Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1939)
Page Two Heppner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon Thursday, March 2, 1939 UNDER THE O CAPITOL DOME By GILES L, FRENCH, Representative for Gilliam, Mor row, Sherman and Wheeler Counties. Those old fashioned souls who think they can distinguish between a Republican and a Democrat, or who can find a distinction between a new dealer and a reactionary are entirely wrong, if the votes on the creation of new boards may be taken as a criterion. Whether it was from the vote trading or something else, the bak ers, barkers and watchmakers near ly carried the house and had estab lished or had continued trade asso ciation boards to aid in raising prices. The spirit of the defunct NRA was in each one of them. Some of the bitter end Republi cans voiced a strong "Aye" when their names were called and some of the men who were new dealers two years ago spoke up with a brave "No." Since those votes were taken it has been remarked by many legislative observers that trading of votes is more common than usual and their judgment doesn't seem to be half bad. It can easily be seen how sponsors of four or five pres sure group bills might put all of them over by forming a bloc and apparently this is what happened or rather nearly happened. While the house lacks a Clint Haight to rise in his chair every morning and cry in wounded tones that he wants to go home, the sen timent is growing among the mem bers that there is little more around here that has to be done and if the ways and means committee would just get their stuff finished and on the floor the story would be nearly over. One step toward hurrying this was made Monday when the house killed the first of two education bills. This bill, House Bill 321, would have aided the process of school dis trict consolidation in all counties of the state. It will be reconsidered but at best it has only a fair chance of passing both houses. Serious opposition was not thought possible by the sponsors of the bill, but representatives from the valley counties, especially Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Washington, Yamhill, and Clackamas held for the present and seriously outgrown school system and succeeded in killing the bill. The result of this vote makes it appear that any county that wishes to change its school organization had better do it itself and not wait for state laws that may or may not be passed. At the first of the session there was some comment on the fact that both presiding officers were from the far country where men are pre sumed to lack many of the little social graces that make for smooth handling of their fellows. This sen timent has entirely died away as Duncan and Fatland have justified all the expectations of their most loyal friends. But one or two east ern Oregon expressions did creep into the formal doings at the first. On inaugural day immediately af ter Fatland had been sworn into office and while he was still a lit tle nervous the senate and the gov ernor came to the door of the house led by the sergeant-at-arms. When Joe Singer in his richest Jewish dia lect announced with due "formality, "The honorable senate has arrived," the new speaker in true western style said briefly and hospitably, "Bring 'em in." And when the meeting was over and the retiring governor and the incoming governor had spoken their speeches to the filled house and galleries and after they had gone down the aisles with their retinue, and after the other state officials and black robed judges of the su preme court had gone and none but the senate, house and visitors re mained, President Bob Duncan, not wishing to be bothered by further formal sentence just said, "Clear the house." The governor put his name on the bakerv bill that repealed the bak ery board in a hurry and thereby orevented a move to reconsider the vote. After a bill has been signed by the governor it goes to the sec retary of state to be filed with other aws and cannot be recalled. Old timers around Salem say that just four times in the history of the state has the legislature repealed a bill and then enacted the same act again. It could be done perhaps but it probably won't be in this case. Next, and it is to.be hoped last, big measure to be considered will be sales tax. It may get on the floor if the committee to which it goes can be stern enough with its sponsors. The state can get along without it and still be more generous than dur ing the last biennium, but there are always those who want to raise more money to do more things for more people. HAS BAD FALL Mrs. P. W. Mahoney had a bad fall at home Monday morning. While manipulating a hose she was using in emptying the washing machine, she accidentally fell backwards down the concrete steps of the back porch. She was knocked unconscious by the impact when her head struck the walk, but she soon continued her usual routine. Varied Outlook For Field Crops Shown in Report No rift in the cloudy wheat price outlook for -1939-40 is seen in an analysis of the domestic and world wheat situation contained in the current Agricultural Situation and Outlook circular just issued by the extension service at Oregon State college. The current circular is the annual issue which deals with mar ket outlooks for field crops and vegetables. High continued demand for for- aee seed is forseen. although some what lower prices may result from the relatively large 1938 production, the report states. The circular also deals with the outlook for seed crops, truck crops, hops, beans, and flax seed. The circular mentions an indicated reduction of about 8 per cent in the 1939 potato acreage, but says more detailed information on this crop will be published in the March circular. With respect to wheat, the circular points out that the world produced a near record wheat crop in 1938 which sold for low prices, and that little improvement is expected in the United States wheat situation during the 1939-40 marketing season. Un less the world wheat acreage is ad justed downward, supplies will probably continue to be burden some and any improvement in world prices will have to depend upon im provement in economic conditions. Very little information is yet avail able on the probable acreage of spring wheat in this country. Turning to the general farm price situation, the circular reveals that in the country as a whole the gen eral level of prices received by far mers as of January 15 stood at 94 per cent of the pre-war average, while the government index of prices paid by farmers for commodities stood at 120 per cent, giving a farm purchasing power of 78 per cent of the pre-war level. This is 2 points lower than in the month previous, and 3 points under January, 1938. In Oregon the mid-January index was 65 per cent of the 1926-1930 av erage, or 2 points under the month previous and 5 points below Janu ary, 1938. Copies of the circular may be had at any county extension office. Richard E. Crewdson Victim of Epilepsy Richard Edward Crewdson, 35, native Heppner boy, was found dead at the J. G. Barratt Butter creek farm Monday morning. eDath ap peared to have been caused by a fit of epilepsy to which he was known to be subject. He was employed at the Barratt ranch at time of death. On a visit to town the end of the week he appeared in usual good health. Funeral services have been an nounced for 2 o'clock this afternoon from Phelps Funeral Home chapel, Rev. R. C. Young officiating. Inter ment is being made in Masonic cemetery. The deceased was born in Hepp ner, September 4, 1904, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crewdson, and his entire life was spent on the farm in the Matteson district' and as a ranch hand. A steady, dependable worker, his services were always in demand. Surviving are the mother, Mrs. Hattie Crewdson, brothers Al bert, Frank and Tom, and sisters, Laura Mortimor, Ida Hoagland, Grace Hale and Lillian Hoskins. ffi&fe'. (SOT MM M EFFECT! Latest in succession of rate reductions puts cost of P. P. & L. electricity at new tow! 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