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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1957)
De iieratie Tax mm F Fregrai tkmi "Let Me Know When r I j f Rain Eases in Texas; Threat of Dangerous Floods Still Remain Dallas, Tex. (U.R) A 12 day stretch of tornadoes and de luges in Texas started tapering off today, though dangerous floods stiil remained in rivers that course through the south ern part of the state. The flood along the Sabine river, which is part of the bor der between Louisiana and Tex as, reached into Northwest Lou isiana, as well as into Eastern Texas. Wharton and Bay City, about 43 miles from Houston, near the Gulf of Mexico, were in danger from the swollen Colorado. Violent Weather Easing But the violent weather that took 17 lives in 11 days and raused President Eisenhower to declare a huge sector of Texas as a disaster area, was easing. The heaviest rain reported to day was scattered showers and half of the state had no rain. The flood waters in 11 Texas rivers were caused by rains up to 10 inches that have been fall ing day and night over the state. President Eisenhower wired Gov. Price Daniel Monday ex pressing his "deep concern" with the "hardship and suffer ing" caused by the floods. Daniel had requested federal aid. The declaration of Texas as a major disaster area will en able the allocation of federal funds to the stricken areas. The President did not mention the amount of money which would be forthcoming. Damage on the Trinity and Brazos rivers alone has been es- Budget Committee Indicates Raises Members of the Jackson coun ty budget committee today indi cated salary raises are planned for many employees of county departments in the 1957-58 fiscal year. The budget committee pointed out that no elected officials will receive raises. Law provides elected officials can have salary raises only once every two years on the even-number years. Members of the committee have spent a considerable amount of time recently attempt ing to readjust salary increase schedules. Some have voiced the opinion that starting salaries are too high and the maximum wages are reached too soon. Next meeting of the commit tee will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the county court room. Funeral Set for Child Killed Under Tractor .Hillsboro (U.R) Funeral rites will be held here Wednes day for Patrick Alan Schaaf, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Schaaf of West Union, who died Sunday under the wheels of a tractor. Authorities said the child ap parently crawled under the tractor unnoticed by his father who started to move the vehicle. The boy was killed instantly. Weather FORECAST: Scattered thunder storm this evening. Mostly cloudy tonitht and Wednes day with occasional showers. Low 'tonight 45, high Wednes day Temp. Hi:hest Yesterday ! Lowest this Morning SO Our Skies Tonight Sunrise Giinset 5:08 a.m. 7:10 p.m. Moonset S:1S p.m. First Quarter May S PROMINENT STAR Antarcs. rises 10:30 p.m. VISIBLE PLANETS Saturn, rises 10:10 p.m. north f Antares. Mars, sets " 10:ji p.m. Jupiter, high In south- west ..... I""- You Decide Something" timated at $15,500,000 by the U. S. Corps of Engineers. The Sabine river had parts of Lakeland, La., under eight feet of water Monday and lowlands along the Red river in northeast ern Louisiana were flooded. "Every stream of any conse quence from the Pecos to the Louisiana border is flooding, has been flooding, or is bankful," said R. O. Bland of the North Texas Regional Weather bur eau. The Pecos is Texas' west ernmost river other than the Rio Grande. Senate Vote Would Give Cities More Liquor Revenues 1 Salem (U.R) The Oregon Senate today unanimously pass ed Senate bill 245 to give the cities 15 per cent of the state's liquor revenues instead of the 5 per cent they now get. This means that each city, if the measure wins House approv al and is signed by the govern or, will get three times as much money from liquor revenues as it now gets. Skirmishes Fail The measure passed only aft er a couple of parliamentary fkirmishes had fallen by the wayside. First, Sen. Walter J. Pearson, Portland Democrat, moved to amend the measure which had been explained by Sen. Warren Gill, Lebanon Republican, to read 10 per cent instead of 15 per cent. Then Sen. Phil Lowry, Med ford Republican, moved to amend that motion to make it .ead 20 per cent instead of 10 per cent. First Sen. Lowry's mo tion failed, then Sen. Pearson's motion failed. And finally on the vote on the main question, not a dissenting vote was cast. Entitled To Relief Sen. Gill said besides having the problem of local law en forcement to handle as a result of liquor sales, the city's were entitled to some property relief. He said "we haven't really done anything for anybody in the 106 days we have been here. This is our chance to do some thing worth while, finally for the relief of our cities." Ashland Boy Found; Missing Over Night A 14-year-old Ashland boy, Norman Lester Wilson, 138 Third st., was found at 6:20 a m. today pn the banks of Myers creek near Ashland suffering from a broken leg. He had been missing over night. According to state police, the boy, son of Mrs. L. H. Wilson, was reported missing from his home about 9:10 p.m. Monday. He had last been seen heading toward Bear creek, apparently to go fishing. Police said Mrs. Stewart Wy ant, route 1, box 170, Ashland, went to Myers creek this morn ing and found the youth. She told police she thought she heard a scream coming from the direc tion of the creek last night. She went to the creek after hearing a report that the boy was miss ing. Prince Rainier, Grace Call on Pope Pius Vatican City (U.R) Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco called on Pope Pius XII today in a state audience marked by pomp and pageantry. Russia Accused Of Intervention In Jordan Crisis Marines Go Ashore in Friendly 'Show of Flag' By UNITED PRESS The United States accused the Soviet Union today of backing "foreign intervention" during the recent crisis in Jordan. The accusation was made by the State Department in answer to an earlier Moscow charge that the U.S. is responsible for recent developments in Jordan, where King Hussein barely saved his government from the forces of international Commu nism. The Washington statement came as the U.S. Sixth Fleet landed 1,000 Marines in Beirut, Lebanon today on a friendly "show the flag" mission which demonstrated U.S. striking pow er in the Mid-East danger bone. Moscow had accused the west ern powers of "outright foreign interference" in the Middle East, saying the responsibility for this intervention rested "above all on the United States of America." Accuses Soviet To this State Department Press Officer Lincoln White re torted: "There has indeed been for eign intervention in that coun try (Jordan), namely as King Hussein said on April 24 the intervention of . international Communism." In response to questions, White emphasized that the U.S. regards the Soviet Union as the fountain-head of international Communism. A few hours earlier King Hus sein denied to a news confer ence in Amman that the U.S. is interfering in Jordan's internal affairs. "This statemet has no basis whatsoever," he said. "Every thing that took place in Jordan was our own internal affair.'? Hussein accepted an American offer of $10 million worth of economic aid providing no strings were attached.. May Ask for Arrai He said Jordan will ask the U.S. for "whatever arms we need as long as no conditions are attached." The Sixth Fleet and its Ma rine landing force moved into the Eastern Mediterranean as a "precaution," ready to help if needed. The Marines hit the beach for 12 hours of Payday shore leave, their pockets filled with money and their objective a good time. Lightning Strikes Home Near Keno Klamath Falls (U.R) Light ning Monday night struck the R. E. Hurlbut home nine miles west of Klamath Falls on the Keno road but the six occu pants of the dwelling escaped injury. The lightning bolt struck the second floor of the building, knocked a plasterboard panel off the wall, set a bed on fire, shot down the stairs into the kitchen where it knocked over- a stove and knocked chips out of the sink. A California Oregon Power company transformer outside the Hurlburt home was knocked out, one of five put out of commis sion in a three-mile area by the violent electrical storm that struck about 5:58 p.m. Some areas were without pow er for 18 hours after bushings in a substation at Dixonville, near Roseburg, blew out after lightning struck the substation. David Dodge of Roseburg, who was in the process of turning a switch at the time, was- knocked off a platform and shaken, but was not otherwise injured, Cop co officials said. Power was off about five min utes in southern Oregon, includ ing the Medford area. School Budget Elections Scheduled Next Month Elections on proposed budgets for the coming year will be held next month in the various school districts of the county. Election in district 6C will be held Wednesday, May 8; Phoe nix, Wednesday, May 15; and Talent and Rogue River, Mon day, May 20. Date for the Med ford school district budget elec tion has not as yet been set, district officials reported. Local Man Given 30-Day Suspt ended Sentence Edwin John Bemis, 32, of 1803 Spring St., Medford, was given a suspended 30-day jail sentence in district court yesterday after being found guilty of failure to send his child to school. He was found guilty in a trial before District Judge James Main, who handed down the ver diet. 52nd Year Medford United Press Full Leased Wire 20 Pages 50 Per Cent of Historic Building Destroyed by Fire Jacksonville Fireman Injured in Fall Jacksonville The historic Britt residence was extensively damaged by fire early last night. One volunter fireman was in jured. The blaze, which started from a flue fire, destroyed the upper floor, which included the first photographic studio in southern Oregon. Water and smoke dam age was extensive on the lower floor. Antiques Removed Most of the valuable antique items owned by the Britts had been removed. Miss Mary Han ley, curator of the Jacksonville Museum, said the Southern Ore gon Historical Society had re moved everything from Peter Britt's photographic gallery, and parlor furniture including the parlor carpet. Most of the items which were not taken by the Society were sold at an auction conducted by Southern Oregon college, which assumed responsibility of the estate when the Society declined to take it over under terms of v the Britt will. Donald E. Lewis, business manager at Southern Oregon college, estimated it would re quire between 33,000 and $5,000 to repair that part, of the build ing daffijgetr by fire. '" V ' Stored Antiques He said several pieces of an tiques stored in the attic were destroyed. They were stored for Eric Ladd, Portland antique col lector, who purchased them for about $1,000 at the auction, Lewis said. Lewis added that the actual value of the antiques probably would be listed as much more than the purchase price by collectors. More than 15 volunteer fire men fought the blaze for several 1 hours before bringing it under control. Strong winds at the time created a possible threat of the fire spreading to other old resi dence buildings in the vicinity. Mrs. Bette Hoskins, Mail Tribune correspondent who lives near the Britt property, said rain earlier in the evening may have averted some of the danger. She reported that it hailed about 5 p.m. and rained for some time after that. General thunderstorm activity prevailed during the time of the fire, she said. Fireman Injured Russell Mclntyre, Jacksonville volunteer fireman, suffered a cut artery and tendon in his ankle when he fell through the skylight in the observatory in the photographic studio. He was on the roof when the accident occurred. Mclntyre was taken to Rogue Valley hospital by Medford Ambulance service. Assisting the Jacksonville de partment were trucks from Med ford and Central Point. Jackson ville volunteer firemen " were attending a meeting at the fire station at the time of the alarm. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones were living in the house. They were employed by Southern Oregon college as caretakers for the es tate. Engulfed in Flames When the alarm was turned in, most of the roof was engulfed in flames. Dr. Elmo Stevenson, president of Southern Oregon college, said if the volunteers had not responded as quickly as they did the building would have been a complete loss. He said fire damaged about 50 per cent of the building. Southern Oregon college had planned to keep the building as part of a Jacksonville restora tion program, Dr. Stevenson said, but did not know this morning what would be done with the structure now. He indi cated that the frame of the building may have to be re moved. Construction on the residence was started in 1860, and in the early 1880s Peter Britt added another studio and parlor. Prior to that time, he had been using a studio built of lumber, which was constructed in 1854. The pioneer phot grapher lived in a log cabin he built in 1852 when 1 he arrived in Jacksonville. O) 3 MEDFORD, OREGON, I n tarn .11- mi. . i ,i FIGHTS FIRE Above, one of 40 -volunteer firemen that fought the fire in the historic Britt home in Jacksonville last night, plays water in a second story window while he tries to keep his footing on the slippery roof. Another fireman, Russell Mclntyre, of Jacksonville, fell through a skylight about 10 feet to the left of this picture, cutting a tendon and artery in his Health Department Out of Vaccine '. Jackson county's . health de partment still is completely out of tax purchased Salk anti-polio vaccine. Dr. A. Erin Merkel, public health physician, said the coun-r ty has received none of the free vaccine in the past two months. He added that he had no idea when the next shipment would arrive. A spot check with physicians in the area this morning indi cated some have abundant sup plies ' of commercial Salk vac cine, while others have none. ' Dr. Merkel said residents who are due for their second or third Salk vaccine Shots should con tact their private physicians for arrangements to obtain them. The public health physician said much of the state's avail able free vaccine is being used by residents in the northern part of the state who are now receiv ing their first or second shots. He said Jackson county's ship ment will probably not be re ceived until the vaccination pro gram is further along in other parts of the state. Federal Hells Canyon Dam Get Approval Washington U.R) The Sen ate Interior Committee approved without amendment today a bill to authorize federal construction of a high Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake river between Idaho and Oregon. The Irrigation and Reclama tion Subcommittee had approved the bill without change Monday. The measure, by Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore.) and cosponsored by 27 other senators, goes to the Senate floor for action. In whipping the bill through in two days, the subcommittee and the full committee ignored five amendments proposed by Sen Arthur V. Watkins (R-Utah.) San Francisco By Another Earth Tremhlor San Francisco (U.R) An other earthquake jolted the San Francisco Bay . area Monday night, the sharpest tremor since the big one of March 22. The University of California seismograph in Berkeley mea sured the force of Monday night's quake at 3.25 on the Richter scale of 10. The March 22 quake, which caused exten sive damage in the western part of San Francisco and suburban Daly City, measured 5.3. - The latest shock was felt in San Francisco, the peninsula and ihe East Bay, but there were no immediate reports of damage. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1957 HISTORIC HOME BURNS Fire broke through the roof of the historic Britt home in Jacksonville last night, causing a glow that could be seen for miles. Above, flames burn scroll work on the east gable of the three story home. Valuable antique photographic equipment belonging to pioneer photographer Peter Eritt had been removed by the Southern Oregon Historical Society, ac cording to Museum Curator Miss Mary Hanley. The blaze, which started; from a flue fire, extensively damaged the 96-year-old landmark. . , Holmes Satisfied by House Tax Bill Vote Salem (U.R) Gov. Robert D Holmes expressed satisfaction at action of the House Monday in approving the main bill of the Democratic tax program, repeal ing the 45 per cent surtax and setting new personal income tax rates. Area Jolted Police and newspaper switch- beards were' flooded with calls from residents awakened from sleep at 10:27 pirn. (PST) to hear their homes creaking on their foundations and to see chande liers swaying. Lasted Minute and Half "I knew it was a quake be cause I can always hear the dishes dancing," said one resi dent. The quake lasted for a minute and a half. Like the March 22 quake and its aftershocks, it was felt most strongly in the south ern and western parts of San Francisco. r United . 34 ged foot. The wood in the ancient building was dry, and the fire spread quickly through the upper stories before it could be brought under control. High winds fanned the flames and firemen had difficulty getting hoses through the shrubbery ' and hedges. , Water on the lens of the camera caused the spots in the picture above. . : ,' f:rL o But the governor noted that the 36-22 -vote on House bill 1 was pretty much' along party lines. And he expressed the hope that the Senate would view the program proposed by the pre dominantly Democratic House as not necessarily partisan. The Senate is evenly divided at 15 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Cites Closing Date The governor lifted his-sights for closing date of the 1956 legislative session. Previously he had hoped for a closing about May 4, but he told a press con ference Monday" afternoon' that the date -would probably be clos er to May 15. Gov. Holmes said length of the session now would depend on how long the Senate Taxation Committee took to study the tax package as sent over by the House and how soon conferees from the two chambers could get together on any differences that might arrive in Senate pro posals. The governer noted that in previous sessions, when he was in the Senate, the Senate had taken a thorough and inde pendent look at the tax program. Party Line Vole Sends Measure To Senate Body Second Bill Sent Back To Committee Salem U.R) The Oregon House Monday passed the main tax bill of the Democratic pro gram by a party line vote of 36 to 22 and sent it to the Senate. The bill is designed to raise $151 million. The second major bill of the Democratic program was sent back to tommittee for more work. It would raise corporation excise taxes. - Democrats almost solidly sup ported House bill one which passed Monday with Rep. Joe Rogers of Independence the only one opposing it. Rep. Her man Chindgren of Molalla and George Layman, Newberg, were Republicans voting for it. Repeals Surtax Rep. Clarence Barton said House bill one repeals the 45 per cent surtax, sets new rates for personal income taxes, raises dependency credits and personal exemptions from $500 to $600 and includes "realistic" with holding of income taxes. Income tax rates would range from four per cent on the first $500 of income to 11.6 per cent over $8,000. . Republican objections to the bill centered around Rep. Allen Tom's contention that the bill did not actually repeal the sur tax, but merely included it in new income tax rates. He called this "political blackmail." The Rufus Republican also ob jected to the more complete withholding provisions. He said two per cent withholding was adequate and that further with holding would hurt farmers and businessmen. Barton said Democrats have advocated increases in the state basic school support fund rang ing up to $40 per census child, but that it would be up to the Joint Ways and Means CommiU tee to decide how much money lcould be. used for this purpose when considering the whole budget. Stale Growth Cited . Barton said that growth of the state made it absolutely nec essary to raise tax rates each biennium whichever party was in power to maintain services requested by the people. He said th Democratic program spread the increases over personal and corporate incomes, utilities,- .fi nancial institutions and all other taxpayers. ' "The raises are modest and I don't think anyone will be hurt substantially," Barton said. He pointed out that a couple with two children making $7,000 a year would actually save several dollars a year. Above $7,000 the most taxes would increase would be $11 a year. "Not everybody will like the tax program," Barton said, "but it will raise the money we need fairly and equitably without a state levy on property." High Taxes . Opposed Rep. Fayette Bristol, Grants Pass Republican and a minority member of the tax committee, opposed the new income tax rates. He said Oregon's income tax rate was now the highest in the country and that Oregon would eventually have to come to a sales tax to raise needed money. Rep. Robert Bennett, Portland Republican, protested the with holding provisions of the bill as having an adverse effect on in come tax collections. He said complicated withholding proce dures were hard on farmers and businessmen and .expensive for corporations. . Ike Plays Final Round as Stay Ends Augusta, Ga. OJ.R) President Eisenhower played a final round of golf today and prepared to fly back to Washington to face what his staff in international re days" ahead in international re lations, particularly the Middle East. The, President was scheduled to take off this afternoon after spending 13 days in the warm sun of his favorite resort, the Augusta National Golf Club. . White House Press Secretary James C. Hagerty said the Presi dent's physician, Maj. Gen. How ard McC. Snyder, believes the Augusta trip has been "very, beneficial" to Eisenhower. IBasebal AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore - 16 2 Chicago 6 7 1 Moore, Zuverink (8) and Ginsberg, Palton (4) Pierce and Lollar. I i
