E OF CURRENT WEEK Brief Resume Most Importan Daily News Items. COMPILED FOR YOU Events of Noted People, Government! and Pacific Northwest, and Other Things Worth Knowing. More wheat was exported from the Columbia river during December, 1023, than from all of the other ports In the United States combined. Sergeant C. K. Conrad, Kelly field, at San Antonio, Tex., broke the world's record ultltude parachute Jump Wed nesday. Ho leaped from 21,500 feet. Twenty-seven Mexican convicts, some of them serving terms for mur der, escaped from the Uluo Ilidge pris on farm, 18 miles from Houston, Tex The escape was staged between 10 aud 11 o'clock Wednesday night. Kg Field Marshal Ludendorf, Adolph Hitler, leader of the Iluvarlan fascist!, and seven other defendants were placed on trial for their connection with tho "putsch" of last November. All of Ihe defendants except ono are charged with high treason. Ilelleved to lio of tho Neolithic pe riod, or later stone ago, a boat 11 feet long and three foot wide, hollowed out of tho trunk of an oak treo, has been found in the mud at Elmlry Ferry marshes, nour Slttlngbourne, Kent, Kngland. It is estimated by ex perts to bo 0000 years old. ' Congress laid asldo legislative busi ness Wednesday to pay tribute to the memory of Warren (J. Harding. The house and senate joined In a memor ial service, held In tho house chamber, with Secretary Hughes as the only speaker nnd President Coollilgn, his cabinet, supremo court Justices and foreign diplomats In attendance. Mayor Drown nnd Alfred It. Lundln were nominated as mayoralty candi dates In tho primary eloction held in Seattle, Wash., Tuesday, according to complete returns from all of tho city's 234 precincts. Muyor Drown polled a plurality of 4551 votes over Lundln. Tho unofficial returns tabulated from tho 291 precincts gave: Drown, 27,592; Lundln, 2.1,041; Krlckson, 17,341. A chemlcul discovery said to ho one of tho most Important of tho 20th century has Just been made at the Fixed Nitrogen Research laboratory at Washington, Professor Arthur 11. l.nmli of Harvard announced Tuesday night. Tho discovery Is a net catalyst which will bring about tho permanent union of hydrogen and nitrogen atoms nnd will yield I I per cent of ammonia, Professor Lamb said. Further slushes ill operating ex prunes huvo been determined upon by President Pulmer of tho emergency fleet corporal Ion. On top of the re duction of (IS.000 In tho salaries of tho corporation's four vice- presidents, a similar sum will lie saved through elimination of the position of mining Ing director of Vnited Wales lines, i made vacant Wednesday by (he reslg nation of William J. l.ove. Serious Interference with telegra phlc anil radio communication is pre dieted by Dr. David Todd, professor emeritus of Amherst college, In u statement In which ho announced the discovery of a new outbreak of "sun spots." Tho area affected, according to Dr. Todd, 1 about IWOtl miles In diameter. Ho believes the outbreak to be the beginning of a "sun spot period," with auroral displays and con sequent difficulty III electric and radio transmission. President Donnelly of tho Northern Pacific railway Tuesday denounced the pending attack on the road's laud grants as "an attempt through some form of congressional action to clr tiiiii vt-nt tho decisions of tho courts," President Coolldgo has asked Chair man I.enroot of tho somite public lands eonmilltcn to look Into the sltua Hon under which tho Interior depart luent, unless action is taken, will soon bi called upon to turn over to the railroad S.tiOO OOO acres of public lands, homo of it including forest reserves. The' students' mlllcnluiu the day when thero will bo no exams- Is com ing on apace, In the view of educators. Sneakers before tho annual conven tion of the department of superintend once, National Kduentlon association, in Chicago, Tuesday ruled out Ihe periodic examination "and all its moral liorurds" as unsound, unscienti fic and "generally meaningless." Per the examination mark, it seems, has been proved by years of testing by educational psychologists to have nt solutuly no fixed relation to meutal capacity or intellectual ability. MORE GRAFT CHARGES MADE Senate to Investigate in Forbes Case- Conference Is Held. Washington, D. C. Evidence that "two members of congress" improp erly accepted money, laid before the Chicago grand jury that Indicted Charles R. Forbes, will be inquired Into by the senate veterans' commit tee. A telegram was sent Monday night to the district attorney at Chicago re questing that he advise the committee as to this evidence, and asking wheth er It indicated sufficient connection with the veterans' bureau to come within the committee's Jurisdiction. The action followed a conference between President Coolidge and Sen utor Heed, republican, Pennsylvania, chairman of tho committee, at which the grand Jury's report was discussed. Whether Immediate action also is to bo taken by the executive branch of tho government upon matters discuss ed in the report other than the Indict ments hunded down was not disclosed ufter tho conference. The special report of the grand Jury announced that other sensational de velopments involving alleged graft had been developed before it in the course of tho Inquiry which led to the Indictment of Forbes. These develop ments were not pursued, the grand Jury reported, because they were not within its jurisdiction. The Jury stated that tho develop ments included speculation by one or more oftlcluls of tho government, In volving tho use of official Information, the payment of certain sums of money to two members of congff ss and that money was collected by cortuln per sons, not attorneys, for obtaining per mits for Intoxicating liquor. Tho jury also said it had informa tion indicating that the files of one department were turned over to per sons having no official connection with tho department and that money was accepted by persons who were not attorneys, to obtain clemency for prisoners, these persons basing their efforts upon their intimacy with of ficials. REVENUE IS REDUCED ABOUT $446,000,000 Washington, D. C Tho tax bill as passed by the house will produce 44G, OOO.Oou less revenue than the existing law, In tho opinion of the treasury ac tuaries. It would produce J113.000.000 moro, the treasury figures indicate, than the Garner democratic plan. The treusury surplus under tho pros out rates, uccordlng to present esti mates, will bo only $323,000,000, sc that tho house bill it finally enacted would result iu a deficit of $123,000, ouo. Losses In revenue under tho bill as passed by the houso nro estimated to bo $1:10.000,000 in normal Income taxes, $150,000,000 III surtaxes, $00, 000,0110 In earned income uud $12(1,- 000,000 In miscellaneous taxes. These sumo taxes ns carried In the Garner plan would have resulted, according to ho treasury, in losses from existing mounts of $227,000,000 In normal In omo taxes, $171,000,000 in surtaxes, i.000.000 In earned Incomo nnd $120, 1100.000 in miscellaneous taxes. Provisions of both the Garner plan ml tho bill ns passed by the house would bring $50,000,000 moro into the treasury than under existing- law un b r the capital loss and limited dcdiic Ion section. Parcel Pott Is Probed. Washington, ). C Tho post of fire partmont Is conducting nn Inquiry Into Its parcel post business. Assist- nt Postmaster General Stewart an ounced, to determine whether that service cannot bo so reorganised as bear the cost of Increased salaries for postal employes. Mr. Stewart appeared before a joint senate and house committee which Is considering a salary bill, but said the department would be unaldo to formu late recommendations until a report i n the parcel post Inquiry was in hand, probably In May. Tax Refunds Ara Huge. Washington. D. C-Refunds on tnx payments totaling $123,!i!2.S20 94 were made by the treasury In the fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1023, according to a report by the department. The re funds, made to 203,320 persona, cov ered payments for several years nnd were made on account of "illegal or erroneously collected taxes." Tho re port showed 10,153 persons had re reived moro than $1000 each in re imbursements. Washington, D. C Tho public debt has been cut moro than $t.SOO,00fl.00O In thn four and a half years slnco the great war indebtedness was nt Its peak, August 31, 1919. Figures made public Monday by the treasury show that at tho opening of business Satur day the national debt was $21.7S1,966. S52. It has been reduced $933,000,000 In the last year. HQNDURAN REVOLTS MENACE AMERICANS Marine Guard Around Ceiba Consulate Is Doubled WARSHIPS TO REMAIN Tangled Affairs of Central American Republic Fails to Respond to Adjustment. Washington, D. C With a force of American marines and bluejackets guarding the consulate at Ceiba and an American destroyer speeding from Jumaica to the Honduran port of Puer to Cortes, the Washington govern ment has been forced to take action In connection with the confusing revo lutionary outbreaks in the Honduran republic, which already have cost the life of one American citizen. An American negro, whose name has not been reported, was killed in the recent fight at Ceiba during which tho consulate was repeatedly Btruck by bullets. Rear-Admiral Dayton, commanding the special service squadron in central American waters, and whose flagship, the cruiser Denver, is at Ceiba, has found It necessary to double the ma rine guard of 35 men first sent ashore to protect the consulate. An addition al force of 35 bluejackets has joined the marines of the guard and Admiral Dayton reported that the situation at Culba was so menacing to American interests that he did not consider it wise to withdraw bis ship from that place at present. While the revolutionary movement which followed the failure to elect a new president by constitutional means lias been a double-headed affair from the first, apparently there are separ ato revolts by various leaders also in progress, and banditry has broken out in some places. Recent reports from Ceiba indicate that the fighting there, which caused the landing of American marines and sailors, was between the forces of the de facto government headed by Presi dent Gulterrlei and an unorganized bandit force headed by a leader named Munguia. Whother Munguia is sup porting one of the revolutionary pat ties or operating without any connec tion with tho revolutionary movements has not been disclosed. Tho third presidential candidate, Donilla, nlso is said to have some military support, but Just which force is seeking his preferment is not known. MELLON TO FIGHT TAX BILL CHANGES Washington, D. C. Administration influence will be brought to bear to cause tho modification of the house tax bill by the senate finance com mittee in Important particulars. Not only will a drive be made, to bring about a reduction in surtax rates, but an effort also will be made to obtain tho elimination of a number of amendments added on the floor of the house which are consldored by Secretary of the Treasury Mellon to be objectionable. The house amendment to which Sec retary Mellon Is expected to offer the most serious objections Is that which increases present tuxes on estates. Secretary Mellon in his last annual report declared that the present estate taxes, ranging from 1 to 25 per cent, were so high as to be confiscatory. Tho house boosted the maximum rate to 40 per cent over tho protest of re publicans who acted as spokesmen for tho treasury viewpoint. It is under stood that Secretary Mellon either In a letter to tho senate finance commit tee or in testimony before the com mittee, will urge strongly that the estate tuxes bo reduced at leust to the present level. Secretary Mellon also Is expected to criticize the gift tax amendment adopted by the house. Treasury ex perts have taken the position that the tax on gifts cannot be administered successfully and that It will not ac complish much toward providing ea slon of high surtaxes and high estate tuxes. 18 Known to Be Dead. New Drunswlck, N. J. The number of known dead as tho result. .oJLf-fttg. day's disastrous TXT explosion and celluloid flro at the little town of Nixon Is placed at 18. Only ono addi tional body, 'he torso of a woman, was found Sunday. Rescuers who worked In the smoking ruins through out tho day stated eight persons are missing, six are unaccounted for and 60 are being treated for Injuries suf fered lu the disaster. j STATE NEWS ! IN BRIEF. I ff f f f V WW Governor Neff of Texas has issued a proclamation placing an embargo on Importation of livestock from Cali fornia and prohibiting importation from Oregon, Arizona and Nevada ex cept after proper inspection Klamath Falls. Construction will start soon at Klamath Falls on a new sawmill with a capacity of 70,000 feet per day, to be located In the outskirts of the city near the Juncture of the Strahorn and Southern Pacific rail roads. Astoria. The body of a boy baby about one day old was found near Rugby station Monday by Joseph J. Saul of this city. He notified C. O. Potts and H. N. Boyd of the Crossett Western Timber company, who re ported the case to Coroner Hughes. Salem. Governor Pierce, who a week ago underwent an operation for the removal of his gall bladder at a local hospital, probably will be re covered sufficiently to return to his home late this week. This was an nounced by the attending physicians. Pendleton. Purchase of 75,000 as paragus plants witn which to plant 15 acres of land in the Hermiston dis trict has been closed with a Walla Walla dealer, according to Fred Ben nion, county agent. Otto Heinl of Hermiston conducted the purchase for a committee of west end growers. Pendleton. Fire of unknown origin practically destroyed a house and con tents on Beauregard Btreet occupied by L. C. Graham Sunday morning at 3 o'clock. The fire was not discovered until it had made considerable head way. Mr. and Mrs. Graham and their hildren wore absent on a visit with relatives in Walla Walla. Hlllsboro. The Oregon state dairy men elected the following officers at their annual convention here Friday: C. L. Mulkey, McMinnville, president; C. W. Laughlln of Astoria, first vice- president; H. W. Cooley of Jefferson, second vice-president; P. M. Brandt of Corvnllis, secretary-treasurer; Horace Addis of Portland, assistant secretary. Rend. Earl Denny, 30, stepped off a curt near Terre Bonne late Satur day night, fulling 35 feet and suffering fatal injuries. His skull was frac tured and he lived only 25 minutes after the accident. Denny is thought to be from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Coroner Nlswonger began efforts to find his friends or relatives in that city. Salem. The Wlllametto valley lo gonberry crop for the year 1924 will be approximately 70 per cent of nor mal, according to officials of the Dra ger Fruit company. In some parts or the valley the entire loganberry acre age was destroyed by the frost, while in other sections the crop will be 100 per cent. The average loss will be 30 per cent, officials said. Salem. Approximately 10,000 state Income tax returns, representing pay ments of $40,000, have been received at tho offices of the Income tax col lecting department here, according to announcement made Saturday by Karl Fisher, state tax commissioner. Mr. Fisher estimated that not less than 75.000 returns will bo filed with the department by March 31. Of the 10, 000 returns received up until Friday night 4400 were classified as taxable, while 6600" were non-taxable. rendloton. Plans are being made to test every milk cow In Umatilla county this year to insure that the present low rate of tuberculosis Is not permitted to show an Increase, accord ing to Fred Dennlon, county agent. The tests conducted in 1923 of 440 herds, consisting of 2S37 bead, showed 13 reactors and eight suspects. Dr. O. W. Overhause of the bureau of animal husbandry, stationed at La Grande, will conduct the tests In Vina tills county, which are to begin about March 10. St. Helens. With the departure of the steamer Multnomah FTidny night I lumber shipments from St. Helens for the week amounted to about 3,000.000 feet all shipments being for California ports. The steamer E. H. Meyer, which departed Wednesday afternoon for San Pedro, was laden with 1,016, 000 feet of lumber, and the steamer CeJIlo which left Thursday night car ried a 975,000-foot cargo of lumber and piling for Sun Pedro and San Diego. The sleamer also had a fair passenger list, Klamath Falls. Before a full gal lery of Indians the marital difficulties of Sarah Jim and Brick Jim, full blooded Klamath Indians, were aired In the circuit court here Friday In a contested divorce case. In which Sarah Jim attempted to show she could be freed from marriage ties with Brick Jim. who had chased her on a horse and beat her over the head. Mrs. Jim's testimony was taken through an interpreter, since she speaks only the Klamath language. Judge Leavltt denied the divorce. I lone Market GEO. W. RITCHIE, . Prop. Wholesale and Retail Dealer in FRESH and CURED MEATS Your Patronage Solicited. Under New Management IONE HOTEL IONE, ORE. Refurnished and Strictly Up to date. Com mercial Table First Class. A home away from home, with best meals in Central Oregon. SAM GANGER, Proprietor. Nice Rooms. Good Service Farm Implements Vulcan and Oliver Plows, Superior Drills, , Fairbanks Morse Engines, Myers Pumps, Star and Aermotor Wind Mills, Winona Wagons. PAUL G. BALSIGER IONE, OREGON A Good Time to Subscribe for the Independent Is Now! Advertise in THE INDEPENDENT It Reaches the People