miles from
Cuero on the Goliad highway
after sliding on an iced-over
bridge.
Highway Patrolman Bobby
Lee said the truek hit the bridge
railing and turned over off the
bridge. Bell was driving toward
Cuero. •
He was treated by a Goliad
doctor for minor injuries.
Lee Said the truck was
heavily damaged.
masonry.
Junker reported the paint has
built-in mildew resistance, sets
fast, is blister resistant and
flow's cm easily without brush
drag.
Mexican Supper At
Daule b Success
The annual Mexican supper
held for the benefit erf the Daule
Band uniform fund was highly
successful. Polita Adams and
Claudias Green, co-chairmen,
reported over $150 was cleared.
Persons wishing to make con-
tributions to the fund shahid
make checks payable to the
Daule Band uniform fund.
.................. ■''»****,
Cuero Banks To Be
Closed Friday || >
Farmers State Bank and Trust
Co. and Buchel National Bank
will be closed Friday in obser-
vance of Texas Independence
Day.
Since Friday is a. state holi-
day, the Post Office and other
office! will remain open.
EDITOR’S NOTE} One of the
nation’s biggest public works
projects — the mnlti-billion-
dollar highway building pro-
gram has been tainted with
scandal in some states. Abus-
es have ranged from kick-
backs on land purchases, the
most costly, to under-the-
table payoffs from contract-
ors to engineers supervising
road construction. This In-
depth examination of some of
the abuses includes Informa-
tion gathered by United Press
International correspondents
across the nation.)
By FRANCIS X. BRENNAN
United Press International
These are harsh words;
“Waste , . . collusion . . . mis-
use .. . bribery.”
In some states, these words
have been linked to one of the
greatest public works projects
in history, the federal govern-
ment's $41 billion highway pro-
gram.
Local and federal grand jur-
ies. state legislative committee*
and commissions, and Congress
Itself have taken hard looks at
highway scandals in such state*
es Florida, New Mexico, North
Carolina, Michigan, Oklahoma
Kg
MI
Indiana.
Their findings found a pattern
— collusion and bribes in the
sale of land for rights of way,
misuse of funds, paydffs. Use 6f
Inferior materials.
The scatiddls have stretched
over periods of months and
years. They form the sorry ex-
ceptions to the overall record
of the federal - state highway
building program.
As one investigating congress-
man put it. the faults, tvhefl
they turn up, “deal with the
human element.”
The congressman is Rep. Rob-
ert E. Cook, D-Ohio. member of
a House highways investigating
sub-committee which began
looking into highway scandals
almost 18 months ago.
Tiie investigation has exposed
abuses in highway construction
programs which forced many
other states to take .another
look at their own programs.
Cook feels present law's are
probably adequate to deal with
abuse and waste in the federal
highway program. Tb« U. S.
Bureau of Road*, he said, has
power to correct procedures
which may have resulted in tee
various abuses in the program
under which the federal govern-
ment shoulders 90 per cent of
the cost.
If new laws Should be needed,
Cook said, they probably would
be in the area of strengthening
the bureau’s present enforce-
ment power.
Hi# most costly abuses un-
covered, and the most lucrative
for those seeking easy profits,
have Involved land purchases.
Such deals usually involved
prior knowledge of a route lo-
cation for a new highway, and
the opportunity and ready cash
to buy the desired land at low
rates.
In Florida, a legislative inter-
im committee on roads and
highways turned up a payola
scandal and numerous irregu-
larities Involving rights-of-way.
Figures involved were in the
millions of dollars.
The investigation began dur-
ing the administration of form-
er Gov. LeRoy Collins in hit
final year and carried over into
the new administration erf Gov.
Farris Bryant in January, 1961.
In all instances, the irregulari-
ties covered tee period before
Bryant's administration.
The legislative
said a road board member held
a financial interest in a tract
of land bought lor right-of-way
and that the chief appraiser for
the road department had indulg-
ed in land speculation.
This lalid speculation occur-
red In Florida’s Brevard Coun-
ty, home of Cape Canaveral. In-
vestigations revealed right-of-
way costs in Brevard County
Spiraled to more than 100 per
cent of original appraisals over
a 6-year period.
State and U.S. committees
cited mismanagement In dispo-
sition of improvements on
rights-of-way. They charged
that contractors used houses,
fruit trees and other items a*
gifts to Road Department peri
aonnei. One contractor testified
he charged the state $82,000 to
remove structures on a right-of-
way. A few days later, he said,
he paid a house mover $45,060
to actually do the work, setting
A $37,000 profit.
Charges were aired of under-
the-table payments of cash from
contractors to Road Department
engineers. As a result, eight
contractors, including some or
the state’s largest road build-
ers, were suspend*
ding on contracts.
committee road engineers involved, 4
~ “ Suspended and tee rost Bred,
But all axcept 10 halve since
been reinstated.
LATE OFF THE WIRE
ml
BROWNSVILLE (UPI)- The
2SMt annual four-day Browns-
ville Charro Days celebration
opened today. U.S. consular and
immigration services waived
usual requirement* far Mexi-
can residents to cross the bor-
der.
Charro Days president Fount
Ray said more than too,WO per-
sons were expected to attend
Services Held For
John H. (onwell
Funeral services were con-
ducted Thursday at Freund Fu-
neral Home for John Howard
Conwell, 71, who died. Monday
in a local hospital. Dr. B. F.
Baur, pastor of Church of
Christ, officiated.
Burial was in a Thomaston
cemetery. Pallbearers were
Milligan, Charles Mt
,fte*
master at Tt
y*«rs before, re
raftfhing byiiiMS8«
He
ill#
the fiesta. Many wilt ci
border into Texas from
mores, Mexico.
WASHINGTON <UFI>-
Repobticans today
overwhelming GOP
a major administration
bill as aids first trophy
campaign to prove they
•'always negative.”
A total ot 1«
iotnrd qnn
day to pas
designed to
jobless and i
ericans In the i
mi
.....- Tr .
,
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The Cuero Record (Cuero, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 90, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1962, newspaper, March 1, 1962; Cuero, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth697863/m1/1/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Cuero Public Library.