PIERCE 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
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$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.