PAGE TWO
HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 1932.
BOARDMAN
By RACHEL JOHNSON.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Barlow, Mr.
and Mrs. O. H. Warner, and J. F.
Barlow were Pendleton visitors on
Saturday. Mr. Warner, who is ill,
went to consult his physician.
Howard Packard spent the week
end in Portland.
The Home Economics club met
last Wednesday at the home of
Mrs. Shannon. About twenty la
dies were present and enjoyed the
afternoon.
Lena and Dave Rose of Irrigon
were Boardman visitors Friday eve
ning and attended the basketball
games.
Mr. and Mrs. A. A, Allen and
family of La Grande spent Sunday
at the Jess Allen home. Clayton,
who has been visiting here with
his grandparents for the past two
weeks, returned home with his par
ents.
A number of Boardman folks at
tended the dance in Irrigon Satur
day evening.
The World Day of Prayer will be
observed February 12th at 2 p. m.,
in the community church, by the
ladies aid. All ladies are invited
to attend. This will take the place
of the missionary meeting which
was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb
ruary 17.
Mrs. Bessie Smith of Heppner,
formerly a resident in Boardman,
visited here last week.
Mr. and Mrs. L." G. Smith of
Portland came Friday for a visit
at the J. R. Johnson home. On
Monday they motored to Umatilla
to spend a few days with Rev. and
Mrs. W. O. Miller. Mr. Smith is
selling baby chicks for the Santa
Clara hatchery in San Jose, Calif.,
and is taking orders for them while
in this locality.
The Boardman Athletic club
team defeated the Heppner town
team in a basketball game played
Friday evening in the Boardman
gymnasium by a score of 18-27. Lo
cal players in the game were Bar
low, Steelhammer, Klitz, Rands,
Packard, Wilson and Berger. Hepp
ner players were Gentry, Fergu
son, Howell, Crawford, Stewart,
Green, Shuirman and Robertson.
The high school game with Lex
ington preceded the town taem
game, in which the Boardman team
was badly defeated. After the
games chili beans and crackers
were served to the teams and
guests by the high school and ath
letic club.
Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Marschat
were hosts at a lovely dinner Tues
day evening, having as guests Miss
Miriam Campbell, Miss Katherine
Brown, Mrs. Henry Shrader and
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Kennedy.
The high school students under
the direction of Miss Campbell gave
an amusing and interesting pro
gram in the auditorium Wednes
day afternoon for the rest of the
school. The program represented
the scenes of an old time school
room. Willard Baker was the
schoolmaster and the high school
students were the children who
were rehearsing a program they
were to give.
All signs of -spring vanished Sat
urday when a steady snow started
and did not let up until late Sun
day. There was about 5 or 6 inces
of snow on the level Sunday and
the strong east wind caused deep
and almost impassable drifts.
There was no school Monday or
Tuesday as the school busses could
not drive over their routes. The
snow plow is at work on the county
roads and the highway crew has
been kept busy clearing the high
way. Some Boardman folks attended
the show "Sooky" in Hermiston
Friday and Saturday evening.
Keep the Railroads Moving
By CALEB JOHNSON
Everybody in America is con
cerned in one way or another with
the situation of the railroads. Dan
iel Willard, president of the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad, as chair
man of the presidents' committee
of nine on railroad reorganization,
has proposed to the railway unions
that they accept a reduction of ten
percent in wages.
The proposal for a wage reduc
tion, which would cut the railroads'
operating expenses by about $210,
000,000 a year, is the last effort of
the railroads to keep out of bank
ruptcy and to reduce their costs to
a point commensurate with the fall
ing off in business and income.
Railroad earnings in 1931 were a
third less than ' they were in 1929,
and in the case of 72 of the rail
roads the revenue, after paying op
erating costs, was not sufficient to
pay the interest on their bonds.
These fixed charges, consisting of
interest on money borrowed from
the public with which to build,
equip and extend railroad lines,
must be paid, or the roads have no
chance but to go into the hands of
receivers. And the first point at
which the financial position of the
railroads touches everybody is this
matter of interest on railroad
bonds.
Comparatively few individuals
own railroad bonds or are depend
ent upon them for direct income;
but more than three thousand mil
lion dollars of railroad bonds are
owned by the insurance companies,
who are in turn responsible to more
than fifty million policy holders,
whose money they have invested.
Insurance companies are allowed
by law to invest the money they re
ceive as premiums only in certain
types of sound securities. Railroad
bonds, in normal times, are re
garded as next to the U. S. Gov
ernment bonds and first mortgages
on real estate in the matter of se
curity. But if a situation should
develop, as it has been rapidly de
veloping in the past year, in which
the railroads could not continue to
pay the interest on these bonds,
and the market value of the bonds
should decline to a point where
htey could not be realized upon ex
cept at a terrific loss to the insur
ance companies, there undoubtedly
would arise a situation in which
the companies could not promptly
pay claims under insurance poli
cies. It is easy to see, therefore, that
unless the railroads are enabled by
one means or another, or a com
bination of methods, to continue to
pay interest on their bonded debts,
very widespread financial distress
and disaster, affecting probably
more than half of all the people in
the United States, would follow.
The mutual savings banks are in
much the same position that the ln
surance companies are. They own
among them one billion seven hun
dred million dollars of railroad
bonds, in which thew have invested
a considerable part of the savings
of twelve and one-half million de
positors. Because so many of the
railroads whose bonds are held by
savings banks in New York State
failed to earn their interest in
the New York Legislature recently
passed a special act for the relief
of savings banks, permitting them
to hold bonds on which the interest
was not earned last year. Other
wise, they would have been com
pelled to sell these bonds at their
present low market price, at a
heavy loss to their depositors.
And what I have just set down
is only one of the angles of the im
portance to the whole people of
putting the railroads in a position
where they can continue to func
tion and to earn at least the inter
est on their debts. It Is of second
arv importance for them to earn
dividends on their shares. It is of
the highest importance, however,
that the railroads should be able to
maintain their rights of way, roll
ing stock and motive power in first
rate condition. For, regardless of
whether one approves of some of
the methods and policies that have
prevailed in railroad management,
it is the railroads, and the railroads
almost alone, that tie the United
States together into a nation, that
make the free and rapid exchange
of commodities possible over the
largst area in the world within
which trade is absolutely free, with
out taxes or duties between the
states. The history of the develop
ment of American industry and
business is the history of the devel
opment of rail communication.
Once let the railroads get into a po
sition where they cannot promptly
and completely supply the demand
for transportation, as that demand
increases, then all business is slow
ed down. The motor truck, com
peting over good roads with the
railroad on short hauls and provid
ing door to door delivery has un
questinably cut into railroad earn
ings in many classes of freight,
and those the classes on which the
rate is highest. But the motor
truck has not replaced, and can
never replace, the railroad on long
distance haulage for the transpor
tation of such basic raw materials
as coal, steel, lumber, grain and
the hundreds of other kinds of low
grade bulk freight
The difficulties of the railroads
are, to be sure, in large part, of
their own making. But the high
handed and overbearing policies
which led many years ago to the
regulation of the railraods through
the creation of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, are dead and
gone history. Every fair-minded
person familiar with railroading
agrees that there is a much bettetr
spirit In railroad managing today
than existed at the time when their
control by the government was a
major Item of political agitation.
There is still an active sentiment,
to be sure, in favor of government
ownership, if not government ope
ration, of railroads. We had an
experience .with government con
trol and operation of railroads dur
ing the war, and for a short time
thereafter which Is not looked back
upon with any great satisfaction by
anybody.
And a good deal of the railroads'
present financial difficulties can un
doubtedly be laid at the door of
government regulation. In good
times, when the railroads are earn
ing large profits, they are not per
mitted under the Interstate Com
merce law to retain those profits
and build up a reserve fund to use
in paying for repairs, maintenance
and interest in hard times. Rail
road rates are regulated by law
the amount that may be charged
for the transportation of freight
and passengers. If the earnings run
above five and three-quarters per
cent a year on the stock, they are
required either to reduce rates or
to get rid of the surplus earnings
by redeeming their bonds, or other
wise taking the money out of the
railroad treasury. The government
has the right under the Interstate
Commerce law to step in and take
from the railroads all their earn
ings above that limited rate of divi
dends. All other industries are per
mitted to bulid up reserves which
they can draw on freely when nec
essary. No railroad can borrow a
dollar without first getting the con
sent of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. These governmental
regulations frequently put railroad
owners in a position where they
have to choose between low rates
and good service. , Since they can
not raise the rates they have to
reduce the quality of the service or
go into bankruptcy.
The proposal to reduce railroad
wages 1b only one of many meas
ures which the railroads are trying
to put into force in the effort to
continue to give service and keep
out of bankruptcy. Some of the
roads, ef course, are a great deal
worse off than others, but all of
them are in serious difficulties and,
as I pointed out, their troubles re
act directly upon almost everybody
in the country. Railroad receiver
ships would mean, beyond doubt,
the dismissal of many more men
from railroad service and would add
to the burden of unemployment
Economic conditions generally are
such today that practically every
body has to choose between getting
less money for his work of getting
no money at all losing his job.
The brightest ray of hope in the
whole situation of the railroads is
the authority given to the Recon
struction Finance Corporation to
come to the assistance of railroads
which are in difficulties by taking
over their maturing obligations
which they would otherwise be un
able to meet and so giving them a
chance to keep everything rolling
on schedule.
John Bergstrom, Mr. and Mrs.
Chas. Beckett and Mr. and Mrs. B.
O. Anderson. The Misses veima
Huston, Margaret Beckett Doris,
June and Mary Allstott ana Terreii
Benge, Otis and Don Allstott, be
sides Mr. and Mrs. Parker and Onez
and Marjorie.
Thnsa who attended the dance at
Rhea creek last Saturday report a
good time. Because of the snowy
weather only a few besides grange
members were present, but never
theless a good time was had by all.
Because of the cold and snowy
weather the schools of this com
munity have been closed until the
weather is better. Those closed are
the Rhea creek, Liberty, Hall
Ridge and Eight Mile schools.
Fred Kruger of Sherwood is the
week-end guest of A. E. Wright
Don't forget that the lecturer's
hour at the Rhea Creek Grange
hall next Sunday will be opened to
the public. Mr. Shumway is to be
the principal speaker.
The grange will hold Its next bus
iness meeting at the grange hall on
February 7th.
NOTICE OF SALE OF ANIMAL.
Notice is hereby given that by
virtue of the laws of the State of
Oregon I have taken up and now
hold at my place In Blackhorse can
yon, in Morrow county, State of
Oregon, an animal hereinafter de
scribed, and that I will, on Satur
day, January 30, 1932, at 10 o'clock
a. m., sel the said animal to the
highest bidder for cash in hand sub
ject to redemption by the owner
thereof. Said animal is described
as follows:
1 mare mule, dark brown, no vis
ible brand, about two years old.
ORAL SCOTT,
44-46 Heppner, Oregon.
TUM-A-LUM TICKLER
Published In the Interests of the people of Heppner and vicinity by
THE TUM-A-LUM LUMBER CO., Phone 912
Volume 1932
Heppner, Oregon February 4, 193s.
No.
RHEA CREEK GRANGE ITEMS.
By MARGARET BECKETT.
A pleasant surprise party was
given Frank Parker at his home
on Heppner Flats last Friday in
honor of his birthday. Cards and
dancing were the entertainment fea
tures of the evening. High honors
in "500" were won by Mary Allstott
and Tindall Roblson, who managed
to keep their card Interests at ta
ble one all evening.
Those present wer Mr. and Mrs.
Clive Huston, Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Beckett Mr. and Mrs. Tindall Rob
lson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Benge,
Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Parker, Mr. and
Chas. Wilcox and daughter, Mr.
and Mrs. Ed Rugg, Mr. and Mrs.
WILL ADOPT
NEW SLOGAN
"A slogan true, for
'32." My new slogan
for Heppner and vi
cinity is, "Spend for
the home in 1932."
Why not? Labor is
cheap and building
material prices worse
they'll only go one
way that's up UP.
Correct to a Hair.
EARL ES KELSON
Editor
Hot
WE RECOMMEND
CeloteX
IWSVUTINe CAM!
Prof. Lumley: "Give
me an example of
wasted energy."
Roberta Thompson:
"Telling a hair-raising
story to my dad."
Every day we sur
prise some customer
on how cheap build
ing material is now.
IRRIGON
MRS. W. C. ISOM.
As Mrs. Jess Oliver and little
daughter Ethel were on their way
home from Hermiston Tuesday
Mrs. Oliver in some way lost con
trol of her car as she was making
the turn into Umatilla, The car
left the highway, ran Into a rail
road sign and turned over twice.
tearing off two wheels, a fender,
and broke the windshield and three
windows. Mrs. Oliver was badly
bruised but received no serious in
juries. The little girl was unhurt
Mr. and Mrs. Rho Bleakman and
daughter Betty Jean of Long Creek
and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Musgrave
of Monument were over Sunday
visitors of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Isom.
The Irrigon high school boys
played a game of basketball with
the Echo school team on the home
floor Friday night The score was
13 to 16 in favor of the Irrigon
team.
A large crowd attended the dance
given by the grange Saturday night
and a good time was reported.
Wiley Beneflel entertained a par
ty of young folks at his home Fri
day night after the game. The
time was spent in dancing. A
bountiful lunch was served.
Mr. and Mrs. Vern Jones were
Hermiston visitors Friday.
The thermometer registered 4 be
low zero Monday night.
I I
Labor Leader Honored
Ira M Ornburn of New Haven.
Conn., head of the International
Cigarmakeri Union of America,
hat been nominated by the Prei
dent as a member of the Federal
Tariff Commiibion.
here's how
to pay that
bill . . by
CHECK!
Why put up with the many inconve
niences cash involves when it's so
much easier to write a CHECK? It's
the modem way of meeting one's ob
ligations. Best of all it's the SAFEST way
of paying out money. No room for
argument . . no doubt . . no risk. A
Cancelled Check is undeniable proof
that a bill has been paid. Open an
Account at the earliest moment with
Fir& National Bank
HEPPNER, OREGON
Kiniwlnloinnl?
"Certainly," you say. "He is Benjamin Franklin."
Why do you know him?
Because he was instrumental in starting our United States?
Because he was a great statesman, a great writer, a great philos
opher, a great printer, or a great inventor ?
No. You may know these things about him But, you know
him, principally because you have READ about him, and have
seen his picture PRINTED many, many times, and because you
have read many things he wrote. Many of his Poor Richard say
ings have become so well known and commonly accepted as truths
that they have become household by-words.
The name and visage of Benjamin Franklin have been perpet
uated through the years mainly by PRINTING the art of which
he was a recognized master in his day.
"Printing is the art preservative of arts." It is a tremendous
instrument of progress when properly applied whether in news
paper message or private stationery, or commercial form.
We will assist you in giving it proper application.
Heppner Gazette Times