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88th YEAR, No. 6

Capc May Wavc. ESTAW.IS Stan of tmc Cafc. Establ Capc May St a a ft Wavc. Comcocipatco 1007.

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1942

DELIVERED BY MAIL IN THE U.SJL POSTAGE PREPAID—B1JOO A YEAR

FIVE CENTS

Refunding Bond Issue Executed By Officials Cape May city official* thia week executed municipal bond* totalling *997,000 as the final step in the city’s refunding program. The bonds were delivered to Bailey, Dwyer & Company, a New York investment firm which purchased them, on Wednesday. The refunding bond issue was authorized bji th* city commission several months ago, in order to refund the city bonded indebtedness at a lower rate of interest and to spread the maturity of the bonds over a longer period of time. The refunding was planned in order to eliminate an overlapping of maturity dates of previous issues. Approval of the bond issue was given recently by the Local Government Board of New Jersey, after the city commission had complied with all the board’s requirement*, including a pledge to hold an all-inclusive tax sale in 1942 and annual tax sales thereafter. In an offer accepted by the city commission recently, Bailey, Dwyer A Company offered to exchange *910,000 principal amount of outstanding bonds of the city for *967,000 new refunding bonds, bearing interest at the rate of three and one-half per cent a year, and the sum of *850 in cash, and to purchase *5,000 principal amount of the refunding bonds, bearing interest at the

Re-appointed

ALLAN KONOWITCH Well known Cape May automobile dealer and garage proprietor who on Friday was re-appointed as a member of the Cape MayBoard of Education. Mr. Konowitch was named to the board for a five year term, ending February 1, 1947. The Board of Education reorganized Monday evening, re-elect-ing Mrs. Ralph T. Stevens as president; Mr. Konowitch as vice president; and Everett J. Jerrell as secretary. Board committees remain the same as last year.

1,320 Car Tax Stamps Here A total of 1,820 automobile use tax stamps have been sold by the Cape May postoffice, Postmaster Lemuel E. Miller, Jr., reported this week. As of Tuesday afternoon, 1,320 motorists residing in this section of the county had purchased ■tamps from the local office, and approximately 100 more are expected to buy the federal use tax stamps before the end of February, Miller said. With the bulk of the automobile stamps purchased prior to Feb. 1, effective date of the law requiring all vehicles in operation to bear a federal stamp showing that a tax of *2.09 had been paid. Postmaster Miller said he expects probably another 100 stamps to be sold during the month to car owners who have not had their vehicles in use since the law became effective or those who have been away for some time prior to the effective date of the Every automobile in operation after February 1 is required to display one of the federal usetax stamps as proof that the tax has been paid. In the event of k^s of the stamps, motorists are ‘ required to apply to the Collector of Internal Revenue of the district in which they reside, applying for a replacement. Unless the cards bearing pertinent information about each vehicle’s model, year, motor number and owner's name has been filed with the collector, no replacement will be made, Mr. Miller explained.

Boy Scouts Guests Of Cape Kiwanis Club As part of the local observance of Boy Scout Week, members of Cape May’s Scout troop were guests of the Kiwanis Club last night at the club’s weekly meeting. The session was held in the cafeteria of the high school. Kiwanis Clubs throughout the United States and Canada which sponsor Boy Scout troops this week are observing the annniversary with special programs ir recognition of Boy Scout work.

Senior Hostesses Of (ISO Club Meet A meeting of senior hostesses who have volunteered their services to the Cape May USO Club was held at the clubrooms Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. James C. Hand, chairman of the local USO Council, presided at the session. Mrs. Theodore F. Thompson, co-director of the club, addressed the meeting, and asked for criticisms and suggestions for improving the services and facilities of the club. She thanked the senior hostesses for the work they have done as chaperones for the dob hostesses. Approximately 30 women attended the meeting. It was planned to have women of the community bake cakes for the Valentine party which will be held at the deb on Saturday, February 14, and to bake cherry niea for the George Washington Birthday party which will be

Tire Quota Is Issued Here Cape May's tire quota for the month of February was announced this week by Police Chief John J. Spencer, Jr., chairman of the local tire rationing board. For the current month, the board's quota is one tire and one tube for passenger vehicles, light trucks and motorcycles. For heavy trucks and buses the quota five tires and eight tubes. The unused balance of the January tire quota will Ik- carried over to the February quota unless a special ruling prohibits such action, Spencer said. During Januarv only two truck tires were issued by the ration- ’ ig board. As yet the rationing board, -hich will also handle the rationing of sugar and automobiles in addition to tires and other commodities, has received no information on sugar rationing. Rationing of automobiles presently in stock of local dealers is expected to start shortly,. although the date of beginning has not yet been announced, Spencer It is understood that dealers will be able to sell cars presently in their stockrooms under the rationing plan, but that no new ones will be permitted to be sold. The plan has been worked out to nove stocks of new automobiles n dealers’ agencies which were ‘frozen” when the ban on automobile sales was invoked.

Wene To Seek WPA Pay Rise WPA employees on defense projects at the Cape May Naval base were notified by Congressman Elmer H. Wene Friday that he has referred to the proper authorities their petition for an increase in pay to cope with the higher cost of living. The petition, signed by 350 employees, was given to Congressman Wene early last week. Among the signers were workers from all parts of Cape May County, whose earnings are reduced by transportation expenses averaging 50 cents daily. Wene advised the men he will make every effort to have their request for higher wages c plied with. Although the men did not threaten to stike, they did contend that the Cape May County wage scale is lower than that of adjacent Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. •

Daylight Saving Time To Start February 9 Cape May will officially adopt Daylight Saving Time on Mondady, February 9, in accordance with a nationwide shift from Standard Time for the duration of the war emergency. The city commission on Friday adopted a resolution establishing Daylight Saving Time as the official time of the city. The change will become effective at 2 a.m. February 9. President Roosevelt recently enacted legislation legalizing the change in time and issued a proclamation calling upon nationwide observance of the time change in order to conserve electric power and to provide an additional hour of daylight for the normal work-

ing day.

Cape May was one of the first county communities to establish -Daylight Saving Time officially.

Defense Plans Pushed By Cape Unit This Week Cape May’s defense program swung into full stride this week as various parts of the dty-wide plan were coordinated under the supervision of the Local Defense Council. A call for additional volunteers to serve as messengers in time of emergency was sounded by Chairman John J. Spencer, Jr., and citizens were warned to obtain the required amount of sand for use in combatting possible incendiary bombs. In a statement today, Spencer said: "Good sized boys from 12 to 15 years of age who own bicycles are wanted by the Civil Defense Council to volunteer for special messenger service in time of emergency. Men Also Needed “The council also needs men who bwn and ride bicycles for the • service to help augment this impoprtant part of the local defense set-up. "It is planned to instruct volunteers in certain duties and to have them available at those placdesignated as first aid stais and at city hall in case they are needed to carry special messages, supplies or dispatches during times when the regular communications systems are out of order. Any of those who come within the above description and are willing to volunteer are requested to contact the chairman of the Civil Defense Council at City Hall,'' Spencer said. Instructions Progress Instruction classes in fire and police reserves are progressing rapidly and these units are well on the way to being ready for any action that may come. The emergency medical units under Dr. A. C. Moon are /awaitng the completion of courses now jeing taken in first aid so that non- graduates will be available for details at the separate first stations as outlined in the organization of the medical

contacted as they graduate and crews for the stations will be picked and given details as soon is possible. “For those who have not as yet •btained the supply of sand as tvommended for fire Fighting purposes, the Fire Department will see to it that sand will be delivered" to each person who makes his needs known before Saturday morning by calling the lo-al Fire Dcnartment on either telephone,” Spencer said. Housenoiuers must furnish their owr containers for sand.

150 Volunteers Will Register Men For Draft With a corps of neakly 150 volunteer registrars to assist with the registration of. men during the third national Selective Service registration in Cape May County on February 14, 16 and 16, officials of Selective Service Board No. 2, in charge of the work in the southern section of Cape May County, said this week they anticipated an orderly registration with little delays. Adding to the 63 citizens who •olunteered their services as registrars, 76 Cape May County school teachers have offered their services for part of the three-day registration period, local board officials said Tuesday. Replies from school teachers of Middle Township had not been received until that time. In Cape May 22 volunteers and 8 school teachers have signed as olunteer registrars. In Wildwood, 21 volunteers and 69 teachers have offered their services and in Cape May Court House, 20 volunteers have signed as registrars. Men 20-45 Must Register All men between the ages of 20 and 45, except those preiously registered, will be required to register under the Selective Service law on one of the three registration days. Registration centers will ' be established at the Selective Service headquarters in Cape May High School, in Wildwood High School and in the old court building. Cape May Court House. The centers will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fehmary 14 and 15 and from 7 a.m/ until 9 pan. on February 16. Approximately 1,200 men from (Continued on Page Eight)

Red Cross Fund Reaches SI,200 The Red Cross war relief drive has passed the- J1,200 mark with a total of *1,207 reported as of Tuesday afternoon. All workers have completed the canvass of th^r districts and have turned their collections. At a meeting held last Wednesday, it was decided to keep the drive open until the full quota of $1,600 has been reached. Several plans for raising the remaining $392.64 were discussed and will probably be put in motion by the campaign workers. Among the suggestions were a tag day, card parties, and a reworking of the city districts already covered. Under the latter plan those who were unable contribute at the time the w< ■s first called would be given i opportunity to help again. The tag day and card party suggestions will probably be carried out by committees appointed for that purpose but any additional help by church or civic organizations will be appreciated and the proper recognition gi said Dr. Edward E. Pickard, cl an of the local drive. Contributions received this week sin amounts of five dollars qiore are as follows; Cape May Sand Co., $15; Cape May Coal and Ice Co., $10. Top ranking canvassers who have raised $60 or more to date in the campaign are: Mrs. Stephen Doherty, $154.50; Mrs. Elizabeth Luker, $83; Mrs. Clara Bohm, $73; Mrs. Edith Carroll, $71.50; Miss Ida Stevens, $69.75; Mrs. May Phillips, $65; Mrs. H. P. Entrikin, $63. In addition to the workers mentioned above. Mrs. William Sheppard and Miss Jennie Hanes turned in $87 raised in their booth at the Merchants National

Bank.

Ask State To Take Control Of Span The Cape May County Association of Township Committeemen last week adopted a resolution urging the state to assume control of the Beeseley's Point bridge. The span, located in Upper Township, adjoins two poorly paved road sections and charges 25 cents toll for passenger vehicles. Letters to Senator Scott and Assemblyman Boswell and the State Highway Department will be dispatched by the association, citing argumeats for the state’s use of the power of eminent domain in taking charge of the bridge. It was contended that the bridge toll charge invites criticism upon Cape May County from out-of-couty tourists and that elimination of the toll, through state ownership, would make for better cooperation between towns connected by the span.

Young People's Unit To Meet On Friday The Young People's Evangelistic Union will hold its winter rally at the Cape Island Baptist Church here Friday evening. More than 150 members from all parts of Cape May and Atlantic Counties are expected to attend the rally. The meeting will begin at with a hymn sing, followed by a business meeting and an address by a special speaker. The Rev. George Cook, pastor of the Rio Grande Baptist Church, president of the union, will pre-

Schools Contribute To Defense Effort Cape May’s public school system made its contribution to national defense this week when it collected and sold for junk 1,875 pounds of scrap iron which had accumulated during the years from desk frames and other broken and discarded equipment. In addition to the scrap metal, the school system also sold to collectors several hundred pounds of waste paper, which will be placed with other waste and scrap material for re-use in the

TO ATTEND CONCLAVE Dr. Edward E. Pickard, Cape May city school superintendent, will leave on Monday, February 16, to attend the annual convention of th» American Association of School Administrators which will be held in San Francisco, CaL from February 21 through February 27.

Scores Rumors

Loveland Hits War Rumors As Inside Boring Prosecutor French B. Loveland charged this week that there are indications of a “deliberate effort” being made in Cape May County to create civilian suspicion by spreading false rumors of subversive activity by reputable

FRENCH B. LOVELAND Cape May County Prosecutor who this week branded as “idle gossip” stories about county commercial fishermen assisting enemy submarines off the Atlantic coast He charged that war rumors abroad in all sections of the county are designed to break down the norale of the public.

Canal Surveys Completed U. S. Army engineers have completed all preliminary surveys for the Cape May Harbor-Dela-ware Bay canal and are virtually ready to begin actual construction work, Senator 1. Grant Scott announced today. “Colonel H. B. Vaughan, chief of the Philadelphia District of the Army Engineers, has informed me that one of the big government dredges now finishing up a job in the Chesapeake Bay will be assigned to the Cape May County project," Scott said. The dredge, Colonel Vaughan informed the Senator, is one of the most prolific diggers in service and is capable of completing the project before summer. Col. Vaughan said present plans call for initiating the project around March 1. With the construction of the canal assured as a defense measure, many land owners whose properties will be benefited by the construction have signified their willingness to deed the right of way for the waterway. In addition to providing a ready means of commercial passage for craft between the two bodies of water—cutting out the sometimes dangerous 30-mile trip around Cape May—Senator Scott said it would open up the Delaware Bay to Atlantic coast fishing boats and New Jersey inland waterways to small craft from the Delaware Bay and River and Chesapeake Bay.

Reserves Will Deliver Sand

who

Cape May householders

have not obtained their two buckets of sand as required by the local Defense Council will have sn opportunity to have it delivered to their homes on Saturday. Members of Cape May's Fire Reserve force, composed of high school boys, will deliver the sand to residents who have failed *“ obtain it themselves, Sol Need]) Jr., foreman of the Fire Department and a member of the De-

fense Council, said today.

Anyone desiring to have sand delivered to them should telephone the Fire Department, Keystone 420 or Bel! 5, leave their names and addresses with a request that sand be delivered to

their homes on Saturday.

The public works department of the city has provided a city truck for the sand distribution, and members of the Fire Reserve will spend Saturday delivering the A requirement of the Defense Council is that every household have at least two buckets of dry sand available at all times to be used to extinguish incendiary bombs which might fall in the event of an emergency in this

vicinity.

INCOME TAX REPORTS PREPARED Have ypur Income Tax prepared early, and avoid the last minute worry. Also Social Security Forms and Unemployment Forms prepared. PAUL SNYDER, 281 WINDSOR AVENUE Key. Phone 900 - Residence Phone 681 - Bell Phone 90

Tax Rate Jumps 71 Cents For Current Year Cape May’s 1942 tax rate will

day wl budget

He expresesd this opinion in commenting on the reports, prevalent for the past week, that one or more Cape May County commercial fishermen had been arrested by federal agent* for taking supplies to sea to enemy submarines preying on U. S. coastal shipping. “There is not a word of truth in any of these reports,” said Mr. Loveland, who pointed out that federal agents would have communicated with his office had they taken such action. Scores “Idle Gossip” “This idle gossip has been so widespread that it sounds as if it might be a deliberate effort on the part of some person or persons to bore from within by dividing the people and creating suspicion among them,” the Prosecutor declared. “There is real foundation for such a belief. “One of the usual methods of fifth column elements is to create false Yumors," he added. “This report is only one of a number if untrue stories ^circulated in ’arious parts of the county during the past two or three weeks. “It is human nature to believe the worst about people, and those who pass along idle rumors are prone to accelerate the gossip and expand upon the alleged facts

the case.

Cites Illustration ‘This instance is a real illustration of how fast false rumors can spread, simply because people do not use their heads and are willing to pass along everything

they hear.

Push Fight For Defense Rating Efforts to have Cgpe May declared a defense area by virtue of the presence of military units representing all branches of the armed forces of the United States are being continued, Mayor T. Millet Hand declared Friday in a report to the city commission. The Mayor reported that he had written a letter to federal authorities asking them to declare this city a defense area in an attempt to insure an uninterrupted supply of building materials, despite restrictions imposed by the Office of Production Management. In his letter, the Mayor pointed out that the large number of service men stationed in this area presented a definite housing problem, and pointed out that declar- ' i of this area as a defense would permit sufficient building operations to overcome the

shortage.

Previous attempts had been rebuffed on the ground that an in•estigation had shown that there vas no shortage of houses for defense workers. Mayor Hand said in his reply he had pointed out that while there are no large numbers of defense workers in the area at present, the numbers of officers and enlisted personnel in all armed forces and the construction of a million-dollar chemical plant along Delaware Bay for the production of sintered magnesite, used in the making of steel, were deemed sufficient to constitute this this vicinity as a defense

Township PTA Marks Founders’ Day The regular meeting of the Lower Township Parent-Teachers Association was held in the Consolidated School at Cold Spring on Tuesday evening. Due to the absence of Mrs. Randall Elliott, president, the meeting was conducted by. Mrs. John B. Kaighn, County Council chairman. After the business meeting Founders' Day program was g en under the direction of Mrs. George Walter and later a spaghetti supper was enjoyed by the 30 members present. “Yfiur place is waiting in the Parent-Teacher Association. Come out and help make life in the community better for all our children.” officers of the association said in an appeal for new members of the association.

cents over the rate

year, it . was disclosed Toeswhen the city’s permanent — ft was introduced at a meeting of the commissisners. The increase in rate was due

principally to increases, in the county tax rate, the amount appropriated for the operation of city schools, and for the payment of principal and interest on the city s debt while absorbing a loss of $100,000 in taxable valuations.

Despite a drop * ' “ ‘

total appropriatic__ _

the new budget, the i mandatory expenses and the Toss of ratables made the rate increase inevitable, it was said.

Appropriations Decrease

Total appropriations in the new budget amount to *583,866.70. Last year’s total was *605,08687. The new budget was introduced Tuesday and is scheduled for puljlic hearing and adoption on Tuesday morning, February 27, at

11:80 o’clock.

In the official statement published with the budget, the Com-

mission said:

Officials Explain Rise “Despite an excellent cash balance and a good collection rate, it is necessary to increase the tax rate. Not only will our city operating expenses necessarily increase, but we are called upon to produce largely increased sums for the schools, for county taxes and for the payment of principal and interest on the dty debt, while at the same time absorbing a loss of *100,000 in ratables. A larger tax increase has been prevented ‘ by our growing income from real estate. After three years of decreasing taxes, it is disappointing to be obliged temporarily to reverse the trend. It is our feeling, however, that Cape May should have a sound budget, one which is prepared to meet on a solvent basis the abnormal times which face us, and one which preserves a financial structure that will again enable us to reduce the tax rate soon as possible.” County Taxes Jump Under the new budget, the city is required to increase its allotment for county taxes from *33,018.16 to $45,020, due to the 22 cent rate increase under the 1942

county budget

The appropriation for local district schools this year amounts to *42.559 compared with *84,600

last year.

Additional budget items for defense expenditures, and other

Relief Heads Organize Raymond Dhue, North Wildwood director of relief, was elected president of a new Cape May County Relief Directors’ Association Wednesday night when the group organized at Cape May Court House. Relief directors representing 16 municipalities attended the session which was called at the suggestion of Charles A. Erdman, state director. Mr. Erdman was present and addressed the meeting. Other officers named were Clare Lear. Ocean City, rice president; Marjorie W. Van Sickel, Wildwood, secretary; Horace Richardson. Court House, treasurer. Raymond Jones, of Wildwood, who was instrumental in calling the meeting together, presided temporarily until the officer* were formally elected. Members of the new group plan to meet once a month for the exchange of information and opinion on how to handle emergency relief problems within the bounds of the state regulatory system. It was reported that similar county associations are being formed throughout New Jersey for the purpose of bringing about more coordinated and standardized relief administration.

ORGANIZATION ELECTS The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War held their election and installation of officers at the home of Mrs. Vesta S. Olsen, retiring president, Wednesday evening. Mrs. Laura S. Eldredge was elected president for the ensuing year. Mrs. Olsen was presented with a past president's pin by Miss Reba S. Doak.

Six Appointed To Fill Offices

terms of borough officials were made by West Cane May’s borough commission Tuesday night. Those apnointed for the current vear are Osman M. Corson, of Cape May Court House, as borough engineer; Mrs. Emily Ewing as janitor; Frank McNeill as •»olice officer; Charles T. Heaton, Sr., at borough marshal: Dr. Frank R. Hughes as health of-fi-er: and R. A. Swain as fire

The commissioners will adopt the 1942 borough budget at • meeting Monday evening.