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!
You can now use
MORE electricity
at No Extra Cost!
O Pacific Power & Light Company brought
cheap electricity into this territory. And the
$200,000 rate cut, which went into effect
March 1, again proves that this company's
progressive and long-established rate reduc
tion policy is making P.P.&L. electricity
cheaper and cheaper.
You can electrify your home more com
pletely at little or no extra operating cost.
Think for a minute. What new electric serv
ices would you like ... an electric washer,
ironer, toaster, I.E.S. lamp, clock, mixer,
roaster, radio? The chances are that you can
add one or more of these without increasing
your electric service bill over what it was prior
to March 1. For you can now get more elec
tricity at no extra cost!
If you add an electric range, the operating
cost will be even less than before because
the average customer now does his cooking at
the 2c and 2c per kwh steps of the rate. De
cide to enjoy clean, quick, convenient electric
cooking, too.
At dealers or our nearest office, values in
electrical equipment are greater than ever
prices are low. Take full advantage of Pacific
Power & Light Company's new low rates bjr
further electrifying your home now.
Pacific Power & Light Company
Always at Your Service