PAGE TWELVE
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1950
Only 26 Per Cent Of Higher Pay Is Buying Power
Washington, March 23—(U.P.)-The average American worker's weekly paycheck has risen 130 percent in the past 10 years but his buying power has climbed only 35 percent.
Higher living costs and federal taxes have wiped out the remainder of his increased earnings. In 1939 weekly earnings of workers in manufacturing industries averaged $23.86. In 1949 the average was $54.94 But when allowances are made for tax deductions and decreased purchasing power of the dollar, the worker's adjusted weekly income in 1949 boiled down to only $23.17 in terms of 1939 purchasing power.
This meant the real increase over the 10-year span was only $8.31, based on tax deductions for a married man with 2 children. A United Press analysis of labor department wage figures for 13 occupations showed that the adjusted increase in weekly earnings during the past decade ranged from $3.71 for workers who make automobile tires and tubes, to $9.83 for construction workers.
On a percentage basis, the biggest increase was made by textile workers whose adjusted income in 1949 was 57 per cent higher than in 1939. In contrast, unadjusted percentage increases ranged from 90 for tire and tube workers to 165 for textile workers.
Soft coal miners' paychecks rose from an average of $24.61 a week in 1939 to $56.78, and they would have shown an even bigger rise if the miners had worked full time. If there are no strikes or other work stoppages in 1950, the miners could boost their weekly earnings to $73.75 under terms of their new contract. This would be an increase of $49.74, or 207 per cent. But even that would be reduced to $40.12 under the formula used for adjusting their income to 1939 dollars.
Persons who are hit hardest by the increased cost of living and taxes are those who depend upon fixed incomes, such as pensions and proceeds from securities. If their incomes have remained constant in the past 10 years, each dollar they now receive is worth 40.3 cents less than it was in 1939. A $35-a-week pensioner, who could make ends meet 10 years ago, finds his purchasing power has dropped to $29.69.
Many white collar workers also have failed to keep up with the average increase. The 1949 average weekly wages of $45.92 in retail trade was almost double the 1939 average of $23.04. But the adjusted figure for 1949 is $27.13, or just $4.08 more in purchasing power than 10 years ago.
SAM Hears Suit Maker
Production problems met in the manufacture of clothing were outlined for the Society for the Advancement of Management in a talk by George Dew, assistant general manager of the Pachter Garment company. Tuesday.
Most of the problems were listed by Mr. Dew as results of rapid personnel turnover, material shortages, delivery problems, and scheduling of operations.
Mr. Dew traced the various steps in garment making from the design of the stage to the finished product. He explained the "sections system" used to make clothing with specialized labor and compared it with the "tailor system" used by eastern manufacturers, in which the whole garment is made by one person.
This Was The Last Straw
Delaware, Ohio—(U.P.)—Mrs. Harry McClellan, 72, sued for divorce despite it's being her golden anniversary year. Charging neglect and extreme cruelty, she said her husband hit her on the head with a rolling pin and 22 stitches were required to close the wound.
Photo by Al Campbel
Animals of the Northern Rockies are shown in this view of the panorama at the Natural History museum. At the far left are mountain sheep, black-tailed deer are in the center, with Rocky Mountain goats standing on the rocks behind. In the right foreground are beavers and moose may be seen in the underbrush at the far right.
Panorama Becomes More Realistic After Redecoration At Dyche Hall
The redecoration program in the Museum of Natural History is nearing completion. Making stone pillars look like trees and changing the slant of large panes of glass are two of the more unusual aspects of the program.
The center of redecoration is the room that houses the museum's Panorama of North American Mammals and their habitats. The panorama is a large semi-circular display enclosed by glass panels approximately 10 feet high. The exhibit shows various mammals and their habitats that are representative of North American mammals from the North Pole to northern Mexico.
The purpose in redecoration is to make the panorama appear more realistic. The glass panels that were originally parallel to the walls of the room have been slanted inward toward the bottom of the walls to eliminate the reflections on the glass.
Several upright ceiling supports are concealed by an artistic coating of tree bark. The concrete now appears to be several large trees in a North American forest. Also, the ceiling of the gallery from which the panorama is viewed has a new layer of sound proof blocks that minimize the echoes in the room Lectures and meetings may be ir the panorama room in the future Dr. Rollin Baker, assistant curator of the museum, said.
Dr. Baker considered the panorama "a pretty fair representation of large game animals and other mammals characteristic of the life zones of the continent."
Many of the mounts in the panorama are not new. Professor Dyche, for whom the museum was named, took a number of the animals to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The animals were used in an exhibit at the fair.
A chili supper will be given by the Newman club, Roman Catholic student group, at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the basement of St. John's church.
The money raised from a series of three such suppers will be used to remodel the church basement.
Newman Club To Serve Chili To Pay For Remodeling Job
Dog Believes In Cleanliness
Memphis, Tenn., -(U.R)- Mr. and Mrs. Joe Walpole had to wire up their shower valve after discovering that their cocker spaniel, Priss, was mechanically inclined. Four times in two weeks the Walpoles found the shower running, and Priss merrily swishing about under the stream. She apparently had turned the valve with her paw.
Snow Trash Fire Breaks Windows
A small trash fire behind Snow hall brought the Lawrence fire department to the campus at 2 p. m. Wednesday. The damage is estimated at $15.
Ray Cooper, University carpenter,
noticed the blaze approximately
1:55 p. m. and reported it to an office girl who called the fire department.
Three glass panes broken by the heat in room 101 constitute most of the damage.
The University police have issued a warning to student motorist that there is a $10 fine for running over a fire hose.
Flying Saucers Spotted By Expert
Laguna Beach, Calif.—(U.P.) Those flying saucers have been spotted again—this time along the California coast.
Dudley Gourly, 26, said he saw eight saucers moving slowly out to sea as he drove past El Moro bay on the coast highway.
"I saw eight things of an elliptical shape, about 100 feet in diameter, at 2,000 feet. I counted them four times."
Mr. Gourly said he was aware the air force has said repeatedly it could not substantiate any of the saucer reports.
"I was an air observer for 14 months during the war and a seacoast air observer for 18 months. Let the air force laugh that off," he said.
Read Chooses Songs Wisely
Rv DALE ROMIG
Those who attended Bernadine Read's senior recital Wednesday in Strong auditorium heard a pleasant reading of the usual number of Italian, French, German, and English songs by her. She sang for her soprano, Merge, Miss Read chose songs wisely that would besuit her voice.
If there was an outstanding number, it was Miss Read's reading of Straus" "Heimliche Aufforderung" It displayed her talent to the best advantage and proved a hit with the audience. It was crammed into the auditorium.
Miss Read worked hardest at the four French numbers, it seemed, although it was the lightest in content of any group she sang. Of the French Debussy's "Mandoline" was the most interesting.
The final number on the program was, appropriately enough. "The Last Song" by Rogers. Sung vigorously, it fit Miss Read's vivacious stage personality very well.
Chancellor Deane W. Malott returned to the University today after being gone a week.
Malott Returns From Trip To Texas And Palm Springs
The new chapter and initiates will be honored by a formal dance from 10 p.m. to 12 Saturday in the Union ballroom and a reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Kansas room of the Union. University faculty members, parents of initiates, housemothers, and presidents of organized houses have been invited to the reception.
Alpha Phi To Be Installed, Group To Initiate 37 Women
The chancellor has been in Houston, Texas, attending an East Texas alumni meeting, and in Palm Springs Calif., where he presented the Sunmer association award to Mrs. Solon Summerfield in honor of her late husband.
National officers of the fraternity
The international president of Alpha Phi, Mrs. W. H. Hutchinson, will conduct the installation of Gamma Delta chapter of Alpha Phi at the University Saturday.
Six other national officers and the district governor of the women's social fraternity will be present at the installation and initiation services. Thirty-seven K.U. women will be initiated into active membership.
Initiation will be in the chapter house on Saturday morning. The charter for the, the chapter will be presented at a banquet that will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Kansas room of the Union. Alumnae, active members, and pledges of Alpha Phi will attend the banquet.
The chapter, which began on Oct. 24, 1949 as Tri Alpha colony, will be the forty-ninth active chapter in the United States and Canada. Alpha Phi was founded in 1872 at Syracuse University. Syracuse, New York.
who will receive the guests are Mrs Hutchinson, who is from Seattle, Wash.; Mrs James Kerr, vice-president, from Louisville, Ky.; Mrs Max Hebgen, director of extension from Beverly Hills, Calif.; Mrs W. F. Gregson, director of alumnae, from Chicago, Ill.; Mrs J. Fred McGuire, director of finance, from Skokil, Ill.; Miss Doris Corbett, secretary-treasurer, from Evanston, Ill.; Mrs R. E. Ming, district governor, from Bellarre, Tex., and Miss Janet Neumann, national field secretary, from Evanston, Ill.
Six Lawrence women will be initiated into the fraternity as alumnae with the group. They are Mrs. Ellis Anders, 1019 Illinois; Mrs. J. J. Biery, 1901 New Hampshire; Mrs. George Horcher, Sunnside; Mrs. Blaine Kinaaid, 413 West 14th., and Mrs. Arthur Lonborg, who will move to Lawrence soon from Evanston, Ill.
The fifty-five women who are now pledged to the fraternity and the two active members will be hostesses to alumnae and active members from other chapters and states Saturday and Sunday.
6
WORLD NEWS at Press Time
FAMINE IN CHINA.
Hong Kong—U.P.)—The Communist New China news agency said today that the deadly famine sweeping China now has hit almost half the country, including the most densely populated areas. The agency said hunger and starvation had spread from a 200,000 square mile area between the Yangtze and Yellow rivers to south of the Yangtze river.
Chicago—(L)(P)—Members of the Kansas City, Mo., school board and today that they were not in favor of altering the present school year schedule for their high schools despite recommendation of a North Central Association committee that the schools be removed from the accredited list.
ALTERED SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Los Angeles, Calif — (U.)— News Broadcaster William W. Kenneally faced defense cross-examination today on his testimony that radio station owner G. A. Richards on at least two occasions instructed him on handling two different stories.
FCC EXAMINES ANNOUNCER
The F.C.C. is conducting a hearing to determine Richards' fitness to renew licenses for stations K.M.P.C., Los Angeles, W.J.R. Detroit, and W.G.A.R. Cleveland. He has been charged with ordering his K.M.P.C. newcasters to slant their views.
Key West Fla., —(U.P.)—President Truman will not name a new chairman of the atomic energy commission until well after his return to Washington next month, sources at the winter White House said today. This news followed his selection Wednesday of Thomas E. Murray, New York City industrial engineer and business executive, to succeed David E. Lilienthal as an A.E.C. member.
Honolulu—U (P. U.)-Hawaiian voters have chosen 63 delegates, representing nearly every race in the Islands and from all walks of life, to draft a constitution they hope the 81st congress will ratify. The election attracted 97,000 voters, or 80 per cent of those eligible to vote. It was the second largest election turnout in the territory's history.
Chicago, —U.P.—Two unions representing conductors and trainmen agreed today to extend the deadline nationwide railroad strike to July 1.
Salt Lake City—(U.P.)—Hurricane force winds up to 90 miles per hour battered northern Utah Wednesday afternoon killing one man and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Every part of Salt Lake county was damaged as a result of hurricanes while reports of damage came in from other areas and as far south as Delta in Millard county. The gale was accompanied in some sections by hail and rain with snow in the mountain areas.
HAWAII CHOOSES DELEGATES
NO AEC CHAIRMAN YET
The unions and the nation's rail-
agreed today to extend the deadline
board appointed by President Trum-
man should have until June 1 to file
its report on their wage-hour dispute.
The Unions seek a 40-hour
work week for employees in yard
service to replace the present 48-
hour week with no cut in pay. No
general wage increase is sought,
however.
RAILROAD STRIKE DEADLINE
HURRICANE HITS UTAH
Bridegroom Not So Smart
Murfreesboro, Tenn.—(U.P.)-Police said one young bridegroom out-smarted himself. When he hid his automobile before his wedding to keep pranksters from bothering it, they "stole" it from its hiding place brought it to the public squire decorated it lavishily, and saw that it got two red tickets for illegal parking.