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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1936)
db sivCX :S5TZ ; Free Brake Test la line with "safety month", free brake tests are offered to all Salem motorists, start ing Monday. Cooperation Will pay. The Weather . Increasing cloudiness with rising temperature followed by snow and rain by tonight and on Sunday? Max. Fri day 33, Min- 17. FOUNDED 1631 EIGHTY-FIFTH YEAR Salem, Oregon, Saturday Morning, February 8, 1936 Price 3c; Newsstands 5c No. 273 Mi MeMef From Cok orecas 1 Snow F Initiative J Blocks Diversion of Means Either Federal Help Or Old Setup Regular Session Act is in Effect and U. S. Approval Likely- Million Dollar Fund is Retained for Aged ; 12,000 Signers - A new stitch was taken in the tangled fabric of old age pension legislation yesterday when peti tions were filed with the secre tary of state, bearing sufficient signatures to refer to the people the bill enacted by the special cession of the legislature which diverted to relief the appropria tions previously voted for pen sions, and was left helpless itself when the. people voted down the sales tax for pension purposos. The petitions were circulated and filed by the Oregon Old Age Pension league with headquarters in Portland; and bore about 12, 000 signatures, while the law re quired only 10,232. H. V. Hayes is president and C. E. Olcott vice president of the league. H. F. Da vidson was in' charge of circulat ing the petitions. Regular Session Act Now In Force The holding up of the special session bill (SB 43) leaves unim paired the act of the regular tes s ion which require only approval by the federal social security hoard and appropriations by the federal government to pay pen sions up to $30 per month to aged, of $65 or over. It is expect ed that immediate steps will be launched by the governor to se cure Washington's approval of the regular session enactment. The federal appropriation bill has passed the house and is now in the senate. If this law of the regular ses sion does not become effective, then the 1333 act which is now In force, providing for county pensions, will continue, so the old people will receive as mucn as they are now getting, at least. If, as is anticipated, the 1935 law is approved by Washington, then the aged will have about double the money they are get ting at present. This would pre vail till the law is changed, eith er by approval of the special res- elon bill at the November elec tion, which would cut off the pensions, or by tne legislature when it convenes in 1937. Million Provided for Match Money Under the act of the regular session $1,000,000 was appropri ated by the state for old age pen sions, to be matched by county funds, and the sum of the two to be matched by federal funds. It fixes the age limit at 70. the (Turn to Page 2, Col. 4) Lewiston Suffers Most Costly Fire LEWISTON, Ida., Feb. S.-(JP)-Lewiston suffered its heaviest fire loss, in the city's history, .with the possible exception of the blaze 15 years ago that wiped out several normal school buildings, when the Mason-Ehrman ware bouse was totally destroyed last night at an estimated loss of $300,000 and the structure owned by the Welsgerber estate valued nt $85,000 'was ruined. Flames were atlH raging short ly after midnight but were then In control. Firemen expressed hone they would be able to save the three Story north wing of the half-block structure separated from the main building by a firewall. The main part of the building already was rutted from basement to roof. , Firemen, numbed by tempera tures which had fallen to seven degrees below sero, were working in relays .In manning the ice-caked leads of hose. ; Flu Epidemic in California SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7-P- Ail scnoois in Nap and Redwood City and many in other commun ities were closed today as officials sought to check an influenza epi demic in northern California. - Despite hundreds of eases of the Illness, which Dr. Walter M. Dick' le, state director of health said was mild In character, but one death had been reported. , Angel City to Expel All Who Can Not Work LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7-(1-Joining the campaign against penniless transients, the Los Angeles county re lief administration notified police tonight it would iden tify, and if possible, return to their homes in other states, all persons unable to take employment here. An immediate round - up was started, an execntive said. This part of the drive to relieve California from what police described as "uninvit ed and unwelcome guests" was designed to apply to men, women, and Juveniles who are not working by reason of ago or infirmity. Polk County Man Low, Highway Job Pringle Creek to Taylor Creek Bit! by Hauck Is $95,831 PORTLAND, Ore.. Feb. 7-(JP)-The state highway commission added projects totaling $471,332 today to the list awarded for work at the commission's two-day ses sion here." About the same amount was awarded in yesterday's meeting. Largest project approved today included Improvements to the Rex hill section of the West Side Pa cific highway. The Oregon Con tracting company and Theodore Arena of Portland contracted to do the job for $175,221. Next largest was the projected improvement to the Merrill-California line section of the Merrill Hatfield county road and the Ma-Hn-California section of The Dalles - California highway in Klamath county, including con struction of a pile trestle bridge and timber culvert. The job went to the Merrill. Dunn & Baker company of Klamath Falls for $107,334. Bid Referred to Engineers The proposed improvements to the Pringle creek - Taylor creek (Turn, to Page 2, Col. 8) Support For Flax Program Is Asked A delegation from ML Angel presented to a small group of Salem business men last night an appeal for support in financing a flax retting and scutchig plant at Mt. Angel. It would be estab lished under the special grant be ing made by the government, and would be run as a cooperative. After considerable discussion the Salem group decided to re commend to the chamber of com merce to appoint a committee of Investigation .and if they approv- ed-the plan to solicit for the sale of preferred stock in the enter prise. Amone those who spoke for Mt. Angel were Father Alcuin, Fred Schwab, Joe Keber, Martin Rost vold. L. L. Law of the state flax Industry explained the setup for the plant. If the project Is approved, soli citation will be carried on next week. Molalla Firm Sued OREGON CITY. Ore.. Feb. 7.- (JPy-C. W. Fallert, Viola lumber mill operator, filed suit against the Molalla Lumber company to day asking $5,675 for damages al leged to have resulted from a slashing fire. The defendant was claimed to have been careless. Officer Kuykendall Ousted And Job May Not be filled Charged with being under the influence of liquor while on duty, Charles A. Kuykendall. 742 North High street, yesterday found him self the second city policeman to face discharge at the hands of Chief Frank A. Minto in less than a week. Kuykendall's alleged of fense against civil service rules was held by the chief to have oc curred Thursday night and early yesterday morning. Kuykendall's discharge, if up held by the civil service commis sion in case he demands a hear ing, may mean a reduction in the police force. Chief Minto said he did not plan to refill Kuykendall's position as prowl car driver In the eastern section of the city,, at once. With State street as the dividing' line, -the present north Jurors Ponder Life or Death ForVanVlacn No Verdict Reached as Jury Room Lights are Doused, Midnight Out Since 5:10; Closing Argument of Defense Cites "Conflict" TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Feb. 8. ( Saturday )-;P)-The jury trying the case of Douglas Van Vlack of Tacoma turned out the lights in the Jury room shortly after mid night and retired. The 12 farmers and artisans had deliberated since 5:10 p. m.. when the fate of the 31-year-old Tacoman who is charged with the murder of his former wife, Mil dred Hook, was turned over to them. District Judge Adam B. Barclay had waited during the evening at the courthouse. Closing arguments of state and defense, which were begun yester day, occupied the entire time of the court today. While E. V. Larson, the defend ant's Twin Falls attorney, held him up aa the helpless victim of circumstances, Assistant Attorney General J. W. Taylor condemned him as the cold blooded slayer of the young woman. Mental Strain of Separation Cited Van Vlack'8,Jifa-Larson de clared, was "one of conflicts," which resulted in his insanity. He was the victim of "a terrible con flict" when he was separated from Mildred, the attorney declared. He reminded the jurors of their oaths to consider only evidence of the death of Mildred and disre gard that concerning the killing of State Traffic Officer Fontaine Cooper and Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Givens. Van Vlack signed a confession to the killing of the officers, Lar son said, "but he refused to sign a statement about Mildred be cause he had no recollection of it." Reasonable Doubt On Sanity Enough Judge Barclay instructed the jurors on the five possible ver dicts they might return. "If you find the defendant guil ty of the crime charged, that of first degree murder, then you are instructed to render your verdict (Turn to Page 2, Col. 6) Argo Bandit Held In South Is Word The man who bound the desk clerk and looted the office of the Argo hotel last month, is now held by Los Angeles police on six robbery counts, Chief of Police Frank A. Minto of Salem was no tified yesterday by Joseph F Tay lor, chief of detectives on the Los Angeles police department. A photograph of this man, Eu gene Zolzer, who has confessed to the Salem crime, was readily identified yesterday by Herbert Hussock, the Argo hotel clerk who was left tied up in a "base ment room of the hotel when $22.50 was stolen from the hotel office. Zolzer, Taylor wrote, Is an ex- convict from Sing Sing prison, New York. The charges against him at Los Angeles are of such a nature that he "will undoubt edly receive a long prison sen tence here," Detective Taylor wrote. As a result, Salem' offi cers do not contemplate seeking to have him returned here for trial. and south prowl drivers will cover territory for which .Kuykendall formerly was responsible. Inefficient Over Period -of Months Chief Minto formally charged Kuykendall as follows: "Over a period of months you have been inefficient and incom petent in a number of ways, the most serious of which has been the negligent discharge of fire arms contrary to subdivision (a) of section 92-20 of the chartef of the city of Salem (civil service). "During the night of February 6 and 7, while on duty as a po lice officer and prowler ear oper ator, you drank: Intoxicating li quor to such an extent as to be noticeable that you were under (Turn to Page 2, Col. S) Selection of Mississippi Campus Queen Proves Crooner's Eyes Good ' "i, - 4 4 S '" II " f" ' - , - " - . I II i'" I? i-- J i ' 4 , s - ' ' '',-' f 5 ' ' ii " s , v ' ' (s If t ' 'i - - - h- I ',- , ' , - & si , " ; s- " Is - ? V v- ' i. c " ?! St v- ' ' ' ' y :aiW If V. - " "' II When Bins Crosby, screen star, had to choose a campus queen at Uni versity of Mississippi from among the reigning beauties his job was no easy one, but the physical perfection of Miss Gene Bullock of Columbia, Miss., simplified the task and won her the coveted title of the most beautiful co-ed. Social Workers Of Valley Meet Over 100 Here; Sessions to Close Today With Tour and Dinner More than 100 social workers from all sections of western Ore gon are convened here today for the annual session of the West ern Oregon Division of Social Workers. The conference will ad journ tonight. Addressing the social workers at their banquet last night at the Marion hotel, Dr. Samuel Jame son, professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, said that social workers of the future must hold a long-range view in place of an immediate view and must analyze the social organization In addition to the immediate needs of the client. Actual Conditions Must Be Studied "Social , workers of the future must take into consideration spe (Turn to Page 2, Col. 1) Policeman Killed In Rescue Effort CRISFIKLD. Mr.. Feb. 7-P)-A Maryland state policeman lost his life and three other persons were exhausted tonight iu a bold at tempt to take food to ice-bound residents of Smith and Tangier islands The dead man was Sgt. Wil liam V. Hunter, member of a group of 15 who set out in a blinding snow storm with 2000 pounds of provisions for the isl anders. His body was found on the ice of frozen Shespeake bay where he had fallen exhausted by cold and exertion. Nearby, three other members of the? group were picked up uncon scious on the ice. One of them was Maj. E. B. Garey, superin tendent of the state police, who had led the party on its daring relief mission. The others were Richard McCready of Crisfleld and Officer C. A. Disney. Pine Lumber Sales Are Far Ahead of Average PORTLAND, Ore.. Feb. The Western Pine association re ported today reports from 114 mills showed the 52,039,000 feet of new business for the week end ing February 1 was CO per cent above the three-year weekly ave rage for January and 11 per cent below " the previous week. The year's orders thus far were listed at 12 ner cent above the corres- ponding period in 1935. Old Age Pension Funds . Mere Hayden Seeks to Succeed Himself Present Justice Is First Candidate Continued Service Pledged First declaration of candidacy for justice of the peace for the Salem district was filed yesterday by Miller B. Hayden, incumbent. This is also the first filing of justice of the peace for any of the districts in Marion county. Judge Hayden, a republican, is serving his first term in this of fice. His petition, filed late yes terday afternoon with the county clerk, declares he will give "con tinued justice with an even hand. Strict and impartial enforcement of the law. Took Judges' volun tary salary cut." Keeps Hands Off Constable Race He stated that, owing to the election in office of the constable position for the Salem district coming up at the same time, he wishes it understood that the two offices are separate and that he is not interested in any one par ticular candidate for the con stable position. "Any constable whom the people choose to elect will receive full consideration and cooperation from my office, as long as I am justice of the peace," Judge Hayden declared. Hayden has been active In the American Legion and the Vet erans of Foreign wars, having served as commander of the poets of both veteran organizations. He is a member of the Salem Eiks lodge and also has Masonic af filiations. Building Permit Row Not Settled The city-school impasse over payment of approximately $1100 for a building permit for tne sen ior high school building project continued in effect yesterday while city officials sat by and watched s e h o o 1 representatives dicker with their contractor, Hoff man Construction company, Port land. Walter C. Wlnslow, attorney for the Bchool directors, last night said he would "insist It the fee is paid that the contractor pay it but he still maintained that the city had no legal right to charge for the permit. An expected tele phone call from the contractor last night regarding the fee ques tion failed to come In, Winslow said. Minor excavation and form set ting were permitted to be carried on yesterday but pouring of con crete was forbidden, E. C. Bush nelL city building inspector, said. Winter Sport Devotees Hail Wave of Cold Idahna Excursion Train "Snowball Special" to Leave at 7 Several Hundred Will Go From Here Sunday to Aid Dedication The steady drop, drop of the thermometer yesterday afternoon and night brought warmth to the hearts of ski fans in this area, for the freezing weather promis es real sport at Idanha Sunday, when the winter playground will he dedicated. An excursion train bearing several hundred Salem persons will leave here for Id anha Sunday morning, returning late that afternoon. Final details for the dedication and day of snow sports were com plete yesterday. At noon yester day 10 Inches of snow covered the playground area, with cold wea ther prevailing and more snow falling steadily, Roy Newport of Detroit advised the chamber of commerce here. Special Will Leave Early Sunday Morn The "snowball special" will leave the depot here Sunday mor ning at 7 o'clock, with every man, woman and child Interested invit ed to be aboard. Roundtrip tick ets sell t a dollar, with half that fare for children. . A number of novelty races on skils will be held during the day, with local marchants putting up prizes for the winners. These will include a potato race on skiies, women's and men's races. At the official dedication and raising of the flag at the hut at Idanha, 12 local Boy Scouts and their scoutmaster will assist with the ceremonies. P. A. Thompson of Eugene, Willamette forest supervisor, ex pects to attend with a group of forest officials, according to word to the chamber of commerce which has helped plan the ex cursion. Service clubs cooperat ing in making the event success ful are the Santiam ski club, Che meketans, Lions, 20-30 and Ac tive clubs, all of Salem. Borah Chances in Oregon Are Eyed PORTLAND. Ore., Feb. 7.-(V Arthur W. Priaulx. chairman of the Oregon state republican cen tral committee, said tonight: "It is early yet to make any predic tions as to the success or failure of Senator Borah's campaign un til it is known what other prom inent republican candidates enter the contest for Oregon delegates." Lowell Paget, president of the Oregon republican club, - said Senator Borah has many friends in this state and no doubt would receive much support" . Ralph Williams of Portland, vice chairman of the republican national committee who returned today from conferences with par ty leaders: in Washington and Cleveland, said: "I never have taken any hand in the primary fight for president or any other nomination and shall not now. . . saw .Borah in Washington De cember 17 and told him at that time he had many friends in Ore gon and in the Pacific northwest. I have not seen him or communi cated with him since." fifteen City Filled at Fifteen city offices will be up for rote of the people at the May election, two of the positions be cause of vacancies that have been filled by council appointments and the rest because of expired regu lar terms. There will be nine aldermen, three water commissioners, a mayor, a recorder and a treasurer to elect. A. Warren Jones intends to run for reelection as city recorder and police Judge and the three incum bent water commissioners whose terms expire next December 31 also are at present expected to let their names be placed on Lte bal lot again for four-year terms. The latter are Edward R ostein, pres ent chairman; I. M. Doughton and William Gahlsdorf. Terms of E. B. Gabriel -and J. W, RIckman Low Mark Expected; Mercury Drops to 20 Early" Several Degrees Colder by Morning Probable; Warmer Witli Clouds and Even Rain, Promised Few Flakes Appear So Far in Valley; Portland Temperature Rising; Eastern Oregon Gets Zero SNOW, driven by a cold north wind which was expected to plunge the mercury to its low point for the season early today, was due to settle over the Salem area this weekend. Sliding down the thermometer tube at a rate of nearly two degrees an hour, the mercury registered 20 degrees at 10 o'clock last night and was expected to show an additional drop of four to five degrees before morning. The cold north wind swept down over Washington from Canada giving Portland and the Willamette valley a decided chiU late yesterday. The lrop in the readings started at 1 p. m. when the mercury stood at 35 degrees and continued sharply until the night reading at 10 p. m. - ' Board Insists on Hydrant Rentals Water Officials Irked Budget Board Stand; Will Bill Council at Members of the city council will be faced each month with the $468 hydrant rental bill of the Salem city water commission and will be called upon to include ap propriations for old accounts and the new year in the 1937 budget, according to a decision of the commission last night. Irked by the attitude of the council that the city now owned the water plant and therefore was not liable for the hydrant rental, members of the commission last night refused to approve the ac tion of the alderVnen and decided to hill the account monthly. "Rentals for these hydrants should come out of an equitable distribution of tax levy and not from the small water used," Com missioner William Gahlsdorf de clared. "We are going to see that the city council pays this bill. It (Turn to Page 2, Col. 6) Dayton-to-Amity Road Job Sought PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 7 . Delegations -from -Yamhill county -and nearby communities appeared before the Oregon state highway commission today to urge con struction of the proposed Amity Dayton cutoff on the west side Pacific highway. . ' The program would eliminate McMlnnville and Lafayette from the through road. Sponsors claim a distance of four miles would be cut oft by the 13 Mi niile project and that the program is justified in view of figures showing 1,100 cars use the existing route dally. The Dayton-Amity highway at present is a county road, part con crete and part gravel macadam. Offices to be Elections in 936 carry over on the water board tor two years longer to complete their four years in office. Treasurer's Office Status Uncertain The status of the city treasur er's office In the coming election Is made uncertain by the present serious illness of C. 0. Rice, who is now in his 22nd year in that position. Should he decide not to seek return to the office on the May ballot, Alfred. Mundt, present deputy treasurer, is almost cer tain to be a candidate for the office. Mayor V. E. Knhn already has indicated he may ask to be re turned to the executivr seat. ; The aldermen whose terms ex pire December $1 and the terms of the men to be elected to these . - (Turn to Page 2, CoL 4) of Year O warmer V eauier Today Is Promise Hope for warmer temperatures revived with the late forecast-for Saturday and Sunday in this vi c I n 1 1 y. "Increasing cloudiness. Rising temperature, followed by snow and rain in the west por tion," the forecast reported. The hourly temperature read ing as reported by the weather bureau follows: 1 p. m. 35 S p. m. S 3 p. m. S3 7 p. m. KS 1 p. b. 8 p. m. J 4 p. m. 27 9 p. m. 31 5 p. m. ax io p. m. 30 PORTLAND, Feb. 7.-ffl-Wia-ter whipped into western OrefM with a vengeance today, sent tbw mercury skidding to new lows for the season and continued ttm unfulfilled threat of snow. Only a few flakes raked the western part of the state. Xa eastern and southern portions, however, new snow blanketed large areas. In these portions, too, today.' cold wave was noth ing new although perhaps of (Turn to Page 2, Col. 1) 54 Minus Degrees Noted in Montana CHICAGO, Feb. 7.-fl-Wla- ter's storm guns swung into at double flank assault today-preliminary to another general ar. vance of sub-sero coia preaicia for the week-end. , Snow swept' middle Atlantic states, bringing Washington it heaviest storm in years. A severe snow storm raged In the northern mountain states completely isolating section of Utah. The driving Rocky - Mountain disturbance sped to the neighbor ing plain states and the mercury dropped hastily in western He-' braska. ... The cold capital was shifted to Jardine, Mont., which reported an unofficial minimum of 5 4 below. All that state was numbed by under sero temperatures, with 44 below at Cogbln and minus St at Butter, official low extremes. It was also 44 below at BemWjl, Minn. One Is Killed in Shooting Affray PASO ROBLES, Cal., Feb. 7. One man was shot to death, another possibly- fatally wounded and a third shot In the hand in a mountain cabin affray Cvw miles west of here. Sheriff B. C Hasklns of San Luis Obispo coun ty reported tonight. Ralph Hagerman, a county em ploye, was lodged in county Jail pending Investigation, of tha shooting. - -:- The dead man la Jess Sledge, about 49, Paso Robles mechanic. Fretas Gerst, about 40, a tavern keeper, at whose home the shoot ing occurred, suffered a bullet wound in the abdomen, and Earl Pickering, about 45, a haad wound. Sheriff Hasklns said be bad not yet learned the cause of the tragedy. Hagerman, the sheriff said, de nied the shootings., - t -