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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1954)
4 TWELVE MEDFOBD (OREGON) General Election Ballot Measures Explained At Public AAUW Meeting Here on Wednesday ' , The 11 ballot measures to be voted on at the general election Nov. 2 were discussed and ex plained at a public meeting here Wednesday evening, held under the auspices of the American Association ot University Wom en. . . ' Following, Is a summary of the measures and the discussions: Ballot Measure 1 Salaries of stale legislators. To amend Ore gon Constitution by giving state legislature power to fix the sal aries of its members by law. Explained by Carl Brophy. This measure is the result of discussions In the last session of the legislature which were final ly settled by a Joint bouse and senate resolution referring the matter to the people. Salaries are now set at $600 a year, with 10 cents a mile traveling ex penses, by the state' constitu tion. ;' : ' Those favoring the change say: (1) Present salaries are too low, and only individuals with inde pendent means can serve in the legislature; (2) The state should have a more flexible means of letting and changing salaries, without a constitutional amendment-' .'. Those opposing the change say: (1) It would be wrong to place 'salaries so high that the state would get "professional" legislators; (2) If the change is made, it should ' be definitely stated that members of a legis lative session cannot change their salaries for that session, but only for forthcoming sessions. Ballot Measure 2 Subdivid ing counties for. electing ' state legislators. To. amend , Oregon Constitution to authorize legis lature to divide counties having more than one senator or rep resentative into subdlstricts for election of senators and repre sentatives to state legislature. Ex plained by Mrs. Justin Smith. This measure, referred by the legislature, : is ; permissive and not mandatory legislation', and mokes it possible to subdivide populous districts. Districts are now set up along county lines, with none ot less than one coun ty. Multnomah county, the most populous district, now elects 7 senators and 16 representatives. Approval of the measure would have to be followed by legisla tion before any change would go into effect . Arguments for approval of the measure: (1) Under the present setup voters have little oppor tunity to know the candidates and approval of the measure would shorten the ballot; (2) The change would allow legislators to better know and represent their constituents; (3) ... Urban areas now get more representa tion than rural areas;' (4) The pro posed change follows a national pattern. : . . Arguments against approval of the measure: (1) Approval would bring about the danger of ward politics; (2) Some districts might lose able legislators under the change; (3) The change would re-J duce the number of candidates voted .- for, cutting down' the power of the voter. ' . ' ) Ballot Measure 3 Mental hos pital in or near Portland. To de clare that the domiciliary hos pital for the treatment of per sons afflicted with mental Illness of the aged, authorized by the voters on Nov. 4, 1952, to be located within 20-mile radius of Multnomah county court house, shall care for and treat persons afflicted with any men tal illness. Explained by Robert Root ' t ' ' ' ' A vote on this measure Is nec essary because Oregon's consti tution says the people must vote on any institution outside of Marion county. The mental hos pital in Salem is overcrowded, a new kitchen is needed, and facili ties for older patients are need ed. Construction of these re quired facilities would cost ap proximately $1,330,000. The hos pital in Multnomah county under the present set up would be open only to aged patients. Arguments for the measure: (1) Only about 135 persons are now qualified to be admitted into the Portland hospital, which would cost about $3,330,000; (2) The cost for each elderly person in the Portland hospital would be from $160 to $170 a month, while if younger patients were admitted to the hospital the cost per patient would be reduced to about $75 a month; (3) About 45 per cent ot the state's mental patients are from Multnomah county, and it is believed best to treat such patients as near their homes as possible. Arguments against the meas ure: (1) Separation of young and old patients is favored by some groups; (2) The proposed change vould override the decision of the voters in the 1952 general election, ' Bullot Measure 4 Constitu tional amendments how pro posed by people. To amend the Oregon constitution by increas ing from 8 per cent to 10 per cent the number of voters' sig natures required to put a con stitutional amendment on the ballot. Percentages are based on tut number of legal voters who MAIL TRIBUNE voted for Justice of the Supreme Court at last regular election. Explained by Carl Brophy. At the present time, changes by initiative require signatures equhl to eight per cent of the number of votes cast in the last regular election for Supreme Court justice. The proposed change would leave the per centage at eight for statutory changes, but would increase the percentage to 10 for constitu tional amendments. Arguments for the change: (1) Many things put in the consti tution because ot the low num ber of signatures required to place them on the ballot, should actually be statutes. ' ' Arguments against the change: (1) The state should not make it any more difficult to get con stitutional amendments on the ballot; (2)' A legislative commit tee is now working on the mat tor, and it should be held in abeyance until this committee makes a report. , Ballot Measure 5 State prop erty tax. To amend Oregon Con stitution by limiting to 6 mills (plus bonded indebtedness and interest thereon) the maximum levy of a state property tax, un less authorized by the voters, and eliminating the 6 per cent limitation so far as it applies to the state. Eplained by Robert Root. ' . This measure would eliminate the 6 per cent limitation on bud get increases in one year at the state level, and would replace it with a limit of six mills on the state property tax. This six mills would be the maximum state property tax levy for any fiscal year, except as required for pay ment of bonded indedtedness and interest thereon, and except as authorized by the voters. No property tax has been collected by the- state in Oregon since 1940, but if it were collected a six mill levy across the state would bring in about $13,590,000. Arguments for the measure are: (1) A limit on the amount of property taxes that can be levied tor state purposes is need ed -to prevent an undue burden on property; (2) Placing a limit of six mills on the state property tax would reserve the tax for use of schools and local taxing units whose chief source of rev enue Is the property tax. Arguments against the meas ure are: (1) A limit on the use of the property tax impairs flexi bility of the taxation systerri; (2) 'A limit on use of property tax impairs the credit of the state; (3) The precedent of no property tax for state purposes is more effective than a limitation. - Ballot Measure 6 Establish ing daylight saving time. To es tablish daylight saving time within all parts of Oregon with in the Pacific time zone. Day light saving time would become effective every year at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April and would continue until 2 a.m on the last Sunday in Sept. Repeals the present law. Explained by Leonard Mayfield. This was referred to a vote of the people by petition. At the present, Daylight Saving Time is used in Nevada, California, British Columbia, and is being considered at the fall election in Washington. - Arguments for the measure are: (1) Approval ot Daylight Saving Time would be in step with a national trend; (2) If Ore gon and Washington voters ap prove DST, it would be in effect in the entire Pacific coast; (3) It would provide an additional hour of daylight; (4) When DST was turned down by Oregon voters in 1952, the ballot masure was not understood. Arguments against the meas ure are: (1) It was voted down in 1952; (2) DST makes a desirable family schedule difficult; (3) DST is bad for dairymen and farmers for several reasons, including the difference of hours on which they have to operate, and those ot the business firms with which they deal; (4) It increases prob lems for theaters and other firms. Ballot Measure 7 Prohibiting certain fishing in coastal streams. To prohibit any person from fish ing for salmon or trout by any method except hook and line in any coastal stream south ot the Columbia river. Ban would also extend in a ' three-mile radius from mouth ot such streams. Im posing penalties. Fish Commis sion may except Tillamook boy chum salmon. Explained, by Leonard Mayfield. ' This primarily is to promote state regulation of commercial fishing. - Commercial fishing is now prohibited on the Rogue river, Pistol river, Chetco river and other streams in this area. It Is not prohibited on the Co- qullle, Coos and other rivers. Arguments for the measure: (1) It would preserve the salmon runs; (2) It would not econom ically effect any great number of people; (3) Less than 10 per cent of the state's commercial fishing would be affected; (4) Sport fish ing can be improved, as on the Rogue' river and Chetco river; (5) Oregon is lagging behind Washington and California in stream closures. Arguments against the meas Bundy, October 24, 18S4 ure: (1) It is unnecessary because the state now has an agency au thorized to order closures; (2) It would result in loss of money involved in Boats and fishing gear; (3) The measure would al low search of fishing boats with out use of a search warrant; (4) The measure would not solve the sport fishing problem, and the case Of the Nestucca river, which has been closed, is cited. Ballot Measure 8 Repealing milk control law. To repeal the laws which empower the State Board of Agriculture and the Milk Marketing administrator to regulate the production, distrib ution and sale of milk. Explained by Frank Van Dyke. . , This is the third attempt to repeal the milk control law which has been .in effect since 1933. The law governs produc tion, marketing and sales areas, sets up quotas, shipping- rules, and licensing procedures, pro vides for milk distribution pools, mjnlmum prices, and butterfat content. The law does not affect sanitary regulations. Arguments for the measure, or for repeal of the law: (1) The law is in opposition to free en terprise; (2) Repeal would end monopolies set up by the law; (3) Under the pooling system set up by the law, the inefficient pro ducer Is protected at the expense of the efficient producer; (4) Milk production is 40 per cent great er in states without milk con trols. , . . Arguments against the meas ure, or against repcfel of the law: (1) Chaotic conditions existed in Oregon's milk production prior to enactment of the law in 1933; (2) An adequate supply of milk nas Deen provided under the law, both in and out of season; w wunout controls. Oregon's $70,000,000 dairy industry would be endangered: (4) The system has worked well. Ballot Measure 9 An act for Juvenile home. To levy taxes of not to exceed $65,000 during 1H3D-1H3B tax year to orovide a Juvenile home in Jackson coun ty, and of not to exceed $12,. 500 each year for eight years thereafter to operate it. Said taxes to be outside the limitation of Article XI, Section 11, Oregon constitution. Explained by James McGoodwin, Children picked up in Jackson county by law enforcement of ficers are held In foster homes and shelter homes, both of which are being expanded, and in the county jail, which was not designed for children. The portion of the jail where juve niles are detained is In the same general area as that in which maximum security, the mentally deranged, and women prisoners are kept in separate cells. Arguments against the meas ure were listed by McGoodwin, who then listed answers to these arguments. (1) The orig inal cost of $65,000 is too high. (The construction cost is made Oregon Employment Close To Normal, Commission Reports Salem U.R) Settlement of labor disputes and a late harv est combined last month to bring Oregon's employment close to normal, and mild weather for the first half of October helped to hold off the normal seasonal downturn, according to the State Unemployment C o m p ensation Commission, Weekly claimants at local of fices increased only slightly as workers continued active in lum bering, construction and food processing. Non agricultural employment in mid-September was estimated at 484,800, only 1.5 per cent below a year before and 2.1 per cent under the all time high in the fall of 1952. ' All-Time Record Canning and preserving plants reported 17,400 persons at work last month, an all-time record for the state. Other food processing operations brought the total to 27,700, also a new mark. Most of the 28,800 total gain over August, however, developed in lumbering with 86,900 working, 22,800 more than in the previous month and practically the same as year ago. At the time of the report 2400 workers still were off the job because ot the Rains Melt Snow On Roads at Park Rain last week melted snow from all the roads in Crater Lake National park. Only patches ot snow were reported on the ground at park headquarters. Highway 62 was said to be in good condition, as is the road from Annie Spring to the rim. Maximum temperatures have been in the high 50s the past week, and travel in the park has been heavier than in past years, according to reports from the park. 'necessary by regulations of the National Parole and Probation association, which require that certain types of construction and furnishings be incorporated into such buildings); (2) Why not a regional detention home shared with other counties? (Because of travel problems, particularly in winter, invoivea in court pro ceedings, and contact between the youngsters and social work ers); (3) Why not Ijave a deten tion home on a state level? (Be cause it would cost just as much. would be less efficient and local control would be lost.) Ballot Measure 10 Prohibit ing dogs from tunning at large in the city of Medford. Oregon. To prohibit dogs from running at large at any time within the city of Medford. Explained by crank van Dyke, without argu ments for or against. Under the measure, if a dog is off its owner's premises, without a wire or metal muzzle, and not under control of the owner, it is considered to be running . at large, u the measure is passed, the county clerk will publish a notice and the measure goes into effect after 90 days. After that time, an owner can be fined $10 for a first offense and? $25 for a second, with the money to be taken through a civil action if necessary. No prosecution is started without five days notice to the owner. Fines and license fees would go into the county treasury in a .special fund for all costs of prosecution and dam age to domestic livestock. No other damages are mentioned in the measure. ' Ballot measure 51 City man ager charter amendment. This proposal amends the charter of the city of Medford by providing for a city manager to be ap pointed by the council, whose powers and duties shall be to administer and manage the ad ministrative functions ' of the city other than the city water department and library, and ap point, employ and discharge, all city officers, department heads and employees except the may or, council and city Judge and that personnel having civil serv ice, status shall be subject to civil service procedure. Explain ed by James McGoodwin, with out arguments for or against The city of Medford now oper ates under what Is known as the weak mayor-council plan. The citv manaser and strong mayor- council plans have been gaining ground throughout the country in recent years. Medford has employed a city superintendent having some of the same duties as would be performed by a city manager, for the past 10 years, although the city superintendent position is not mentioned in the citv charter. The measure would make the positions of city re corder and city treasurer ap pointive, and the lire cniei would be HDDolntive rather than under the jurisdiction of civil service. summer-long labor dispute. Con struction fell about 10 per cent behind recent seasons but service lines picked up measurably. Non-Manufacturing Up Non-manufacturing groups in creased employment 5600 over August to bring the total to 382.- 300. Trade reported 1800 more employes. School teachers and other governmental workers ac counted for most of the remain ing gain. The 72,600 persons em ployed in public service were the most yet noted, about 10,000 more than five years ago. Claims reported from local of fices increased 1100 last week, bringing the total over the 16, 000 mark, highest since early September but less than 2000 from the number registered a year ago. Payments are expect ed to reach s million dollars for the month, second highest Oc tober on record. The total for 1954 now is around $20,000,000, close to- the all-time high set in 1950. Nixon Stranded by Montana Snow Storm Butte, Mont (U.R) Vice-Pres- tdent Richard Nixon, stranded here by a snow storm, cancelled scheduled appearances in Wor land and Casper, Wyo. Saturday because hi', chartered plana was unnble to take off. Nixon was scheduled to speak in Cheyenne last night. He left Butte shortly after noon by car for Billings, whore he was to enplane for Cheyenne. Ironically, when Nixon spoke here Friday night, he compli mented Montana on its fine weather, saying that as a Cal ifomlan, he would have to con cede that "this is the finest day I've seen." , The snow storm started in .the middle ot the night . ' i - - J: Hi " 'I ' IT "" ' ' ' ' " ." WORK AIDED BY UMC One of the activities of the Jackson county chapter of the American Red Cross is the motor corps, which performs a variety of chores no one else is equipped to do. Shown above is Mrs. Eugene Orr, chairman of the motor service, as she takes a youngsters to a speech class conducted at Southern Oregon college. It the service had not been avail able, the child could -not have received the instruction which has greatly benefitted her. The corps' primary purpose is to furnish transportation whenever or wherever needed for Red Cross work. During the past year, service was provided for transporting servicemen and members of their families to doc tors, hospitals and Mercy Flights, taking donors to the blood center, delivering supplies, providing transportation to members at Camp White, delivering gray ladies of the community to homes, driving handicapped children to the speech clinic and blind persons to their Braille lessons, as well as others. The Red Cross chapter is assisted by funds from the United Medford Crusade, which is now nearing conclusion of its annual fund drive. .'.-...'', - (Brainerd photo) PLANNING CONCERT The three members of the Medford Junior Chamber of Commerce shown above, Hal Gardner, Bill Offord and Gordon Klope, are making plans for the "Evening of Song" concert to be presented here at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 for the benefit of the United Medford Crusade. Arthur Lee Simpkins, well-known singer, will be the guest artist The Jay cees are handling promotion and ticket sales for the concert. , (Landis-Shangle photo) Benefit Concert Tickets On Sale Tickets , for the "Evening of Song" concert, sponsored by the Medford Junior Chamber of Commerce with proceeds going to the United Medford Crusade, are now on sale at the Music Mart, Purucker Piano House and Swem's Record shop. . The concert, to be given in the Medford High school auditorium at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, will feature the songs of Arthur Lee Simpkins, who will be enter taining at the Rogue Valley Country club that week. Simpkins, who has won ac claim for the wide scope of his singing, has apeared in concerts throughout North America, in cluding television performances on several of the top shows. He sings in English, Italian, French and Spanish, and his repertoire ranges from pop hits to folk song and operatic selections. ALL TIME RECORD i London (U.R) Scotch whisky exports hit an all time high for the first nine months of this year, it was reported Saturday. Exports for the nine months averaged more than $5,400,000 a month, for total shipments of 9,891,372 proof gallons worth $60,710,192. , yJZ ''flit 'A Good Ship for a Good Trip H. 111. ai B. SulM 114. Jnk Vonct su., Mtt i, wnk. rMt MAW 490S. raw Icaral Agtat. . I40i.ua I Heart Attacks Take Oregon Vacationists . New York An Oregon couple vacationing here, died within an hour of each other Saturday, Both were believed to have suf fered'heart attacks. Mrs. Ellen Tannenbaum, 45, of Oswego, Ore., died at 10:40 a.m in. the couple's suite at a Park Ave. hotel. . Her husband, William Tannen baum, 47, a manufacturer, took another room while funeral ar rangements were made for his wife. He collapsed and died an hour after his wife. A son of the couple. Edward Tannenbaum, was notified at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home. Power Group Does Not Endorse Candidates Vancouver, Wash. (U.R) The Northwest Public Power 'Asso ciation says it does not endorse candidates for political office President Ora E. Bcasley ex plained Saturday that the asso ciation is nonpartisan and the use of its name for political pur poses is not authorized. Beasley's statement of policy wa made after reports were re ceived that letters had been sent to editors of a number of Oregon newspapers over the signature of a former official of the associa. tion endorsing Sen. Guy Cordon for reelection. 3Hm Every Monday 9.00 p. m.iM.t.) t.I. PRINCI GtORGI foWESTVIEW (POWELL RIVER) OCEAN FALLS PRINCE RUPERT KETCHIKAN ALASKA v All ttateroom are out side room with btdt Bicycle Used at Camp White For Long Corridor Deliveries Camp White There are three miles of corridors connecting the various buildings of the VA Domiciliary center. In order to reach ail ot the administrative departments man would have to walk at least 10 miles a day to deliver inter-office commu nications. Domiciliary Officer R. H. Rut- fin obtained a bicycle for the messenger assigned to this Job. As a means of avoiding spuis and collisions in hallways and at intersections, Howard Blair, veteran member messenger, rig ged the bicycle with two small wheels permitting him to make quick stops without falling off. The extra wheels also serve to maintain -steady course. Four Times Daily The full length of the station is run four times daily in the trips made to the engineering division in the extreme east wing. Twice daily the messenger visits the medical department and the companies' offices, and then crosses in the midsection to go to the dietetic department At lease seven miles of cycling are recorded on the speedometer daily. , ; ,... The home members engaged to make this run are selected for their alertness and their ability to manipulate bag, bag gage and bike. Arthur Morken, Sam Black and Blair have al ternated at the job during the past year. They are especially adept in traffic and know how much speed they can maintain with safety. With thb special bicycle there never has been a serious acci dent or spill. Postmaster Arthur Scarseth borrows the cycle oc casionally to handle special mail deliveries. " ' ' Employment Upturn In Auto Industry Cuts Jobless Pay Washington U.R) An em ployment upturn in the auto industry has helped to push the number of . persons receiving unemployment payments to the lowest level since last December, a government report showed Saturday. The Labor department report said 1,458,000 jobless persons drew unemployment benefits in the week ended Oct. 9. This was a drop of 55,400 from the previ ous week and 754,900 below the 1954 peak of 2,213,000 reached late last February, ' ' : ; . Major Factor A major factor In the decline of jobless payments was the stepped up activity of the auto industry, particularly in Michi gan, the report said. The Commerce department re ported earlier this month that a total of 3,099,000 persons were unemployed at mid-September. This included those drawing compensation payments as well as those no longer 'elig ible. Labor . Secretary James P. Mitchell predicted Friday that unemployment in October may drop below 3,000,000 for the first time this year. Charred Bodies Found Foul Play Indicated Pendleton-(U.R) The charred bodies of a man and a woman were found Saturday in the ruins of a house destroyed by fire near Pilot Pock and police said preliminary investigation indi cated the victims may have been shot. The sheriff's office here re ported the house had been oc cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Valcolan Robertson. Positive identifica tion of the bodies was impossible immediately however, because of their condition and the heat from the smoldering ruins,, the sher iff's office said. SEE - - Wayne IN PERSON Today 2:30 p.m. Sr. High Auditorium Introduction by Joseph K. Carson Democratic Namina. for Governor PUBLIC INVITED NO ADMISSION CHARGE aM Adv. Frlania of Wai Mora. Commirra. HI vm MAIL BIKE Howard Blair, Veterans Administration 'Domi ciliary messenger, breezes through the miles ot corridors at Camp White on his trick bi cycle, rigged with extra gadgets and wheels for quick . service with inter-division memos. He bought his own ladies stylo frame to expedite his work. ("Mac" photo). TURN ABOUT Golden, Colo. (U.R) Upper- class men students at the Colo rado School , of Mines, protest ing an order banning them from "de-pantsing" freshmen, wore. sweaters and skirts to class Fri day. , Councilman Earl Miller has earned the respect of fellow eouncilmen, city employees, and citizens tor hii ability to be fair . and decisive. Medford needt these qualities! 122 X MILLER for MAYOR Miller for Mayor CommiHe, Linn Mills, Chairmsn. HEAR Morse fr.i.T-' ELECT EARL MILLER .i.n.,iinnmm 7 ' Nl '.' I f :
