I U. of 0, Library COMP Eugene, Oro. J fo) 5 Um PRESENTS BY CARLOAD Stalin Swamped With Gifts From His Puppets On Eve Of 70th Birthday By ALVIN J. STEINKOPF LONDON, Dee. 20. (API The greatest giveaway Jackpot program in history is on today, with Russia's Joseph Stalin on the receiving end. Stalin, overlord of world communism, hits the jackpot tomor row when he reaches the age of 70. How much the take in birthday presents is worth is anybody's guess. Tons and tons of gifts so many that not in centuries could one man use them up have descended on Moscow from the Communist world. Reports reaching London through the Soviet Monitor and other channels indicate that there will be more than 1,000,000 parcels bearing the tag: "Happy birthday, Dear Comrade." N.Y. City To Tap Hudson River For Needed Water NEW YORK, Dec. 20 -iff) City officials ordered "full speed" today on plans to tap the Hudson river for 100,000,000 gal lons of water a day to help out in the shortage which threatens to last for years. The Hudson tapping project which normally would take a year to complete and cost $5, 000,000 to $10,000,000ls counted on to supply somewhat less than one-tenth of the city's normal consumption of well over 1,000, 000,000 gallons a day. Formal city, state, and federal authorizations for the undertak ing are required. The plan announced yesterday is to run Hudson river water Into the Delaware aqueduct at Chelsea, N.Y., about 15 miles south of Poughkeepsie. The wa ter would be purified chemically at its source, and made "ultra safe" by routing through reser voirs, i The New York City board of water supply announced the stait of plans to tap the Hudson, about 50 miles north of where it em ties into New York bay. Similar plans were suggested after a conference at Albany yes terday between Gov. Thomas E. Dewey and state officials. The governor accused the city of neglecting its water needs de spite repeated wanings "by ev ery state administration for 20 years." The water shortage most cri tical In the city's modern his toryhag been brought about by an increased population, expand ed uses of water, outgrown sources of supply and continued drought. ' ' In the Day's News By FRANK JENKINS KING George, in a speech to the British parliament Just before it recesses until January 24, closes with tjiii prayer: "I pray that under the guidance of almighty God we shall over come the difficulties that will be set us and reach the goal of a STABLE AND PROSPEROUS economy." THERE are sharp differences of opinion as to how we should go about getting it, but I think the "stable and prosperous econ omy" King George prays for is what all of us, all over the world, really want. AS we read those sonorous words, we get unavoidably a picture of King George VI stand- (Continued on Page Four) ANNEXATION VOTE ALBANY, Ore., Dec. 20 UP) Voters here and in three adjoin ing suburban areas are voting to day on annexation of six differ ent tracts involving 500 acres and 1,000 residents. Three of the sectors are unin habited, two of these are small tracts wanted for grade school sites. Of the three others, two adjoin the west edge of the city and one is to the south. 27 GERMANS QUIT PRISON Good Behavior Pays Off For War Criminals; Praise Expressed For Treatment LANDSBERG, Germany, Dec. 20. UP) Twenty-seven smiling German war criminals were fired today from the U. S. Army's Landsberg prison for good behavior during imprisonment. They had served the greater part of three and five-year sentences given them by U. S. military courts for war crimes. All their sentences would have expired before next June 30. None was a big-name Nazi crim-1 inal. These were the men who k-azi crimnai,, convicted by commanded Nazi concentration American courts at Nuernberg, camns. who served as camp . ..,tn MiAavn tt. in.i,,.i guards or mistreated captured mirciiiau an men. The oldest was Friedrich Katz, ou. a lormer ipsuhui-ii p'i" i man, convicted of taking part in the murder of American fliers. Col. Walter R. Graham, the prison commander, said that 27 others probably will be released tomorrow. One other prisoner eligible for release Is ill in the prison hospltBl The U. S. high commission an- i nounced yesterday that five top I Besides, there will be a verlt- able flood of bie crates contain ing the more unwieldy gifts all the way from motorcycles to air planes. Take an average figure of $5 per gift that would be cheap for a birthday gift for Stalin and the jackpot is worth more than $5,000,000. Shoes, socks, neckties, choice foods, wines, spirits, toys, dolls, books automobiles horses, mo es and even whole factories are among the many carloads of pre sents coverging upon the Kremlin from the satellite areas and far territories of the U.S.S.R. With the gifts come all sorts of honors, pledges of special work, affirmations of loyalty and devotion, endearing greetings in the familiar Dommunist pattern. Long freight trains hauled gifts into Moscow, There were 70 cars one for each birthday from Communist east Germany. A freight train of 11 cars left War saw with presents from Poland. The locomotive of the train was almost hidden by the huge por trait of Stalin it bore as it pulled out. Many Gifts Useless Stalin probably will have little use for much of what he gets. A man of 70, for instance, would De a bit beyond playing with the 17 dolls he is getting from Ita lian Communists, or riding a mo tor-scooter from Milan, or an It alian racing bicycle, or a motor cycle and airplane from Prague, or even taking a buggy ride in a carriage fromSofla. Presumably much of what Stalin is given will be redistri buted. Even this will take a long time. It seems unlikely, for in stance, that the shipment of ny lon women's stockings he is get ting Irom some French admirers will be much good forhls per sonal use. Numerous cities in the Soviet orbit have held public displays of the presents. In impoverished Warsaw, six halls were needed to hold all the gifts. In Riga, cap ital of the unwilling satellite, Lat via, eight has were needed. .poets, musicians and play wrights have turned out special birthday works in many langua ges. Paintings have been sent from Communists in Britain, France and Sweden. Ukranian peasants sent fine sunflower seeds and red apples, along with a solemn assurance they were "laying the foundation tor a oumper narvest next year ' in Stalin's honor. Many factories in Russia and the Communist states report "above-plan" output pledges in Satlin's name by workers seek ing to exceed tne live-year plan goals. Czechs Outdo Themselves Czechoslovakia's Communists have outdone themselves. Besid es thousands of gifts, the Czech Communists have attempted to get 9,000,000 signatures on a birthday greeting to Stalin. They (Continued on Page Two) School Burglars Steal Presents And Bedding BAKER, Dec. 20 UP) Bur glars entered Tiedemann school here over the weekend and stole presents the first graders had put under a Christmas tree. The thieves entered the build ing sometime Saturday night, nolice said, and went though every room, picking up small amounts ot money leu in jars for Christmas seals, opening packages . and strewing wrapp ings and contents around the building. Also missing were some new blankets and sheets from the first aid room. st wilhclm EoMe. English- born SS general who was head ot tne ivazj party's foreign organlza- tion. Colonel Graham, whose home is in Bozeman, Mont., said how. ever that he has not yet received an order for their release. Christmas Presents Sent The first sight that greeted the nrisoners as Ihev filed Into the ! prison waiting room from their (Continued on Page Two) The Weather Mostly cloudy with fow show ers today and Wednesday. Slightly warmer. Sunset today 4:39 p. m. Sunrlso tomorrow 7:42 a. m. Established 1873 Rent Control Will Remain, Issue Tabled After Public Views Learned Sewers, Lights Asked By West Roseburg; Airport Plans Held In Abeyance Rent control will remain In affect In Roseburg, at least temporarily. The city council last night tabled the issue for further In vestigation, after hearing argu ments for and against controls rrom local residents who packed the council chambers. A group of landlords and a Chamber of Commerce represena tive asked the council to recom mend to Governor McKay that rent be decontrolled in this area. Opposition, however, included representatives from most organ- Rent Control Ended At Forest Grove WASHINGTON, Deo. 20 (m Housing Expediter Tlghe E. Woods announced rent control ended today In Forest Grove, Ore., and Washougal and Sul tan, Wash., as a result of de control actions taken by local governing bodies. ized labor groups in the Roseburg area. Sewers, Lights Sought Other important matters at the council meeting included the pre sentation of petitions, bearing the signatures of 178 property own ers of west KoseDurg, asking lor the installation of sewers in that area. The petitions were referred to the police and health commit tees, for study and recommenda tion'. A letter from the West Rose burg Improvement association (Continued on Page Two) Family Deaths In Fire Upped To 7 EMMETT, Mich., Dec. 20 UP) Death took its sixth and seven th victims of farmer Clarence Bethway's family of 14 today. As sorrowing townspeople gave aid in the Christmas week cala mity, 80-year-old grandma Louise, a heroine of yesterday's fire, suc cumbed with a granddaughter, Mary Lou, 13. Both the elderly woman and the child died of burns in Port Huron general hospital. Five other children, ranging in age from 3 to 11, were burned to death when trapped in an up stairs bedroom in a pre-dawn blaze which destroyed the family home. Grandma Louise Bethway was burned while rescuing one child. There were 11 children in the family. Mary Lou and a brother, Joe, 8 leaped from a window. But both had been burned badly. Joe was reported in serious condition at the hospital today. The tragedy stunned this little village of 229 population. President's Envoy To Vatican To Quit, Rumor ROME, Dec. 20 UP) Uncon firmed reports circulated in Rome today that Myrton C. Tay lor, former board chairman of the U.S. Steel corporation, will re sign soon from his post as spe cial representative of President Truman to the Vatican. Tavlor refused to confirm or deny the reports, adding that tney were a "surprise to me. A high Vatican source said the reports were credible because Taylor has been In poor health. Taylor as a personal presiden tial representative has the rank of ambassador. The presence of a presidential representative at the Vatican has been criticized from time to time by Protestant circles in the United States. Taylor was appointed to the post in 1939 by President Roose velt. Youth Convicted Of Slaying Girl's Father JACKSON, Miss., Dec. 20 fP) Ronnie Pitts, described by the prosecution as a debaucher with a criminal mina, was convictea last night of murdering the fath er of his teenage schoolmate sweetheart. The Jury recommended that the 18-year-old youth be sentenc ed to life imprisonment for the slaying ot Ferry Henderson, va cumm cleaner executive and fa ther of his sweetheart, Anna Mississippi law requires that the trial Judge be guided hv tne Jury's recommendation In pro nouncing lormai sentence. The state had sought the death Denaltv. The youth told 1 lurid tale of ellicit relations with his young sweetheart. He showed no emo tion when the verdict was read. ROSE BURG, (NEA Tdephoio) SOLE BENEFICIARY A "lone ly old man" she befriended willed Mrs. Leone Smith (above), a Chicago waitress, a fortune estimated at $250,000. The will came to light when two elderly sisters-in-law of the late Lucien G. Walker, 83-year-old merchant, filed notice of contest in probate court against the waitress' claim. Mrs. Smith served him breakfast for 14 years and said she left her job to care for him in his final days, "because he wanted me at his side." NEA Telephoto. Traitor To U. S. Gets Prison Term' WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 UP) Herbert John Burgman, for mer American embassy clerk in Berlin, was sentenced today to six tar 20 years fri prisofh as a traitor. Burgman, 53, was convicted November 15 of treason for his wartime broadcasts over the Nazi radio. He is a native of Hokah, Minn. Federal district Judge Holtzoff sentenced Burgman and ordered him sent to the Federal peniten tiary at Lewisburg, Pa. The maximum penalty could have been death. The minimum for treason is five years in pri son and a $10,000 fine. Burgman admitled during his five -week trial that he made broadcasts over the German shortwave radio station "De bunk" under the alias of "Joe Scanlon." He Insisted, however, he had been forced to do so be cause of fear of the Nazi ges tapo. Burgman served with the American expeditionary forces in the first world war and join ed the state department staff In Berlin in 1921. Mayor O'Dwyer Of N. Y. Weds Elizabeth Simpson STUART, Fla., Dec. 20. UP) Mayor Wjlliam O'Dwyer of New York was married today to Eliza beth Sloan Simpson in a simple ceremony at St. Joseph's Catho lic church. ODwyer Is 59 and his Texas born bride 33. ROSEBURG CHORAL SOCIETY k'- VP" 1 The public is invited to attend tonight's presentation of Handel's Christmas oratorio, "Messiah," at the Junior high school audi torium et 8:15 o'clock. The results of three months' rehearsals by the 50-voice chorus end nine soloists will be offered on tonight's program, which opens the 1949-50 season for the singing group. OREGON TUESDAY, DEC. Milk Strike j Threatened In Douglas Area Producers Demand More Money From Dairymen, Spokesman Announces A milk strike affecting the three principal inland Douglas county dairies may go into ef fect tomorrow, following a stand still in negotiations between dai rymen and milk producers. According to Ormond J. Feld kamp, Umpqua dairy co-owner, milk producers are asking more money for their products a de mand which local dairymen have not agreed to meet. Carl Binder, Elklon, president of the Umpqua Valley Milk Pro ducers association, said today there would be no strike. "The milk will be delivered," Binder said. "However, if our request for a price increase, to be paid by the dairymen, is not met, the milk will not be dump ed." Affected are the Myrtle Creek dairy, the Roseburg dairy and the Umpqua dairy. Follows Action Elsewhere Binder said the local move fs in line with similar action taken by milk producers in Medford and Grants Pass, some of whom deliver milk to the three dairies involved. Binder said his asso ciation is asking a straight ten cent increase in milk and butter fat, raising butterfat from $.90 to $1 and milk from $1.90 to S2 per hundred-weight. The associ ation is also asking a four per cent plant average, an increase in the butterfat content put in milk at the time of bottling. Feldkamp said milk prices for Oregon dairyman were set re cently by the stale milk control board and - that most dairying communities are abiding by the ruling. He classed action by local producers as a "strike" to en- (Continued on Page Two) Racketeers Prey On Business Men PHILADELPHIA, Dec, 20-OP) Business men have been shak en down for substantial pay ments to gain certain privileges from city and county employes according to slate investigators. Assistant Attorney General R. Royce Russell said yesterday that signed statements have been received from several business men. The statements, Russell said, showed that the business men paid to obtain permits and pri vileges to which Ihey were legal ly entitled. Payments were made under presure, he added. The commonwealth has been conducting a secret inquiry of city hall offices for some time as a prelude to a full grand jury probe. Investigators were reluctant to discuss details of the newest shakedown racket hut said the practices were similar to those that resulted in the conviction of fire Marshal George J. Gallagh er and several of his aides. Gallagher and his assistants were convicted of taking pay ments for approving oil burner Installation permits. SINGS 'MESSIAH' TONIGHT 20, 1949 Council BATTLE PLANS IN Truman Shaping Agenda For Congress As G. O. P. Raises "Socialism" Cry By FRANCIS M. Le MAY WASHINSTON, Dee. 20. (API Republican cries of "s eialism" in Washington, while President Truman flexes his pro gram, are heralding what may be the most Interesting struggle in the new session of Congress. The reconvening of Congress two weeks hence will signal the marshalling of forces for the conflict. The House end Senate face decisions on whet Mr. Truman calls the "fair deal" and the opposition assails es the blueprint for a "welfare state" or "poorhouse state." Learns After 36 Years He Didn't Kill Policeman KANSAS CITY, Dec. 20 UP) An itinerant horscshoer learned yesterday that a policeman he thought he killed 36 years ago is still alive. "It's sure a load off my con science to know that policeman didn't die," said 54-year-old Paul F. Lovey. Lovey was brought here for questioning after he told Las Vegas. Nev., officers he had kill ed a Kansas City policeman Jan uary 24, 1914. In checking Lovey's story, po lice took him to the Kansas City Star's library to read some 1914 newspaper clipping on a shooting. One of the clippings mentioned' a patrolman J. B. Merritt. "That's the man I shot," Lovey exclaimed. "Well, you didn't kill anybody then," said police Lt. Harry Nes bltt. "Merritt recovered." Merritt now lives near Gales burg. 111. An 18-year-old youth, Eugene R. Jacobs, was sentenced to four years at the state training school after being identified as Mar ritt's assailant, files on the Mer ritt case show. Police said they knew nothing of Jacobs' where abouts now. "That's what I've been afraid of all along," Lovely said. "That someone else had taken my rap." Lovey has been charged with assault with intent to kill. He is being held without bond pending a preliminary hearing Jan. 12. Good Samaritan Act Puts 2 Men In Hands Of Law JERSEY CITY, N. M., Dec. 20 (P Sometimes it Just doesn't pay to be a good Samaritan. That's what Clifford Wlesbrod probably Is thinking today. Last night Francis Dildlne' slopped Wiesbrod's car and ask ed for a push to get his own stalled auto going. Wiesbrod onliged. As the two cars approached an intersection, Dildine's vehicle forged on ahead by its own mo mentum and ran over Hudson County Patrolman Edward Mul Ilns, police said. Mullins was taken to Jersey city medical center with a fract ured right knee. Dildine was hooked by Hud son county police on a charge of assault and battery by automo bile. So was Wlesbrod. Pictured above is a portion of Charles A. Ricketts and accompanied by Esther beddes, organ 1st. Not shown in picture is Martha Jane Plimpton, piano accom panist. The photo was taken at performance, choir members 198-49 Decides MAKING in congress the issue Is bound to be cut clear for the congres sional elections next year and for tne presidential campaign in l5ii. The strueele with the Dublic a sideline spectator until ballot ing time rolls around may be fought on at least five fronts. These sectors are Mr. Truman's proposals for: 1. A vast expansion of the fed eral social security program. 2. A federal plan of health in surance that the opposition dubs 3. An expansion of the govern ment's housing program. i. a new larm program. 5. Federal aid to education. Taxes Moot Phase Perhaps the biggest fight of all will settle on taxes, when Con gress gets, to considering how the government is going to pay for the things it is being called upon to do. The administration opposition already is booming for slashes in (Continued on Page Two) Greyhound Lines Ask Package Rates Boost PORTLAND, Dec. 20 A boost in charges for express shipments on Uroynound bus lines In Oregon was asked yes terday by tne company. The bus line proposed a new minimum for packages of less than 10 pounds going not more than 50 miles. It would be 75 cents comnared with the nresent 45 cents. Other rates would go up aooui iu percent. Approval by the State Public utilities commission is likely. There was no public opposition at the hearing. Contract rales on packages shipped dally would be nearly doubled within the 50-mlle zone, up from $6 to $11.25. For greater distances, the boosts would be relatively smaller. Fireplace Burns Kill Aged Man; Home Razed SCIO, Ore., Dec. 20 UP) An elderly farmer tumbled into a fireplace yesterday and was fa tally burned while a sick woman was aroused and led to safety from an adjoining apartment. Linn county coroner N. S. Ful ton reported Zlde Charles M Cashen, 74, was alone in one part of the double-dwelling. A mo torist, Mrs. Carl Warren, detect ed the smoke and woke up Mrs. Floyd McCashen, a daughter-in-law of the fire victim. The home later was destroyed. McCashcn's wife and son, Floyd, were In Albany at the time. The family had moved to this area recently from Medford and purchased the rural home. the choral society led by Director a recent rehearsal. For tonight's will be garbed in white robes (Staff Photo) Sharp Letter Dispatched To Secy; Of Navy Command Of Forces In Eastern Areas Declined; Retirement Pondered WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. UP) , The controversy over Admiral Louis E. Denfeld's dismissal as chief of naval operations and his refusal of one lesser Job appear likely to simmer on until after Congress returns to the capital next month. In a bitter letter to Navy See- retarv Matthews, the four-star critic of defense department poli cies has turned down the post of commander-in-chief of U. S. naval forces in the Eastern At lantic and Mediterranean. Denfeld's letter was made pub lic by the Navy, at his request. yesterday. It recalled the secre tary s report to rresiaeni itu man that Denfield was not loyal to his superiors and lacked prop er respect for authority. In view of that statement, Denfeld wrote, other nations might not have the confidence In him that tne com mander of the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fleet should enjoy. The ousted cniei oi naval op erations added: It is pertinent for me to ob serve, furthermore, from the events which have transpired since my testimony before the armed services committee of the House of representatives on 13 October 149, that I would De under an undesirable restraint on the vital matter of Frank discussion with the military rep- (Continued on Page Two) Santa Claus Asks Address Of 'Judy" Santa Claus wants to know: which "Judy" wrote him a letter. wnen ne visited at tne &iKg Christmas nartv last Saturday one of Judy's playmates handed him a note which read: 'Dear Santa: I was coming to the show but got sick last night. Will you please send me some thing. Thank you. Judy." santa says tner are a lot or Judys on his list and, as the Roseburg girl failed to include her address, he is at a loss to know which of his many little friends she might be. So if Judy will have someone call the Elks temple and tell her . address, she will get the same sifts of candy and fruit as re ceived by other children at the Elks party and maybe a little bit more, because she was sick and couldn't see the picture. Thieves Steal Santa's Outfits, Strip Tree BALTIMORE. Dec. 20 UP) Dear Santa: It would be a good Idea for you to keep a sharp watch on your sieign ana pack wnen you come her Saturday night. Two of your suits, plus two sets of long white whiskers, have been stolen irom cars here in the past several days. What's more, someone stripped an outdoor Christmas tree of all its lights. Lloyd Klrklev and H. M. Bald win of St. Michael's, Md., told police that Santa suits were tak en from their parked automobil es here. Kirkley had been planning to take your part at a party. ics, santa, you had better keep a sharp eve on thlnes while you are in Baltimore. Chance Slim For Youth Lost On Hunting Trip WALLA WALLA, Dec. 20 OP) Searchers pinned their hopei lor rescue oi is-year-old Donald McDonald today on the slim chance that the mlsslne Walla Walla youth had taken refuge In one of the vacant cabins dot ting the rugged, snow -covered Blue mountain area. The boy has been unsighted since wandering away from an eld hunting companion last Thursday in the Black Snake ride sector southeast ot here. Near zero cold, six-foot snow drifts and almost constant enow flurries hampered searcher and lowered chances of the youth's survival. FORGERY CHARGED Bohring Robert Wilson, 27, Scottsburg, charged with forgery of an endorsement, was lodged in the county jail, with bail set at $2,500, when arraigned in the Reedsport justice court, Sheriff O. T. "Bud'1 Carter said. He was accompanied to Reedsport and back by Deputies Dallas Bennett and Cecil Beaver. HIGHWAY JOB LET The State Highway commis sion today awarded a contract for rock production for the Trail and Eagle Point sections of the Crater Lake, Tiller-Trail and Lit tle Butte highways to Fred Ler ney of Blachly. The contract price was $45,880. Levity fact ant By L. F. Reizenstelit If drought-stricken New York City were to confine Its plea to Santa Claus In two words, they'd probably bet "Rain, dear."