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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1955)
lefiait onto last Medford UnlUd Preu Full Leased Win 50th Year 22 Pages raw Nation Prepares For Elections on New Year's Day Move Ertds Threat To Unseat Premier Paris (U.R) Premier Ed gar Faure disbanded the French National assembly today in a Controversial political stroke that abruptly ended its threat o unseat him as premier. The assembly ceased to exist at 7 a.m. (1 a.m. EST) with pub lication of the decree in the "Journal Officiel." France im mediately prepared for elections on New Year's day. Faure called a press confer ence for today to explain his move which was condemned by his political enemies as a "coup de force" riding roughshod over the will of Parliament. Hurried Session Called The Council of State, France's supreme constitutional court, called a hurried session totry to find a loophole to prevent the elections falling on such an unpopular date the morning after for 40,000,000 Frenchmen. Th) council hofed to set the elections for a week later. French voters have been per plexed for a week by the rapid fire political moves that explod ed into one of the gravest crises since 1877 when last a Parliament-was dissolved by such a decree. And their reaction to possibilities of a New Year's election was varied. French Woman Above All ' "Above all I'm a French wom an," said Marcelle Joubert, 45, a blonde tradeswoman. "I'll vote." "To hell with it," said taxi driver Henri Terrine, 65. "I'm not going to spend the best day of the year voting." Dissolution of Parliament was the second time in two days Faure had left the hostile depu ties gasping. They voted no con fidence in his government Tues day and went home to bed, con fident he would resign. . But Faure looked up a con stitutional provision which sajd he could fire Parliament if two premiers were voted out of of fice in 18 months. So he an nounced his decision. The angry assembly mengb ers held a series of meetings Thursday and the powerful Soc ialist party began a move to recall the chamber and pass a vote of censure which would mean Faure would have to re-j sign. And although he realized how unpopular , New Year's day election would be he ordered President Rene Coty to prepare the decree abolishing Parlia ment. Bitter Enemies Agree Faure and Pierre Mendes France, his most bitter politi cal enemy, agreed for once that the decree is issued by the Presi dent "but it is ,the premier who decides." That was probably the last area of agreement for the two men, once the best of friends, now mortal enemies. Mendes France called a meeting of the Radical Socialist party and its leaders decided by a vote of 19 to 8 to expel Faure from the party. That action is not final until the entire party member ship votes on it. Eisenhower Confers With fop Advisers Gettysburg, Pa. (U.R) Presi dent Eisenhower bid a cheerful "good morning" to newsmen to day and then ducked into his tiny downtown office to confer with his top advisers on national defense". Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson and Adm. Arthur W. Radford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were two min utes late for their appointment. Tho weather forced them to drive here from Washington instead of flvine. There was no indication of what thsHPresident and his de fense ch&fs discussed. It was considered likely, though, that they talked about such things as the new military budget and defense sirategy in view of the failure of the Geneva foreign ministers conference. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIP ' ELWOOD HEDBERG New Vice President Hedberg Elected Vice President Of 1st National Here Elwood Hedberg, manager of the Medford Branch of First Na tional bank of Portland has been elected vice-president of the bank, C. B. Stephenson, presi dent of the bank, announced to day. Hedberg has been a banker for 33 years, and manager of the Medford branch since 1952. Active in coinmunity affairs, Hedbers was recentlv reelentpd a director of the Jackson County Chamber' of Commerce after completing a term as treasurer; is a vestryman of St. Marks Epis copal church, and a member of the choir; is a director and treas urer of the Medford Public Li brary board; and recently was appointed county treasurer for the Oregon Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Inc. Other Activities He is on the Jackson County Housing Authority, is chairman ol the advisory committee of the Southern Oregon Bankers association, honorary life mem ber of the Jackson county chap ter of American Red Cross which he has served for over 15 years, and is a past exalted rul er of the Ashland Elks lodge. Hedberg joined the First Na tional bank of Ashland as a bookkeeper and clerk in 1922, In 1937 the bank was purchased by First National of Portland. In 1939 he was named assistant cashier and operations officer. In 1942, he came to Medford branch as general loan officer, and was named assistant man ager in 1946 and manager in 1952. Salem (U.R) Oregon passed Safe Driving day, 1955, without a traffic death and slightly im proved on last year's SD day record, the State Traffic Safety division said today. Ten persons were reported in jured in 79 accidents compared to 12 injuries in 80 accidents on Safe Driving day, 1954, which was held Dec. 15. lndications Point To Big Christmas Package Volume Advance indications are that the mail volume this Christmas season will be the heaviest in history. M e d f or d Postmaster Moore Hamilton, has urged resi dents to "mail early and avoid the rush," and he noted . that many residents already are mail ing gifts going long distances. Hamilton said a recent ruling, effective on a trial basis, allows senders of parcel post to enclose a letter inside the package. Pre viously, if a letter were inside a package, the whole package went at first class ates. Under the new ruling announced by Postmaster General Arthur Sum merfield, a letter may be en closed and the package marked "First Class Mail Enclosed." An extra charge of three cents is levied. Properly Wrap Hamilton urged residents sending packages to wrap them properly, especially during the Christmas rush. Parcel post is often piled high in mail termi nals, he said, and packages at the bottom of the pile often are damaged unless well wrapped. 68 Safe Driving Day Deaths Disappointing To Safety Experts By UNITED PRESS Safety experts expressed keen disappointment today because the nation apparently failed to heed the Safe Driving Day cam paign. A United Press count listed 68 persons killed in traffic during the 24-hour period which ended at midnight last night. Two weeks ago, when a sam ple count was taken on an ordi- Jackson county was not without a fatality on Safe-Driving Day yesterday, but the life lost was not a human one. A car driven by Gilbert David Milford of Portland, going north on Highway 99 near Blackwell hill, struck a deer crossing the highway about 6:30 p.m. yesterday. Police said Milford was pass ing another car when the deer jumped onto the highway. They esiimaied Milford's speed about 50 miles an hour at the time of impact. A patrolman disposed of the deer, which suffered a broken neck. Milford's car, which sustained a damaged radiator was towed to Grants Pass. Two other minor accidents were reported to state police. W. E. Honeycut of Grants Pass reported his car and one operated by Keith Edward Schroeder, route 3, box 195, Medford, bumped on Highway 99 south of Phoenix yesterday morning. Ernest Thomp son, 108 Queen Anne St., Medford, reported his car was involved in a slight accident in Rogue River yesterday. There were no accidents reported within the Medford city lim its yesterday, and Police Chief Charles Champlin said he was proud of the cooperation of residents in eliminating accidents. nary Thursday, 69 persons were killed. Adm. H. B. Miller, director of the President's Committee for Traffic Safety, .termed, the re- suits "disappointing." He said in a prepared statement: "Disappointing as the S-D Dy toll was, we must not lose sight of the fact that 10 days still re main of the 21-day period that constitutes the S-D Day cam paign. "It is our hope that the impact of S-D Day on the public will be reflected in the 21-day toll when the . three-week period Sanitary District To Open Bids Tonight Bids will be opened at 7:30 p.m. today in the office of Har vey and Watkins, consulting en gineers, for construction of a trunk line sewer in South Bear Creek Sanitary-sewer district. Contract for the project will not be awarded until after elec tions Dec. 5, when voters in the district vote on a $40,000 bond issue for additional funds for trunk line and lateral sewer lines. Bids also will be tabulated and checked prior to awarding a contract. The trunk line will be install ed from Barnett rd. south to the southern boundary of the district near Phoenix if the bonds are approved. Portland (U.R) David C. Duncan has been elected presi dent of the Portland Chamber of Commerce to succeed R. L. ciark- Hamilton said mailers should note regulations governing weight of packages. Those going from one first, class office to another are limited to 20 pounds unless the "package is ' for de livery locally. If within 150 miles of the mailing point, it may weigh up to 40 pounds. Parcels mailed at second, third or fourth class offices or from or to any star or rural route, may weigh up to 70 pounds. This limitation also applies to packages mailed to military in stallations. The use of first class postage on Christmas cards is advised, Hamilton said. With a three-cent stamp, the card is assured of being forwarded or returned if the addressee has moved and no forwarding address is on file. Cards with two-cent stamps are destroyed if not delivered. Hamilton said a good isdica tion of the volume this year may be seen in November postage stamp sales at the Medford post office. Last month sales were 25 per cent higher than in No vember, 1954. ?IBUNE d Press Full Leased Wire .e 5c No. 217 ends Dec. 11. The figure represented a sharp drop from the 81 persons killed on the comparable Thurs day last year, Dec. 2. But it was well above the 51 persons killed in the first S-D Day on Dec. 15 last year. California and Ohio competed for the worst record, each re porting eight traffic fatalities. There were five in Tennessee and three each in Michigan, Mis souri, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, which usually posts a top safety record. '.. Across the nation, -there, were fatal traffic accidents in 21 states, while death took a holi day in the 27 others and the Dis trict of Columbia. Appointments for Bloodmobile Urged ? Red Cross Bloodmobile offi cials have urged Jackson county residents to make appointments for the regular visit of the unit at the Elks temple next Thurs day. A quota of 240 pints has been set for this visit. ' The unit, which collects blood to provide safe, effective and eco nomic. 1 blood therapy, will be at the Elks temple, 202 North Central ave., between 1 and 5 p.m. Officials stressed the need for donations from Jackson county. At the last visit about two months ago only 122 pints were collected. They also noted that since the last visit, Jackson county residents have used about 250 pints more than double the amount collected. "We have been borrowing the blood bank," officials said, when we should have been add ing to it." The medical profession now uses not only whole blood, but also derivatives of blood for fighting colds, measles, arthritis, bleeding and other ailments. They noted that new uses for" derivatives are constantly being discovered. Appointments to make dona tions of blood may be made by calling Medford 3-3813 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. up to Thursday morning. . Dulles Confident Chiang Will Yield United Nations, N.Y. U.R) Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was reported confident today that Nationalist China will not block admission of 13 free nations to the United Na tions by refusing to admit Com munist Outer Mongolia. A highly responsible U.S. dip lomatic source in Washington said Dulles was convinced that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ultimately will yield to two per sonal pleas sent him by Presi dent Eisenhower. Nationalist China has threat ened to use its all-powerful veto in. the Security Council to bar Outer Mongolia because of fears its admission might ultimately lead to a U.N. seat for Chiang's hated enemy, Red China. Juarez, Mexico U.R) Ac tress Linda Darnell is expected to file suit for a quick divorce today from Philip Liebmann, a New York brewery owner. WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly cloudy with occasional rain showers in val leys and snow showers in mountains tonight and Satur day. Rain Saturday afternoon and night. Low tonight 35. High Saturday 45. TEMPERATURE Highest Yesterday 49 Lowest this Morning 36 PRECIPITATION To 10 ajn. Today 04 Caudle To Demand 'Wide Open' Probe 01 Indictment Connelly Denies Violation of Law St. Louis (U.R) T. Lamar Cau dle said today he. will demand a "wide open" congressional in vestigation of why he was indict ed along with another Truman administration figure on bribery and perjury charges. The federal Grand Jury in dictments returned yesterday linked Caudle, onetime chief of the Justice Department's Tax Division, with Matthew J. Con nelly, former White House ap pointment secretary, and Kansas City attorney Harry I. Schwim mer. Pellis N. Slack, a former Cau dle aide and now a Justice De partment official, was named as a co-conspirator but not as a defendant. In Washington, Atty. Gen. Herbert Brownell Jr., said Slack has been relieved of his duties "'pending proceedings looking to his removal." In New York, Connelly, now a public relations counsellor, denied that he had violated any law of the United States. Caudle, Connelly and Schwim mer were accused of conspiring to defraud the government through perjury and bribery in the case of Irving Sachs, a St. Louis shoe broker charged with income tax evasion. The three men conspired to fix the - charges against Sachs and his firm, it 'was alleged. They were also accused of plan ning to conceal the facts of the conspiracy if the attempt to sup press the charges failed. Caudle, who was fired from his Justice Department post fol lowing a widely publicized in vestigation in 1951, protested he is innocent. , Number Not Identified In Courtesy Program Thursday's "Courtesy Driver of the Day" license number was not identified -by noon9 today. Prize money will be added to today's courtesy driver number: 5A1845 Total prize for identifying to day's license number will be $15. There was ar $10 prize for Thursday's number because yes terday was Safe Driving day. If today's number is identified before noon tomorrow, the cam paign will end, but if the num ber is not identified, another courtesy driver number will be picked. Identification may be made by calling 2-2441 or 3-5643 be fore noon Saturday. Ward Spaatz Wins Horticulture Trophy Corvallis (U.R) Ward Spaatz, Medford pear grower, was "an-' nounced yesterday as winner of their Hartman trophy for out standing service to horticulture at the annual meeting of the Oregon State Horticultural So ciety here. Spaatz is past president of the society. Bob Root, Medford pear grow er, said wood waste materials were the cheapest fuel with which to heat orchards to con trol frost. He said the cost was $2.16 an hour usiag Pres-to-logs compared with $3.54 for oil. Beaten Longview Woman Said Slightly Improved Portland (U.R) Mrs. Calvin Rickard, Longview housewife found brutally beaten in her backyard Wednesday morning, was in improved condition -at Providence hospital here today but attendants said she was still unconscious. Police are continuing their, search for her assailant. WOLF HEARING DELAYED ' Portland (U.R) A hearing to decide degree of guilt and set punishment for Victor Laurence Wolf, confessed bomb slayer of attorney Kermit Smith today was postponed from next Mon- 1 day until Tuesday. Rio Grande Bridge Falls Into River; 40 Persons Hurt Temporary Section Collapses on Workers Eagle Pass, Tex. (U.R) A 300-foot temporary section of an international bridge across the Rio Grande collapsed today and Police Dispatcher Pedro Marquez raported that 40 per sons were hurt, two critically. Marquez said he knew of none dead. He said nearly all of the injured were Mexican braceros. They were standing on that sec tion that collapsed. Braceros came across from the Mexican side daily and stood on the bridge, waiting to be hired. The temporary span was be ing torn down today and work men were under the bridge. It plunged the Braceros and the wreckage of the bridge down upon the workmen on the bed of the river, 30 feet below. Marquez said he believed that all of the injured had been re moved and taken to a hospital. The bridge connects Eagle Pass with Piedras Negras, Mexi co. c Aspects, Of County Taxes Discussed By Chamber Group Various aspects of county rev enues and budgeting were re viewed by members of the Jack son county court at a chamber of commerce breakfast today.0 The session was the second in a series of tax study meetings being conducted by the legisla tive committee of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Frank Van Dyke pre sided." Q Lists Budget Items Commissioner Chester Wendt listed the principal items of the county budget for this year, ex plaining briefly the reasons for increases or decreases. Gentral- lyvhe indicated, increasses1 -were the result of higher costs of do ing busines, of adding person nel necessary to conduct the county's business, and salary in creases to obtain and retain per sonnel. The largest increase was in the county's road funds, Wendt explained. It was brought out during the discussion that the total county tax levy this year, totaling more than $690,000, was almost double that of last year. But three years ago, the levy totaled nearly $600,000. The higher figure this year was used so the county could take advan tage of the 6 per cent increase allowed, and not lose its tax base, the officials explained. Courthouse Construction One of the largest budgeted items is the courthouse construc tion and maintenance fund, it was stated, which provides the county with a fund on which' it can draw for improvements as they become necessary. County Judge Rodney Keat ing outlined sources of income which the ' county has in addi tion to tax levies. The largest of these are monies received from the Bureau of Land Man agement as the county's share of receipts from income off the O&C lands. Others include various re ceipts and fees, and in all the non-tax receipts total $3,212, 762. Judge Keating said. Commissioner L. G. Morthland pointed out that a large portion of the taxes collected inside the 6 per cent limitation are turned over by the county to other gov ernmental units, over which the county has no real control. Other Meetings Scheduled Later meetings of the group will hear city officials discuss tax problems of the cities of this area, and county assessment and appraisal officers discuss their duties in relation to the tax sit uation here. Van Dyke explained the aim of the committee is to gain a broad background and picture of the entire situation before coming to any specific conclu sions regarding taxation. A number of additional meetings will be held on a regular basis, he said. Vehicle Registration Increases in Oregon Salem U.R) Motor veh icle registration increased near ly seven per cent in Oregon in the first nine monthsof 1955. Secretary of State Earl T. New bry said today. There were 657,733 vehicles registered with the secretary of state compared with 615,096 during the first nine months of 1954. Passenger cars totaled 575,- 027; busses, . 1432, and trucks, 7,025, yv'f v J ; i ' k I . J GUEST STAR Miss Gogi Grant will be one of two featured solo ists at the Medford High school band concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in the high school audi torium. Miss Grant appeared on television from Hollywood be fore coming to Medford, where she is appearing at Rogue Valley Country club. The other fea tured soloists will be Medford High School Senior Miss Sonja Peterson at the piano. (See story Page 9 in today's Mail Tribune) Hank Girl Said Alive Three Weeks After Disappearing ' Portland (U.R) Two Uni versity of Oregon co-eds yester day backed up testimony of Sally Irwin, 19, who told the Sherry Fong murder irial jury Wednes day that Diane Hank had been alive three weeks after her dis appearance early in 1954. Claudia Lee Dudley, Sweet Home, and Joyce Louise Larvik, Lebanon, said Miss Irwin had told them of seeing the Hank girl in a Portland store on Jan. 26, 1954. A murder indictment against Sherry Fong accused the woman and her husband, Wey Him Fong, of murdering their 16-year-old part-time babysitter the night of Jn. 6, 1954. Trial Resumes ; The trial resumed yesterday afternoon caf ter Multnomah County . Circuit Judge Alfred P Dobson. ... ordered , it suspended Wednesday to investigate Miss Irwin s surprise testimony. The young witness yesterday under cross - examination by Howard Lonergan, deputy dis trict attorney, admitted that a date book sought as evidence in the trial contained no direct ref erence to Miss Irwin's contact with Diane Hank. The book, however, verified that Miss Irwin had had her foot treated by a Portland doctor on Jan. 26, 1954. The witness said she saw Diane' while on her way to the. doctor's office. Plywood Mill Closes Due To Market Slump Empire Plywood company at White City closed operations to day because of a slump in tbje market price of sheathing. tt The company, which normal ly employs about 47 men, will remain closed until some time in January. v NThe price drop in plywood sheathing may be partly attribut ed to overproduction and a regu lar seasonal slump, according to company officials. Avalanche Knocks Out Lolo Pass Road Section Portland (U.R) A section of Lolo -pass road, scenic route ground the north side of Mt. Hood, has been knocked out by an avalanche . from Sugarloaf mountain, Lloyd Olson, Mt. Hood forest supervisor said today. The r6ute was opened for the first time last summer but has been closed by snow. Olson esti mated damage at $6,000 and said repairs would have to wait until spring. Navy Diver Rescued After Being Trapped Eight Hours Solomons, Md. (U.R) A Navy diver recuperated today from the ordeal of being trapped for eight hours in frigidpitch-black waters 130 feet below the sur face of Chesapeake Bay. '. Fellow divers succeeded after frequent setbacks in freeing Jo seph. R. Tallarico, 35, early Thursday night as he was about to collapse because of cold and pressure. Lines Become Tangled Tallarico had become trapped at 11:15 a.m. (EST) when swift underwater currents tangled his lines around a dummy mine he was trying to recover. The mine contained scientific instruments and photographic equipment used in underwater research by the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Washington. Tha 20 divert who took part Stars and Stripes Flown as Proof Of U.S. Interest Soviets To Be Held ' Responsible by West Berlin (U.R) U. S. Ambassa dor. James B. Conant drove de fiantly into ast Berlin flying the American flag frogi his car today, shortly after he had de clared that "we will remain in Berlin" until it is reunified.' During a tour of this divided city, Conant drove far into the Communist- held sector showing the Stars and Stripes to give visible proof of the continuing interest of the U. S. govern ment in the welfare of this brave and important city." Determination Reaffirmed After his drive in which he showed the flag, Conant held a news conference in which he re- affimed the American determina tion to protect Berlin. He repeated his statement that the West will hold the Soviets responsible for maintaining the present four' power system in their sector despite East German defiance of occupations regula tions. Conant told a news conference in the divided city that the Unit ed States will "continue to" hold the Soviets responsible for the proper treatment of U. , S. na tionals." . He said he traveled to Berlin from the Embassy at Bonn yes terday "to give visible proof of the continuing interest of the United States government in the welfare of this brave and im portant city." Protests Delivered The ambassador said his pres ence in Berlin "further under lines" U. S. determination to remain in the city, a stand whicli was set forth in a stiff note Conant presented to Soviet Am bassador G. M. Puskin yesterday. The note, similar in tone to liotes presented by Britain and ! France, reaffirmed four power occuoation of the entire citv. It aeniea , .ast German claims to control of the city. by virtueCM their "sovereignty" by insistmg that Russia still isa responsible for control of the Eastern sector. Conant served notice today that, the United States ' would not "deal with the East Germans. Fire Damages Home Here Early Today An overstuffed chair was destroyed and the ceiling floor and a wall were damaged by fire this morning at the Charles Clif ford Cowan residence, 509 Aus tin st. Firemen said the fire alarm was their first in five days. They were summoned about 9:55 a.m. by a neighbor. Mr. and Mrs. Cowan were at work at the time. In addition to the fire burning a hole in the floor under the chair, a hole in the wall beside it and another in the ceiling, heat damaged other furniture in the room, firemen reported. They said there was extensive smoke damage throughout the house. - On arrival, firemen were told there was a dog in the house. They found the animal under the bed. It was probably the only place the dog could have been and survived, according to fire men. As possible causes, firemen listed a cigarette or a frayed electrical extension cord which extended under the chair to a table lamp. DOW-JONES AVERAGES New York (U.R) Dow Jones .final stock averages: 30 industrials 482.72 up 1.33, 20 rails 165.45 up 0.17, 15 utilities 65.87 up 0.03, and 65 stocks 173.04 up 0.32. in the rescue were hampered by strong tides, and by the darkness at the depth where Tallarico was trapped. When freed, Tallarico was brought slowly to the surface to prevent him from suffering an attack of the dread divers' dis ease known as "the bends," which results from a too-sudden change in pressure. Smiles Despite Numbness The diver emerged from the chilled water smiling despite his benumbed arms and legs and told rescuers he was "glad to be out." During the early hours of the ordeal he maintained good spirits. But later he complained of cold and soreness and suffered sharply during the slow and painful ascent to the surface.
