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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1931)
SERVICE - We jjuarantee our car rier service. If your paper does not arrive by 8:80, call 0101 and a copy Kill be delivered at once. THE WEATHER Cloudy today, becoming nsetUed Saturday with rains by night; Max. Temp. Thursday 47, Min. 82, ralm 1.40 Inches, river 1 foot. a. FOUMDHO 1651 EIGHTY-FIRST YEAR Salem, Oregon, Friday Morning, December 4, 1931 No. 216 - W r - w w w ! 'iiWr-" 9 f -wm II BLAST Watchers at Minor Fire are Jiuried by Hurtling Mass As gas Explosion Tosses Roof From House College Student Killed and Fire Chief may die; two Others in Serious Shape; Warning too Late BERKELEY, Cal., Dec. S (AP) One person was killed, 15, three of whom may die, were ser iously Injured, and more than 40 others were hurt in a gas explo sion that tore the roof from a burning residence in the Hillside district here late today. The terrific blast, which came as firemen battling flames in the home had them nearly under con trol, hurled burning timbers into a tightly packed crowd watching the fire. Sherman Pepper, 18, son of Professor Stephen Pepper of the University of California, was kill ed. Fire Ch . George Haggerty, veteran Berkeley department head was so badly injured he was not expected to live. Among the injured were University of California students, firemen, and Berkeley residents The fire broke out shortly aft er five o'clock In the home of pharmacist's mate Norman L. Saunders, U. S. N. Saunders was absent at the time. A huge crowd c the university students and Berkeley residents gathered to watch the blaze, fighting of which was directed by Chief .Haggerty. Chief Smells Gas, Orders Men Away As the flames appeared under control. Haggerty, who was in lde the house with several of his men, detected the odor of gas. He Immediately ordered the men from the building. At the same time, Saunders with John S. O'Brien, another petty officer, dashed into the building. At that moment, escap ing gas from a large heater in the basement of the residence ex ploded with a terrific blast. Saun ders, Haggerty, and others were blown through the front door and several Injured. The entire roof of the building was torn away, and large pieces of flaming timber hurled two blocks away. The huge mass of burning debris crashed into the packed crowd of onlookers, par tially burying many of them. Windows in surrounding houses were broken, and the side of the borne of William Sergeant, ad Joining the Saunders home, was torn out. The screams of the injured, ly ing in the mass of flaming debris added to the confusion as ambu lances from all emergency bos pitals in the city were ordered to . the scene. University students and residents of the district joined with the hospital aides in drag ging the Injured from the de bris. Hospitals Filled; . Fire Flares Again The Cowell Memorl.1 hospital, the Alt Bates sanitarium and the Berkeley General hospital were packed with Injured within a short time. Many who received minor hurts refused hospital treatment to allow those more ser iously injured to be taken care of quickly. The fire flamed anew after the explosion and a new danger was -added when firemen-were unable to shut off gas escaping from the torn furnace connections.' Smok (Turn to page I; col. 5) State Seeks Gvil War The state of Oregon, through the attorney general's office and Its delegation in congress, will eiert every effort to recover from the federal government aproxi mately $368,000, which was al leged to be due.thtt state for money advanced In paying the Oregon troops and providing ne cessary .equipment during the civ il war. - - Attorney General VanWinkle left for Washington last night, where he will submit copies of the claims to the proper officials. The claims were compiled by Hal E. Hoss, secretary of state, under authority vested in . hjs depart ment by the 1931 legislature. It was said that similar claims air ready bave been paid to the states of Nevada and New York. California now has a claim pend ing in Washington. The amount alleged to be due the state of Oregon was determ ined by the board ot war exam iners o the federal war depart- Sons of Wild Jackasses" Will Oppose Him as Senate Leader - i ' v. L v - GEORGE H. FOR SENATE CHIEF Independents Oppose Moses Despite Threats They Won't get Jobs WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (AP) The long-smouldering senate I republican row burst into lively flames today with declarations from western independent leaders I that they would oppose the re-1 election of George Moses, of New Hampshire, as president-pro tern-1 pore. Senator Moses referred to the independents as the "sons of the lid jackass" two years ago. I Senators Borah, of Idaho, and I Norris, of Nebraska, the insurg- I ent leaders, in announcing I against Moses, insisted their ac- tion was evoked by threats they I would be deprived of committee I chairmanships if they failed to I support the New Hampshire member. Borah and Norris defied retal- iatory action but it seemed un likely tonight that such a move would be made against them. Un til the dispute, is fought out on the senate floor next week, there is no telling what may happen However, democratic aversion to taking over control of the senate without a majority is expected to preclude an upset in the senate republican organization. tmA .ftof. ronion. I n mm t i n Moses with a democrat They are Uo.n on ,tne ?w "financing cam preparing to support Senator Mc lIgn 'P,p Cascade area Boy Nar. of Oregon, the popular as- f co(uts" f"? J9 terday called the 30 volunteer veteran Wesley Jones, of Wash ington. Nevada Divorce Laws Topic For Debate Tonight Wage Cutting and divorce laws of Nevada wil be the topics for a auai debate between Willamette university ana Monmouia jxormai to be held tonight. xne negative teams win travel -. 4 . . A A ror Doth schools witn tne worn- en's squads arguing tne topic oi divorce laws, ah tne aeoates will be non-decision contests, The men win be first ana win start at 7 o'cloek. Virginia Durkee. Margaret Freeman, uarneia Harnett ana Ross Knotts will go to Monmouth. Pauline Moore, Lida Hanna, Ell- J zabeth Smith, Don Clark and Carroll Shank will debate here. Each coach will act as critic to Collect Debt of U. S. ment, under a resolution ot the United States senate. The Inter- est was calculated up to and in- eluding July 1. 1889. While in Washington Van Win- kU also will represent A. H. Av- erill. state lnsurnce commissioner, in a suit brought by the North West National Insurance - com- pany. to compel Averill to Issue a license to an additional agent In the City of Portland, without the payment of a $500 fee. The federal court neia mat me law requiring the additional 11 - cense fee was unconstitutional. TanWinkle. renresentinc the state Insurance commissioner, then an - nealed to the United States su - Dims court. ' VanWlhkle also win attempt to exnedit the Issuance of a patent eoverinr 24.000 acres oi land in Warner- valley. Lake eounty. whllA he is at the, national-capl- toL This land was taken over by the state under what Is known as the Swamp act. .v.-.-. .-x. . : MOSES Enthusiastic of Outlook of Flax There; may buy Seed From State Col. W. B. Bartram, chief con suiting engineer for the flax in dustry o' Soviet Russia is in Sa- lem for a brief time, previous to his return to Russia and to his work there the latter part of December, The past several months Col Bartram has spent in a detailed survey of Russia tor the purpose of ascertaining the suitability of that country for growth of flax. He is enthusiastic as to the fu ture of this Industry there. Some Improvements are much needed however, in the estima tlon of Bartram. The variety of seed is poor, crop rotation is not understood, and proper care of the eoll is not understood. There is also a handicap in the kind of machinery now in use for hand- (Turn to page I, col. 5) WILL BE LAUNCHED Immediately swinging Into ae- solicitors to meet at the chamber of commerce at 8 o'clock tonight. At this time, C. W. Paulus, area chairman of finance, will address the group. As 268 persons who in the past contributed each year to the local Scout movement have not this year been solicited, the exec utive believes a 13000 goal can be reach fwl RecAint hnntra And frd hMrlnr th namM f nrntmvtlrt contributors will be distributed to tne solicitors tonight Thin snddei snnrt in Cascade area beean at the monthly coun- 1 w e mAt!nr last Wednesdav nlarht After a series of heated discus- siong concerning the raising and U8d 0f area funds ,30 men stepped forward and nledsred themselves to obtain $100 each. The S3C00 fund will clear the present $1200 deficit and finance &rea actlviti- until the end of the fiscal year next June. E W. M. Abrams, a neighbor of Jacob Schnebell, 73, yesterday found the aged man aeaa in nis little ranch home near the new penitentiary annex. Schnebell Is believed to have died Wednesday as a newspaper issuea on inai day was discovered beside his fully-clothed, reclining body. Schnebell came to Oregon irom I Germany about 40 years ago on I a ship that sailed around Cape Horn. For many years he lived In the Michigan City district In Polk county and often worked on I waiiace xarm. xie naa uvea on 1 his five-cre ranch for the past I five years. Surviving are two nieces t Mrs 1 August Jaeger of Wilsonville and 1 sirs. ' uavia it, xaniis. junersi I arrangements are in charge of I w. x. iugaon ana eon. I A UAiUJiniu nwsi I JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. (AP) Ann Harding, blonde I star of the screen, was reported "resting comiortawy" tonigni oe I spite a dislocated shoulder. WORKS SCOUT 1 DRIVE riOIEII IS FOUND DEAD III HIS HI SANTI1 RIVER WATER SUPPLY HELD POLLUTED Possibly More so Than the Willamette 'Because of Smaller Volume Little Advantage in Costly Pipe Line Seen; Health Board Makes Report By C. A. SPRAGUB One of the prorosed sources of supply for Salem water which will be voted on at the election Decem ber IS is the Little North FoTk of the Santlam river. The advocates of the $2,500,000 bond Issue urge building a pipeline to tap this stream a short distance above Me hama, with an auxiliary intake in the main fork of the Santlam a little above the point where the Little North Fork enters It They eall this "mountain water." In reality the term "mountain water ' Is a misnomer. The theory of mountain water t to tap some stream above civilization which drains a protected watershed. Portland has such a watershed in the Bull Run Teocrve, and even Portland now chlorinates Its water. So far as Salem is concerned there is no practical source for mountain water from a protected watershed. Marion lake might be used, but it is remote, the water is warm, and In- midsummer has much vegetable growth. In fact its water is said to be about the poorest of any in the Santlam wa tershed. Water Looks Good But is Contaminated The water of the Little North Fork appears to be Tery good wa ter. It is dear and cold. The stream flow varies radically. In the summevtlme It diminishes to a small stream, in winter or in the floor season It flows in large vol ume. This water is subject to much contamination. There are the mines up at Elkhorn, which are worked intermittently. There are small farms along the stream, Just above the proposed Intake are Camp Santaly, Taylor's Grove- and the Boy Scout camp. Numer ous summer homes cluster aooui the bridge at Taylor's. This small stream, which dimin ishes to 27 second feet in Sep tember, is contaminated at these oolnts. The water, instead oi now ing then in the natural water course and havlnr the benefit of aeration over the riffles and oxi dation of foreign matter in the sunlight, would be diverted Into a steel pipeline and whatever lm nurltles it has. conveyed direct to the reservoir and Into the distrib uting system. It would have to be chlorinated to be safe. While the bacterial count Is not available to compare with the Wil lamette, It Is conceivable that the count might be higher lor me Little North Fork than for the Willamette above Salem, because the stream flow of the Little North Fork was only 27 second feet last September a. while the Wil lamette just below Albany had a measurement of $400 second feet and is much larger at Salem. The factor of dilution is much greater with the Willamette than with the Santlam. State Health Board Reports Its Findings In order to get tne most accur ate information possible regard ing the propose 1 source of supply. (Turn to page 2, cot 1) VALLEY ID SILETZ E WASHINGTON, Dec. S (AP) The Interstate Commerce com mission today refused to allow either the Southern Pacific or the Oregon Electric railway to purchase the prosperous Valley and Siletx railroad. The commission denied the Southern Pacific petition for per mission to purchase the railroad because It found nothing In the record to show the present own ers of the Valley and Sllets were willing to sell to that company. The Oregon Electric was denied a permit to buy because the price of $2,000,000 offered was held unjustified and because all points the Oregon Electric now serves are fully served by the Southern Pacific. The Oregon Electric's petition for permission to build two miles of track to connect with the Val ley and Siletx, which operates 40 miles of line In Oregon between Valsets and Independence, where It connects with the Southern Pacific, also was denied. Glass Breaker Loses License L. M. Riffln of this city yester day was sentenced by Mark Poul sen, municipal judge, to suspen sion ot his driver's license for six months. He was arrested Wednes day night on charges of driving his automobile recklessly and break ing glass on a public thorough fare. DEFUSED Mogan Seizes Truckload of Alleged Wine Upholding the reputation Which the Oregon state police are making tor themselves, Pa trolman Farley Mogan yesterday afternoon walked single-handed Into headquarters with four men In his custody. The quartet, apparently believ ing the officer meant business, straggled into the police station ahead of him, plunked down a gallon jug of what was said to be wine, and waited for Patrolman Mogan. "Three more of these are coming," they told the desk offi cer, as the patrolman entered, carrying three Jugs. The men were: R. C. Lewis, W. S. Powers, R. C. Dorr and George Poplock, all of Seattle. They were lodged In the city Jail on charges of possession of li quor. Patrolman Mogan captured the four men as thex were driving a truck along the Pacific highway north of Salem. MONMOUTH LAD IS Donald McCaleb Fails Show up Monday at School, Word to MONMOUTH. Dec. 3 A quiet search has been going on since Monday for Donald McCalem, 14, junior high student at the train ing department of the state nor mal school here. Toung McCaleb walked daily four miles to school from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. McCaleb who live west of town. Monday morning he left home as usual, and en route to school left a book for his mother at Johnson's book store here. That was the last that was seen of him, as he did not show up at school. His mother, learning he was not at school, discovered that he had taken all his clothes with mm, ana aiso a Drown army blanket and a flashlight. She no- luun.feia Dcuruii, cut msrsasi there, and later Sheriff Hooker of Dallas was notified. So far, no trace of the lad has been found. He ran away once last year, going to the home of relatives In Salem. This time, these relatives did not see him. The boy is said to have talked to his schoolmates about running away, and to have asserted that his father was unfriendly toward him. His mother Is greatly worried. His teacher, Florence Beards- ley, says she Is not surprised that he left, as she thought he might have been contemplating It. SLIPPERY HIGHWAYS IMPERILING TRAVEL Slippery roads in the western and southern part of Oregon and aangerons, sieet conditions on north and central highways were reported yesterday at the Salem branch office of the Oregon State ffttt si siarkef a t f n Worst sleet-covered roads were on the mner Columbia rlvar hlh- i- ti Six inches of snow was reported m nrtn,ui- .n4 via highway was said to be safe for North and smith nf Portland to the state lines were slippery but ports. As there was no snow on Irt Yi1p)iwat frafflA v Q m riH n m mm tii,.T The Waplnitia cut-off was re- ported without snow but very sllnnrv Redwood and Orernn Cnut h1h- waT. w Teacher's Auto Catches on Fire Just as Floyd L. Slegmund, mechanical drawing Instructor at the high school, prepared to drive away irom school yesterday after- noon a cloud of smoke burst from HE MISSIl " U1 cr wre i p0rtisnd General Electric eom the source of the smoke proved a at rate, glT6n in a contract tiny one and firemen called by the made g6T6ral yeara ago and now r . . . a"1 lk "llu " nana extmguisner. me Diaze. causea oy a snort cir- cult did but slight damage to the 11 iu- ft r . T-i OllVertOn tSiru f led to arrange a meeting oi nis Kir and KtiarnD10ntif with power eompany BANDON. Ore.. Dee. . t (AP) A single-comb White Leghorn hen, owned by Fred Warnock. Sllverton, was declared grand champion bird at the Bandon egg and Doultrv show which closed here tonight. Warnock will receive a silver trophy offered by the Bandon Llons club. SUPER HIGHWAY E BY Three Lane 30-Foot Width Assured; Counties to Buy Right-of-way Conference on Material to Be Used Will be Held Early Next Week PORTLAND. Ore., Dec. 3 (AP) Widening of the Pacific highway between Oregon City and Salem to a 30-foot three-lane, su per highway was approved by the state highway commission here today. The decision was reached after a day spent in hearings, ne gotiations and Investigation of highway types. The project, which ultimately will cost approximately $2,000, 000 will include widening of all bridges and culverts to four-lane width and the acquiring of a 100 foot right-of-way over the entire route. It will include addition of a ten foot lane to the new section be tween Oregon c!ty and New Era and the realignment and recon struction of the pavement over the remaining distance. Construction will proceed as funds become available, the com mission decided, and the highway will be built on the most modern designs in order to provide for future traffic needs. Counties Must Boy Needed Right-of-way The commission will ask the counties affected to acquire the additional right-of-way needed The first section lies Immediately north of Salem and the Marion county court will be asked to ob tain the right-of-way for inaugu ration of construction on a four mile unit.- The highway engineer ing staff was instructed to pre pare plans and specifications for (Turn to page 2, col. 3) Till GOlffG SOUTH Governor Julius L. Meier will be at his desk In the capitol for the bulk of today on his last visit to Salem before he goes south to San Francisco to spend the holi days with his daughters and their children. The governor Is expect ed to leave Portland for the south Sunday night. While here today Governor Meier Is expected to participate in the hearing which involves David Lee Byers, Sutherlin school prin cipal, whose certificate to teach in Oregon has been revoked by Charles A. Howard, state superin tendent of public Instruction. Governor Meier Is ex-offlcio chairman of the state board of education. Byers was accused by Mrs. Ed 1th Ackert, Douglas county school superintendent ot being "too friendly" with some of his wom en teachers. Following the revo katlon of his certificate, Byers ex erted his legal right of appeal to the state board of education. During Governor Meier's ab sence from the state, Willard "r"' reoi.u.e"v A J ,tT?,' " m w" governor as provided for by the J iU"ri " T?m Marks second experience as mas- 2 g Woman Lail&hS I .voir r llnfh LOS ANGELES, Dec J (AP) "TP an.u5 or eom1n.Vl I motion picture causea jars. arj I u. Armstea, os, to taugn nerseu Mr- Armsteaa wens into gsies oi I laughter, then Into hysterics and I m . M . M A - A . imaiiy ieu irom ner ineaier seat, dead Me HERE H City Lighting Contract Delayed; Dads Too Busy iithm. ihm Mtr f Salem now u paylns llgnt billg to exnlred. the members of the Mn nh rnmmlttM .m nn- vt ..... clt bogInegl foT negation of I- a mnra. f ft vnrfihldl con tract. I ror mree weexs, . i;nairman Frank U Wilkinson has attempt. time the session has been called. some one of the ether two al- I dermen on the committee hare claimed their Inability to attena. I The other two committeemen are I George Averett and S. A. Hugnes. I The old sower contract was I made when prices were nlgn ana I the Tates were In accordance. I While general values have de- 'creased greatly within the past Validity of Stock Of Empire Officer Group Not Unruh Arrested Upon Charge of Lacking Brakes After colliding with a car driv en by Chet Llndley, 19 Court street, at Center and North Capi tol streets yesterday, David Un ruh, 1191 Ruge street, West Sa lem, was arrested by city traffic officers oh a charge of neither carrying a driver's license nor hav ing effective brakes on his auto mobile. Lindley reported to police that Unruh failed to stop at the through street. Unruh claimed he could not stop on account of the wet condition of the pavement. water Turned on, noe in Stove Burns; Blaze Spreads Rapidly KEIZER. Dec. 2 Mrs. Charles Weathers was seriously burned about the face, arms and chest, her small son burned slight ly and parts of the family home destroyed yesterday morning when a peculiar accident occurred at the home here. Water had been turned off at the house on account of freetlng weather, and as Mr. Weathers turned the water on from the tower immediate steam was cre ated in the hot water tank and a pipe in the stove exploded, with Mrs. Weathers and the three- year-old child in, the kitchen. The explosion hurled lids from the stove, setting fire to Mrs. Weathers' clothing. A can of tar on the back of the stove caught fire. Mrs. Weathers grabbed It and threw it to the floor. The blazing tar set fire to the floor. draperies, woodwork and doors also catching tire. Windows were broken In the kitchen. Mrs. Weathers ran out of the house to call help, her son Earl responding and throwing clothes about her and rolling her on the floor to smother the flames which lapped at her garments. Earl rushed into the kitchen and found the three-year-old brother huddled In one corner. with his hair singed. Earl con trolled the blaze with a fire ex tinguisher, only after it had reached the roof. The Weathers had planned an event for Sunday in celebration of the birthday of Mr. Weathers' mother, but this will be cancelled. Mrs. Weathers is in the Wil lamette sanitorlum In Salem, where every hope is held for re covery. An arm Is the most seri ously burned. Kills His Sister Thinking She is Mother-in-Law PAULS VALLEY. Okla., Dec S (AP) Homer Hurt, Garvin county attorney, announced to night that J. O. Logan, 64, had confessed he silled his sister, Mrs. Indiana Anderson, with an axe, after mistaking her for his mother-in-law. BODY DISCOVERED PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. S (AP) Three men chasing a tur key In the hills back of Llnnton. Portland suburb, late today dis covered the body of an unidenti fied man who apparently had been dead some time. two years, the eity still pays the high rates for the large quanti ties ot electricity used tor Its street lighting system. As a result' of the committee men's procrastination, no new contract has been negotiated for presentation at next Monday's council meeting. If the members of the light committee put off their dilly-dallying and get to gether today or tomorrow, the contract terms yet may be ar ranged In time for the council session. But Chairman Wilkinson stat ed yesterday that his committee probably could not be got togeth er along with the power company. officials until Tuesday. Unless Chairman Wilkinson and Aldermen Averett and Hughes, convene with the Port land General Electric officials before Monday night, the taxpay ers' pockets must continue to be depleted by high power rates. WON! BURNED IN STUB ACCIDENT Decided Will be Allowed Vote At Monday Meet, Ruling Later Illegal Credit Charge Is Brought out in ' Portland Court PORTLAND. Ore., Dec. S (AP) Circuit Judge W. A. Ek- wall tdoay, in effect, denied R. W. Clancy's petition for a temporary lnjuntcion to restrain directors of the Empire Holding corporation from voting their stock at the an nual stockholders' meeting next Monday. Clancy, secretary of corpora tion, brought the suit against Oli ver Coshow, president; I. H. Fet- ty, vice president and general manager. Jay H. Stockman, direc tor and counsel, and Wilson R. Adams and Martin Adams, direc tors. Judge Ekwall said he felt the petition for a temporary injunc tion should be denied with the understanding that the stock holders' meeting be held as sched uled and that either side then could go ahead to test the legality of the stock voted. He said he would give the case precedence and assign it for trial at short no tice when and if It becomes at Issue. Attorneys and directors agreed to accept the judge's recommen dation and announced the meet ing would be held here at t o'clock next Monday afternoon. Would Put Control In Minority Hands "If I grant this Injunction, 1 presume I would place control of the corporation In the hands of minority stockholders," Judge Ekwall said. "On the othat hand. If I don't grant it, these defendants will be permlted to use their discretion In votiag their stock. I believe that the in terested parties should either postpone the meeting until after the legality of stock held by the defendants in this case Is estab lished, or should go ahead with the meeting with the understand ing that the matter of legality will be threshed out In court as soon afterward as possible." Frank M. Phelpg. attorney for Clancy, alleged In argument be fore Judge Ekwall that the de fendants had each subscribed fer $20,000 worth of stock and that none of them had paid more than $2000 In cash or securities to wards their purchase. Illegal Credit For Stock is Alleged A rule of the corporation said that each director must have at least one-fourth of his stock paid up and the defendants then had voted each other $3000 as com missions for rolling stock to thesa- selres and had credited each other with salaries to bring their paid- up stock holdings to one-fourth of their subscriptions, all in vio lation of state laws, Phelps de clared. By this plan, he- contin ued, the defendants had gained control of the company and ex pected to continue in control at the coming meeting. Roseoe C. Nelson, representiaX the defendants, alleged Clancy had pursued similar tactics and had known of the affairs of the) corporation since last April with out making them public. The Marion county grand Jury Investigation of the affairs of the Empire Holding corporation wCl be resumed promptly next Tues day morning, following the stockholders' meeting In Portland December 7, District Attorney John H. Carson announced yester day. Information which win be developed at the Portland meet ing may be laid before the local jurors. Carson did not Indicate how near to completion was the Investigation now In progress. A report from the grand Jury Is assured this month since Its term Is out December SI. HICCOUGHIXQ HALTED MT. VERNON, O., Dec. 1 (AP) Carl Horlacher, Si-year-old news dealer, was relieved to night of an attack of hiccoughing which had persisted for fifteen days. 1Q SHOPPING DAYS 'TIC CHRISTMAS. 1Z