:..
VOL. LXI-NO. 19,370
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
PoBtoffice a- Second-claaa Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1922
28 PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS,
rniiiun in inccDuiMC. LOAN TO GERM
M
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
GETS WARM RAINS
UMATIEIfA AND HOOD RIVER
ARE TWO EXCEPTIONS.
GIRLS PLAN ATTACK
ON MARRIED WOMEN
HOLLYWOOD EVIL
CHILDREN IN POVERTY
ASK FOR YULE GIFTS
aid for mm
I JUtU 111 JUOLI 111111.
HELD 'IDLE TALK'
BE IS AS
CACHE LOCATED BY USE OF
MAP Ef CONFESSION.
STENOGRAPHERS '- PROTEST
AT CORNER ON JOBS.
APPEALS TO SANTA CLAUS
MADE IN LETTERS.
W,l TAKEN
II RAID Al MINI
KED
UPTOCO
iTTEE
Denver Bank Guard Slain
by Bandits,
BATTLE RAGES IN STREET
, Mint Riddled by Outlaws
While Big Sum Taken
V From Truck.
GNE BOBBER IS WOUNDED
Injured Man Is Pulled Into
Speeding Automobile by
His Companions.
DENVER, Colo., Bee. 18.
Masked bandits shortly after 10:40
o'clock this morning shot and killed
Charles Linton, guard of the Den
ver branch of the Kansas City Fed
eral Reserve bank, stole $200,
000 in currency and escaped after
waging a gun fight with armed
guards on duty at the United
States mint. Every peace officer
in Colorado tonight is combing the
highways leading from Denver in
a search for the outlaws. The
money was being transferred from
the mint to a delivery truck of the
reserve bank standing at the curb
and was in 50 packages of $4000
each. All of the money was in $5
denomination.
Police expected to be aided in
their search for the escaped bandits
by the fact that one, apparently
the leader, was shot seriously if
not mortally by a government
guard on duty at the mint as the
bandit turned to fire a volley at
the guards as the car sped away
from the scene of the holdup.
Police Cars Go in Pursuit.
An automobile carrying seven
men, two wearing masks and one
drooping over the edge of the ma
chine, bleeding profusely, was re
ported to ' police as having been
seen speeding northward out of
the city shortly after the robbery.
Denver police unhesitatingly de
clared the robbery the most sensa
tional daylight holdup ever exe
cuted in Colorado.
All patrolmen and detectives of
the local police department were
armed with riot guns and were be
ing assisted in the search by the
county and federal authorities.
Mint Door Bombarded.
The disregard of the bandits for
human life marked the robbery, ac
cording to police, as one of the
most determined in police annals.
With sawed-off shotguns, two of
the bandits bombarded the front
door of the mint as they leaped
from the automobile. Fifty gov
ernment employes summoned by
an alarm bell seized shotguns and
rushed to. the doors or windows of
the mint, shooting at the holdup
men, who returned the fire and at
the same time calmly proceeded to
load the 50 packages of currency
into their own car.
Fusillades of shots ripped
through buildings across the street
and spat against granite walls as
the guards and bandits exchanged
shots.
Bandit Car Driven Alongside.
The four members of the federal
reserve bank crew employed in the
transfer of the funds J. E. Olson,
cashier; C. T. Linton, J. Adams and
William Havenor -had just left the
entrance' of the mint and were
walking toward their machine
standing nearby when another car
containing the bandits drove up
alongside the wire-inclosed truck.
According to witnesses, two or
three men carrying guns leaped
from the car. and with a shout of
"hands up!" opened fire on the re
' serve bank employes. The shoot
ing attracted the attention of
guards within the mint, who sound
. ed the alarm to other inside em-
ployes, and they rushed out on the
steps of the government building
to shoot at the robbers.
Linton, according to information
obtained by police after question
ing several eyewitnesses, attempted
to throw the money into the grilled
.(Concluded oa Page 2, Column u
Large Quantity of Clothing,
Taken by Robbers Who Broke
Jail, Is Recovered.
GRANTS PASS, Or., Dec. 18.
(Special.) Some - of the loot taken
from motorists robbed on the
highway near Grants 'Pass during
the last summer was recovered to-,
day by Josephine county officials.
Following the escape from the
county jail of Oregon Jones and
Ellsworth Kelly, held in connection
with the crimes, Mrs. Jones con
fessed to the officers the exact lo
cation of the stolen goods. She
drew a map which the officers fol
lowed and which led them to a
cache of two suitcases.
In the suitcases were clothing, toil
et articles and other things stolen
from four different tourist parties.
All the jewelry had been rtmoved
and it is thought that it had been
sold. The sheriff expects to recover
the remainder of the goods .soon.
Nothing has been heard from
either Jones or Kelly since their
escape a week ago. A' holdup in
the Siskiyou mountains is thought
a possible crime of the two, as the
robbers took an automobile and
headed south. Jones is considered
one of the hardest criminals in the
state, having served a term in the
state reform school and a term in
the Oklahoma state prison.
ROAD AWARD CRITICISED
Lane Commissioner Brands Con
tract as Gross Waste of Money.
EUGENE, Or., Dec. 18. (Special.)
Emmett M. Sharp, Lane county
commissioner, declared today - that
the letting of the contract, by the
state highway commission last week
to build the 8;73 miles of the Goshen
Lowell highway in Lane county, to
the Warren Construction company
for $82,571, or nearly $10,000. a
mile, is a gross waste of money and
that he would be able to construct
the road for something like $3000
or $4000 a mile. Sharp is a' road
contractor and was engaged in that
business before he was elected com
missioner. The letting of the contract, which
was done by the commission on
recommendation of the Lane county
court, was bitterly criticised by
Sharp. He also declared the Lost
creek bridge on the same highway,
which was awarded to E. D. Olds
at $9033, can be built for half the
money the contract calls for.
DEER POSSESSION DENIED
Accused Man Pleads Not Guilty of
Having Meat Unlawfully.
ASTORIA, Dec. 18. (Special.)
David Haine was arraigned in the
justice court today on a complaint
sworn to by C. P. Smith, deputy
warden," and charging him with un
lawful possession of deer meat. He
pleaded not guiltj and was held for
trial. Mike Hagren will be ar
raigned on a similar charge.
George Hagren pleaded guilty re
cently to a charge tf killing a deer
during the' closed season near Elsie
and was fined $100, which he paid.
The other men are accused of help
ing to pack the deer meat out of the
woods.
MISSOULA, MONT., JARRED
Residents Awakened by Quake;
No Damage Reported.
MISSOULA, Mont., Dec. 18. A
slight earthquake was felt here at
9:55 tonight. Residents were
awakened, pictures shaken from
walls and dishes rattled.
No damage was reported in any
section of the city.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Dec. 18 A
slight earthquake was recorded at
the Harvard college seismographic
station today.
The shock apparently centered in
or near the West Indies.
POSTOFFICE TILL ROBBED
Creswell Station Broken Open but
Revenue Stamps 'Are Ignored.
CRESWELL, Or., Dec, 18. (Spe
cial.) The local postoffice was
robbed last night, entrance being
made through the woodshed to the
door between it and the main office,
which was broken. About $12 in
cash was taken. Some iron instru
ment was used to pry open the
door, as the doorjamb was splin
tered. Some revenue stamps were exam
ined but not taken, and some regis
tered letters were left.
BIRD NARCOTIC CARRIER
Pigeon Bearing Tube, of Drug
Surprises Raiders.
YANCOUVER, B. C, Dec. 18.
While police searched a house in
Chinatown yesterday for hidden
drugs, a carrier pigeon flew in bear
ing a tube of narcotics.
Two men were arrested.
VALERA REPORTED HELD
Capture by Free State Forces Is
Rumored in Paris.
PARIS, Dec. 19. The Herald this
morning says reports were current
in Paris that Eamon de Valera had
been captured by the Irish free state
authorities.
Decision on Reparations
First Is Necessary.
U, S, AIM IS EXP17
British-French Harmony Is
Declared Big Object.
DEBT ISSUE TO STAND
Administration Not Willing to
Cancel Obligations as Prelim
ary to Indemnity Pact.
WASHINGTON, D. C Dec. 18
Adjustment of the reparations dis
pute between London and Paris is
the crux of the European tangle, in
the American viewpoint, as stated
here today on competent authority.
Talk of any American loan to Ger
many was described as "idle" until
such an adjustment had been made.
It also was made clear that the
question of allied war debts to the
United States was not viewed in
Washington as involved in the Anglo-French
differences as to the
amount Germany can pay. Beyond
this official spokesmen refused to
go in outlining .what the Washing
ton' government had in mind. There
was no hint as to the purposes or
progress of informal discussions
with allied leaders, which have been
indicated both here and abroad to
be under way. No answer was re
turned to inquiries as to whether
Germany had again sought Amer
ican intervention in the reparations
difficulty. .
British-French Harmony . Aim.
With the field of operation thus
narrowed, however, it was evident
in official talk today that adminis
tration hopes that American influ
ence can aid in the European situa
tion were quite generally believed
to be based on possibilities that may
result;- in bringing British wJind
French thought into harmony as to
Germany's present economic plight
and capacity to pay.
Since time lacks for lengthy
process of examination on that
point before expiration of the mora
torium January 15, there was a tend
ency to believe that the Washing
ton government had some hope of
causing at least a delay , in the
definite action by France after that
time, pending further light from
recognized expert authorities.
V. S. Participation Expected.
In this connection, it is known
that in some diplomatic quarters one
impression prevails that American
participation in some form when
the council of premiers resumes its
sessions In Paris January 2 is to be
expected. The expectation appears
to be based on the conclusion that
the council meeting would afford
natural and logical opportunity for
a statement of American views.
Presumably Germany is not only
(Concluded on Page 4, Column 2.).
PERFECTLY WILLING TO
v f
tap Broken In Portland
Elsewhere; More Rain
Predicted for Today.
REPORTS SHOW OLD BOREAS'
GRIP ON NORTHWEST
BROKEN.
Ashland has warm rain.
Pendleton has snow flurries,
with temperature above zero.
. Umatilla still in grip of
cold.
Aberdeen snow melts rap
idly under warm rain. ,
Albany cold spell broken by
warm rain.- t
La Grande has warmer
weather.
Astoria cold spell broken.
Eugene snow melts rapidly
and silver thaw is averted.
Hood River sleet storm
blocks highway.
The Dalles covered with ice
as result of sleet storm.
Olympia weather moderates.
Ice makes roads dangerous,
but rain later clears high
, ways. '
Seattle cold wave dispelled
by warmer temperatures.
Spokane reports snow and
moderating temperatures there
and at Takima.
.. Bend gets relief when Chi
nook and lain turn snow to
slush.
Winter's grip on Portland and the
greater part of the Pacific north
west appeared to have been broken
yesterday when reports from nearly
all districts heralded the melting of
snow and ice-coatings on streets and
highways under the gentle urgings
of a chinook wind and warm rains.
The only exception to moderation
In the weather seemed to be in' the
Hood River and Umatilla areas.
From Pendleton came the tidings of
snow flurries, with all of Umatilla
county still in the grip of winter.-
Hood River had a sleet storm
which blocked the Columbia high
way and halted the work of clearing
the scenic road at least for the time
being.
Points in Washington generally
reported relief from the cold, as did
western Oregon ar.-d the Willamette
valley. - , v;- 'i-- -
In Portland the melting of the
snow in the downtown district and
the disappearance of ice in. the resi
dential sections indicated the de
parture of the chilling east wind
and the freezing temperatures. This
was accompanied with a forecast of
a rising temperature, more rain and
warm , southerly w'nds for the city
today. The rain will be general over
the western portion of the state,
but the eastern section will again
be blanketed with snow, according
to Forecaster Wells.
The most serious effect of the
deluge of sleet and "tapioca" snow
was the blockading of the Columbia
highway between Mist Falhj and
Multnomah Falls. A. S. Woodard,
road supervisor in charge, tele
phoned to Roadmaster Eatchel that
the pellet-like snow had rolled down
the hills and drifted across the high
way to a depth of four to six feet
in various places.
Despite the slush which covered
(Concluded on Page 9. Column 2.)
7
ACT AS SANTA CLAUS IP THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT.
Preference In Selection for Work
at Coming Session Demanded
Over Wives of Solons.
""" i
'SALEM, Or, Dec. 18. (Special.)
A number of unemployed Salem and
Portland girls who are dependent
upon work for a livelihood will
swoop down on the lawmakers at
the opening of the" 1923 legislative
session and demand that preference
be given them over married women
in the employment of clerks and
stenographers.
One of the girls interested In the
movement said today that she had
completed a check of the legislative
payroll extending back over a period
of several years and had discov
ered that married women apparent
ly had been favored in the distri
bution of positions.
In many cases it was found, ac
cording to this girl, that the wives
of legislators had accompanied
their husbands to Salem and had
acted as their stenographers. In
only a few instances had these
women any stenographic training,
she said, and in the large majority
of the cases' they were not able to
operate a typewriter. Despite their
lack of training these women were
allowed the statutory fee of $4 a
day and overtime. " '
One outstanding instance of put
ting it over the state was discov
ered in connection with the 1921
session of the legislature. This in
volved a legislator residing in a
rural distriot, who brought his wife
to Salem and later had her sworn
in as his official stenographer. A
day or two later she was sent to
a hospital, where she gave birth to
a child. Despite the fact that she
remained In the hospital practically
all of the time she was in Salem,
she was allowed almost full-time
pay as a stenographer;
FAMOUS EXPLORER DEAD
David Iiindsay, Who Opened Aus
tralian Gold Fields, Passes.
MELBOURNE, Dec. 18. (By the
Associated Press.) The death was
announced today of DavidLindsay,
noted explorer, through whose pio
neering investigations the great
Australian gold field was discov
ered, ! .
He was 66 years old.
TRAIN WRECKED, 2 DEAD
Locomotive Overturned and Engi
neer and Fireman Killed.
REVELSTOKE, B. C, Dec. 18. M.
Melville, engineer, and ,J. S. Field,
fireman,, were killed today when a
Canadian Pacific passenger train,
express No. 4, struck a broken rail.
The locomotive was overturned
and the mail, express, baggage and
colonist cars were derailed.
HARDING IS LUMBERMAN
President Re-elected Director of
Marion, O., Company.
MARION, O., Dec. 18. President
Harding was re-elected a director of
the Pendergast Lumber company at
the annual meeting of stockholders
here today. .
He has been a director of the com
pany for a number of years.
i
Los Angeles Council Is
Asked to Act.
JUST JUDGMENT WANTED
Ministers Ask Naming of
Unbiased Committee.
DOPE DEALER IS SOUGHT
While' Wallace Reid Battles for
. Health, Narcotic Agents Get
on Trail of Suspect.
BY EDWARD DOHERTY.
I Bv Chicaeo Tribune Leased Wire.)
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Dec. 18. The
city council of Los Angeles will be
asked tomorrow to appoint a com
mittee to make an' investigation of
the motion-olcture industry, to the
end that the truth or falsity of re
ports concerning immorality and
the use of drugs may be deter
mined. The Methodist Ministers' associ
ation of southern California will
make the request, submitting a res
olution drawn up late today. The
resolution cites the fact that the
author of "The Sins of Hollywood"
has been indicted, not for lying, but
for sending obscene matter through
the mails, and that following, the
Wallace Reid scandal it is persist
ently rumored that some of the
biggest producers and actors in
southern California are linked with
the actor's ruin.
City Declared Suffering.
"In all this," the resolution reads,
"the city has suffered irreparably.
These stories are either true or
false. The movie Industry is either
Infested with an immoral element
that threatens the industry, good
morals and decency in our city and
nation and the city's good name, or
else it has been and is now being
maligned and slandered in an un
thinkable manner."
The resolution asked that the
commission be made up of "un
biased men and women from .the
various walks of life in this city,"
and that it receive the authority
and power to summon witnesses,
administer oaths and take evidence.
It asked also that the commission
receive freedom to gather all facts
unhindered and without restriction,
and that an attorney be appointed
to assist in the investigation. An
appropriation sufficient for all ex
penses was recommended. ..
Producers' Aid Is Asked.
"We urge tha't all producers and
others interested in the future of
the movie industry to join us in
this petition to the city council, and
4 we call upon WJ11 Hays to use his
best endeavor to this end, looking
to an adequate remedy, if the con
ditions reported obtain, and the
complete vindication- of the good
name of the industry and of this
city if they are found to be false,"
the resolution concluded.
J. Herbert Frank, film player,
member of the Actors' Equity asso
ciation and of the Los Angeles Ath-
letlc club,' vehemently denied today
that he was in any way connected
with the Hollywood dope ring.'
The name J. Herbert Prank was
found on letters in the possession
of William Williams, arrested as
a dope peddler, according to Dr.
Carleton Simon, special deputy po
lice commissioner of New York
city, in charge of the narcotic
division.
These letters, it was said, asked
Williams to send him morphine and
cocaine. Other letters contained the
Initials "W. R.," Dr. Simon declared,
and it was hinted the initials might
be those of Wallace Reid.
Injustice Is Charged.
"I feel that a great injustice has
been done me," Mr. Frank said. "I
do not know Wallace Reid. I have
never met him. I do not know this
man Williams. I have never had
anything to do with. him. If a man
named J. Herbert Frank wrote him,
it was not L I am willing to let
anybody cross-examine me at length
in this matter and I intend to visit
District Attorney Woolwine as soon
as possible. If the federal agents
have wanted me, they have made
little effort to find me." ,
While Reid, dope-shattered movie
star, was fighting the crisis, nar
cotic agents were trying to locate
the man who was alleged to have
supplied him with drugs.
This man was said to be a moving
picture actor, though not a star,
and, it was said, fould be arrested as
soon as the federal agents have
learned his present abiding place.
Kame Is Kept Secret.
His name . was being held secret,
but it was known that the man was
arrested a short time ago and was
released through pressure of certain
movie cliques.
It was declared that the agents
were trying to trap Reid through
j this man, that they had shadowed
their quarry on a number of occa
sions, that they knew where and
when hi was to meet the movie
star and that they planned to arrest
both peddler and client as the ren
dezvous. V
Reid, however, learned of their
Postoffice Turns Over Missives to
Welfare Bnreau and Cases
Are Being Investigated.
Tragic stories of need and suffer
ing amid "plenty" In Portland are
being uncovered in some of the
letters written, by little children to
their patron saint, Santa Claus,
which are being turned over by the
postoffice to the local public wel
fare bureau.
Among those received by the
bureau in the last week are two
particularly appealing to the charit
able heart. One was written by a
8-year-old boy and the other by a
12-year-old girl. They are modest
letters. The children ask for very
little, but there is a world of appeal
in each line for the things denied
to them because of circumstances.
'The names and addresses of the
children are withheld, as the bureau
is investigating their cases.
Some of the letters read as
follows:
Dear Santa: I am whritlng you to
see If you mbr my little brother
and sister this Christmas, for we all
not have anything If you don't nelp us.
we is all too little to work for only
mother, but we are good to her. she
was sick all summer, but we help with
the washing and done dishes, we
scrubbed. It- was know little kitchen
eather so If you come be sure you dont
get lost in. we not got much in our
kitchen or house but Its home again
for mother is well, well here my brother
sister ages 13 boy 12 boy 10 girl 8 boy
5 girl boy 2 our daiiing baby sister,
she is 6 months old. well 1 laot in put
ting down my age but first of all know
we not choicie, Jest something, santa,
so It not be so hard, you see we got a
big doctor bill and some other payments
to make, papa been sick, he got hurt
when he worked so it nock all hopes
In the head.
Dear Santa: It Is not very long before
Christmas, so I am sending my letter
early so' it will get filled. I am a little
poor girl. . The first thin I need Is a
new dress to fit a girt 12 years old, 1
pair skates and a new ribbon. 1 petti
coat and a bag of candy if you can af
ford it. But if you cannot bring all these
dear santa, bring me the dress- because
I need! it. So dont disappoint me.
Two years ago letters like the
foregoing were turned over to the
dead-letter office, where they were
buried in vaults and forgotten. On
Christmas morn there were always
many disappointed young hearts
that Santa Claus had "forgotten"
and who wondered sadly why other
children were too well remembered.
No more are them children disap
pointed on Christmas morn, for all
their letters are now taken care of
by the public welfare bureau and
where there is actual need assistance
is lent. : .
By telephoning Broadway 8216
anyone who wishes to help the bu
reau in its work can get in touch
with the men in charge of the1 work."
MME. BERNHARDT FAINTS
"Divine Sarah." Unable to Open
With Her New Play.
PARIS, Dec. 18. (By the Associ
ated Press.) Sarah Bernhardt had a
fainting attack at the close of the
last rehearsal this afternoon of
Sacha Guitry's new play, "Un Sujet
De Roman," which was to have been
produced tonight with Bernhardt in
one of the principal parts.
The production was postponed.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
35 degrees; minimum, 22 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain; not so cold; southerly
winds.
Foreign.
League of nations scouted by Russian
minister at Lausanne conference.
Page 2.
National.
Governors decide on more rigid enforce
ment of prohibition. Page 11.
United States loan to Germany declared
"idle" talk at present. Page 1.
Delay of subsidy bill is urged in senate
debate. Page 15.
European powers apparently veering to
American viewpoint, says -Sullivan.
Page 4.
House requests President Harding to ne
, gotlate wth foreign powers for limita
tion of navies. Page 6.
Domestic.
Herrin victims bullet-riddled, witnesses
testify. Page S.
Twenty-three of wrecked tug's crew
saved from barren isle. Page S.
Bandits in raid at mint seize $200,000
after killing bank guard in terrific
battle. Page 1.
Planes abandon hunt for airmen. Page 6.
Wallace Reid, film star, is believed to
have passed crisis. Page 4. .
Pacific Northwest.
Loot from Josephine county tourists re
covered. Page 1.
Sounds of hammer and saw heard every
where in Astoria now. Page 13.
Girl stenographers plan fight on em
ployment of wives of law-makers at
coming session. Page 1.
Sports.
Jess Willard surprises local ring ob-
-vers at boxing workout. Page 14.
Medford-Corvallis dispute may prevent
Scott high football game New Year's
day. Page 15.
Johnny Evers to Quit White Sox. Page 14.
Commercial and Marine.
Financial markets suffer reaction.
Page 27.
Wheat hits new high mark for season.
Page 26. i
Flour advances with higher wheat mar
ket. Page 26.
Bonds irregular in New York trading.
Page 27.
Dock patrol cut; strike emergency passed
Page 12.
Variety of northwest products demanded
by Atlantic coast markets. Page 12.
Portland and Vicinity.
Mr. Pierce declares pie hunters are num
erous. Page 19.
Chamber of Commerce drive makes
progress. Page 21.
Aid for Astoria put up to committee of
legislators. Page 1.
Big profits denied by telephone company
in hearing. Page 18.
Legion asks Pierce not to discontinue
1 soldier commission. Page 20.
Separate trials denied Lightner. Page 17
Children in poverty write letters asking
Santa Claus to" remember them.
Page 1.
Warm rains relieve most of Pacific
northwest. Page 1.
Farm tax cut to be recommended to
legislature. Page, 13,
Five Legislators Named
to Consider Relief .
ANOTHER MEETING PLANNED
Report Is to Be Made to
Senator Klepper.
HASTY ACTION OPPOSED
Conference Held on How to Build
Road Through City; Pierce
Offers No Solution.
Solution of the problem of grant
ing Astoria's appeal for state aid
in reconstruction of the city's de
stroyed business section now rests
with a committee of five members
of the legislature appointed by
Acting Governor Ritner at the con
ference held at the city hall yes
terday between the Astoria relief
committee of ten. Governor-elect
Pierce, members of the legislature
and the state highway commission
and Mayor Baker, who called the
meeting..
Members of the committee of five
are Senator Robert S. Farrell of
Portland, chairman; Senator O. B.
Robertson of Condon and Repre
sentatives Loyal M. Graham, Forest
Grove; E. N. Hurd, Seaside, and D.
E. Fletcher of Independence. Under
resolutions adopted by the confer
ence this committee will confer
with the Astoria executive commit
tee of ten. Governor-elect Pierce
and the state highway commission,
with the view of devising a method
of meeting Astoria's plea for con
struction by the state highway com
mission of a central street through
the ruined business section.
Another Meeting to Be Called.
The committee is to report as
soon as possible to Senator Milton
R. Klepper, chairman of yester
day's conference, who will call an
other meeting of members of the
legislature, at which a programme
of action for recommendation to the
legislature when it convenes in
January will be adopted.
Ten members of the state senate
and It members of the house of
representatives attended yesterday's
conference. All expressed a desire
to aid" the citizens of the stricken
city, but a difference of opinion de
veloped as to how this could best
be done.
Council Chamber Crowded.
At the opening of the conference
the city council chamber was
crowded with spectators who later
were requested by Mayor Baker to
withdraw and the members of the
legislature then resolved themselves
into a committee and elected Sena
tor Klepper chairman.
Mayor Baker had previously ex
plained the plight of Astoria's busi
ness men and the urgent need of
action. "This is not a problem for
Individuals to solve but one which
necessitates action by the state,"
Mayor Baker declared. "It is the
duty of you members of the legis
lature and Governor-elect Pierce as
representatives of the state to eay
how the problem shall be met. The
buck cannot be passed."
Property Bonded to Limit.
Property in the destroyed business
section had already been bonded to
the legal limit for construction of
the sea wall and other civic im
provements, said Rev. William S.
Gilbert, chairman of the Astoria
committee of ten, and as a result
it would be impossible for this
property to bear the cost of recon
struction of the business area. Aid
from the federal government to the
extent of filling in the sunken
streets and construction of a re
taining wall is expected, he said,
thus leaving the city with the prob
lem of building hard surface streets.
Owing to the heavy bonded in
debtedness, he explained, construc
tion by the state highway commis
sion of a central street which can
be used as the core of the business
district street system is essential.
He did not explain how construction
of the rest of the streets would be
financed but asserted rebuilding of
Commercial street, the main avenue
of the. business district, would be
the only assistance the state would
be asked to give.
Appeal Made to State.
"The only chance for Astoria to
build again is for you people to find
a way for our people to do this
work," Rev. Mr. Gilbert declared.
"We are appealing to Uie state be
cause there is no alternative."
The attitude of the highway com
mission, which is barred by law
from doing any work within the
corporate limits of a city of more
than 2500 population without spe
cial permission of the legislature,
was explained by Commissioner
Yeon.
"Conditions at Astoria are cer
tainly disheartening," Mr. Yeon said.
"The highway contmlssion has sur
veyed the situation and is willing to
go as far as possible toward grant
ing the appeal of the city. I know
o no move that has more merit
than going to the rescue of Astoria."
. jfloaoiudaA aa fag S. Coitraa iA
(Concluded on. Page 12, Column 4.)