Capita
Journal
CIRCULATION
Dally avenge distribution for tht
Uoutb ending November 80. 1932
CITY EDITION
Unsettled tonight and Thursday;
probably rain; normal temperature;
changeable winds.
Local: Max., 47; Mln., 39; rain,
.97 Inch; river, 8.8 leet; cloudy;
southerly winds.
9,725
Average daily net paid 9,246
Uember Audit Bureau of emulation
44th YEAR, No. 304
Entered u second clou
matter at Salem. Oregon
SALEM, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1932
PRICE THREE CENTS .cSSW
Jl
VIOLENT QUAKE
JARS WESTERN
UNITED STATES
Series of Shocks Most
Severe Since 1925 But
Little Damage Done
Centers In Dixie Valley,
Nevada Clocks Stop
ped, Crockery Broken
San Francisco, Dec. 21 P) A
strong earthquake shook virtually
the entire western United States,
embracing about a fifth of the na
tion last night. Seismologists said
it was the most severe in the area
since 1025.
No serious damage was reported
from the series of shocks which be
gan at 10:10 p. m., (Pacific Stand
ard Time) and continued with di
minishing intensity until 11:16
o'clock. The quake centered in Ne
vada where windows of some build
ings were shattered.
Clocks were stopped in cities as
widely separated as Salt Lake City,
Utah, and Fresno, Calif. Chand
llers swayed, pictures were thrown
awry and some crockery broken.
At 10:10 p. m., western America,
bounded roughly by the Canadian
and Mexican borders and extending
from the Pacific coast to Salt Lake
City, Utah, and beyond, trembled
under the series of shocks. Needles
were hurled from seismographs in
Spokane, Wash., Berkeley, Calif.,
and at the University of Santa Clara
(Concluded on page 9, column 6)
Washington, Dec. 21 VP) The
house agriculture committee failed
to reach a decision today on the do
mestic allotment relief plan spon
sored by farm leaders, but commit
tee discussion indicated a sentiment
to apply that method to wheat and
cotton only on a strictly emergency
basis.
This trend of thought, should it
hold when a final vote is taken,
would eliminate tobacco and hogs
from the measure, and would not in
clude butterfat as requested by
dairymen.
The committee will resume consid
eration of the bill tomorrow.
Washington, Dec. 21 (JP) Afler a
week of hearings on the domestic
allotment farm relief plan, house
agriculture committee members
gathered behind closed doors today.
to seek agreement upon a bill for
presentation to the house.
Chairman Jones said It probably
would be "three or four days' be
fore the committee would be ready
to act finally and that hearings
might possibly be reopened for one
day if further advice were needed
from agricultural interests.
With a vote on beer expected to
day, house leaders view farm legis
lation as the next big job of the
house for the short session. Con
siderable opposition has developed
against the allotment plan, how
ever.
This sentiment has been centered
on the processing taxes proposed
by farm leaders to provide a fund
for paying producers of wheat, cot
ton, tobacco and hogs a bounty on
their share of domestic consump
tin sufficient to rake the aggregate
price to the pre-war parity with
other industrial commodities.
X RAY BURNS FATAL
TO FRENCH SCIENTIST
Paris, Dec. 21 (IP) Dr. Georges
Harct, eminent French radiologist
and head of the radiology depart
ment of Lariboisiere hospital, died
last night as a result of X-ray bums
Incurred in a scientific career be
ginning with treatment of wounded
soldiers during-the World war. He
was 58 years old.
Previously the fingers of his right
hand and then his right arm had
been amputated.
goldIhIppedIom
france to america
Cherbourg, Prance, Dec. 21 tpy
The liner Majestic is sailing today
with 139 cases of gold valued ap
proximately at $3,500,000 consigned
to American banks. A large ship
ment of gold from the British gov
ernment of the December 15 war
debt Interest also was reported to
be aboard the Majestic.
Good Evening
Sips for Supper
By DON UPJOHN
Bill Jones, burgomaster of Jeffer
son for the past two years, dropped
into town today to commiserate with
Oscar Bower. Bill Is going out of
office In Jefferson with the advent
of the new year not only In a
blaze of glory but In the swish of a
woman's skirts. He is to be suc
ceeded by Mrs. Edna Allen as mayor
of the little big city on the Ban
Mam. Incidentally Bill Is the or
iginal black republican of Marion
county. And he's just as black and
just as republican as ever. Empires
might rise and fall and decay,
heaven and earth pass away but
Bill would remain a republican. And
wherever republicans go in the here
afterthere you will find Bill.
The hop growers have named a
committee to formulate a plan for
beer legislation. We hope the com
mittee as a sideline will answer
the moot old question as to which
has the most hops a frog or a
glass of beer?
Well, well, the first day of win
ter landed on scheduled time. The
tail end of the fall was like the
middle of winter and the first day
of winter like the middle of sum
mer. The weather man has put
everything into a muddle.
AMERICANA
Walt Winslow, deacon In the
Methodist church, filing an affid
avit in circuit court against John
Wesley Walt averring John told
him a wrong story.
'I have seen kegs of beer taken
on picnics and young men became
Intoxicated," said Mister Hawlcy in
congress yesterday referring to pre-
prohlbition days. We .wonder if
Mister Hawlcy ever heard of Al Ca
pone of prohibition days fame?
Does he know that during prohibi
tion cities nave become corrupted,
their streets and public places
made shambles by gangsters, their
courts amenable to the dictates of
racketeers? Has he ever seen boys
and girls of high school age during
prohibition days swigging from
flasks In back alleys?
We suggest that Mister Hawley
put up some of these things against
the keg of beer he saw once on a
picnic. And if he doesn't know
what's been going on during pro
hibition days it's time he was learn
ing. And incidentally young men have
become intoxicated at picnics dur
ing prohibition days but generally
by swigging moonshine made in a
rusty washboiler.
Hop men stated yesterday the
reason they sought repeal of only
the Anderson act at the last election
and did not aim at the dry amend
ment In the constitution was that
they wished the vote to be directory
to the state's congressman. There
are congressmen who listen to the
voice of the people only when the
voice of the people agrees with their
own Ideas. But such congressmen
return to the oblivion from which
they -originally emerged and the
people may triumph In the end.
COURT TO RULE
POSSESSION OF WINE
Portland, Dec. 21 (JP) Whether
wine is personal property under the
present Oregon law, and can be
stolen, or whether it is contraband
and not personal property, will be
ruled upon by District Judge Hen
drickson of Portland in a case he
took under advisement today.
The question arose on a defense
motion to quash a complaint against
Charles Mills and Merle Dawes, ac
cused of larceny of 50 gallons of
wine and two barrels from Tony
Fazzio.
Proposes Wheat As
. Basis Of Monetary
System For World
London (VP) The use of wheat as a basis for money
would double the price of grain and provide a swift avenue
for return of prosperity, believes J. F. Darling, a director of
tnc Midland bank, one or England's
important financial institutions.
Darling, who would link wheat to
gold and silver, believes "that In
wheat as a basis for currency we
possess an even more powerful In
strument for raising prices and
stimulating world trade."
"Wheat," he declared when an
nouncing the plan, "has In a mark
ed degree one of the qualities of a
currency basis in that it is in uni
versal demand and has a world
wide market."
There would be a central super
bank as custodian for such wheat
and gold and silver as formed the
basis lor the currency. His plan
FLU EPIDEMIC
SHUTS SCHOOLS
IN NORTHWEST
Few Deaths Reported
But Many Afflicted
Larger Cities Escape
Both Pneumonic Type
And Intestinal Variety
Cause Suffering
Portland, Dec. 21 (LP) Although
thus far there have been few deaths,
the Pacific northwest appeared to
day to be in the grip of the worst
influenza epidemic since 1U18.
The epidemic has broken out quite
universally in many parts of Oregon
and Washington and some physi
cians believe the extreme cold of the
recent freezeup was to blame.
Prom Everett, Wash., to Leban-
l, Ore., schools have been forced
to close because of the high num
ber of pupils and teachers afflicted.
Although among the children the
flu appeared to be largely of the
pneumonic type many adults were
suffering from the intestinal variety,
At The Dalles, three deaths have
occurred and 570 students and 11
teachers were ill. At Everett schools
were closed with 1200 students and
20 teachers ill. All schools in Clark
county, Wash., Including those of
Vancouver and Camas, with 600 ill
students at Vancouver and 150 at
Camas.
Madras, Ore., Kelso and Long-
view, Wash., ,and Corvallts, Ore
schools were forced to close.
At Lebanon, Ore., an epidemic
of measdes was as widespread as
the influenza and schools there
were closed yesterday.
Other schools closed Included
Jewell, Gearhart and Bandon.
Salem, Ore., reported the worst
epidemic in years with 1200 111, In
cluding many state capitol employes,
Most of the schools remained open,
however.
Large centers, such as Portland
and Seattle, apparently had not
been as hard hit as many of the
smaller towns thus far. In Seattle
many cases were reported but no
deaths had been recorded. In Port
land, some schools reported as high
(Concluded on page 9, column fi)
Washington, Dec. 21 (LP) An as
semblage of "big names" which
would include probably two cabinet
officers and several captains of fi
nance was being considered today by
President Hoover for the commis
sion which he has proposed to set
up to deal with the war debts prob
lem. The reported opposition of Prcs
ident-clect Roosevelt to the ideas of
cooperation expressed by Mr. Hoo
ver in his special message to con
gress Monday may have the effect
of postponing action. It was estab
lished .however, that for the time
being the president is engaged in a
tentative survey of possible scleC'
tions.
The names of Secretary of State
Stimson and Treasury Secretary
Mills were mentioned as possible
choices. It was indicated also that
the president would draw upon fi
nancial leaders, possibly including
one or more prominent democrats
if they could be persuaded to serve.
advanced considers only the
British Empire and would use 300,
000,000 bushels of wheat.
"Debt could then be settled by a
debit and credit in the ledger of the
custodian. Nor would it matter in
how many elevators or warehouses
the wheat was stored, or in what
empire countries they were situat
ed, so long as they belong to the
same organization and were subject
to efficient care and inspection. The
location of the wheat would then
become a matter of convenience for
the ultimate marketing of it."
Tracing the Idea back to the days
SURVEYS FIELD
FOR DEBT BOARD
'Concluded on page 0 column i)
At Death's Door
ROBERT R. BUTLER
Washington, Dec. 21 (fi) At the
office of Representative Butler of
Oregon, it was said today that his
condition was grave and his re
covery was doubtful. He has been
ill of pneumonia for several days,
The circulation of the Oregon
member was described as showing
some failure, adding to the fear of
friends that he might not recover.
They r said the infection had
spread to both Jungs and efforts to
check it had proved unsuccessfunl.
His daughter, Miss Elizabeth But
ler, who Is In Oregon, has been
informed that her father's condi
tion is grave.
senatFdrafts
Washington, Dec. 21 () A senate
judiciary sub-committee got togeth
er today on phraseology for a pro
posed amendment to replace the
18th amendment but only as basis
for discussion and not as represent
ing it's conclusions.
It included a clause to guard
against liquor being shipped Into
dry states, which was agreed upon
by the committee tentatively last
week. The text follows:
"Section 1. The eighteenth amend
ment to the. constitution Is hereby
repealed.
"Section 2. The transportation or
importation into any state, territory
or possession of the United States
for delivery or use therein, of in
toxicating liquors, in violation of the
laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. Congress shall have
concuiTcnt power to regulate or pro
hibit the sale of Intoxicating liquors
to be drunk on the premises where
sold."
ENTIRE TROOP OF
JAPANESE GONE
Mukden, Manchuria, Dec. 21 (LP)
Japanese military headquarters here
expressed belief today that a batal
ion of Japanese troops, missing
sines last Saturday, had been am
bushed and exterminated by Chin
ese irregulars.
Airplanes made a fruitless search
today over a wide area for some
trace of the missing troops.
The battalion, commanded by Ma
jor Oikawa, left Siyucn, in south
eastern Manchuria, to go to the aid
of other Japanese forces engaged in
ridding the area of antl-Manchu-kuo
irregulars. No word has been
received from the battalion since it
departed.
STEAMSHIP DEAL
DENIED BY DOLLAR
San Francisco, Dec. 21 (LP) De
nial tli at the Dollar Steamship Lines
and the United States Lines have
"agreed or disagreed" over competi
tion in the intercoastal trade via the
Panama canal was made here today
by R. Stanley Dollar, president of
Dollar Lines.
"We have had many conversations
concerning how operating condi
tions could be improved for both
companies, but no agreements have
been entered into," he said in a
statement. "Ever since the inception
of the coalition of Atlantic and Pa
cific shipping interests, relations
have been most cordial and most
constructive."
SENATOR McNARY ILL
Washington, Dec. 21 A'i Senator
McNary of Oregon, the assistant re
publican leader, was confined to his
home today with a cold.
BRITISH URGE
FRFNCH DROP
ARBITRATION
Proposed Course On Debt
Payment Held To Be
Undesirable
French Attitude Is To
Keep Negotiations
With America Active
Paris, Dec. 21 (8) Great Britain
will Informally counsel Prance
against pursuing an idea under con
sideration by officials of having the
question of payment of the Decem
ber interest on the American debt
submitted to arbitration, according
to reports in diplomatic circles.
It is stated that the British feel
this would not in the long run con
tribute to successful settlement of
the debt problem and that resort
to arbitration would be undesirable
because it would be founded on the
presumption that the question can
not be settled through the regular
diplomatic channels.
However, the British are said to
be strong for the French idea that
a general conference or general ne
gotiations should be adopted for
treating the debts.
The general situation lined up to
day about as follows:
First Tlie French attitude Is to
keep negotiations with America ac
tively going.
Second Eventually to try to move
towards a Franco-American study
o,f the debts by experts of the two
countries.
Third A move toward a general
conference.
Fourth The likelihood that
France expected nothing vital could
be accomplished before the advent
of the Roosevelt administration.
Fifth The likelihood that the go
vernment would not attempt for
several months to get a new vote
from the chamber of deputies on
payment of the December interest.
The American embassy already
has established contact with the
new cabinet on the debts question.
Theodore Marinner, counsellor, to
the embassy, was received today by
M. Cot, under-secretary of state in
the foreign ministry.
The indications arc that in keep
ing with his announced plan to "do
(ConclTidcd6npnBe"9, column 7)
RUBY STARTS
Portland, Dec. 21 (LP) The region
al agricultural credit corporation of
Spokane and C. P. Bailey, Portland
branch manager, arc named as dc-
I fendants in a $100,000 slander suit
filed in federal court here by A. O.
Ruby, former Pacific International
Livestock Exposition president.
The complaint cites that on No
vember 29, in the presence of one
Harry J. Kaminsky, Bailey allegedly
uttered defamatory and slanderous
statements.
Ruby has long been known In the
northwest as a breeder and fancier
of heavy draft horses. He also owns
a golf course here.
NORMAL WEATHER
RETURNS TO OREGON
Portland, Dec. 21 (P) Normal
winter weather prevailed in most
parts of Oregon today with the of
ficial arrival of the season, and the
shortest day of the year.
Unsettled weather with occasional
rain and normal temperature was
predicted for tonight and tomor
row. Winds moderated on the coast
during the night as the storm which
developed a 44-mile blow passed
on. Storm warnings were taken
down.
The Willamette river which rose
moderately at Portland, was to
day falling at points farther up the
valley and no serious rise was ex
pected. keystone'solons
snubmtadden
Washington, Dec. 21 (LP) The
Pennsylvania republican delegation
in the house today administered a
further rebuke to Representative
McFadden, one of its members, by
removing him from the position of
secretary of the delegation and
electing Representative Swlck of
Beaver Palls to the post.
The action was to discipline Mc
Fadden for his recent Impeachment
move against President Hoover.
Governor To Leave
Tax Legislation In
Legislators' Hands
Executive Not To Recommend Specific Plan,
Nor Attempt To Limit Special Session If
Members Feel Need for More Time, To
Avoid Suspicion of Rail-Roading.
By HARRYN. CRAIN
Governor Meier will not attempt to dictate to the legis
lature when it meets here on January 3 in extraordinary ses
sion, to consider the embarassing financial situation in which
the state finds itself, what the legislature shall do in the
matter of devising a revenue tax plan to obviate the necessity
or collecting the state property tax
which the tax commission will levy
sometime before the first of the
year.
Neither will the executive en
deavor to restrict the duration and
deliberations of the special session
to the six days between the date of
its convening and January 9, the
statutory date for the opening of
the regular biennial session.
If the members of the legislature
feel that five or six days is not
sufficient time in which to whip
some sort of an alternate revenue
measure into shape with the help
of the tax commission and any
other tax experts they desire to
call In, Governor Meier will not
put any stones in their path if they
desire to postpone the opening of
the regular session and prolong the
special assembly. The responsibility
for ouch action would, of course,
rest with the legislators themsel
ves, but if the legislators passed up
to the executive a bill postponing
(Conduced on page 9, column 4)
50,000 ALIENS
REFUSED ENTRY
Washington, Dec. 21 fP) Secre
tary Stimson today reported to
President Hoover that as fl result
of emergency bars against Immi
gration, over 500,000 aliens who
normally would have entered the
United States "during the economic
depression" have been held out.
The secretary of state reported
this result had been accomplished
solely through the enforcement of
existing provisions of law, princip
ally the clause excluding persons
"likely to become a public charge."
Breaking down his total into
smaller figures, Stimson said that
during the fiscal year ended June
30, 1032, only 12,697 quota immigra
tion visas were issued as compared
with the total annual quotas of
153,831.
In addition, he said, there was a
reduction In the number of aliens
not subject to quota limitations
from 45,999 during the previous fis
cal year to 24,040 during the past
year.
As compared with the 107,469
non-quota aliens who entered the
United States during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1930, he point
ed out, the reductions last year was
one of 77.6 per cent.
ALMLIE L0WEST0N
OREGON CITY RID
Washington, Dec. 21 (LP) The
Oliver S. Almlie company, Merced,
Cal., today submitted low supple
mentary bids of $90,000 and $73,400
for construction of ft postofflce at
Oregon City, Ore.
The Dougan-Hammond Construc
tion company, Portland, Ore., enter
ed second low bids of $94,662 and
$73,452. Third low bids of $100,000
and $73,920.61 were made by M. H.
Hoffman, Portland.
Widow Of Policeman
Slain By Woman Insists
On Penalty Of Death
Rock Hill, S. C Dec. 21 (P) This is the story of two
women, one an expectant mother condemned to die for mur
der, the other a widow with four small children, facing a life
of labor to rear them.
The first Is Mrs. Beatrice Fergu
son Snipes, who shot to death rural
Policeman Elliott Harris. The other
Is Mrs. En la Harris, widow of the
slain York county officer, who be
lieves Mrs. Snipes should die for
killing her husband.
Mrs. Snipes, 29, the mother of one
child, expects the birth of another
next month. While women and wel
farcl workers plead with Governor
Blackwood to save her from death
In the electric chair next April 7,
she Is sewing baby clothes In the
woman's ward at the state peniten
tiary. Mrs. Harris, left with $1000 Insur
ASSERT MEIER
OUSTED LIBBY
Portland, Dec. 21 (p) The name
of Governor Meier appeared today
in the controversy surrounding the
withdrawal of federal recognition of
Colonel Eugene C. Libby of the
Oregon national guard.
Although the governor said "I
stayed cut of that mess," and de
clared he had made no recommen
dations in the Libby case, a tele
gram received today from Senator
Frederick Steiwer said the war de
partment withdrew recognition of
Libby at the request of the governor
and the state adjutant.
The telegram was addressed to
Paul Doyle of the. Disabled Ameri
can Veterans of the World War, who
had asked Steiwer to Investigate
the case.
'Governor Meier said if his name
had been used in the Libby con
troversy It was used without his
authority.
The telegram from Senator Stei
wer said:
"Have talked with chief of mil
itia concerning Colonel Libby and
he advises me action was taken
after recommendation made by the
governor and state adjutant. Ad
vices file indicates a thorough in
vestigation was made and it was
concensus of opinion among officers
of regiment that Libby was tem
permcntally unfitted for the post.
I have asked that a written report
covering reasons for the action be
furnished me and when It is re
ceived I will communicate with you
further. Assure you of my desire
to correct any injustice done."
GAS EXPLO
TOPPLES HOUSE
Chicago, Dec. 21 tP) A fire de
partment lieutenant and at least
five tenants of a two-story build
ing were injured in an explosion
which rocked the building and then
toppled it to the ground early to
day. Fire followed making attempts
at rescue hazardous and it was at
first feared many had been trap
ped In the blazing ruins.
After a cursory investigation of
the cause of the blast officials said
it probably was due to gas. Two
walls were Immediately shattered,
the remaining two swaying before
they toppled Into the tangled wreck
age which a moment later had
turned into a seething furnace.
The most seriously injured was
Max Myrcnt, 45, who hospital at
taches said, received severe burns
which might prove fatal.
Lieut. Patrlc Dawson, 43, was in
jured when he was struck on the
back by a foiling beam as ho ac
companied other firemen Into the
flames In quest of bodies.
ance money and $300 raised In
subscription fund by newspapers
when her husband was shot, Is stu
dying shorthand and steno-typfng
in the hope that she may be able to
support her children, the oldest of
whom Is six.
"I felt no elation over Mrs. Snipes'
conviction and sentence," Mrs. Har
ris said, "but I feel If we are to have
capital punishment that it should
be administered to any deserving It
man or woman, she had time to
consider it she took all we had.
"I don't feel that ir It were left
to me that I would change her sen
(Conclucled on page 0, column 6)
AMENDMENTS
TO BEER BILL
Collier Bill Legalizing 3.2
Percent Beer Now
Goes to Senate
All Efforts To Change
Text As To Contents
And Tax Defeated
Washington, Dec. 21 (JP) The
house passed the Collier beer bill
today with votes to spare.
In a crashing finale to two days
of tumultous debate, the represen- .
tatives went on record for legaliza
tion of beer containing 3.2 per cent
of alcohol by weight, an amount
equal to 4 per cent by volume.
The final roll call came upon the
heels of an overwhelming refusal
to send the bill back to the com
mittee, an action which topped
day-long procession of votes to
beat back every single amendment
offered.
The action marked the first time
since adoption of the Volstead act
that either branch ol congress naa
held a vote directly on the issue
of relaxing the fundamental pro
hibition enforcement law.
The beer advocates piled up ft
comfortable majority on the first
call of the roll, as compared with
the defeat last year of a beer mea
sure 225 to 164.
The chamber was crowded during
the progress of the call. The gal
leries were sprinkled ffih many
(Concluded on page 8. column 3)""
TELLS COVER
Trenton, N, J., Dec. 21 (LP) A
charge that punishment inflicted
on prisoners in Georgia "would not
be tolerated in any other state of
the union" was made before Gov.
A. Harry Moore today when Robert
Elliot Burns began his fight against
return to a Georgia chain gang.
William D. Cox, secretary ol tht
National Society of Penal lnslltu
tions, mode the charge when he ap
peared in behalf of Burns, the convict-author
who sat near his gray,
haired mother in the state assembly
chamber. Cox spoke after Burns'
counsel had pleaded for the gover
nor to refuse the demands of tha
state of Georgia for return of the
fugitive.
Relating his story of investigating
the Georgia system, Cox produced
pictures of some of the "torture In
struments" used in Georgia.
"What do you think would be the
result of sending Burns back to
Georgia? ' Gov. Moore asked.
"I think he would die in prison,"
Cox replied, emphasizing the word
"die."
"I know that the punishment in
flicted In Georgia would not be tol
erated in any other state of the un
ion," Cox asserted.
REACH AGREEMENT
ON PHILIPPINE BILL
Washington, Dec. 21 (!') A ten
tative agreement on all con trover
slal features of the Philippine in
dependence bill was reached by
congressional conferee,? today and
a complete agreement was predic
ted by tomorrow.
Announcing the results of an af
ternoon meeting of the senate and
house groups, Chairman Bingham
of the senate territories commit
tee, withheld details until the lan
guage of the final draft has been
prepared and approved.
The rapidity with which the two
groups came together on the big
points of dilfevence between the
senate bill granting Independence
to the Islands in 12 years and the
house eight-year proxsal surprised
moat of those present.
Bingham said if an agreement to
signed tomorrow an effort would be
made to obtain quick senate appro
val, and then forward the confer
ence report to the house.
SHOPPING DAYS
TO CHRISTMAS
PR
OF CHAIN mm
5J