Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, February 20, 1935, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., February 20, 1935, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Textedford Mail Tribune WINNER Pulitzer Award FOR 1934 Tweuty-niuth Year -MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 193 No. 283. TRIED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER NOISCREET WIFE FISHING GEAR BILL On Trial Again The Weather Forecast: Unsettled with rain tonight and Thursday; moderate tempera ture. Highest yesterday 6t Lowest this morning 43 M Jq (fun r! I Hskys I RETURNTF" G i CHAOS; By rau! .Ma lion (Copyright. 1935, bv Paul Maloln) WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. The law yers will be arguing from now on about what the supreme court did in the gold case. The only thlntf they may agree on is that the court faced tn fact In prcfer- , ence to the law. In other words. :he decision was based on calm icasonlng rathei han cold consti tutional word. At IcaAt this Is what .they are paying here now I'Al'l. MALLON sotto voce. It pleases a lot of lawyers who have always believed that the letter-of-the-law has caused much injustice as well as Justice. As they see It, the reasoning oe htnd the court decision was quite simple. When the Justices locked the door and got down to business, they did not call for conies of the con stitution and thumb through it first. They merely asked themselves the question whether the people who were suing the government had act ually been damaged because the new deal devalued the d liar. Any fair-minded economist will tell you the answer. They had not. Liberty bond holders bought their bonds, say. In 1918 with the old 100 cent dollar of that period. (That wis the year when most of the Liberties were sold by the government). If they sell those bonds now, they will get Just as many of President Roosevelt's 59-cent dollars. The enly actual nffference to them Is what their bond would buy in 1918 and what It will buy now, not In gold, but in rood, clothing and such things. If you dig back Into the value of the dollar in 1918, you will find It was worth about 76 cents in purchas ing power. That Is, prices were then so high after the war that you could get only 76 oents worth of food and clothing for It. Today the dollar will buy roughly $1.33 In goods at the present lower price level. So if anyone owes anyone else In this matter, you Liberty bondholders would seem to owe the government about 57 cents. At least the dollars with which you bought your Liberties will buy that much more today. The figures used are from the sur vey of wholesalo prices conducted by the bureau of labor statistics. They are computed on a 1926 base, with prices that year being considered to furnish 100 cents purchasing power for the dollar. The average purchas ing power of the dollar in all com r mod ties for 1918 was exactly .762 and for 1934 it was exactly $1,333. as shown In this recently issued sur vey. The gold prices for the two com parative periods are beside the point because no American citizen now can buy gold with his Liberty bonds or his dollars. There was one trick in the decision. The reasoning lmpl!e. that the court might hold differently in a case of foreigners, who have suffered actui1. damages on their Liberty bond in vestments as a direct result of de valuation. For Instance, a Frenchman who paid 10,000 francs for a Liberty bond will find it worth only about 8.000 franca now. His Interest is worth that much less also, when he converts it from devalued dollars into gold francs. If wmc Frenchman purchased Liberties and set them aside to meet some In trptmnAi balance, ne might have a good chance of collecting if he sud the U. S. government. No doubt some will try. Certain good authorities suspect the court might consider other facts, such as wether the claim of the Frenchman should logically be made ajratnst his own government for not devaluing also. A flock of rumors have been fly ing around sutggojtin that Mr 1 Roosevelt m:ght take this encouraging opportunity to devalue the dol.ar further. He could squeeze nine mo.-e rents of gold out of it If he wantM to There is no indication that lie will. Every well-informed authority here seems to be convinced t.iat he will 1 not. For one thing there Is no ad- ; vantage he could p-sstbly gain by it. except to remove that minor uncer tainty about his Jtual action. T.ie truth seems to be that he likes this minor uneerta.nty and will keep it in reserve until the time comes to ..nh:.:rr v w.i forevn countries. N- one Is ss-'itinc for further r.c u'-.iV f r-i ''.' ir.f'utior.l i-"n, !- be w: to Irt e ryth::i sl.de a.oiw; for '.i-e u:r.e 'jeirt. Cone'. iiv.cn ;t:r.r 5e".-n to have de-:tf1 f'i-.st ;r,;r.-::rir,si pressure fit;a;?jt Frar.ce an-1 the gc.d b.Ov i-, " no- e .. Th!1 belief ::' :r ; ay .:-, x.v (Co&iu.ue4 oa Pa sUl SEEN IF PROGRAM Message From President Meets Senatorial Deter mination to Investigate Code Structure of Law WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. (Ap) President Roosevelt today signed the bill authorizing $80,000,000 for loans to farmers for purchasing seed and proposed that the funds be taken from the $880,000,000 relief amount in the work and relief bill now pend ing In congress. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. fif A presidential message recommending a two year extension of NRA with fund amental principles renewed met a sen atorial determination today to invest igate the recovery law's vast code structure. "The fundamental purposes and principles of the act are sound." the I nrrsldent told eonercss. "To abandon them is unthinkable. It would spell the return of industrial and labor chaos." There s some confusion as to whether the president's message rec ommended extension also of the sec ond title of the recovery law that .setting up the public works admin istration. Informed sources said tne PWA was taken care of In the pend ing $4,880,000,000 relief bill, while the oil administration came under the NRA title of the law. .NRA Hearing Concluded As the message was received In the senate and house, NRA concluded the first of an expected series of hearings on charges of monopolistic conduct by code authorities In this Instance the automatic sprinkler industry. Before the hoxtse labor committee. (Continued on Page Two) E PORTLAND, Ore.. Feb. 20. (AP) After writing a note to a police of ficer In which he stated his Inten tions, Lawrence C. Centner, 25, of Portland, shot himself to death last night. Gcntncr addressed the note to Pa trolman Carl Shoemaker who Is cap tain of a National Guard company of which Centner was a member. Shoemaker hurried to the young i man's home but Centner atready had fired the fatal shot. The note said 111 health and financial difficulties prompted his act. GRANTS PASS, Feb. 20. (AP) i Lawrence C. (Larry) Centner, 24, who ! died of self-inflicted wounds In Port- , land last night, was the first person west of the Rockies ever to win the I famous Wimbledon trophy In the j rifle sharpshootlng matches conduct- ' ,ed by the National American asso-; elation. ' In 1930 at Camp Perry. Ohio, Gent- j i ner hit the bullseye 20 times nt 1000 ; yards, ten of the bullets striking i dead center. For several years he was I . a member of the Oregon National ! Guard teams, dne of which won the I 1 National team championship. ! Gcntner then was a sergeant of 1 Company C. National Guard at , , Grants Pass, where he made his home i i until recently. ! Gcntner is survived by his parents. ' Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Ocntner of Grants Pass. CHICAGO, Teb. 30. fAP) Live j hog prices here Jumped 15 cents j higher today to a peak of 19.10. aj price unequaled since November 11. 1 1930, extending Jo a full dollar the! sensational advance that has been ' underway since the first of the year. Starvation receipts, the important ! far-tor in this sustained upturn, acaln forced higher bidding Sup pltfi of fresh hogs, running 25 per cent below a week atfo. have been Kharply below normal for this season or the year. Then too. dwindling cold storage holdings of prk was rr ported. WILLAMETTE COACH NOT PLANNING IDAHO MOVE j SALEM. Feb. 20. fAPi Roy S. Kene. head athletic cnah at Willam ette univers: ;n Salem, who reports jhfc'.e s:d, hi bcn considered for ths portion of head tooth. I coach at t;;e v n.'.rr-.' 'if I'!'ho. .'IfM ;i;e today t :.-iAt ..r i.Afi ' : no Uc.'in;e p lp;a4i'' on Uc ub;cci. Mrs. Thelma Goetz, 28 (left), went to trial In Tucson, Ail., charged with the slaying of Blrtsall W. Jones, 69. Her attorney, John L. Van Buaklrk, Is shown with her In court. (Associated Press Photo A. T. & T. TO PAY $2.25 DIVIDEND NEW YORK, Feb. 30. (AP) , American Telephone Sc Telegraph dl- ! rectors today ordered the usual quar- terly dividend of $2 36 on the capl-; tal stock. The dividend calls for a distribution of about $42,000,000 1 among the stockholders. i The company has paid $9 annual- j ly since 1921, and during the last ; few years it has been paid partly out of surplus. Walter S. Oifford, president, In a recent letter to stockholders, estima ted 1934 earnings at approximately $5.85 a share against $5.38 a share In 1933. The dividend 1b payable April 15 to stock of record March 15. SALEM, Feb. 30. (AP) Attorney ; General I. H. Van Winkle today ruled that the two house measures designed to change senatorial districts were j unconstitutional. j One, House Bill 143. would change j the 17th district by taking out Kla- j math county and giving them one ; senator, by changing the 18th district j by adding Morrow, changing the 19th : district by taking out Morrow. Uma tilla and Union and placing Klamath In that district. ; House bill 330 proposes to change ! the 14th district by taking out Co- lumbla and adding It to the 15th dis- I trlct, thus giving Clatsop one senator. FORD WILL GET MORE FEDERAL BUSINESS: WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 Jff, Co incident with the disclosure that some government departments recent ly have bought large numbers of Ford automobiles, It was said in authori tative quarters today the administra tion was taking steps to make more government business available to Henry Ford outstanding "hold -out" from NRA. ROOSEVELT'S RELIEF BILL HIT BY BYRD WASHINGTON. Feb. 20 VP, A violent attack on the amlnlstration 14,860.000.000 relief bill was made in the senate today by Senator Byrd (D , Vs.), who said its defeat wou'd be a "direct assursnw to the nation that the government is determined to maintain the credit of the Unitel States above reproach." Cockroach Banquet P I a c e s 5 Russians Behind Iron Bars ARCHANGEL, XJ, 8. 8. R., Feb. 20. API F.ve persons. Includ ing M. S-n!n. formT. retsry of he communis, party commitfe at Ifcoiiorrky harbor we-e sen-e:--'cd to priron today for the part they played In a "cockroi"h banquet H The five men mere accused of i.:-::r,g employes of a restaurant ti eat soup containing tock r h after a '"lAVur.r com p;i;ni of fir.'Jtne on in Ills food. y ryjS5p SPEAKERS TO AID In order to bring before the pub lic the highway safety campaign, which has been progressing through out the state for some weeks, the Oregon State Motor association an nounced that speakers' bureaus will be orgni7,ed In various communities. C. E. Gates, member of the state committee. In cooperation with the Jackyon county chamber of com merce, will appoint several capable speakers to appear before civic clubs, community clubs, schools and other organizations In promoting the cam paign In Med ford and vicinity. Gates Is conferring with Lee Oar lock, manager of the local AAA branch today, and announced that a speakers' committee and schedule will be made public soon. J. A. Frederlrkson of the Medford fire department Is receiving treat ment at the Community hospital for the effects of chlorine gas, he came In contact with shortly before noon today while repairing a gas tank at Owen Oregon lumber mill. Having entered the building with a gas mask. Fttderlckson was at work on a valve of the tank when the latter upset, stripping the mask from his face and exposing his lungs to the gas. Dr. R. W. Slcctcr. his attending physician, said this after noon his condition was not serious. BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY Announcement has been made that the state liquor store, all local banks, the court house, city hall and fed eral building will be closed sll day Friday, February 22. in honor of Geo. Washington's birthday. "HEX" COMPELS BOY TO SLASH INFANT BROTHER WILLI AMb PORT, Pa., Feb. 20. (AP) The butcher knife slashing of an ctght-month-cld bby spurred i ; authorities today to reopen their ; ; campaign against "wltrh doctors" and "h1 spells" in the Pennsylvania I Dutch country. ' Victim of the latest "pow wow," little James Ler jy Fritz, was given a chance to live today by physicians j of the hospital where he was taken after his forehead was slashed with j a butcher knife yesterday by his "liexrd" olrter brother who Is five. Prrpar;i g to appeal to the aiat department of health for an invent!- 1 cation. District Attorney John C. You i. c -nan told hj-v the baby waft bro'.uvj. rr to r!"ith an w -rds rre m.m,b;M Mw and "devils" mere cast' out . ' The "spell" was Invoked, he re-( rortcd. In the Fritz s humble home ; a. Sal.adsburg 15 miles from here. I It a. began, the father explained.! a nen Ms oldest son ilasncd the -Mb.- fur'-i.e-ad on urday ai"&t (with t ptntuilfe. ' ) One Angle of Los Angeles Quadrangle' Divorce Suit Gives Startling Testimony Husband Denies Charge LOS ANGELES, Feb. 30. ( AP) Mrs. Walter W. Emerson, one angle of a quadrangle divorce suit that In volves herself, her husband, who la an actor and writer, and Mr. and Mrs. Barton Sewell, today testified that she had been indiscreet with Sewell, but Insisted It was with her hus band's knowledge and consent. Her testimony, which was before Superior Judge Ben B. Llndsey, for mer Denver Jurist and author of nu merous books and articles on mari tal problems, came after a private de tective had described a "raid" on the Emerson Home during which Mrs. Emerson and Sewell were found In a bedroom together In the small hours of the morning. Mrs. Emerson blushed as she des cribed her relations with Sewell, rich Beverley Hills resident. She told of meeting Sewell at various hotels and at the home of a "mutual friend." Asked by Milton Cohen, attorney for Emerson, If she had told her hus band the "purpose" of the times she went away with Sewell, she replied: "Well, not In so many words. One doesn't do that." But she Insisted that her husband knew of and approved her meeting Sewell, Including "twice this month." Emerson, on his part, vigorously denied a blunt question asked by W. I. Gilbert, attorney for Mrs. Emer son in the contested divorce proceed ings. "Didn't you tell your wife you woulo; stop out of the picture If Sew ell would pay you enough to let you make a trip to China and set you up In business there," he was asked. "No," replied Emerson with vigor and heat. T E SALEM. Feb. 30. (yp) Instead f having been kidnaped, Louis Lee, 19, half Chinese youth of St. Paul, Ore., had himself written a $50,000 ran som letter to his father and taken a temporary residence at the C. A. Pickering farm near Salem. Young Lee made the statement that he had written the ransom note snd had signed it "H. B. a. and H. C. O." The youth was tsken Into custody at the Pickering place today by Dep. uty Sheriff Newell Williams as the result of a direct clue furnished by a letter Young Lee wrote to Mrs. Nona White, county probation offi cer, dated February 18, the same date the kidnap letter was written. At the sheriff's office today Lee was quizzed by P. A. Orlmadel. federal department of Justice agent from Portland. jSETH PARKER DUE IN TUTUILA BY FRIDAY I HONOLULU, Feb. 20.(AP) The American Schooner Seth Parker, dis abled In the south Pacific February i 11, radioed today she expected to reach Tutulla, American-Samoa, Frl- ; day morning In tow of the United States navy tug Ontario. On board the Seth parker are Phil lips Lord, radio performer and master i of the schooner, with four crew I members. A "mischievous devil" was at work, the parents decided, so they called in the "witch doctor" for a "pow wow." After mumbling a ritual, the "doc tor" declared the boy "cured by faith" and ordered him left alone with the baby. While the parents watched through a window, the "cured" lad picked up a butcher knife and slashed his brother again. They rushed back to the room and found the older lad "remorseful" behind the kitchen stove. Many tragedies dot the psRea of "l-.ei" hUtory, which da ten bt'-k to the orlpin of superstition Iweif. The "pow-wow's" prevalence was demonstated in 1920. when an en tire school In York county closed in fear of the -hex." The following year, the York city council found it necessary to legislate against the practice. "Spells" have often been offered as bona fide testimony in murder trult l&d Ittft K&OU CAUSE OF HEATED DEBATE IN HOUSE Attempts to Delay Con sideration Fail Senate Passes Jacksonville Water Works Loan Measure SALEM. Feb. 20. -MV While debate waxed warm on the bill to abolish I fixed fishing gear In the Columbia i river the motion to recess for noon delayed further consideration and vote on the propoal until the aft ernoon session of the house of trc Oregon legislature. The battle for passage of the btll , was led by Representative Walter Norblad of Astoria, one of the co signers of the measure, which had passed the senate under the leader ship of Frank Franclscovlch, state senator from Astoria. T ry To Kill Mens tire Various moves to delay considera tion or to kill the bll! were attempted during the morning debate, but all failed. Governor Charles H. Martin today sent a special message to the legisla ture urging authorization for the board or control to net up a property control system. A bill accompanying the suggestion was Introduced by Speaker John E. Cooter. The request Sor such authority for the board carried tho endorsement of Earl anell, secretary of state and member of tho board, vrbo declared: "The economolea Which, could be accomplished through, such plan would result In material savings to the state, and would enable the board to systematize the operations of th purchasing department and conserve and utlllTve surplus materials," said Snell. HuMnesftllke PnnvMiil "I think Governor Martin's esti mate of possible savings of a quarter million dollars a year Is conservative. The proposal is businesslike and con structive.' With the declaration that he in tends to maintain taw and order and preserve the peace ir. Oregon during strikes or at any other time. Gov ernor Martin was to.lay calling upon supporters of his program In the house to sustain the roll call by which the house late yesterday ap proved house bill 342 Tho bill would remove the restric tion contained In the act creating tho department of state police which ve (Continued on Page Twelve) KIDNAPING THREAT IS NEWTON. Feb. 20. ( AP ) Moses H. Qulesisn. 71, former millionaire Bos ton and Newton realtor, threatened with kidnaping several years ago, was reported missing today by his son-in-law, James L. Bock, of Newton Center. Beck said Ouleslan had received no recent threats. He said he "did not know what to think" when asked if he suspected Oulcslan had been kid naped. He said Gulesian attended a dinner of the Sons of Veterans of the Amer ican Revolution at the University club, Boston, last night, and that his abandoned automobile was found in Trinity Place, Boston, near tho club. NOT GUILTY PLEA OF PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (AP) A plea of not guilty to a charge of first de gree murder was made here Tuesday afternoon by Joseph John Osbourne, former special policeman, accused of slaying Simon Mlsh, elderly retired merchant. Mlsh was beaten to death In hit home last December. A large and valuable diamond ring he was wear ing has not been recovered. WASHINGTON MONUMENT ALL SHIP-SHAPE AGAIN WASHINGTON. Feb. 30. (AP) After seven months work, the Wash ington monument has been cleaned from top to bottom without a ilngle workman getting hurt. The laat of tho scaffolding was re moved today from the white shaft and the monument, with Its platin um and gold peak, was pronounced as good as new. COLORADO WATER USED IN TOAST TO DECISION DENVER, Feb. 20. ( AP) A toast in "pure Colorado mountain water" to "the United folate supreme court. President Rfxwevelt and King Oold and Queen Silver" was drunk today by the state's mining leaders. The occasion was a luncheon "Just to celebrate tbe gold decUloo." V ' . ; ' David Lamson (above), former j Stanford university press man and once convicted of slaying his wife at their campus home, was confi dent of acquittal as his second trial opened In San Jose, Cal. He was granted a new trial after being con victed and sentenced to death. (As loclated Press Photol PAYROLL TAX FOR E COMMITTEE I0EA WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. (AT) Tho houso ways and means commit tee today decided to Impose a flat federal payroll tax for unemploy ment Insurance Instead of basing the levy on business conditions. . That change was written Into the pending social security bill, Chair man Dough ton said, with the ap parent approval of administration of. flolala. Under the committee's amendment the tax will be 1 per cent in the 103fl calendar year, 3 per cent In 1037 and 3 per cent the proposed maximum In 1038. This level was the same amount presented to congress by the admin istration except for the elimination of fluctuations with business condi tions.. The committee's decision was that a fluctuating tax would cause busi ness uncertainty. In Its present form, the bill would have no effect upon taxes levied by states for unemployment Insurance funds. Tho committee tentatively ap proved, however, a proviso permitting employers who donate to state funds to obtain a 00 per cent credit on their federal levies. The senate finance committee, meanwhile, closed hearings on the social security program, WASHINGTON, Feb. 30. flcn a tor Johnson (R., Calif.) today Intro duced a bill to pay a pension of 9100 a month to Mrs. Ernest Datlcy, widow of the radio -man ho lost his life In the wreck of the airship Macon off Point Sur, February 13. Under the present regulations. It was understood, Mrs. DUley would re ceive $20 a month. The senator aald Dalley met hla death heroically In the performance of his duty and his widow should not be left In need. Dalley's home was given In his personal papers as North Bend, Ore. STAUB 10 DIRECT TORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 30. (AP) With instructions to organize sup port for the army air defense bill when It Is reported out of the con gressional military affairs committee. Dr. Raymond R. fltaub of Portland has been appointed regional director of the national air frontier defense association. The defense unit Is urging con struction of modern strategic air de fense bnses, including one for the Pacific northwest. Dr. Btaub Is secretary of the Ore gon state board of aeronautics. MONTANAN NOMINATED AS AGRICULTURE AIDE WASHINGTON. FfD 20. tA'l Prs Mrnt H,vrlt today nominated Mjlbuni L. Wilson, of Montana, to be swlstsnt tecrrury ot strlcultu.". 8HANOHAI. rrt. 30. lAPl Th iilnmng of the coastal swsmer Fu Lunij taily this week claimed 330 mm. affording to details received Here today- mm SEWAGE E Government Will Give $22, 000 Additional for Con struction of New Plant Engineer Here Friday An ordinance Authorizing the tesu. snce and ,Ale of sewage disposal bond, in the amount of $78,000, for the construction of Medford's new sewage disposal plant, was passed at Us final reading last nlht before tne city council. The bonaj will be taken over by the government at four per cent Interest, end together with a federal grant of 22.000 will return n total of $100,000 for Immediate con struction of the plant, upon which preliminary work la now underway. Fred Schoffol, city superintendent. Informed the council that Samuel A. Orrery, nf Greeley and Hansen. Chi cago engineers for the project, wll! be In Medford Friday and Saturday of this week to confer with local en gineers and dmw up final, detailed plans for the work. Informal Me!t Friday Enroute to Medford. Greeley will confer with O. C. Hockley. Oregon PWA engineer, snd Pith Fred Striek er, state health officer, regarding th plant. The council voted to hold an Informal meeting w'th Greeley Fri day night. While here, the Chicago engineer will Inspect the test borings that have been dug at the plant site. Sup erintendent Scheffel said preliminary ('Continued on Pago Five) E The annual distribution of squir rel poison by the county agent's of fice Is now underway, and a large amount of poison grain has been prepared. Some farmers and orchard Is ts have started scattering the mix ture. The squirrels are Just beginning to come out of their burrows, accord ing to County Agent Robert Ct. Fowler, and are looking for some thing green and tender, after a long diet of nuts and dry roots. It la the Intention to eradicate the squir rel, before spring vegetation becomes advanced. The squirrels are reported quite plentiful In some sections and the county sgent says he has received reports that the squirrels have been out of their holes all winter, being too busy to hibernate. HAVANA SCHOOLS LACK HAVANA. Feb. 30. T Havana's schools still lacked teachers and stu dents today ss the strike against Tsr lous conditions In the educational system continued. From the teachers came demands for 9100 a month as minimum pay and 0,000 new classrooms. , Demanding freedom from the "yoke of Yankee imperialism."' university students asserted they would fight against the "control of Cuba, eco nomically and pollt'cally." by United States Ambassador Jefferson Caff cry. SKMGMAN, Ariz., Feb. 10 I'his is nn open letter to Henry i Ford. It goes to him first and t he don t pny nny attention to it why then it poos to General Motors or nny worth while au tomobile m.inufiieturer. What this countrj-..needs is a hijih centered nntninohilc. You would be surprised nt the amount of us that has not sot a boulevard by their door. They arc making ears so low thnt you can't run over a fellow without hurting him and if you want ;o drive out of town anywhere yon !.'nt to ne n span of mules. Come on, Mr. Kord; do sonic thintf for the country folks.