davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
LOCAL MERCHANT SELLS
BUSINESS INTERESTS
c. D. Abbott Withdraws From H. p.
Van Kirk After Long Career

Announcement of change in
Milford's largest mercantile business
was made last Thursday afternoon,
when Charles d. Abbott withdrew
from the clothing firm of Il. p. Van
Kirk & Co. Under the new arrange
ment Mr.. Van Kirk becomes sole
owner of the business. 1t will be
continued in the same manner as in
the past, and Mr.. Van Kirk states
that the same high grade of mems
merchandise will be carried in every
department.
Charles d. Abbott. who is retiring
from active business management.
has been figure in the business
life of Milford for fifty years. Start
ing as a clerk in the grocery store
of the late John w. Adkins, fifty
years ago, he has seen many
changes in the business district of
Milford. He began his connections
with the closing business in Milford
I'm 1890 when he started to work for
Latchum and Davis as a clerk. In
1895 he. with his brother, the late
Senator S. John Abbott, organized
the business known as G. d. Abbott
g. Co. This store was located in the
store now occupied by Barros G. ST.
mon. In 1904 another store was
rented In the Watson block, adjoin-
ing their first store. This was used
as ladies and drygoods store. In
1909 the firm bought the stock and
shoes in the adjoining store build
ing from the late Nelson J. Pierson.
This department was added to the
store and the three stores combined
made the largest department store
In Delaware outside of the city Ofs.
In 1911 Senator S. John Abbott
retired from active business and |
Charles Fl. Abbott became a partner. |
The business grew and soon became /
he largest retail business in lower
Delaware. In 1927 c. d. Abbott and
;. H. Abbott sold the business. ST.
non and Barros bought the dry
goods and ladies wear departments
md Fl. P. Van Kirk G. Company pur-
hased the clothing and shoe depart
nents. The archways connecting
he three stores were closed and
hey were occupied by the two
bove named firms and the J. w.
,rook Co. Store. With this trans
ction c. II. Abbott retired from
usiness. but Chas. D.. Abbott be-
Turn 10 Pare 5. PledicJ
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS
OCCUR In HOMES
Delaware Safet Council Says Care
Should Be Taken AT All Times

According 20 the Delaware Safety
Council the public has not recog-
nized as they should the seriousness
of the home accident situation in
the United States nor in Delaware.
In 1881 there were $4,000 persons
killed in America as a result of ac-
cidents. OF this number $4,000 were
killed in the home. Home accident
fatalities are exceeded only by ac-
cidental deaths for motor vehicle Op-
Grafton.
Nearly One-third of all accidental
deaths occur at home. The hazards
confronting us i'm our daily home life
are more serious than supposed.
Nearly half of all home INJURIES re-
sit from falls, the majority of which
occur on steps or ladders. Strong,
safe step-ladders and properly i'll
Illuminated stairways kept free of
toys, broOms, soap and other house.
hold articles will largely remove
this type of home accident. Many
accidents due to falls in the home
are preventable by fastening the
rugs securely to the floor. especially
floors with polished surfaces. Many
injuries caused by tripping or STUN
bling are eliminated by replacing
playthingB. books and unrestored
articles after use. Standing on
Turn 10 Page 7, PledJel
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
GOVERNOR TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE
Officials, Public Leaders
Fill Senate Chamber
For Ceremony.

In the presence of distinguished
citizens from all parts of the State
Clayton Douglass Buck was inaugu-
rated Governor of Delaware on
Tuesday at noon.
The oath of office was administer
ed by Chief Justice James Pennewill
in the Senate chamber of the new
legislative building at a joint ses-
sion of the General Assembly. In. ac-
cordance with the wishes of Cover
nor Buck, all the usual pomp, in
cluding the military parade and the
inaugural ball was eliminated. His
address to the Legislature followed
Immediately. After this a reception
in his parlors in the same building,
was held. This concluded the affair.
Governor Buck succeeds himself
in office, the first Chief Executive of
this State TO do so in more than a
century. Among the spectators who
displayed more than usual interest
in the exercises were Mrs. Buck and
their four children. More than 500
persons were in the Senate cham
ber to witness the Inauguration and
the halls outside were filled. For
their accommodation, loud speakers
had been installed.
On the stroke of noon, the MEM
bers of the House of Representa-
tives having Joined the members of
the Senate, the joint session was
called to order by President Pro
Tenn William A. Simonton of the
Senate. He invited to places on the
rostrum with him Lieutenant Gov
ernor Roy F. Corley, who, a short
time before, had taken the oath of
office in the same room, and Julian
T. Robinson, Speaker of the House.
Senator Simonton directed the
Joint legislative committee to pro-.
ceed to the Governors parlors and
escort Governor Buck and Chief
Justice Pennewill to the Senate
chamber. The members of this COM
mittee are: Senators E. B. Griffen-
berg and William Vernon Steen, and
Representatives Walter G. Tatnall,
Jr., Charles I. Jackson and Herbert
Price.
Everyone in the room arose and
remained standing while Chief Jus
ice Pennewill administered the oath
10 Governor Buck. The Governors
right hand rested upon an ancient.
Latin Bible upon which every gov
arnor has taken the oath since 1S49,
With the exception of Governor John
HUM. who affirmed.
Chief Justice Pennewill has ad-
rTarn In Pane s. pisase1
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
URGES We Be
OPENED AGAIN
Trustees Of Dover School
Hear Bishops Plea; De-
eide On Survey.

The board of trustees of the Wes,
ley Collegiate Institute, which
closed its doors last September be-
cause of lack of enrolment suffi-
cient to warrant continuing the
school this year, met in Wesley M
L. Church on Friday and heard an
address by Bishop Edwin Fl. Hugh
es, of Washington, ID. c., who will
preside over the annual meeting of
the Wilmington M. E. Conference at
Rehoboth in March, in which he
stressed the necessity of reopening
the institution which has meant so
much to this peninsula.
AS the result of Bishop Hughes
eloquent appeal for the reOpening
of the school next year, the presi-
dent of the board, the Rev. w. f.
Gunby, was authorized to appoint a
committee to make a survey of the
as it at present exists and
report back to the board at an early
date.
It is also presumed that at the
coming session of the M. E. Confer
ence a detailed report of conditions
regarding the institute will be made
and that possibly the conference will
take a hand in restoring the school
TO its former standing in Dover,
where il has existed for SO years.
A meeting of the board of confer
ence trustees was also held i'm Wes-
ley Church discussing arrangements
ior the coming session of the Will,
nington Conference at Rehoboth on
March 30.
The conference board of ministe-
'ial training of the Wilmington NJ
.. Church to assign the books for
he ministerial students in their
course of study in the Wilmington
". e. Conference. The Rev. T. f.
is chairman of the
Doard.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
COMMISSION ON
PUBLIC UTILITIES
URGED IN SENATE
Griffenberg's Bill Pro-
posed Board Of Three
Members.
VIOLATION PENALTY
Would Have Power to Fix
Rates. Investigate Prop
erty EvaluatiOn.

Providing for the creation of a
Public Service Commission to have
/ jurisdiction over all public utilities
+ in the State, the first bill presented
in the Senate at the present session
of the General Assembly was offered
Monday afternoon by Senator Grif-
+ fenberg. After ii had been given
two readings il was referred to the
miscellaneous committee of which
Senator SimontOn is chairman.
! The proposed act stipulates that
the commission would consist of
three members, not more than two
of whom would be of the same po-
litical party. They would be ap-
pointed by the Governor and their
salaries would be fixed at $4,000 a
year. One would be appointed for
two years, one for four years and
one for six years, and thereafter all
appointments would be for six
years. In addition to their salary
members would be allowed travelling
expenses in connection with the Of
fee. .
The commission would have gen.
eral supervision and regulation of
all public utilities and also over their
property, property rights, equipment,
facilities and franchises, so far as
may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of the measure.
Power to Fix Rates
The bill vests the commission with
power to investigate any matter con-
cerning any public utility, appraise
and value the property of any public
utility, and to fix just and reason
able rates when it may determine
they are unjustly discriminatory or
preferential.
The commission would be allowed
to fix the fees to be paid by any con-
sumer of any product or service of
a. public utility. who may apply for
an examination or test TO be made
of the meters or other appliances.
No public utility would be allow
ed to change any rates established
under the bill, except after 30 days
notice to the commission. Further
granted any public utility
by any public authority in the State
Turn 10 Page 7. Pleassl
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
PREPARING FOR
M. E. CONFERENCE
Bishop A. W. Leonard And DR.. L. H.
HOugh To Be First Preachers

Bishop Adna W. Leonard, who
will be the presiding officer of Will
mington M. E. Conference, will be
the morning preacher, and the Rev.
DIR. Lynn Harold Hough, Professor
OF Homiletics and Comprehensive
Scholarship at Drew University, will
be the evening preacher on Sunday,
April End, the first Sunday of the
conference to be held i'm Rehoboth
Beach beginning March 20.
Bishop Leonard, who will preside
In the place of the Resident Bishop,
Edwin H. Hughes, is we'll known to
the people of Delaware. Bishop
Leonard was in .charge of the
preaching mission held in the city
of Wilmington last winter at Grace
M. E. Church and in the Playhouse.
DR.. Hough is one of the outstand-
ing preachers of Methodism. He has
held the pastorates of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Detroit, Mich,
and later the pastorate of the Unit
ed Church of Montreal, Canada, hav-
ing transferred from this latter pas
torate to the Chair of Homeletics
and Comprehensive Scholarship in
Drew University. During the sum-
mer months DR.. Hough has filled
the pulpits of the largest churches
in London, England.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
FIRE DESTROYS LOCAL
ENTRY In AUTO DERBY
Leak In Gasoline Tank Is Cause
Was First Prize Winner Last Year

The one lung shay, a 1903 single
cylinder Cadillac, last years Antique
Auto Derby first prize winner, own
ed by Earl Atkins and Harry Pierce,
was badly damaged by fire last Sun
day near Odessa, Delaware, while
the two owners were driving to
Philadelphia to compete for honors
in the Second Annual Antique Auto
Derby.
Atkins and Pierce were being fol-
lowed by Coley Johnson, Cadillac
dealer in Wilmington, and Helm
Walker. Studebaker and Rockne
representative. Johnson noticed
something leaking from the rear of
the antique car. He warned Atkins
and he pulled off of the road and
stopped. AS soon as the car came
to a stop it burst into flames. The
fire was caused by gasoline leaking
from the gasoline tank onto the hot
engine. The Odessa fire company
was called and, led by Fire Chief w.
Mailly Davis, they extinguished the
fire.
All of the woodwork and uphol-
stery and part of the machinery were
ruined but the owners intend to fix
the car and enter in next years
derby.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
GIRLS CLUBS ACTIVE
THROUGHOUT STATE
Interest Manifest In Several Della
ware Towns

The Claymont Girl Reserves are
very active in helping the Welfare
Agencies in their community. They
have given very successful benefits
for the Relief Fund and for the Den
tai Clinic; have dressed dolls and
fixed toys for distribution at Christ
mas; and are planning a benefit
card party for the twentieth of jan
uary. Mrs. Charles Quinn is the club
advisor. and Evelyn Hopes is the
president of the club.
The Delaware City Women's
Council met last Wednesday and all
members of the Council were pres
ent. The Council discussed various
program activities and decided to
concentrate at present on the for
nation of a Business and Profess
sional Women's Club in their COM
munity. Miss Mary Money, chair
man of the council, appointed the
following committee to discuss the
matter with the business and pro-
fessional girls in the town, and to
arrange a meeting where the matter
could be presented by Miss Martha
Good, general secretary of the Dis
trict of Delaware Y. w. c. A. The
committee members are Miss Mil
dred Netsch, Mrs. Norbert Cook and
Miss Mary Mcconnell. The proposed
Turn 10 Page 8, PiedJel
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
Sll,OOO,OOO ASKED
IN HOUSE BILLS
TO RUN STATE
Measures Based Upon
Recommendations Of
Governor Buck.
SUM FOR TWO YEARS
$2,37O,0OO Provided For
Wilmington Schools for
Two Fiscal Years.

Providing for total appropriations
of more than $11,000,000. two bills
were presented in the House of Rep
resentatives Monday afternoon, the
first to make their. appearance in
that branch at the current session ol
the Legislature. Both were offered
by Representative Harry B. Van Sci
yer and after two readings they
were referred to the appropriations
committee.
The first was the general apprO-
priation bill which provides funds
for all public officers of the several
departments and divisions of the
State government and the amounts
specified in the proposed act are
identical with the sums suggested
by Governor Buck in his State bud
get submitted two weeks ago and
which was published in detail at
that time. For the year ending June
30. 1884. the sum of $2.260, ,027.5S is
appropriated and for the year end
ing June 80, 1885, the sum of $2,-
384,010.08 is appropriated, making a
total for the two years of $4,644,-
S37.66.
The second bill provides appro-
pFiations for the school budget for
the next two fiscal years and it, too,
is identical with the school budget
as contained in Governor Bucks
budget submitted by him to the Cen
eral Assembly two weeks ago. For
each of the years ending June 80.
1884, and June 80, 1885, the sum of
S3.270,800 is provided
This act specifies that Wilmington
shall receive for schools 81, ,185,000
for each of the next two fiscal years
made up as follows; for general
control, S57 900 for each of the two
years; Institutional service, s1.000,-
QOQ;;. operation of plant. $50 900;
Of plant, $4,000; auxil-
lary agencies. $4,000; fixed charges,
10000: capital outlay, $4,000. The
State Board of Education is allowed
Fl ,306,300 each year and the special
school districts are allowed $779,500
each year.
The House adopted a resolution
placing the stenographerS, M. Fran |
ces Van Vert, Frances J. Buckley, !
Mabel G. Fritz and Charles f. King !
meyer under the direction of a COM |
nittee consisting of the speaker, ,
chairman of the committee on pass
I'd bills and chairman of the revised
statutes committee.
Representative Scott offered a res
,lution expressing the sympathy OF
he members on the death of Henry
,. Scott. This was concurrent res
,lution and the Senate adopted 1t
ater in the afternoon.
Representative Rees offered res
,lution allowing members, clerk to
he Speaker, chief clerk. reading
Turn 10 Page 7, PieaSe1
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
HOUSE BILL SEEKS
REBATE '33 AUTO TAGS
Measure Also Would Reduce Levels
OF License Charges

Provision for a reduction in the
license fees paid the State by auto
mobile owners and a refund of so
per cent of all such moneys such
owners have paid for 1888, is made
in bill presented in the House
Wednesday afternoon by Represen-
tative Pryor. The proposed act
would fix the license fees according
to the following schedule:
The motorcycle registration fee,
$3.50.
For other motor vehicles the fee
would be 81 for every 500 pounds or
fraction thereof, of the gross load
weight up to and including 1000
pounds. In excess of this the fee
would be So for every 500 pounds.
The gross load weight of a pleas
ure car would be fixed by multiply
ing the maximum number of persons
it is built to carry by 125 pounds
and adding the result to the weight
of the vehicle.
The registration fee between Au-
gust and December Is would be
so per cent of the above.
Dealers Fees
The fee for dealers would be
$12.50 for the first registration, to
Turn TO Page 8. PIeGJs
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
STATE JR. O. u. A. M.
RALLY IN Will. TONIGHT
Members Through The State Are
Planning TO Attend Special Rally

National Councillor of the Junior
Order United American Mechanics,
DR.. Charles E. Brewer, will make an
official visit to the State of Della
ware on Friday evening, January 20.
Arrangements are being made for a
special meeting to be held in the
Junior Hall, at 9O7 Tatnall street,
Wilmington, on that evening at 8
o'clock. DR.. Brewer will give a brief
message on the principles of Jun
ior Mechanics and il is the intention
that all members fthe order will
attend this meeting. James L. Will
meth. National Secretary, will also
address the meeting. 1t has also
been decided that 1t will be an open
meeting. and any of the members
are privileged to be accompanied by
their friends. The Eureka Orchestra
from Wilmington will furnish mu-
sic for the occasion. Junior Mechan-
les throughout the State are plan
ming to attend this special rally.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
TYPHOID, INFANT
DEATHS DECLINE

lhe trend of deaths from
typhoid is a rapidly falling
one in Delaware, DR.. A. C. Jost,
executive secretary of the
State Board of Health, writes
in a recent issue of the Unit
ed States Daily, a Washington
publication.
The same can be said in
general respect of all the COM
municable diseases, DR.. Jost
writes. The new year indicates
a most remarkable improve
ment over the best figures
ever before experienced in the
infant mortality rate.
In another article in the
same paper, DR.. Jost discusses
the State Health Department
in Delaware. Delaware, the
Diamond State, he writes, has
not its counterpart in any
State of the Union. Its area is
small, only 1865 square miles,
Its population is limited,
though its density of popula-
tion per square miles places
it among the most densely pop
ulated States.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
COMMITTEES OF
SENATE NAMED
Republicans In Majority
On Committees of State
Senate.

Senator William A. Simonton
President Pro Tenn of the Senate
shortly after that body had conven-
ed Monday afternoon, announced the
standing committees. The chair
man of every one of them is a Re-
publican and the majority members
are Republicans. All committees are
made up of five members. On all
but one there are three Republicans
and two Democrats. The exception
Is the finance committee on which
there are four Republicans and one
Democrat.
Senator SimontOn took the chair
manship of only two, the committee
on buildings and highways and the
miscellaneous committee. He holds
membership on the following COM
mittees: Finance, fish, oysters and
game, private corporations, munich
pal corporation and temperance.
After he had presented the list
Senator Slmonton said he realized it
was hard to please everyone but he
expressed the hope all concerned
would be satisfied for he had tried
his best to handle a difficult situa-
tion.
Chief interest centered in the tenn
perance committee. The personnel
of this subdivision of the Senate
leaves no doubt that it is thorough
ly wet. The chairman is Senator
George McIntire, of New Castle. The
other four members are: Senators
Simonton. and w.. Mailly Davis, of
Odessa, Republicans; Edward [.
Glenn, Wilmington, and John Roy
Cannon, Seaford, Democrats. All
five are recognized vets and the
"Drys" do not have any representa-
ton on the committee.
Senator f.. B. Griffenberg is chair
man, of the accounts, executive and
corporations committees
and holds membership on five other
committees. Craftsmanship
Of the 'importan finance committee
was given to Senator Carl r. Van
SAINT. of Elmhurst. and Senator J. B.
of Dover, is chairman of
.he claims committee. Senator Van
SAINT also is chairman of the COM
mittee on education, and Senator
Davis is chairman of the printing
.s..e..
The Senate committees as an |
BY Senator .Sfmonton are
IS follows, the first three members |
If each being Republicans and the
,ther two being Democrats. with the
exception of the finance committee /
iTHrH TO Page 2. Plea5sl
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
COAST GUARD BOATS
LEAVE FOR VIRGINIA
VIII Be Stationed Temporarily At
ChincOteague

Under the reorganization plans ol
the United States Coast Guard. three
patrol and picket boats, stationed al
Lewes, left on Sunday for Chinco-
league, Va, where they will be sta
tional temporarily. But one picket
boat, the Coast Guard 2274 has
been left here for a time and the
new 5O-foot motor life boat now un-
der construction In Baltimore, will
be sent to Lewes when completed.
It will remain at Lewes permanent
ly.
The patrol boats, C-G, 2O9, in
command of w. H. Penny. and the
C-G. 236, under Harold H. Yokes,
chief boatswain mates, and the 1905
picket boat, were re-assigned to
Chincoteague by Commander c. J.
Sullivan in order that they may be
stationed in the new sixth district
which now consists of that part of
the peninsula from Isle of Wight,
Md, to Cape Charles, Va, effective
today.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
CITY MEETING TONIGHT
AT ARMORY HALL
Two COuncilmen To BE Nominated
City Election Monday

A meeting of the taxpayers of the
City of Milford will be held tonight
at 1880 o'clock in the ArmOry Hall
for the purpose of nominating two
city cOuncilmen; one from the first
and one from the fourth wards, both
for terms of four years.
On Monday, January %, the regu-
lar election of the City of Milford,
will be held for the election of these
cOuncilmen.
Every resident of the City of Mil
ford who is over twenty-One years
of age and who has resided in Mil
ford for at least six months preced-
ing the day of election and who is
not delinquent in respect of any tax
levied by the city shall be entitled
to vote at the election.
Milford chronicle., 1933-01-20
GOV. BUCK ASKS
WIDE REDUCTIONS
IN EXPENDITURES
Urges Pay Cuts, Cites
Falling Off In Charter
Income.
FAVORS 4c GAS TAX
Would Slash Third Off
All County Real Estate
Assessments.

81 must have your help in reduc-
ing governmental expenses. Budgets
must be pared, salaries cut and gem
eral expenses reduced"
Governor c. Douglass Buck in his
message to the 104th General As
sembly, the first to gather in the
States new Legislative Building,
made the foregoing appeal to the
Senate and House on Tuesday
The Governors plea for State
wide governmental saving followed
his Inauguration for his second term.
Under the Governors proposals,
salaries over $4,000 will be cut 20
per cent; those between $4,000 and
$4,000, Is per cent; between $500
and $4,000, ten per cent; and be-
tween $1,000 and $500, i've per cent.
In addition, the Governor urges
reduction in count ytaxes on land;
increasing automobile and gasoline
levies; curtailment of costs In the
educational system of the State and
reduction of appropriations for GER
tain welfare work.
The Governors message includes
Iu6 Nude NAC 90
sessed valuation of all real estate In
Delaware as now taxed, for county
purposes, be reduced one-third, "in
order to more nearly approach the
present-day worth of real proper
ties"
Governor Buck then cited drop
from $2,693, ,452.76 in the fiscal year
of 192S-20 to S4S0,354.35 in 1922,
in the fees for certificates Of tncor-
poration.
"The franchise tax" the message
went on, (which last year produced
S4, ,285, ,5s6.7S, is now being seriously
impaired by the action of corpora
tions amending their charters in q
way that win permit the payment
Of a much smaller tax.
'sThe income tax collected has
fallen from s2,853,056.15 in 1920-30.
to S577, ,015.90 in 1899"
The Governor points out that not
economies inaugurated
by the State the new budget based
on recommended expenditures OF
So ,260 ,027.5S for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1884, and $2,384.010.0S
for 1885, will fall short by $1,255,-
599.11 Of balancing, according to es-
timated revenue.
"If the credit of the State is to be
TTwn to Pa0s 5. P!sasel