St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 3

SUNDAY, hi.BlU.IAKY IW6 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 3A $2,100,000 ITEM REPOSSESSION Mesker Bros. Iron Co. Going Out of Business; Strike Blamed 'No Other Course' Open, Says President of 87-Year-Old Firm IN BUDGET FOR OFAUTOSSOGHT RESTORATION OF BY PRESIDENTIAL nsslaSJ If ICftiliyili fes terminate the trend. A.

F. Kojetinsky, retired Steel-worker district director, said the unkn organized me Mesker plant in the IMOs. "It was always a battle with the- family-owned firm," Kojetwsky recalled. "We formerly had about 300 jy uuii VkSL Midi I -Ate A Contrast in Buildings Westminster place, condemned for occupancy last August. rA 4.

I Mesker Bros. Iron an 87-yearold firm, will go out of business tomorrow, president John B. Mesker told the Post-Dispatch yesterday. The reason he said, is the strike of 140 members of the United Steelworkers, which began Jan. 25, after the expiration of a previous wage agreement.

"We made our third and final offer, and the AFL-CIO turned it down; there is no other course but to close our plant," Mesker asserted. The employes, members of Local 10fi.i, voted 84 to 2 to reject the final offer. Lloyd McBride, district director of the union, charged that Mesker employes have been working under substandard con-, tracts for years. McBride said the union was determined to cers of the company urged him to do so then and on a number of subsequent occasions. In July.

Harr said he attended another meeting at Cheshire Inn, at which Newland and other officers were present, including John M. Harrison, vice president of the company, and a brother, Henry Harrison, secretary-treasurer. They asked him to sponsor a dinner meeting for his friends so they could form an opinion of the company. The dinner was held a few days later at I.ombardo's restaurant. Riverview boulevard and West Florissant avenue.

Harr si.id about 50 persons drawn from his business associates, friends and customers attended. Although the purpose of the meeting was not to sell Presidential aock, Hair said that salesmen later ca 'led on many of those who attended dinner and tried to get them to make purchases. Harr said that none did to his knowledge. The service station operator said that he was offered a job in the firm's Clayton offices, but never accepted because there was nothing definite about what the arrangement would be. Car Made Available Last Sept.

18, he related. NVw-land and Mrs. Newland drove into his station, and he recalled hearing that Presidential had some cars to sell. He asked Newland a'Kiut it and the company ollkrr tld him that a lWi.i (dsiivbile was available. He said New-land's brother-in-law drove the car to St.

Louis from Kansas City, and that after he l.xiked it over he agreed to buy it for $4iXK), New-land told him that mere was a loan of $4100 or $4200 on the car. Harr said he gave Newland a check for the amount and me members in the plant," Kojetin- the "Mealier sold part of the business to another firm, and their plant has only been doing part of the work." The company, organized in 1879. manufactured aluminum doors and e.vtrusions in a plant at 6002 North Lindbergh boulevard, llazelwood. About 175 employes are affected by the closing. The company's first plant was at 424 South Seventh street.

car was left with him. Subsequently he received through his bank a title that was stamped "paid." His banker told him the title was in order, he said. In addition to purchasing a number of automobiles, Presidential Investment under its former officers leased cars in St. Louis and Kansas Citv for use of the oflicers. employes and salesmen.

KSDJV PRODUCES FIRST LOCAL CO LOR TELEVISION SHOW The fust color telev ision show-to be produced locally was viewed yesterday by St. Louis area residents who were watching Post-Dispatch television sta tion KSD-TV. the honor or inatisuratine local color shows went to Corky the Clown, who is host on a children's show from 11 a m. to noon. Corky is portrayed by Clif St.

James of the KSD-TV staff, Harold Grams, general man- ager of the station, said tbe new RCA color television camera re- ceived by KSD Friday will be uied for other local shows as soon as possible. Among them, be said, will be news, weather and snorts progiams, the "Noon with Marty Bronn, Stan harm ana riot) Holt, and the M. 1.0UIS Hop'' with Russ Carter. Another color camera is on order by the Malion. CHURCH CENTENNIAL TEA -t A Valentine lea will be held d-pend on hod carriers for caN this afternoon at irst Baptist rying mortar and bricks, ha Church of Webster Groves as been made idle by the s'rike part of the church's bicentennial The striking unions, Loca's 42, celebration.

Tne tea, open to the 111) and of the Building Li-public, will begin at 3:30. A borers Union, have a combined fashion show of antique dresses total of aoout 800 members on will be given. strike. Katy, Mo-Pac, Frisfo Favor 2 to 4 Giants For Best Service KANSAS CITY, Feb. 12 (UPI) Three railroads proposed 'esterday that western lines merged into two to four giants as a means of best serv- ing the public.

The three said the giant merger would insure use of all available rails and equipment to the fullest. Representatives of the Ka-ty, Missouri Pacific and Frisco railroads made their presentation at a meeting where 11 railroads sought support of the Kansas City, Chamber of Com merce. The chamber took no action. i Other lines represented included Union Pacific, Rock Island, Southern Pacific, Santa fe, Chicago North Western, Den- er Rio Grande Western, Chicago Great Western and Kansas City Southern. John W.

Barriger, Katy president, said a giant merger in(th past would have brought "200 trillion miles of freight service and 200 billion miles of passer, ger service and would be an investment of 50 billion dollars." MASON CONTRACTORS GROUP OPPOSES UNION HIRING HALL' A resolution opposing estate lishme-t of a union hiring hall was adopted yesterday at a meeting of about 150 members of the Mason Contractors Asso, ciation. Insistence on establish- ment of a hiring hall by three hod carrier unions led to a strike against the association on Jan. 3. W. D.

Dubail, attorney for the association, said that the resolu- tion adopted yesterday supported the stand of the association's negotiating committee. He said that it was the first time the contractors had gone on record in support ol Ihe stand since the negotiations began. About 1500 bricklavers, who 1 RAILROADS ORG MERGER OF ALL WESTERN LINES Bv a PoFt-liMtch PhoiosMpliM- street at 5733 Westminster. by Avon Blue in the last two months to AAB Investment Co. The firm has one other building in the block.

William Witiman, identified by Blue as the buyer, refused to discuss the properties. He is president of Gateway Realty Co. ROSEWOOD HEIGHTS MAN IS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH Ran W. Montgomery was found sliot to death yesterday in the front room of his home at Bender street in Rosewood Heights, near Wood River. Montgomery, 5fi years old, had been shot in the right side of the head.

county deputy snerifis said that a rifle and a note were beside the body, which was found by his wife. Sie said that her husband had been suffering from a nervous disorder. 'J our exclusive Apartment building across the cline five or six years ago. William Tybura, former principal of Hamilton School, said the racial change in the neighborhood occurred in the. summer of iW4.

The building at 5722 Westminster was the first in the bio. to be occupied by Negroes, he said. School records show that the number of children enrolled in public schools from the two city blocks abutting Westminster place in the 5700 blo.k doubled between 9til-82 and ttie current school year. One resident charged that in one case white tenants were told their apartment building was to be razed. After they left, the building was filled with Negro tenants, she said.

The two condemned buildings and three others in the 5700 block of Westminster were so'd rare on in ant 11 pi arming Director Says Funds Are Enough for Some of Needed Repairs By RONALD D. WILLNOW Jefferson City Correspondent of the Post-Dispatch JEFFERSON CITY, Feb. 12-A few months ao, a group of stale legislators was walking into the east basement entrance to the State Capitol when some Joo.se concrete fell from the porch above them. The legislators, taking noie of the deteriorating condition of that part of the Capitol, complained to John D. Paulus, director of planning and construction.

"Something has got to be done," they declared. For Paulus, these were the words he had been waiting several years to hear. His pleas that major repairs were needed in the 49-year-old Capitol had been repeatedly ignored by Governors in preparing budgets and by Legislatures in enacting them. Completed in 1917 The Capitol, complied in September 1017, cost to build. To pay for the necessary repairs almost 50 years later, Paulus estimates that almost as much as the construction cost is needed.

Replacement cost of the building was recently estimated by Paulus at 5100.000.000. Gov. Warren E. Hearnes, who drives in and out of the deter or-tmg east entrance each day, was receptive to Paulus's plea. His budget, made public this week, included $2,100,000 for capitol restoration.

Paulus had sought $3,350,000, but said the money approved by the Governor would make a major start on the work that is needed. Praxes Building Paulus described the building us one of the finest of Capitol architecture anywhere in the United Stales. The original workmanship was magnificent and could not be duplicated todav. he said. But there are problems.

The problems of the Capitol arise from two causes. One is age. Any building nearly 5" years old will need a certain amount of renovation. Most of the original plumbing, for example, has worn out and is gradually being replaced. The second cause, almost as serious, arises from the fact that the commission charged with building the Capitol ran out of money and had to finish the structure with cheaper materials.

Although 95 per cent of the Capitol was covered with Carthage marble, a material that does not wear out. the large porches on the east and west 'sides were made of concrete. The Carthae marble, except for some lightning damage, still is in excellent shape. The cast concrete has been crumbling away for many years. Ugly And Dangerous Not only is the crumbling concrete an eyesore, but it is dangerous, Paulus said.

Small pieces fall from the porches each day. Paulus's plans include immediate replacement of the porches and enlarging the east entrance to meet modern traffic needs. He wants the restoration to be as close to the original design of the building as possible. The west porch, although it is In as bad a condition as the east, will be replaced later. For one thing, the west side of the apitol is not seen by nearly as many people as the east, For another, Paulus hopes eventually that the state can acquire land to the west of the Capitol.

This would necessitate changing the west entrance to the Capitol, an entrance not now used. Steps on the South Another major project, if the Legislature appropriates the money requested by the Governor, would be replacing the steps on the south of the Capitol. Although this technically is the rear of the Capitol, it is the side used by most state employes and visitors. Lack of proper maintenance over the years has made the steps a virtual sieve for rain to pour into a large storage area beneath. As a result, the storage space has not been used for years, and it is needed.

A waterproofing job is needed around the parapet wails on the roof of the Capitol also. The often-patched roof itself was replaced two years ago. At that time, 17 types of roofing were removed. Of greater interest to the tourist are plans for restoration work on the inside of the dome. This area, once a favorite for younger visitors to the Capitol, has been closed for years because of unsafe and insanitary conditions.

Although It is not as significant for tourist, an area in great need of repair is the basement, now used for parking and storage. The floor of the basement needs to be replaced, not only to make the area more attractive but tn gel at the complex system of sev erase pipes, Paulus STATE CAP Purchases by Former Officers Are Being Checked By DONALD TAPPERSON Of the Post-Dispatch Staff The new management of Presidential Investment Co. has started a drive to repossess a number of automobiles purchased last year by its former officers. I he et'lort is aimed at recovery assets for stockholders. It was learned that seven anto-i whiles have been repossessed thus fur by Presidential and three by banks that had made loans oil the cars.

A dispute has developed over the ownership of one of the automobiles, which was repossessed here last Wednesday. The car had been sold last September by Carl F. Newland, former president of the investment firm, to the operator of a service station in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Story by Purchaser Vernon H. Harr, the purchaser, told the Post-Dispatch that he paid Newland $41100 for the car, a li Oldsmobile sedan, last Sept.

IS. lie said he received what he believed to lie a valid title to the car. Last Wednesday, he related, two men drove into his service station at MOf) Bellefonlaine road. One of the men jumped into Han's automobile and drove it away without explanation. The other man remained and said it had been repossessed for Presidential.

Ha it called Bellefonlaine Neighbors police and reported that his car had been stolen. As a result, both men involved in seizing the automobile were arretted. They are being held under bond pending an investigation. Harr said he first met New-land last June, after receiving a call from a Presidential representative who offered to let him in on the "ground floor slock" of a new insurance company thai was being orgaoied by Presidential. The service station man was told thai he could gel a job with the company because he was acquainted with many businessmen and influential persons who were his customers and friends.

Urged to Go In Work The next week, Harr related, he and his attorney, John J. Gerts, went to a meeting at the Downtowner Motor Inn attended by Newland and his wife, Mrs. irgin a Ne.vland, and five or six other salesmen. He said the meeting lasted four or five hours. Harr said he did not agree to go to work for the firm, although Newland and other former offi- 15o lo 25o designs.

black plastic top e.J CO'" FURNITURE CARPETS DRAPERIES ACCESSORIES 'lil Bmoss 1 opporlnnilij lo Save Apartment buildings at 5722-28 Buildings FROM PAGE ONE building was condemned. A memorandum by one inspector described the plumbing system at that time as "almost beyond description," with obstructions, leaks and water cascading over electric panels in the basement. The city has no record of any building, plumbing or electrical permit being obtained to make repairs at either Westminster address between early and this year. Kenneth W. Maehl, assistant to the building commissioner, attributed the rapid deterioration of the two buildings to obvious "lack of maintenance and possibly some tenant-inflicted damage." He and inspector Pfaff said the building at 5722 Westminster, similar to the adjacent six-unit building, was not being occupied as it was originally designed, but that this usage dated back many years.

The building was not overcrowded by city legal standards, they said. Ownership Record City records show that the two buildings were acquired by McGuire and Walsh Realty Investment Co. in December that McGuire and Walsh them to Libert S. Lowery in February and that F.ucene Jacques acquired them in April 1-t under forec'osure proceedings against McGuire and Walsh. Avon Blue, an officer of Oreon R.

G. Scott Realty trustee for the properties, said McGuire and Walsh was a partnership of John T. Walsh and Patrick McGuire. Blue identified Jacques as a straw party for an Indianapolis church group that held mortgages on the properties. Walsh, 11000 block of DeMalle drive, Creve Coeur, declined to discuss the properties.

Neither McGuire nor Lowery could be reached. Blue attributed the deteriora- tion of the buildings to unde- sirable tenants. He said Walsh and McGuire had difficulty col- lecting rents and were unable to make payments on their loan. After foreclosure, it was decided that the cost of reconditioning the buildings was too great and they were sold last December, Blue said. Richard Hart attorney for the Washington Heights and Rosedale-Skinker groups, said the neighborhood began to de- Valentine CFLOWERS NETTIE'S rr.sss at Ckippewo Open Man.

tiThurs. 1-6' Fri. I Sat. 1 1 SEVERE HEARING LOSS? I'm wearing an AT THE EAR hearing aid tor the first rime, offer using pocket aids for 20veors! Its Maico's NEW SelectronicflL and the conv4enience is wonderful! f-ic: NEW VfV MAICO IVT SticcliwcIII Offer nrw bearing help for thousands who hive never known th comfort and eonimnienoe of Mr-level aid! At lit BIG- AID power and tound in a head-worn aid! Phone or write for full information. MAICO HEARING SERVICE 709 Oliv CH, 1-3383 Sand FRrf "Setectionit 111" Fold to I I il AMf State 7.1 Code I I -i i 1 I I 4 1 i I 1 Tables galore! The "ESPRIT" collection tables to fit everyone's budget Strikingly tab'es from the SLC-b Esorlt conie'Tiporarv tdlec'ion.

igned to 'end a drisix viewpoint to convex ip nee and tivabili'y. The Uu oil 7inih h'q'cMinq me beaitiy of lie raq-mi-cently blends nq of solid American and walrut veneer. Th: beau'i'iil iab'e cec'id i-; trjy oi iasM'-g des'on and quality, and be 'At hone." in tr swenlv flcar'menr, or re appointed country or suburoan It, me. Lamp End Console Cocktail Tables Snaclc Tables Som featuring drawers for itorag Table pictured 66x24 closed, opens to 94" 98.50 Sliding top conceal lecret mar and stain-proof resisting 'o' 53 JvfOOmc a verify i'r- 'i'fl' to -e a' ce cV.e a tre by t'-' tuo. sra ELY-iNOSS Soworn" a b-e'-a Si' for yOtir livinq room a a dra -nfi'c a Yc re to see it at ELY-MCSS sa-'inr; rrai are Han iuo.

fjviir.q BlY Febu-aiy Sa-e: UL rl'i Litinj can bt eltant In the stvlf. On easy budget plan Is well worth your while Clayton vtp tr "ti rjf -fj Use "iir im-v budget p'au We Ship Free to 49 Statei WYdown 3 2111 County jvlllf hvutl JOIJ party-pretty light blue denim. Trimmed with jelly beans in just the ngrvi spots by Glen of Michigan. Left: Dress suit with jelly bean dot bodice, 1 8. Center: Coat, $15 and hat, $4.

Right: Jumper, $1 1. Girls' sizes 7 to 14, Boyd's Young Junior Department. ALL BOYD STORES OPEN MONDAY WGHT CftCSTWOOO COWWTOWM CLAYTON NORTHIAWO Lindbergh Rds. Ik West St. Leuif Opn Mihlx Than, and Fri..