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HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES
MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
The Heppner Gazette, established March 30, 1883. The Heppner Times, established
November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15, 1912.
Heppner Gazette Times, Thursday, January 20, 1955
NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHERS
ASSOCIATION
ROBERT PENLAND
Editor and Publisher
GRETCHEN PENLAND
Associate Publisher
NATIONAL EOMOSIAl
ASSOCIATION
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Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter
Subscription Rates: Morrow and Grant Counties, $3.00 Year; Elsewhere $4.00 Year. Single Copy 10 cents.
Our Tax Problem
With the legislature well into its job of trying
to solve some of the knottiest problems of finance
that the state has faced in a good many years, the
problem of what and who and how to tax faces the
legislators and us squarely in the middle of the
road. It was dodged two years ago but there is no
chance of ducking it this time.. Either state ex
penses must be cut by $05 million (the expected
deficit) or some more money must be raised.
The chances of cutting the state budget by any
such amount is about as remote as anything
could be, which leaves but one alternative more
tax income.
The Cottage Grove Sentinel last week carried
an editorial under the heading, "Rough Time
Ahead For Business," a portion of which we quote
here:
"The state could levy a property tax of six
mills, the statutory limitation, which would raise
about $30,000,000 of the $05,000,000 deficit. The
deficit estimated roughly at $05,000,000, which the
legislature faces, means quite a struggle and pos
sibly a long session.
Governor Patterson recommended the' repeal of
the federal tax offset to the present income law,
which in effect would raise the state tax rate. The
governor also favors a tax on business, individual
and partnership, much like the corporate taxes on
corporations. This tax if passed would of course
raise the prices the businessman or merchant
might charge.
"Another recommendation is to raise the in
come tax revenue by levying a surtax on the cal
culated tax or simply raise the tax rate. In either
event it would mean higher taxes for the average
taxpayer. Other sources of revenue for the state
would be to increase 1hG mark up on liquor sales
and the state's share of pflrl-mutuel betting.
"Repeal of the so-called "skyscraper" clause
' and repeal of exemptions to utilities in the corpor
ate sales tax. Another revenue source recom
mended is the use of some millage on real pro
perty in the state. Still another is the tax on in
surance premiums.
"If any or all of the so-called new sources of
revenue are adopted or approved by the legisla
ture, it would mean an increase in the cost of
doing business within the state and the increased
cost will have to be absorbed by the public.
"The leglslture could raise $30,000,000 through
a six mill levy on real properly. Abolishing the
federal exemption would raise another approxi
mate $20,000,000 to $25,000,000. Abolishing the
utility exemptions would raise from $2,000,000 to
$4,000,000 ana tne sxyscraper exempuon.u im-u
would raise another estimated $200,000 to $500,000,
"Oregon already has the lowest exemptions
and the highest income tax rate of any of the
states having an income tax, according to the Ore.
gon Voter. If any or all of the proposed new sour
ces of revenue are passed, it will handicap new
industries just that much.
"There are a good many states, in addition to
offering a lot of natural advantages, also offer a
low tax rate. We doubt if the growth of new in
dustries will keep pace with our population under
a tax rate which will discourage venture capital.
The Sentinel editor also said that it looked as
though the hopes for the passage of a sales tax
law were nrettv slim, which may be quite true, but
we hope that the legislature will nevertheless, give
it some strong and deep consideration for to us
it appears a far better means of raising additional
money than any of those suggested.
The above article points out that such tax in
creases as suggested will tend to discourage addl.
tional Industry in the state. We too, believe this
to be true, but we think a sales tax will not be
cause the final purchaser will make the tax pay
ment on any product he buys and though the tax
is a part of the total price, he will know how
much of it is tax. Too, products manufactured in
Oregon and sold elsewhere, where there may be
no sales tax, would not be normally subject to the
Oregon sales tax which would give an Oregon
manufacturer an equal tax break in competition
with other manufacturers elsewhere.
Because of the "easy-payment plans" in use by
both federal and state tax bodies, and the numer
, ous taxes that are "hidden" in the price of any
product, people are not as aware of the taxes they
pay as they would be it they were presented with a
lump-sum tax statement once a year, say, or if
they were advised on every purchase that so much
of the total is tax. It would be a blunt reminder,
day in and day out, that if we want the state to do
things for us, wP must pay the bill. Maybe in time
if we disliked the constant reminder enough, we
might decide we could get along with a little less
from the government level.
However, as we live and think today, the state
of Oregon is going to have to raise more money to
run its business and we believe a sales tax is the
fairest and most loeical method to raise it. We
hope the legislature won't pass it over too lightly
From The
County Agent's Office
By N. C Anderson
The conservation, land use and
economics sub-committee of the
agricultural planning committee
that meets Friday afternoon,
promises to be an interesting and
lively session. Coming up for
discussion is the recommenda
tions of the interim committee
appointed by the governor to
study .water resources in Oregon
last year. This committee has
made a thorough study of water
resources and have made recom
mendations which no doubt will
be acted upon by the legislature
this year. Some of them, our far
mers are very much In agreeance
with, while others they are not.
Many of the recommendations
have to do with water rights, both
stream and ground water. With
the problem that confronts every
one in Morrow county as well as
the state of Oregon in over ad
judication of water rights on
streams, there is bound to be
some effects on water users. A
survey of water users In Morrow
county made last fall, revealed
that there are many farmers that
are using water without a water
right which would be restricted.
Many other matters will come up
for discussion that are just as
I'lmtrovcrsial. As we said the
meeting promises to be an inter
esting one.
As this column is being written,
we are right in the midst of the
wheat policy meetings which are
being held in the wheat com
munities, throughout the county.
Attendance has been fairly good
and farmers have participated
wholeheartedly In the discussion
on what they would like to see
imbodied in a farm program. So
far everyone has agreed that the
flexible support program in ef
fect for the 1955 crop will not
solve the surplus production of
wheat and by 1959 could result in
returns that were below the cost
of production. A great majority
of the farmers attending the dis
cussion meetings, have not under
stood the flexible price support
program and the great decrease in
income from this plan, coupled
with the modernized parity which
is being used now. In general,
most are in favor of a domestic
parity plan for wheat with a
pretty general agreement that
thev would like bushel allot
ments rather than acreage allot
ments on wheat if allotments
continue.
Much interest has been shown
of late in hog production here
This is especially true since the
announcement of price supports
of barley for 1955. Those who
might be interested in getting
their start, are reminded of the
purebred gilt sales that will be
held in the very near future. One
is scheduled to be held at the
Salem fair grounds on February
5th, one at the Klamath Falls fair
Grounds on February 12. All
breeds will be offered and guar
anteed with pig. Sale time for
both is 1:00 p. m.
Recently the Pacific North
west Grain Dealers Association in
studying the grain storage situa
tion for this coming year, have
announced that the storage situ
ation in the Pacific Northwest
for the 1955 harvest is apt to be
very serious. Figures show that
this area will have to find stor
age for about seventy million
bushels of additional carry-over
grain in 1955, if the 1955 crop of
wheat, oats, and barley is equal
to the 1951 'crop. In this connec
tion, they find that the winter
wheat crop has better prospects
STAR THEATER, Heppner
Admission Price: Adults 70c, Students 50c, Children 20c including federal Excise
Tax, Sunday shows start at 2 p. m. Shows every other evening starting at 7:30.
Boxoffice open until 9 p. m. '
Thursday-Friday-Saturday, January 20-21-22 IN CINEMASCOPEI1I
HELL AND HIGH WATER
This high-water mark of excitement propels you beneath the ocean in a submarine
with a daringly magnificent crew on a most dangerous mission! Richard Wldmark
and Bella Darvl head n large and excellent cast! Technicolor DeLuxe.
Plus
TOURNAMENT OF ROSES
The 1953 Tournament filmed In Cinemascope and Color shows winning entries. Nar.
rated by Dan Dailey.
Sunday-Monday, January 23-24
RIVER OF NO RETURN
CINEMASCOPE-TECHNICOLOR
An Adventure set in the sprawling Northwest indescribably beautiful scenes of the
Canadian Rockies with Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun, Tommy
Rettlg. Hus
VESUVIUS EXPRESS
Cinemascope-Technicolor tour of Italy.
Sunday shows start at 2 p. m.
Tuesday-Wednesday, January 25-26
PRINCE VALIANT
James Mason, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Sterling Hayden, Debra Taget, Victor
MeLaglen, Brian Aherne, Barry Jones.
Made-to ordcr for Cinemascope is the adventure strip avidly read by millions. Sheer
beauty in Technicolor are the countryside of England and Wales, medieval castles,
spectacular duels and battles.
First show will be over at 9:30
THIRTY YEARS AGO
From Files of the Gazette Times
January 22, 1925
The Sophomore class at Hepp
ner high have elected their offi
cers for the semester. President,
yictor Groshens; vice president,
Louise Thomson; secretary, Shir
ley Prophet; treasurer, Stanley
Minor; sergeant at arms, Harold
Erwin.
Among those from Morrow
county attending the meeting of
the Oregon Wool Growers at
Pendleton last week were Ed
Rugg, Andy Rood, L. V. Gentry,
James Carty, John Kelly, John
Kilkenny, Joe Kenny, W. P. Ma
honey, R. A. Thompson, R. I.
Thompson, W. H. Cleveland, Dave
Hynd, Garnett Barratt, Ed Neill,
Pete Slavin, Joe Hayes, Frank
Wilkinson and Dave Wilson.
Leonard and Emil Carlson,
wheat growers of the Gooseberry
country, were doing business in
Heppner on Saturday.
rT7T"T!"-Tl
"I feel that I am justified in
making the prediction that the
Lena-Vinson gap in the O. W.
highway to Morrow county, and
the building of the Hardman
Spray cut off, will each be com
pleted within the next three
years" is the statement made to a
representative of this paper by
Judge R. L. Bnge the first of the
week.
than a year ago. In further sur
veying 'the situation, they found
that under construction or defi
nitely planned storage at the
present time, including both
country and terminal amounts to
sixteen million seven hundred
thousand bushels. The eight
buildings at the Pasco Army De
pot, could hold eight to ten mil
lion bushels. The seventy five
empty ships at Tongue Point near
Astoria could store about seven
teen million bushels. Thus if we
could get the additional ships at
Tongue Point and the buildings
at Pasco, we will have between
forty and forty-five million bus
hels of new storage space that
was not available last year. This
would still leave a shortage of
twenty-five to thirty million bus-hels.
Visiting the Jasper Myers farm
on Buttercreek, Tuesday the agent
found that Mr. Myer is well
pleased with his grass legume
ensilage that was put up in a
trench silo last summer. The silo
holds approximately 1000 tons
and ensilage is being fed daily
to the beef herd. With a few
minor improvements on the silo,
3fc 3f 3f 3f 3f 3fc 3fc 3
Groundwork for a predicted
"swift and hot" legislative ses
sion was laid during the first
five working days which ended
Friday, January 14th..
Oltimers here at the Capitol are
saying that they can tell by their
ulcers that this session will be a
big show, to exceed the all time
record session of 1953 in length,
number of bill and fireworks.
Big issue and pressure group
battle lines were supposed to be
veiled by a chummy Gaston-Al-
phonse act the opening days of
the session. Meanwhile the fix
was being nailed down and log
rollingpatterned for party forti
fications. On roll call during the
period party lines were split rag
gedly on all but unanimous is
sueslike the bill providing
$500,000 for the first down pay
ment on the cost of the session
including salaries of members.
A taxation school set up for
members will hold up tax legis
lation for three or more weeks
but is expected to bring ' time
saving results on the length of
the session.
RED INK
The $63,000,000, which the state
budget shows is needed to run
the state for the next two years,
must be produced largely by new
tax revenues or by trimming bud
get estimates.
After all the hard work of the
budgeteers the budget is only an
estimate of what probably will be
needed. Department heads and
institution superintendents have
never been known to underesti
mate their guesses on require
ments. If they need it is not
difficult to spend it.
A blanket cut of ten per cent
across the board would do the
trick of balancing the budget.
IN THE THINKING STAGE
One of the most interesting,
and often amusing or informa
tive, features of reporting a legis
lative session occurs when a
member puts his embryo ideas
out for discussion with his
1955. A unique way to pack the
sileage was that of using his trac
tor mobile which weighs 11 tons.
With the four wheel drive, there
was no problem of getting
through the silo with the large
wheels, it was just the thing for
packing. An excellent job was
done and this is reflected in the
good quality ensilage that is now
Jasper intends to fill it again in; being taken out of the silo.
friends.
It is astonishing how much
knowledge on remote affairs will
come from unexpected sources
and how much will pertain to the
legal side of a subject.
One is inclined to conclude that
a good many persons had the
idea of running for the legisla
ture many years before making
the jump.
Some of these embryo ideas
that got into the "thinking it
over" stage this week were:
An act to relieve farmers and
other landowners of responsibil
ity of eradicating ragweed from
their property. As ragweed is a
health problem, and the present
law is not enforced, Sen. W. Low
ell Steen would put the ragweed
fight costs up to the general pub
lic. Sen. Francis W. Ziegler would
license auctions of new merchan
dise that has not had persona
property tax paid on them.
Sen. Ziegler and Sen. Phil
Brady would exempt parking lots
owned by churches that are used
solely for convenience of mem
bers. Sen. Carl H. Francis wants con
stitutional amendments made by
a two-thirds vote of each house
of the legislatures of all states.
Sen. Pat Lonnergan would
shorten the time between filing
dates and elections. Sen Lonner
gan is joined by Rep. Alfred H.
Corbett in presenting an act to
take the park commission from
the Highway Commission and
establish it as a separate depart
ment. Sen Lonnergan and Sen.
S. Eugene Allen would make
county elections nonpartisan (ex
cept district attorneys).
OLD SALOON COMING BACK?
Some legislUors who perused
the annual reiort of the State
Liquor Control Commission distri
buted this week are apprehensive
of the return of "lie saloon.
The report says, "There was a
sharp decline in restaurant licen.
ses allowing service from custo
mers' bottles in ftvor of Dispen
ser licenses, indictting a general
acceptance of the new method of
consumption.
The report stated there was a
record distribution of $15,000,000
of liquor profits to localities and
the state general fund, and that
2,017,800 gallons of spiritous
liquors were sold duraig the 1953
54 fiscal year. ;
BROWN ON BOTH SIDES
Among the lobbyist are the
two Brown boys not brothers.
George Smith Brown is work
ing for the dry interests and will
have legislation to offer against
employees of the Oregon State
Liquor Control Commission ac
cepting gifts of value. '
George E. Brown is on the wet
side and may offer legislation re
garding sales of beer to minors.
Dr. Titus Frazee, executive di
rector of the Oregon Temperance
League will press the adoption of
a law to make compulsory a
chemical test for intoxication.
New York has had such a law for
two years and several other states
are considering adoption of a
similar law.
JOBLESS PAY RECORD IN 1954
An average of more than $2
million a month was paid to job
less workers in Oregon during
1954 to establish an all-time re
cord, the State Unemployment
Compensation Commission re
ported Monday.
Continued on page 7
From where I sit ..Jy Joe Marsh
A Pretty
Snappy" Menu
Cuff Taylor had a near riot in
his hen yard last week. Seems
the hens were scratching around
the cold ground when they found
a piece of rubber band frozen in
the ice.
"One hen pecked at it," saya
Cuff, "and it snapped right back.
She backed off clucking while an
other hen tried it, and another.
And the 'worm' kept right on
snapping back. They all got their
feathers ruffled. You never heard
such a ruckus!"
"I finally had to break up the
ice with an ax before those hens
would get back to business and
start laying eggs again."
From where I sit, some people
raise a pretty big fuss over noth
ing, too. Take the fellow who
would deny me a temperate glass
of beer with my game of check
ers. Maybe he'd rather have cof
fee! Well, that's all right. He has
a rightto his own preference.
But so do I. And there's no point
in his "snapping" at me just be
cause his choice isn't the same
Copyright, 1955, United States Brewers Foundation
Styling' that's stealing
the thunder from the
high-priced cars!
The styling spotlight blazes down on a
low-cost car this year-for the Motoramic
Chevrolet is stealing the show from the
high-priced cars with its subtle sweep of
line, the brilliant sophistication of its
European-type grille, the bold rake of its
deep-curved windshield.
And there's even more excitement in
the way it drives-the velvety comfort of
Glide-Ride front suspension and outrigger
rear springs, the handling ease of Ball
Race steering, the flashing performance
of the new 162-h.p. "Turbo-Fire V8"
engine or the two new "Blue-Flame" 6's.
All this-plus the extra-cost options of
Powerglide or Overdrive and a full range
of power assists. Try a 1955 Chevrolet-now-and
you'll know why it is stealing
the thunder from the high-priced cars.
MORE THAN A NEW CAR ... A NEW
CONCEPT OF LOW-COST MOTORING
jt''" perfect 9em
gy to look at t j
vir
And -it's
powered
to ran rings
arowid the rest
"1 "I l
" fiWfe-t xJA
4fiL i M
h Vv V V?"sKv VHAlVx v s '?- If Pi I
The M Ait 4-Door $
Everything's new in the motoramic CHEVROLET
Fulleton Chevrolet Company