Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983, December 21, 1938, Image 1

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Eugene register-guard., December 21, 1938, Image 1

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1938)

Page of 12 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (2.8 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Page of 12 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page Textfeather: Cloudy Home Edition LAME COUNTY'S HOME NEWSPAPER. TODAY'S NEWS TODAY VOL. 95 No. 174 EUGENE, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1938 ON STREETS 3c; NEWS STANDS So Probe Takes Sinister Tyro Drug Swindle Cash donations to the Lane County Christmas Relief fund hovered just under the $1,000- mark Wednesday as several large mbscriptions were reported by the to Eugene banks, handling the funds. A total of $996.05 had been turn- td in to the banks by noon Wed nesday and a donation of $10 worth of groceries by the Blue Bird Packing company, received Wednesday, actually put the cash value of the drive well over the 11,000 mark. The drive will continue Thurs day and Friday and ' the three trustees said they felt confident the goal of $1500 would be reach ed. They emphasized again the Importance of cash donations to adequately bring relief to the 100 non-resident families In destitute conditions here. Forty-two families were brought under the program by Wednesday noon, Chief Carl Bergman, chair man of the trustees, announced. SEE DONATIONS TO STORY PAGh Christmas Spirit v Extended To 80 Eugene Shut-Ins Christmas cheer wn hrnneht b 80 "shut-ins'" Tuesday after noon by members of the Eugene td Springfield American Legion, ith a party, held at the May flower theatre, including a pro Prai and the presentation of pits. Tile "shut-ins." InrlnHintf 111 "tf injured persons rarely able leave their homes or hosrjitals. Wre gathered by the Legionaires Kd their wives from the entire fy 'n private automobiles,- and "ought to the show. Jhe guests, for the most part wly persons, were shown a Picture, and were given gifts ndy and fruit. One person missed from the group a ;nan who left her home in Vmgfield last year for the first 23 years to attend the Tyy. She died two. months ago. "irence Jensen was chairman I the committee in charge. 3 Shopping Days Till Christmas TJ0 BACK T0 CHRIST-Ue- t 7"REE YEARS AGO bnd jubilant; it had Just ' named site of G. O. P. Ro""on the following June. W T" ,rowning at "Chil-Koad- " and "Tobacco te "cwrt' xV Df- Benes named ''0ViVi, J,Iasar-k as Czecho- traL ann ln dc cell. . . . Sen az aracting atten tortui;. ' ew Deal measures 'y awaiting Supreme Court decisions. 55 j"" ,B ' sL Lift,, : -ED by a five-day rain, the swollen Los Angeles gnawed at its banks and washed out part of Ventura f boulevard in Los Angeles. Only minor damage was done by the storm. Miens to Lane Xmas Relief Fund at $1 000 Mark Wednesday Today's Typical Case A family of six, living in a small shed which Is virtually impossible to heat, was listed as the family typical of the group to be aided by the Lane County Christmas Relief fund Wednesday, - The father Is employable and is willing to work. He has obtained a few odd jobs, but has been unable to get enough work to provide needed food, fuel and clothing. In addition three of the four children are in school and in need of dental care which the family has been unable to afford. The father is trying to find a small site somewhere upon which to build a small house. He is willing to do the work and would like to earn the money to purchase the site and lumber for a shack. Liv ing in the shed as the family is at present, it is impossible to keep the children in good health. Burning of Shingle Mill Investigated Officers are Investigating the burning of the Roy Swenson shin gle mill at Horton early Tuesday morning, believing that the blaze was of incendiary origin. Captain Sam Malehorn, special investigat or for the state police and state fire marshal's office, and Nelson F. Whipps, deputy sheriff, went to the scene of the blaze Wednes day morning to look over the ruin3 and make a thorough investiga tion. The blaze was discovered before daylight Wednesday morning and it had spread to such an extent that all efforts on the part of the employes to extinguish were futile. Oregon CIO Invites Mooney To Aid Drive PORTLAND. Dec. 21. OP)- -Ar- rqngements Secretary James Fantz said yesterday he had invited Tom Mooney, widely known California prisoner, to address a state Con gress for Industrial Organization convention here January 14 and 15. Fantz also indicated Mooney would be asked to aid in a fight against Oregon's new anti-picketing law. Georgia Authorities Seek Slayer Of Five SAVANNAH, Ga., Dec 21. U TVmntv and city police today launched an intensive search for a blood-spattered madman wno slugged four members of a family to death with an iron pipe, then killed a garage watchman with a shotgun. TROOPER PROMOTED SALEM, Ore., Dec. 21. J.f& rW. Warren, for several years at tached to the Portland office of kac heen oromoted iiic auiic pji--t -- r to a captaincy at aaiem, ju Southern California Pelted By Hail, Snow LOS ANGELES, Dec. 21. (U.B A cycle of "unusual weather" was completed in southern California tonight when hail whitened the streets of Pasadena. A trace of snow fell In Altadena, Pasadena suburb, and between the hail and snow came thunder. lightning and a heavy downpour of rain. Temperatures dropped accordingly. ' The thunder storm wrecked power service to Mt. Wilson ob servatory for an hour. Two inches of snow were reported from the observatory, which in the past six days had received 13 inches of rain, nearly half of what normally In Los Angeles, temperatures dropped sharply after a week of almost incessant rain piled up- a new 49-year December record of 7 inches, about twice the normal figure. Prospects of frost were re ported by the weather bureau, which at the same' time forecast clearing skies tomorrow. The storm, leaving several roads blocked by landslides, followed an all-time record December heat wave which sent temperatures soaring to 92 degrees only two weeks ago. Oregon's Net Debt $50,000,000 Less Than All-Time Peak SALEM, Dec. 21 (P) The net debt of the state of Oregon and all its subdivisions is $136,406, 809, about $50,000,000 less than the all-time peak of 1930, State Treasurer Rufus C. Holman said today. The figure is $15,000,000 less than two years ago. The bonded indebtedness to totals $156,901,267, while war rant indebtedness amounts to $18,735,844, the total debt being $175,637,111. However, about $39,000,000 in sinking fund assets reduces the net debt to about $136,000,000. The bonded indebtedness has been reduced $61,000,000 in eight years, while warrant indebted ness has increased by $6,690,000. White Pleads Guilty , To Theft Of Jewefry ' Homer White pleaded guilty In circuit court Wednesday morning to a charge of larceny in a store and will be sentenced later. White is accused of the theft of a number of rings in the Crow jewelry store on East Broadway. Officers say he tried to sell them in Albany. Police there arrested him for the Eugene police Decem ber 16 and he was brought to the Lane county jail the next day. Radio Contact By HAROLD ETTLINGER PARIS, Dec. 21. (u.R Radio contact with an adventurous band of French colonists on barren St. Paul's island, close to the outer edge of the antarctic ice shelf, was re-established today. George Mandel, minister of col onies, announced the colonists were running out of food and their sup ply of coal was exhausted. Naval authorities made hasty preparations to rush coal from the nearest naval base, Diego Saurez, on the island of Madagascar, 3,000 miles away. Radio operators at Antananarivo I Madagascar, established, contact Workers Claim Many Needy Not Yet Cared For Workers Alliance Group Holds Peaceful Meeting At Lane Relief Office Approximately 100 members of the Workers Alliance gathered In an orderly demonstration at the Lane county relief offices this morning, to ask additional- relief for needy families which they claim have not yet received assist ance. The group, which was composed mostly of middle-aged men, wo men, and a few children, waited patiently outside the offices while their representatives conferred with Peter M. Sullivan, Lane county relief director. The workers were represented by Paul Wellborn and Jay Bailey. Mrs. Paul Wellborn, secretary of the Workers Alliance and a third member of their committee, was unable to attend because of her work with the Christmas fund drive. Problems Discussed During the hour and a half dis cussion which ensued the follow ing problems were talked over: 1. The privilege of a person on relief who does not feel he Is re ceiving adequate assistance to take up the matter with his case worker, one person of his own choice, and Mr. Sullivan, relief administrator. 2. Help and care for two aged women who are both in poor health and do not have enough money to keep them in fuel and proper food. 3. Assurance that all people ell eible for relief fie certified for WPA work as soon as possible." . 4. Overburden of caeo workoro now employed. 5. Procedure for obtaining relief in an emergency. Relief committee officials stated previously that everything pos sible under the law has been done for Lane county's needy. and that officials of the Workers' Alliance who sponsored the dem onstration were as cognizant of the fact as anyone else. Mr. Sullivan, following the meeting Wednesday, said the best thing Workers' Alliance members could do would be to continue their much-appreciated efforts toward helping gather clothing. food and cash donations for dis tribution in the county. Roper Says Business Should Be Better In 1939; Quits Friday WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 P Secretary of Commerce Roper said today there are "several ele ments of strength" in the busi. ness outlook for 1939. At his final press conference as com merce department chief. Roper cited the following "hopeful' actors: A marked expansion in the demand for automobiles, sub stantial improvement in trade inventories, and quickening re sponse of productive output to consumer demand. Commenting on his retirement as secretary, effective December 23, he said, "I leave the public service with gratitude to all, with malice toward none." Neither State Nor U. S To Tax Jobless Benefits SALEM, Dec. 21 (P Neither the state nor the federal govern ment will tax unemployment compensation benefits paid to workers, the unemployment com pensation commission said today. The federal government an nounced three months ago it would not tax the benefits, while the state tax commission made a similar decision today. Made With "Lost" Colonists; Need Coal, Food with the tiny "cursed island" early today and confirmed the plight of the colonists. Bitter dissension was reported to have broken out among the women in the band. Fear that the colony had been wiped out abated with the report. Nothing Had been heard from the stranded group since an S O S it had sent out was picked up by an American amateur radio operator, E. R. Gibson, in Bremerton, Wash. The last word from the island was: "Will be grateful if you QSP re lay early as possible to Madagascar even through officially we ran short of coal due bad weather. No chance to find coal on island. Call Broadway Star True to Best Of Traditions NEW YORK, Dec. 21. M Mary Martin, 22-ycar-old Texas redhead who rose to stardom in her first Broadway show, felt something was wrong last night when she danced Into the wings after singing her hit song "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." But she wept just the same, when veteran actor Victor Moore, told her what the audience already knew that her own father, Pres ton Martin, an attorney, had died in Wentherford, Texas. Word of his passing was with held from her more than 12 hours by her secretary, who was fearful the shock would be too great if she were told before the performance. Members of the cast of "Leave It to Me" helped keep the secret Tonight the vivacious little ac tress will perform her usual role, a routine that includes a burlesque of a strip tease dance as well as the sentimental song about a "Sugar Daddy." She said she would be unable to attend the funeral. "I can't leave the show no dad wouldn't want me to," she said. Experimental Power Rate Plan Is Okayed WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. P The federal power commission cleared the way yesterday for ex tension of an experimental con tract between the Bonneville dam authority and the Northwestern Electric company by approving new temporary rates for power generated at the government's plant on the Columbia river. Under the new schedule, the rates were based on a kilowatt-day basis rather than on the kilowatt- year basis which Administrator J D. Ross will use when he-begins wholesale distribution of power in the Pacific northwest. The company will receive prime power under the new schedule for l-165th of $17.50 a day, for each kilowatt of billing demand. Secon dary power will cost the North western company l-365th of $11.50 a day for each kilowatt of billing demand. Demand will be determined as the highest integrated load during any 30 minute period during the 24 hours from midnight to midnight on any calendar day. ' The commission said the Bonne ville authority and the Northwes tern Electric company were "inter ested in testing out the feasibility of the interconnected operation of the Bonneville project and the Northwestern company's system." Postoffice Sees "Biggest Day" In Stamp Sales Tuesday was the biggest day for the sale of stamps ever seen in the history of the Eugene postoffice, according to a statement by Frank Armitage, postmaster. A total of stamps amounting to $2600 was sold at that time. Christmas mailing accounts for a large part of the stamp sale, but proportionately, it is believed that the increase in stamp sales can be accounted to a growth of popula tion, rather than more Christmas business per person. Public Hearings in TVA Investigation Finished WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. P Public hearings in the congression ional investigation of the TVA came to an end today more than nine months after congress auth orized the sweeping inquiry into the vast administration project. Failure of Edward C. M. Richard, former TVA forester to appear to testify, caused Senator Donahcy (D-Ohio), to abandon a scheduled final hearing on the TVA com mittee. ing Madagascar. No luck. Hear tentative broadcast at 14 GMT. Would like to have them call us. We will listen for message. Hope Madagascar will send rescue. Hope we can get Tananarive broadcast to cheer us up. Confirm that we arc on S. S. He Bourbon. From Rene Moureaux." The Island is 3500 miles from both Melbourne, Australia, and Cape Town, South Africa, lying midway between the two con tinents and a few hundred miles from the south polar ice shelf. The colonists are without fuel but their scanty food supply is supplemented by lobsters and fish Rumor Holman Will Resign Post Thursday Politicos Say Treasurer Determined to Dominate Successor's Appointment By SID KING The enigma of Oregon repub lican politics Senator-elect Ru fus Holman continued to baffle republican leaders of the state Wednesday as rumors that he might resign as state treasurer Thursday were circulated along with reports that he was cling ing steadfastly to his determine lion to dominate the appointment of his successor as state treasur er. He is known to desire the selection of P. J. Stadleman, The Dalles. If Holman resigns before the new regime In the state, republi can leaders will regard it as a direct slap at the republican party because it would give the appointive power to Governor Martin who could not be ex pected to name a republican treasurer. Holman could not be reached by telephone Wednesday for a statement on the rumor he might resign Thursday. Holmnn has maneuvered the situation till It now stands about like this: 1 he could resign now and go back to Washington to line up his committee appoint ments in the U. S. senate, but that would allow Governor Mar tin to name his successor and in that case a democrat would be selected; 2 he can first get i commitments from Governor- elect Sprague that the latter will appoint the man he wants and then keep his state position till bpiague Is inaugurated and In a position 'to appoint Holmaii's choice; 3 if unable to get commitment out of Sprague and that is held likely he can retain his treasurership anyway and hope to be able to influence the selection. Naturally, the republicans want to gain complete dominance of the state board of control which would be possible If Holman re signs now and permits Governor Martin to name a democrat as a state treasurer. Holman, of course, knows this, as does Gov- BEE RUMOR HOLMAN STORY PAGE 2 New Snow Falling On McKenzie Pass Snow fell throughout the morning on the McKenzie pass, Wednesday, but the roadway was jpen, the highway office report ed. From six to eight inches of fresh snow were on the ground early In the morning. Plows are at work to keep the highway open. Rain fell at Intervals In Eu gene. The day's minimum was 32.2 degrees, at the airport weather bureau. Winter's First Day Brings Klamath Snow KLAMATH FALLS, Dec. 21 (4 The first day of winter brought the season's first real snowfall here, but a midday sun threatened to melt the two-Inch blanket which covered the ground early this morning. Although the storm was reported more severe in mountain areas, all major highways in this vicinity re mained open. REALTY BOARD TO ELECT The Eugene Real Estate board will elect 1939 officers at their regular Thursday noon session at Seymour's Cufe. After discussing several questions tabled at lust Thursday's meeting the board members will enjoy a Christmas party and tree. which swarm around the inland. The present colony has five mar ried couples and two children, the youngest being six months old, and the crew of 36 of the steam trawler Morcux, renamed He Bourbon. The trawler sailed from St. Malo, France, on May 28. It cleared the Suez canal where the last letters were mailed. They announced that the five women were quarreling with one another. The government believed the women might have been taken to Reunion Island. The leader of the SEE CONTACT LOST STORY PAGE 12 - J I'M I fg ff) COAST GUARD planes and ves sels are massed at Juneau, Alaska, to aid 18 survivors of the motorslilp ratterson, wrecked on Cape Falrweather. First Officer Gustaf F. Swanson, above, was lost in the wreck. WPA Official Says Funds Almost Gone WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. (P)- Aubrey Williams, deputy WPA administrator, told a Pennsylva nia workers delegation today un less congress appropriated addi tional funds the Works Progress Administration would be forced to shut down completely by Febru ary 7. Outright dismissals, he said, would begin at early as Januaiy 20. Williams' .statement -.came as a surprise to those who had expect ed WPA funds to last farther Into February or perhaps until March 1 as requested by President Roose velt Williams did not disclose whether he had knowledge of any White House plans to ask congress for a deficiency appropriation, but Informed persons have believed for sdme time such a request would be in Mr. Roosevelt's first com munication to congress. Williams declined to give an es timate of remaining WPA funds. The last congress appropriated $1, 425,000,000 for the period July 1, 1038, to March 1, 1939. As of the week ending Decem ber 10, WPA showed an enroll ment of 3,139,045 persons. Final Plans Made For Judging Junior Chamber Contest Final arrangements for Judg ing the entries in the Junior chamber of commerce outdoor lighting contest have been an nounced by Warren Moore, chairman of the committee in charge. The judges will leave the city council rooms at 7 p. m. Thursday In groups of two. Af ter each group has selected its choice, the Judges will go around again together to make the final selection. Persons Interested In the con test may register by calling the chamber of commerce at 192 be fore 5 p. m. Thursday. A grand prize of $25 will be offered, and prizes of $10 each will be given to the best display on the cast and west sides of Willamette street. Fourteen prizes in mer chandise orders will also be given. The entrant winning the $25 prize will not be eligible for the $10 prize. Judges will be Mayor Elisha Large, Mrs. Claire Luckey, Dr. I. R. Fox, J. F. Reiide, Mrs. J. R. Bruckart, Mrs. Vernice Fee, Allen Bean, Robert Bcrtsch, and Warren Moore. 2000 Toys Taken By Lions To Needy Delivery of nearly 2000 toys to 800 families of Eugene and Lane county started Wednesday by the Lions club toy committee, headed by C. L, Sigloh. Each year the Lions club holds its drive to secure these toys for children ln needy families. The city fire de partment has repaired and re painted all the toys again this year, and the wrapping in holiday paper was done by a group of wives of Lions members. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS BUCHAREST, Dec. 21. (P) King Carol through the department of agriculture today gave 1.000 plows to poor Rumanian farmers as Christmas presents. Investigators Check Theory Coster Slew 2 Hint Cosfer-Musica May Have Had Hand in Death Of Two Poultry Dealers NEW YORK, Dec. 21. (n The F. Donald Coster - Philip Musica mystery, already' involving mil lions and international duplicity, took a new and more sinister turn today as Brooklyn detectives began investigating the possible connec tion with the unsolved murders of Joseph Cohen, wealthy poultry and fish dealer, and his brother, Bar nett. The Cohen brothers were shot down, a month apart, in the spring of 1932. Police Inspector Michael S. Mc Dermott ' ordered detectives to question members of the Cohen family as well as Coster-Musica's three brothers Goerge Vernard Musica, George E. Dietrich-Musica, and Robert Dietrich-Musica who are being held in $100,000 bail each on charges of violating the securi ties act of 1934. The investigation started as fed eral, state and city authorities delv ed into the fantastically involved activities of the Musica brothers" Philip who became the respected head of McKesson and Robbins( Inc., and the brothers who aided him, all working under the elabor ate guise of fictitious names and fictitious backgrounds. Coster-Musica killed himself last Friday after he had been exposed as the arch-swindler in a million dollar scandal a quarter of a cen tury old. An Investigation was al ready under way into the missing $18,000,000 assets of the drug con cern's crude drugs department when he tired a bullet into his head in his Fnlrfiold, Conn., home. Frittered Away Millions Brien McMahon, assistant U. S. attorney who came here from Washington to take charge of the multiple phases of the Investiga tion, said the Musica brothers apparently frittered away millions of the corporation's dollars and SEE DRUG PROBE STORY . FAGK Z ; ' Building Trades to Convene Here Jan. 6 PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 21 (U.R)' A state-wide building trades section of the Oregon State Fed eration of Labor will assume permanent form at a constitu tional convention in Eugene Jan. 6, B. R. Mathis, secretary of the Portland building trades council, announced. According to Mathis, about 12, 000 building trades workers in the state will be represented in the section, planned to-"unite the various buildin trades unions on matters of policy, wage scales and working conditions." Howard Kenna, Salem, was named temporary president of the organization, with C. D. Long, Klamath Falls, as vice-president and Mathis as secretary-treasurer. The executive board Is made up of four Portlonders, Ed Nel son, piledrivers' union; Lee Pul Ien, plumbers; John O'Neill, iron workers, and A. H. Hawkins, building laborers, and C. W; Crary, Salem. Weather News OREGON: Cloudy tonight and Thursday, probably showers in west portion and light snow over mountains; little temperature change; moderate northwest wind off coast. AIRPORT BUREAU RECORD: Minimum temperature, 24-hour and 12-hour periods ending at 4:30 a. m., Wednesday, 32.2 degrees; maximum temperature, 24-hour period ending at 4:30 a. m., 42.5 degrees, for 12-hour period end ing same time, 38.6 degrees; pre cipitation for 24-hour period end ing at 4:30 a., m., Wednesday, .09 of an inch; wind, at noon, Wed nesday, southwest. RIVER BUREAU RECORD: Stage of Willamette river In Eu gene at 7 a. m. Wednesday, minui 1.2 feet; precipitation in 24-houf period ending at 7 a. m. Wednes day, .16 of an inch. Thnrsdaf High 1:06 a. m. 12:!S p. m. Low- 6:41 . m. 7:23 p. m. Ftld.r HIKh 1:43 a. m. 1:61 p. m. Low . 7.20 a. in. 7.-59 p. m- Satnrday Hlh 1:22 a. m. 137 p. m. Law S.OO a. m. M p. m.