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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1931)
CITY EDITION Full Associated Press Leased Wire Service 10 PAGES TODAY THE WEATHER SEE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OP THIS PAGE. VOLUME XXIX MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS AND A. B. O. LA GRANDE, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1931 EASTERN OREGON'S LEADING NEWSPAPER NUMBER 167 I NAVAL PACT TERMS TODAY MADE PUBLIC Agreement Between Great Britain, France, and Italy Published. FRANCE AND ITALY HOLD STATUS QUO Accept All Provisions of Part Three of the Lon don Naval. Treaty For merly Refused. ' Tiv Frank II. King LONDON March ll ypf The terms of tho naval agreement between. Great Britain, Prance and Italy covering capital ships, aircraft) carriers, cruis ers and submarines, and bringing Franco and Italy into harmony with f the London naval treaty, were Issued ., today. They were included in a memor andum prepared by Arthur Hender- aon, foreign secretary,, and A. V. Alex ander, first lord of the admiralty, for parliament. An annex to the memorandum, giving the "bases of agreement," was understood to be virtually the text of the post which smooths out the troubled European naval sitpation. After achieving agreement at Paris and Rome the British delegates re turned to London so the terms could be submitted to the United States, Jupan and tho British dominions. The essence of the Franco-Italian ogreemenit Is maintenance of the statUB quo In tonnage ratios, France retaining an estimated superiority of 150,000 tons. Under the new accord France and Italy accept all provisions of part three of the London naval treaty which they declined to approve last spring. Tho building provisions give both France and Italy the right to com plete before December 1936, two capi tal ships whose displacement shall not' exceed 23,333 tons and whose gun caliber shall not exceed 12 Inches. Each nation may build 34,000 tons of aircraft carriers. -. - These two categories, capital ships 1 and aircraft carriers, are , regulated ' by the Washington treaty. As for vessels whose tonnage Is regulated, by the London treaty, the Henderson memorandum,1- says., that neither France norItaly will build any more -submarines other than for completion of their 1030 programs and for replacement of over-age ton nage. As regards cruisers. France and Italy agree that after completion of the 1930 class they will build no more big cruisers those carrying armament larger than six inch guns. This clause is effective during the life of the present agreement. In the small cruiser category the two nations agree that tonnage of new construction to be completed . shall not exceed the tonnage which is replaceable in tills category be fore December 31, 1936. Seven Hurt In Mad Rush to See Indian Leader AHMADABAD, India, March 11 W Two women received fractures of the skull, five others were almost trampled to death, and fifty fainted today In a mad rush to see Ma hat ma Gandhi. Utterly exhausted by the gruelling ordeal to which welcoming crowds have submitted him, Mahatma Gandhi, nationalist leader, had to spend most of today in bed. The tremendous strain to which he has been subjected by the Intense heat, the blinding dust, and the un ceasing tumult was said to have brought on a slight fever. At one point in his triumphal trip from New Delhi here, where he had not been seen for more than a year, the noise of the mobs who came to greet him become so great that Gandhi stuffed his ears with cotton. Ironically, enough it was on his week ly day of silence. During the public outpouring to see him yesterday he once pleaded with the crowd, "if you love me do not crush me to death." Taylor Heads John Day Valley Group THE DALLES, Ore., March 11 WV Ben Taylor of Mitchell was elected president of the John Day Valley Development association at its meet ing here last night for the purpose of urging the return to the state highway map or the Mitchell-Antelope 40-mile shortcut highway. Delegations of business men from both southern and northern parts attended the meeting. The road, they say. would reduce the distance from Mitchell and all points south, to the mid-Columbia, section and Portland by approximately 70 miles. The road was a part of the state highway program tn 1920 but action on the program was postponed. WEATHER FORECAST Oregon: Rain tonight and Thurs- day, snows in the mountain; cooler In the west portion to- night. Strong south, becoming west winds offshore. WEATHER TODAY 7:30 a. m. 44 above. Minimum: 38 above. condition: cloudy. WEATHER YESTERDAY Maximum 52, minimum 34 above. Condition: cloudy; rain .05 inch. WEATHER MAR. 11. 1930. Maximum 68, minimum 33 above. Condition: clear. 1 Accuse Pantages And 3 Others In 'Girl Mart' Case Theatre Magnate Now in Mexico says it is uirt Dug Up By His Ene mies. SAN DIEGO, March 11 Ar raignment of Alexander . Pantages, millionaire showman, and John P. Mills, San Diego and Los Angeles realty dealer, was made today be fore Justice Arthur L. Mundo, on charges of complicity In patronage of the so-called Hollywood "girl bazaar." Pantages was released on $16,000 ball and Mills was released on $10,000 ball. SAN DIEGO, Cal., March 11 W Alexander Pantages, nxu( tl-milllon-alre theater owner at liberty under $100,000 bond pending decision on an appeal of his conviction of as saulting Eunice Prlngle, young dancer, at Los Angeles in August, 1929, today stood accused here with three 'other men and a woman of an other crime against a 10-year-old high school girl. Jesse H. Slireve, prominent San Diego business man, John P. ' Mills, Los Angeles and San Diego real es tate millionaire, William Joblemann,, former publicity agent, and Olive Clark were named with Pantages in a complaint charging three separate offenses Issued by District Attorney Thomas Whelan yesterday. The complaint and another, charg ing Shreve. Mills, Joblemann and the woman with four counts Involving a second young girl, was the outgrowth of an investigation of the activities here of an alleged "girl mart" re cently exposed in Los Angeles with the arrests of Mills, Jobelmann and Mrs. Day there. Whelan charged that Jobelmann and Mrs. Day, alleged operators of tho "girl market," brought Helen Liv ingston, 16, here from Los Angeles October 30 last with the assistance of Mills, and that Shreve paid the girl for acting as Pantages' compan ion at a hotel. The second complaint charged that Lydla Nltto, 16, an other purported "market girl" sim ilarly was brought here by MUIb, Shreve, Jobelmann and the woman. Shreve surrendered and posted $26, 000 bond in Justice court. He denied all the allegations and said that he (Continued on Page Three) Wilbur Promptly Awards Contract For Hoover Dam WASHINGTON, Mar. 11 (p) ' Sec retary Wilbur today accepted the $48,-: 890.995 bid of the six companies, in corporated, of. San Francisco for building the Hoover dam, power ! house and appurtenant works at the Boulder canyon project. Recognition of the company's offer as the low bid was tantamount to awarding the contract and cleared the way for starting construction on one of the greatest peace time en gineering feats ever attempted. Esti mated cost of the dam, power system and appurtenances, such as the in take towers, spillways and diversion tunnels, totals $109,000,000, but ap proximately half of this will be sup plied by the government In materials. The specifications require that work be started within 30 days after the builder is given notice to proceed, and the dam must be completed with in six and one half years, with a pen alty of $3,000 dally for each day longer. F. T. Crowe, chief of construction operations for the six companies. Inc., a former construction engineer for the reclamation bureau, and his com pany have notified the department work could be started within a few days. Handsaker Speaks on Prevention of War The speaker at the noonday lunch eon of the Rotary club today was J. J. Handsaker of Portland, who is associate secretary of the National Council for the Prevention of War. Mr. Handsaker has Just recently re turned from an extensive trip throughout Europe. His address fol lows : "My studies in Europe this past summer lead me to believe that no where do the people want war. What they want is safety and security. There are two ideas in. the world as to how safety and security can be obtained; one Is, that we, the people of any nation, are peaceful but oth ers, the people of any other nation, are warlike and so the way to end i war is for us, the peaceful people, to build an army and navy so great that other people will fear us and will i be afraid to go to war with us. The ; other idea is that In a world so small j and inter-related, as our Is, safety ! can be had only by cooperating with other nations against a common enemy war. "These two ideas clashed at the 1 end of the war. Clemenceau of France held to the first, while Wood row Wilson believed in the second. ; They will clash again in December ; in our national legislature. Those ; who hold for cooperation will fight for our entrance Into the world (Continued on Page Six) Four Schools Sure To Meet in Tourney SALEM. Mar. 11 Four schools have already been designated by com petitive routes to compete in the an nual in terse holas tic basketball tour nament scheduled to being March 18. The tourney will be held in the Wil lamette gymnasium the last four days of next week. The four schools definitely named I to represent their districts Include Salem, Ashland. Baker and Pendleton ; High schools. Leslie Sparks graduate 1 manager of Willamette university and business manager for the meet, an i nounced. The other schools will be ' determined during the remainder of j this week, when the finish of number of district tournaments will be ef : fected. Tickets for the tournament have already been placed on sale. Sparks i announced, and he stated accommo Idatlons have been completed for 600 persons. STATE GAME COMMISSION BILL VETOED Thirty. Other Bills Are 1 bigned by Governor This Morning. SIGNS BILL FOR NEW TRAFFIC CODE Approves Measure For Applying Criminal label Laws to Radio Broad casting. S.U.EM, March 11 W) Governor Julius L. Meier today vetoed Nenute bill 3 in, known as the Cnpco metis urc, which was declared the enabling net for the California ulld Oregon Power company to make immediate implication to the hydro-electric com mission tor the construction or Its $1,500,000 power ulniit on the Klu imith river. The bill would transfer to the new commission the pending applications for the use of waters of Klamath river. SALEM. March 11 (4) The crea tion of a new state game commission of five members, to be appointed by the governor, four to be recom mended by the Oregon game protec tive association, tho Oregon council of the Izaak Walton league, the state grange, and the state forest fire as sociation, was vetoed today by Gov ernor Julius L. Meier. . The governor in vetoing the bill, known as house bill 236, said, "The gumo commission collects and ex pends a large sum of public money. Its functions affect directly or in directly, nearly every citizen of the state. 'Under this bill four of the five members of that commission would be elected by organizations .over which , the public has no con trol and which represent but a small per cent of the citizens of the state. Private organizations should never be allowed to select public officials who control the expenditure of pub lic funds." ' The rules of the road measure was signed by the governor. This meas ure providing for a uniform traffic code, eliminates the set speed limit of motor vehicles and provides a new code for traffic on highways, conforming to codes being adopted by most of the states. , ' Among the 30 bills signed were sev eral appropriation bills, including the budget of the state engineer and the state reclamation commission, and expenses incident to the capltol and supreme court buildings and grounds. The governor also approved the meas ure applying to criminal libel laws to radio broadcasting, making of fenders "over the air" subject to the same regulations as that provided for newspapers and magazines. Senate bill 336, providing: for non partisan nomination and election of Judges, was also approved by the gov ernor. This bill, known as the non partisan judiciary, was advocated both by himself and fonner Governor A. W. Norblad. The bill prohibiting the use of stink bombs was also signed by the executive. Other bills inoluded In those signed today were appropriation of $2000 to enable the state of Oregon to par ticipate in celebration of the birth of George Washington in 1032; the measure relating to burning slash ings during closed seasons without permits; relating to voluntary liquida tion or banks and trust companies; election change relating to registra tion and tightening literacy tests of voters; providing for licensing of nurserymen; providing for sanitation and safety of public swimming pools and bath houses; appropriations for state fair and premium lists; pro tecting the oyster beds of Yaquina bay; and changing the boundaries of game refuges. (Continued on Pago Five) Meier Signs Two Margarine Bills SALEM, March 11 (P) Two meas ures affecting oleomargarine sale and use have been signed by Oovernor Julius L. Meier and will become effective June 5, or 00 days after the adjournment of the legislature. The third bill introduced, which would impose a license upon manu facturers and dealers In oleomargar ine and butter substitutes, was killed by the house after It had passed the senate. House bill 204, providing for an excise tax of 10 cents a pound on all oleomargarine, was introduced by the house committee on food and dairy products. It was signed by the gov ernor last Saturday. The bill did not carry the emergency clause, so will not become effective until after June 5. Reports of a referendum move on this bill have been received at the state house. "Oh Doctor" Has B. Performance The first performance of "Oh Doc tor," a musical comedy, was given yesterday afternoon at the ' high school auditorium for a group of j grade school children. The musical j comedy, rich in humor, with an ele I ment of seriousness, promises to be tone of the most entertaining produc tions of the academic year, j Through the direction of 1 Miss I Catherine Sartaln the lines are care ; fully enunciated, the voices well ! modulated tn speaking; W. W. Nus : baum has trained the cast In the vo ; cal work, and the grace of the danc- ! era In the chorus almost reaches the j height of the professional. I The scene ts laid in the patio of a haclenca in South America, and the versatility of the production is enhanced by the introduction of the ' three doctors. Dr. Slaughter, Dr. Cut ! tern .and Dr. Coffin; by Rainbow, the colored servant at the sanitarium; 'cattle rustlers, nurses, cowboys and a handsome young ranch owner, who DESTRUCTION LEFT IN WAKE OF ATLANTIC STORM Property damage est hunted In the millions was left hi the wnke of the storm which lushed the north east coast. I'lrtures or It evert, suburb of Boston, shown here, show results of the extremely high tide which was responsible for the greater part of the d est ruction. Wrecked houses shown above are all that rcmulu of a once thickly settlt'd. summer colony. Below: Boatmen removing flooded householders along the flooded streets. ', ,' Officers Search For Murderer of Virginia Brooks SAN DIEGO, Cal., March 11 OP) With one suspect in custody, police detectives and deputy sheriffs today continued their efforts to solve the kidnaping and slaying of Virginia Brooks, 10-year-old East San Diego school girl, who was last seen alive on February 11 and whose mutilated body was found in a barley sack on Camp Kearny Mesa yesterday. ' Harry M. Wahlstrom, 28, a poultry salesman, was taken Into custody last evening and was still being detained this morning, although police said they had uncovered no evidence con-' necting him with the crime and that he probably would be released during tho day. WahlstronVs detention was brought about because of the fact that some leof mold was discovered In the sack containing the body of the Brooks girl and neighbors had observed him working among some leaf mold on his poultry ranch Inst Sunday morn ing. Detectives have made a close scrutiny of his movements during the past several days but this morning declared he apparently would be able to establish an alibi. Late this morning deputy sheriffs took into custody a feeble-minded boy living near Lemon Grove, a. sub urb, for questioning. It was In dicated that the boy will be brought (Continued on l'nge Mvo) Bowles Trial Is Adjourned; Two jurors Get Flu HILLS BO RO, Ore., March 11 (JP) Adjournment until next Monday was taken today in the murder trio! of Nelson C. Bowles and Miss Irma Loucks, when two Jurors reported for duty with temperatures of 102 degrees. Physicians sold they were suffering from mild cases of Influ enza. Bowles, a Portland capitalist, and his former secretary, are charged with slaying Bowles' wife. Tho Jurors who became ill were Harold Cutting and John Benefiel. They sold they were able to hear the cose, but Judge George R. Bagley decided upon adjournment. The regular Jury and the two alter nates were exposed to the disease, when Francis Nibler, member of the panel, became ill with influenza and was excused from duty. His place was taken by one of the alternates. Judge Bagley said he was willing to adjourn for several days rather than declare a mistrial. Judge Bagley said the Jurymen will be kept in the courthouse until court convenes Monday, still under oath to (Continued on Page Six) illiant First Tuesday Afternoon steals away the heart of the leading lady. Cutchy songs have been worked up to the "right degree of pep" by the students under the direction of Mr. Nusbaum, and the dances are appro priate. Manuel, the Mexican rustler, played by Robert Ward, gave an exceptional ly fine performance at the opening presentation yesterday. The cast Includes: Dr. Drinkwater. Packey McFarland; Mrs. Weakly, Mildred Cade; Mrs. Crossly, Alice Milne; Dr. Slaughter. j Nick Hughes; Dr. Cuttem, Ralph ' Gelbel; Dr. Coffin. Wesley Hcrshey; Rainbow, Jack Kincaid: Bessie. Wen- ona Nichols; Honor, Dorothy Hlgglna; Madam Chere, Mildred McCluskey; Glory Drinkwater, Cleda Harvey; Pancho, Rollln Heassler; Philip, Don ald Poarch; Jim, Charles Walnum; Old Timer, Wayne Foster; Bob, Orval Anderson; Cynthia, Natalie Ebert; (Continued on Page Five) ASK REFERENDUM ON ROGUE RIVER Over Ten Thousand Names Will be Required on Final Petitions. SALEM. March 11 (P) Preliminary petitions for a referendum upon the Rojue River closing law enacted by tho legislature, bearing' the names of 12 legal voters and residents' of Gold Beach and Wedderburn in Curry county, were received by Secretary of State Hal Hoss today and the pe tition form has been transmitted to the attorney generul for preparation of a ballot title. Ten thousand sc hundred and eight names of qualified voters will be required on the completed peti tions, It was announced, and they (Continued on Page Five) Dog Used to Trace Fleeing Thief Here A police dog, belonging to . Joe Luxon Is proving Invaluable to the local police. Sometime during last nicht thieves broke Into the slaughter house of the Grande Ronde Meat company and stole a quantity of beef and veal. Employees discovered the loss this morning and notified F. A. Epllng who arrived with Mr. Luxon and his German police dog, at the scene of the robbery. The dog took up the scent and went straight across tho field to the road where they found. Indications that the car hud been bucked up to tho fence. A piece of clotli was found near the tracks. Tho robbers were able to escape In their car and had not been appre hended this afternoon. The German police dog has done previous work with the police depart ment who are finding it a valuable means of tracing fleeing persons. Taxpayers Meeting In La Grande Today Taxpayers from Eastern Oregon towns aro gathered in La Grande to day to discuss assessments and taxa tion problems. They represent such groups as wood growers associations, stockmen's associations, granges, tax leagues, and other county organiza tions. Wednesday was devoted to a gen eral discussion of the subject, and tomorrow will be taken up with con ferences between the assessors and the members of the tax commission. E. O. N. Guidance Plan Is Outlined At the regular weekly assembly hour of the Eastern Oregon Normal school held this morning, President If. E. Iulow announced and outlined a plan of student counselling and guidance which has been developed by a committee of the faculty, and will be put into effect at the Normal school. This program of guidance Is I similar to that now in effect In many J of the colleges and universities of I this country, and alms to assist the nition of those personal qualities which contribute most to success In life. Interested personal counsel and advice will likewise be available to tho student In his effort to discover means of self-improvement. Dry Officers Were Busy In February SALEM, March 11 m Twenty three liquor stills were destroyed by state prohibition operatives during February, George Alexander, state prohibition director announced. The officers also destroyed 2852 gallons of liquor and 0031 gallons of mash. The report showed they participated in 113 arrests during the month. Fines aggregated $13,075. Eight auto mobiles used In transporting liquor were confiscated. Virgil Kirkland Found Guilty of Murdering Girl VALPARISO, Ind.. March 11 W) Life behind the turreted walls of the state prison at Michigan City loomed ahead of Virgil Kirkland, 20-year-old steel worker of Gary. Ind., today. The former high school gridiron star was convicted last night by a Porter county Jury of murdering Ar lene Draves. 18, his sweetheart, dur ing a "flaming youth" drinking .tvty al-ttn!br.Vura Xiurj bom lust jo ve'mbor. ! The Jury of nine farmers, a r ill road telegrapher, bricklayer and a grocer, finished 12 days' work by finding him guilty of fhtt degree murder and fixing his sentence at life imprisonment. This was on al ternative from death in the electric chair which the state had demanded as punishment for the murdtr aud attack on the girl. Judge Grant Crumpacker will for mally sentence Kirkland next Mon day. Kirkland, soon after, will be takon to . the Michigan City state prison to remain for the rest of his life, unless Judge Crumpacker finds merit on a motion for. a new trial, or a superior court finds on error In tho proceedings, or future executive clemency Is evoked to liberate him. . The Jury had deliberated only three hours. With their verdict, the tense waiting of the first of the five youths, charged with Miss Draves' death, was over. Leon Stanford, second of the five, was brought here from Crown Point late yesterday and lodged in a cell adjacent to that occupied by Kirk land. The other three, Paul Barton, David Thompson, and Henry Shirk, are confined at Crown Point. When the Jury returned its verdict there was no demonstration. Kirk land, who has rarely shown signs of emotion excepting while on the wit ness stand, remained unperturbed. His mother, sobbing, rushed to him. "My poor boy," she cried. But Sheriff Maxwell drew Kirkland away. "You can see him later In his cell," he told the mother. Kirkland was then led away to jail. To Appeal Cross- State Rail Case , SALEM, March 11 (P) Prepartlons to appeal to the United Slates bu premo court from the decision of the federal court In tho case involv ing the construction of a cross-state railroad, . was underway. Attorney General I. H. Van Winkle, announced today. Van Winkle was preparing necessary papers for the appeal on behalf of the Oregon public utilities commissioner. Tho original order of the inter state commerce commission directed the Oregon -Washington Railroad it Navigation company to construct a line from Crane to Crescent. The railroad company appealed from the order to the federal district court, where the commission order was re versed. Tho Interstate commerce commis sion has already filed formal notice of appeal In the case, and will be Joined by the public service commis sioner and the Idaho public service commission. Med ford Man Dies When Auto Skids GRANTS PASS. Mar. 11 W) CyrU Spencer, of Mcdford, was killed near here last night when his automobile skidded from the pavement south of Grants Pass on the Redwood highway. Me was alono In the car. Tom Wilson, of Orants Pass, took Spencer's body from the wreckage. Rain had made the pavement slip pery. Spencer's car was Bald to have been traveling at a high rate of speed. MM.M.HI POLITICS PARIS. March U W Dispatches from Barcelona. Spain, today said the Hepubllcan Catalanlst party there had published a declaration expressing Catalonia's aspiration to full autonomy and consecration to the prlnclplo of self-determination. Sixteen Soldiers In Train Fight; HeldatMedford Car Dropped From Train When Conductor .binds Men Breaking Glass and Using Knives, MEDFORD, Ore.. March 11 (fP) Sixteen soldiers en route from Fort McDowell, Cal., to Fort Lewis, Wash., were locked under guard in a tourist car here today, Southern Pacific rail road officials said, after a near riot in tho car last night. Several of the soldiers were Injured. Vincent Solinksy was thrown from a cor window and landed on his head. He was taken to a hospital where seven stitches were taken. Tho "car occupied by the soldiers was cut out of the train at Ashland when tho conductor refused to take it farther. It was to be picked up by the Shasta Limited today and was to reach Portland tonight. Railroad officials said a group of army officers left Portland last night by automobile to take charge of the soldiers. Knives were used In the battle among the soldiers, the conductor said. After the train was sidetracked at Ashland police reserves and- county officers rounded up the soldiers and locked them in the car after treating several for . Injuries. The fight, it was learned, started near the Oregon California line. Wrecked Plane Fails To Make 10-Hour Record . TOLU, Ky., March 11 (P) The wreckage of a swift Lockheed-Vega monoplane capablo of flying moro than 336 miles an hour, lay In the marshes of tho Ohio river bottoms today., marking the end of a projected transcontinental flight planned to break existing speed records. Captain Ira Eakor, army pilot who left Long ueacn, uai., eariy yester day on a non-stop flight to New York. . had covered approximately 1,736 miles when the fuel pressure of the plane failed, He scratched and bruised his face and hands In the forced landing, made earlv yesterday afternoon, and could not extricate himself from the piano for a half hour. He said he was traveling at an altitude of 13,000 feet and at a rate of 336 miles an hour when the trouble ocourrred. . Eaker's flight was announced, as an experiment. In an army search for a transport ship capable of keeping up with pursuit planes, A,T officials ni New Yorlo with whom Baker talked by long distance telephone inL nl.Tht. said at the rato he was flyl if ut the time of the trouble he have reached New York from Louk Bench In ten hours nd broken th t sort! held by Cupt. r'rank II1.WKS. SEATTLE PUTS IN CHAMPIONS OF CITY LIGHT ' SEATTLE, March 11 W Spurred to tho polls by city light problems and the last minute dismissal of a city light official, 63,000 Beattleltes today had swept Into the city coun cil three champions of municipal utilities and carried the hotly op posed charter amendment giving city light charge of Its own engineering work. Otto A. Case, Ralph D. Nichols and V. O. Webster, all three supporters of 3. D. Ross, superintendent of city light discharged on the cvo of tho municipal election wore the three councllmen swept Into oftlce. Oliver T. Erlckson, presldont of the council was defeated as . was the veteran councilman E. L. Blaine. rrhe unofficial count was: Case 31.491; Nichols 31,498; Webster 30, 366: Blaine 29,603; Erlckson 33,321 and Conover 17,430. Erlckson's campaign for re-election was featcd by a bitter controversy with Ross. The new faces on tho council was believed to Jeopardize the pro-admlnlstration majority In that body. Case has boon the antl-clty administration leader In the city council. Georgo P. CottcrlU was re-elected port commissioner; A. C. Van Soelen, Incumbent, defeated FranJc 8. Grif fith for corporation counsel and Paul O. Harper was named school di rector. Assurance that 1,600, 000 worth of school construction would be started In tho Immediate future was given by tho passage of a school bond Is sue to that amount. The 1600,000 Aurora bridge bond Issue also was ap nroved. Tho proposed amendment providing lor a live oay wees xor city em ployes was defeated by approxi mately two to one. Jumps Off Bridge In Suicide Attempt PORTLAND, Ore., March 11 Rescued after she had jumped from the center span of the Ross Island bridge, 130 feet above the Willamette river, Mrs. Helen Craver. 25, was In a critical condition In a hospital here today. Her husband, Vern Cravor, said he could think of no motive for tho woman's act, but A. Craver, his fath er, said the couple was on the verge of divorce. Evo witnesses said the girl parked her automobile near the center of the bridge, leaped out and vaulted over the rail without hesitating. C, J. Peterson tried to grab her but failed. Cries of witnesses roused two men at a moorage, who Jut out In a boat and rescued the woman. ' She had mode no attempt to swim, they said. TRl'CK nitlVEK KILLED KLAMATH FALLS, March 11 Jesse Chaffin, 46, a truck driver, was killed on the highway south of here late yesterday when his truck rolled over a four-foot embankment. His head struck a rock causing a basal fructuro of tho skull. INDEPENDENT if CONFERENCE MEETS TODAY Progressives Discuss a Legislative Program . , For Next Session, i j 14 SENATORS AND 16 FROM HOUSE Norris Advocates the Government Operation of Power Rejects Hoover Plan. WASHINGTON, Moroh 11 VP A renewed disavowal thot, a new po litical party was being formed, ad vocacy of government operation of power plants and ' an eight-point tariff program today were laid be fore the meeting of Republican and Democratio Independents. , In calling the meeting to order. Senator Norris of Nebraska, projected the power Issue to the fore and re-. piled to the questions propounded to him last night by Republican Leader Watson of the senate. - Senator CoBtlgan of Colorado, a Democrat and a former member of the tariff commission, proposed the tariff program, which among other things called lor tariff law to pro, mote "economic disarmament." Discussing the Watson questions which had touched upon prohibi tion, Russian recognition and twelve other subjeeu, Norris said: - . "In the first place, Mr. Watson doaa not appear to realize that we are not ' pretending to be a polltloal party; that we are not here for the purpose of organizing a political party. The questions he propounded he had best take home to his own political ma chine. ' ; "Senator Watson used to be, be fore he became a senator, a lobbyist. , I presume his former masters are bet' . ter satisfied with his work in can gress than out. ' "We can't waste our time on those as far behind the procession as he is. Little Jimmy Watson ought to gather together; his marbles, go out and hunt that boy Lucas and to- ? ether they could have a fine game n the White House yard." Following Norris, costlgan urged special steps be taken to secure low-., er tariffs on articles not manufac tured In the United States; and that the tariff polloy-be rerhied with the' end In view on enlarging commerce with foreign nations. , .He salfl .the nresent sumr .tariff . had been of no benefit and recom mended a moderate bounty for con tinental sugar producers which he said would have saved American. sugar consumers several million dol lars over tne present schedule. 4 Costlgan Introduced Senator Blaine, Repubu&n, Wisconsin, who remarked that the prtsent tariff commission . (.Continued on Page Five) . New York Stock Market Retreats Slightly Today NEW YORK, March 11 (P) The stock market retreated calmly before suoh a cogent bear argument as the first reduction of New York Cen-' tral's dividend In 20 years today. While losses of 1 to 7 points were numerous, there were few declines of more than a point or two, and Wall street was distinctly encouraged by the market's ability to keep ita feot on the ground. The fact that bad news has uncovered little stock for sale has provided much of the inspiration for recent bull efforts. Transfers aggregated only about a, 400,000 shares, the smallest for full session this mornth. New York Central dropped 4 points getting close to the year's low. Union Pacific, which has a substantial In vestment In Central, lost more than 7 points. Atchison dropped 6 and Baltimore and Ohio lost nearly 3.1 Declines of a point or so were num erous In the carriers. Short cover ing brought a slight rally throughout much of the list In the final deal ings. U. S. Steel, after getting down more than 3, closed off 1 net. i : ; ' Jennie M. Kaiser, Passes Away Here Mrs. Jennie M. Kaiser, . West Har rison St., passed away at her horns yesterday afternoon , at 4:30. The funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock. Friday, March 13, from the Snodgrass and Zimmerman chapel. Surviving her nre two daughters Mrs. Dolly T. Painter of Ooodlng, Idaho, and Mrs. Mary B. West, Port land, Ore. Also one sister, Mrs. If. Bushnell, La Orande, and one broth er, Alfred Precis also of La Grande, Interment will be made In I. O. O, P. cemetery. EARTHQUAKE AT SMYRNA, ISTANBUL, March 11 W) A violent earthquake was felt at 10:16 last night at Smyrna. The population was terrified and rushed into the streets, cemeteries and other open spaces. No details of damages were received here, all communications; be Ing severed. ; Wheat Today CHICAGO, Mar. 11 VP) After equalling season low-price records for : wheat, ralllos took place In grains to day. About 160,000 bushels of United States wheat were reported disposed of to Antwerp, Belgium and Mar Bellies, France. An advance in the wheat price basis paid by farm board allies amounting to (4 cent at Kan sas City and 1 cent at Minneapolis, was announced. . Wheat closed firm, unchanged to cents higher, corn unchanged to cent up, oats ,& cent advanced and provisions unchanged to 7c off