House to
Recons
de
Bill Giving
Control of Electricity
McKay Said to Doubt Constitutionality
By Lester Cour !
Staff Writer, The Statesman
The Oregon legislature slowed to a walk Tuesday. The house
voted to reconsider its action in passing a bill td authorize! the gov
ernor to regulate - electric, power consumption and the senate re
referred the only bill on the day's calendar. f:
The Dower bilL introduced by Sen. Thomas Mahoney, iportland.
had been approved in both houses
' I have just been reading the bi
ennial report of the state system
of higher education- It is largely
money talk a report of receipts
and expenditures for the last bi
ennium, a plea for more money for
buildings and faculty salaries in
the coming biennium.
president Edgar W. Smith says
Through the medical school, the
agricultural experiment station,
the agricultural extension service,
the state system renders a tremen
dous amount of publicserviceto
the people of the state."
Chancellor Paul W. Packer gives
three paragraphs to the public ser
vice (extension and research) ele
ments of the state system. Other
than that and- tables showing en
rollment, nothing is reported on
the EDUCATIONAL, achievements
and goals of the higher institutions
of learning.
Text and statistics illustrated
with charts and sketches go to
prove the case for larger appro
priations. Keeping a full faculty
is said to be difficult because sal
.rio. in rirppnn are below average
(with no reference to loss through
turning members out to grass at
age 65). Oregon is saia 10 ran
15th among 16 comparable col
leges and universities in salaries
paid professors. some progies
being made in this respect, how
ever, since the deficiency of $1700
of two years ago has been reduced
to $1200 in comparison with sal
aries paid at competing institu
tions. As for buildings, though the de
sirable space per student is 175
square feet and the essential mini
mum is 155 square feet, actual
space available is only 112 square
feet in permanent-type
(Continued on editorial page)
Salem-Newport
Bus Proposed
An application to establish a
short-cut bus service between Sa
lem and Newport , via the Salmon
river cut-off has been filed with
the public utilities commission by
John Ratzlaff, Albany.
The proposed schedule would
route buses from Salem to Dallas,
Wallace Bride and Valley Junc
tion. It would . provide additional
schedules from Salem to Dallas;
Valely Junction to Otis and Otis
to Newport.
Ratzlaff has also filed an as
sumed business name certificate
for Pacific Coast lines with the
Linn county clerk. He is the pro
prietor of the Santiam Stages.
Groundhog May
See Rain, Snow
Salem's weatherman hung out
another order for rain and snow
today, and promised a cloudy day
to prevent the groundhog from
gazing at his shadow.'
Even if the groundhog doesn't
see his shadow, Salem is promised
at least two more days of wintery
weather. Temperatures are expec
OF
jgpOOOB
ted to slip to the 25 degree levellpaSf5 re two to appropriate
Thursday, morning.
The mercury stood at 31 de
grees early Wednesday morning,
running Salem consecutive days
of freezing temperature to 33. Min
imum Tuesday morning was 28.
The maximum reached 42 in the
afternoon.
Animal Crackers
By WARREN GOODRICH
MEAT
ot pr.
M
- "This is Ground Hog Day so
let me nave some pork saw
sjge."
1
Governor
and was on its way to the gov
ernor, but it was caiiea oacK ana
tabled in the house for recon
sideration after Rep. John Steel
hammer, Salem, stated Gov. Doug
las McKay thinks it is unconstitu
ional. j
. Although the legislature failed
tojpass a single bill in its 23rd day,
22 new measures were introduced
in the house and eight more reach
ed the senate. Sixteen bills are up
for final passage in the house to
day and seven are in the senate.
Would Boost Gas Tax
The house highway committee
introduced two bills to boost gaso
line taxes from 5 to 6 cejits a gal
lon and motor vehicle license fees
from $5 to $10 a year.
All revenue from the higher
fees would go to the highway com
mission to carry out the proposed
highway improvement I program.
Similar measures calling for the
increased fees and gas taxes were
introduced earlier in the session
by Reo. Earl Hill. Cushman. but
the added revenues under these
measures would be diyided be
tween the highway commission,
cities and counties.
Other house bills introduced
wouia allow tne joint ways and
means committee to act; in place
of the state emergency board on
construction matters for: the re
mainder of the session;! stipulate
that one member of the state civ
il service commission must be
from organized labor;; increase
taxes on bulk natural 4nd forti
fied wines, but decrease the tax
on bottled natural or i fortified
wines, and permit voters to abol
ish rural school district.
Refund for Vets
Among senate bills submitted
were measures to abolish consta
ble districts and the office of dis
trict court clerk in Multnomah
county; direct the state jtax com
mission to refund income tax mon
ey to veterans who did not receive
a $3,000 exemption in 1946 when
their only military pay was ter
minal leave pay; raise the salary
limitation- for payments! into the
state retirement fund frpm $2,400
to $4,200 a year; raise chiropo
dist fees from $5 to $10 a year, and
tighten educational requirements
for issuing chiropodist licenses.
The senate-born powej" bill was
recalled by the house after peo
ples utility districts" objected to
granting the state power to re
strict their customers. Aluminum
companies also expressed fear
that their power allotments might
be given to private pover com
panies. Not Now Regulated
The measure, passed 7 to 9 in
the house yesterday, would em
power the governor to restrict the
use of power through 'the state
public utilities commissioner. The
PUDs now are not under state
regulation. ;
The senate referred back to
committee the only bill Up for fi
nal pasage in either house Tues
day. It seeks to include quarter
horse and saddle-horse facing un
der the state ' pari-mutuel laws.
Setu Eugene Marsh, Mcilinnville,
said the bill needed amendment v
Meanwhile the upper .house was
girding itself for a battle today
over a proposed salary,' raise for
Multnomah county circuit judges.
Ask Pay Raise
Tuesday, the Multnomah county
delegation recommended that the
circuit judges have their pay rais
ed from $7,500 to $8,500 a year,
with the county paying the dif
ference. This would give theiji the
same salary as the supreme court
and $1,000 more than other cir
cuit judges.
The senate Tuesday! ; laid the
measure on the table by a 15 to 15
ballot when the delegation sought
adoption of the report. :
The house today will act on
bills to increase the butterfat tax
from 4 to 1 cent a pound; in
crease the state forester's pay
from $6,000 a year to $7,500, and
to increase tax exemptions on
homesteads from $3,000 to $5,000.
Among senate bills up for final
iu,wv lor Duawurm control in
Oregon forests and to permit Jap
anese to farm Oregon lands.
Both the house and senate con
vene at 10 a. m.
(Additional details paga 1)
Gas Arrives
At Medford
MEDFORD, Feb. 1-jKom-mercial
gas users had a slight
break today - - they were allowed
to draw on enough gas to get
their furnaces warm, i
Commercial users have been
cut off during the current fuel
shortage, but arrival of I a tank car
of liquid gas, from which Cali
fornia Pacific Utilities Corporation
manufactures the heating - gas,
eased the situation slightly.
Weather
Max.
41
38
49
25
MJn. Precip.
it .m
5T7 j02
137 .00
37 Jon
Salrm
Portland
San Francisco
Chicago
New York
.. 37
29 jOO
Willamette river -I S feet.
FORECAST from U.S. weather bu
reau. McNary field. Salern): Cloudy
with occasional rain or mow Hurries
beginning in the afternoon. Clearing
somewhat Late tonight and becoming
partly cloudy tomorrow. High today
near 40. Low tonight near, 13.
SALEM PRECIPITATION
(Sept. 1 to.rek. S
This Year
22.13
Year
Average
23.M
88th Year
12
Portland Mayor
Urges Solons to
Keep Slots Illegal
PORTLAND, Feb. 1 - (if)
Mayor Dorothy McCullough
Lee, who has been waging a
war on slot machines, said to
night she hoped the state legis
lature would not legalize them.
In a radio broadcast, Mrs.
Lee asserted that night club in
terests here "are spending a
great deal of times in Salem in
the hope of having legislation
passed that will legalize slot
machines in some manner."
She expressed hope that "our
law makers will not see fit to
pass any bill which would have
this effect."
Mrs. Lee again outlined her
contention that slot machines,
since they produce great reve
nue, attract gambling operators
into a city and are closely allied
to major crime.
Vet Bonus Bill
Opposed by
Administration
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 - W) -The
administration today indica
ted its opposition to a proposed
veterans pension bill which it es
timated would cost almost $2,000,
000,000 the first year, with later
outlays reaching multi-billion dol
lar levels.
Veterans Administrator Carl R.
Gray, jr., told the house veterans
committee that a plan to give ser
vicemen of the last two wars a $60
monthly pension when they reach
age 60. plus disability payments
"could not be considered in ac
cord with the program of the pres
ident." Under the benefit measure spon
sored by Chairman Rankin CD
Miss), a veteran need only to have
served 90 days in either of the two
world wars to qualify for the pen
sion. At age 65 the monthly pay
ment would be $90. The extra dis
ability pay would range from $20
to $120 a month with no proviso
that the disability must have been
incurred in service.
Gray estimated that during the
first year of operations the bill
woudl cover 2,661,800 veterans at
a cost of $1,839,008,000. But by
1985. he said, "over 8,000,000
World war II veterans will be
age 60 or over."
Baby Born,
Lands in Street
ASTORIA, Feb. 1 -(JP)- This
business of getting born has spe
cial hazards.
Yesterday it was reported from
Portland that a baby arrived too
swiftly and landed in four inches
of snow beside the family garage,
And today it became known
here that Marvin Gene Duncan
had to have the sand dusted off
him when he was born in the
street beside a car that was to
have hurried his mother, Mrs.
Gene Duncan, 21, to a hospital.
But Just like the Portland babe,
the Astorian is getting along fine
and so is his mother.
Klamath Falls Water
Supply Threatened
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore., Feb.
1 -iP)- An air valve broke in Kla
math Falls' main pumping plant
and threatened to exhause the ci
ty's main water supply., tonight.
The California "- Oregon Power
company, which operates the wa
ter system, said houses might be
out of water by morning.
Winter Holds Grip on "High Cascades
T" i- - - 1, i - - :'. ;
4iii. i-K- . ' Vl '': II I
' ' t - j , " " -' f 1 r ' V
V ' ' ij -r-...: .-;'-' . t . i, 1- , .1 4 &
' L '&" . i'1 '" . . . . V' l ' . - .$ tx w.rs v- ...
It's getting a bit sprinrllke ia seme parts of the coast bat not In the Cascade mountains. This picture of
Santiam ledre (another photo en pare 2) was taken Saturday noon with 35mm Kodak by Stanley
Fact ef route . Box 284, Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Fagg and children were enrone te Sisters. Temperature
was about freexlnr and anew depth approximated 100 Inches when the photos were taken. The Fun
dreve te SantUm lodre In about 3H hours (the lodre Is approximately 95 miles east ef Salem), with-J uary 26 by state police and admit
eut chains. They used chains en the return downhill trip, however. ted participation in the lour rape,
PAGES
The
Ptoirway ft Coonsidleir UimDDDg Up watt Westt9!
TelDs Laassiiainis off PDann dod ESepIy to Qoneiriies
SP Mainline
Traffic Tied Up
As Car Derails
Rail traffic on the Southern Pa
cific mainline was tied up for sev
eral hours Tuesday night when
tank-car of gasoline was derailed
opposite the state Fairgrounds
near the north Salem city lim
its.
Reduced air in the braking
system causing a heavy strain on
the draw bar and center sill of the
preceding car, was reported re
sponsible for the accident. The
draw bar and sill dropped to the
track in front of the tank derail
ing it just south of the Fair
grounds road crossing at 5:40 p.m
The southbound freight was
traveling at about 25 miles per
hour when the car left the rails
and the derailed car was dragged
for 240 feet before the train was
halted.
The accident, happening just at
the neak of Southern Pacific's
evening passenger traffic through
Salem, delayed trains for several
hours. The Cascade and the Bea
ver, both southbound passenger
trains, were delayed for nearly
two hours and the northbound
passenger was 50 minutes late lea
ving the Salem station. The Rogue
River, southbound local, was de
layed about 20 minutes.
City firemen stood by the de
railed car with hoses and extin
guishers to prevent any blaze from
the spilling gasoline. Firemen kept
watch -until 1 1 p.m. Tuesday night
when the car was returned to the
rails. About 50 section men work
ed to clear broken ties along the
line.
Tractors pulled the wreckage
from the mainline about two hours
after the accident occurred and
traffic through Salem was re
stored about 8 p.m. A wrecker was
sent from Portland to right the
upset car and return it to Its
trucks. The gasoline 10.250 gal
lons of it was destined for West
Stayton. Because of the damage
to trucks and a crack In the car
Itself, the consignment was re
routed to the Standard Oil siding
in Salem.
Officials Admit
Test Airplane
Tops 850 mph
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -(JPy-Goevrnment
officials acknowledg
ed today that the air force's tiny
"faster - than - sound" test plane
has flown faster than 850 miles
on hour and reached an altitude
above 40,000 feet.
Just how much faster than 850
miles an hour and just how high
the little X-l rocket - powered
rship has flown still is wrapped in
the tightest secrecy. Unofficial in
formation is that its best speed
has been around 1,000 miles an
hour and its best altitude some
thing more than 60,000 feet.
At 60,000 feet the speed of sound
is 660 m.p.h.
Officials merely said the man
piloted craft has -reached more
than half way toward the goals
of 1,700 miles an hour and 80,000
feet altitude for which it was designed.
POUNDDD
Orecon Statesman, Salem, Oreaon, Wednesday. February 2,
6 Missing in
RIPON. Wis., Feb. 1 Flames shoot
was destroyed early today. More
and presumed dead. The cause
(Story on page 2).
' -""fx-
& - , - -f- K v
fiJi3 'fal "
rfaMi ; 1 Jul liil fM n q .
do ii : n nnl 0
Jobless Benefits Break
Record in
Unemployed . workers in the
more jobless compensation benefits last month than in any month
since the state unemployment commission started paying benefits
more than 11 years ago.
The same is true over the statt as a whole, the commission re
ported Tuesday.
AFL to Establish
Newspaper in New
Political Program
MIAMI. Fla., Feb. 1 -IS)- The
AFL today announced plans to
establish a national weekly news
paper circulating to millions as
part of an elaborate political pro
gram.
The Idea is to capitalize on suc
cess in tne 140 national eiecuui
and build a powerful political ma
chine to advance labor's fortunes.
AFL President William Green
aid the tabloid - size newspaper
will be started as "soon as pos
sible." "We'll cover every type of news
in the paper, commented Josepn
Keenan, director of the AFL "La
bor's League for Political Educa
tion." But he added: "Naturally
we'll concentrate on political
news.
It was disclosed, too- that the
AFL is considering (1) sponsoring
a radio commentator five nights a
week over a nationwide hookup
to give AFL political views, and
(2) making movies for showing
at civic and women's groups plug
ging AFL "accomplishments and
aims."
1651
Ripon, Wisconsin Hotel Fire
from the roof ind windows of the historic Grand View Hotel which
than 4 rnests escaped but authorities listed six persons as missing
of the fire was undetermined. (AP Wirephoto to The Statesman).
Marion-Polk
Marion-Polk county area received
A total of $163,376 to civilians
and $93,230 to veterans was paid
out of the Salem office during
January. This represents an in
crease of 49 per cent for civilians
and 20 per cent for veterans over
January of 1948.
In Previous Years
Only $57,000 was pa'id out to
Marion and Polk county jobless
in 1940 and $22,000 during Janu
ary 10 years ago.
Meanwhile what was described
as a "seasonal slack and cold
weather" resulted In the laying
off of about 44-Southern Pacific
railroad employes.
Because of the slow-down in
log and other industrial shipments
by rail now the temporary dis
charges were scattered through
out the system, said H. M. King,
yardmaster In Salem. Those laid
off included train and yard crew
men, car inspectors and employes
in the passenger station, round
house and section workers.
Applications Still High
At the Marion county welfare
commission it was reported Tues
day that the applications for re
lief from destitute persons and
families are "still very high and
are above the beginning of last
month."
Marion Bowen, administrator of
the commission, said that over 15
new applications for direct assist
ance were handled Tuesday.
ACTRESS SEEKS DIVORCE
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 --Marie
Wilson, shapely blonde act
ress sued today to divorce Actor
Allan Hobbs Nixon. Miss Wilson
said they were married in Las Ve
gas, Nev., April 27, 1942, and sep
arated Jast Friday.
Silverton Brothers Draw Long
Prison Terms in Rape Cases
Three Silverton brothers began
serving terms ranging from 15 to
40 years at the state penitentiary
Tuesday night after fhey had plea
ded guilty in Linn county circuit
court to the torture - rape of a
Brownsville girl January 15, and
the rape of an Albany woman last
June 30.
William John Perkins, Jr.. 24.
ex-convict; Cletus Perkins, 19 and
Merle Clayton Perkins, 16, were
sentenced Tuesday. William was
sentenced on two counts for 20
years each to run consecutively.
Cletus and Merle were each sen
tenced to 15 year terms.
The trio also faces trials for rape
in Clackamas and Polk counties.
William and Cletus admitted at
tacking two Clackamas women last
iall, and William and Merle ad
mitted raping Monmouth girl
last May.
The brothers were arrested Jan-
1949
Prlc Sc
Jewelry Store
Owner Held
In Arson Case
William Henry Hedrlck, 45, was
arrested Tuesday night when city
and state police reported he con
fessed to setting' the fire which
destroyed the interior of his
jewelry store at . 1345 State st
Tuesday morning.
City police said that Hedrick
told investigating officers, City
Detective David Hauser. Fire
Chief W. P. Roble and Lt. Thomas
J. Sheridan, state police arson
squad, he set the fire to collect
insurance when he feared he
would be unable to meet a pay
ment on the shop
He reported that he purchased
the shop from L. G. Prescott and
still owed $1,472. Tools and stock
at the store were insured for
$4,000.
Police said he told them that
he lit a 10-inch canddle in a cabi
net containing six gallons of
cleaning solvent and a gallon of
kerosene and soaked the bottom
of the cabinet with kerosene. That
was about 8 p.m. Monday. Then
he left for Portland, returning
Tuesday about noon.
Hedrick confessed after several
hours of questioning by the in
vestigating officers. Lt. Sheridan
had been called from the Portland
office of state police to aid in
the investigation. :
City firemen were called to the
jewelry store early Tuesday when
the blaze occurred. Plastic watch
and jewelry cases were curled by
the intense heat and watches left
for repair were gummed or burn
ed beyond repair. No complete
estimate of damage was made.
Hedrick will be arraigned on
the arson charge today. No bail
has been -set and: he is confined
in the county Jail.
ca?es. They were identified by
their Brownsville victim as the
men who followed her for four
miles toward Sweet Home and
forced her into their car after stop
ping her car by locking bumpers.
She was also buriied by cigaret
butts.
Last June 30 William and Cletus
force an Albany woman into their
car dkd after driving to Scravel
Hill, ttd her hands, raped her and
put ber out of the car.
First of the admitted crimes was
the rape of the 15 - year - old
Monmouth girls after they had
stalled the car in which she was
riding by putting water in the gas
oline. William aid Merle used the
same method on a woman at Mu
lino, raping her after offering to
take her to tow car when her
own car stalled with water in the
gasoline. William admitted raping
another woman at Molalla No
vember 11.
Ho. 271
Move Favored
By U.Se State
Department t
OSLO, Norway, Wednesday.
Feb. 2 -P)- Norway announced
today she has advised Soviet Rus
sia she is studying the possibilitieg
for joining a defense alliance with
the Atlantic powers.
-Norway will make furthei stu
dies to establish under which
forms and conditions Norwav rvo-
sibly could participate in a region
al security system," she said.
Unofficial sources drrih4
statement as "firm."
The Norwegian government
made public its reply to a j Rus
sian note Saturday asking whe
ther Norway would Join the pro
posed North Atlantic alliance and
whether she would grant the West
ern powers military bases on! Nor
wegian soil.
Reply Delivered
Foreign Minintm ui
delivered the reply late yesterday
to the Russian ambassador to Nor
way, S. Afanasyev. i
The Norwegian iovrrm.ni
reply said, will not Join any agree
ment with other states involvin
obligations on the part of Norway
to grant bases fnr nvi
of foreign powers as long as Nor
way is not attacked or exposed to
threats of aggression.
The reply raid Norway had hop
ed the United Nation would pro
vide the -necessary strength to
maintain peace and security for
all nations, but that this hope has
not yet materialized. t
Must Seek Security t
Caring for her Own Mlinii. 14
said, Norway is convinced of tha
necessity to seek increased secur
ity through regional defensive co
operation. In the opinion of the
uiwegin government, it said
such a pact would hm within
frame of the U. N. charter and
would be aimed at preventing ag
gression.
WASHINGTON, Feb. -1 I -TV
pie state department was obvious
ly pleased tonight by Noiway'a
apparent determination to jjrie. up
with the Atlantic powers, despite
Russian pressure.
Invitation Due .. '
Norway and several other'state
will soon be Invited to Join ne
gotiations for a North Atlantic se
curity treaty, the department dis
closed, j
The American government's po
sition was made known officially
about the same time that the Nor
wegian government politely but
firmly turned aside a Russian note
objecting to the pact. This note
was evidently designed to discour
age Norway from Joining in the
agreement. x '
UUBLIN. Feb. 1 ' Bill
able diplomatic informants, said
tonight Eire had received an in
formal invitation to join the North
Atlantic defense pct but has let
it be known lt could not entertain
such a proposal. i
Eire holds the view that guch a
question could be considered on
ly by an all - Ireland parliament,
these informants said. t
Homes Drop as 1
Mine Collapses
CARBONDALE. Pa FehJ l-zan
The earth cracked wide open over
an idle anthracite mine early Uv.
day, dropping one house eight
feet into the ground and damaging
14 omers in a tnree-block area.
Sixty persons fled In nirh
clothing, fearing an earthquake.
Three were injured. j
Loud underground rumblings
warned of the coming cave-in. A
1,200 square foot area crumbled,
the earth saging as much as 40
feet in some spot.
One house slid into a 25-foot
hole. Others tilted precariously,
their foundations and walls track
ed by the sliding earth. I
Police estimated damagcJo the
homes and surface areas at $100.-
OfiO. j
'Phone Rang
All Morning'
That was the experience;
of T. W. Reed. 930 S. 13th
St., fter he inserted this Ad
vertisement in Statesman
Classified: - I :
t B R. furn. houM, ISO mo. S30
At least 75 calls came in
the morning the paper came
out starting at 6:45 a.m.
take It out." was his in
struction to the ad-taker.
Statesman Classified Ads
Brinff Quick Result.
Phone 2-2441 and ask for
Classified. Credit extended
to all with telephones. .
8