' i - ----- - : - , ; l: - ; 7-'--; ' -. - V
SEVENTY-SIXTH YEAR
SALEM, OREGON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, -APRIL 28, 1926
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Mystery of "Wobble" of
Earth's Axis Is Solved
Cause of Variation of Latitude of Globe Declared Due to
' Tides of Pacific Ocean; Discovery Is Said Most
' Important in Last Century
1 PROBED IN
IILKINS QUEST
Wanted: An Answer, Bad!
Where Can Dump Be Put?
Ballyhoo Halted, Present Site Functions WellJ as High-Power-ed
Critics Seek in Vain to Find Solution of
Self-Created Problem
r
BIL0TP118
- " i :
Tf DO TRACT
MOULD REVISE
DRY MEASURE
Purchase of Property for
South Salem School to
Come Before Voters
PETITION
IS PRESENTED
Taxpayer of Section Said to Be
United Following Disastrous .!
Results of Former Chance
at Polls
Taxpayers of Salem on May 19
will once more hare tbe opportun
ity to say whether or not they are
Willing to hare 1120,000 of bonds
'to be. transferred from the Lin-4
" coin school district for the pur
chase of a new school 'site and the
erection of" a School unit thereon.
A special election, to be held
Just 2 days before th May pri
mary election, as Tailed last
night by the Salem school board
after Dr. J. O. Matthis, president
of the South Salem parent-teachers
association had presented a
petition bearing over 1-60 signa
tures of taxpayers asking for the
election. Only ten krgn&tures are
required to bring about such an
election.
School directors expressed the
hope last night that the taxpayers
will realize this time that by vot
ing yes they do not Tote for more
bonds, but merely rote for the
transference of bonds already is
sued. It was contended by Dr. Matthis,
and by some members of the
noard, that the' defeat of . the
measure at the last special elec
tion was due largely to the fact
that, many of the taxpayers, read-
fngrtisli measure on the ballot,
' fEcxgh they ware voting on the
'.'ilt2sUo;t of authorising more
Residents of South Salem de
clare that . they are- behind the
coming election solidly. There
was some split in their own camp
last time, several of them being
put out that the school board had
curtailed the site from three
tracts to two tracts. As all are
xiow agreed that the two tracts
Will make the most practical site
pbtainable promoters of the pro
ject are confident that the solid
vote of South Salem will go in
iavor of the measure.
Although the original plan was
that the measure should go on
the ballot In the special directors'
election June 21, It was found
necessary to hold the election at
'the time now set in order to be
"within the bounds of the option
en the Geiser tract, the high of
the two tracts 'comprising the
. proposed site. x
Should the measure carry, the
South Salem school site, will be
made . up of the, Bernhardt tract,
known as Tuxedo, Park, and the
3elser tract, adjacent to it. The
cost of the complete site would be
lt9,250. The remaining $100,-
,y760 will be used to construct the
school building "unit and to fur
"nlsh it.
; To make sure the taxpayers will
xtot again be mislead by the word
ing of the ballot, delegates from
South Salem will address the var
ious ciyic clubs of the city and ex
plain the project to the members.
Lax checking of the voters nas
doubtlessly been the cause of con
siderable Illegal voting, according
to Dr. Matthis. He said nhat
some women have roted thinking
they had the right because their
h unhand n were taxpayers. He
brought out that each individual
(Coatinsa a p 8.)
Tuesday
In Washington
The house passed a bill to cre-
fet prohibition - bureau in tne
treasury. '
:. The Haugen-Tincher and Curtis-
Aswell farm relief bills were re
ported to the house.
Ran mtA rati fled debt agreements
. VithtA Vria, Esthonia and Ruman-
: J: fUA commission In recess. ,
? yv . 'i
- Senator McNarv . urged Presi
r-ttent Coolldge to fill the northwest
' Vacancy on the shipping board.
I .
President Coolidge asked con
- rs for supplemental . funds tor
"the Coolldge dam and 'Columbia
'basin projects.
r Commissioner Costlgan erltlclx-
ed "Chairman llarvlo. And TJommis-.
sioner Burgess at the senate tariff
. tearing : l. j 1
SAN FRANCISCO, April
Captain Thomas J. J. See, U. S. Navy mathematician and gov
ernment astronomer at Mare Island, near here, announced
today that he had discovered the cause of variation of lati
tude or the periodic wobble" of the earth's axis.
Professor See said he had demonstrated mathematically
that the phenomena of the polar motion or the shift of the
earth's axis in the globe, which have interested scientists for
many years, are due to the tides in the Pacific ocean. This
MHMHHMiMMMMMMaMMMA discovery was the result of 40
MASQUERADE TO OPEN
MAY DAY FESTIVITIES
COSTUSfES OF liAST YEAR ARE
NOT TO BE REVIVED
Coronation Exercises Set for
O'clock, JTJrogram Features
Gaiety
As a feature of the Willamette
May Day festivities, to be held
this Friday and Saturday, a mas
querade party will be staged. Fri
day evening. It was originally
planned to bold a canoe fete, but
opposition was met on the
grounds thaat euch an event
might be frowned upon at Wil
lamette. An endeavor was made to se
cure the gymnasium for the mas
querade, but permission was den-
led, by Dean Frank M. Erickson,
who based his refusal on the as
sumption that the playing floor
might be roughed up. In lieu of
a better place, tne nans 01 uaton
hall will be utilized for the af
fair. It is understood that no
dancing will take place at the
masquerade..
Coronation exercises will be
held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Directly after will follow the cus
tomary May Day dances. The
senior girls will have charge of
the dancing this year. It is un
derstood that such "artistic ex
pressions in costumes" as drew
warm fire from a Salem resident
last year will not be In evidence,
more retiring costumes being used
instead. ,
A Hay Morning breakfast will
be held Saturday morning from
6:30 until 9:30 o'clock. This will
be followed with a tennis tourna
ment in which Pacific university
will supply the opposition.
In the afternoon an Interclass
track meet will take the place of
the customary intercollegiate base
ball game. Shortage of cash in
the athletic fund has curtailed
varsity baseball this spring.
"The Goose Hangs High," Jun
ior class play, will be presented
Saturday night in the high school
auditorium. It. has been the cus
tom to hold the Junior class play
in a local theatre, but the theatre
wiU not be available this year.
The cbapel at Willamette is con
sidered too inconvenient for stage
purposes.
WIGHT CLUBS ATTACKED
MAYOR WALKER TAKE8 RAP
AT 7 O'CLOCK CLOSING
NEW YORK
:, April 27.f-(By
ass.) The Night
Associated Press
club, which closes at 7 o'clock in
the morning, was condemned by
Mayor Walker today In a speech
before the Cheese club atvthe Na
tional Vaudeville Artists' club
house.
"I am a real friend af the
theatrical profession and of clean
decent amusement," he said, "but
there is an hour in the morning
when clean and legitimate amuse
ment ends and orgy takes its
place. I think It Is fair that I ex
press my belief that much of this
is due to visitors who come to New
York, have their fling, and then
return home to denounce our city
on the basis of their own con
duct."
He said New York was "no prop
er place for a night club "which
turns its patrons into our streets
at 7 a. m., clad in evening clothes
and flaming wraps, into the Very
teeth of decent working 'men -and
women on their way to their dally
tasks."
OREGON TEAM TO PI-AY
U. OF O. TO MEET WASHING
TON FRIDAY ASTD-SAT,
EUGENE, April 27. (By Asso
ciated Press.) The University of
Oregon baseball squad will leave
here for Seattle Thursday to meet
the University of Washington
team Friday and Saturday in the
first intercollegiate games of the
Western section ot :tno.no'fthwest
conference, it - was announced to
day. The Oregon squad will be
crlooled by the absence of Fred
ttarrlsSnrpcJ
declared ineligible for Intercollegi
ate play," ' -
27. (By Associated Press.)
years study of the tides, and the
findings under his hypothesis
agree exaetly with astronomical
observations In many countries
over a period of 35 years. The
discovery, Professor See said, is
one of the most notable triumphs
in the physics of the earth and In
exact astronomy in the last cen
tury. The newly discovered process
for keeping track of the motion
of the axis of the earth will' be of
scientific value because .hereto
fore it has been necessary to cal
culate the, amplitude, and period
of the oscillation empirically," by
actual observation '."at many sta
tions on the earth's surface.
A highly technical mathemati
cal memoir, covering 170 pages,
has been sent to the navy hydro
graphic office in Washington, D.
C, and also to the international
journal of astronomy and a Euro
pean academy of science.
The period of polar motion is
427 days, Professor See said his
tidal researches proved, thus con
firming -a theory advanced by Dr.
C. S. Chandler of Boston in 1891,
based on variations of latitude be
lieved due to lack of rigidity of
the earth.
Previous theories, based on the
idea of an absolutely rigid earth,
allowed a period of 305 days for
variations of latitude, if the equi
librium figure of the globe was
disturbed as by the tides, due to
the sun and moon, which by their
attraction alter the figure of the
sea.
"The world tide-wave generat
ed in the Pacific finds relief to the
fCoAthraed ea pass 6)
REX BLOPGETT, 16, DIES
DEATH FOLIX1W8 OPERATION
FOR APPENDICITIS
Rex Blodgett, 16, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Roy Blodgett of Salem,
died in a local hospital Tuesday
afternoon following an operation
for appendicitis. He had been ill
from the attack only a short time.
Roy Blodgett is a linotype oper
ator and for several years was
employed In The Statesman mech
anical department.
The Salem Trades and Labor
council last night expressed a res
olution cf condolence to the Blod
gett family.
Administration Bill Propos1
ing Drastic Change Is f
Passed by House
NEW BUREAU IS SOUGHT
Creation of Bureau of Prohibition
Recommended Under Metis-
ure; Block Plan to 1
Legalize Beer
WASHINGTON, April 27. (By
Associated Press.) By a vote of
196 to 4 the house today passed
an administration bill proposing
drastic revision of the dry law en
forcement machinery In the treas
ury, including the creation of a
bureau of prohibition.
The measure, which now goes
to the senate, was approved after
an amendment by Representative
La Guardia, progressive socialist,
New York, to legalize the sale of
2.75 per cent beer, had been
thrown out on a point of order.
The four votes against the bill
were cast by Representatives Auf
Der Heide, New Jersey, and Black,
Cullen and Somers, New York, all
democrats.
The proposal weathered nearly a
dozen amendments and was passed
as reported by the ways and means
committee, to which it was sent bjr
(Continued on page 6.)
SKUNKS OFFER PRCZL 1
C v -; V
CITY AUTHORITIES f TO
OFFER NO -flOtUnOF-"
SIOUX FALL3, IX', April 27.
(A. P.) A family of skunks liv
ing under his f s.rr ; end wlthfira
few feet of hl telrccni is making
life miserable for Charles S. Hills,
residing on the outskirts of town,
and though he appealed to city
authorities today tLey could offer
no help. .,'
Hills said ho cannot sleep at
night unles8fhe Wears a gas mask.
April is closed .season on skunks,
it is against the law to discharge
firearms within the city limits,
and he cannot legally trap them.
Hills appealed to the humane
society but ft declared the matter
out of its JurLiiiction.
The city health department
told Hills it fcid not believe
skunks a' menace to the public
health; the city attorney declared
he could find n law the skunks
had brokTaiJla'ud the municipal
Judge asserted the matter did not
come un!r -L!authority.
- -.-'
AinDjIN THE HAND
,i "l - .m 1, I J. ,. IWLHL II. II I I 11 ' 111 . ...
Five Radio Men Keep Ears
Strained for Ether Mes
sage From Explorer
RECEPTION IS DIFFICULT
Radio Communication Is Critical;
Detroiter Takes Air in Test
Flight After Forced
Return
NEW YORK. April 27. By
Associated Press.) Five radio
men sitting at five different sets
kept vigil tonight at the Detroit
Arctic expeditions' Fairbanks
base, said North American'? ws
paper Alliance dispatched J .
effort to pick up word .v . . -Ug
the fate of Captain Gerd niWH
kins, and pilot Beni a, miss
ing for 12 days. :""-
Radio commutftcktioa1 ith the
overlan d part Lien'1- mushing
along the Arctic 'coasjf to Point
Barrow, CatUia lYakins' objec
tive whence hopped off 12 days
ago, haa't'&eflPerowing increasing
ly dlfflcfilt-fir several weeks.
. At critical point in a com
mualcatIca"Trom the overland
party s Sanday night, when the
word --'"iaiportant message" was
received, the reception broke
down completely, leaving the per
sonnel at the base in suspense,
iiace then every method of coax
ng known to, radio has been tried
in vain.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska, April 27.
(By Associated Press.) The air
plane Detroiter, which yesterday
turned back after traveling 100
miles toward the Arctic ocean in
search of Captain George II. Wil
kins and Lieutenant Carl B. Elel
son, went up in a test flight here
today. Crossing of the Brooks
range by the Detroiter was held
impossible yesterday. One of the
three engines went dead and a
compass did not work correctly.
Wilkins, leader of an expedition
in search of land in the Arctic
ocean and Eielson, his aviator,
have not been reported siiice their
plane, the Alaskan, was seen April
15, 115 miles east of Point Bar
row, Alaska, and over the edge
of the ocean.
NEWS DEAN DIES
SAN JOSE, Cal., April 27.
(A.P.) Alex P. Murgotten, dean
of California newspaper WTiters,
and prominent pioneer, died at
his home here tonight aged 80.
Plans to abandon the present city dump which have been
allowed to run wild, leaving intelligent thought on the sub
ject far behind were held up for the first .time yesterday,
while those responsible for one false start sought to do two
things: ;
To explain away the impression that officials had deliber
ately planned to force a dump on Salem Heights ;
To figure out, on April 27, what should have been figured
out six weeks ago; where, in common justice, the new city
dump could be placed, in case it
should be moved.
Those most prominent in the
controversy appeared openly in the
light of seeking a solution to the
problem of their own creation.
Having thought the matter ca
pable of solution by merely leav
ing it to private interests, they
now conclude a city-owned dump
is probably wisest after all.
. That proposal is being handled
delicately, however, in that the
same group now thinks that an
incinerator and disposal plant
would be most practical.
Estimates of the cost of such a
plant range from $40,000 to $60,
000, which probably would not be
voted in the near future in as
much as the people on May 21 are
to be asked for money for bridges,
for fire equipment, for city zoners.
Meanwhile the present city
dump continues in use, and those
who planned to abandon it at once
by the simple passing of a resolu
tion begin to check up on earlier
ideas, in search of some way out
of the dilemma represented by no
funds, and no community public
spirited enough to voluntarily ex
tend an invitation for a dump to
be deposited in its midst.
Having advertised Salem as the
home of a dump described as more
unsanitary and more infested than
any city dump in any civilized
community could be, this same
group now discover that the libel
led city dump is probably the best
place to deposit the city's garbage,
at least until a better place can be
found, a better place not having
been found in the weeks during
which the old dump has been sub
jected to high-powered criticism."'
Members of the committee in
charge, who are honest, sincere
men, seem to have discovered one
thing as a result of the recent con
troversy: that the city's business
can be conducted better by city of
ficials than by newspapers seeking
to exploit a supposedly sensational
story, thereby bringing public
pressure to bear upon committee
men out of keeping with the legiti
mate pressure of the undistorted
facts.
Careful observers of city prob
lems recall that the endeavor to
perfect garbage disposal methods
has received careful attention by
several administrations. The last
has been no exception. Long be
fore sensational stories appeared
in the press, committees of com
petent men were working on the
problem.
Facta as outlined were these.
The present dump is not a whole-f
sale blot on the landscape; rats
may be there, coming principally
from the adjacent Fair Grounds.
The dump was neither unsani
tary, nor unsightly, having been
covered with fresh dirt following
deposits of refuse,
y The dump had gradually filled
a hollow, bringing the level of
the ground to that of the adjoin
ing fields. Within a period of
Bome nine months, it was estimat
ed, the remainder of the hole
would be filled. There was still
nothing alarming in that, save
that additional deposits would
raise the level of the ground
above that of adjoining fields.
To prevent this members of the
city administration began a care
ful investigation of the situation,
endeavoring to find a logical
place for the opening of a new
dump. At this juncture, an at
tempt was made to stampede the
change, with the result that hav
ing created the impression that
the old dump was an unspeak
able place, critics are now at a
loss to find a spot araUable for
the refuse, and are back at the
point of departure, using the old
city dump, and finding no one's
aesthetic sensibilities overly
shocked as the result.
Against an apparent stone wall
(CoBtiavwI on pace t.)
MOON JEWELERS TO OPEN
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
FILED FOR NEW FIRM ,
Articles of incorporation were
filed here Tuesday by Moon's Jew
elers, Inc., who are to operate a
store in Salem. -No indication was
given as to -when the store will
open. ', '''-:
The new store baa a capital
stock Of $4000, with 100 shares at
$40 eack. . The. Incorporators are
Claude C. Moon and Ala E. Moon,
both of Salem, and Claud H. Giles
ot arsMIeld, -
KILL STATE) PROSECUTOR
IN CHICAGO' GUN BATTLE
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY KILLED
BY MACHIXE GUN FIRE
Two Others Dead, Another
Wounded When Bandits
i
Swoop Down on Car
Is
CHICAGO, April 27. (By As
sociated Press.) 4 Assistant State's
Attorney William McSwiggen was
one of three men killed tonight in
a shooting affray In Cicero, a
suburb.
McSwiggen's body and that of
another man, both with bullet
wounds, were found a mile from
the scene of the fight. .
The two were believed to have
been occupants of an automobile
in which Thomas M. Duffy, who
was fatally wounded, was riding
when a machine gun opened fire
from another car.
Police said McSwiggen gained
the enmity of gangsters In and
about Chicago because of his suc
cessful prosecution of John Scalise
and Albert Anselmi, members of
the notorious Genna band.
One man was; slain and another
seriously wounded in a gun fight
in "Little Italy." The two shoot
ings were not connected.
The other man killed in the
Cicero shooting was James J.
Doherty, alleged leader of Cicero
beer runners.
Two men whose identity has not
been yet learned also were oc
cupants of the tear in which Mc
Swiggen. Duffy land Doherty were
riding. It is possible both were
wounded.
The five were driving slowly
along Roosevelt! road when a sec
ond car, manned by the machine
gunner and his crew, drew up
alongside and without warning a
volley was fired; into tbe machine.
McSwiggen, Dojierty and Duffy,
according to witness attempted to
escape by leaping out.
Duffy staggered a short dis
tance and fell.! McSwiggen and
Doherty were dragged back into
the machine by the other occu
pants. An hour later their bodies
were found. The automobile has
not been located.
One theory of the shooting Is
that McSwiggen, who was 26
years old, and known as the
"hanging prosecutor," was with
Doherty on investigation -of con
ditions in Cicero, scene of many
shootings attributed to alcohol
and beer feuds.! Police believe it
possible that tie prosecutor was
'merely an unfortunate victim who
happened to be in the way when
gangsters set out to get Doherty,
Duffy, or one ol! the others In the
car.
Duffy died In a hospital several
hours after the shooting. ' He was
hit by several bullets and was un
conscious when taken to the hos
pital where detectives hurried to
obtain a statement before his
death. I a,
1 .
WAR FILM PARADE TODAY
MILITARY ORGANIZATION TO
JOIN DEMONSTRATION
The American Legion drum
corps, the Salem high school band
and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
band will join together in a musi
cal demonstration tonight , aa a
feature of a big parade to be pre
sented by the war veterans in con
nection with the opening showing
here of "On Flanders Fields," at
the Heilig theater today and to
morrow. ,
The parade jrill start from .the
armory at 7:30 o'clock and will
be participated !in by all the veter
ans' organisations here. Follow
ing the parade a Are works dis
play will be given, featured by
huge bombs and skyrockets."
"On Flanders Field", comes to
Salem under the auspices ot the
Veterans of Foreign Wars. - It was
filmed on the actual battle ' front
of France during the world war
by members oft the signal corps. ;
3H8S RICHARDSON MARRIES
. SACRAMENTO, -j9ril i 2 7
(By Associated Press.) Miss
Rata Richardson, only daughter
of Governor a$d Mrs. Friend W.
Richardson,, today- became the
bride of Frank J. Smith,;, warden
of San.Quentln penitentiary.
Tuesday Is Hottest April Day
In History of Salem ,
Weather Bureau
MERCURY STANDS AT 91
Yesterday Warmest Day In Salem)
Since August 8, 1029; Other
Valley Points Wit
ness Samiuer
The official thermometer of tha
Salem weather observation bureau
here registered i degrees in the
shade along the ban la of 'the Wil
lamette river Tuesday, recording
the hottest! day Salem 'has wit
nessed since August 8. 1925. when,
a like temperature, was registered,
and the hottest April day In the
history of j the weather bureau
here. The station first started tak
ing readings in 1892. The mini
mum temperature for Tuesday. was
49 degrees.;
Willson park, the mecca of heat
stricken Salemites, was crowded -during
the hot hours of the after
noon and well into the evening.
In the offices, Salem literally dis
carded its coat and in the more
private sanctums, shirt sleeves
were rolled and collars and ties
stuffed into coat pockets. Water
coolers were taken from storage,
and the accumulation of dust was
washed out of the ample jugs.
Only the fact that "but few straw
hats appeared on the streets gave
any semblance of truth to the
statement that Salem Is enjoying
spring and! not a rather torrid,
summer. - 'l
In April, 1925, the thermometer
reached its; highest point when it
touched 81 degrees, ten degrees
short of yesterday's record. It
May, the high 'point " was" 8 T de
grees.' Jane carried the record for
the year 1925, when 100 degrees"
was registered. During July, 94
was the high mark, with 97 In
August, and 90 in September. " '
Little prospect for: Immediatf
relief is seen. The weather fore '
cast for Oregon denotes "lucres
ing warmth."
PORTLAND, April 27. (By As
sociated , Press.)- Portland today
experienced the hottest April day
ever recorded here, when the tem- '
perature rose to 93 degrees. Slight -relief
from the heat wave is ex- ...
pected tomorrow.
Other state points also reported,
record breaking readings, with the
mercury reaching 96 at Roseburg,
BEND. April 27. (By Associated-
Press.) The temperature
touched 85 degrees this afternoon
which lacked two degrees' of tho
maximum for the month. 'f - Last
night was one of the warmest of
the season, the minimum temper
ature during the night 'being' 40
degrees, while prospects were that '
it would be equally warm tonight.
ASTORIA, April 2 7, ( By As
sociated Press.) The 'mercury
column climbed to 82 degrees
shortly after noon today according
to report of weather observer A.
(Contix.ad pags I.) ; x
BALM SUIT IS SETTLED
MARRIES, $18,000 ACTION SET
TLED FOR $1.25
MITCHELL, S. D., April 27.-
(By Associated Press,) George
Besancon settled an $18,000
breach of promise suit brought by
Miss Dorothy Webb "for $1.25
initial expense," court records to
day showed. They were married
last week, t
WHO LOST SIX COWS?
FOUND IN 'A BUNCH, THEY
ANXIOUSLY WAIT OWNER
Hate you lost six full-grown
cows recently? Within the
last week or so? v"
Someona nas, evidently with
out knowing it, j At any rate,
six cows have been found -in
a bunch. They are now in the
keeping: ot, Mary Gregoire, near
West -Woodburn. They came
to her place six days ago and
since that" time : have made
themselves! at home. ,
. The list ot found cows in
cludes the following i One Hol
stein ; -J four .2 year-old Hol
steins, and one 2-year-old gray
cow.; - j."-'-.. vv
Y The - Gregoire'. farm Is one
and one-half miles north of St.
Louis, and west of .West Wood
burn. . -.''
i
I