Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              m^mm
A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
Partly Cloudy
Highest Today 74 Monday—Cooler
51ST YEAR — NO. 32 — 76 PAGES
Mpmbn Aadit >iu.aa ol Clraulatlna
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 1957
CNITEn PRESS
Wlr. Nam Sarrlr.
PRICE 15 CENTS
MINERS LOSE $300,000 IDLE PAY
Mission of Mercy
N
City Tot Near Death After He is Injured By Hit-Run Motorist
Three-year-old Richard (Ricky) Drobish, .«(on of! TOKYO (ID — The 20- Mr. and Mr.>:. Frank Drobish of 31 North Empire St..'year-old Korean wife of rity, was fightinsr for hi.s life early today in Wilkes- an American soldier left Bai re General Ilo-spital after he was critically injured, with her youngr son yester
Army Flying Korean Wife and Child To Bedside of Injured Arkansas Gl
Baby's Illness Had Imperilled Plans for Flight
Fights for Life
by a hit and run motorist. The boy was struck while! playing near his home last
nipht at about 8:15. {
Hospital  authorities said   the^
younpster    suffered    very    seri-
ou.s   head  and  internal   injurieSj
and   that  the   left   .side  of  hi»
body appeared paralyzed. I
People seated on their porches! s?w the niolori.st speed awayi afler he struck the youngster! and sent him sprawling under-i nr.-ith a parked car. A region- vide manhunt was .started viihm a matter of minutes. Witlnesses Questioned
(ilv  detertives   reported  that
a number of eye-witnesses were questioned and that a license! number check was under way with the Bureau of Motor Ve¬ hicles in Harrisburg. State Police were alerted and given all avail¬ able information. Oaragemen and mechanics throughout the; valley were asked to be on the: lookout for a car which might' require repairs to the front end' as a result of such an impart. It    was   learned    that    the
police are looking fur a black
sedan, possibly of Ford make.
Police   believe   Ihcre   may   be
damages and blood stains on
the   right   front   fender,   op¬ posite  the  driver's  side.  One
of the eyewitnesses reportedly
is  a  sister  of  the  youngster
who was nearby at the time.
Police  said   that  a   group  of
three  boys  who  were   stand¬ ing   nearbly.   also   have   sup¬ plied   valuable   information. According   to   the   eyewitness reports,   the   hit-and-run   driverihas   completed    work   on    the was   traveling   south   on   North! rockets and  instruments  neces- r.mpire   St.   as   the   car   itruckj jg^y ,„ ig^n^h its first artificial the  youngster. !      .,      . ,,:,
The  boy   was   removed  from,«'"i' satellite, underneath the car by shocked!     Prof. Alexander Nesmeyanov, neighbors.      Albert    Sabestinasj president of the Soviet Academy who lives nearby drove the un-L,^ Sciences, in an article in the conscious youth and his parents ^ Communist Party news-
to Wyoming Valley Hospital. „      . j ^       .
Brain Surgery Possible | Paper Pravda. said Soviet scien-
The youth was transferred im-itists "have created the rockets, mediately to Wilkes-Barre Gen-iall the instruments and equip- eral Ho.spital in the city ambu-iment necessary to solve the lance.    The fire department in-l problems of the artificial earth
¦^,
RICHARD DROBISH
Sovieis Claim All Is Ready For Saielliie
MOSCOW  (ffi  — The  Soviet Union   announced   yesterday   it
day on a mercy fight to the bed¬ side of her critically injured hus¬ band in Arkansas.
Mrs. Tae Moon Cherry carried gently in her arms her one-year- old son. Marvin, whose sudden illness sent him to Tokyo Army Hospital Friday and made it un¬ certain they would be able to make the trans-Pacific trip.
American Red Cross officials escorted mother and son to the DC6 specially chartered by the Army for the flight. They took off from Tokyo at 5:10 A. M. (EDT) and expect to reach San Francisco by Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Cherry, near hysteria from worry, had threatened to storm Tokyo Army Hospital and take her son out by force if nec¬ essary. However, doctors said the boy was sufficiently recov¬ ered from d.ysentery to make the flight to join his father. Army Specialist Havis V. Cherry.
Cherry was reported near death in the Army-Navy Gen¬ eral Hospital in Hot Springs, Ark., from injuries received in an automobile accident near his home at Monticello, Ark., last week.
Doctors in Arkansas had ap¬ pealed to military authorities in the Far East to rush Mrs. Cherry and the boy to the soldier's bed¬ side to give him "mora will to live."
Referee Davis Rules Against 4,000 Workers Of Cien Alden Corp.
Bakers' Union Next Before Senate Probers
McClellan Says Trustee Setup Misused Funds
W A S HI N G T 0 N (IP) —The Senate Rackets Committee will show this week how officials of the Bakers Union ordered a trustee¬ ship for a Chicago local on grounds of possible misuse of local funds, and then proceeded to "misuse" fhem. Chairman John L. McClellan said yester¬ day.
the Arkansas Democrat told newsmen the committee will air the case as an example of the
Mine Workers* Union Is Expected To File Appeal—Workers Charged Employers Violated the Contract
By TOM DUGAN Staff Writer
A Bureau of Employment Securitv decision which authonzed the payment of $300,000 unemplovment compensation to approximately 4,000 Luzerne (^ounty mine workers involved in a l.'S-day strike in Jlay of
— «1956    was    reversed    by
jStanley   J.    Davis,   third' district  referee,   in   a lengthy order handed down on Friday.
The work stoppage was term¬ ed a violation of the Unemploy¬ ment Compensation Act.
The $,300,000 payment claimed b- the union represented two to three weeks of idleness per worker, payable at the rate of $.3,5 per week. Some claimed $70 for two weeks of idleness while others sought $10,") checks for 21 days of unemployment. Glen Alden did not immediately re¬ sume operations upon settling Its difficulties with the union. Most collieries were idle a full week longer to enable the pro- '^'"'¦"    '¦   the   mines   in
Chiang Charges Chinese Reds Incited Riot
Acts Against U. S. Bring Dishonor, He Tells Formosa
TAIPEI, Formosa (IP)-
Mrs. Tae Moon Cherry, 20, holds her one-year-old son Marvin, aa the prepared to leave Tokyo on a mercy tlight to Arkansas where her husband wat listed as critical after an automobile accident. Doctors asked military authorities to rush Mrs. Cherry and the boy to the soldier's bedside to give him "more will to live."
halating     crew oxygen enrouie
administered! satellite
Hospital   authorities  reported
No Date Set
The   Pravda   article  gave  no
'HL^s 'uS";:;"'D?i ¦¦•.¦'!«' •?.''¦."i"'™ .i .••'•
Poland, U.S. Ready to Sign Aid Agreement
Controversial Pact
Covers 95 Millions
In Surpluses, Loan
W A SIII N G T 0 N (LP) -Communist Poland's eco¬ nomic mission is prepar¬ ing to return  to Warsaw
U. S. Will Propose Ban On H-Bomb Production, Limit on Nuclear Tests
evils  which  can  develop from Generalissimo   Chiang ducer   "to   get
trusteeships  imposed on locals;Kai-shek, in a nationwide ,^'^^P^"
by mternationai unions. Ibroadcast    deploring    lastl      Claims filed during Mav ».
Largest Local week's  anti-American  riots,  to-   *»^   through   M»y   U,   ift5«
He said the local involved is day charged that the Chinese ¦'"* "lenied, Davis ruled, add- Bakers No. 100 in Chicago, since Communists have been trying' '"8: claims filed subsequent merged with Local .3()0 into to "stir up mob violence" on *° '^"V 24, 1956 are subject Local    1,   the   nation's   largest Formosa. I '<•  •  redetermination  by  the
with 7,000 to 8,000 members. Chiang said Nationalist China   bureau.
Committee Counsel Robert F. must   stand   beside   the   United Not Considered Kennedy said Los Angeles Local States. He gave the first official •
37 also will figure in the com- hint that Communist elements There is a possibility that mittee's hearings which are! may have been behind the vio-|?°'"* 9' ^^^ ""S" affected may scheduled to begin Tuesday. He! lence that led rioters to sack the'°^_f,'^*||^^''^to o^e week of un¬ said there may be disclosures of "    "        ' -   •  ¦ i=,„.,«..
Bakers Union activity involving employers in New York City. Management Involved
"I think management is in volved in one or two instances.' said McClellan. referring to the
U. S. embassy and injure at;^'"P'oy™ent compensation, the least 12 Americans on May 24, decision indicated. The week in The practice of the Chinesei^"5S"°" '^ May 24. when Glen Reds, he said, is "to stir upr^'.°*" s«"'ed '*« delinquency mob violence in an attempt tor^'*" ^"•' union, to June 1 when destroy   friendiv   relations   be-1Pr?°"<^*>on  resumed.   Since  the
u^ACUTM/^Trwr /td»    tu-  TT„,-f«J   C4^-*»>  -,;if  «»-   —i-l »« i-l 11 t     ¦      .    .V    tween Nationalist China and thei'"','''' ^^^^ °f idleness was not
WASHING ION (IP)—The  United  States  will  pro- said McClellan. refernng to the various  foreign   powers" voluntary   on   the   part   of   the
pose a ban on production of atomic explosives and a i"1"""y-   "'"  ""«  instance,  per-Assumes ResDonsibilltv workers. Referee Davis did not
temporary limitation or suspension of nuclear testsl^* .^^'""'f"'^   '",'?   "»   ""«>    He said the "only hope" •of.:7"'"'f; " ,«? P/"-' of his deci-
fwhen it presents President Eisenhower's "first step" r^f'/aid'^thTbSs' case Jn-feil^''y'J°ir"•^"'" f'^'-l'^""?'b? th^
fidalToTrc"e dSstd  J^ * '"""   "^''^ '"'•"PP."*Pr'^''?."-|r!:ht'tf. 'l7TJ7:'jL''.rd'-^-^ Security. ^"""°^
day.
..,      pgy ptrjopii}  bins ¦^-~.--^-¦^-^-r' - -"I Wanamie  CSlIieiy,   Glen   Alden
and  purchase of certain  union luuvcuicni. i„
officials."
Cadillacs for Officers
Presentation   of  the   package
offer in the London UN disarm¬ ament talks will be delayed a week to 10 days while details are being worked out here and
soon  with a  $9,5,000,000  U.  S.[overseas with Allied nations, ad
aid agreement. Tentative    plans
have
ministration officials said, been'    As now envisaged, the Ameri-
thai
Geor e^^aDonne'l'r'who'oMered'satellite. Preparations, however,
^oulh   wa*'"being "prepared   for's<"^e'i'"*'   *^'"^'"   *^*    1957-58| made to sigri here this week the can  plan  would  include  a  pro po.-sible brain surgery. City Detectives  Douglas Bart
and   Peter  Roche  are  directing working  on  an  artificial   sate the   investigation  to  apprehend lite to probe the secrets of outer the driver. ! space.  No  specific   target date
The initial Investigation was has been announced for the made by Cruiserman ,loe Don-'U. S. launching except that it nellv. The ambulance crew would be sent up sometime dur comprised ,Iohn Stephens and ing the 18-month geophysics Frank Lendacky. Lvear starting July 1.
geophysical year. i controversial   agreement   to  aidlposed    international    agreement
The   United   Slates   also   Is!'^*   independence-seeking   War-to limit and eventually ban nu-
Adminisiraiion Raps Rights Bill Provision
WASHl.N'GTON (lP)_The Eisenhower administra¬ tion will file slronp objections thi.^ week to Southern charge.s that the pondinjr House civil rijrhts bill would deny right of trial by jury, it wa.s learned yesterday.
The    protest    will     he^	
lodsred on behalf of Pre.si-
deni E.i.senhower by Att.v. Gen. Herbert W. Brownell Jr.
The House opens four days of (the ' measure
Eisenhower and Brownell to "speak out' on the amendment Thev  warned  it  would   cripple
Rep.   Kenneth   B.   Keating  of
debate    on    the    controversial
measure Wednesday, with Pros-JN;;;''Yo;k," GOp"piloY'"for''the pects a final vote may comej^j,, ^^-^ Eisenhower made clear .Saturday A Southern bloc hopes',^^^ ^^ opposes the amendment to amend it to require jury trials ^^^-       ^„'' informal   discussion
in civil righ s contempt cases.     ^-^^^ ^-^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ . ^ ,
To Send Letter ,^    ,. j- . j .u j  tion expects some Congressional
Brownell will send the House Keating predicted the amend-|j,ritjcjsn, (,f the decision to aid a letter of protest, probably "1^"' "^'"."^ defeated when its ^ communist nation still closely Monday or Tuesday. The bill asi f""  significance    - =-"¦—^
wntfen would permit the gov-JRep. Edwin E^Willis (D La.), a ernment to obtain injunctionsj'eader of the Southern bloc said to prevent civil rights violations, he is confident it will be adopt- Thp .Southerners claims this'ed. He said the Southerners amounts to denial of the right ofj have lined up considerable sup- trial by jury. jP"'"' among Northerners.
F.igh'ty-three Northern Housej House Democratic Whip Carl Democrats supporting the legis-iAlbert (Okla.) predicted adop- lation   have   appealed   to   both tion after a "real fight."
saw government.
Final arrangements await House action on legislation to provide $1,000,000,000 worth of farm surpluses for sale over¬ seas. The bill is scheduled for final House action tomorrow.
The Senate already has com¬ pleted its action. Goodl Breakdown
United Press was Informed that Poland will receive $35,- 000,000 worth of cotton, $32,- 000,000 worth of wheat, $10,- 000,000 worth of fats and oils, and $4,000,000 for coal mining machinerv and equipment. An¬ other $13,300,000 will be pro¬ vided fo pay trans-Atlantic and other transportation costs.
Poland   will   pay   for   these items  with   zlotys,   its  national currency, thus saving its limited supply of foreign exchange. $10,000,000 Loan
Poland also will get a $30,- 000,000 loan from President Eis¬ enhower's special emergency WASHINGTON (IP)—Rep. John E. Moss vesterday [sTered^'b; Te txport-lmp'rilasked for a "full" explanation of why the Justic De- Bank. partment put a secrecy label on a report about U. S.
The   Ei.senhower   administra-Iborder patrol attendance at rifle matches.
The   California   Demo-*	
crat hinted that his House Government    Information
clear testing. The first step would be an agreement halting production of fissionable ma terials — atomic explosives — guaranteed by a fool-proof mon¬ itoring and inspection system. Worldwide Fear
This could lead to ¦ perma¬ nent East-West agreement to ban nuclear tests, which have aroused worldwide fears of radio-activity damage to present and future generations, "The de¬ lay is necessary because:
President Eisenhower's broad instructions given a week ago at a White House meeting to meet the Soviet Union "half way" on disarmament are still being "put (Continued on Page 2, Sec. I)
Death Toll Passes 225
By UNITED PRESS
The highway toll for a four- day week-end which began with the Memorial Day holiday climbed past the 225-mark last night.
Motorists were credited by the National Safety Council with safe and sane driving in an ef¬ fort to hold down the highway slaughter. I
At midnight last night the United Press counted 225 autoj fatalities since the long week-j end began Wednesday at 6 P. M. EST. There also were 11 deaths! in plane crashes, 78 by drowning| and 44 from" miscellaneous; causes for an overall toll of 354.i
California po.sted the worst ^ traffic record with 25 deaths Texas had 18, Pennsylvania 15 Illinois 15, Ohio 13, and Michi¬ gan and Indiana 10 apiece.
vo ves     tne   misappropriation—\ ' \1. i.      r ¦^ '/—'^   :        -iment Secuntv
the misuse of union funds." Ken- "«i" ^^'^ "? *>?« ^^''^^'^ "/ ""'I    Testimony offered LoH„ .f,;^ tu.. f,,n.i. ...o... .T-ott fortress by instigating mob vio-     '""mony orxere<i ... .... ._„_
'nedy said the funds were used, and  propagating an anti-'°'•^o'"'V. Dydo, an employee of
"to pay expeses.  personal  biUsl'l^'^^.^^^ movSt."' I Wanamie  Collieiy,   Glen   Alden
The    69-year-old    Nationalist)^'"'?-. ^as    used    by   Referee
president said he assumed per- j°^.^'* '" arriving at his decision.
,  .    . sonal responsibilitv for the riotsr"'*   ""^   been   agreed   to   by
Kennedy-said one of the. facets which    brought    "dishonor"   torg'''^^'nent of counsel for the ap-
of the Chicago case is the pur- china and warned he would tol- P^"^"^'*  and   claimants.     Other
chase of "several Cadillacs" for union officers with funds from Local 100.
The committee will move in¬ to the case after it deals with loose ends remainiing from ifs investigation of President Dave Back of the Teamsters Union. Dave Beck Jr., the president's son, and Joseph McEvoy, Beck's nephew came to appear as lead- off witnesses under subpena.
erate no more opposition to the United State.s.
"We must stand on the same side with the United States which is the leader of the demo
appellant companies were Capa- rell Stripping & Construction Co., Inc.; Kingston Excavating Co.; Kingston Mining Corp; Newport Excavating Co., Bi-scon-
Border Pairol Secrecy Brings Inquiry Demand
cratic nations," he said. "Wel}!"^ * ^ons. Mountain Contract cannot permit any opposition to J'"'"^'*'"^ <-"•• '"'^ • ^ ^- ^'<^'^ this policy from within or with- Construction     Co       Spearhead
Mining Co., Rodino Trucking Co., Brazzo Trucking Co., ana Wat-Rap Co.. all Glen Alden subcontractors.
s explainea. associated with Mocow.   Warn-
Couple Travels Across 3 States Unaware Child Has Skull Injury
ings already have been raisd by
subcommittee may hold hearings
on the matter  unless it  is ex plained fully by Atty, Gen. Her¬ bert Brownell Jr.
Senate   Republican   leader  Wil liam F. Knowland (Calif.).
The agreement will be accom¬ panied  by  a  cautiously-worded     "This appears  to be another joint     communique,     informedlexample of abuse of the power sources said.  There also may be Ito classify and restrict informa- .separate statements by the State!tion," Moss told United Press. Department and the Polish dele-jQuestio„, u^e of Money gation headed by Henryk Kotli-'^ cki,     director-general     of     the
Polish Ministry of Finance.
OMAHA (IPl—A little Omaha girl who travelled across three states, unaware that she had a fractured skull, was under a doctor's care here yesterday afternoon and was reported in good condition.
Deanna Lynn Hofmeister, nine, arrived here with her parents and learned that she had been the object of a three- state search by authorities. Put to Bed
The child was rushed to a doctor who found she had a slight concussion in addition to the fractured skull. He pre¬ scribed bed rest for a few days.
The girl was enroute home with her family, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hofmeister. her sister.
Donna Jean, five, and her in¬ fant brother, Donald Jr.. 16 months, when their car was in¬ volved in a traffic accident near La Porte, Ind., Friday night.
A check by a doctor after the accident showed all had received only minor injuries and they continued on their way home. X-Rays Show Fracture
The doctor studied X-rays yesterday morning, however, and discovered the girl had suffered a fractured skull and needed imediate medical at¬ tention.
Though authorities and news media in three states were seeking the girl, the family made it all the way home be¬ fore learning of the danger.
Valley Scenes
Juiikmnni horse, standin<f also in the shade of one of the few trees on the street, enjopinrj to the full a mid-day snack jfrom the onbi grass nionu the curb in the first block of East Union Sf,
Lee Park resident, irho hns permitted grass in his yard to grow a. foot tall, aumkrn- ing the other morning to fin/l his property posted with "A'o Hunting" signs.
Little hoy blinking, hut quickly recovering and taking off like a shot out of a gun after grandfather -mistakenly gave him $20 instead of fl "to take a Jew ridit" at Ham Houci Parle
Comptroller General Joseph Campbell raised the question of whether it is right to use the taxpayers' money to send border patrol officers to rifle and pistol matches.
Immigration Commissioner Jo¬ seph M. Swing, who is in charge of the patrol in the Justice De¬ partment, prepared a statement which    replied    to    Campbell's
questions but the statement was labeled "secret."
Under a 1953 order by Presi¬ dent Eisenhower, this label is used only for defense informa¬ tion, disclosure of which "could result in serious damage to the nation." Secrecy Tag Removed
Moss heard about the incident and asked Brownell about it in
Norway Eases China Embargo
LONDOX(lP)_The Nor- weigan pfovernment, fol¬ lowing' the lead of Britain, announced .yesterday it is relaxing the embargo on trade with Communist China.
A United Press survey indi¬ cated that virtually all the other Western European nations, ex¬ cept West Germany, will follow suit shortiv.
The  Norweigan  decision  was ^^   ^^^^   influenza  epidemic   rag announced by a foreign mmister ,      ^^rough the Philippines rose spokesman in Oslo who said that!,„'',i,„^„,^r:nn „<.o.„-j-,.
out.
'The lawless acts of May 24 have brought dishonor to the nation."
Shaking, Regrettable
He described the riot,« as "one of the most shocking and re¬ grettable things to have hap¬ pened in my 50 years" as a Chinese leader.
'In the first place. I must openly admit that my leadership has been at fault."
He did not elaborate on this point, but went on to scold his people for letting their emotions become inflamed to the point of violence.
Flu Sweeping Philippines
MANILLA OPi—The death toll
,u       A-      ^f ,h     LZr,^ 00^!to almost .500 yesterday.
the ending of the separate Red,    ^„ estimated 250,000 persons
were afflicted by the disease. Sixty-two  more   deaths  were
China embargo had been under consideration "for some time." Uniform Treatment
recorded   in
While the case was decided In favor of Glen Alden Corp. and a number of its subcon¬ tracting companies, an appeal from the ruling most likely will be taken bv District I of the United Mine Workers. The decision becomes final in 10 days unless an appeal is filed.
The V. .:k stoppage was ini¬ tiated by the employees on in¬ struction from union officers on the grounds that the company violated the contract by becom¬ ing delinquent in pavments to UMWA's Health and Welfare Fund. The employed admitted the deliquency but contended that other employers were also delinquent and that it was not advisable to order a stoppage of work in that other means of col¬ lecting the money was avail¬ able.
The  spokesman   said  Norwayiprovinces   bringing  the  number
Opinions Are Cited
Unemployment    compensation Manilla   and   the is  payable  only  when  the em-
tries
Some   400   items   had   been
banned  on   the  China  embargo
.    .,   . .u , .      r. ll'   list imposed during the Korean
April. A month later. Brownell Si^^a^   ^'^,1,^   ^,^1^   |oo   strategic
has decided, as did Britain, that of known dead to 464. An addi-
trade with tbe Chinese Commu-|tional   54,696   cases   were   re-
nijts should be conducted under jported.
the same rules governing West-     Latest reports said ithere was
ern  trade with Russia  and the
eastern European satellite coun-
ployees   are   locked   out   from
their employment. Referee Davis held in citing several high court rulings supporting his stand. Davis said it was not for the no sign of a letup. referee to determine the equita-
Provincial officials said ifjbility or inequitability of the anything it was "turning for the complaint which existed and worse." (Continued on Page 2, Sec. 1)
office informed him it was re moving the secrecy tag from parts of Swing's report and mak¬ ing them freely available to Congress and the public.
But some sections were still withheld. Brownell's office didn't say why, or give any informa¬ tion about the nature of the "security" matter.
items   were   forbidden   in   trade with Russia and the satellites
INSIDE THE INDEPENDENT
Section Pagel
Amusement Four
Around the Town..Three
Better English Two
City Hall News ....Five
Classified  Six
County News Five
Crossword Puzzle... Six
Drew Pearson Three
Editorial  .Three
Frank Tripp Three
Home of the Week.. Six Houn Doctor Six
Section Page
11! HowCan 1 ???.... Four 7 I Look and Learn ....Two
11, Obituary  One
bl Politics  Three
1-5  Radio  Four
71 Robert C. Ruark ... Three
4 State Capital Three
6! State News Three
j\ Sports  Three
2\ TV  Four
41 Women'i Section .. four
Child Fights Spider Poison
WASHINGTON (IP —Eight- year-old Diane Taltiert was making progress yesterday in her two-day fight to throw off poison from a spider bite.
Doctors at Casualty Hos¬ pital did not know for sure what species of spider bit the girl, but they were treating her with serum to counteract the bite of a black widow. They said the child was in fair
2 9 8 6
lO! condition.
Diane's mother, Mrs. Mar¬ garet Talbert, said the girl was playing in the front yard Thursday when she let out a scream "and sobbed "Mommy, a big bug stinged me. It hurts. 1-91 Ithurts.'^
7 10
11
1-5
10
Ernie Siaris io Pick Winners for Briiain's Loiiery Savings Bonds
LONDON (IP) — The post office cranked up Ernie yes¬ terday for an atomic spin of the wheel of chance to choose the first winners in Britain's new lottery savings bond pro¬ gram.
Ernie is a machine and an expensive one at that b'ut it will take him more than a day and a half from the time Post¬ master General Ernest Mar- pies presses an ivory switch this morning to select 23,000 winners for nearly one million pounds ,$2,800,000 in prizes.
Britons bought the "premi¬ um bonds" that constitute the draw on the understanding they would draw no ordinary interest but stood to win if Ernie and Lady Luck were good to them.
J
i
I;
Ernie, who.se full name Is "electronic random number equipment," will choose the winners "blindfolded" through a complex system involving the unpredictable movement of atomic particles in electri¬ fied neon gas. Poor Response
The huge 25,000-pound $70.- 000 roulette robot will select the winning bond numbers automatically but it will take 150 real people to record them.
Britons, who wager freely on horse races and dog races and the football pools, have been slow to respond to the premium bond program. "The government hopes the firtt award of prizes wtll brmg A pickup in Mies.
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