Medford mail tribune., January 22, 1956, Image 1

WEATHER
So
3
FORECAST Cloudy with Inter
mittent light rain this
morning; partly cloudy- this
afternoon, with increasing
cloudiness and rain tonight
and in the morning. High to
dav 50; low tonight 36-38;
high Monday 46-48.
Temp.
Highest yesterday 47
Lowest yesterday 41
Precip to 10:30 pan. J4
Medford
o .
-J CO
9 a
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MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1956
Price 5c
No. 259
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B.UNE
L w mm
ewart
Tax Increase In
ackson
Some of the large increases in
property taxes evident this year
are the result of a shift in the
tax load from personal to real
property, Tax Commissioner
Sam Stewart said here yester
day. ' At a meetng of the legislative
committee of the Jackson Coun
ty Chamber of Commerce, Stew
art said that real property in this
county is being taxed at a higher
proportionate rate than personal
property, than is true elsewhere
in the state.
True Cash Value'
This is the case, he reported
for the first time publicly, be
cause real property in Jackson
county has "true cash value"
figured at 100 per cent of mar
ket value, as the result of what
apparently was an innoncent
computing error ia the county
assessor's office. In other count
ties, "true cash value" is figures
at 70 per cent of market value,
under regulations of the state
tax commission.
The legislature has ordered a
gradual increase of this ratio to
100 per cent, but it was not to go
to that figure until 1961. In
stead, it went to 100 per cent in
Jackson county this year, result
ing in a dis-proprotionate burden
on real property as compared to
personal property, which is fig
ured at a different ratio, Stew
art explained. The ratio will
drop to 80 per cent here next
year, he said, and will then be
on a par with other counties. ,
Frank J. Van Dyke, commit
tee chairman, stated that it is
becoming increasingly evident
to him and to committee mem
bers, in the course of their tax
study, that there is no single
cause for increased taxes this
year. V I
Among the reasons the com
mittee has found so far are in
creased levies in all or most tax
ing units of government; chang
es in assessments; a shift of the
tax burden from utilities to other
taxable property as a result of
an equalization of the ratios un
der which - utilities are taxed,
and other factors, some of which
may have only an indirect, but
nonetheless noticeable, effect on
taxes. He also pointed out that in
some cases taxes have decreased.
Earlier in the meeting, Stew
art discussed in general terms
the reappraisal program conduct
ed in the county by both state
and county appraisers.
Properties Reappraised
He declared that more than
21,000 properties were reapprais
ed during the project, and as a
result, some of the "refinements"
of appraisal techniques could not
be used. In a mass project such
as this, he stated, it is inevitable
that some errors would be made.
"Appraisers are only human
beings,' 'he said, and pointed out,
too, that the business of apprais
ing is not standardized and for
mularized to an extent where
appraisals are exact : and uni
form. Much of itt remains simply
a matter of individual judgment.
Some of the factors taken in
to consideration are improve
Snents and replacement costs, de
preciation, land values, sales,
production studies, and other
criteria, Stewart said. He cited
examples of how values within
the county are shifting as popu
lation grows and as land use
changes.
Outmoded Appraisals
The commissioner also report
ed that some properties had not
been appraised for 10, 20 or ev
en 30 years, and had previously
been taxed under these old and
c&moded appraisals.
He said that it was known be
fore the reappraisal job was un
dertaken that some inequities
would result, but it is the hope
that in the over-all picture the
majority of inequities would be
removed. - -
He encouraged those who feel
errors have been made in . ap
praisal or assessment of their
properties to appear before the
county board of . equalization
next spring to point them out,
and said in many cases where
errors were made, relief could
be granted. '
Examples Presented '
Walter Jones, Medf ord real es
state man and appraiser, agreed
with many of Stewart's points,
but maintained that as many as
30 -er cent of the reappraisals
have resulted in mistaken valua
tions and inequities some of
them one way and some the oth
er. He cited a number of exam
ples taken from his files, saying
Explains
County
they do not constitute a "spot
check" of appraisals, but rather
a cross-section sampling of prop
erty. Other than his contention that
many mistakes had been made,
Jones was in general agreement
with Stewart on the need for
standardization and equalization
of appraisal and assessment tech
niques, and supported his state
ment that many property own
ers aro only now beginning to
pay, their fair share of, taxes.
In no case did any participant
at the discussion impute dishon
esty to any county or state offi
cial, but many expressed con
cern at the complicated and of
ten out-dated machinery of prop
erty taxation. r
General Discussion
Following Stewart's and Jones'
statements, the problem of tax
ratios in different counties, and
on real property, on personal
property and on utilities, came
in for general discussion, as did
the distinction between market
price, market value and true
cash value, all of which enter the
taxing picture.
Stewart gave additional his
tory and background of the de
velopment of present tax laws,
and of the "normal conditions"
clause which created confusion
both among taxing officials and
members, of the legislature. He
discussed the tax commission's
role in relationship to county as
sessorssaying the state has no
desire to assume the functions
of the assessors' offices, but is
charged with the responsibility
of seeing that the state laws are
followed by the local officials.
The chamber's legislative com
mittee will hold several more of
its . meetings ; before , starting
preparation of a report giving its
findings and recommendations,
if any.
County Planners
Schedule Meeting
An organizational meeting of
the new Jackson County Plan
ning commission will be held
Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the coun
ty court office. Nine members
were named to the commission
last month by the court, who
said need for the group result
ed from the growth of the coun
ty outside incorporated areas.
Named to four-year terms
were John Pletsch, Medford; Ed
win W.' Gebhard, Central Point;
and Edward S. Strother, Shady
Cove.
Three-year members are Stu
art V. McQueen, Medford; John
Niedermeyer, Jacksonville; and
Lloyd Selby, Ashland.
Two-year members are Ed
ward F. Bolt, Gold Hill; Don B.
Whalin, Medford; and David B.
Lowry, Phoenix. Subsequent ap
pointments will be for four-year
terms.
County Judge J. Rodney Keat
ing said the commission is to
further public health, safety and
general welfare in the county,
and "specifically to develop a
pattern for its physical and eco
nomic development."
AEC Chief Rejects
Full Disclosure
Albuquerque, N.M. (U.R)
Chairman Lewis L. Strauss of
the Atomic Energy Commission
last night rejected demands for
full disclosure of fusion-for-power
developments.
. In so doing he placed himself
at odds with Sen. Clinton P,
Anderson (D-N.M.), chairman of
the Congressional Atomic Energy
committee.
Anderson in Cleveland last
month said he knew of "no
sound military reason" for se
crecy in the government's efforts
to harness H-bomb reactions. He
said colleges and private industry
should, be permitted to study
fusion for power. He. also criti
cized AEC public information
policy generally.
Strauss, addressing the New
Mexico Press association in And
erson's home town, took issue
with the senator on both counts
He said the government can
not, for reasons of "national de
fense and security," declassify
its fusion studies which if
they pan out : could open up
practically inexhaustible energy
stores for peaceful use.
Claim To One Acre
Of Land On Moon Is
Recorded In County
A "general quit claim deed
to one acre of land on the
moon" was filed in the county
recorder's office Friday by
Arnel Butler, 28 Barnesburg
rd., for his f o u r-year-cld
grandson, Charles Robert
Wirkkula.
The acre, located on the
northeast quadrant in the
crater Copernicus, was deeded
to the youngster by the Inter
planetary Development cor
poration. The Little Museum,
Nassau county, N.Y.
It cost $1.
With the deed go mineral
and oil rights, beach rights,
access to the Sea of Tranquil
ity, right to fish, :dredge and
clam in, upon and under the
Sea of Nectar, as well as the
right to engage in winter
sports in the Lunar alps.
The corporation describes
itself as a "profit corporation
dedicated to exploration of
planets, public education, de
velopment of satellites and si
milar activities also rock
ets." The Butlers' grandson, is
spending several weeks with
his grandparents. His mother,
the former Ann Butler, is Mrs.
J. W. Higinbotham, Pendleton.
Governor Patterson
Urges Support Of
Ike's Principals
Boise, Ida. Gov. Paul Pat-
trson of Oregon called on fel
low Republicans Friday nioit
to support the principles of
President Eisenhower and his
administration regardless of
whether or not the president
is a candidate for re-election
next fall.
The Oregon governor spoke
before the Boise "Salute, to
Eisenhower" dinner, one of 70
held simultaneously in, principal
cities throughout the nation as
a testimonial to President Eisen
hower's leadership and the third
anniversary of his inauguration
as president.
On the credit side of the Eisen
hower administration, he listed
more than $10,000,000,000 pared
from the national budget; re
mo v a 1 of private controls;
streamlining while strengthening
national defense; halting of infla
tion and the transition for the
first time in history from war
to peace without a; depression.
He said America faces the
most prosperious era in the his
tory of the country.
At Portland, Postmaster Gen
eral Arthur E. Summerfield said,
the most dread disease that can
infect a free people was that
of "political apathy ."
Summerfield addressed some
650 persons at . a ; $100-a-plate
Republican dinner after . Presi
dent Eisenhower's closed circuit
television speech.
Summerfield cited three ob
jectives which he said Republic
ans must work for integrity in
government, . political freedom
for ever citizen and expanding
opportunity for every American.
President, George
To Discuss Policy
Washington (U.R) Presi
dent Eisenhower has i n vi t e d
Senator Walter George (D-Ga.)
to the White House Monday to
discuss the foreign policy.
The senator did not comment
on the impending meeting but
observers felt generally that the
invitation was partly a presiden
tial move to soften the intensity
of Democratic attacks on Dulles.
The Democrats stepped up
their attacks Friday, eliminating
any doubt that foreign policy
will be a major issue centered
around Dulles.
Crippled Ship Wins 18-Hour Battle In
North Atlantic After Crash With Tower
Boston (U.R) The USNS
Sagitta won" an 18 hour duel
with the north Atlantic Saturday
and eased into -drydock after
crashing into the Texas tower
radar island 110 miles off Cape
Cod.
The' crew, led by Capt. Wil
helm Bondeson of Brooklyn,
N.Y., brought the crippled ves
sel here after high waves hurled
the Sagitta against one of the
huge legs of the tower.
The 42-man civilian crew man
ned gasoline pumps and righted
the vessel . through it listed ser
iously when the 'collision gashed
the starboard side below the
water line.
Statement Claims
Red China Holding
'Threat Of War'
Blames Communists For
Progress Lack In Talks
Washington (U.R) The State
Department accused Red China
Saturday of holding "the threat
of war'"over the Far East in an
efort to force the United States
to abandon the defense of For
mosa. It also demanded that Red
China make good on its "over
due" promise to release 13
American civilians still held in
Communist prisons.
Issues Statement
The department issued a
caustic, 1,200-word statement
blaming the Communists for lack
of progress in the Far East peace
.talks which U.S. and Chinese
ambassadors have been conduct
ing at Geneva, Switzerland,
since last fall.
The American blast was
prompted by what the state de
partment called a "misleading
statement" about the Geneva
talks issued last Wednesday by
the Red Chinese- ambassador,
Wang Pin-Nan. Wang accused
the United States of stalling in
the negotiations. He said his
country had offered to renounce
use of force in international dis
putes, but would not include
Formosa in such a declaration
because it considers Formosa an
internal Chinese problem.
Asserting "it is necessary that
the record be set straight," the
U.S. statement gave an account
of the Geneva negotiations, in
cluding: ' . . '
1. The United States has
sought to remove "the threat of
war" by proposing a formal
agreement in which both count
ries would renounce use of
force in the Far East, and "par
ticularly" in the Formosa area.
Chinese Territory
2. Jled China contended that
Formosa is "Chinese territory"
and that the' United States there
fore has no "right of defense"
in that area. The state depart
ment said this seems to mean
the Communists are "willing to
renounce force only if they are
first conceded the goals for
which they would use force"
namely, forcing the United
States to abandon the defense
of the island now occupied by
Chiang Kai-Shek's Chinese Na
tionalists. While proclaiming these con
ditions absolutely "unaccept
able" to this country, the de
partment said "the United
States intends to persist in the
way of Peace." It made clear
this "country's readiness to con
tinue the Geneva negotiations
and said: "we shall seek with
perserverance a meaningful re
nunciation of force, particularly
in the Taiwan (Formosa) area."
Senate Passes Bill
For Disaster Loans
Washington (U.R) The
Senate Friday passed a bill add
ing $35,000,000 to the fund to
be used by the Small Business
administration to help rebuild
businesses destoryed by floods.
A provision limiting dnterest
chargable to three per cent is
contained in the measure which
now goes to a Senate-House con
ference committee. It is due to
be considered there early next
week.
Lifeguards Called On
For Unusual Rescue
Malibu, Calif. (U.R) Malibu
lifeguards were called on Satur
day to make the most unusual
rescue of the season.
. A deer taking a morning dip
m the ocean was carried 150
yards offshore by the current.
Lifeguards used a surf board to
reach the deer and return him to
the beach. ,
Through Friday night the
crewmen operated the pumps on
ice-coated decks as the ship
limped toward Boston with a
Navy and Coast Guard escort.
"The decision to make for Bos
ton after the crash was entirely
mine," Said skipper Bondeson.
"And thanks to a good crew
from top to bottom we made it."
Chief Engineer Frank Dixon
of Avon Park, Fla., credited the
crew's training with saving the
vessel.
, "Even the mess boy knew
exactly what to do. At the. first
sign of trouble he was at his sta
tion. . Damage control, training
paid off for us yesterday," he
its
m
if i
WIN SAFETY HONORS Three men were
honored Friday night for individual accomp
lishment in the field of safety, by the Medford
Safety Council.'. George Milligan (right),
chairman, founder and chief pilot of Mercy
Flights, Inc., was awarded the ' council's
plaque for outstanding individual contribu
tion to the cause of safety - in his work with
the non-profit air ambulance corporation.
Individuals,
Med f o rd Sa
Three individuals and ten
groups were honored for 1955
safety- activities at. the annual
dinner meeting of the Medford
Safety Council Friday evening.
Two Medford polwe officers
were presented with' "Saved A
Life" awards, in recognition of
their quick first aid action which
averted death from seriously in
jured persons. They were Offi
cers Keith Gildesgard and Ro
bert Allen.
Presented Plaque '
George Milligan, chairman
and founder of Mercy Flights,
Inc., was presented with a plaque
for outstanding contributions to
safety by an individual during
1955.
Claude Hagard, a former
award-winner himself, presented
the honors. He had high praise
for the Medford officers for their
quick action, and to Milligan
for long and continued inspira
tion and work toward saving
lives through the . non-profit air
ambulance organization.
Other awards, for. accomplish
ments in the field of safety,
went to:
1 Ideal Cement company, Gold
Hill, for outstanding, achieve
ment in safety for an industrial
concern; to St. Mary's school and
the Medford public schools, for
safety patrol work and educa
tion; to Southern Oregon Conser
vation and Tree Farm associa
tion for communications work
leading to the saving of lives:
to the Medford Junior Chamber
of Commerce for the sponsorship
of the annual Teen Age Roadeo;
and to three radio stations, tele
vision station ; and daily news
paper in Medford for coopera
tion in safety campaigns and
programs.
120 Persons Attend
More than 120 persons attend
ed the dinner, at which State
Sen. Mark Hatfield, dean of stu
dents at Willamette university,
was speaker. Hatfieid commend
ed Medford's unity in action in
achieving an outstanding safety
record, saying it was the putting
into effect the "potential power
of united action."
Hatfield pointed out that
Medford - schools have been on
the safety honor roll of the Na
tional Safety Council for five
said.
Dixon and the captain praised
Chief Mate Joseph Semon of
Massapequa," N.Y., who . volun
teered to be lowered over the
side in a boatswain's chair to
examine the cracked hull, even
while seas still were raging
around the ship and tower. ;.
Capt. Bondeson said the long,
slow trip to Boston was a "lucky"
one because the seas smoothed
out and wind - dropped to 15
miles an hour.
A three-man naval board of
investigation will meet in Bos
ton Monday for what was de
scribed as a routine inquiry into
the accident.
BAt-JOTS
Groups Honored At
f ef y Co u nci I Meet i ng
years in a row, a record no other
school system in Oregon can
equal; that the Medford school
record is 10th among the 468
cities in the 10,000 to 20,000
population class r in the U. S.;
and that if Medford's safety ' re
cord were duplicated all over
the nation, fatal accidents would
be cut by two-thirds.
Responsibility Shared
Responsibility for this out
standing record can be shared
by all Medford citizens, Hatfield
declared, but he singled out the
Safety Council, the school ad
ministration, the city administra
tion, police and Mayor Earl
Miller as deserving of particular
praise. . -
. The basis for a successful safe
ty campaign is based on three
things, he stated: understanding
the facts, development of skills
Sports Bulletins
A rugged Medford high bas
ketball aggregation, which de
cisively controlled the boards,
finished the first half of Us
Southern Oregon conference
season unbeaten last night 'by
defeating Grants Pass here 67
to 57.
Phoenix Phoenix reach--ed
the midway; point of the
Rogue League chase with an
unblemished ' standing . last
night, chalking . up its sixth
loop win with a 65 to 30 de
cision over the Illinois Valley
iigh basketball crew here. -
Central Point Eagle Point
regained a second place tie
with Ciater in Rogue League
basketball by trimming the
Comets 49 to 44 here last night.
Ashland h Portland State
college grabbed the lead mid
way through the first half
and -kept it here last night in
an 80 to 78 Oregon Collegiate
Conference basketball . win
over Southern Oregon col
lege. Washington 80, Washington
Stale 57.
College of Pac. 57. Santa
. Clara 53
Idaho 61, Oregon 59 '
Klamath Falls High 63, Ash
land 51 - " . :
Hungarian Jet Planes
Crash During Chase
Vienna (U.R) Two Hun
garian Air Force jet fighters
collided and - crashed on Aus
trian territory Saturday while
trying to force down two un
identified planes, Austrian po
lice reported.
.The pilot of one of the Soviet
built MIG 15's parachuted to
safety. Austrian police took him
into custody. The other was
killed when his plane exploded
after it crashed.
The collision occurred over
Pamhagen, a village on the Aus-tro-Hurigariah
border 40 miles
southeast of Vienna in the prov
ince of Burgenland.
GO
U
Two Medford police officers, Keith Gildes
gard (left) and Robert Allen (center) were
given a new award, the "Saved A Life"
award presented because they each have
saved the life of an accident victim through '
rapid and skilled application of first aid. Ten
other awards were presented to various or
ganizations and firms for their safety endeavors.-
(Landis-Shahgle photo.)
and habits, and the proper atti
tude. Without . any one of the
three,- success cannot be fully
achieved, he said. ...
: And, ultimately, success m
safety','. as in any field,' depend:
on j the individual in a f r e
society, Senator Hatfield stated
the individual who himself
will take his share of responsi
bility for community problems
and not try to shove it off on to
"society."
Miss Hazel Swaine, former
council president, installed 1956
officers, including R. L. (Bud)
Palmer, outgoing president who
was ' elected for another term;
Aubrey Loper, vice-chairrfian;
Ruth Ragsdale, secretary; Clyde
Fichtner, treasurer, and Elmer
Anderson, John Childers and Dr.
William Thompson, directors.-
Medford Shows Big
Building Increase
December dollar volume of
building was down 41 per cent
from a year ago in the 47 largest
Pacific northwest cities, accord
ing to a xeport by the combined
Equitable Savings and Loan as
sociations.. Medford construction, howev
er, for December, 1955, totaled
$279,002, snowing an increase of
194 per cent over December,
1954, when building totaled $94,
935.: . The decline among most larg
er northwest cities resulted in
home construction, with dollar
volume off 65 per cent from the
previous December and permits
off 60 per cent...
Southern Oregon cities of
Roseburg, Klamath Falls and
Grants Pass were among cities
showing a decline in building.
Astoria, Baker, Oregon City and
St. Helens showed an increase,
along with Medford.
Divers Probe For Men
After Bridge Falls
Hempstead, Tex. ' (U.R)
Divers probed cautiously into a
tangled mass of-steel girders in
the murky depths of the Brazos
River Saturday for the bodies of
five men believed killed when a
bridge under construction col
lapsed. Hope was all but abandoned
that any of the ..missing men
would be found alive.
The men, inpluding a Texas
highway engineer, were thrown
into the river, alrfng with seven
other workmen, and believed
pinned under. 1,000,000 pounds
of steel when a concrete pillar
supporting the new span gave
way Friday.
. Seven of the 12 men swam to
shore," or were pulled from the
water by other workmen. Three
were injured, two critically.
E
Wave Spreads To
Calcutta; 23 Dead
In Demonstration
Uprisings Against
Boundary Revision
Bombay, India . (U.R) New
anti-government violence broke
put in the Bombay area last
night to end an uneasy lull in
the five-day wave of rioting
which has spread to Calcutta.
Police opened fire in three
places to halt stone-throwing
mobs and prevent arson and loot
ing. At least five more persons
were killed in the clashes bring
ing the day's death toll to 23.
Fresh uprisings were report
ed in Calcutta and other parts
of eastern and southern India.
Defy City Curfew
A mob of 200 torch-bearing
persons defied the city curfew
by marching through the streets, '
tossing stones at police and
passers-by.,When they refused to
disperse, police sprayed the
streets with bullets and killed
five persons and injured several
others.'
Another procession of 1.000
demonstrators broke up when
police opened fire. There were
no reported deaths, -but many '
demonstrators were injured.
In tne northern ; part of the
city, police battled acid-throw,
ing hoodlums. Many rioters were
reported injured when police
fired on the mob.
The new rioting brought the
death total for the five days to
near 80. Two persons were shot
to death earlier and 16 others
succumbed to wounds received
in past days. -2,200
Are Arrested
More than 500 persons have
been injured, including some 100
policenient, Authorities report
ed that about 2,200 persons have
been arrested. " - - . ; :
, Three persons died in Calcutta
yesterday as a result of demon
strations One woman was shot
to death, and two men died from
burns received when rioters set
fire to a building.
There were mounting demands1
for the resignation of Premier
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
among the frenzied mobs demon
strating against the government's
plan to revise state boundaries.
Bombay Police Commisisoner
K. D. Bilimoria, who blamed
the Communists for the riots;
extended the darkness curfew
until next Tuesday. The ban on
the assembly of five or more
persons was extended for two
weeks.
Police were said to be under
orders to "shoot to kill" at any
violators of the emergency de
crees. The government was re
ported, considering using troops
reinforcements for the Bombay
area. ., ,
Calcutta Assembly
Some 10,000 men and women
assembled in Calcutta last night
and pledged a "fight unto death
if , necessary" to get the govern
ment to change its re-districting
measures. If their demands are
not met, their spokesmen warn
ed, they will take action "thrice
as big as Bombay's."
Last night's meeting climaxed
a daylong general strike in Cal
cutta and suburban areas which
was called by leftists. The strike '
paralyzed normal business and
transportation.
There were a few clashes at
factories which refused! to close.
One .woman was killed and sev
eral other persons injured when
shooting broke out at one plant.
At the Raoli labor camp at
Matunga, a suburb of Bombay,
police opened fire four times on
rioting mobs engaged in arson
and looting. Two persons were
killed and 'two others were
wounded.
Jensen To Ask For
Beef Buying Program
Washington U.P.) "Rep.
Ben E. Jensen (R-Ia.),- said Sat
urday he will ask the adminis
tration at a White House con
ference Monday to start a beef
buying program big enough to
raise sagging cattle prices.
He said he also will ask the
government to step up its cur
rent pork purchases sufficiently
to give the hog market a big
financial lift.
Rep. H. Carl Andersen (R
Minn.), said, meantime, that at
a big GOP congressional confer
ence, with Secretary of Agricul
ture Ezra T. Benson on Wednes
day he will call for an entirely
new hog buying program to in
crease prices about 25 per cent.
T