WEATHER Variable clouds with a few, afternoon showers today through Wednesday; partial clearing at night; highs 54 60; low tonight 32-37. Established i8t6 233rd Issue 63rd. Year LA GRANDE, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1959 Price 5 Cents IT'S ALWAYS OPEN SEASON Chris Christiansen is feeding trout in one of the three ponds on his fur farm at Summerville. Christiansen-has three such ponds stocked with trout which he ob tained through the county extension office in May, 1958. The fingerlings now are 10 to 12 inches in length and just right for eating. Union County Agent Ted Sidor and Barrie, the diplomatic St. Bernard, are watching the trout churn the pool for food. Raising trout is one popular method of making use of natural resources ; while following good conservation practices. (Observer Photo) .' Strauss Squeaks Through Senate Commerce Committee By One Vote WASHINGTON (UPI) Presi aent tisennower s controversial nomination of Lewis L. Strauss as secretary of commerce squeaked through the Senate Commerce Committee totjaj!' by " one-vote margin. . i The vote was' 9-8, with three committee Democrats joining its six Republicans to outvote Strauss opponents all Democrats. Strauss, who had clashed repeat . edly with most Democratic mem bes during 16 days of hearings on the hotly disputed appointment, issued a one-sentence comment: am grateful for the vote of the' committee." He was headed for more trouble when the nomination reaches the Senate, possibly later this month. While some members expected a long floor fight on the appoint ment, Chairman Warren G. Mag nuson (D-Wash) of the Commerce Committee, who opposed Strauss, said he did not expect it to last too long. Magnuson told newsmen he has not discussed the scheduling of de bate on the nomination, with Sen ate Democratic Leader Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas. Magnuson said, however, that it is a case of "the sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned." The three Democrats who voted for the nomination were Sens. John 0. Pastore (R.I.I, J. Strom Thurmond (S.C.) and Frank J. Lausche (Ohio). The six Republi cans voting to approve were Sens. John Marshall Butle (Md, Nor ris Cotton (N.H.) Clifford P. Case (N.J.), Thurston B. Morton (Ky.l, Hugh Scott (Pa.) and Andrew F. Schoeppel (Kan.) Democrats recorded against were' Magnuson arid Sens. A. S. Mike Monroney (Okla), George A Smathers (Fla.l, Ralph Yarbor ough (Tex.), Clair Engle (Calif.), E. L. Bartlett (Alaska, Vance Hartke Ind.," and,..Qale McGee iWyo.). . - v Magnuson said reports by sup porters and opponents will be filed with the Senate Monday. He said Pastore would file a separate report favoring the appointment, rather than, join 'the Republicans and other two Democrats who vot ed approval Senate GOP Leader Everett M. Dirksen (111.) forecast that the Senate would approve the nomina- lion by a "substantial margnt Btit Schoeppel, ranking Republican committeeman, refused to predict the outcome. Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D- N.M.), leading the fight against Strauss, said the close vote means "his confirmation is now most unlikely." CENTENNIAL DAYS SET FOR ELGIN RESIDENTS Elgin (Special) Elgin will hold a "Indian Valley Centennial Days" celebration Saturday and Sunday this week. A 4-H Fair will be held in con junction with the centennial cele bration. First event Saturday of a day long program, will be a Pony Ex press race at 9:30 a.m. at the athletic field. Maurice Beck' and Ernie Adams are chairmen. Second event is a bicycle race for youths eight to 15. Orville Wayt is in charge. Next is a Phone Booth stuffing contest on Main street. Ed Matsler and Mike Chandler are in charge of this event. At 11:15 a market basket race and a hot cake race will be held for ladies. Hazel Moore is in charge of these events. Boat races on the Grande Ronde River will be the first event of the afternoon. Races will start at 1:30 p.m. Ernie Adams, chairman, reports any type of boat with horsepower up to 10 will be al lowed. Loggers will have a chance to demonstrate their skills at 2:30 at Husky Field. Glenn Parsons is in charge of this event. At 3:15 at City Hall, a fly casting contest will be held with Clarence Cqlder in charge. Horseshoe pitching is next with Alex McKenzie and Tom Burton in charge. A pack horse race is set for 4:30 and at 5 p.m. the last event, a quick draw contest, will be held. Richard Cason and Ivan Churchill are chairmen. In the evening a dance will be held at Stampede Hall under the sponsorship of the Stampeders. All concessions must be cleared through chamber president Bob Wiles. The O.E.S. Social club will have a food booth on Main street and the VFW Auxiliary will serve hamburgers at the VFW Hall. On Sunday an outdoor public church service will be held at' the Stampede grounds with Rev. Vol riey Johnson in charge of arrangements. 'WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC Administration Strategy To Block Democrats Bill , WASHINGTON (UPI I The ad ministration agreed to a reduction in its request for housing funds today in a strategy move to block a still bigger Democratic bill. An administration spokesman announced the decision on a com promise shortly before the House began debate on a Democratic bill calling for $2,100,000,000 in housing appropriations. President Eisenhower had asked $1,650,000,000 for the program, but agreed today to back a $1,300,000, 000 compromise measure intro duced by Rep. A. S. Herlong (D Fla ). Herlong's measure had the support of Republicans and many southern Democrats. Norman P. Mason, federal hous ing administrator, announced the administration decision. He said he did not agree "in every detail" with the compromise but that "we have to be realistic." Congressional Republican leaders today described the housing mea-. sure as a key part of Eisenhow er's campaign to balance the bud get. GOP leaders in both houses urged public support of the bill. The fight over a housing bill shaped up as a showdown between administration supporters and lib eral Democrats. The latter have strongly criticized Eisenhower's economy recommendations. House Speaker Sam Rayburn said he believed the Herlong mea sure would fail in a nonrecord vote scheduled Wednesday. Other conngressional news: Atomic: The White House sent Congress a series of agreements under which the United States would help Great Britain and France sped up their develop ment of nuclear weapons. Unless Congress disapproves the pacts, they will go in effect automatical ly after 60 days. Under the agree ments to France, and provide Brit ain with enriched uranium, weap ons parts and information. Minimum wage: Labor Secretary James .P. Mitchell spoke out against a 25-cent boost in the fed eral minimum wage proposed by Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.). He charged that the measure would lead to extensive loss of jobs.- McElroy To Stay in Post Defense Boss -Changes Plan WASHINGTON (UPI) Secre tary of Defense Neil H. McElroy announced "at the White House to day that he had cancelled plans to resign and would remain in the Cabinet indefinitely. McElroy made his decision known after he conferred with President Eisenhower and Thomas S. Gates Jr., who was- se lected by the chief executive Mon day to be the new deputy secre tary of defense. The secretary, who loaves Washington for the foreign minis ters meeting in Geneva late to day, said he decided to change his plans to resign when Deputy Secretary Donald A. Quarles died recently. As McElroy and Gates walked out of the White House, the de fense chief said: "I am suspend ing my plans for departure and now I really don't know when I'll be leaving if at all." McElroy said that before leav ing for Geneva he wanted to clean up accumulated plans with and Adm. Arthur W. Rad ford, retired. Radford was called back to duty Monday while Gen. Nathan F. Twining, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is recup erating from a lung cancer opera tion. ... McElroy said that his decision to remain in office was not al tered by the appointment of Gates, but dictated by the death of Quarles. McElroy, former pres ident of Procter and Gamble, had planned to return to private life this fall. He said he still had some personal problems to resolve. But, he added that because of the in ternational situation and "the problems of this summer" obvi ously ; a 'rofoivwe to Etu-West tensions and a possible summit meeting "there was really no choice for me after Quarles died. Earlier, informed sources said that McElroy expected to stay on the job at least until the 19G1 de fense budget has been completed. FLOWER LOVER UNPOTS PLANTS The flowers, literally, have gone to pot. And 400 La Grande women, members of the Women's City Council, who placed newly purchased flower baskets on lamp posts along Adams Street for the centennial year obser vance, are up in arms about it. . In the last fortnight somo lover of blossoms shinneyed up one of the poles and re moved the flower basket. "Whoever took the 'flowers could have no possible use for them and the Woman's Coun cil did purchase them for the centennial to brighten up city streets," Mrs. Joan Stuart, of the flower committee, said. The council, naturally, would like to see the flowers return ed to the lamp. ' However, for the benefit of amateur investigators, a re ward is being offered by the council for the nature lover who took the colorful artificial blossoms. Mrs. Truman's Tumor Removed KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) A hospital spokesman said doc tors should know today whether the tumor removed, from the left breast of Mrs. Harry S. Truman was malignant. Preliminary examinations indi cated the growth was ' not malig nant. It was removed during a two-hour and 45-minute operation Monday. The former President paced the floor while his 74-year-old wife. Bess, was in surgery. He telephon ed his daughter, Margaret, in New York once during the operation and again immediately afterward. Truman told newsmen after the operation that it was a "grand success" and that his wife was in a "very satisfactory condilon." He looked tired. The spring was out of his step. "I just don't feel like any pic tures today," he told photographers. The surgery was performed by Dr. Wallace Graham, the Tru mans' family physician who at tended them at the White House. and Dr. Phillip Reister, Gra ham' sassistant. Accident Reported To State Police A two-car, no-injury accident 11.5 miles north of La Grande on Highway 82, was reported to state police at 5:35 p.m. yesterday. Joe Anna Harris, 17, Elgin, slowed her car down to pick up a passenger when a car driven by Arthur Furman, 61, Imbler, ram med the rear of the Harris car. Furman was cited for violation of the basic rule and Miss Har ris was cited for not having an operator's license. City Manager Treats Department Officials Twenty department heads of La Grande's municipal government, and other city officials, were treated to an early morning break fast at Riverside Park yesterday, by City Manager Fred Young. Young, Dave Slaught, city en gineer, and Fire Chief Ray Snider cooked the breakfast for the group. The treat is an annual affair for city government department heads. Young served steak, hash browned potatoes and pancakes to the officials. Couple Found Alive Today By Searchers AlOAB, Utah (UPI) A Califor nia man and his wife, missing and feared drowned since their boat capsized in the treacherous Cataract Canyon of the Colorado River Sunday, were found alive today. ' Mrs. Lillian Rich, 64, Long Beach, was picked up by a heli copter at the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers in Southern Utah after walking six miles over rough terrain out of the canyon. Her husband, Frank A. Rich, 65, reported unable to walk, was reported alive but still in the canyon and a helicopter went to attempt his rescue. Mrs. Rich was taken to Dr. I. W. Allen Hospital here. She was spotted from the air by private pilot Jim Hurst, Moab, one of the sponsors of the weekend "friend ship cruise" 196 miles down the viver during which the accident occurred. Hurst radioed a heli copter piloted by Jim Dodie, Es- calante, Utah. Dodie picked up the woman and carried her to Grand- view Point where she was trans ferred - to Hurst's single-engine place at. a small airstrip and Drought here. Mrs. Rich was reported exhaust ed and in shock from her two-day oraeal Dub her condition was listed as good. A son and daughter-in-law of tne couple, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert A. Rich, Cedar City, Utah, sur vived the capsizing and walked out of the canyon Monday. They were anions more than 500 boaters who participated in- the weekend cruise. No Summit f Reds Try IT ror a tee Threat THE BIG BRASS BAND SAID 'OOMPA, OOMPA' MILAN, Italy (UPI) An official appearance by Kim Novak at Milan's railway station Monday night disrupt ed rail traffic, set policemen to fighting one another, and almost caused an old locomotive to blow its stack. Miss Novak showed up to do the honors at a retire ment ceremony for a 44-year-old locomotive. The excitement started when the blonde star, having warmed up to the task at hand, discarded her furs, thus ' revealing a tight-fitting evening gown with bare shoul ders and back. "My God," gasped a police official. "We ought to clamp a state of siege right now." , Railway officials were brushed aside by Novak fans, who were brushed aside by policemen, who were brush ed aside by press photographers. The gendarms, not knowing whom to grab first, grabbed each other. "Kim, Kim, Kim," chanted the crowd. "Oompa, oompa, oompa," went the big brass band. . '"VVhooo, whooo, whooo," went the old locomotive. Miss Navok managed a feeble wave. Flash Flood Brings Havoc In Missouri Pension Bill For Railroad Signed By Ike WASHINGTON (UPI) Presi dent Eisenhower today signed legislation liberalizing nensions under the railroad retirement act and increasing unemployment in surance benefits for railroad workers. The president waited until the last possible day to act on the hill. In the absence of a veto, the measure would have become law automatically at midnight to night. Bills on which no presi dential action is taken become law 10 business days after their passage. Railroads had urged the Presi dent to veto the bill, arguing that its requirements would make tax load oppressive. It was reported, however, that some Republicans in congress had asked Eisenhow er to sign the bill. . The new law boosts railroad pensions by 10 per cent and hikes jobless pay benefits -20 per cent. It also provides an unprecedented 52 weeks of unemployment com pensation for laid-off workers with 15 or more years service. The measure closely follows recommendations by railroad un ions representing near a million workers. Dulles' Condition Remains Same WASHINGTON (UPI) John Foster Dulles was reported under heavy sedation today to ease the pain of his cancer. friends of the Dulles family said the 71-year-old former sec retary of state was sleeping through many hours of the day as well as the night due to the sedatives. They denied reports he- was in a coma part of the time. United Press International A flash flood sent six feet of water thundering into St. Joseph, Mo., Monday night, killing one man and forcing hundreds of per sons to rooftops for safety. The floodwaters subsided rapid ly, uncovering the body of William McKinley Thomas, 62. Thomas' wife was missing and feared drowned. Thomas' body was found near his car. Authorities believed he and his wife were washed from the auto by the wall of water. The raging waters from Black Snake Creek and backed-up storm sewers came with such sudden ness that residents had no time to flee. Instead they climbed to the roofs of their homes to await rescuers in boats. The floods came in the wake of an unofficial 3.25-inch rain, one of a number of violent storms in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Mis souri during the night. At least three tornadoes were reported, striking at Corning, Iowa, and in farm areas near Denton and Powhattan, Kan. No in juries or deaths were reported in the twisters. About six inches of mud coated U.S. Appears Out Of Picture For Conference GENEVA (UPI) - French and West German objections appeared today to have ruled out the United States as a site for a Big Four summit conference. French President Charles de Gaulle made it plain to the U. S. he would refuse to attend a Big Four summit meeting outside Europe ruling out San Francisco or New York. West German delegation mem bers also expressed their objec tions to either New York or San Francisco on technical grounds. The British do not seem to have any firm objections against the site so long as the summit is reached. They have been men tioning an ocean liner in mid-Atlantic. homes in the St. Joseph area and officials said damage would run into hundreds of thousands of dot lars. The flood water began falling shortly before midnight when the torrential rains stopped. Propane gas tanks from homes floated down streets turned into rivers One home was ripped by an ex plosion of unknown cause during the height of the flood, but no one was hurt. f A large supermarket was de molished by the force of the on rushing water which pushed an automobile into the building. Roads were blocked by the flood-waters and police and fire men appealed tor volunteers with boats to help rescue marooned residents. Man Queried About Slaying RENO (UPI) Oregon author ities today questioned Edward J. O'Conner, 38, in connection with the slaying last weekend of a 62- year-old San Francisco man at Rome, Ore. i 1 Malheur County Sheriff John C. Elfering of Vale and State Police Sergeant Russell Haynes of On tario closeted themselves with O'Conner at the city jail shortly after they arrived today. Haynes said O'Conner, who has waived extradition, had not been questioned extensively yet. The two Oregon officers planned to re turn him to that state late today or early Wednesday by auto. "We have no other suspects at this point" in the slaying of Thomas Potter in a Rome motel, Haynes said. Potter's body was found by the motel manager Saturday. He told officers in Reno he rented the room to Potter and an Ed O'Con ner the previous night . O'Conner was arrested by a pair of detectives in a bar Satur day night after cashing several traveler's checks bearing Potter's name. He was held on forgery charges until police learned of Potter's death. The suspect identified himself as a Giltner, Neb., truck driver. He denied any knowledge of slaying. Herter Warns Soviets GENEVA (UPI) The United States has told the Russians flat ly that President Eisenhower would not attend any summit conference dnder threat of a new Soviet ultimatum on Berlin, it was disclosed today. The western foreign ministers resumed the fight for I heir cold war package peace plan when the Big Four conference opened its seventh working session today. French Foreign Minister Maur ice Couve de Murville, taking up where Secretary uf State Christian Herter - left off Monday, made another lengthy appeal to the Sov iets to accept the plan. In it the West offered global troop Cuts and security in Europe in exchange for a new deal on Berlin and freedom for the 17 million Soviet zone Germans. New Russian Threat Earlier, .American sources dis closed that Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko had raised the threat of a new Berlin crisis if the current Big Four talks are not settled on Moscow's terms. The sources disclosed that Her ter rebuffed Gromyko's threat with a near ultimatum of his own: That Eisenhower will not go to any summit conference under dur essincluding any new move to set a deadline for getting western troops out of Berlin. Couve de Murville went into the conference with a long and de tailed explanation of the West's package plan. At the same time, he reiterated the reasons why the West has rejected the Soviet count.: f.M.. ikhw USMJ. with the two Germanys and aband onment of Berlin by the West. The East-West deadlock was not limited to the Big Four conference table. ' ......... Confer With Gromyko Herter and British Foreign Sec retary Selwyn Lloyd conferred for more than an hour at noon with Gromyko in an effort to get the U J A .11 iaibkcu-uuwu iuiks on a nuclear test ban off dead center. But they failed to win Soviet acceptance of western compromise proposals de signed to speed up these talks. Oromyko himself said after. wards that the meeting was "not conclusive." Herter personally informed Gro myko that the West's minimum price for a summit conference would be a stand-still agreement recognizing the present allied rights in Berlin until the foreign ministers or tne heads vl state can reach a final settlement. The Hcrter-Gromyko exchange was one of the most significant of the Big Four conference. Workers Needed In Strawberries Local recruitment h fill nfnriorl for familv Erouns In wnrlr in th strawberry Jiarvest In the Hills- Doro area, according to E. O. Bur rows, manager of the local state employment office. Strawberry picking is expected about June 4. Burrows said family accomodations will be available and children 14 vears olrt nr niHnr are acceptable if with parents. Picking scale will be 414 to 5 rents per hallock, Burrows reported. AFL-CIO IS LINED UP SOLIDLY IN FAVOR OF WAGE INCREASE WASHINGTON (UPD The AFL-CIO lined up solidly behind the United Steelworkers" wage demand today and accused a White House official ot making statements in favor of steel pro ducers. Dr. Raymond J. Saulnier, chair man of the President's Council of Economic Advisors and target of the charges, angrily denied he was trying to influence the steel wage neogatiations. Steelworkers' President David J. McDonald, an AFL-CIO vice president, planned to return to negotiations In New York City to day after getting "wholehearted endorsement" of his union's po sition from the AFL-CIO execu tive council. The 29-membcr executive coun cil, meanwhile, deferred consider ation of changes It will seek In the Senate-approved labor reform bill. Council members studied a legal analysis of the measure. Carpenters Union chief Maurice A. Hutcheson returned to good standing as a. council member, temporarily at least, after being under fire in connection with an Indiana highway scandal. The council decided Monday to defer action against Hutcheson for refusing to answer Senate Indiana situation until his trial on bribery-conspiracy charges is end ed. The carpenters' chief showed up at his first meeting in more than a year to defend himself. He denied wrongdoings and said no union funds were Involved in the highway matter. In its attack on Saulnier, the AFL-CIO council accused the ad ministration official of advocating a wage freeze and bluntly advised him to refrain from "prejudicial" statements during the steel talks. "Dr. Saulnier's insistence on freezing wages at a time when American corporation's profits are soaring reflects his own pre judices in the present economic scene," the union leaders said in a resolution. "They suggest that he heed the advice of other officials of the U. S. government and allow col lective bargaining to proceed with out one-sided, prejudicial argu mentation by one segment of the government." Saulnier, asked about the charg es, denied he ever advocated a wage-freeze or meant to influence the outcome of the steel talks. "I have tried most carefully and I think successfully to avoid any comment on the specifics of the steel situation," he said. "I had no intention of trying to Influ ence in any way the outcome of these negotiations."