REPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES.
THE ? HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIMES
Heppner, Oregon 97836
Phone. 676-9228
MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
The Heppner Gazette established March 30, 1SS3. The Heppner
Times established November 18, 1S97. Consolidated February 15,
1912.
i i
NIWSPAPI
IUSHIII
ASSOCIATION
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
HELEN E. SHERMAN
ROD (SPIKE) PARDEE
Advertising Manager
Photographer
MARION ABRAMS
Society
Circulation
JIM SHERMAN
Pressman
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.
until noon Saturday.
Subscription Rates: $450 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published
Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon,
as Second Class Matter.
Governor's Position on Taxes
Recently Governor Tom McCall made a half-hour televis
ion presentation to the people of Oregon on the subject of
taxes. Exponents of the sales tax had expected that this
would be a strong appeal against the sales tax and In favor
of the governor's Income tax proposal as a method of alleviat
ing the property tax load. But It was no such "rock-em, sock
em" presentation. On the other hand, it was in the nature
of the "fireside chat", conducted with decorum and restraint
His quiet talk, with the aid of John Mosser, director of
Finance and Administration, was a pleasant relief at a time
when the public is used to harsh words and controversy.
While the explanation on taxes was basic and simple, it
was fair and gave points for and against each type of tax
in an understandable manner.
In reply to a letter from the Gazette-Times concerning the
telecast. Governor McCall wrote Friday, stating, 'The mall
following my television program is overwhelmingly In favor
of a small income tax increase the people of Oregon feel
that the sales tax would be an unfair method of financing
government On the other hand, they decisively Indicate their
desire for property tax relief."
While no cleaicut picture has emerged from the legislature
to date on what program will be presented to the people, it
becomes more apparent that a considerable segment of the
lawmakers is doggedly pursuing the sales tax. Rep. Irvln
Mann reports in his column this week that it seems to be
shaping up to a 3-way decision for voters: 1. Do you want
to reduce property taxes? Z Are you In favor of 50 state
basic school support? 3. If so, are you in favor of a sales
tax?
If the legislature puts the matter to Oregon voters in this
manner, it will be regrettable. Such a proposal would ignore
the income tax Increase as an alternative.
It seems to us that the legislature is not reading the
signs very well. Newspaper polls, opposition by organiza
tions, comments by the public, editorials by newspapers and
television seem to Indicate that Oregon voters will not ap
prove a sales tax, and it Is difficult for us to see why pro
ponents in the legislature so doggedly pursue this course.
If an election is put to the people on a "sales tax or noth
ing" basis, their rancor will be Incurred, and it will be voted
down resoundingly.
Many people will vote for no additional tax, but we be
lieve the income tax proposal would have a better chance
than the sales tax as a method of property tax relief. And
for good reason. Income tax is based more nearly on the
ability to pay; the machinery for collection is already set
up It would require no additional costly state collection sys
tem; it would not impose the hardship on business in ex
acting the tax and keeping records; it is not the continuing
nuisance that the sales tax is.
There are some who maintain that we should be picking
up more tourist dollars through a sales tax. The best way
to pick up tourist dollars is to make the state attractive,
and taxing them is not the answer. Not to be overlooked,
too, is that border cities of Oregon on three sides are enjoy
ing some prosperity by trade coming from the sales-taxed
consumers of Washington, California and Idaho. Ask some
one in Milton-Freewater what this means there!
Remember, too, that If a sales tax Is enacted, utilities will
get the greatest relief, and they are the ones who least
need it. If it were possible to get them to convert these re
ductions into lower rates for their services, it wouldn't be
so bad, but it is doubtful if they would stand still for this.
Washington now is pointing to a sales tax of 5. Open
the door in Oregon to a 2 or 3 sales tax, and it won't
be many years until It will be climbing here, too. We'll
find that we have just another tax to pay.
If the people of Oregon want to cut property taxes by
shifting some of the burden to another tax, the program of
Governor Tom McCall is the easiest, the wisest and most
equitable. Under his plan, the majority of Oregonians would
pay 15 more in income tax or about one-half of one per
cent of Income. For this they would receive approximately
a 20 property tax decrease. Utilities would bear a share
though corporate tax increase in proportionate amount.
We're disappointed at the attitude of the Republicans In
the House in focusing on a sales tax. One wonders what
influences their thinking. Perhaps Oregonians should elect
more low income men and women with large families to
legislative seats. Such families will bear the brunt of a sales
tax. Those with higher incomes, of course, shy away from
an income tax increase, even though they are more able to
pay.
Wayne Hams Head
New Rifle Club
Wayne Hams was elected
president of the newly-formed
Morrow County Rifle and Pistol
club at its meeting in the Amer
ican Legion hall, Heppner, earl
ier this month. Dick Robison
was elected vice-president and
Len Ray Schwarz secretary
treasurei'. The club name was chosen af
ter discussion during the busi
ness meeting, and dues were
set at So per year. A minimum
ago limit of 17 was set in ac
cordance with NRA regulations,
which the club will probably
fellow in establishing its range
rules.
Site of the proposed range is
f till in the planning stage, and
it should be decided on at the
rext meeting in the Legion hall
Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30.
Two movies will be shown at
that time and all interested per
sons are invited to attend.
Thunder. March 30. 1967
NATIONAL NiWSPAPi
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
ARNOLD RAYMOND
Shop Foreman
Printer
REGGIE PASCAL
Linotype Operator
RANDY STTLLMAN
Apprentice
Two from Heppner
On BMC Honor Roll
Two students from Heppner
at Blue Mountain Community
College received honors for their
work during the winter term, ac
cording to Truman Baily, dir
ector of admissions.
Dale Van Blokland, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Wilbur Van Blokland,
was one of 19 students who
made the honor roll. This roll
includes students making grade
point averages of 3.50 or higher.
Walter Beckett, son of Mr.
find Mrs. Laurence Beckett,
made the Dean's List with a
grade pcint average of 3.00.
Other students from the coun
ty on the honor roll are Elsie
Collins (3.69), Donald Eppen
bach (3.76), both of Irrigon, and
Irene De Anne Wear (3.54),
Foardman. Sheryl Witherspoon
of Irrigon made the Dean's List
with a 323.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Thomp-
son and familv went in Nvua
over spring vacation to be with
his family. They also went to
Idaho Falls before returnins
home.
What's New .
From Salem
By REP. IRVIN MANN. JR.
Shape of what might come
out of this legislature in the
nature of property tax relief,
basic school support and a tax
to finance that relief and that
support is beginning to come
clear.
The chairman of the Senate
Tax Committee, who had pre
viously scoffed at the House tax
program has agreed that a vote
by the people on a choice of
whether or not they want sub
stantial permanent property tax
relief through the approach
the House Tax Committee had
evolved was in order. He furth
er agreed that that vote should
also carry with it a vote on a
tax measure which would tap
new source of revenue to foot
the bill so that schools would
in no sense be curtailed and
further expressed the opinion
that such a tax should probab
ly be a sales tax with, in ad
dition to property tax relief,
some income tax relief features.
Then Saturday, the House Ed
ucation Committee unveiled a
new basic school support for
mula for the state which would
raise the support of local schools
to at least 50 of cost a goal
school men have sought for a
long time. The new formula
would be distributed on a flat
grant basis rather than the
present formula. Here again it
became amply clear that the
goal could never be reached
without a new tax that the
cost of the program would be
$30 million and that not even
half that amount was available
from current sources.
Thus it appears that some
time this year the people will
be asked to make a moment
ous decision at the ballot box,
and that decision, by one vote
will decide the following things:
1) Do you want permanent sub
stantial property tax relief as
sured by a constitutional limi
tation on how much property
tax can be levied for school pur
poses? 2) Do you want schools
supported to the tune of 50
by the state on a flat grant
basis? 3) If you do want this,
are you ready to enact a sales
tax to finance these goals?
This is a harsh choice, but
whatever decisions the people
make, it will be a momentous
one. If this legislature gives the
people the opportunity to make
that decision, it will have dis
charged its obligations as few
legislatures have in the past.
Girls to Attend
FHA Conference
Home economics stude n t s
from junior and senior high
schools across Oregon will par
ticipate March 31 and April 1
at Oregon State University in
the annual Future Homemakers
of Americu Conference.
Oregon has more than 4,000
FHA members in 116 chapters.
Almost all of the chapters are
expected to send representatives
to the state meetings.
Attending from the Heppner
High FHA chapter will be
Sheila Lucianl, president, and
either Chris Munkers or Lou-
ella Roark, vice presidents. Mrs.
Gene (Leona) Winters, advisor,
also will attend.
Local Service Man
Calls on Rest Leave
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Ball and
family received a call Tuesday,
March 21, from their son, now
Spc 4 Jay Ball telling them of
his recent promotion and that he
was having a trip to Hong Kong
as part of a week's rest and
recreation after service in Viet
nam. He called again from Hong
Kong on Friday, March 24, be
fore returning to Plel Ku for ac
tive duty in a new assignment
with an Armored Personnel Car
rier Division and according to
his mother said he had really
enjoyed his time in Hong Kong
and wanted to be remembered
to his friends In Heppner. Mrs.
Ball said the family was sur
prised at the clear telephone
connections.
Heppner Grad Holds
Part in College Play
Sheridan Wyman, daughter of
Mrs. Ilene Wyman, shared the
lead in a recent play produc
tion at Marylhurst College. The
play, 'To Burn a Witch", was
given March 10 and 11.
The setting of the play was
in Salem, Mass., around the
year 1683. The one-act play
dealt with the treatment of two
girls accused of witchery.
Sheridan, a freshman at
Marylhurst, was active in dra
ma at Heppner High school be
fore her graduation here last
spring.
Club Makes Cookies
The Cookettes met March 21,
1967, at the home of Mrs. Wal
lace W. Wolff. We made peanut
butter, oatmeal raisin cookie;.,
and Brownies. We took some
home to our families and left
some for Mrs. Wolff. Hostess
v.as Diane Cox. She brought
cookies lo eat.
Lisa Collins, reporter
Guests during the week-end
of March 18 and 19 at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hamlin
were his brother-in-law and
sister, Mr. and Mrs. Tec Van
Doninck of Gresham.
h-v-- JsA A
J
NEW MEMBER of Union Pacific's scholarship family U Ste
Wtrgenblast Lexington. Ho recelred hit certificate jjrom -Manke.
UP agricultural agent, at tat Future Farmer ol
America convention at Eugene. Almoet 10.000 ITA and H
youths hare received scholarships from the railroad. Recipient
must attend land grant college, such as Oregon State University.
Chaff
Wes
LOWELL (GRIB) CRIBBLE,
president of the Willow Creek
Countrv club, made the ulti
mate bloop Monday when he
made a little talk at Chamber
of Commerce to spur interest
in golf here and support of the
club. It was a classic and
couldn't have been better If he
had planned it, but it was Just
a slip of the tongue of the var
iety that occurs when a person
tries to say, "Peter Piper pick
ed a peek of pickled peppers."
Grib told of the reasons the
Chamber members should sup
port the club and then told of
membership costs. As an after
thought, he declared, ". . .and
ministers and priests can pray
free." He had meant to suy
"play" of course, but the Jap
anese accent crept in.
Fittingly enough, the Rev.
Dirk Rinehart was sitting right
across the table from Grlb.
THERE ARE many clergymen
who are good golfers. Maybe
good prayers do become good
players even though there arc
times on the golf course that
try man's souls and one has to
resist temptations of the horn
ed red demon.
Visiting with Grlb Tuesday,
he told about playing with a
minister once and asked him
if he were ever tempted to use
improper language when he
made a bad shot.
"No," replied the clergyman,
"but I have noticed that the
grass gets a little greener
where I spit after dubbing a
shot."
WILLOW CREEK golfers expect
an excellent season this year
and think that in a couple of
years the course Is going to be
one of the finest little layouts
anywhere. The big improvement
just made is the installation
of an underground sprinkling
system.
It could be that this system,
in fact, caused Tuesday's good
rain. The sprinklers were in op
eration and may have acted as
a primer to cause the skies to
pour forth.
ONE THING nice about small
weekly newspapers is that
they aren't required to conform
so rigidly to standards of jour
nalism, but most publishers
make an effort to "go by the
book" in order to put out a
good product.
Adding to- the problem Is the
fact that the little weekly has
many "reporters." They range
down to first year 4-H club
members. We try to be a lit
tle severe with them, in order
that they get some teaching in
how it should be done.
But sometimes their work is
just too colorful to resist. Con
sider Lisa Collins' report on the
Cookettes' meeting this week:
"We made peanut butter, oat
meal raisin cookies and Brown
ies. We took some home to our
families and left some for Mrs.
Wolff." Then she adds, "Host
ess was Diane Cox; she brought
cookies to eat."
Sounds as if Diane was play
ing it safe, all right!
IF YOU see a lot of grade school
youngsters dressed up in all
manner of crazy costumes Fri-
pnng
martha's door
Reductions in All Departments
10 to 30
240 gladis
avenue
Chatter
Sherman
day, bear In mind that Satur-
, dav is April 1, and you Know
what that means
'That helps us justify Dress
up Dav" Principal Al Martin
si.ld. Besides spring fever has
started to bite (despite Tues
day's rnln). nnd It is a good
break In the long classroom
routine at this time of year.
All classes at the schools will
participate, and some of the
teachers will, too, we under
stand. Now (hat ought to make
some purty pltrhcrs.
ISNT IT discouraging. Now
that we have mentioned
spring. It has started to snow
That'll teach us
JUDGE PAUL JONES brings up
a pertinent point In connec
tion with the John Day dam
reservoir.
"Who came up with the name
'Umatilla' for the lake?" he
asked.
The lake borders on Sherman,
Gillinm and Morrow counties In
Oregon, and on Klickitat and
Benton In Washington. How
come "Umatilla"?
The Judge suggests the bor
dering counties should get to
gether and try to cet a more
appropriate name for the reser
voir which Is expected to be
come one of the best recreation
areas east of the Cascades with
Its sandy shores stretching for
35 miles as contrasted with the
rocky cliffs of the reservoir
backed up by McNary.
HERE'S A LITTLE consolation
(?) with Income tax time
coming up: A rouple of weeks
ago some federal officials came
from Washington, D. C, for an
orientation confer e n c e with
some state officials in Portland.
They used, according to a TV
newscaster, "one of the several
airplanes at the President's dis
posal." The newscaster reported
that the plane costs $875 per
hour to fly. Now the game Ls
to figure how far across the
country they could flv on the
income tax that vou are irolnu
to pav on April 15.
It's a little hard to take when
i you think you've worked all
year to accumulate your little
contribution to Uncle Sam, Lsn't
it?
TO THE EDITOR
Board
man
Story
Dear Mr. Sherman:
I was most Interested In see
ing the article and pictures
about the re-located town of
Boardman, Oregon. In the Hepp
ner Gazette-Times for Thursday,
February 16, 1967.
I am the oldest daughter of
Sam Boardman, and my sister,
brothers and myself would like
to obtain copies of this issue
if possible.
I am enclosing a check for $1
for four copies of the paper
which can be sent to me.
In appreciation of your fine
editorial and coverage of the
story, I am
Sincerely yours,
Dorothy Mefford
(Mrs. Albert R.)
Salem, Oregon
at
hennUton
567-6789
Sale
TO THE EDITOR...
Under Sociolism
In Sail Kr.MHlv-o. I couldn't help
hut wonder what Sasketchewan
(, with their Socialistic blue
prints when thev decided to
.Ward them in l!-t V011
Mippose they wen- turned over
t,. I. II J to pattern his (-real
Society after , .
The following Is siwech ty
ll- premier. In his ' w"r,u
where lie cites socialism In b
kett'hewiin as warning to the
people of the United State;
Sasketchewan for 'Jo years,
front 19-14 to 1!X'-I. had social-
1st government. biioui v
only one In North America, ex
cept Castro's. In 1H the social
ists said they would solve un
employment problem by build
ing government factories. Thcv
promised to use the profit to
build highways, schools. hospir
als and to f Inane better social
welfare measures generally. Ov
er the JO years thev set up 22
so-called Crown Corporations. I
wish that time permitted me to
tell vou the fiasco that follow
ed. Uv the time we had taken
over the government U of the
frown 'ornitlonH had gone
bankrupt or had been disposed
of Others were kept operating
In- related and substantial
government grants. Poring the
whole period the socialists wag
ed war against private busi
ness The making of a profit
was condemned as an unforgiv
able sin. What was the result?
Investors slmplv turned their
hacks on the socialist. Isiens
of oil companies pulled up
stakes nnd moved out. Gas ex
ploration ground to a complete
halt; pit ct lug in our vast
north Ixvame alnut non exist
ent. During the period Canada
was experiencing the greatest
economic boom in tier history,
Sasketchewovn received only
handful of new factories. After
IS years of socialism there were
fewer Jobs In manufacturing
than existed In 11M. this ties
plte the Investment of J.VH) mil
lion in v rown vorporauon.
The socialist promised n
greatly expanded program of so
clal welfare measures: there
was to be free medical care,
"Free hospitalization, drugs and
so on" The money to finance
these projects was to come
from profits of the Crown Cor
porations. In the overall picture j
there were no profits, there!
were colossal losses Thus the
welfare program had to be fl !
nanced from taxation. '
During the period more than ,
fit completely new taxes were ;
Introduced; (M other taxes were'
Increased. Per capita taxes were
soon substantially out of line
with our sister provinces one
more reason why industry lo
cated elsewhere. Twenty years
ago the socialists promised to
make Sasketchewan a mecca
for the working man. Instead,
we saw the greatest mass exo
dus of people out of an area
since Moses lead the Jews out
of Egypt.
Since the war, 270,000 of our
citizens left Saskatchewan to
find employment elsewhere. Fi
nally our people decided they
had been the C'anadlun Guinea
pig for socialism long enough.
Thev threw them out.
It Is the task of our new gov
ernment to prove In the next
few years that the private en
terprise system can do more for
our people than socialism.
If there are any Americans
who think that socialism Is the
answer. I wish thev would come
to Sasketchewan and study
what happened to our province.
W. Ross Thatcher, premier of
Sasketchewan, speaking In San
rranclsco.
Paul Pettyjohn
On Age 18 Voting
Dear Mr. Sherman:
Please print this In your edi
torial column. Tills refers to the
article that was printed In the
Oregonlan March 22. 1967
Sen. Anthony Yturrl stated
that "18 year olds do not have
the maturity to vote at the
polls." What Is Mr. Yturrl's dcf.
inltion of muturity? Only one's
age?
The maturing age Is not al
ways the same for everyone. It
depends on the Individual.
There might be some reason
r
More Fun, Always...
At the TWO
jJLfJt n
In SALEM
112 Rooms
ftou (5031 m U6
BOTH INNS HAVI MSTAUHANTM
ing for not having 1R year old
adults Vote for the U. 8.
tlona but I do not f,..i , Clin
or should be based on age al,,,,,.
Mammy yes, age no.
If those between 18 an, I n
rt not adults or have nut the
maturity to vote In the elec
lions, then why are thev n,n
sldered malum enough to .in.
fend the right of those pIh.
Hons by fighting In Viet Nam
Why are they charged adult
prltva for everything after high
school graduation? Whv ar
thev required to le ef aup
porting? Whv ar they required
to nay taxea? Thev are eonuM
crcd mature except to vote.
The laws state that clrls at
the age of 1H are mature enough
to get marneti. nave lamlUr
manage household budget)
have charge accounts, bank sr.
counts, etc., but they aren't old
enough tu vote.
Our country Is based on the
young people In today ioc
ety. We are now near major
Ity. Yet we are not represented
by choir.
To me, thl ' 1 more unjust
than the slogan uhh during the
birth of our nation, "Taxation
without representation," To the
iMiys In Viet Nam, It la facing
death without representation.
I feet the voting age should
lie reduced lo 18, and let the
men fighting for our country
vote In our country, and the
women who are at home work
lug fur belter life and coun
try help elect the officer for
whom they feel beat qualified.
Mr. Yturrl argument are
not valid. HI Judgment of g
only criterion I unjust
Young people today are often
more aware of modern problems
than our elder.
We might follow tht senator'
argument to potential conclu
sion; someone might one day
suggest that all those over So,
for example are too senile to
vote. How about that?
Sue C. Townnd
COMMUNITY
BILLBOARD
Coming Events
HEPPNEK HIGH BASEBALL
Saturday, April 1, 1 p.m.
Heppner vs. Umatilla, Hepp
ner High Field
Tuesday. April 4, 3 p.m.
Heppner v. Condon, Heppner
High Field
.SPRING CARNIVAL
Saturday, April 1, ponsred
by Heppner ITA and Band
Parents
Dinner from 5:30 p.m ;
booths, game, dunk tank,
lot of door prize, dance
from 10 to 1
Heppner Fair Pavilion
Lots of fun for everyone!
SMORGASBORD DINNER
Willow Orange Hall, lone
Sunday, April 2
Serving from 12:30 to 4:00
p.m.
Tickets, $1.75 and $100
GOLDEN AGE CLUB
Tuesday, April 4, Episcopal
Parish Hall
Dinner, 7:lK) p.m., followed by
entertainment
OES SOCIAL CLUB
Ruth Chapter. OES Social
Club card party
Saturday, April 1, 1:30 p.m.
Hcppaer Masonic Hall
SPRING RUMMAGE SALE
Friday, Saturday, April 14,
15
Sponsored by Heppner Civic
League
GUllam & Blsbce BIdg.
SPONSORED A3 A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
Htppner
r. O. Bom 247 ML I7I-K25
Sparkling New
in EUGENE
150 Rooms
t... m riM
WITH 14-HOUH COFfll MHOPM
i