Congress to Pass Compulsory Health Insurant
: V
Controversial Plan
mm
Provides Payroll,
Pay Check Taxes
By Morgan Reynolds f
WASHINGTON, April 22-iP)-President Truman, asked congress
today to help end "unnecessary human suffering by approving a
compulsory medical plan which, officials said, might cost $6,000,000,
000 a year.
Workeri pay check and employers payrolls would be taxed Wi
I per cent apiece to finance the pro
gram. POUNDB
1651
99th YEAR
12 PAGES
Tha Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, Saturday, April 23, 1949
PRICE 5c
No. U
Truman
DtP
S33HB
UtDQuQCS
In Italy Premier Alcide de Gas
Deri has finally got around to
cutting up big land holdings to
provide farms for peasants. Long
advocated as a desirable social re
form, the delay has been fodder
for the communists who could
point to land distribution in Po
land and Hungary under the new
regimes. De Gasperi's program s
not as radical as that in Poland
for example: but it is planned on
basis to maintain farm produc
tion. Reports from the other coun
tries Indicated that the breaking
of lands into small fragments re
sulted In a decrease In yields.
State and municipal lands are
being cut up in Italy and landlords
of large estates are being forced
to give up from 20 to 50 per cent
of their holdings to the peasants.
The private holders may sell or
lease to those who have been
working the lands; or the govern
ment takes the land over for re
distribution, paying the owner
partly in cash and partly in bonds.
The estimate is that 8,000 land
owners are affected but only 100
will have to give up half their
lands. Some 120.000 to 150,000
peasant families will acquire about
3,000.000 acres. The number to be
benefitted is pitifully small in a
country where the population in
creases about a million a year.
Land reforms are not new In
aly. Those who remember their
ancient history will recall the
Gracchi brothers, some of Cornelia
(remember "Cornelia's jewels"
from the Latin primer?) Born of
the nobility these brothers took
the side of the plebians. Tiberius
v. t .v th lanri which
tUUftll. w v -
had come into the ownership or
control
(continued on editorial page)
Treasurer
Obtains Bond
PORTLAND, April 22 -(A)- The
new county treurer got his bond
today.
J. T. Summerville, 73-year-old
democrat who was appointed to
the post after Ray Dooley failed
to obtain the required $100,000
purety bond, was bonded today by
the Metropolitan Casualty Insur
ance company of New York.
Multnomah county was still
without a third commissioner,
however. Presumably a republi
can will be chosen to succeed
Alan Brown, who has resigned.
Bones Uncovered
In Vanport Rubble
PORTLAND, April 22 -(A3)- A
farmer uncovered a few bones to
Bay in the rubbish of Vanport, the
housing project destroyed in last
year's flood.
Officials said they may be the
remains of one of the seven per
sons still listed as missing from
Vanport. Teeth melted from a
dental plate in a rubbish fire also
were found. A pathologist will ex
amine the finds tomorrow.
RIVER TUNNEL URGED
VANCOUVER, Wash, April 22
(V A tunnel under the Columbia
fiver between Vancouver and
Portland is the latest proposal
here. The proposal was made af
ter Highway Engineer R. H. Bal
Vock of Oregon had suggested a
Second bridge across the river.
Animal Crackers
By WARREN GOODRICH
"Oh, boy! Hw comn th
ton fotuvrnT
m-
Declaring that "good health Is
the foundation of a nation's
strength, Mr. Truman appealed
anew for adoption of the broad 10
year health program he previous
ly had outlined to the lawmakers.
This calls for a. vast expansion
througft federal aid of the coun
try's medical services and hospital
facilities, plus increased numbers
of doctors, dentists and nurses.
Stresses Insurance
But the president laid major
stress on the compulsory health
insurance program in his 3,000
word message, to congress. This
proposal, first advanced in 1945,
already has become a subject of
controversy, not only on Capitol
Hill but also among the medical
profession itself, with opponents
contending it will mean "socializ
ed medicine.
Mr. Truman, however, pointed to
the recent spread of voluntary me
dical insurance plans as "proof
that our people understand the ad
vantages of health insurance and
desire its extension."
"Unfortunately," he added, "vol
untary plans have proved Inade
quate to meet the need." He said
that while some 50.000,000 Amer
icans now have "some form of
health insurance" only "three and
one half million of our people have i
insurance which provides anything
approacning adequate health pro
tection.
'Save a Great Deal'
Brushing aside opponents' char
ges that the federal insurance pro
ject would be too costly. Mr. Tru
man said "the truth is that we will
save a great deal more than it
costs." He asserted that Americans
already are paying about 4 per
cent of the total national Income
for medical expenses. Based on
last year's income figure of $224,
400.000.000, that would be about
$9,000,000,000.
Not even the staunchest backers
of the president's plan would pre
dict its approval this session. The
subject is packed with controversy
and scores of other important leg
islative problems remain to be set
tled. Lazarus Dies
After 3 Weeks
WitlioutHead
LOS ANGELES, April 22 -7P-Lazarus,
the headless rooster, died
today.
The celebrated chicken succumb
ed suddenly before city inspectors
who were serving Lazarus' owner,
Mrs. Martha Green, with an order
to kill him within 12 hours.
"All of a sudden he Just hung
his neck and died," said Mrs.
Green. "I got down on my knees
and prayed. I prayed for America.
I know God put that rooster Into
the world and let him live for a
purpose. I prayed that God might
forgive us for what we had done."
Only yesterday, Lazarus won In
court a reprieve from an earlier
death sentence,
Mrs. Green said the chicken will
be stuffed "so we can keep it as
a token of what God gave to the
world."
. Mrs. Green bought the rooster at
a market April 2, took him home
to clean him and was astounded
when the bird stood up and began
to strut and, apparently, try to
crow. She had kept him alive with
milk and other light food, admin
istered by an eye dropper.
$100,000 Turkey Processing
Plant Finished at West Salem
A new $100,000 West Salem tur
key processing plant stands ready
for operation, it was announced
Friday.
The plant, operated by Oregon
Turkey Growers association, has
been set up In a building on Bas
sett street formerly occupied by
Willamette Packing company.
L. D. Roberts, manager, said the
killing plant, constructed on an assembly-line
basis, would probably
commence processing the birds
within the next two weeks. This
will be when the growers' breeder
hens are ready for market, he said.
The operation, which includes
killing, picking and cooling the
birds, is capable of handling about
2,000 turkeys per day. About 25
employes will be hired, Roberts
said.
An eviscerating plant, capable of
processing 60.000 pounds of tur
keys peY day, will; be constructed
this fall, Roberts declared. It will
employ about 50 people.
As the Oregon association is af
filiated with Norbest Turkey Grow
ers association of Salt Lake City,
Utah, local birds are shipped to
all parts of the nation in addition
to being marketed: locally.
The spring killing season is ex
pected to last until about June 1.
The fall operation, however, opens
about October 1 and continues un
til the following February. The as
sociation operating the West Salem
plant has similar set-ups in Eu
Boy's Dog Rescued from Pipe
b fi'.v til
i J ' '4 Jia astt ;fa
J ri-o -. ? -a 4rri
LAKESIDE. Calif.. AprU tZ Frank Hayward, I. lifU his pet black
and white wire hatred terrier Spotty from the water main In which
the dor was trapped 29 hours. Spotty was freed last night by the
combined efforts of three public works crews. The dog became
tranced after he chased a rabbit Into the pipe. (AP Wirephoto to
the Statesman.)
Groups Protest
Possible Pope,
Princess Talk
LONDON, April 22-UP)-A pro
test against any meeting of Prin
cess Margaret and Pope Pius XII
was lodged by two Protestant or
ganizations today.
They asked King George VI,
tMnnnril haH of th fhurrh ctt
England, to see that his 18-year- j
old daughter does not have an au
dience with the Roman Catholic
Pontiff on a tour of Italy she plans
to start next week.
The "long, historic struggle
against Papal influence in the
reigning house" of England was
cited.
Letters were sent to the king
by the Protestant Truth society, an
Information agency representing
most Protestant churches in Bri
tain, and by the National Union of
Protestants In northern Ireland.
They were based upon dis
patches from Italy to the British
press saying Margaret might call
on the Pope at some time during
the month she plans to spend in
Italy. There was no confirmation
of such a plan in either London or
Home.
Unofficial Vatican sources, how
ever, said such a meeting could be "r.T ' , "'u'""'
.. . th. Prini.. ,hn Metals-operated factory, announe-
She need not kiss the Pope's ring, I
bow or kneel. Protocol does not
require it. Most Protestant wom
en received by the Pope take his
hand and curtsey slightly.
gene. Roseburg and Canby.
Installation at the local plant
was completed under the direction
of Tony Volk, assistant manager.
Salem Saddle Club Dons Full Regalia to Practice
galea laddie elab (shews abeTS) will be aa Important part ef the!
rente at the state fairgreM May T and t, whea the Willamette I
A-Knowledge to
Wreak Changes
In Life Lilieiithal
SEATTLE, April 22-JP)-Atomic
Chief David E. Lilienthal said to
night the task of making and im
proving atomic weapons is pro
ceeding "rather well in terms of
progress."
"But the real function" of the
atomic energy commission, he said
in an address prepared for a Uni
versity of Washington audience,
"is much broader than that. It Is
this: to foster knowledge."
This new knowledge will, he
said, "affect the whole complex of
life, agriculture, nutrition, educa
tion, international relations, in
dustry, peace and war. That much
seems clear.
'What we are dealing with
is not another weapon but with
fundamental forces at the foun
dation of all life and all matter."
Fertilizer Plant
To Close Doors
Salem's fertilizer plant will close
operations Friday with the excep
tion of a maintenance crew. Arch
f4-.. . M V. .
edT yesterday
Lease on the war - built plant
ends for the company June 30. Bids
for its sale are being negotiated.
Sixtyrfive men are employed at
the plant at present, but the staff
will be cut to 10 or 15 necessary
to maintain the plant and dispose
of 800 to 1,000 tons of fertilizer
on hand.
COST OF FOOD INCREASES
PORTLAND, April 22 -(A)- The
average cost of food here in
creased 1 per cent from February
to March, the bureau of labor
statistics reported today. Rising
meat prices were responsible.
i i
(QSt of
Living Up
Slightly
WASHINGTON, April 22 -UP)
Living costs have gone up a little
after falling for five straight
months.
The government reported today
that its latest consumers price in
dex rose 310 of one per cent from
mid-February to mid-March. It
had fallen steadily since the record
high of August and September.
The index is prepared by the
labor department's bureau of labor
statistics as a measure of retail
prices for goods and services
bought by moderate-income fami
lies in large cities.
A one per cent boost in the
housewife's food prices over the
month accounted mainly for the
index rise. Other advances were
reported for rents and miscellane
ous goods and services (medical
care, household operations, trans
porta tion, recreation, tobacco, etc.)
More than seasonal advances
for meats led the slight rise in
foods. The food price change rang
ed from a rise of 2.6 per cent in
Scranton, Pa., to a drop of 1.4 per
cent in San Francisco. Food prices
rose from February to March in 48
out of 56 cities surveyed.
The index for mid-March was
169.5 percent of the average for
the 1935-39 pre-war period. At this
level it is 1.6 per cent above a year
ago and 72 per cent over pre-war
1939. It is just about 3 per cent
below the August-September peak.
William Retzer,
Dallas Civic
Leader, Dies
DALLAS, April 22 William C.
Retzer, 60, prominent Dallas Jew
eler and civic leader, died unex
pectedly at his home here Friday
afternoon of a heart attack. Retzer
operated a Jewelry store here for
28 years.
Born at Philadelphia, Pa.. Nov.
29, 1888. Retzer came west with
his parent sat the age of two years.
He grew up in Walla Walla, Wash.,
and was married to Rith Nelson
there. He moved to Salem in 1918
were he resided until moving to
Dallas in 1922 to enter business.
Retzer was past master of Jen
nings Lodge AF & AM, Past chan
cellor - commander of Marmion
lodge Knights of Pythias, a mem
ber of Friendship lodge of IOOF.
Naomi chapter of Order of Eastern
Star and Pythian sisters Dalore
Temple.
He was a member of the Dallas
chamber of commerce and a city
councilman for many years. He
was chairman of the special com
mittee in charge of planning con
struction of the Dallas city hall
built in 1936.
Announcement of funeral serv
ices awaits the arrival of a son,
Maj. Karl Retzer, stationed at Palo
Alto, Calif. Surviving besides the
widow and son are sisters, Mrs.
Eugen Pederson, Everett, Wash.,
and Mrs. William Fitz-Henry, The
Dalles; brothers, George Retzer,
North Hollywood, Calif., and Hen
ry Retzer, Los Angeles.
WAREHOUSE 8ITE BOUGHT
MILWAUKIE. April 22 -P)
The International Harvester com
pany bought today a site on the
northern edge of Milwaukie for
a projected $750,000 warehouse.
Valley lTeraemen'a asseciaUea with the sa4dl dab aa4 the Oregon
Meaated posse, will sponsor a twe-eay shew. 1
Cruiser Shows
"Liz-
19 XS;
4iM
SHANGHAI. April 22 The British cruiser London, docked at a
wharf on the Whangpoo river at Shanghai today shortly before bat
tle casualties were removed, shows plainly shell marks on hull and
superstructure Inflicted by Chinese communist shore batteries dur
ing running battle on the river. (AP Wirephoto via radio from
Shanghai to the Statesman.)
Woodburn Fund Periled
By Condition of Schools
WOODBURN, April 22(SpecIal)-The state department of educa
tion this week warned Woodburn
of basic school support funds unless sub-standard grade school con
ditlons are eliminated.
The state department has declared local elementary schools below
standard because of antiquated buildings, overcrowded conditions and
continued use of temporary facili
ties. Aug. 1, 1949, has been set as
the deadline for submitting an ap
proved grade school plan to the
voters.
Dr. Carl L. Huffaker, school
building specialist at University of
Oregon who conducted the prelim-
nary survey of local needs, said
last Friday that the Woodburn dis
trict has only six actual grade
school rooms for 461 pupils.
He stated that more students
now are housed in maxesnm
rooms than in standard rooms. He
said further that Washington grade
school should be condemned.
In addition to the critical grade
school problem, Woodburn district
voters are faced with a record
school budget of $202,900 for the
1949-50.
Citizens will hold a public hear
ing on the proposed budget next
Wednesday at 8 p m. in Lincoln
grade school. The following day,
April 28. they will vote whether
the budget should exceed the 6 per
cent limit bv $107,933. Only $21,
496 of the $200,000 budget is with
in the 6 per cent limit.
FORD PLANT STRIKE VOTED
DETROIT. April 22-A)-Workers
at the Ford Motor company's
big rouge plant gave solid appro
val to a strike proposal tonight.
Local President Thomas Thompson
said a final count of ballots in the
five-day strike vote showed 30,290
workers in favor of a walkout and
4,400 against.
ROSEBURO OKEHS BUDGET
ROSEBURG, April 22-P)A re
cord high city budget, $25,819 be
yond the legal limitation, was ap
proved in a special election in
Roseburg yesterday.
for Horse Shotv
Battle Damage
it m.m.
mm
school district it will lose $40,000
Board Eases
Installment
Buying Rules
WASHINGTON, April 22-(tp)-The
Federal Reserve board today
lengthened to 24 months the time
limit for completing installment
purchase payments and simultan
eously cut the down payment to
10 per cent for everything but
automobiles.
The new regulations will be
come effective April 27, marking
the second time the board has
relaxed credit controls In less
than two months.
The new 24-month time limit
replaces the 21 -month limit that
has been in effect since March 7.
The ten per cent cash down pay
ment replaces a 15 per cent re
quirement also in effect since
March 7.
In addition, the board exempt
ed from control requirements
furniture, radios and refrigerators
and other now-controlled items
costing less than $100.
Albany Climbs
Near Salem on
Building List
Albany nearly equaled Salem in
March building activity as both re
corded considerable gain over the
previous month, according to the
Pacific northwest building data
supplement.
Salem's $392,210 and Albany's
$353,363 ranked third and fourth
in Oregon for the month, behind
Portland and Medford. The capital
city showed a drop of 19 per cent
from March, 1948. while Albany
construction value rose 311 per
cent.
Total figures in Oregon's lead
ing cities for March were $5,421,
073, a drop of 48 per cent from
a year ago.
Large projects included a new
fire hall and an Evangelical church
in Albany and telephone company
alterations and a cannery building
In Salem.
EWELL AVERT TO STAY
CHICAGO, April 22 -0P)- The
people who own Montgomery Ward
and company today told Sewell
Avery to go on running it. Stock
holders at their annual meeting
brushed aside complaints over
Avery's leadership and gave him a
whopping vote of confidence as
chairman of the board of directors.
I' I
t ; j
L.niang
Returns
To Scene
By Seymour Topping i j
NANKING. Saturday, April tl
This tottering Capital cf r
tionahit China was abandoned by
its officials and its garrison today
as communist troops ima hA
across the river and reached its
gates. -i
Red troops, aonarentlv
the nationalist defenses on a u. trim
front, seized broad areas pn both
sides of the capital. j
Best reports here said the latwrt
crossing came from Pukow, a crone
the Yangtze from Nanking. Red
veterans were said t have landed
near Nanking's railwav ctntit.n
just outside the city's walls. i
Looting beiZan In Nanlrina
from which all hiah VovemmuT
officials presumably had! flvd
along with the garrison. The city
was a no-man's-land, with Loth
sojaiers ana police withdrawn.
Shops looted I .
Mobs broke into sHods and t ar
ried all manner of merchandise
their homes and the countryside.
Dirty and disorganize ir..,a
believed withdrawn from Pukow,
streamed through the city. ;
Among those fleeirig the caciial
were a number of foreigners. Tbt-y
wem on me same planes which
carried off high government tfl
cials in eluding Premier Ho Ying
Chin. j
An estimated lOfl.DOO national
ist troops reportedly clogged the
roads in disorderly retreat fu-rn
Nanking. They fled south along
four , main highways!
Chiang Active Again H l
In the hour of nationalist China'i
extremity, "retired" President Chi-
ang Kai-Shek joinedjin Hangchtw
yesterday with Acting President U
Tsung-Jen in declaring that they
were resolved to "fiirht to it
end."
Hangchow. the meeting rlnr fi
nationalist leaders, is 150 mil
southeast of Nankin. lA'm hn
in Nanking was amonsf tho l.i-
ed by Chinese mobs, j He was u.id
to have left Nanking early tcrlay
for an unknown destination, but
this could not be confirm
The flight of government c,1-
diers led to belief that their com
manders temporarily had lot con
trol. Military quarters said the
26th army, which ivas 'ordered
to move into Nanking last ritfht
to defend the capital, never ar
rived. f : ' f
Gates Open, Unguarded !
The c ity gates are Open and' un-
guiirded. Desertion of nationiiliM
troops was reported at muriy
points. The deserting; troops irn
ply sat down and wilted for the
communists. 3
(The Associated Press nttli In
Shanghai reported that the tele
phone line to Nanking, over which
Topping was sending his newa,
went out shortly after this
patch cleared. I . j
(It was possible, the Shancrhat
office said, that the line had Ui-n
cut. Topping's last word was that
the reds had not yet entered.) I
British Ship lilt Again j
The British embassy, still la
Nanking, announced j that com
munist artillery aaairi during ih
day had hiit the crippled BriliKh
sioop Amemyst, in the river 60
miles east of Nanking. It had rx
word on whether fresh casualties
rewunea. , i .
The Amethyst's eaDtain. tl.
Cmdr. B. M. Skinneri was imnn
the 44 dead from two dav of
shelling that damaged four'Biii
ish warships. His body and on
other were taken to Shanghai hy
train Friday, along With the i.
maining Amethyst wpunded.
CoaMal Communities to
Vote on Consolidation j
DELAKE, April 22-1?)- vot
ers of DeLake.vCutlei City, Taft,
and Nelscott will decide tomorrow
whether they want ;to combine
their communities into a tingle
city. ' p. , ;
The proposed new city would be
called "North Lincoln,? and would
extend about four miles along the
coast highway US. 101), i I
Max.
;;Mlr.
Prrrtft
trt.ee
M
atom n
Portland
67
SI
7S
San Francisco
Chictro . 7S 1 SI
Nw York ea S3
wmamrtt river 4 fc
FORECAST (from U.S. H weather bu
reau, MrNary field. Salem I: Partly
cloudy today, tonight and Sunday.
Warmer temperature today. High to
day near 73. Low tonight: near 4S.
Waatner condition will i be generally
tair ior an larming actiniae voai
Hay.
SALEM FKECIFITATIOM
(Sept. 1 te April H)
This Year
Last Year
41J
Averaee
MM
17.77