Page Four
Heppner
Gazette Times
THE HEPPNER GAZETTE,
Established March 30, 1883;
THE HEPPNER TIMES,
Established November 18, 1897;
CONSOLIDATED FEBRUARY 15.' 1912
. , . . j
Published every Thursday morning by
CRAWTOBD PUBLISHING COMPANY
and entered at the Post Office at Hepp
ner, Oregon, as second-class matter.
JASPER V. CRAWFORD, Editor
SPENCER CRAWFORD, Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Tear . $2.00
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Three Months 75
Single Copies 05
Official Paper for Morrow Cotmty
Member.
OregorTNewspaper PublisKprs
NbA'ssociatiorT
:!ali)
How to Sell
Bonneville Power?
IT IS a ticklish job for any news
paper to write anything about
power, especially since the evan
gelistic campaign in this state of
Washington's now Senator Homer T.
Bone in which Mr. Bone painted all
newspapers with one fell swoop as
being subsidized by the "power
trust." But there is so much in the
public prints, and otherwise being
disseminated, of late that one feels a'
lapse of editorial responsibility if he
does not expound upon the subject,
even though the demagogues do im
mediately set up the cry of "Wolf!
Wolf!'
When the Bonneville project was
undertaken by the New Deal with
out apparent immediate need for the
power to be generated, there could
not help but be some question as to
its economic soundness. The weight
of public support in its favor was
based on visionary pictures of im
mense industrial development near
the damsite. There were occasional
flickerings of hope offered up for
farm electrification because "juice"
would be so cheap, but these were
not generally acclaimed. Public sup
port was builded mainly on the in
dustrialization theme, and we admit
being lulled somewhat into som
nolent beatification by the magi
cian's wand.
Now Bonneville is completed,
though without provision for gen
erating all the power it is said to be
capable of producing. And J. D. Ross
has been named as administrator to
make the power available to the
public. In recent weeks Mr. Ross has
been holding hearings at various
places to determine, presumably, the
extent to which the government is
justified in building lines to points
of probable outlet, and further to
determine how the government shall
charge for the power.
Before the bill setting up the man
ner of administration was passed by
congress, reverberations (some quite
uncouth) sounded from the verbal
battles in Washington. Contenders
for the civil administrator, in which
capacity Mr. Ross was later appoint
ed, won out. and their efforts clothed
Mr. Ross with quite broad powers.
This is a parenthetic observation to
help clarify just what the adminis
trator is now attempting to do.
Parenthetic also, is the position
of President Roosevelt, who has stat
ed the desire that Bonneville be
administered in a manner to return
the largest benefit to the most peo
ple. And it should also be said that
Mr. Ross is instructed to sell only at
wholesale, making the power ac
cessible wherever sufficent demand
is shown. He may not sell juice to and
service the transportation of juice
to the ultimate consumer.
This meandering brings us again
to the present situation, with Mr.
Ross now circulating questionnaires
to determine the manner of fixing
rates, including the inquiry of
whether the administrator should
set the retail price. At the same time
Mr. Ross is baiting our people to es
tablish power districts through
which hope is held for making Bon
neville power light homes and turn
machinery on farms over wide areas
not now served with electricity.
Mr. Ross' campaign, with Morton
Thompkins as paid missionary, has
Heppner
reached largely into the granges,
and there has been stirred within
many breasts of our own farm peo
ple the hope that Bonneville power
may actually be brought to them at
cost low enough to permit general
installation of electric lights, electrically-driven
labor saving devices
and" other blessings of. electrical
power. Before Mr. Thompkins ap
peared on the scene, and even as the
legislation in Washington was being
ground; out, Representative' Pierce
implanted the doubt in the public
mind that Bonneville was threatened
with being devoured by a huge ogre
in the form of a large industrial
concern which would utilize all the
power while employing but ; a few
people, and would leave the public
holding the sack. , , ,
All of which brings us again to the
beginning of these remarks.. Bonne
ville was conceived without footing
in necessity. As much power as
could be economically disposed of
was already being generated. Tho
Uncle Sam gave, juice free at the
switchboard, the saving over the mill
per kilowatt hour generating cost of
private companies would , be insig
nificant in the final cost to the con
sumer. Before any legislation setting up
the administrator was passed at
Washington, and hence before any
chance of giving a contract was to
be had, there were several front
page reports in the Portland papers
of offers of privately-owned indus
trial concerns to take large quanti
ties of juice. But since Mr. Ross has
gone'on the job no such offers have
come to light. , -
It may be that since the "reces
sion" the big industrialists have had
a change of heart. But to us it looks
like a cooked up story. The vision
aries sold Bonneville on the promise
of large industrial development near
the damsite. Nothing would help
Morrow county more than that, be
cause it would be the means of
bringing a market for our products
closer to home.
If, as Mr. Ross said on one occa
sion, there is not power enough from
Bonneville for everyone, there re
main many other power sites for
development. What Mr. Ross should
interest himself in and apparently
is is finding an outlet for Bonne
ville power.
A rate should be established that
will repay the investment on a 40
or 50-year amortization basis. There
should be no occasion for favoritism
in disposal of the juice as between
private companies and public power
districts. Let Uncle Sam build trans
mission lines with a uniform rate at
all points of take-off and with a
lower rate for larger quantities to
induce use. But let there be no
propagandizing for establishment
of power districts where the cost of
serving the people would be the
"straw to break the camel's back."
Congratulations
COMING to the editor's desk this
week was a newspaper of more
than usual interest. It was the 60th
anniversary edition of the Waitsburg
Times, published by" Mr. and Mrs. E.
L. Wheeler. Covering much history
of the Waitsburg section, it brings
endeared memories, for it actually
lays some of the background for this
newspaper. It was in th$ Waitsburg
Times office that Vawter Crawford,
late editor of the Gazette Times,
was schooled in journalism under
C. W. Wheeler, pioneer founder of
the Waitsburg paper and father of
its present editor. And it was inter
esting to note that the late Gazette
Times editor's father, J. V. Craw
ford, our namesake, was second mas
ter of the Waitsburg Masonic lodge
and first secretary of the Waitsburg
Christian church. Mr. and Mrs.
Wheeler have produced a highly
commendable edition in every re
spect, reflecting the progress of
journalism in the sixty years as well
as the development from pioneer
conditions into one of the west's
more progressive sections. We ex
tend our congratulations and wishes
to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler for many
more years of success for their ef
forts. Frank Saling was a visitor in town
Monday from the farm north of
Lexington. Mr. Saling finds it nec
essary to come to town frequently
in connection with his position on
the county agricultural conservation
committee.
Gazette Times, Heppner,
CAPT. BEARD PRESENTS CADET BAND;
33-YR. LEADER FATHERED SCHOOL BANDS
Heppner is in position to appre
ciate thoroughly the progress made
by high school bands in the state in
the last decade. And . as our bard
plays in the state contest at Eugene
on April 9, the hearts of our people
should feel deeply a debt of gratitude
to one man who, more Jhan any
other, was responsible for bringing
the state contest and through it the
development of many high school
bands in the state. That man is Capt.
Harry L. Beard, director of the Ore
gon State college cadet band.
None other than Dr. D. V. Poling,
long-time educational leader in Ore
gon and now public contact man for
the state board of higher education,
is responsible for the tribute to Cap
tain Beard. He gave the tribute at
half-time in the band's appearance
at Arlington Saturday night, when
his path and that of the band on its
annual spring tour inadvertently
crossed,
"Captain Beard conceived the idea
of the state high school band con
test and was most instrumental in
its inception," Dr. Poling said. "The
first contest was held some ten years
ago, and since that time most of the
many high school bands. now exist
ing in Oregon have been developed."
In his turn the 33 -year leader of
the O. S. C. cadet bands modestly
denied credit for the undertaking,
saying that the taxpayers and the
band boys and, girls themselves
through their unselfish participation
in and enthusiasm for the work h,ave
made the development possible. He
challenged the taxpayers with . the
statement that every dollar expend
ed on band work brings full value,
declaring that the time of the high
school student spent in the band is
equal to a full credit in any other
work, as it gives a type of training
that cannot be obtained in any oth
er way.
The large amount of trained ma
terial that comes to him as a result
of the high school band work has
made his own job easier, he said.
Whereas, in former years it was
necessary to train "raw" material
to fill the band ranks, since the
widespread development of high
school and grammar school bands,
a waiting list of studente grounded
in music fundamentals is ever pres
ent. Captain Beard emphasized the fact
that the O. S. C. band is strictly a
part of the military organization on
the college campus, and that none
of the state's tax money for higher
education goes toward its support.
The annual tours are entirely self
supporting, though considerable
"misisonary" work for the college is
accomplished, he said.
Oregon State college closely
touches the lives of everyone in the
state as a part of the states' higher
educational system, and there can
not help but be a deep human inter
est on the part of everyone in just
what makes the college "tick." A
rubbing of elbows with Captain
Beard supplies some information so
far as the band is concerned.
One senses in Captain Beard's
small but energetic, snow-tipped
form, a youthful enthusiasm for his
work, and a consummate devotion
to the high principles of classical
music and to the inspiration of
youth to full appreciation of these,
thereby leading his students to a
deeper love for the better things of
life.
The history of his work at the
college, the sight of his directing the
band at Arlington as he seemed to
draw from the instruments at will
just the shade of expression desired,
and a few remarks in a personal
conversation after the concert, serve
as a basis for the estimate of Cap
tain Beard.
It was seen that the captain does
n't have the idea that band is the
most important thing on earth, when
he referred with pride to his son
being a member of the present or
ganization. "Of course," said the
captain, "my boy isn't taking up
band as a life work. He expects to
be an electrical engineer. Music is
just a hobby with him." And it was
plain to be seen that Captain Beard
believed it to be a mighty worth
while hobby.
"I guess the boys think I'm pretty
hard at times," he said again, "but
discipline is essential to a band's
success."
Oregon
.
. Some of the local people attend
ing the concert took pardonable pride
in the appearance of Norton King,
local boy, playing second trombone
in his freshman year at the college.
Serving as an example . of the
"dream" of Captain Beafd for the
development of high school bands
was the appearance of the combined
Arlington high and grade school
bands before the college band con
cert. In the playing of youths of all
ages, almost from the first grade up,
there was exemplified the same at
titude of discipline and conscien
tious effort that pervaded the ap
pearance of the college bandsters.
And the showing of the college band
exemplified the future hopes of the
younger students, revealing as it did
the more perfect, development in in
strument technique, tone control,
and other essentials of music repro
duction that added training brings.
Even in this day of much radio
and talking picture competition, the
whole evening's concert was a treat
which anyone would enjoy. ' And
rarely through any medium is one
given such a thrill as that produced
by the trumpet solo of 9-year-old
Oscar Severenson of Arlington, in
which he double- and triple-ton
gued and otherwise performed like
an old trouper.
STATE
CAPITAL
NEWS
o Warmer Politics
The Good Host
o 2 Million for Roads
By A. L. LINDBECK
Salem Slowly but surely the po
litical picture as it will present it
self to the voters of Oregon in the
forthcoming primary campaign is
taking shape. Speculations are ma
terializing into realities. Issues are
being formed. With less than two
weeks remaining in which to file
there was a noticeable spurt in for
mal declarations on the part of as
piring candidates during the past
week.
Speculation as to the political in
tentions of State Treasurer Rufus C.
Holman were definitely set at rest
with the announcement by Holman
that he would seek the Republican
nomination for United States sena
tor. Holman's announcement is ex
pected to put a crimp in the plans
of a number of other ambitious re
publicans who had been looking with
longing eyes at the senate seat and
waiting only for the call to service
from the multitude before taking the
plunge. No" man in Oregon is better
known throughout the state than
Holman who is now serving his sec
ond term as state treasurer and
member of the Board of Control and
no republican is better able to weld
together the various factions in that
party's badly shattered organization
in order to make a successful fight
in the fall campaign.
Willis Mahoney of Klamath Falls
also took the public into his con
fidence this week with announce
ment that he, too, would seek the
senatorship. Mahoney, however, is
out after the Democratic nomination.
The announcement sets at rest spec
ulation to the effect that he might
again aspire to the governirship al
though those "in the know" have
been convinced for several weeks
that Mahoney would rather go to
Washington than sit in the seat of
might at Salem.
Hall S. Lusk who was appointed
by Governor Martin to fill the va
cancy on the supreme court bench
caused by the death of Justice J. U.
Campbell this week filed his formal
declaration as a candidate to suc
ceed himself. Justice Lusk before his
appointment to the supreme court,
was for a number of years a circuit
judge in Multnomah county. On the
heels of Lusk's filing came the an
nouncement from a close friend of
Attorney General I. H. Van Winkle
that he would oppose Lusk for elec
tion to the high court. Van Winkle
who is now completing his eighteen
th year as attorney general refuses
to comment on his political inten
tions, but it is expected that he will
issue a statement within a few
days.
Thursday, March 24, 1938
Secretary of State Earl Snell may
or may not be a good pqker player,
but at least he now knows what a
full house looks like. Snell hails
from the little city of Arlington on
the upper reaches of the Columbia
river. Last week the Arlington bas
ketball team was nosed out of a
chance to represent its district in the
state tournament at Salem by a very
narrow margin. Snell felt so badly
over the disappointment experienced
by the Arlington boys that he took
his telephone in hand, called up the
old home town and invited the bas
keteers, or as many of them as cared
about it, to come to Salem for the
duration of the tournament as his
guests. The next day the squad ar
rived, all nine of them, accompanied
by their coach, Vincent Barrett.
Snell admits the team made quite a
houseful but insists that a good time
was had by all, including the cook.
The storm of last week did ap-
nvnv
ways in the coast counties according
to R. H. Baldock, state highway en
gineer. Slides and washouts dam
aged . the Roseburg-Coquille high
way, the Umpqua highway and the
Oregon Coast highway between Co
quille and Florence, Baldock said.
...''
Governor Martin does not intend
to enter into any debate with Henry
Oleen or any other candidate, he has
let it be known. Oleen, also a can
didate for the Democratic nomina
tion for governor, has challenged the
governor to appear on the public
i.i. . i . T r 1 1 .
piattorm witn mm to aeiena nis rec
ord as the state's chief executive;
.
More than $2,000,000 in federal
road funds may be lost to Oregon
next year because of inability of the
state to provide match money, ac
cording to R. H. Baldock, state high
way engineer.
Of the $238,000,000 in federal road
funds set aside for 1939 $4,842,984
will be available to Oregon. Of this
latter amount $3,188,000 is available
only on condition that the state
tnntfVi it uri4i t5 74Knnft nf Ha own
money. Because of inability to pro
vide this match money only $500,000
of this money will be taken up by
me state tnis year, it is nopea tnat
state funds will enable Oregon to
take up another $3,000,000 of the
federal aid next fall.
Included in the federal funds al
located to Oregon, however,' will be
$1,254,044 of forest highway money
and $400,000 for forest roads and
trails, none of which is dependent
upon state match money. ,
. '
Further legislative action may be
required before the state can acquire
an office building in Portland. At
torney General Van Winkle in an
opinion to the Board of Control has
held that none of the rentals col
lected from departments housed in
such a building would be available
ior operating expenses unaer Uie
present law. In other words if a deal
should be made for a building all of
the rentals would have to go toward
paying off the debt. There would,
therefore, be no money available for
heat, light, janitor and elevator ser
vice. Members of the Board are
known to be seriously considering
the advisability of throwing the of
fice building problem right back in
to the lap of the lawmakers when
they meet again next January.
Lt. Col. Joseph V. Schur whose
death occurred at the Veterans' hos
pital in Portland last week had been
a member of the adjutant general's
staff in Salem ever since his return
from the World War in 1918. "Joe"
as he was familiarly known to his
thousands of friends in the guard
over the state had served in that or
ganization for 27 years, receiving his
25 year medal two years ago. In that
time he rose from the ranks to the
position of lieutenant colonel.
Of the seven persons who lost their
lives as a result of traffic accidents
during February six were pedest
rians, according to records compiled
by Secretary of State Snell. The ages
of these six pedestrians ranged from
65 years to 83 years and all of them
met their deaths in accidents oc
curing after dark.
George Peck, county commission
er, motored to The Dalles Monday,
taking Mr. and Mrs. Mack Smith and
daughter, Mrs. James Leach, who re
mained there while Mr. Smith en
tered the hospital to undergo an operation.