Medford mail tribune., January 31, 1924, Page 1, Image 1

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Tribune
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MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1924
NO. 266
TWeeKIy Fll
Fifly-Third Year.
The Weather
Prediction Rjiln
Maximum yesterduy 6:t
Minimum today 54
okd
SENATE FOR
ANNULMENT
Oil LEASES
U. S. Senate, By Unanimous
Vote, Adopts Resolution of
Senator Walsh Changes
Voted Down Sen. Lodge
. Disapproves Denby's Action,
But Opposes Attack On Him
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. After
adopting the Walsh resolution di
recting the president to proceed
with suits for annulment of oil
leases and debating for three
hours the Robinson resolution re
questing the resignation of Secre
tary Denby, the senate adjourned
late today without taking action
on the latter measure.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. A
subpoena will be issued immedi
ately requiring E. L. Doheny to ap
pear before the senate oil Investi
gating committee tomorrow
Chairman Lenroot announced to
day when Senator Reed, demo
crat, Missouri, demanded In the
senate that the California oil
magnate be subjected to a search
ing Inquiry as to whether he has
paid directly or Indirectly any
money to any official. Senator
Reed said he understood Mr.
Donhey, who has been here wait
ing to appear before the commit
tee, was about to leave Washing
ton. WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. The reso
lution demanding the resignation of
Secretary Denby was taken up today
by the senate after the Walsh resolu
; tlon proposing annulment of tho Sin
tclalr and Doheny oil leases had passed
unanimously.
Final action was taken after all ef
forts to modify the language of the
resolution so as to eliminate direct
charges that the leases were entered
into without authority and In violation
of the law had been voted down.
The vote was unanimous on the final
. roll call. Eighty-eight senators cast
their ballots.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. A move
ment to attach the Robinson resolu
tion calling for the resignation of
Secretary Denby to the Walsh oil lease
annulment measure was made today
Immediately arter the senate conven
ed. The amendment wns sponsored
by Senator Trammell, democrat.
Florida.
. Immediate opposition was voiced by
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, the
republican leader, who declared he
would "resist very strongly" Btich a
declaration by congress. There was
only one way by which the legislative
branch could romove a cabinet officer,
he said, and that was by impeach
ment. Lodge Scores Denby
Senator Trammell withdrew his
amendment after several oti.er mem
bers hart expressed a conviction It
would delay action on the Walsh reso
lution. Senator Lodge described the Tram
mell proposal as "an attempt to force
the hands of the president in the exer
cise of a discretion which is his
alone!" He agreed that Secretary
Denby should have resisted the efforts
rriade to Influence him to agree to a
ttansfer of oil reserve to the interior
department and continued:
"I do not approve of the public
statement which the secretary of the
navy made the day before yesterday.
There is no evidence yet in the hear
ings or elsewhere, however, which
demonstrate or show in any way that
he (Secretary Denby) is other than an
honest man, however mistaken and
however wrong he was. There Is no
proof that would stand a moment In
any court that he was guilty of any
thing more than very mistaken Judg
ment lack of competency if you
choose to call it so."
PORTLAND, Ore.. Jan. 31. Four
persons were Injured, one seriously
In a triple collision on the Llnnton
road near here today. All those In
jured were Jn a senside-bound bus.
According to the police, the bus,
outbound, was traveling, about thirty
miles an hour when a truck loaded
with iron pipe, started to back across
the hlghwriy. The bus. In an effort to
evade the truck swerved to the left
hitting on Inbound car. The truck
3 PORTLANDERS INJURED WHEN SEASIDE
BUS COLLIDES WITH A TOURING CAR
Incendiary Fire "in
Negro College May
Result in Two Deaths
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, Jan. 31.
Nine students were injured,
two probably fatally in escaping
from a dormitory during a fire
at Wilberforce university near
Xenia today. The firs la said to
have been of incendiary origin.
The dormitory was destroyed
with a loss of 130.000. Wllbr-
force university is a partially
subsidized state school for ne-
groes.
4 One hundred men were quar-
tered in the dormitory and many
were forced to jump from second
story windows to escape the
5- flames.
OIL TRANSFERS
WERE INITIATEC
BY SECY DENBY
Judge Advocate Genl. of U. S
Navy Absolves Secy. Dan-
. iels of Blame Not Sure
Cancelling Contracts Would
Benefit United States.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 Secretary
Denby "initiated" transfer of tle Call
fornia and Wyoming naval oil reserves
to the Interior department, Rear Ad
mlral Latimer, judgo advocate gene
ral of the navy, told the house naval
committee today.
The admiral said Mr. Denby had
told him he had initiated tho trans
fer after investigating the field and
consulting with various exports.
After becoming a member of the
cabinet, the witness " explained, Mr.
Denby , became convinced of the ne
oo:SUy of taking prompt action to
prevent further depletion of oil In
the navy's reserves, but had no or
ganization In his department which
could function to that end.
Admiral Latimer said that oven if
it were proven that the Doheny and
Sinclair leases were "tainted with
fraud and corruption," It might be
poor policy for the government to
cancel them.
"If the government would lose
money." ho ndded. "the government
would merely be cutting off its nose
to spite Its face to throw up the' con
tracts. If, however, the contracts are
not to the best interests of tho pub
lic they should be revoked."
Questioned by democrats on the
committee Admiral Latimer said he
did not pass on the legality of the
: transfer of nuval oil reserves to the
I interior department or of the con
tracts with Doheny and Sinclair at the
time they were effected.
He steadfastly declined to be drawn
out as to whether he believed the
leases os a whole were legal.
Did Sinclair Make Money?
Representatives Vinson and Ilritten
engaged In an urgument as to the
1 100.000.000 Doheny and Sinclair had
i.ei-n reported as saying they would
make out of the leases.
Mr. Britten declared Mr. Vinson
could not produce a statement under
oath that either of the operators had
made the assertion.
"I accept your challenge," retorted
Mr. Vinson, "nnd will produce the
statement at the next committee
session."
Representative Stephens, republi
can Ohio, declared Mr. Vinson had
been unfair in predicating his ques
tlons nnd "Hint fraud and corruption
are still to be shown." He said he
had been Informed Sinclair would
make little or nothing out of the Tea
pot Dome lease.
"If he claimed he would mnke
$100,000,000." continued the Ohioan
"he did so to sell stock. If Sinclair
made money he did It out of the sale
of stock nnd those who invested are
holding the bag.
. "If Teapot Dome is returned to the
government, will the United States be
under obligation to reimburse per
sons who bought stock In the Sinclair
company hnndllng it?"
Admiral Latimer, when the exam-
(Continued on Page Right)
continued to back, according to the
report, the pipe smashing through the
side of the bus and Injuring several
of the passengers.
D. R. Emerson, driver of the truck,
was arrested on a charge of falling
to displny a red flag on the end of
the pipes.
The Injured are: Matt Putlo, 43.
Portland, possible fracture of the
skull, may die; Miss Edith Crangle,
28. Portland; Mrs. J. M- Grobell. 60,
Portland; J. H. Atney, 28, Sherwood.
3 KILLED BY
MADMAN IN
WASHINGTON
Sheriffs Posse Closing in On
Crazed Farmer Who Ran
Amuck Near Ephrata, Wn.,
Last Night Brother Is
Among Victims Woman Is
Badly Injured-
EPIinATA, Wash., Jan. 31. A
sheriff's posse was believed to be clos
ing In this afternoon on Owen Hud
son, wanted In connection with a
series of shootings In a farming dis
trict about twelve miles northeast of
here, which resulted In three deaths
and tho serious Injury of another'
person. Hudson was believed to bo
In Dry coulee, not far from tho scene
of the killings.
Glen Pugh, shot at his own door at
10:30 last night, died on a train this
forenoon enroute to Spokane to re
ceive surgical attention. Ira Slatcn
was shot and Instantly killed at his
homo at 2 a. m. today and his wife,
who declared their assailant was
Owen Hudson, was shot and Is In a
Herlous condition from loss of blood.
When neighbors went to 'tho Hud
son homo in search of Owen they
found his brother, Karl, shot dead.
Owen Hudson is believed to have be
come suddenly deranged.
Pugh was shot irom behind a bar
ricade of empty boxes In his back
yard. at 10:30 last night when ho ap
peared at the door. At 2 a. m., the
slayer visited the Slaten home, where
Owen Hudson had left some legal
papers a few days ago. When Slaten
appeared, it is declared, the Intruder
leveled a pistol at him and pulled the
trigger,' the weapon missing fire. He
shot again, It Is declared, the bullet
entering Slaten's head and killing him
instantly.
. When Mrs. Salten appeared the
man shot her through, the right arm
and fled. .
Tlfo trail of the slayor was believed
to havo been picked up in Dry coulee
and a posse was thought to bo closing
Is on hjm.
MAY BE APPLIED
ON 1923 INCOMES
WASHINGTON. Jan. 31. Secre
tary Mellon regards as practical and
favorable the plan of the republican
members of tho house to make the
proposed Income tax reductions ef
fective on tho 1923 payments which
taxpayers will remit to tho govern
ment beginning March 15. He believes
the step would entuil no difficulties
on the treasury.
Under the optional plan of pnymg
taxes In1 four installments, probably
90 per cent of the taxpayers take ad
vantage of tho privilege of retaining
moneys that might otherwlso be turn
ed Into the tronsury In a lump sum on
the first taxpaylng date. The me
chanics of dealing; with a retroactive
reduction, in Mr. Mellon s opinion
would be largely a paper transaction
consisting of the placing by tho
treasury of a credit to the taxpayer
on .future installments.
Little ensh rebate, ho believes,
would be Involved.
The treasury has had no opportu
nity to estimate the total reduction to
government Income but some officials
made the guess .today that It would
rnnge around J200.000.000 on the
payments this year If tho 2G per cent
reduction all along tho line on tax
rates Is agreed upon, as suggested by
the ways and means committee.
AND DENBY 10 QUIT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. Congres
sional discussion and executive con
sideration of the oil land leasing
question has served to fill Washington
with more rumors and counter
rumorB than the capital has known
before in many a day.
Most persistent of these reports In
volves the possible retirement of Sec
retary Denby and Attorney General
Daugherty from the cabinet.
Reports that the two cabinet mem
bers had submitted their resignations
to President Cooltdge several days ago
and that the president had refused to
accept them were dessiminated wide
ly today, but were both branded as
untrue by C. Bascom Slemp, secretary
to Mr. Coolldge.
Mother Silent in Alleged "Drug Plot'
I . fC0
New York Abovo at tho left is
shown Helen H. Krincli. the heir
less llgurlng In the alleged drug
plot for which she Is suing for a
million dollars damages. With
her Is Hazel M. Yorke. the trained
nurse who aided Miss 1-Yench to
escape from the Nqw Jersey sunt-
TAX 'YIELDS AN
SALEM, Ore., Jan. 31. The state
tax on gasoline and distillate collected
during the year 1923 amounted to $2,
046,904.33, according to a statement
prepared by Secretary Sam A. Kozer
today.
Taxos were remitted on 72,7S9,723
gallons of gasoline and 3,811,155 gal
lons of distillate. Of the total collect
ed the sum of $740.968.08 'resulted from
the operation of the original lnw Im
posing a tax of one ccrj peri gallon on
gasoline and one-halt cent per gallon
on distillate, while $1,29!),'.I9G.25 was
returned under the later tax law which
up to May 23, 1923 provided for an ad
ditional rate of one cent per gallon on
all kinds of motor vehicle fuels, the
additional tax alter that date being
two cents per gallon.
According to Mr. Kozer's statement,
gasoline saleB during 1923 represent
an Increase of more than 27 per cent
over those of 1922, distillate Bales hav
ing Increased approximately 47 per
cent.
It is estimated that the administra
tion expenses in connection with the
motor fuels taxes are less than those
Incident to the collection of any other
state tax. Since the original lnw be
came effective in February, 1919, the
stnte has received a total revolue of
$5,040,748.70, the expenses of collect
ing this amount having been hut $8,
780.35. This means that the "overhead
has been confined to about .0017 per
cent
Of the amount collected tinder the
law of 1921 there has been returned
up to January 26, 1924, the sum of
$119,562.19 to operators of farm trac
tors, motor boats, commercial cleaning
establishments, etc., pursuant to the
provision authorizing refunds of taxos
onsuch motor vehicle fuels as are
used for purposes other thun in the
operation of motor vehicles upon the
public highways.
Motor vehicle taxes are distributed
to the state highway fund becoming
available for the construction and
maintenance of state highways.
PENDLETON, Ore., Jan. 31. The
citizens of Pilot Rock searched fran
tically for hours this morning In an
attempt to locate John Rradburn.
town marshal whom they believed
had been kidnaped ,by or killed by a
band of thieves who last night stoic
$1400 worth of merchandise from
stores In that city. Uloodhounds were
employed In the search and tho ex
citement was at Its height when sud
denly tho marshal appeared In the
midst of his fellow citizens. He knew
nothing of the robbery and had been
serving papers at McKay dam. How-
lever the sight of his excited fellow
townsmen, deputy sheriffs in quantity
'and numerous bloodhounds proved
too much for Mr. liradburn, who Is
and Is now in a serious condition.
The bloodhounds are now being
employed in a search for the thieves
though no trace of them ha lis yet
been secured.
STATE GASOLINE I
ENORMOUS SUM
tarlum where alio charges she was
being forcibly detained. Tho girl's
mother, known as Mrs. Helen P.
Darling and also as Mrs. Wlllain
Stevenson, remuins silent In the
face of the extraordinary charges
made by her daughter.
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 31. Miss
Martha Whealdon, uged 27, suffered a
deep gash In her sculp' and a fractured
left ankle wljen sho wus struck by a
street car as she was crossing n street
last night. She was takon to the hos
pital. ASTORIA, Ore., Jan. 31. The Asto-
rla Btreet railway Bystem was put on
the bargain counter yesterday and of
fered to the city, the Port of Astoria,
or any other agency which might care
to oporato It, at only the salvage value '
of the property.
This salvage value would be $60,000
or $70,000. Tho valuation of the Bys
tem, us fixed by the state tax coin
mlssison is $202,000.
SALISM, Ore., Jan. ,31. Mrs. Wil
liam Kngsdulo, r0, of Dallas, had her
right leg cut off Just below the knee
this morning when she wns run down
by the Salem-Dalias motorcar of the
Southern Pacific lnsldo the city limits
of Dallas.
Mrs. Hagsdalo was standing on tho
main lino track waiting for a logging
train on a parallel switch to pass
when tho motor, which was backing
down tho rain track, ran her down.
Too Much Oil for Bok.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. Bgcuubg
public IntoroHt Is centered on the na -
val oil Inquiry the Genuto InvoBtiKa -
tlon Into the Ilok peace award was
gnnda committee until next Monday.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. Sale of
treasury savings certlficati-s by post -
imiHti.rs In nnvimifM-n middle-western
states has been susuended by Post -
master Cleneral New until further no -
tiro, with the approval of Secretary'
Mellon of tho treasury In order to
aiwlHt In the present financial stress
among tho small banks of those
states. -
Postmasters ln North Dakota. South
Dakota. Minnesota. Wisconsin. Iowa.
Missouri, Kansas. Nebraska. Texas,
Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming. Utah,
New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona and Mon
tana were ordered to discontinue tho
o of the certificates.
The order supplements one issued
January 19 which ordered dil(;",!n;
uuiivts in uu.nn.iiB ..w
subscriptions. The order does not
affert acceptance of deposits in the
posuu si v 1 1 1 b h nymvm. . -,
BE STARTED TOMORROW
WASHINGTON. Jan. 31. Plans
(Vi a nation-wide "prohibition of
fensive" will be worked out ln the
rrleeting tomorrow n New York of the
committee of 1000 formed to carry
on the work of the conference held
here Inst October Just prior to the
governors' conference on law en
forcement. The committee. It was announced,
will make arrangements for law en
forcement campaigns In all the larger
cities from each of which deputations
will be sent to smaller cities and
towns to conduct similar gatherings,
which in turn, will delegate commit
tees to carry tho campaign to Vil
lages and small communities.
ii
!
SAVINGSSALESTO
Governor Pierce Is
First Man to Pay
State Income Tax
SALEM. Ora, Jan. 31. Gov-
ernor Pierce yesterday paid his
4- Income tax under the new state
Income tax law. amounting to
$77.40. The only Income listed
waB the governor's Balnry of
7,B00 a year. He claimed ex-
em p tlon of $3,400 for his wife and
one child. The governor said
that 'a separate return would be
made for tho Pierce farming op-
eratioiiB which are under the
firm name of Plorce and Pierce
and which, the governor said, will
show a loss.
Affectionate Missives Penned
By Atlanta Millionaire to
Mrs- De Bouchel, Introduced
As Testimony in $500,000
Breach of Promise Suit.
ATLANTA, On., Jan. 21. Rending
of letters said to have been written
to Ml.Bi onozlmo, DoUouehol of New I
Orleans by Asa a. Cundler, soft drink
magnate of Atlanta was expected to
be continued today by the trial In
V,,Ue H"lU'l 'Hlr,ct cnur ,u"
Mrs. DeHouchol'B $500,000 breach of
promise suit against Mr. Cundler.
These wore dated early In .the
Hprinw of 1922, up until this time and
following their meeting In November,
1U21 at the Confederate Veteraim re-
union held here, Mr. Candler corro
j Hponded with Mrs. DeHouchel, bo a
lottor Htuted, "for culture and pastime
which being done, I found myuelf ad
miring you."
.Lator in the spring anothor letter
ntnted 'that Mr. Candler had Investi
gated ''the manner of woman" Mrs.
DeUouchel wan, and after ascertaining
"from very available source, I
learned of your excellency, good
breeding and personal charm," he
penned. "I unrestrainedly loved you."
Then came the proposal which
Mrs. DeHouchel, according to a letter
from Mr. Candler accepted, after she
had obtained a divorce from Adolpho
. Itocquet, In Reno in 1U21:
l In June. 3922, Mr. Candler wroto
ho had suffered on
learning
that
"sweetums" physical
condition
was
,ett6r fltlltet, (ilaKnoBis was made.
appendicitis was Indicated, continual
ly since you have experienced more or
less pain. You are mine. I am very
unhappy because of the above situa
tion." My "Pi-edous Kwcetiim"
One month later to "my very pro
clous sweetum," the Atlanta capitalist
wrote "the cards are en it raved and the
envelopes are bolng addressed in my
office. I am having your marriage
ring made to fit my little finger. Is
that the right size? Bend me a string
measure In your next letter."
The engagement secret leaked out
In August and also dark clouds over
the romance began to guthor. In a
letter dated August 10, Mr. Candler
1 wrote. "The announcement of no
' citizen's wedding has ever caused as
' much talk and produced as many let-
;0 or every Kina as nas mine.
' i Know mai more nas gone 10 w
Orleans from Atlanta a prominent
citizen," the letter stated, "who is
ffreauy aisiuroeu anoui my nrnrr mBu
w" 14 "
" oaa ania papers.
I e fo! lowing day he warned Mm.
" DoBouchel not to give out any inter-
views 6r to distribute any pictures and
added, "whatever may come to pre
vent our marriage will not hinder my
devotion to you. My heart is yours,
' niv Invn fnt vmi fa thn nillnir rmnfllnn
u,a . inimntH Mriv
today that Introduction of these let-
ter(J nfd ever(l depositions would
.nrnlllul. ,hn ninintlfr rn. whlnh
, como probubly before court re-
cew,eH uto today.
SECRETARY HUGHES
OIL LEASES NEVER
WAS'IINOTON, Jan. -31. A sug-j
gcstlon In tho senate yesterday by
Senator Norrls, republican, that Soc
retury Hughes, a formor member of
the supreme court, should hnve called
nttantlon to tho "plain Illegality" of
the leases when they were discussed
by tho ' cabinet wns followed today
by the Issuance of this statement by
Mr. Hughes:
"The questions of the legality or
propriety of the oil leases now under
discussion In congress were never
brought before the cabinet for Its
discussion. My opinion upon 'hese
LOVE NOTES OF
COCO COLA KING
HEAD IN COURT
ITS BIG
DISSOLUTION
OF JAP DIET
Unprecedented Scenes of Vio
lence Mark Session of Japa
nese Parliament Water
Flasks Thrown, Fists Fly
Wrecking of Trains Cause of
Disorders Police Called.
TOKIO, Jan. 31. (By Associated
Press). The Imperial diet was dis
solved today following scenes of the
greatest disorder In which water
flasks were thrown and fists used. The
disturbance resulted from attempts of
tlm niinnulllin t InlapnallntA II.a vav.
ernmont regarding the attempted
wrecking of a train at Nagoya carry
ing opposition leaders to Tokio.
The turbulent scenes which oc
curred ln the lower house made fur
ther business impossible. The out- '
burst came shortly after the represen
tatives had taken their seats upon the
resumption of the diet session.
Interpellating the government in
connection with the train wreck, ln
which threo prominent opposition
leaders escaped Injury although the
locomotive of their train was derailed,
the opponents of Premier Klyoura and
ills newly installed cabinet demanded
that the premier roply personally.
Klyoura declined to reply.
Great disorder Immediately fol
lowed, amid which Kenjiro Komatsu,
mi n into i of communications and a
member of the house of peers, at-
' tempted to reply to the interpella
tions. In the confusion an agitator,
tint n. mnmhrtr nf thn rllnt riiahoH tn
tho platform and thrust Komatsu 1
aside. A riot followod. The leglsla
i tors used water containers as missiles
ond sevorul engaged ln flstlo combat, -I
lfOHtltit.es continued -until th
IsnanlroK nf Iha hnnao lionHl.r rianlnroit
a temporary adjournment which was
followed by dissolution of the diet. ,
' Police Aro Called In v
Six rallies wero held ln Toklo by
the opposition this afternoon. The
pollco, strengthened by the addition
of an extra force, were maintaining a
' close watch over proceedings.
I The tense political atmosphere at
tending tho resumption of sessions of
I the diet today was further heightened
by an attempt to wreck a train carry
i lng Viscount Takuhoshf, K. Inukat,
I leader of the nationalist party and Y.
Ostaki, former minister of Justice.
The three are leaders of the allied
opposition parties, they were on their
way to Toklo from an opposition party
rnltv nt OmiiUil. Thv AHPfLnnd Inllirv.
although the locomotive of their train
was damaged by logs and stones piled
on the track near Nagaoya.
The Incident was one of a series
marking the bitter fight between the
newly formed cabinet under Premier
Klyoura and opposition leaders, both
sides using ruffianism as a weapon.
Within the past 48 tiours political
"bullies" known to the Japanese as
Soshl, attempted to fire the homes of
elder statesmen; Matsulkl and Salon Jl
at Okltsu; Jllrata at Zushl and Vis
count Ito In Toklo.
These noblemen are blamed by
their political foes responsible for tho
attacks, for the formation of a "priv-
Uaged class cabinet," under Premier
Klyoura, upon which so-called demo
cratic elements are waging a bitter
battle.
The political situation In Toklo Is
the torment that has existed In years
and nn augmented police force Is
guarding the diet.
Death Toll of
the Automobile
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 31. Silas F.
Kratz, 65, run down yesterday morn
ing by an automobile said to be driven
by Reginald R. Irving, died at the
hospital this morning. Irving Is held
ln the city Jail In lieu of $1,000 ball.
DECLARES TEAPOT
CAME UP IN CABINET
questions was never sought or ex
pressed cither ln or out of the cabi
net. If the oil lenses were ever re
ferred to In cabinet meetings, and
I do not recall that they were, It was
certulnly only by way of general ref
erence and without requiring any re
sponsible action, which of course, 1
should not have been willing to take
without examination of papers and
statutes. Having plenty of work in
the department of stnte, I had no oc
casion to consider these questions of
law and fact Involved and I have not
been called upon to take any respon
sibility In the matter." '