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THURSDAY, DgOBSBBBGR 25, 1952 SULLIVAN COUNTY R E ^ B D ^ IS i^ JKlitSONVnXE, N. Y. 4 THREE m THAT $50,000 DAMAGE CLAIM OF BERLIN The Town of Rockland faces a lawsuit to collect damages of $50,000 on a property having a value as fixed by the town assessors of $11,000. The supervisor and other members of the town board have been in a quandry since the suit has been instituted to determine how it would be possible to do $50,000 damage to an $11,000 property even if the entire property had been wiped out. According to the claim, none of the build ings on the property have been in the least damaged. The clam grows out of the work done on the road leading to Shin Creek out of Lew Beach along the property of Irving Berlin, the song writer, but across the stream. The property is owned by Berlin’s wife, and the Berlin family occupy it during the summer — or for part of the summer. Joe Beiling, the Jeffersonville builder, has done much of the work on the buildings. The damage for which relief is sought has been caused by the road builders when they bulldozed the earth and stones, over the side of the bank where the road follows the stream and in so doing narrowed the brook — so it is claimed. Berlin had constructed a rustic fence along the road that shut off the view of his property. This, too, was damaged by the soil and rocks ’dozed over the bank. Destruction of trees, hedges and shrubbery, too, go to make up the total of the damages. We have never seen a road bank where the beauty was improved by a road gang and it is fair to presume that this one hadn’t been either. Now it must be remembered that this Irving Berlin is a song writer —and a good one. He’s no ordinary mortal. It’s only fair to concede that he has a sense of values some different from the rest of us who have no sense for song writing. Some of us can’t even sing. But this Irving Berlin is a good song writer and a good fellow — big hearted and all that. He wrote a song, “God Bless America”, the royalties from which go to the Boy Scouts of- America. The sales have reached such propor tions that the Scouts realize a nice fortune out of it. Conceding that Berlin has a sense of values far different from that of the average man, to him the song of the babbling brook, the whistling leaves, the gurgling rills, the silver stars, the golden sunset, the fleecy clouds and the moss covered rocks and logs may suggest themes for songs — and Berlin’s songs represent real money — so real that $50,000 looks like a small sum. These things do not appear on the town tax list. Under the law they are not assessible — only the land and the buildings are subject to valuation by the town assessors. To have the source of his inspiration covered by debris pushed there by a bulldozer is a'serious matter. Stones, soil and debris, in disarray, are hardly objects that would throw a song writer into ecstasy — but then, again, we may be wrong Wasn’t it Berlin that found the very unpleasant subject of getting a sol dier out of bed in the morning a worthy theme for a song — one that made a top billing? It may be that the debris pushed over the bank may yet move him to a song. Any man who can find a song in getting out of bed in the morning — especially a rookie — could find a song in con crete and black top — the things roads are made of. Blake Washington of Monticello, clerk of the Board of Supervisors, is the attorney for the claimant. So far the name of the attorney for the town is not known to us. Quite likely James Petrillo will be found ori one side or the other and ASCAP against him. We may be wrong but unless the intangible items we have men tioned enter into the value of the Berlin property-it seems highly im probable that a claim of damages in the amount of $50,000 could be established against an $11,000 property. W E STERN UNION FACES SUIT OF $15,000 BY MANOR MAN The Western Union faces a $15,- 000 damage action because alleged ly its agent at Livingston Manor used the information in a telegram over its wires to her own advan tage and did not deliver the tele gram to the individual to whom it was addressed. Joseph Bailey, a 39 year old construction worker, claims he paid $1.45 to the Western Union in Pittsburgh for a telegram he sent to his half brother, Willie Mae Robinson of Livingston Manor asking for financial help. It seems Bailey had driven his auto to Pitts burgh where he was picked up for speeding and drew a fine of $15. Lacking the $15 he was held in jail there. Meanwhile he telegraphed to his half brother to get money to pay his fine. This telegram was never delivered. but was made the basis for information, so it is al leged, for swearing out a warrant for Bailey’s arrest before Magis trate Kenneth B. Currey. The auto in which Bailey had gone to Pittsburgh had been bought from the Central Garage at Living ston Manor. This is owned by the Western Union operator and her husband. He had given his note in part payment for the car and this note had been deposited at the Liv ingston Manor bank. It must have seemed that Bailey had intended to get away with the auto. The tele gram was then made the basis for Bailey’s second arrest and he was landed in the Monticello jail. On being brought before Magistrate Currey for arraignment he was dis charged. Now Joseph Bailey seeks to. col lect $15,000 from the Western Urn ion and its Livingston Manor agent — $5,000 for malicious prosecution, $5,000 for breach of contract (in failure to deliver his message) and $5,000 for negligence in disclosing the contents of his message to other persons. A LETTER FROM SANTA CLAUS Dear World: It’s been a long, long time since I first began my anual excursions to your homes. How well I remem ber the first time! At that time I didn’t think it would ever become so complicated. My bag wasn’t so cumbersome and heavy as it is these days. Ah, those were the good ole days! Things certainly have changed in 1952 — have been changing since the airplane replaced my faithful and, lovable steeds of the Arctic. It’s not my hag that’s so heavy, these days. It’s my heart. You see, I started in this bus iness for the personal pleasure of bringing joy and friendliness to all the kiddies the world over — both young and old. There was even a substatial motive for my traipsing through midnight skies: I had been commissioned for the job. by the Master. As I understood (and un derstand) my job, I was to set the stage for His entrance into the hearts of His people on tHe com memoration of His nativity each year. And I was receiving a lot of Class A reviews in the ‘‘'Seraphic Sentinel” for my act in the early days. Things aren’t the same now. (In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself occupying the Obituary Column, if things keep going as they are!) That’s what makes my heart so heavy! Things seem to be “All fouled up” as the Americans say. Instead of seeing more joy in the world, there’s a heap more sorrow — even at Christmastime. Instead of more friendliness, there’s a world full of hatred and violence. There’s no longer as many exchanges of gifts; there’s more exchanges of bayonets and bullets. (Yes, even at Christmas!) There’s less well-wish ing, and more wishful thinking. And most unfortunately — there’s less praying, and more preying! I’ve tried to figure the thing out. Why? Why? The only conclusion I can reach is that I’ve “loused up” (again, some Americanese) the Whole Act. Duped by Commercial Interests, I’ve been letting them make a scene-stealer out of my cor pulent self. I’ve been just a plain “ham!” And it just can’t go on this way. That’s why I'm writing this letter to you folks. If you want me to keep my job, things have got to change. You’ve got to put me in a secondary role to Him. (That’s where I really belong.) You’ve got to open your hearts to Him more than you do. I have some sugges tions along this line: Don’t worry about the state of the world — worry , about the state of your con science. As yourself: How do I “measure up” with my neighbor, with myself? Am I more concerned with my pocketbook, rather than my prayerbook? Is that glorious feeling for me reached at the top of a Christmas tree, or at the foot of an altar? I hope this soul-searching by you will lead you to the right answers and decisions. If so, it will be a Merry Christmas for me — for my job will be secured. Things will seem much better for both you and me! Until the 2t5h then, I remain, Hopefully yours, SANTA CLAUS —The Townsman Time is a 'file makes no noise. that wears and tS we enter upon the threshold of another year our thoughts revert grate fully to those whose court esy, good will and loyalty hove made possible our progress. Ir\ this spirit we extend to you greetings of the Season FRED & MARY SEIBERT The star still shin ing from above lights the Christ mas sky with the blessings of His love. JE F F DAIRY ? o c r c / TEGELER’S INSURANCE AGENCY EDSON J. TEGELER FRED H. ZIERES * EDWARD T. PURCELL HAZEL HINEMAN LILLIAN LOEFFEL GLORIA MULLER EVELYN SPECHT VERNA SIMON MARY EGGLER SHIRLEY BROWN MARGARET HARTMAN ELECTRIC SHOP r r .v. . 41 - • i - * 3U I. * I H T o w i s h y o u a r e a l o l d f a s h i o n e d g h A i & j t m a A . Percy Kohler Katherine Kohler Mark Kohler Walter Clark Frank Kearns WM. KOHLER & SONS Arthur Bauernfeind Herbert Hassis Ir Henry Brauninger Henry Weiss Fred J. Schwartz, Jr. George R. Schwartz Jacob Schwartz Margaret Fulton Vernon Bossley •T * . »
