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IF YOU WANT ALL THE NEWS OF MORROW COUNTY WHILE IT IS NEWS, READ THE HEPPNER HERALD. WE PRINT IT FIRST
HEPPNER HERALD
VOLUME X
HEPPNER, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1923
NUMBER 35
SUBSIDY IS OPPOSED
8Y GRAIN EXPORTERS
1 ROPOSAL IS DECLARED TO BK
SAME A9 PRICE-FIXING
(statement Asserts Move Would He
suit in Displacement of
Private Dealers
, (Oregonian)
The brief of the grain trade of
Portland against the so-called Amer
ican Wheat Growers associated plan
lor an export subsidy to relieve the
grain situation was presented yes
terday to the agricultural and legis
lative committee9 of the Portland
Chamber of Commerce.
The committees, which arc con
sidering indorsement of the plan.
will take a full week to make a study
of the obiections. The programme
was originally presented to them by
a pecial committee of the Oregon
Bankers' association.
Briefly, what the plan proposes is j
the creation of a government export
corporation, empowered to tax all
wheat in order to create a fund to
he applied as a bonus upon that por-
tion of the wheat which, as a stir-' of wheat produced through an in
plus, is exported. This, with ade- j crease in price to the domestic con
Quate tariff protection, would raise sumer. This amount to' a subsidy
the price of domestic wheat suf-lfor the benefit of the people pro
ficiently to provide the farmer with'ducing less than 12 per cent of (he
an adequate return for his grain, it
is contended.
Representing .the grain trade,
through the Merchants' Exchange,
the brief was presented over the
signatures of Frank Shull, W. H.
Wilson, I. C. Stanford, A. M. Choy
stale and N. A. Leach.
Arguments Are Given
The arguments against the export
subsidy program are discussed under
two headings. They are:
"First Under this plan is it. pos-
sible to . guaranty the. producer of .However, this plan proposes to legis
waeat a price for his goods, which late the private exporter and grain
will assure a profit? merchant out of business. It is stat-
"Second Can marketing through ed in support of the proposed plan
co-operative associations be more that 'it will greatly assist the growth
beneficial to the farmer than the of co-operative marketing assooia
pvesent competitive system, aud , lions.' II. is also stated 'it will leave
should co-operative marketing be to the co-operative marketing ast.o
PYtended?" I ciations the problem of controlling
Discussing the first question. Ue' orderly distribution of the domestic
ivief declates that "this proposal ii consumption.' .
nothing more nor less than price- "It is a further entry of the fed
fixing. This statement has beeu and ! eral governemnt into private buai
w'.ll be, most strenuously denied by ness. The resent idministratiou is
the advocates of the plan. The sixth! pledged to stand aloof from the con
nection of the proposed plan reads as duct of private business pnterpriaea
follows: 'The tax and the premium
;to be subject to revision by the com
mission from year to year, depend
ing upon the probable amount of the
surplus, always bo fixed that the
price of wheat to the farmer will be
maintained at a point equal in pur
chasing power to the pre-war value
of the commodity.'
Price to Be Regulated
"The purchasing power of the pre
war value of the commodity is pre
sumably a known, fixed quantity.
Tle price is to be regulated from
year to year to equal this known,
fixed quantity. The American
Wheat Growers Associated, Inc.,
state that this is not price-fixing.
They call it 'the reverse application
of the tariff principle.' But the ef
fect is the same. They propose to
maintain the price at a fixed value,
call it by any name that is desired.
"It Is hardly necessary here to re
peat the well-known arguments
against price-fixing. Such must
have been obvious to the advocates
-of the plan, for indirectly they ad
mit such arguments and th,e impos
sibility of securing sufficient support
to pass this measure if recognized
as price-fixing. This they have dons
by their unwillingness to permit the
proposal to be known under that
name." -
The argument continues to point
out that even if the plan could be
made to operate, it would be "ob
jectionable for the following rea
sons: Viuound, It Is Said
"The plan is economically un
bound. It is an artificial means of
stimulating an industry n which
-there is already overproduction.
"The effeot of such a measure
would be cumulative. The burden
to be artificially borne due to over
production would become greater
and greater each year, and unless
this plan was permanently adopted,
all would end In economic disaster.
"The plan proposes class legisla
tion. It contemplates an indirect
OIL DRILL
ARTESIAN FLOW
The well recently sunk at Hermis
ton by a local oil company struck a
strong flow of artesian water and
the city council of that town is con
sidering taking over the well as a
source of supply for domestic and
other city purposes. The well flows
175 gallons per minute or about
eight times the amount now actually
needed for city use and it is said
that under pumping pressure it can
be increased to 600 gallons per tnin
iute. The oil company has offered
the well'to the city for $8,000,. the
actual cost as it now stands, and if
the offer is accepted they propose to
at once start another and larger well
in their exploration for oil.
Morrow county is interested in our
neighbor's development, as either oil
or plenty of artesian water would
wove of gi;eat value to the "sand
country" in the north part of the
county,
tax upon the public at largo of 2o
cents per bushel upon each bushel
total value of the country's princi
pal farm crops (from the final esti
mates of the United States depart
ment of agriculture, December 17,
1923).
Grain Dealers Would Go.
"The plan will result in the prac
tical confiscation of private prop
erty. It has been proven in the past
few years that the co-operative mar
'koting associations cannot nope to
displace the private exporter or gram
dealer in fair and open competition.
except for the correction of abusive
tactics and illegnl practices. There
has been no claim made that such
conditions exist in private and com
petitive handling of grain."
Discussing the second question
relative to co-operative marketing,
the brief says: "Co-operative mar
keting has never been able to dis
place the private and competitive
system of grain handling in open
competition.
Legislation Would Be Vnfair
"To force the extension of co
operative marketing through legisla
tion is not only eminently unfair,
but should (jertalnly not be accom
plished until the co-operative asso
ciations assume the burden of proof
and show beyond a reasonable doubt
that they can operate for as low a
cost per bushel handled as the pri
vate dealer who handles an equal
quantity of grain. The human race
is so constituted that men have al
ways worked and accomplished more
for their own private gain than in
the service of the public.
"Since the days of the corn laws
In England, thjere have been many
periodic attempts, by legislation
and otherwise to eliminate the pri
vate and competitive system of
handling agricultural products. Such
attempts have always been ended in
expense, inefficient handling, and
graft; and eventually the field ba
been opened oncje more to private
and competitive handling. This is at
least some evidence that in the long
course of human affairs the problem
can better be handled for the pro
ducer by private and competitive In
dividuals under a small margin of
profit.
Overhead Is Small
"There is little or no room for the
reduction of expense in the handling
of grain. It is handled at present
by private dealers at so low an over
head cost that even were all this
overhead eliminated it would not ap
preciably help the farmer.
"Co-operative marketing, If ex-
Calif ornian Invents Sun Furnace
Dr. William Thomas of Hollywood, Onl., Is shown nhoe demonstrating
ii sun furnace he has Invented which generates heat, of 9,'210 degrees. The
device, a wooden structure, resembles n gigantic cradle and contains an
arrangement of long mirrors which throw thy sun's rays on n spot six
Indies square. In the photograph Dr. Tlioinus is holding a sheet of lead
through which holes wore burned.
EXAMINATION FOR
army rosmox
A final competative examination
for appointment as Second Lieuten
ants in the regular army will be held
throughout the United States during
the week commencing April 14,
1924. Applications to take the ex
amination should be submitted as
soon as possible. Citizens of the
United States who are single and
between the ages of 21 and 30 years
may compete in this examination.
These examinations are always open
to enlisted men of the regular army
and national guard. For further in.
formation on this subject consult the
authorities at the U. S. army re
cruiting station as follows: Room
20i, New Post Office. Bldg., Port
land. James Luper left for Portland and
Salem Saturday evening to '.-ipend the
holidays with his daughter. Mrs.
King, and her family at Portland,
and his sou, Hhea Luper, at Salem.
tthea Luper now holds Ihe position
of state engineer at the capitol city.
tended, would open the door to still
further class legislation and class
evasion of monopolistic combina
tions prohibited by the Sherman
anti- trust act. The proposed plan
deals exclusively with wheat. Many
farmers grow other crops such as
corn, oats, rye, barley, flax and fruit.
One farmer may raise but one crop
and this of some commodity other
than wheat. Every cereal mentioned
is selling at a low price. It would
not be long before we would be re
quested to fix the price for rye, corn,
barley, oats, fruit and other com
modities. Whpn we have done this
there are many branches of the mill
ing business whose mills, idle since
the war, may want a living price
fixed for that commodity."
Included in the argument are a
numher of references to the part of
the exporters in building up the port
and the regulations which insure
their efficient operation and prevent
them from making exhorbitant profits.
For the Holidays:
Best of everything in
Fish, Flesh and Fowl
Christmas Turkeys a
Specialty
THE CENTRAL MARKET
G. B. SWAGGART, Prop.
I
LEXINGTON HAS SUCCESS! UL
SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT
Teachers and pupils of Lexington
high school presented the popular
comedy-drama, "Hand of the Law
in the school auditorium last Friday
evening and the entertainment was
said to be one of the bjest given in
the county so far this season. A big
crowd was present and $59 was
realized for the school treasury. So
well received was the play that it
will be repeated New Year's Night.
Jewell-Litten
rnjn M. Jewell and Miss Edea E.
Litten, both of Morgan, were mar
ried at the court house Saturday
morning, County Judpje W. T. Camp
bell officiating. Mr. Jewell is en
gaged in farming near Morgan,
where they will reside.
THE INDEPENDENT WONDERS
We wonder who the guy is that
has intentions of being a candidate
for sheriff from lone. He's as elu
sive as old J. Ambros Hepwing who
is so badly sought for by Andy
Gump. However, the guy will have
to go some to beat George McDuf
fee. lone Independent.
In the study of the effects of hot
water sterilization on teat-cup rub
bers of milking machines, the Unit
ed States Department of Agriculture
found that the life of these rubbers
when regularly sterilized by this
merthod varied from 6 to 17 weeks
It was also found that hot water
gave better results in reducing the
number of bacteria than did the U3 J
of either chlorln solution or salt sv-:d
chlorin solutifn. The Bureau of
Standards, to-operating with tiio
United States Department of Agrl
culture, found that it is very Im.
portant that these teat-cup rubbers
be made of so-called' pure gum com
poundpound, and that they should
be thoroughly cleaned before sterili
zation, as a little buUerfat remain
ing on them has a destructive effect
In connection with the heat.
W. L. SUDDARTH HURT
H
T
W. L. Suddarth, who formerly
taught the Pine City school but who
has recently completed a course at
the state normal school at Mon
mouth, was very seriously injured
last Friday when he fell from the
running board of a swiftly moving
automobile on the Columbia high
way near The Dalles. Mr. Sud
darth, who has a ranch at Irrigon,
was on his way home to spend the
holidays with his family, and was In
company with some other normal
students when the accident occurred.
He stepped out on the running
board to try to locate a knock in the
motor, when he fell off, striking his
head on a rock. He was taken to
the hospital at The Dalles, where he
is reported as being in a critical con
dition. BET
TER METHODS OKl'ERED
IX 'DAIRY SHORT COURSE
.Oregon dairymen interested In
manufacture will have an opportun
ity to pick up the most up-to-date
information in the short course at
thte agricultural college January 7
to February 2, 1924. Creamery
operators will take into considera
tion the competition of today which
cuts the profit to a narrow margin,
and discuss the important problem
of efficiency. "Increased efficiency
and quality" is the short course slo
gan. Practical work in buttermaking,
Ice-cream maTcing and cheese mak
ing will be given. The afternoons
will be spent in the creamery on
work to demonstrate points brought
out in the lectures. Lectures will
also be given on factory manage
ment, Judging daii1 products, bac
teriology and on .testing dairy pro
ducts. The department formerly offered
courses for inexperienced men.
John C. Brown, formerly engaged
in farming in tly; Hlackhorse dis
trict, writes the Herald 'from Red
land, California, in which he sends
Christmas greetings to all his old
friends and neighbors. Mr. Drown
says he has bon in poor health for
the pasH year but he likes the mild
California cllmaite, where he 'can go
around at any time in comfort.
OLD SANTA OX WHEELS
"Mama, doesn't Santa Claus ever
come to a railroad train?"
The Innocent query, made by one
of a number of children on tho U. P.
Los Angeles Limited last Christmas,
gave some one a hunch and this year
Santa Claus will make good on
Chlldhood'B fondest expectations.
For tho announcement was made
by William McMurray, general pas
senger agent of the Union Pacific
system at Portland that every thru
train on 1U lines is to have a Christ
mas tree, together with a full com
plement of candy, toys and all of the
fixings necessary for a real Christ
mas Eve celebration.
And that means that the venera
ble saint will have to catch 25 dif
ferent trains speeding at a mile a
rminute across widely separated por
tions of the West, bearing not only
a big tree, but a huge pack that con
tains everything necessary to make if
a treasure chest of real Christinas
fun. On each pack will be the ad
dress: "For tho kiddles who have to
travel on Christmas, With the hol
iday greetings of the Union Pacific
Syst(em."
Both operating and traffic de.
partments of the railroad are co
operating to see that Santa doesn't
miss, a .single train .that carries tfi
observation ear, and a large staff
has been especiallly assigned to as
sist In seeing that the huge amount
of presents and trimmings necessary
are properly distributed and waiting
at the various strategic points along
the U. P. lines where the many
trains can best be caught.
The Portland Limited will be
started from Portland by Santa on
the 24th and other trains will be
met at Ogden, Salt Lake City, Lou
Angeles, Pocateilo, Cheyenne, Den
ver, North Platte, Kansas City and
' Omaha.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IS
MANY ENTERTAINMENTS AXI
PROGRAMS BEING GIVEN"
Churches nnd legion Are Making
the Children Happy . w'itli
Trees and Treats
The Christmas spirit is abroad in
Heppner .just, now audmany excej
lent entertatnjnenJ.s,a.rV.be.ingvlilvea ..
in observance of. the festal, season.
The American Legion gave an out
door Christmas tree and treat for
the children of the community Sun
day evening when.a fine tree, ablaze ,
with colored lights and , appropriate
decorations at the intersection of
Main and Willow streets attracted a
great throng of children) and grown
ups. Santa Claus was on hand in
his big fur overcoat and white whis
kers which in this case were both
real, Mr. Douglas, of pioneer ox
team fame, impersonating the merry
old giver of gilts. Some 300 pack
ages of Christmas cheer wore dis
tributed to all children under 12
years of agje.
The high school orchestra fur
nished music for the occasion and
the weatherman withheld the rain
until the affair wa3 over. . ,
At the Methodist, community
church an elaborate holjday , season
program was given beginning with a
"White Gifts" program,, at the Sun
day school Sunday morning. ,Tho
program was an, excellent one and
the "White GU'ty', will go to the .Near
East relief .fund, ,. Bjrthday boxes,
given by members, of thschool go
to the relief of Methodist fissions .
in Japan. Special service and music
marked the regular cburch service. a,t
11:00 o'clock and alsp,at ,,the even-,,
ing service. . The Chri,sjmas. celebra
tion of this Sunday school was held
Mondav evening at the church when
a fine program was given, ending
with a, vlwit from Santa Claus and a.
treat for the children.
At Bethel chapel the occasion .ivas .
observed with a, ,trjo, program, ant,
treat. The rliapel also received as a
Christmas gift from the ladies aid,
a fine piano bought, and .paid for
from the receipts of .the ,re,cent. ba
zaar held by the aid, members. ,
Sunday morning the chapel con
gregation were, ytvored with , a ser
mon by Rev: Edwards; of Walla Wal-
a, and In tlfe cvenl'ng" 'they Were
treated to a 'raffia seniion delivered
by Rev. Matthews,'- vstor ''off thd
First Presbyterian church 0fj3cattlQ.
At the Christian church an indoor
picnic was held In thp chujeh par
lors Monday, afternoon under tha
auspices.of tli)eB!b:lut3cho.oJ at which
the children were entertained wlth
program, a treat and a general good,
time. In the evening "The Nativ
ity," a , very . beautiful .Christmas
service was given in the church au
ditorium. ., ., v, , ... , , ,
A turkey shoot was held at, pen-
try Field Sunday afternoon at, which
many fine, Christmas dinners, were
won by the marksmen and Monday
evening a big dancewa held in the
pavilion, given by the .Ji,odeo comj-
mittee for the benefit , of . the boys
who were Injured wljllo.entertalnlng
the visitors at the Rodeo meet last
fall.
Mac Smith is up from the Krebg
ranch at .Cecil, visiting his family
and celebrating Christmas whllp
nursing an injured hand. The mem
ber 4 wascaught between, .a wagon.
wheel and a post and was badly lac
erated. . .. , . '., .
The creamery at. Grove ,CHy, Pa.,
a privately -owiujd jdant, (a, used by
the United States Departtnept of Agp
riculture for experimental.,. purposes
under ap(jcW.,arratpge;ncnts, with, the
pwners. The, management is under
the direction, of the Dairy Divlslop.
of, the jlyartmenLj. TW?. r,rftnK.
uient has now. ,coatjnueLpr . eight
years nd .the, guparjtmeit-fas done
niuch work of value to the dairy
Industry, . whll ,at th,,sa,me timp
great process thas been made by the,
community as a result of the im
provement in cattle and in methods
of manufacturing and marketing
dairy products. Butir Is still the
principal product, but a good trade
has beeu,buUt up.in, swent cr.eani
and Ice-cream, mix. , Uutttr.and oth
er products have, been of. high qual
ity and, have sold for ,more that
usual market prices.