Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, January 29, 1925, Image 1

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Capital journal., January 29, 1925, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextPIERCE STRIKES AT SERVICE COMMISSION CITY EDITION Dally average nal paid circulation tor month coding Uecerober SI, 1924 6366 Areragc daily dlatrlbutton .T. Member Audit Bureau ot Circulation.. G apitalAjoiiFiial THE WEATHER OREGON: Rain tonight and Friday. Slightly colder In' the wot and In ex treme northeaat - Local:- Mai. 65; mla. 45: rain, .11; river 12.S, rlaing: atmoa., cloudy. . FORTY-SEVENTH YEAR No. 25 SALEM, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1925 4a, PRICE THREE CENTS SAWrvAD cneentS n I Ml to inaaaaaaaaaK ry aaBaananananananaaaakw (aaaniB aninininininina. aaaaaaam anaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal $1,500,000 SOUGH! FOR FARM RELIEF Governor In Special Mes sage Asks Financial Aid For Farmers and Slams Service Board. Legislation extending aid to the frost stricken farmers of east ern Oregon by appropriating to their use as a loan fund the sum of $1,500,000 from the soldier bonus sinking fund, and utter re construction of the public service commission were urged upon the legislature today In a special mes sage from Governor Pierce, deliv ered at a joint session at noon. The governor declares that the service commission should be ap pointive by the governor and asks legislation to that effect. He as serts that the commission ap pears to him to be a servant of the utilities rather than the peo ple, and that the commission Kerne to be "utterly helpless in considering the point of view and legitimate interests of the pub lie." He declares that In 1924 not a single rate reduction was made In the Interests of the people. Another law Is asked by Pierce declaring telephone and telegraph companies to be common carriers. More equitable distribution of the tax for burden hydro-electric de relopment and reforestation are arged. Strenuous opposition to the proposed manner of financing re lief for the wheat farmers is an tlclpated on the ground that the states credit Is already straine'J In the eastern financial centers and the dumping of this amount of bonds, In which bonus sinking fund is tied up, would further aggravate the situation. The governor's references to the public service commission had the same appreciable effect upon the legislators as salt massaged Into an open sore. His message In part follows: "I wish frankly to state my firm belief that the commission hould be appointed by the gover- ior and removable at hie pleasure Jn order definitely to fix full re sponsibility for its proper func tioning In the public in tees t, and that furthermore It should be iup ported by a tax on gross earn Ings of public utilities rather than by a direct charge to the taxpayers of the state amounting to $130,000 each biennium, the present cost of the commission. "In this connection I wish to y that the public service com n lesion has often appeared to me is being the servant of the pub- tic utilities rather than of the public. " COMPULSORY GRADING OF POTATOES SOUGHT Compulsory grading of potatoes to certain Btandurd before offer ing them for sale in Oregon would be provided for In accordance with bouse bill 211, Introduced toIay by Buchanan of Benton county, BILL T t TAKE I FROM PIERCE Reply of Legislators To Governor is Measure to Remove Appointive Power; Rename Men The first of the big Berthas con stituting the main battery of the legislative forces attacking the stronghold ot Governor Pierce ex ploded in the senate this morning. It was a direct reply to the execu tive's action in replacing the five members o the Port of Portland commission wliose terms expire June 1. By the terms of a bill lntrtv duced by the Multnomah county delegation, minus Senator Joseph, the power of appointment of th port commissioners Is taken out of the bands of the governor and vested In the legislature. The bill names the five com missioners deposed by the gov ernor, including Frank M. War ren, present chairman ot the commission ,to Bucceed themselves, and if passed completely annuls (Continued on Page Nine) E Chicago, Jan. 29. (By Associ ated Press.) Assistant Attorney General John W. Crira began tb final argument for the prosecution in the veterans bureau conspiracy trial today. Following an hour ot argument and the Instructions of the court the case will be pre sented to the jury soon after the opening ot the afternoon session. A quick verdict Is anticipated by counsel. Charles R. Forbes, former direc tor of. the United States veterans bureau and J. w. Thompson wealthy building contractor Chicago and St. Louis went to trial before Federal Judge George A. Carpenter, November 24 last charged with conspiracy to re- fraud the government. The proceedings grew out charges of corruption, collusion and loose management in the vet erans bureau under Forbes in 1921 and 1922, related before the senate Investigating committee In 1923 by Elias H. Mortimer, Wash ington agent, and self-styled "snipper of official red tape." Thirty-three overt acts were charged In the indictment on which the trial was based, among them conspiracy to prevent free competitive bidding, favorites for certain contractors in the An nouncement of contemplated pro jects, and the passing of confi dential information relating to se lection of sites. Mayor Outlines Plans to Secure Concrete Bridges The second step In Mayor J. B. Giesy's campaign for permanent bridges within the city limits of Salem will be taken at the coun cil meeting Monday night, when be will appoint a special brids-i committee to work out plans tor the building of concrete bridges In the future. The regular council committee on bridges will toxm the nucleus of this committee. says Mayor Giesy, and additional members will be named by awn Monday. Two ways to Insure the desired results were pointed out by Mayer Glesy. The one he favors Is t.ie voting ot authority for the coun cil to make a small special levy each year for bridge construction, ASK Li lit 10 REPLY TO the same as the special levy voted a few years ago tor the construc tion ot sewers, and which has worked so efficiently since, Through this special levy a small amount would be available each year for construction, and In the event of high water damage to any one or two of the wood bridges, new concrete ones could be put In in their places, dispens ing of repair bills. The alternate plan of financing Is the voting of bonds, avers thf mayor. In any event a special election would have to be held, providing the building prog rum was started at once, as Mayor Giesy desires, and as dozen of III (Continued on Page Four) N V.VL TO ESCAPE JAIL San Francisco, Jan. 29 Theo dore Eggers, who escaped from the federal prison at Atlanta, Ga., Is believed by federal officials to have come to San Francisco to plot the escape of his two brothers, Milo and Ariel, suspected liquor pirates, which led yesterday to the HJiootIng and killing of Ariel Eg gers and the escape of Mllo E ti gers. Comparison of the handwriting of "James Callahan," who rented the automobile In whleh Milo Eg gers escaped, with that of Theo dore Eggers disclosed many simi larities, the federal officials said. They had other evi-dencc, they said, that Theodore Eggers, sup posed leader ot the sensational hi jacking ring that operated off the coast of British Columbia came here from his place of conceal ment and workel out the plot to free hla brothers. Mr a. Erna Brown, believed by In vestigating officials to be the sister of the Eggers brothers, la being closely questioned today concern ing the Identity of the woman who drove Theodore Eggera to freedom from the gates of the Atlanta pris on after the tires of the police au tomobile In which he was being brought to that prison exploded mysteriously. The federal authorities believe that Milo and Theodore Eggera are together, and are hastening to get out or the country, presumably to Mexico. MATRICIDE TO BE TRIED IN CRIMINAL COURT San Francisco, Jan. 29 Dorothy El Uneven, the 16 year old matri cide, is to be tried by the criminal and not the juvenile courts, It was decided today by Superior Judge Frank Murasky, juvenile court Judgo, when the girl was brought before him for arraignment. Judge Murasky said that the case was so extreme and grave in Its nature that It was not one that could be tried In his jurisdiction. SECRET AGENT mtm DOLLY Virginia B. Washburn, woman Investigator, who has been taking. central place in the Cleaver probe at the state house is the "mystery woman" who accompanied Dolly Quartier to Salem on a number of trips last summer, when Dolly, known as "qupen of the bootleg gers" was making frantic efforts to have La Ronda Pierce put Into an insane asylum. Dolly succeed ed just far enough to have La Ronda examined by a physician for the county court, but he was promptly released. When the Washburn woman ac companied Dolly on her Salem trips she was very careful to keep her Identity concealed. At the time she stated she was a special feature writer for the Portland Telegram and that her interest in Dolly and the Pierce case was purely a sympathetic one for Dolly. She declared that Dolly had tripped, and perhaps had nearly stumbled a time or two, but that she was bravely facing the top rungs of the ladder again and slowly ascending to the ethereal heights where the air la pure. Miss Washburn stated she Intend ed to help Dolly ascend the lad der, and Incidentally to put La Ronda where he belonged. She made a number of declarations relative to La Ronda which re flected on his moral and mental equipment. Judging from - all newspaper accounts Dolly's as cent of the ladder has been pain fully slow, even with the Wash burn assistance. GASTON MEANS FATE RESTS IN JURORS' HANDS New York, Jan. 29. The case of Gaston B. Means, former agent of the department of justice, and Thomas B. Flender, once Means' attorney, who are charged wl'.n conspiracy to bribe government official, went to a federal conrt iury after 3 p. m. today. Author of Tilly Prom Til lamook Relates Tale of Corruption on the Part of Officialdom. "Things have been said on this witness stand that Dr. Linville must admit or refute, and I liwiat that he be served with a subpoena to come and testify before this committee." So spoke Representative Frank Lonergan of the special committee investigating the state prohibition department yesterday afternoon. Lonergan was speaking of Dr. J. A. Linville, federal prohibition di rector for Oregon, and was led to make his remarks by testimony that had been offered a few min utes previously by Virginia B, Washburn, woman writer, social worker and detective of Portland As a result of Lonergan'a stand Chairman Garland last night dis patched Joe Singer, sergvant-at- arms of the house, to Portland with a subpoena for Linville. Garland declared last night that Mrs. Wrashburn was the best wit ness he has ever seen on the stand in all hla legal practice. "If half ahe said Is true," said Garland, "the corruption In the federal prohibi tion department for Oregon la amazing." Lonergan probably was spurred to Insist upon the calling of Lin vllle by a statement, reluctantly given by the witness, that she had been advised by bootleggers, dur ing her detective work, to use Lonergan's name as a password to get liquor, a statement that ap peared to amaze Lonergan. It seems possible that the statements made by Mrs. Washburn, together with the determination of Loner gan and other members to probe as far as state authority will per mit Into the federal office may cause the Investigation to reach much farther than contemplated prior to yesterday. Mrs. Washburn gave the names of men wnom she sold were big bonded liquor dealers In Portland, the names and soubriquets of boot leggers and highwaymen, both men and women, and told how she had worked herself Into their con fldence so that they considered her one of them.. If her testi mony was true, she gave her hear ers a peep Into a protected sphere of vice and crime In Porllaud that Is appalling. For nearly two hours he held the stand, lm passionate ly giving testimony that was start ling In the extreme, and Including a story of how Larondo M. Pierce plotted to blackmail George L. uieaver. Cleaver witnesses had their Inn- (Coruinued on Page Three) Wallowa Fair Premium Appropriation of 3,000, half for 1925 and the balance for 1926, to aid In providing premiums for the Wallowa county fair Is sought in house bill 216 Intro duced by Representative C. A. Hunter and Senator Dennis, Union and Wallowa counties, today. LIST OF CHARGES REQUIRE INQUIRY Oregon Brief In School Law Case Filed In Court Washington, Jan. 2 ft Oregon today filed In the supreme court, through lis attorney general, Isaac H. Van Winkle, a brief in sup port of Its apiH'iil from the derision of the federal dis trict court of Oregon enjoin ing enforcement of the com pulsory education law. Tlie llthrntlon Is lite riit test lo reach :tie supreme court on (he right of Male to requlro the education oi cliildreu In public sc'iooK E Nome. Alaska, Jan. 29 (By As soclated Press) No new diph therla cases were reported the last 24 hours and a few of the patients have shown Improvement after the lnjeotion of anti-toxin units four to five years old, according to a daily import on an epidemic rag ing here made today by Mr. Cur tis Welch and Mlse Morgan, public nurae. Leonard Zeppalla, sweepstakes winner, left yesterday with a fast Siberian team of twenty dogs to meet relay teams from Nenana which are carrying 800,000 anti toxin units sent from Anchorage by Dr. J. B. Becaon. Zeppalla has to drive 800 miles, going nearly 400 miles toward Nenana and then returning on the same route. Most of the deaths have been among esklmos, whole families be Ing afflicted ln many Instances. The results obtained from the old anti-toxin, which la used spar ingly by Dr. Welch were pointed out as remarkable for the serum was generally found good for onlv six months. Exceptional cold weath er failed to affect the quality. The board of health declared the epidemic conditions were some what better. L OF Washington, Jan. 29. The senate today adopted as a rider to the postal salary bill a cor rupt practices act strictly limit ing campaign expenditures by congressional candidates. In addition to limiting expend! turea of a candidate for the bouse to 12500 and of a senator to 210 000, the measu.e would require detailed periodical reports from every political committee and, In certain cases, from Individual contributors. Inefficiency and Incompetency Alleged Escapes Break Records Trusties Rob Stores Discipline Reported Lax Charges of Nepotism and Use of State Materials by Relatives of Warden A Bill Will Be, Introduced In the House This Afternoon Taking Control of the State Prison Out of the Hands of the Governor and Placing It With the Board of Control Legislative inquiry into the manner in which the state penitentiary has been operated during the past two years, particularly under the direction of Warden A. M, Dalrymple, named to succeed and correct the mistakes of mismanage ment under Warden Johnson Smith, who was forced to resign, drew one step nearer today when members of . the legislature interested in restoring the prison to a status of efficiency as a penal institution began study of a multitude of charges relative to the conduct of the institution and those in charge of it that have come into their hands from various sources. What form the inquiry may take whether it be a formal investigation by a special committee following the line of the Cleaver probe, or in the form of hearings upon a bill to take control of the prison out of the hands of the governor has not been decided. But some action, and that within the next few days, is promised. There are several matters in connection with the prison that those legislators who have interested themselves in the question to the extent of hearing complaints want explained. First they want to know the reason why escapes from the pris on, both from inside and outside the walls, have mounted to a figure nearly double the number of any two previous years. Whv 26 convicts have escaped from un der gun guards, and why trusties have been allowed to roam almost at will no only about the peni tentiary grounds, but on tnt streets of Salem and over the sur rounding country; why upwards of 150 trusties have been allowed outside the walls at one time. They are desirous of learning what system of discipline has been enforced that gave three convicts an opportunity to escape a seeded time, and Just how much It has cost the state to apprehend and re turn escaped convicts. Also they desire Information as to whether or not any ot h ix convicts who escaped through a front basement window of the main building, crossed the front yard ot the prison, climbed the steps to a post tower on the walls, went through the tower, dropped over the wall and raced for ;he highway 300 yards away all In full sight of the offices, the guard BILL CUTTING OUT SPEED TRAPS PASSES SENATE Senator Hall's bill excluding evidence obtained by speed traps in the trial of criminal cases aris ing out ot traffic law violators was passed by the senate. Under the bill all officers would be In uni form. It does not affect officers of the state traffic department who have never used speed traps. There was no opposition to the measure. A bill by Senator Butler, pro viding that In Wasco county 25 or more voters may call an elec tion in any precinct on the ques tion whether livestock shall run at large was passed by the eenpt Senator Joseph's bill, providing for a jury commissioner in Mult nomah county, was passed by the senate today. Jos$ph said the bill was deal red by all the Judges In Multnomah county. The vote was unnntmnus. The bill Introduced by tie Multnomah delegation in the sen ate providing thot the construc tion of bridges In Multnomah county shall not be under the su pervision of the bridge engineer wn passt-d. Supervision is trans ferred to the county bridge engi neer. The vote was tinanimou. GLIMPSES OF THE LEGISLATORS AS CAUGHT BY MURRAY WADE ITafSV (Continued on Page Right) ASQUTm KEEPS F LIBERAL PARTY London, Jan. 29. (By Associ ated Tress) Humors widely prev alent since the announcement of former Premier Asqulth's eleva tion to the peerage that he would relinquish the active leadership of the liberal party to David Lloyd-George were set at rest tor the time being at least when speaking at the opening of the great convention of the liberal party here today he said: "I have not resigned my post. It Is therefore In that character that 1 presume once more to speak to you." Mr. Lloyd-George who follow ed the new Earl of Oxford, In ad dressing the convention, also let it be known emphntically that he did not seek the long time lead er's post. The new earl received an ova tion all the 1.S00 delegates ris ing and singing "For He's a Jol ly Hood Fellow," as the leader entered the hall. The convention has si Its bus Inrns the discussion of the re port of the reorganliat'on com mittee, whose recommendation for reconstruction of the party orKanizatlon and Its finances were submitted at a private ses sion today.