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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1919)
m 1 Advertising The cAthena Press circulates in the homes of readers who reside in the heart of the Great Umatilla Wheat Belt, and they have money to spend - r Mmim mm Notice! If this notice is marked RED, it sig nifies that your Subscription expires with this issue. We will greatly ap preciate your renewal $2.00 per year Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mail Matter VOLUME XL. ATHENA. UMATILLA COUNTY. OREGON. FRIDAY. JANUARY 2t, 1819. NUMBER 4 CORRESPONDENCE A correspondence course provided for both the Athena high and grade schools is being utilized by teachers and pu pils, as it is in other parts of the cnurty and state, to holfl' the school work together during the enforced closing on account of the influenza ep idemic. The correspondence program as adopted, embraces the mailing of lists of questions in each subject to indi vidual pupils, who in turn mail the answers back to the teacher. Self ex planatory it the following statement mailed to pupils by Superintendent Hall: "In taking up again the home study work, we are adapting ourselves as best we can to the condition which pre vails not only in Athena, but also in almost every city in Oregon. Many schools have used the correspondence system with varying results. Our for mer work was generally very satisfac tory. The plan of work we are using has the sanction of both county and state superintendents. "Just bow many ol you will be able to get credits for this serr ester's work depends entirely upon yourselves. Fi nal semester examinations will be held a few weeks after school reconvenes in regular session. Some of you need have no fear for the results, others need to review consistently if they are to be able to secure credits this first half year. "Those who are willing to work faithfully can graduate with their classes in the usual time; those who fail this semester must expect to be one year longer. The work of this week is entirely a review of the sem ester's work to date. Follow the in structions in each subject as indicated on the typewritten slip. "A good soldier never gives up, but increases his efforts as difficulties arise. You can foietell your future success (or failures) by your efforts in this h 'me study work." The full corps of teachers, with the exception of Miss Horton, is actively engaged in the course. Miss Horton, who was instructor in the nth and nth grades, has resigned her position in the schools on account of ill health. She will be succeeded in ber work iere by Romeo Hubbs, who will reach Athena as soon as be receives his discharge from the Army at Camp Lewis. EARLY MORNING FIRE CAtLS OUT DEPARTMENT Shortly after five o'clock Tuesday morning, the cottage of Mrs. . L. P. Wilmot on Jefferson street was badly damaged by fire us the result of a de fective flue. The fire department re sponded promptly and by effective work on the part of the volunteer workers, the house was saved and also the contents. Much damage resulted from the water. Holes were made in the roof in order that the firemen could have access to the flames with the fire hose. Insurance was carried with the Pennsylvania company, B. B. Richards locitl agent, for 1)5)0 on the dwelling and f 250 on contents. The house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beckham, during the ab sence of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot, who are spending the winter in California. Mr. Beckham removed the household goods to storage quarters where they will remain safe, until the dwelling can be repaired. Legislative Files Here. In common with other newspapers of the county, the Press will have on file from day to day, complete files of all bills of both the senate and house, and also the calendars of the Oregon legislature. This convenience, which will be appreciated by our readers, who are interested in the work of the legislature, is made possible by the action of Senator Roy Ritner and Rep resentative Dodd, who have placed the Press on the daily mailing list. Needed Moisture Comes. With copious rains and a few inches of snow, the past week ushered in much needed moisture Growing crops have been materially provided for in this respect, but continued precipita tion is needed to insure a safe supply of water in wells and springs for next summer. It is noticable that a gen erous snowfall during the winter pro vides stronger flow from springs dur ' ing the summer months, than does normal rainfall. Umatilla Income Taxes. Income taxes from Umatilla county for 1917 show that the total of approx imately f 1,000,000 was higher than that of any county in the state with the exception of Multnomah. Fifteen farmer pay income tax on a quarter of a million. RESUME OF WORK OF OREGON LEGISLATURE Prompt Organization of Roth Houses Augury of Suc cessful Session. Prohibition Amendment Ratified Sol diers' and Sailors' Commission Formed No Conflict Over Consoli dation Would Suppress Criminal Syndicalism State Police Depart ment Proposed Compulsory Em ployment of Soldiers. Salem. It the prompt manner In which the legislature organized and started to work is an indication of the manner in which the law-making business is going to be conducted it augurs well for a successful session, There was no bickering in either house over organization. Both the president of the senate, W. T. Vinton of Yamhill county, and the speaker of the bouse, Seymour Jones of Marlon county, were elected without opposi tion. The legislative mill began to grind promptly after organization was com pleted, with less useless debate than during the first week of any session for many years. While fewer bills were introduced than usually appear during the first week of a session, seldom does tho Initial week see so many important measures brought for ward. All told, BO bills liave been introduced In the house and 31 in the senate. The first important action of the legislature after organization was the ratification of the national prohibition amendment. Tho prohibition resolu tion passed the house with only three negative votes, cast by Kubli, Lewis and McFarland, all from Multnomah county. In the senate the resolution was passed by an unanimous vote. Bill Passed to Relieve Soldiers. The first bill passed provided for the creation of a soldiers' and sailors' commission for tho relief of returning soldiers, appropriating $100,000 for that purpose. The bill passed both houses with only one dissenting vote, cast by Senator Wood of Washington county. Governor Withycombe promptly signed the bill and announced the ap pointment of W. B. Ayer, chairman; John H. Burgard, A. H. Cranston and John H. Stevenson, all of Portland, as tho personnel of the new commission. A technical error was discovered in the soldiers' relief bill by the auditing department of the secretary of state, which is held to render it unconstitu tional, and will necessitate Bending the bill back to the leglalature for amendment Consolidation Plans Harmonious. For a time there were indication of a clash between the house and senate over the consolidation pro gram, but the differences were smoothed over. A practical plan is being worked out under which the joint committee will put into form all proposals for consolidation, elimina tion or merger of duties of various departments and commissions. Members who have been here for several sessions declare that never before have they seen the legislature as a whole in such a seeming state of harmony on the consolidation question as now, and It is believed the conflict which blocked all efforts at consoli dation two years ago will be avoided. Radicals to Be Curbed. A bill was Introduced in the senate by Senator Dimick and a somewhat similar bill in the house by Mr. Kubll directed at criminal syndicalism and designed to suppress Bolshevtki and I. W. W. activities. The measures de fine criminal syndicalism and sabo tage, and would curb lawlessness seek ing industrial revolution. They would punish by fine and Imprisonment not only actual destruction of property, but also the distribution of literature or the teaching of such propaganda. The bills are expected to meet the desire of Governor Withycombe as expressed in his message that a law providing for the punishment of treas on be enacted. State Police It Created By Bill. Creation of the department of stale police is proposed in a bill introduced by Senator Orton, of Multnomah. The bill provides for an appropria tion of (60,000 for the support of the department for a two-year period. A superintendent of s'ate police, to be appointed by the governor at a salary of (3000 a year, and the selec tion of 12 police officers by the super- WELL-CAMOUFLAGED GERMAN ARTILLERY TRAIN This photograph shows a German artillery train camouflaged for protection against bombs frcfui French, Eng lish and American airplanes. In the foreground are men with an antiaircraft gun. intendent at salaries or JloUO annual! each, are the main provisions of the bill. Provides for Employment of Soldiers First of the reconstruction bills to be Introduced in the senate was that of Senator Huston, making employ ment of war veterans, either soldiers or sailors, compulsory by the state, counties and municipal corporations. The measure applies to veterans of the Civil, Spanish-American and of the rocent war who have achieved honor able discharges. The bill provides that aoldiers who have beer, lii-i'nr.d in action shall be given employment suitable to their physical condition, and, In case any working force of men is cut down, would be the last to be removed from the payrolls. Tax Limitation Repeal Proposed. The repeal of the 6 per cent tax limitation amendment adopted by the people at the general election of 1916, is provided for in a joint resolution introduced in the house just before adjournment by Brownell of Umatilla county. The resolution provides for the ap pointment of a committee of five mem bers of the house to prepare a measure for adoption by . the legislature, and submission by it to the people at the next general election, of a constitu tional provision repealing the present 6 per cent limitation amendment. Want Road Work Started. A joint resolution introduced in the house by Mr; Bean, calling upon the state highway commission to imme diately start work on one or more units of highway work to provide em ployment for at least 1000 men was passed in both houses. This resolu tion provides that preference shall be given to returning soldiers and sailors. Mr. Bean also Introduced a joint resolution calling upon congress to enact legislation which will remedy bad conditions surrounding the re turning men, because of governmental inaction. This resolution calls atten tion to the fact that the Oregon legis lature has 'been compelled to appro priate $,100,000 to grapple w ith a situa tion which should have been carsd for by congressional action. Prevent Teaching Foreign Languages Representative Dodd of Umatilla In troduced a bill in the house, making it unlawful for any board cf school, di rectors to permit the teaching of any subject, other than foreign languages, in any of the public or private schools of the state except in the English lan guage. Any director permitting such a thing to be done, or any teacher vio lating the terms of the act is to be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the first offense, and not less than $250 nor more than $1000 for the second of fense, with the alternate punishment of imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than one year in the county jail. Market Commission Is Proposed. Standardization of the sale of all farm and manufacturing products and furthering the market for Oregon goods is proposed in a bill Introduced by Senator Huston, of Multnomah county, providing for the creation of a state market commission. The bill provides that a market director, ap pointed by the governor, shall have supervisory control over the sale and marketing of all such commodities, to the end that Oregon products might find a wider market throughout the country. Land Settlement Act Introduced. The soldiers land settlement bill recommended to the various states by Secretary of the Interior Lane was Introduced in the senate by Senator Eddy. It provides for the appoint FRITZ DUCKS AND TOMMY LAUGHS "Boom!'' A high explosive shell hursts in the near vicinity. The I wo Gorman prisoners drop their wounded comrade and duck to escape the (lying pieces of shrapnel, tommy thinks it's a good joke on the Huns, while he looks on unconcernedly. ment cf a soldiers' settlement board of three members and carries an ap propriatlov,pf $300,000 to meet the states share o the expense of co operation withhe United States. Briefly, the MB. provides a plan whereby the state wtd furnish the land and the United States is to fur nish the money for the Ife'eloprnent cf homes for soldiers. TheTBOldierit i will be given 40 years in whlclr-to pay for the land and 20 years in which to pay for the improvements. Provision is made that tho governor shall appoint the chairman of the sol diers' settlement board, who shall bo designated as the soldiers' settlement Commissioner and shall receive a sal- j ary of $4000 a year, Legislative Brevities. Governor Withycombe's veto of sen ate bill No. 242, of the 1917 session, proposing an increase in the salaries of certain officials in Hood River county, was sustained by the senate. A bill to license real estate brokers was introduced in the house by Rep resentative Gordon. Amendment to the inheritance tax laws so that they shall apply to es tates which pass by dower and cour tesy, or because of any deed, grant or gift as an advancement or division of the decedent's estate, along with greatly increased rates, are included in the provisions of a bill Introduced in the house by Representative Schuebel. Having procured Oregon's ratifica tion of the national prohibition amend ment by a total vote of 87 to 3 In the combined branches of the legislature, !he prohibition forces of the state now are to train their "dry" guns on the patent medicines and so-called tonics :ontaining a generous portion of al ;ohol. President Baker, of the Oregon ntl-Saloon ,'eague, Is authority for i he statement that bills touching on j hese patent medicines will bo Intro luced. Representative Cross of Clackamas lounty wouid have the school ctrtifi ation law of 1911 so amended that jraduates of universities and colleges j ould teach in grade schoolB of the !ate. HIS SWELLED HEAD REDUCED World ndverll-dn-' and world sales men in net world triU'le "ere never so imi' h needed at uavtt. liul the snlee- mini and the ndvmlsA like 'he poet, urn burn, uut made. Wny Recruit at Camp Upton No Long, er Brags of His Prowess With the "PaddeM Mitts." A certain husky, raw-honed recruit from an Interior town reached Camp Upton recently and brought forth two sets of boxing gloves. lie Confided to his comrades that he was n mighty line boxer, ami "hack home" he had thrash ed everybody who had tried conclus ions with him. This declaration nnt surally was an Invitation, and all promptly professed to know nothing of the manly art and asked If he would give theiu ii little Instruction. Fluttered; the youth stated his will ingness to oblige, mid the following day was set for the lesson. The pupils promptly hunted up Benny Leonnrd, the lightweight champion, who was and is the boxing Instructor at Upton, and arranged for him to meet the re cruit. The latter was Informed that he was to give the first lesson to a very "fresh" youngster, nnd he agreed to put the unknown In his place. When Leonard was brought before him he Wanted to back out, stating that he Couldn't think of boxing with u man so much smaller than himself. Leonard, however, Insisted that the lesson go on, and each put on his gloveH. During the "lesson" Ilenny never struck a blow, but contented himself with feinting, ducking, dodging and blocking until the volunteer tench er was so exhausted with ids own ef forts thut he could scarcely stnnd. He slopped linnlly, congratulated the champion on his show ing, said that he did very well "for uri amateur," nnd then made his way to the barracks to bod. When, Inter, he was Informed of the Identity of his antagonist, he said several things more or less complimen tary to those who had put up the job mi him nc-1 .n the gloves to his home. .. .- Aviators In Italy. From the Italian front where many American aviators are now Bervlng comes this note: "Romi times at night, after dinner. n little music in indulged In as a re laxation. Of course the Italians shine there. Many a pilot or chauffeur In overalls Is humming selections from grand opera. Some of the American boys also are good musicians. One especially was a splendid pianist, and would rattle nwny for an hour at a time selections from Schubert or Men delssohn's "Melody In F," to what seemed almost a sacrilege, that Is, play It lu ragtime for u change." T At a special meeting of the city council yesterday afternoon. Warrant No. 485 for $7,723.10, was issued to Bert Caitano in settlement of the fam ous damage suit brought by him against the city for alleged injuries sustained by Vdcfectivc sidewalk. The sidewalk in question fronted property on Third street J owned by David Taylor, ' and Taylor was co defendant with the city when the suit was filed. Before the case was btought to trial, Taylor was dropped and the city alone became defendant. The jury in the circuit court, Judge Phelps presiding, rendered in favor of Cartano for 17,000!! and costs The verdict was not unanimous, two of the jurymen dissenting. The City, through its attorneys, H. I. Watts, WiJl M. Peterson and J. H. Ralev. appealed the'ease to the Supreme court, which sustained the lower court. Upon the decision handed down by the Supreme court, a judgment was entered against the city for the sum of 7, 723.10, and this judgment was sat- lshed yesterday when the warrant was drawn and handed to Coy Burnett, at terney for the plaintiff. The city was represented at the council meeting by Attorney Peterson. It is said that when the city pays its legal counsel, the case will have amuunted to about 110,000. JAMES F. ZERBA I ' A Jl, PENDLETON YOUNG MAN KILLED IN AUTO WRECK The East Oregonian reports tho death'of Fred Neagle. 10 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Neagle, of Pen dleton, who met instant death Tuesday morning about I o'clock, when the "car he was driving turned turtle, catching him undernesth it. With the young man was a young woman whose in juries are net serious. The accident occurred about a quarter of a mile"east of the Eastern Oregon State Hospital where there is a slight curve in the road, and cause is attributed primarily to the icy pavement. According to the young woman they were coming toward town at a rate of between 20 and 25 miles an hour, when young Neagle reached with one hand to close the wind shield and as he did so the car swerved slightly toward the side of the road and he gave the steer'ng gear a quick turn to bring it back in the road. The auto, slipping, turned completely over, the occupants beneath it. The boy's neck was broken and death was undoubtedly instantaneous. The car was found in this position about ' :II0 by Olney Saling, a Goedecke taxi driver who was returning frcm a trip to Rieth. Coroner J. T. Brown was called and the body taken to the Brown chapel. There was no inquest. After a lingering illness of severs months duration, James F. Zerba died at San Diego, Calif., Tuesday of this week. His daughter. Miss Edna, whu accompanied her father to California, was the pnly member of the family present when he passed away. One son, Everet, who u:in the, Army, sta tioned at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, was on his way to the bedside of his father but did not arrive at San Diego until yesterday. The remains will be ac companied to Athena by the son and daughter. No arrangements have yet been made for the funeral, which will probably take place the forepart of the coming week. Mr. Zerba left Athena for California during the fall. He was in poor health and went south in hopes of receiving benefit from change of climate during the winter months. Relatives had been apprised of continued failing health, but death was totally unexpected at this time. " The deceased had been a resident of Umatilla county for over 40 years, re siding continuously with the excep tion of two years, on the home farm north of Athena, whichwa home steaded by his mother add himself By hia first marriage, he was the father of eleven children, seven sons anduour daughter, eight of whom, with his second wife, survive him. His first wife died about 18 years ago, and Mr. Zerba kept his family of children together and raised them on the farm. In July, 1!)14, he was unit ed in marriage with Miss Laura Bruce, a teacher in the Athena public schools. At the time of his death, Mr. Zerba was aged 00 years. His children are: V. R. and Lowell, of this city; Forrest and Everett, who are in the army j Ray, of Idaho; Mrs. Nellie Banks, of Idaho; Miss Grace, teaching at Knap pa, Oregon, and Miss Edna. DESPERATE LEAP FOR LIFE Parachute the Only Hope of Occu pants of Observation Balloon Destroyed at the Front. A British observation balloon, an chored ut the western front, had Its cables cut by enemy airplanes, and the balloon soared thousands of feet upward Into the clouds. A writer In London Mail, who witnessed Hie Incident, describes what followed. From the point where It vanished, he says, we presently saw one small speck, then another, dropping from the clouds. For some hundreds of feet they fell like dead weights, then para chutes opened, nnd the specks, now revealed as men, were steadied In their enrthwnrd course, floating rap idly, but safely, to the ground. ..iv uie imuriou' got" tree, iney nnti destroyed their papers and Instru ments, clambered over the side of the basket, and leaped for life Into th great void beneath them, trusting that the parachutes strapped round their. waists would open when they shntili Think of that desperate spring Into the vnst, gray vapory nothingness be neath the balloon; the feelings of the men as they made It, uncertain of what would happen ; the awful sensa tion of casting yourself blindly from such an appalling height with tho knowledge Hint only a flimsy piece of ajatertal, which might act rightly and might not, Intervened between your self nnd n crash Into the earth many thousands of feet below; the tense strain of the stone-like drop through two hundred feet of the void before Hie parachute opened, and then the anxious mental query, through the InttfM, at,r,.u tt ll... ,1, "IVl,.,! shall I llebt tinon?" n matter of u-? firomo consequence that chance gov erns absolutely. In this case, tho men made n safe landing. liespiie in, i',..-ui( hi die war. that weird delusion about "(Jcnunii effi ciency" persists In many minds nnd great things are expected of rhe Ger man revolution. Yet if the underside of the German wheel is like what has been the top, the wheel Is squure. UMATILLA COUNTY MAKES RECORD 4TH LIBERTY LOAN Umatilla county contributed $2, 100,1150 to the grand total of f8, 1(1)2,550 of the Fourth Liberty Loan in Oregon. The number of subscribers in the county wss 5,592. The over subscription was 9.95 per cent. These figures have just been received from state headquarters. The official com pilations do not show the quota of non banking centers. In the newspapers outside of Port land HI, 881 column inches of space was used in paid and free publicity in aid of the loan. Following is the statement of the communities of this county: No of Quote subscr'b'd subs Pendleton 1,270,518 1,820,650 2,417 Pilot Rock 54,000 55,350 890 Athena 188,000 188,460 451 Weston 86.000 87,200 178 Freewater 84.000 84,000 5f0 Milton 170.000 181.950 647 Echo " 70.000 77,850 220, Stanfield !'5,000 85,860 109 Hetmiston 41,500 48,100 48K Helix 78,000 77,050 175 Water Pines Frozen Residents of Adams street, hit,! and Residents of Adams street, between Tin I'd and Fourth, have been much dis c.omfited as the result of frozen water mains during the last twe weeks. The pipe line, which is only down to a depth of IB to 18 inches, froze solid during the recent cold snap and house holds dependent upon service from that source, had no service. Robt. Coppock, one of these residents, built flies over the trenches dug for the purpose, in effort to thaw the pipes, which will ed at a lower depth to insure them against freezing in the future. Lieut. McFadden Home. utenant Curran McFadden, who ployed as a pharmacist in the drug store in Athena when war was de clared. nd who h-ild the rank of lieut enant inthe Oregon National Guards and was immediately called to service, returned ftom -France last week. He joined his wife at Weston, where she has been residing with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.' M. Banister, and to gether they went to the Willamette valley to visit at the home of his par ents. Lieut. 'McFadden is the first, soldier from this vicinity tp arrive homu fromjaverseas. Peoples Warehouse .JjJutned, Fire- yesterday damaged-'The re&Jples : narenonse, Pendleton's big depart- ' ment store, to the amount of nvsr 100.000. The fire started in the base- ment from a lighted candle coming in contact with cotton batting, and the flames were held in the basement proper from 9:110 until after 12 o'clock, when the fire was finally put out. The stock not consumed by the flames was badly damaged by smoke and water. The buliding occupied by the Collins grain office was also considerably damaged. I I V