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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1948)
T Crime Rampant In Salem As in Other Cities Chief Minto Blames Lack of Sufficient Police and Funds City Manager Capital r i j i Allies Ban All Trains To, From Russian Zone longress neeis CEJL JUL Oil m extra session Plan in Salem To Fight Truman 60th Year, No. 177 Salem, Oregon, Monday, July 26, 1948 Price 5c Two Labor Union Of ficials Would Restore Old Council Regime President to Read Message Tuesday And State Program Counter Move Taken To Breck Soviet Block ade of Berlin Hi v 7 r-&4 "ft Salem is In the midst of a wave of burglary and theft. Most of. the cases of recent weeks re main uncleared by arrest. Sev eral major cases have been cleared. Business houses, homes, churches and vehicles parked on streets are being raided almost nightly by thieves. Chief of Police Frank A. Min to concedes there's more crime here than should ordinarily be expected in a city of this size. "But," he adds, "it's no worse here than elsewhere. There's a crime wave all over the coun try, and the Salem police de partment, considering its limit ed personnel, is taking care of the situation as well as any po lice force could. Anyway, it's jWoing a lot of hard work." No Charge of Negligence No one, officially at least, has made any charge of negligence against the police. City Mana ger J. L Franzcn agrees with the chief that the department needs more men. "But what can be done about it?" he asks. "More policemen mean more money, and right now the city hasn t the money. Next year I think it will be dif ferent." Chief Minto says he has the responsibility of running a po lice department with a person nel based on the census of 1940 when Salem's population was just over 31,000. It's now around 47,000. "I've been asking for five ad ditional men for the last three years," said the chief. "That wouldn't be much of an increase when you consider the fact that the city has added to its area by annexation and to its population by 15,000 or more. Insufficient Force Police personnel is usually considered normal with one of ficer for each 1000 population. Salem has 32 working police men, including the plainclothes men. "Under those conditions," the chief said, "it's impossible to keep a thorough coverage of the city at all hours. Experienced criminals know that. They study police patrols and they case t own before they pull a job. I haven t done much com plaining. I know public money comes hard. "And there are other reasons for the crime condition here be sides shortage of officers. Salem is a state prison town. Ex-con victs are released here. Often they hang around. And we are under the eaves of Portland. If a crook finds it necessary to leave Portland, it isn't unlikely he'll come to Salem. This is a good place for contacts with others of his kind." (Concluded on Page 11, Column 7) Boeinq Appeals NLRB Decision Seattle, July 26 (IP) New court action was indicated to day as the Boeing Airplane com pany announced it would appeal the recommendation of a na tional labor relations board trial examiner that the company be required to bargain with the striking Aeronautical Mechanics union (Ind.) The examiner's recommenda tions, which either party may appeal within 20 days, also pro posed: That Boeing cease any inter ference with the right of its em ployes to organize; ,. i That workers now on strike ' 'be reinstated upon application to their former or equivalent positions without prejudice That such reinstatements be made even if it is necessary to dismiss persons hired after April 25; That the company be required to make up any wages lost by reluming strikers as a result of the company's failure to re instate them after they apply. Simultaneously with the com pany s announcement that it will appeal the report, heads of the union said they will ask im mediately for resumption of ne gotiations. Rattler Bites Death Valley Scotty Las Vegas, Nev., July 26 Death Valley Scotty, California prospector, was recovering to day in his castle from a rattle snake bite. Scotty was bitten while he was about three miles from his retreat. The fangs en tered hit thumb, but he sliced the wound and used the first aid kit he always carries. He has en bitten by rattleys before We e says he is having no ill ef fects or complications. Whether the people of Salem are satisfied with the manager ial form of city government, or would prefer to go back to the old councilmanic system is to be discussed at a meeting called at Salem Labor temple Wednesday night at 8 o'clock. A letter inviting representa tives of service clubs, civic or ganizations and other groups to attend the meeting was sent out over the signatures of Herbert E. Barker, executive secretary of the Salem Central Trades and Labor council, and C. F. Burt, business agent for the Building Trades council Acting on Own Initiative Burt explained Monday, how ever, that ne and Banter are acting entirely on their own ini tiative and do not, as far as the letter asking for the meeting is concerned, represent the labor unions or any other organiza tion. Burt also spiked a rumor that organized labor is out to "get" Chief of Police Frank A Minto. "That rumor is asolutely false," Burt said. "The chief of police, fire chief, nor anyone else has been discussed. We aren't out to get anyody. To Ascertain Sentiment "We have heard a good many objections to the managerial form of government. We hope at the Wednesday night meeting to find out if a majority of the people of Salem are happy un der this system or would pre fer to return to the old plan. If most of the people like the pres ent form of government that is fine with us. If they are not then we think a bill should be initiated to vote on the matter. "We want to know whether the city is being run by a ma jority, and whether there may have been a time when a ma jority wanted the managerial system and now think it hasn't panned out." (Concluded on Page 11, Column 4) Stevenson Leads Texas Primary Dallas, Tex., July 26 (U.R) Former Governor Coke Steven son held a lead of more than 6,000 votes today over Lyndon Johnson for a seat in the U. S senate. The Texas election bureau's latest returns, which include 782,256 ballots, gave Gov. Beau ford Jester 53 percent of the vote in his re-election campaign apparently precluding a runoff in that race. Stevenson and Johnson head ed a field of 11 contesting the seat being vacated by Sen. W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel. The two will vie for the democratic nom ination, the equivalent of elec tion, in the second primary August 28. House Minority Leader Sam Rayburn held a long lead over two contenders in the fourth congressional district, while O. C. Fisher gained a majority lead in his fight to retain his seat from the 21st district. Charles L. South, a former congressman, is his chief opponent. Man, 31, Drowns In Seaside Surf Seaside, Ore., July 26 J.R Frank Bromley, 31, Astoria, drowned in the surf here Sun day as thousands of week-end visitors watched from the beach. Lifeguards said Bromley, drag tender on the army engin eers' dredge Davidson, appar ently was seized with cramps. Efforts of firemen, lifeguards and a physician to revive him failed. Lumber Mill in West Salem Destroyed by Fire Sunday Fire Sunday morning destroyed the sawmill plant of the West Salem Lumber company on Wallace road, with an estimated loss of $45,000. The fire knocked out a payroll of about $14,000 a month and the employment of 45 men. How the fire started is not known. A short circuit of elec trical wiring is considered pos sible. But a series of week-end fires in the Willamette valley, including three mill fires in the Eugene-Springfield area, gives some ground for suspicion of arson. Eugene Nordone, West Salem police officer, was pursuing a suspectediy-stolen car and pass ing the mill about 8:30 a.m. when he noticed a small blaze in the lower part of the build ing housing the mill. He started to give i radio alarm when the fire flared with the suddenness if an explosion and in a mo nent practically enveloped the juilding. $210,000 Loss In Oregon Fires (By the United Prewtl Week-end fires burned an es timated 5210,000 worth of pro perty in Oregon's WillamOjtte. valley, it was reported here to day. The Summervell roofing plant at Eugene burned to the groun i Saturday night causing a total loss of $90000. Firemen said the fire was one of three of un known origin which kept them on the run most of the night. A sawdust pile flared up at the Mogan Lumber company and another blaze broke out in a lumber yard. About $25,000 in pine lum ber was destroyed in the West ern Timber Products yard where several million dollars in lumber was stacked. The Colonial House at Mil waukie caught fire Sunday from an overheated water pipe, fire men said, and the battle to drown the flames lasted four hours with. a loss of $50,000. An estimated 24,000 gallons of water was pumped on the Col onial House in an effort to save the $15,000 structure and ex pensive fixtures, which state police said included slot ma chines and roulette wheels. Another Sunday blaze de stroyed the West Salem Lumber company on the West Salem road for a toll of $45,000. Fire men saved the planing mill and a huge stock of lumber. The cause was not determined. Progressives Reject Flood Relief Plank Philadelphia, July 26 IIP) An Oregon attempt failed to get a flood relief pledge into the pro gressive party platform here this week-end. Vaughan S. Albertson, vice chairman of the Oregon delega tion, asked the convention to include in its platform a pledge to extend special federal aid to Pacific northwest flood victims. Lee Pressman, platform com mittee secretary objected it was not the job of the convention to write a detailed legislative pro gram, but a statement of party principles. He said the party could not accept the amendment without writing in promises to relieve victims of other disasters. The convention went along with Pressman. The Salem fire department responded to the alarm, laid sev eral lines of hose and used the mill pond, and other nearby buildings were saved. Ernest Parcher, manager of the mill and owner of one third interest, said he applied for $10,000 additional insurance about a week ago. He didn't know whether it had yet be come effective. If not, he said there Wds only $6500 insur ance on a $45,000 investment. The other owners are J. Nor man Acoff of Los Angeles and Norman L. Acoff, who is con nected wi'h the operation of the mill. The owners bought the mill in April, 1947. (Concluded on Ff 9, Column 1) Dayton Celebrates Her Centennial Mrs. Clarence L. Fowler (left), 71, and a resident in the Dayton community for nearly 40 years, received top award for the best cos tume worn in the centennial parade. Mrs. Fowler is Capital Journal correspondent in this locality. Top, center: Float de picting evolution in pioneer life as visualized by the Dayton Civic club received first prize. Forty entries were featured by the street parade. Lower, center: Lafayette fire depart ment as they may have appeared rushing to a blaze with their tiny hand pumper in 1894. They were awarded a prize for costume. Right: Carl H. Francis of Dayton, resident and representative from Yamhill county who provided energy, color and talent for a successful centennial celebration. Dayton's Centennial Draws Thousands Dayton, Ore., July 26 The 100th anniversary of the founding of this city by Joel Palmer in 1848 drew thousands of persons to the community over the week-end with the celebration culmi nating in the annual Old Timers' picnic at the city park and com pletion of a two-day rodeo Sunday afternoon. Feature of the celebration was the colorful street parade Sat urday afternoon with 40 entries in the-Jlm bj; jftatchjTpp. ,ayar.d for floats went to the Dayton Civic club, depicting an early scene in pioneer life, with sec ond to the McMinnville cream ery, a float with Mr. ana Mrs. Dale Pcdersen, in old-time cos tume, ensconced in. a primitive environment. Third place went to American Legion post No. 69 of Dayton with a float depict ing a Flanders field. Mrs. Charles L. Fowler, Day ton, Rt. 1, (Unionvale), won first prize for women in cos tume. She appeared in a sun bonnet and long dress familiar to pioneers. Second and third prizes were awarded Mrs. James Richardson and Mrs. Clair Hei der. In the childrens' division Kay leen Hicks, Dayton, was award ed first prize with second place to Waldo Farnham, McMinn ville and third to Dick Sitton, Jr., Dayton. Don Nuttbrock was first for the best decorated bicycle. Top award for parade fea tures in costume went to the fire department from Lafayette in old-time regalia. Second went to J. G. Penland and third to Marion- Warner. Both are of Dayton. Rodeos, sponsored by the Day ton Buckeroo association, at tracted record crowds both aft ernoons with a street dance the feature Saturday night. Seven teen events were staged on the rodeo grounds south of the city. Spectators thrilled and per formers spilled. Among those who went down and were counted out were Dale Rey nolds, Perrydale, who- received a broken shoulder and Rowland Hantze, of Carlton, of the Yam hill sheriff's posse, who receiv ed a broken nose in the Dayton derby. Both were taken to the hospital at McMinnville. Walter C. Leth. Dallas, Polk county agent, announced the events. Magnuson's Clerks Wearing Turnips Washington, July 26 OP) Four young women who work in the office of Senator Magnuson (D., Wash.) wore turnips the size of golf balls on their dresses to day. The reason: President Tru man, in telling the democratic national convention he was call ing a special session of congress to meet today, said July 26 is turnip day in Missouri the date when turnips are planted. Those wearing the turnips green tops and all were Lucie Lonergan, daughter of the late Senator Lonergan of Connecti cut, Bernice Lee, Ann Sanders and Jesse Robertson, all of Washington state. Sawmill Union Asks Raise Hike Eugene, July 26 UP) The Wil lamette valley district council of Lumber and Sawmill Work ers, AF of L, will ask for wage increases in future negotiations, as the result of action taken at a week-end meeting of the coun cil here Sunday. The decision was based on continued in creases in the cost of living. Eldon Kraal, secretary of the council here, said that Lane county lumber operators will be notified of the action and the request today. The last boost for the lumber and sawmill workers was effctive April 1, when an increase of five cents per hour was granted. New ne gotiations are expected to open before Aug. 10, and Kraal pre dicted an early settlement of the wage question. Health and welfare plans and retirement plan pay were also discussed, but details of the pro posals have not been drafted completely. One of the highlights of the meeting was a brief appearance of Senator Wayne L. Morse of Eugene, who reaffirmed his con tinued critical attitude toward the Taft-Hartley law. Flying Saucer Over Washington Yakima, Wash., July 26 (U.R) Hundreds of persons claimed to day that they saw a silvery moon - shaped object streak through the skies over Washing ton state yesterday. Two employes of the civil aeronautics administration were among those who claimed to have sighted the object here. About the time the object was being reported over Yakima, William B. Apple of Portland, Ore., said he saw something "big, round and bright" moving west over Portland. He said it "suddenly veered southwest in an awful hurry " Airport Traffic Controller Don Hunt and Aircraft Commu nicator George Robinson said they saw a silvery disc-like ob ject flying west of here about 2 p.m. and again at 4:20 p.m. Royal Nod for 2 Colors London, July 26 Pi Princess Elizabeth gave the royal nod to day to the two new colors tide blue and golden beige. The British color council said the blue is a "light smoky tur quoise" and the beige is "a deep corn coh.r. Both are on dis play at the council'i fall and winter exhibition. Jews Balk on Jerusalem Plan Tel Aviv, Israel, July 26 UP) Sources close to the Israel government said today Count Folke Bernadotte's suggestions for immediate demilitarization of Jerusalem appear unaccept able to Israel. Count Bcrnadotle, the United Nations mediator, conferred for two hours with Israel's foreign minister, Moshe Shertok, and then departed for Haifa. Bernadotte announced yester day that the Arab states have agreed in principle to the demil itarization of Jerusalem. A United Nations military ob server said Jewish piancs and infantry had violated the Pales tine truce by attacking three AlWifiages along the Haifa Tel Aviv road. Reporting to Count Folke Bernadotte's mediation head quarters, the observer said Jew ish airmpn and troops moved against the villages of Jaba, Izrim and Ain Ghazil on three successive nights. The observer added that the villages were oc cupied by Arab irregulars and Iraqi troops. Biggest Plane Crosses Nation Paluxent Naval Air Station, Md., July 26 UP) The Constitu tion, biggest airplane ever to cross the country, did it in 10 hours and 19 minutes yesterday. The 184,000-pound giant, sec ond of two built by Lockheed Aircraft as naval transports, flew a 2000-mile course from Moffett Field, Calif., at an av erage speed of about 260 miles an hour. The plane had the help of tail winds ranging from 20 to 50 miles an hour at 19,000 feet. Some time was wasted dodging thunderstorms. The navy has not yet accept ed either of the flying giant planes. They were built at a cost of $27,000,000. The first one still is full of flight lest fear. Roy Wimmer, a Lockheed en gineering test pilot, described the trip as "the nicest I've ever made across the country." The navy had a crew of 22 aboard for yesterday's flight. Most of Truman Proposals Already on Congress List Washington, July 26 UP) Most of the law-making proposals President Truman is expected to lay before congress tomorrow already are on the work list of either the house or senalc, or both. Most of them have been there for quite a while. The big exception is anti-inflation legislation. When Mr. Truman outlined his cost-of-living program to an other special session last Novem ber, he left it to the various government departments to sug gest specific laws. That resulted in a good bit of, intcr-agency tugging and hauling on top of the deep seated reluctance of the GOP leadership to go along with the president. This time the White House has said Mr. Truman will have an anti-inflation bill of his own ail ready for administration sup porters to introduce. Normal law-making proced ure would call for extended committee hearings on such a bill before it could even reach the formal debating stasje if it ever does. However, the civil rights is Washington, July 26 iPi The 80th congress began Its cam paign session today. Within minutes, house republicans and democrats were exchanging hot words of blame over high prices and the housing shortage. Today's brief get-together was preliminary to hearing President Truman's recommen dations tomorrow on these and other problems which he told his party's convention, required an extra session of the "worst" congress. In the house, democratic speakers demanded action to re lieve the housing shortage and curb the cost of living. The re publicans retorted that the de mocratic administration was to blame for existing economic troubles. House Speaker Martin (Mass.) told newsmen after a meeting of senate and house leaders that "no decisions" were made. Mar tin added: "We want to hear what the president has to say tomorrow before making up our minds def initely. "Like the boys at Bunker Hill, we are not going to fire until we see the whites of their eyes." Martin then walked into the house chamber and rapped to or der the session summoned by Mr. Truman In the midst of the 1948 presidential and congres sional campaigns. Truman Drafting Message At the White House, Mr. Tru man continued work on the mes sage he first outlined to the democratic national convention. Democratic congressional lead ers were called in to review the price control and other propos als scheduled for inclusion. The meeting of republican chiefs, held in Martin's office, was attended by Senators Taft (Ohio), Vandenberg (Mich.), Wherry (Neb.), and Millikin (Colo.), and Reps. Halleck (Ind ), Brown (Ohio) and Ar ends (111.). It lasted almost an hour and a half. Martin called it "a prelimi nary for general discussion." He said there will be another get together after Mr. Truman reads his message to a joint ses sion tomorrow. On the senate side, Vanden berg called the chamber to or der after the GOP meeting. Sixty-five senators answered the roll call. The senate remained in session only 11 minutes and quit until tomorrow. Senator Wherry (Neb.), the acting majority leader, and Sen ator Taft (Ohio) both said no definite program of legislation will be agreed upon until after Mr. Truman's message Is re ceived. Taft said there "is some sen timent to meet and adjourn" aft er the president's speech but that he doubts many congress men favor this. "I think we'll probably meet every day," Taft told a reporter. "That's what we're here for." Other republicans said the only part of Mr. Truman's ex pected program now ready for senate action are three civil rights bills anti-lynch, anti poll tax and one to set up a fair employment practices commis sion. Southerners have promised a filibuster if any attempt is made to bring these measures up. Supcrforts at Aden Aden, July 26 (U.Ri Three American Superfortresses on a round the world flight arrived at 8:30 a.m. today from Tripoli. The crewmen reported a pleas ant and uneventful journey They expected to leave for Cey lon tomorrow evening. sue could come to a boil almost immediately. Either the house or senate could bring up bills to make lynching a federal crime, the house judiciary committee ap proved one last March, and the senate version cleared commit tee Just six days before con gress adjourned in June. House Speaker Martin (R Mass.), has said frequently the house will go along at once if the senate passes the anti-lynch measure on its calendar. The house already has passed a bill by Rep. Bender (R Ohio), to forbid collection of a poll tax as a requirement for voting in federal elections. It was voted a year ago last week, and has been approved too by the senate - rules committee. Berlin, July 26 W The United States and Britain banned movements of trains to day to and from the Russian zone of Germany. American of ficials said "technical difficul ties" caused the stoppage. The joint American-British action appeared to be the most positive counter-move yet tak en by the western allies to break the Russian blockade of Berlin, now a month old. Gens. Lucius D. Clay and Sir Brian Robertson, the American and British military governors, took the action at a conference in Frankfurt. The restrictions are effective at once. The pro hibition is against the move ment of all trains "originating or terminating" in the Soviet zone. "Technical Difficulties" When the Russians stopped traffic on the long railway be tween Berlin and the western zones of Germany, they assert ed "technical difficulties" were the cause. U.S and British officials in Frankfurt orally termed the rail stoppage "economic sanc tions." Authorities said the rail commerce between the Soviet zone of Germany and western Europe "doesn't amount to much." Interested countries of western Europe have been in formed of the order through in ternational railway channels. A Berlin informant insisted that "technical difficulties are real and do exist" as far as the rail traffic into and from the Soviet zone is concerned. Cuts Off Foreign Trains A certain number of freight trains have been moving into and through the American, Brit ish and French zones carrying manufactured and raw material products from the Russian zone. The American-British action means that trains carrying goods from the Russian zone to Switzerland, or to Bremen for shipment to Scandinavia no longer can travel through west ern Germany. The same ban applies to traffic from western Europe If its destination is in the Russian zone. International mail trains will be permitted to pass, however. An American military gov ernment official said the action may have "far reaching econo mic and political ramifica tions." 3 Powers Talk German Crisis London, July 26 IIP) United Slates, British and French dip lomats met early today from critical consultations on differ ences with Russia over Ger many. They were armed with fresh information from Wash ington and Moscow. The conference at the foreign office was the first of a new scries arising from the crisis provoked by Russia's blockade of Berlin. It came less than 12 hours after a team of American experts on Russian affairs re turned from a huddle in Berlin. The meeting brought togeth er: For the U.S.A. Charles E. Bohlen, state department coun sellor and a key adviser at all Big Four conferences in recent years; Lewis W. Douglas, am bassador to Britain, and Walter Bedell Smith, ambassador to Russia. For Britain Sir Wm Strang, chief of the foreign office's Ger man section, Patrick Dean, one of its experts on German affairs; and Sir Maurice Peterson, am bassador io Russia, who return ed from Moscow about 10 days ago. For France Rene Massigli, ambassador lo Britain. The three American diplomats will see Foreign Secretary Ern est Bcvin later in the day Boh len will give Bcvln first-hand Washington views on possible methods the western powers might employ in dealing with the situation. The Weather 'Released by United States Weather Bureau Forecast (or Salem and Vicin ity: Increasing high cloudiness tonight, becoming partly cloudy Tuesday with lower daytime temperature. Moderate south westerly and westerly wind. Ijowest temperature cxectrd Tuesday morning 50 degrees; highest Tuesday. 79. Agricultural outlook: Only fnir due to mod erate winds. Maximum yester day 85. Minimum today ,V2. Mean temperature yesterday 6fl which was 2 below normal. Total 24-hour precipitation l 11:;10 a.m. today .0 Total precipitation for the month .4. which is .no nf an inch above normal Wilhni e.te river height at Saiem Mon day morning, -2.7 feet
