THE CAPITAL JOURNAL SALEM. OREGON
WEDNESDAY,' DECEMBER 21, 1932
CapitolJjjJournal
Salem, Oregon
Established March 1, 1888
An Independent Newspaper Published Every Afternoon Except Sunday
134 & commercial Btreet. Telephone 4911. news 4883
GEORGE PUTNAM. Editor and Publisher
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By corner 10 centa a week; 48 cents a month: 15.00 a year In advance.
By mall In Marlon, Polk, Linn and Yamhill counU.es, one month 60
centa; 8 tnontha $1.35; 8 months $2.35; 1 year $4.00. Elsewhere 50 cents
a month; 6 months $2 75; 15.00 a year in advance.
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ANr THE UNITED PRESS
The Associated Pre' la exclusively entitled to the use for publication
of all newa dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this
paper and also local newa published herein.
"With or without offense to friends or foes
I sketch your world exactly as it goes."
Byron
German Alchemy
Under Instruction of the German Reich and under offl
elal but skeptical supervision of Professor Max Bodenstein
head of the physical and chemical institute of research of
Berlin university. Ernst A. Krause. physicist and master
chemist has begun an experiment by which he hopes to
manufacture gold from cheap raw materials in commercial
quantities. Germany needs 80 tons of gold to restore pros
perity and 100 tons or mica slate is being processed cnemi
cally for transmutation into gold, In a special laboratory
which includes an electrical furnace capable of producing an
extraordinary high temperature.
Transmuting of gold from baser metals has always been
the dream of the alchemist lrom earliest recorded civuiza
tion. To efforts along this line we owe much that we know
of chemistry, but the artificial production of gold has ever
eluded alchemist and chemist alike. Alchemy originated in
Egypt and the dominant theory of the alchemists was that
any of the baser metals contain the same constituents as
told mixed with impurities and when they are removed
the transmutation is effected. At first the "philosophers
stone was sought for removal, later was added the search
for the "alkahest" or universal solvent; then the "magis-
tenum a substance that could convert all metals into gold,
The efforts to produce gold absorbed the energies of
the ancients. Caligula conducted extensive experiments and
by the time of Diocletian the passion for this pursuit,
conjoined with the magical arts became so prevalent in the
Roman empire that the emperor ordered the destruction of
nil Egyptain works on the subject. But alchemy was taken
up by the Arabs, from whom it found its way through Spain
Into Europe generally, principally practiced in medieval
times by the Monks. Roger Bacon and Albertus Magnus both
were beleivers in the controvertibility of inferior metals into
gold the "perfect metal."
In the resultant division between chemists and alche
mists the latter took up the fantastical and visionary side of
the older alchemy and compiled mystical trash into books
that had a great vogue. Their language is a farago of
mystical metaphors and absurd nonsense, but despite the
explosion of their doctrines by modern chemistry, the Ger
man effort shows the dream of transmutation Still persists.
There are some facts in connection with allotrophy to
countenance the transmutability of other metals into gold,
from the proof that the emanation of radium is transformed
Into helium, and that probably radium itself is a transforma
tion from uranium; perhaps load is what remains of the
radium emanation when helium is removed and cognate
speculations point to the production of gold from the baser
metals as not quite impossible though not yet demonstrated.
Though it seems like a harking back to the dark ages
for modern Germany to seriously pursue the ancient alche
mists will-o-the-wisp, it must be remembered that we arc
comparitively ignorant of the chemistry of the cosmos, and
the Germans the world's most advanced chemists and the
experiment will add to human knowledge if not to the
world's supply of gold. As long as the gold standard obtains
In finance, such efforts will be made. It is more sensible to
try to create gold for relief purposes than it is to spend it a3
we are doing. When gold can be manufactured cheaply syn
thetically, we will get some more sensible monetary system.
Indiana Cuts Taxes
' Ninety two counties in Indiana have reduced taxes for
1033. The revision downward involves every one of the 1,592
taxpnying units of the slate and the average saving is 30.3
percent. This reduction will be applied to nssessible property
which has been reduced 21 percent in value. The saving to
real and persona taxpayers will total $-12,515,086. Taxes
next year will be ?97,524,G06 as compared with 5140,069,591
this year. The leader in reduction is Orange county in south
western Indiana, with 73.9 percent slash, Marion county,
Indianapolis, shows the least reduction, 16 percent. .
Assessiblo property this year was $5,073,311,146. Next
year it will be ?3,995,843,838 a reduction of ?1,077,387,208.
Reduction in valuation was forced because property to be
Bold for delinquent taxes would not bring nearly the assessed
price. Appeals for relief to the legislature at the regular
session fell on deaf ears. The situation continued to grow
worse and the governor called a special 40 day session last
July.
.
On the fortieth day, when almost everyone had de
spaired of the emergency session accomplishing anything, the
legislature enacted a law limiting the total tax levy to ?l.50
on each $100 of taxable property. The state's share was fixed
at 15 cents, which meant drastic slashes in slate administra
tive budgets. County, township, municipal and school taxing
units were to get the remaining $1.35. But many of these
units were carrying such a heavy burden that their share of
the $1.35 would not begin to pay interest on bond issues or
to retire those falling due immediately. And government
bonds are supported by the Indiana constitution as prefer
ential liens on tax revenues. So the legislature decreed that
"in cases of emergency" the State Board of Tax Commission
ers could authorize a levy higher than $1.50. Many of the
counties and municipal units cut budgets sufficiently to get
within the $1.50 limit.
The legslaluro voted a blanket cut of all government
salaries. It ordered a moratorium 011 bond issues for town
ship and county road improvements, and assigned to counties
And municipalities in which the tax is collected 2 cents, in
stead of 1 cent as formerly, of tho slate 4-cent-gnllon gaso
line tax. It ordered the slate highway system to take over the
important county roads and maintain them by utilizing labor
receiving a legal minimum wage instead of whatever un
scrupulous contractors chose to pay. It gave to municipal
governments several minor fees heretofore supporting only
a state bureaucracy. It discussed a state income tax which
the incoming legislature is pledged to enact. It authorized
consolidation of townships and counties.
All these economies were forced by an aroused citizen
ship upon a reluctant legislature, against the embattled
forces of the bureaucracy. Indiana has pointed the way for
Oregon.
PAPER COMPANY
DEMURRER TO
MINTO UPHELD
Circuit Judge Lewelting yesterday
afternoon sustained a demurrer of
the plaintiff to the defendant's an
swer In one particular In the cose
of D. O. Mlnto against Oregon
nap ec Paper company but over
ruiea , demurrer as to other de
fenses.
The particular matter sustained
In the demurer was a defense set
up by the paper company that the
plaintiff ought not to be permitted
to offer proof that the premises
are damaged for the reason that
when the water receded In 1931 the
defendant at the Instance of the
plaintiff roked up and burned waste
materials from the paper mill. The
case la one In which Mlnto asks for
damages alleged to have been sus
tained by waste paper from the mill
piling up on Mlnto Island. Under
the ruling this one defense of the
paper company is overturned but
the balance of the defenses set ud
In Its answer are sustained as far
as their legal effect Is concerned
In another damage action of sim
ilar purport, that the Edward R.
HouRham against the city of Mt.
Angel, Judge Lewclllng ordered
stricken from the amended com
plaint a number of naraeTanhs.
These paragraphs In question, the
court held, pertained to matters
which happened or existed before
a contract was entered Into be
tween the city and the Houghams.
Hougham alleges that a sewer of
the city on his ranch has damaged
the property. The court ruit-d that
the matters arising before the con
tract was entered Into hod no place
in tne allegations or the complaint.
The court also overruled all ob
jections to the cost bill In case of
jonn xi. will against George P. Bur
nett ana overruled a demurrer to
the complaint In the case of Capitol
Securities corporation against Alton
e. wottmgnam.
The National
Whirligig
News Behind the News
By Paul Mallon
Washington Some eastern re
publican wets are organizing a sub
rosa Insurrection against their par
ty floor leader Bert Snell. They have
been quietly buttonholing their
brethren In dark corners sounding
out tne cnances or Representative
James w. wadsworth for Snell's Job.
ao inr tncy have met with a fairly
good response.
If they get far enough along with
their movement they will pit Wads
worth against Snell when leaders of
the new congress are chosen after
March 4.
The wets seem to feel Snell has
not given the republican nartv In
the house the kind of leadership It
ougnc to nave. He voted for the
Garner repeal resolution but he did
not try to push the resolution
through. Up to this time he has al
ways been considered a dry.
Back In their minds also Is the
Idea of pushing Wadsworth forward
as a presidential candidate in 1936.
They think they can build him up
to that prominence If they can only
get the leadership.
Wadsworth b thoroughly capable.
There Is no doubt about that. He
was In, the senate for many years.
He lost out when republican drys In
his state rebelled against his wet
stand. Now the times seem made for
him.
Snell got the leadership two years
ago by kicking out Tillson. He has
been very successful. Both he and
Wadsworth are conservative.
Snell has not heard about the
movement against him but when he
docs tire fur will fly.
Mister Stlmson was peeved about
the New York Times saying that
laughter came from the room where
were writing the second debt note
to the British.
The secretary of state let It be
known that he thought such a triv
lal thing should not appear In news
papers. He declined to Indicate what
the laughter was about.
Rumor has It that the unseemly
laughter was provoked when Mr.
Mills made an observation about
two Scotchmen In this debt situa
tion MacDonald and Herrlot with
Herriot more Scotch than MacDonald,
It was a new Bishop Cannon who
appeared hero early in the week.
His familiar crutches were gone. So
was tne cane. He strode erect. His
dictatorial manner of drier days was
nowhere in evidence. He spoke per
suasively before the house beer com
mittee. One of the tricky questions
was: "If the supreme court agreed
2.75 percent beer was not a violation
of the constitution, would your
church punish Its members for
drinking that beer?"
The bishop's ready answer was:
"If a member of my church drank
2.75 percent beer and became drunk,
the supreme court would be over
ruled and the church would act ac
cordingly." There Is no other dry leader here
with anything near the bishop's po.
lltlcal ability. Evidences are Increas
ing that he Beeks return to promi
nence In the movement. His pros
pects are not good.
i
Nobody Is paying attention now to
the trouble brewing below the Rio
Grande. They will within the next
few months when it becomes first
page newa.
The work of Senator Morrow la
being undone bit by bit. The latest
trivial Incident Is the protest of
Mexico against a flight of American
planes over the border November 22.
Flares were dropped and Ignited for
ests. That is piled atop a series of
other trivialities the murder of two
Mexican boys In the midwest, trou
blea of consuls with prohibition ag
ents. They make a formidable ob
stacle to friendliness, all together.
SANTA
AND
THE
moil
SIORID ARMS
8TNOPSIS: A woods falrr mi a dwarf
flv lotno ken hi hid stolen from Santa
to bli friends, tht toadi. ah discover!
that Insa and Plnoechlo, two dolls from
Torland, arc in tha woods hunting the
dwarf and tha leers. Ther must find a
wmatle which caua tbi toads together.
Chapter XV
GETTING THE WIIISTLB
The woods fairy and Inga and
rinoccnto waited up tne moun
Gov. Roosevelt Is keeping In close
contact with democratic senators.
He cent his economic adviser, Prof.
Moley down to see a certain senator
last week. Moley was told the sen
ator was busy. His name was not
recognized. Nearly two hours later
the senate got a long distance tele
phone call from Albany explaining
the Moley visit. The senator sent
out scouts to bring Prof. Moley in.
rney finally found him waiting pa
tiently in the ante chamber, hat In
hand. Profuse apologies were deliv
ered.
Bernard Baructa, the New York
democratic angel, Is wielding a big
influence behind the scenes In con
gress. He manages to keep his name
out of tlie newspapers while doing
it.
From the best sources comes news
that he may be chairman of the
American delegation to the proposed
worm economic conference. If not
ne wiu nave a lot to do with nam
ing the delegates.
Strong inside pressure is being ex.
ertcd in both parties to make Sen
ator Smoot a republican member of
the delegation. He would represent
the silver states.
The Kaiser WiUielm Institute for
Research has Just reported to the
German federal ministry of agricul
ture the development of a new
brand of wheat. It will yield twice as
many bushels per acre as the one
now planted and is not subject to
the law of the diminishing return.
If generally adopted this wheat
would make Germany independent
of Imports after 1934. The basis for
this discovery was laid In the work
of the late Luther Burbank.
The democrats are getting; ready
to ditch one of their own party
members, Atlee Pomerene on the R.
P. O. They plan to refuse confirma
tion of his nomination in the sen
ate and that will put him out March
4. The Texas Jesse Jones, another
democrat on the corporation board,
is planning to retire then. So is
Gardner Cowles, the Des Moines
publisher. That means complete re
organization of the R.P.C. by Roose
velt.
A former bartender, Congressman
Palmisano of Baltimore, gave the
most authentic wet testimony In the
beer hearings. With all this argu-
he and Treasury Secretary MUls mcnt over the question whether 3
53 Years Ago
Edison Invents Electric Light
The Fir6T-
IncarhJescenr
Lamp
From the Nation's News Piles, New York, Dec. 21, 1879
Thomas Edison Is stringing his new Incandescent lamps on electrle
wires, He uses as a filament rarbonized cotton thread.
The properly lighted, well-appointed Mortuary is part of the
Rlgdon Service. A well-trained staff conducts the service re
gardless of cost.
The little brown elves worked
and worked trying to push a big
rock in front of the dwarf's cave
to lock him in.
tain to the dwarf's cave trying to
trunk or some way to get from him
that whistle with which he called
an his toad friends together.
The dwarf meanwhile thought he
nad fixed everything so well that he
just went to sleep in his under
ground home.
"This dwarf Is so strong and so
ugly in nis nature," explained tne
fairy to the two dolls, "that I can't
send my little wood elves against
him.
There didn't seem to be a thing
to do. But suddenly Plnoechlo
looked up above the cave-Uke door
to the dwarfs home and saw sev
eral huge rocks hanging on the
mountainside.
"Why, If we could push one of
those down In front of his door, he
couldn't get out," said Plnoechlo.
That's a fine Idea," said the fairy.
percent beer can make a person
drunk, none of the legislators has
tried to decide from personal exper. I
lence. A simple solution would be
for each member of congress to
drink all the S percent beer he can
hold and then determine for himself
whether he Is tight. Maybe the su
preme court will do it that way.
"I'll call all my elves together and
we'll a try to push one ot those
rocks."
She kneeled down and tapped
three times on the ground and from
every tree and bush around there
tumbled cunning, little brown men.
"Come with us," aha aald. '
want help to push one of those
rocks down here In front of the
dwarf's door."
60 the whole group of them
Hooped up to a huge, gray rock
and started pushing. But not an
Inch did It move.
"Why, how stupid of me," said
Inga. "Here's the basket that Is
never empty, I'll Just pull out 1
whole bunch of little donkeys. They
're very strong."
How the only thing about that
basket Is that it produces objects
in keeping with the size of the per
son who uses it. And Inga, after all,
was only a little doll. So the don
keys were about the size of so many
puppies. But she pulled out fifty
and they all started pushing with
tneir nard little neaos.
They pushed and pushed, and
suddenly the rock moved an inch.
Then it moved another Inch. Then
"crash!" and It went rolling down
tne nui ana ended up "smack'
against the dwarf's door. There
wasn't an inch for him to squeeze
tnrougn.
Then the whole company ran
down the hill to hear the dwarf cry
ing out inside: "Let me outl Helpl
iin ail snut lnr
"Not this time." cried Plnoechlo.
"You're locked up until we get that
wnisue.
"What whistle?" shouted the
dwarf. "I don't know what you
mean."
"Yes. you do," cried the woods
lairy. "i know about It."
And when the dwarf knew she
was out there he changed his tune.
"If I give It to you. will you helo
me get out?" ne whined.
Right away, but you must itlve
it to us nrst.
"All right, here it is. I'm pushing
tnrougn inia little crack." ne
called.
Sure enough, there was a tiny sil
ver whistle. Inga grabbed it quickly.
bug men iney naa to get tnat big
rocx away irom tne door.
Tomorrow: Getting The Keys
PCSSr WILLOWS BLOOM
SUverton T. P. Heidenstrom who
lives on McClolne street has several
trees of pussy willows in full blos
som. The trees grow alone- Sliver
creek and make an unusual showing
at this time of year. Heidenstrom
nas some cuttings of twigs on dis
play In show windows about town.
SUverton The baby boy of Mr.
and Mrs. Dan Rlveness of Marquam
is reported critically ill from pneu
monia. The family formerly lived
here. Mrs. Rlveness Is a daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Corehouse.
Mt. Angel Raymond Fisher Is
spending a two weeks' Christmas
vacation at the home of his sister
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Paul F.
Schwab. Fisher is attending the un
iverslty at Pullman. Wash.
TRUCKS URGED
TO KEEP FROM
GRAVELED ROADS
An appeal went out from county
court members to truck users not
to use county graveled roads for
the next few days until tney nave
a chance to settle from the badly
softened conditions into which
they have relapsed due to thawing
of the ground which was frozen
from eight to 10 inches deep In
the recent spell of sharp weather.
The freeze Is not all out of the
ground yet, they say, regardless of
the balmy air.
Reports are now coming In from
many sections as to the sortened
conditions of the county roads.
Some court members went up the
Ablqua today on the new market
road where bad damage was re
ported being done by wood trucks
hauling over the softened grade.
ThQy also expected to Inspect a
slide reported on me marxet roan
above the SUverton power house.
From Broadacres came the report
that the new grade there over the
railroad track at the Whitney
store was so soft that any cars
running into it hod to be puuea
out and It la likely this road will
be closed for a few days with traf
fic routed around the old road.
Bad washes were also reported on
a new fill near the Catholic ceme
tery Just north of Woodburn.
Numerous other reports were
coming In of minor damage, cut up
roads and sloughing on fills.
Court members stated that they ex
pected the roads would be back in
shape in a few days but there was
nothing to do about It but to al
low nature to take Its course and
for heavy trucks to keep off of
them. School buses, mUk wagons
and slmUar conveyances of ne
cessity must be allowed on the
roads but It was intimated If
other heavy haulers did not obey
the request to keep off that action
might be taken toward a temporary
closing of the gravel roads until
tney were again in snape to nandie
the traffic.
Nearly 1,500 tractors for farm use
were Imported in South Africa last
year.
gra spa spa -
50c to $5.00
Regardless of price ev
ery box packed with
extreme care ("En
semble") with our
home-made chocolates.
The SPA
Methodist Primary
Pupils Celebrate
SUverton The primary depart
ment of the Methodist church held
a Christmas program Sunday morn
ing during the Sunday school hour.
Mrs. S. J. Comstock directed tha
recitations and Miss Diana Moore
had charge of music. Mrs. Edson
Comstock Is primary superintend
ent. Mrs. Feme Davenport played
the piano accompaniments. About
65 little boys and girls took part In
the chorus numbers.
Those taking special parts in tha
affair were Donna Claire Porter,
John Cooper, Beverly Davenport,
Ruth Mellbye, Margaret Scott, Lou
ise Ryan, Jean McCleary, Kathleen
Ryan. Marian Hubbs, Betty Zette
berg, LaVon Thomas, Jean Camp
bell, Patricia Hedgea, Zephne Olv
ens, Arlene Barker. Louise Bahrlce,
Agnea Naegll, June Bucll, Morjorlt
Baker, Lloyd Naegll, Donald Chand
ler and Wallace Adams.
SUverton The choir of the Me
thodist church held a Christmas
party foUowing practice Monday
evening at the church. Bert Day
and W. K. Cain were In charge.
A Free Demonstration
of the
General Electric
Washer
with the Activator
. . . careful as human hand
Your washing can be made easier and
less expensive with Cilia achievement el
General Electric engineers. Come in to
day ... try the amazing Towel Tug Teat
. . . operate it yourself ... or telephone
or free home demonstration.
Special While They Last
Regular $109
G. E. WASHER
Now
$59-50
&cff&ecluc 9nc
847 Court St.
Sets
Plymouth
a New Bee!
30 J?ecudwndn
Plymouth Six Four-Door Sedan Now 545
TODAY Plymouth announces price
reductions up to thirty dollars on
the Plymouth Six, effective at once.
Plymouth set the pace in the low
priced field by introducing new models
far in advance of competition.
We said then that "this new Plymouth
was built to honestly win the good-will
of American motorist, who have never
yet failed to reward real merit."
We meant what we said. Plymouth sets
the pace In price as well as performance.
This is the time to "go ahead," and note
Plymouth tets a faster pace than ever.
And remember tills . . . your savings
on Plymouth aren't confined to price
alone. Plymouth is scientifically engi
neered to be the most economical Six in
the low-priced field . . . the easiest to
ran. the easiest on gas, oil, tires and up
keep. That's why it carries no excess
weight ... no superfluous cast iron and
steel . . . to increase running costs.
Remember too, this new price includes
floating Power i i . patented engine
mountings that no other car can use
except by license. Not simply rubber
cushions i s i but a basic new improve-
NEW LOW PRICES
4-Door Sedan . , , . $345
Convertible) Coupe . . S6S
Coupe with Rumble Seat 525
Business Coupe . . . 493
rrkM P. O. S. henry
PLYMOUTH SIX
meat which eliminates all vibration.
Tbere's Safety Steel Bodies. If steel
railway cars are superior to old-fashioned
coaches, certainly steel automo
bile bodies are superior to the com
posite kind. And just as necessary.
You get Hydraulic Brakes too . : . to
necessary in these days of high speeds
and crowded highways. And those easy
riding qualities which you formerly
found only in high-priced cars.
Not only is Plymouth a BIG, full-sized
family car . ; . it's a low-priced car with
out that low-priced look. A thrilling car
to drive . . . with a 70-horsepower engine
that makes Plymouth the most brilliant
performing Six in the field.
Plymouth says again . . . look at all
three . . . ride in all three . , . compare
... u (,i .... inaj in oeu carum.
SOLD BY 7,232 DESOTO, DODGE AND
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