Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, February 02, 1950, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., February 02, 1950, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextSome Relief In Sight For Shivering Pacific Northwest Region Medford United Press Full Lent Wir 44th Year 18 YEAR OF THE BIG SNOW Drifting snow almost engulfs scene on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., after a frigid wind blocked over 300 miles of roads in and about Portland. Russian Submarines Believed In Pacific Tokyo, Feb. 2 (U.R) Russia has 60 to 70 submarines operat ing at present in the western Pa cific, Adm. Forrest P. Sherman, U. S. chief of naval operations, said today, shortly after disclos ing the United States plans to build up its naval strength in that area. "Russia has 270 to 280 sub marines, and about one fourth of them are in the Pacific, we be lieve," Sherman told a navy press conference. Building Fleet (The Russians recently have been reported building up a Far East submarine fleet. Japanese prisoners of war being repatriat ed from Soviet areas have plac ed the number of subs at about 18.) Asked to comment on reports the Russians were shipping parts overland and assembling the subs at Vladivostok, Sherman replied, "It is possible." Earlier, at a press conference held by all four members of the U. S. joint chiefs of staff, Sher man said the history of two world wars shows the submarine threat is "very real." U. S. Plans Increase At this conference, Sherman said the United States planned to increase the number of car riers in the western Pacific to two and to divert a "half dozen" destroyers from the Atlantic. At present, the carrier Boxer is the only carrier in that area. Commie 'Flip-Flops' Discussed At Hearing San Francisco, Feb. 2 (U.R) Government attorneys dwelt at length on "flip-flops" in the communist party line today in an effort to break down a Catholic priest's testimony that Harry Bridge's is a truthful, honest and upright man who never has been a communist. The Rev. Paul Meinecke, who has a small parish in Eureka. Nev., admitted under cross-examination that he had never dis cussed "flip-flops" in communist party policy with the CIO long shore leader. He was questioned at length about the change in communist policy in 1939 when the Soviet nazi non-aggression pact was signed and asked if Bridges did n't alter his own beliefs to match the communist poiicy change "It was a pretty big bundle." he replied, "and I can't recall his being for or against these matters." Portland Clock Change Scheduled April 30 Portland, Ore.. Feb. 2 (U.R) Daylight saving time will begin in Portland at 2:01 a.m. April 30 and end at 1:59 a.m. September 24. The city council made the clock shifting time official yes terday, confirming with time changes in the east to end con fusion involving airline, radio and train schedules. STYLES APPOINTED Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) President Truman today an nounced the appointment of Paul L. Styles as a member of the national labor relations board. Pages It is lying at anchor off Yoko suka, the giant Japanese naval base. Also attending the press con ference were the other chiefs of stci, Gen. Omar N, Bradley, chairman; Gen. J. Lawton Col lins, army; and Gen. Hoyt S. Vadenberg. Bradley said Formosa has "some strategic value, especially if held by someone hostile to us." He said Gen. Douglas MacAr thur's headquarters made an "ex cellent presentation" of Ameri can military problems in the Far East. He said he knew of no plan to increase military forces in Japan. Telephone Strike Plans Pushed Ahead Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) While government mediators be gan intensive efforts today to forestall a threatened nation wide telephone strike, union of ficials pushed ahead with plans for crippling service. The strike, by 100,000 CIO communica tion workers, is scheduled for next Wednesday. The union wants shorter hours and higher wages. Union President Joseph A. Beirne said the strikers will have picket lines at nearly every tele phone exchange in the country. He believed the picket lines would keep about 200,000 addi tional telephone workers from reporting to their jobs. Federal Mediation Director Cyrus S. Ching met for several hours yesterday with Beirne in what he called a "general dis cussion" of the dispute. Governor Asks Early Emergency Board Meet Salem, Ore., Feb. 2 (U.R) Gov. Douglas McKav todav ask ed for an early meeting of the state emergency board to act on state purchase of a Summer street property that is in the capitol zone. The property is owned by Robert T. Coates of Portland, who had proposed to build a S350.000 seven-story apartment building on the site. Six Military Hospitals to Close; Others Curtailed Washington, Feb. 2 (UJii Defense Secretary Louis John son has ordered six military hos pitals closed down and activities at 10 others curtailed as part of his economy program. In announcing the order yes terday, Johnson estimated that the move would save about S25.000.000 annually. The cut back will reduce the number of hospital beds by 8.000 and will permit reassignment of 400 doc tors. Cloture Planned Scheduled to be closed during the next five months are four army and two navy hospitals. They are: Army Murphy General hos pital, Waltham, Mass.: Valley Forge General hospital, Phoenix villc. Pa.; Oliver General hos pital, Augusta. Ga.; and Percy Jones General hospital, Battle Creek, Mich. MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY,' FEBRUARY 2, Id) (Acmt Ttleplwto) a house and creates a Sahara like whipped the area. Drifting snow Oleomargarine Tax Repealer Bill Due For Closing Round Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) The long battle over repealing federal taxes on oleomargarine moved into the next to last round in the house today. With dairy state members scrapping all the way, the house was scheduled to vote on send ing the bill to a joint conference committee which will put it in final form. Both houses have passed the repealer, but in slightly differ ent forms. After these differ ences are ironed out, another vote is necssary to put the meas ure on the president's desk. Consent Blocked Rep. August H. Andresen, (R. Minn.) blocked the usually rou tine house consent to send the bill to conference. He then asked the rules committee to bottle it up because, he said, it would "help liquidate the dairy indus try." But the rules group, acting at the request of administration leaders, sent it out for action today. Approval seemed certain, but the dairy state congressmen arc expected to use every weapon they have against the proposal. Meat Packing Firms Deny Monopoly Chicago, Feb. 2tUB Three major meat packing firms con tended today that the industry operates in an atmosphere of "aggressive competition" for small profits. Swift and company, Armour and company, and Cudahy Pack ing company yesterday filed answers in federal district court denying charges of monopoly and restraint of trade. The charges were contained in an anti-trust suit filed by the justice department in 1948. The suit charged that the pack ers had engaged in a continuous conspiracy since 1893. It asked that Swift and Armour each be split into five separate com panies and Cudahy and Wilson into two each. Navy Mare Island, Cal., nav al hospital and Long Beach, Cal. general hospital. Hospitals to operate at a re duced scale include Madigan General hospital, Ft. Lewis, Wash., first to be reduced to 850 beds and eventually to 500. Navy Portsmouth, New Hampshire naval hospital, to be reduced to 35 beds; Jacksonville Fla., naval hospital to be reduced to 180 beds; Memphis. Tenn., naval hospital to be reduced to 150 beds; Corpus Christi, Tex., naval hospital to be reduced to 100 beds. Air force Lowry hospital, Denver, Colo., to be reduced to a disDensary. Additional Beds In connection with the clos ing of the Mare Island hospital the navy was allocated 50 ad ditional beds at the Mare Island shipyard medical facility. mm Weak Radio Signal Twice Intercepted By Search Plane Beam Picked Up Near Wrangell Mountains Anchorage, Alaska, Feb. 2 (U.R) A "weak but clear keyed radio signal" on the distress fre quency was intercepted twice in the same place near the Wrang el mountains by a U. S. air force B-17 radio operator this week, a 10th air force rescue squadron officer reported today. Officers here said the report was "encouraging and could very well be" from a transport missing in the area since last Thu rsday with 44 persons aboard. From Sam Place Both signals "apparently came from some place in the Wrangell mountains south of Snag on the western border of the Yukon Territory," said Capt. Sam Sloan, public information officer at Elmendorf field. The last position reported by the missing C-54 was over Snag. The pilot of the B-17, 1st Lt. Lloyd Castro, said the first time the signal was intercepted was at 9:30 a.m. (PST) Monday. At that time. Castro was en route to Whitehorse, Y. T., to partici pate in the two-nation search for the lost transport. The second time the signal was intercepted was at 5:30 p.m., yesterday while Castro was re turning to Elmendorf field here. Took Beam ' VWe were in the same posi tion both times we picked up the signals," Castro said, "and each time we took a beam. Mon day's and Wednesday's signal appeared to be coming from the Wrangell mountains." Castor said "both signals were weak but clear and sounded like they were coming from an emer gency automatic Gibson girl type transmitter." Captain Sloan thought the like lihood of the signals coming from a vessel in the Gulf of Alaska was slim "because the signal would have had to clear the Wrangell mountains. Truman Seeks Vole On FEP Legislation Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) President Truman said today that he has been prodding Speak er Sam Rayburn- for weeks to get a house vote on fair employ ment practices legislation. Mr. Truman said at his news conference that he has been urging Rayburn for FEPC action regularly every Monday. The president holds White House leg islative conferences with con gressional leaders each Monday. The FEPC measure is . the most controversial bill in the administration's civil rights pro gram. Southern democratic op ponents of the program have succeeded so far in blocking a house vote on the fair employ ment bill. Salem Family Escapes Path Of Espee Train Salem, Ore., Feb. 2 U.R) Five members of a Salem fam ily scrambled to safety Wednes day night just before their stalled auto was demolished by a south bound Southern Pacific passen ger train at Chemawa crossing five miles north of here. Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Van Cleave and their three children were in their car. It slowed down as it approached the rail crossing and the engine stalled as the tires touched the first track. While Van Cleave was trying to start the car his 11-year-old daughter said: "Daddy, the train's coming." Mr. and Mrs. Van Cleave kicked open the doors, which stuck for an instant from ice formed on the outside. Lois and Nancy. 8, and Mrs. Van Cleave hurried from the car. Van Cleave snatched 3-year-old Lorrtta from the car just before the train struck. WEATHER forecast. rlr and thihtiy warmer tonight. Cloudy Fri day. Occasional suaty aouth winds thta evening. Temp. HlgKeit Yesterday It Lowett this Morning - t Tribune 1950 Medford' s Shivering Groundhog Confused By Cold, Sun and Moon Medford's groundhog was a shivering and confused little rodent this morning Febru ary 2, Ho poked his head through th two inches of Icy snow crystals, miffed the 7-degra air, ihuddered briefly and looked around. The sun was just climbing over the slop of Roxy Ann as in groundhog stood up. In th western s ky a bright full moon was fading rapidly. As a rime of frost formed on hii whiskers, th groundhog looked lo his left and taw a faint moon-shadow. H wrig gled. Then ho looked lo his right. There was a strong shadow cast by the sun, climb ing into th cloudless sky. The groundhog snorted. And dov for his burrow. Th old wives say a ground hog's shadow on February 2 means six mora waeks of win tar. Wonder what two shadows moan? Bill Introduced To Protect Tenants In Housing Projects Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) Rep. Brooks Hays (D., Ark.), has introduced a bill to protect ten ants of government-owned veter ans housing projects from evic tion under provisions of the Lan ham act. The act, under which most veterans housing projects were built, provides that "all tempor ary Mousing shall be removed by Jan. 1, 1951." Hays said, however, that prac tically all the projects are .now "100 per cent occupied" and added that in many places there is no other housing available into which tenants can move. Orderly Disposition He said his bill would provide for "orderly disposition" of such government-owned housing pro jects to fit in with "new con struction and population shifts in a community." "Congress cannot Insist upon any action which would cause these moderate income families to be put into the street with out other places to live." he said. Under his bill, the housing ad ministrator would be permitted to transfer temporary housing units to cities and other local bodies. Permanent housing pro jects could be transferred to local public housing agencies to meet the needs of low income families. Royal Dutch Plane Crashes In Flames Amsterdam, Netherlands, Feb. 2 (U.R) A Royal Dutch airlines (KLM) mail-freight plane crash ed in flames early today in the North Sea. Company officials said it was certain that all sev en crew members aboard were killed. The plane, a twin-engined C 47 Dakota, was on a routine nightly run between Amsterdam and London. The crew of five was supplemented by two extra co-pilots being ferried to London for instruction in the landing system at London airport. Six of those aboard were Dutch and the seventh, a co pilot, was an Englishman. Among the crew was one woman, Kathleen Lamers, 26-year-old stewardess. COLDEST SPOT Portland, Ore., Feb. 2 (U.R) The state highway department said today that Seneca, in south ern Grant county, recorded a low of 40 degrees below zero this morning and probably was the coldest spot In Oregon. Truman Opposed to Vandenberq Proposal To Discontinue Work On Hydrogen Bomb Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) Preidcnt Truman said today it isn't necessary or advisable for this country to promise it will slop work on the hydrogen bomb if atomic weapons are depend ably outlawed because it has been urging international atomic control all along. In effect, Mr. Truman reject ed a proposal by Sen. Arthur H. Vandenbcrg (R., Mich.), that the president notify the United Na tions that this country would suspend work on the superbomb the moment atomic weapons can be "dependably outlawed." The president told a news eill Least Wire J. 265 o n P Operators Accept Truman Proposal For 70-Day Truce Lewis Acceptance Claimed Necessary Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) Northern and western soft coal operators broke off contract talks with John L. Lewis today, but accepted President Tru man's proposal for a 70-day min ing truce beginning Monday. There will be no truce, how ever, unless Lewis also accepts. If he doesn't, Mr. Truman ap parently will be forced to seek a Taft-Hartley 80-riny injunction. Has Until Saturday Lewis has until 5 p.m., (EST), Saturday to reply to Mr. Tru man's proposal that "normal production" a five-day week be resumed Monday for 70 days while a special presidential board studies the dispute and makes recommendations. Lewis gave no hint of his next move. But he angrily ac cused the mine owners of'wreck- ing" the contract talks in the hope that "the government may now move in through the courts and the Taft-Hartley slave law to beat the mine workers to a condition of servility. The operators walked out on Lewis less than an hour after Mr. Truman told a news confer ence he will invoke the Taft Hartley law in the coal situation when an emergency develops. But he still didn't say that there is an emergency now. Each Blames Othtr Each side blamed the other for today's breakdown in the new negotiations which began yesterday. George H. Love, spokesman for the northern and western operators, said the owners broke off negotiations because the un ion "still clings to its desire to control production and to de cree now many days mines may work regardles of market de mands. Lewis charged the operators with bad faith bargaining. He said they refused to negotiate unless the union agreed in ad vance to drop several of its con tract demands. President Aproves Electoral Changes Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) President Truman today describ ed the senate's approval of a new method of counting the electoral vote to elect a president as a step in the right direction. Asked whether he thought the proposed change In the electoral college system might affect his chances for reelection, the presi dent told a news conference that the proposed constitutional amendment could not possibly be in operation in luaz. The house still must approve the proposed constitutional amendment by a two-thirds vote and it must be ratified by three fourths of the states. Rep. Ed Gossntt, (D., Tex.), predicted "substantial" house approval for it. Justice Of Peace To Stand For Reelection Ashland, Feb. 2 Nelle Burns, justice of the peace for the Ash land district, yesterday announc ed her intention to file for the republican re-nomination to that office. She has been Ashland's justice of the peace for the past eight years two years of the un expired term of her late hus band. M. T. Burns, and a six year term of her own. No opposition candidate has yet filed for the post. conference that the American delegation to the UN has been urging international control of atomic weapons almost every week. It has been doing so, he said, at his direction. Without replying directly to the Vandenbcrg proposal, Mr. Truman said he . therefore saw no necessity for notifying the UN. Vandenbcrg's proposal has been endorsed by 14 members of the congressional atomic energy committee, including at least five democrats. Meanwhile, Chairman Tom Connally (D., Tex.), of the sen ate foreign rclationi committee United Pr 3 Degrees Breaks Portland Mark By UniUd Prcis Weather forecasters said todav that mm rtt from the Pacific northwest's severe cold, but there was little notice able difference immediately for residents suffering from all-time luw itriupt-iuiui us. Portland had a record-breaking three degrees below zero early today, one degree below Tuesday's mark which tied a 62-year-old temperature set in 1888. The new low was recorded at the Port land airport, official weather bureau station, while the mercury downtown dipped to seven degrees above zero. Salem, Oregon's capital city, recorded three degrees below, making it the coldest February day there since 1899 uincr dciow zero temperatures in Oregon included minus 24 at Baker, 20 at The Dalles, 19 at Bend and Ontario, 18 at Pendle ton and La Grande and 12 at Burns. Spokane, Wash., had 19 below and Seattle 9 above. ' Slorm Moving In . The relief was forecast in a storm moving in from the Gulf of Alaska and was expected to bring higher temperatures and more snow. Forecasters declined to predict whether the snowfall would be light or heavy. Multnomah county roads in Northwestern Oregon again were plugged with snowdrifts Wed nesday night and early today by strong easterly winds out of the Columbia gorge. The towns of Springdale and Corbctt were iso lated by road closures and Paul C. Northrop, assistant county roadmastrr, said all north-south routes cast of Portland's 122nd avenue were blocked. Portland Doctor Defense Witness Portland, Ore., Feb, 2 (U.R) Dr. John H. Besson of Portland testified today that he quit the industrial hospital association because he felt he owed greater allegiance to the Multnomah county medical society. Dr. Besson testified as a de fense witness in the federal gov ernment's anti-trust suit against eight Oregon doctors, eight medical societies and the Oregon State Medical society. The Portland doctor said he was called before the Multno mah county medical society board of censors to explain his work with the industrial hospital association, a lay medical group. "I felt and agreed with the board of censors that my alle- eiance to the medical society was more important man continuing with the association and I volun teered to sever by connections with them, which I did," Dr. Bes son said on direct examination by Philip Marcus, head counsel for the government. Carol Ann Paight Fails To Remember Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 2 (U.R) Her voice shaking with sobs, "mercy-killer" Carol Ann Paight testified at her murder trial today that she remembered nothing aflcr a doctor told her "my daddy was riddled with cancer." The 21-year-old blonde col lege senior, who killed her father. Stamford Police Sgt. Carl W. Paight, 52, less than two hours after the family doctor gave her the tragic news that he was doomed to a slow death of pain, sat red-faced and tense, her own star witness. She broke down after answer ing only two questions when she took the stand, but after a short recess she was composed enough to continue. Her attorney, David Goldstein, asked her what happened after the doctor told her last Septem ber 23 that her father had can cer and would die in a few months. "That's all I remember," she replied. Road Conditions Stat polic reported roads over Greensprings and Siski yous. Redwood highway and Sexton mountain wr opn with pack snow sanded. Cars wr having no troubl on lihor. Rossburg reported spots of lc as did Grants Pais, accord ing to United Press. Klamath Falls and Kono had bar ox posed areas on ihoir roads while Willamette pass report ed packed snow sanded. Los Angeles, Feb. 2 (U.R) Cafe Man Peter Insull reported today that a housebreaker stole his piggy bank containing $300 said he favors an attempt at new negotiations with Russia through the UN for effective international atomic control, But he called for a "clear ex pression of willingness" by Rus sia to embark on such negotia tions In "good faith." Connally said this government should take care not to appear to be "running after the Russians' who thus far have blocked the United States control plan The United States decision to build the hydrogen bomb. Con nally said, might encourage i shift In Soviet "obstructionism.' and enhance the chances for world controls. Below Zero Flooded Streams Isolate Towns In West Virginia Charleston. W. Va.. Foh (U.R) Flooded streams burst their nanus today in West Virginia and Kentucky, driving hundreds of families from their hnmu Three persons drowned. Small towns were tanlotoH their business districts flooded. As the rampaging flood wa ters covered thousands of acres, property damage began to mount. Heavy Rains Heavy rains have fallen for five days. More rain wii fni-i-act today. The business districts of Bar boursvllle and Catlcttsbure in Kentucky were under wntr State police said the rains had caused several mountalnslides around Middlesboro, Ky., block ing two roads. lhe state highway denartment was trying to get trucks through to Middlesboro to move out fam ilies from there and from nearby towns In Campbell county. Town Isolated Hamlin. W. Va.. was isolated by waters which covered all roads leading into the town. Plans were made to brina in un- plies by boat. A state of emergency was de clared in Paintsville, Ky., on the Big Sandy river.' "If the rain doesn't stop soon we'll have the worst flood in our history." Paintsville Mavor John B. Wells Jr. said. "The water station Dumps ar under 14 feet of water and we'll have to start rationing water at noon today, ne said, ine river stood at 38 feet, rising early to day. Flood stage was 29 feet. Cold, ic7Choke 01! Fishing In Columbia Astoria, Ore., Feb. 2-4U.R) For the second straight year win ter cold and ice have choked off the livelihood of thousands of Columbia river fisherman. Only a handful of boats have attempted to fish since the sal mon and steelhead commercial seasons opened last Sunday, and most of these have returned either with frozen nets or nets not laid out. Packers say that fishing will have to wait until the Ice Is gone from the river. The Smelt Fishermen's asso ciation said that smelt fishermen had been immobilized from Clif ton and Puget Sound to Rainier. The smelt are "there'.' but the cold has driven them too deep to be reached. Ohio Printers Out; Union Head Resigns . Lorain. O., Feb. 2 (U.R) Printers on the Lorain Journal went on strike todav. but with out the leadership of their local president who resigned in pro test over the walkout. Frank Render, president of the International Typographical union, local 409, submitted his resignation today, almost at the time the strike began. In a state ment. Render blamed Interna tional Representative E. A. Sin- nig for enforcing tne struce "aeainst the wishes of the mem bers under the threat of lifting the charter of the local union. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the paper Indicated a 24-page edition would be published to dav with a small force of printers. BULLETINS Rom, Feb. 2 (U.R) Actress Ingrid Bergman gav birth to a son her tonight. Th baby was born In a Rom elinic at 7 p.m., (10 a.m. PST). Nw York. Fb. 2 (U.R) Radio and television directors who threatened to go on sttike against four major networks for pay increases ranging from $70 to SI 70 a week settled to day for a $15 a week pay boost. Ottawa, Fab. 2 (U.R) Can ada today ordered th expul sion of two members of the Ciechoslovakian legation in Ottawa. Th more was in retaliation against th expulsion of twe Canadian airmen of th Cana dian legation in Pragu Janu ary 19, Salem, Ore., Feb. 2 (U.R) Donald Verne McCallum, repub lican, today filed his candidacy for state representative from Baker county. Washington, Feb. 2 (U.R) Karl R. Bendetsen was sworn in today aa assistant secretary of army.