Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, August 20, 1957, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., August 20, 1957, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextMEDFORDeJliii Tribune United Press FuU Leased Wire United Pres Full Leased Win 26 Pages MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1957 No. 130 1 'f fir m L.-,; - COUNCIL TESTIMONY Dr. William J. Thompson, righti reads a statement prepared by the Medford Safety council at the hearing this morning on regulating train speeds in Medford. Seated at tables in the city council chambers are. left to right: L. R. Smith, divi sion superintendent. Southern Pacific rail Witness Expected To Testify On Crossing Accident Reports Two witnesses were called by the city this morning in a pub lic hearing before examiners of the Public Utilities Commission on the regulationo of train speeds in Medford. Claude C. Haggard, 405 J st.. was on the stand first, followed by Dr. Mary Jane Fowler, 49 Valley View dr. The hearing was recessed fSrOone hour at 12.30 p.m. Examiners were expecftd to call one witness this afternoon to present an analytical report of grade crossing accidents, compiled by the utilities com mission for 12 Oregon cities, covering 1938 to 1956. L. R. Smith, Southern Pacific railroad division superintendent from Portland, an assistant SP electrical engineer from . i gene, and s Medford road tore man were Tailable for testimony If called. The hearing was held at the request of the city. City Attor ney Eg R. Bashaw explained that tnere are nine grade (street level) railroad crossings in Med ford, and that the city has more accidents p- grade crossing than any other city in the state. Edwin' X. Graham, " Portland attorney, represented Southern Pacific. In his opening state ment, Graham said Qwe have no defense case . . . and have had noOadvice as to what any one thinks is a solution to any problem." Southern Pacific did not In tend to present a case, but ex plain its position where neces sary, Graham indicated. A statement was heard from ' the Medford Safety Council, represented by Dr. William J. Thompson. The paper cited "complete lack of uniformity of audio-visual warning devices . . . ..bells and signaling devices that cry wolf . . . the practice of mak ing drop switches across grade crossings . . . restriction of vis ion at crossings" as present hazards. The council recommended that safe warning and traffic control devices be installed, that a 10 mile per hour maximum speed be set for trains within the city limits, and that the Eleventh st. crossing be closed. . Haggard related four obser vations made by him sine June 28, each illustrating claimed hazards at the Eleventh st. grade crossing. These entered the reo ord as exhibits.- Haggard also told of two inci dents on the Eleventh st. cross ing which he and his family had "extremely close calls" in the family auto. One involved a "flying switch" of a boxcar, the other the approach of a - train engine without a light from a side track Haggard said Dr. Fowler was on the stand about two and one half hours, testifying on behalf of the safety committee of the 'Jackson Coun ty Medical Society. ; She presented a cardboard Shakespearean Festival Featured En Life Thursday Ashland Oregon's Shake spearean Festival will be feat ured in Life Magazine which will reach the stands on Thurs day, Aug. 22. The photographs were taken opening night, Aug. i. : The article will stress the fact that the plays of William Shake speare are receiving more fre quent production in North America this summer than are the works of any other play wright. The six principal Shake spearean production centers will be covered. The Oregon Shakespearean Festival, which established America's first Elizabethan theater, is the pioneer among these organizations. It was founded in 1935, and was instru mental in the beginning of the great revival of interest in poster exhibit, with attached pictures of all Medford grade crossings. She described alleged hazards at crossings, from visual obstructions or inadequate sig nal devices. At one point, she called Bruce West, 18-year-old son of Dr. D. Kirkland West, 52 Ross Court, to the stand. West was a passenger in an auto which was struck by a train Dec. 1, 1950. He said he received "no ser ious injuries" from the incident. Dr. Fowler presented a reso lution and ordinance of Van couver, Wash. The ordinance controlled train speeds in Van couver, and allowed none over 10 miles per hour. She asserted thai an under pass had been installed on Twelvth st. in Salem, with city, state and railroad each paying one-third the cost. This, was in connection with Stories Not Obscene, Libelous, Attorney Claims During Trial Hollywood (IP) An attorney for Confidential magazine testi fied today that stories on Frankie Sinatras lovemaking technique and Robert Mitchum's nude romp at a party were "not even bor derline obscenity." Daniel J. Ross, New York at torney for the scandal magazine, told the court on cross-examina- Reorganization Bill Becomes Law Salem (IP) The school district reorganization bill passed by the 1957 Legislature became law to day after an attempt to get it referred to the people failed by Aout 2.000 signatures. The Oregon State Grange was seeking 24,071 signatures need ed by Monday night in order to prevent the bill from becoming law today. State Elections Chief Freeman Holmer said today only 620 names were actually filed in his office by deadline time. But Grange officials said they had gathered all but 2,000 of the needed number. The-reorganization act even tually is expected to reduce Ore gon's some 700 school districts into about 200 new administra tive districts. Districts which do not want reorganization can avoid it by casting a 60 per cent vote against reorganization. The school bill was one of many which went into effect au tomatically today 90 days after the end of the 1957 legislative session. Shakespearean production that is now sweeping the world. Photos and text on the Ash land organization will include one large color photo depicting the "Feasting of the Tribe of Will," the opening night ban quet in Lithia Park. The scene shows houndreds of the cele brants that dined in Lithia Park prior to the play. Two black and white pictures will also be print ed, showing a comparative re hearsal and performance scene from "As You Like It." Depict ed are David O'Brien and Mur iel Eisenberg members of the 1957 acting company. On the date of release, the Festival will also be featured coast-to-coast on Life Magazine's ABC ragjio show, "Life and the World." Producing Director Angus L. Bowmer will be interviewed. road; Edwin L. Graham, SP attorney; E. R. Bashaw, city attorney; A. R. Straw, Public Utilities commission assistant engineer; David Don, PUC chief engineer; C. E. Jaqua, PUC railroad engineer; and Irving Allen, commis sion attorney. her committee's recommenda tion that an underpass be in stalled at Medford's 10th st., and that the Eleventh st. crossing be closed. Other recommendations were: install electric gates and canti levers at all grade crossings; limit train speeds in city limits to 10 miles per hour; ban all "flying switching" inside the city; and close Clark st. grade crossing. Graham cross-examined Dr. Fowler as to the pertinence of Vancouver and Salem railroad problems to the local situation. Referring to the Salem under pass, he said "I don't think it is the same problem at all." Representing the Public Utili ties commission at the hearing were David Don, chief engineer; C. E. Jaqu'a, railroad engineer; W. A. Straw, assistant engi neer; and Irving Allen, attorney. tion that he believed none of the stories he approved for Confi dential were obscene or libelous. Confidential and its sister pub lication. Whisper, are on trial for criminal libel and conspiracy to print obscenity. He drew a titter from the press and spectators when he described as "very humorous" the story in Confidential on Sinatra s alleged romancing in his Palm Springs cottage between bowls of Wheaties. Names in stories he listed as spproving of for legality before publication included John Car roll, Alan Dale, Eddie Fisher, Corrine Calvert and, for the first time mentioned in the trial, Elvis Presley. Court . opening was delayed half an hour as attorneys wres tled over some undisclosed legal point before Superior Judge Herbert Walker. The San Francisco Bay Area was pictured as a hot bed of the "girlie" magazine publishing in dustry in evidence introduced by Crowley in his attempt to prove "obscenity" is all the way you look at it. Crowley also brought into the trial as evidence a copy of James Jones' "From Here to Eternity." His intention was clear: To show that newsstands and bookshops already are filled with material he claims pales Confidential stories. Just before court reconvened, the prosecution jubilantly claim ed it had "trapped" the Confi dential defense attorneys into picturing actress Maureen O'Hara in the arms of a lover when actually she was 6,000 miles away. Defense attorney Arthur Crow ley challenged the prosecution to call Miss O'Hara and have her testify under oath where she was when the scandal magazine said she was cuddling in the arms of a "Latin lover" m a Hollywood movie theater. Crowley also demanded to see the "proof of her whereabouts the passport the Irish-born actress showed the'press Monday. It bore customs' office stamps putting her in Europe over the period when the defense says she was petting in a theater. Sports Bulletin Sacramento. Calif. TP Sua Devoe of Medford, Ore., won her second round match in the U.S. Women's Amateur tournament today by defeat ing Leila Fisher of La Jolla, Calif.. 4 and 3. Miss DeVoe was six over par for the match. She meets Ann Quasi of Seattle in a third-round match Wednes day. . Mrs. Hoffa Owned Companies to Lease Trucking Equipment i Teamsters' Official Testifies to Group Washington (OT James R. Hoffa, crown prince of the Teamsters Union, told the Sen ate Rackets committee today that his wife owned companies which leased equipment- to truckers with labor trouble. Hoffa said under questioning that the wife of Bert Brennan, another teamsters official who is associated with Hoffa, also held part of the stock. He said the first president of one of the firms was James Wrape, a St. Louis attorney for a trucking company which rent ed Mrs. Hoffa's trucks. Ask Many Questions The cocky heir apparent to the teamsters presidency insist ed, however, "I did not set up, nor did I run. nor have the stock of Test Fleet," the busi ress owned by Mrs. Hoffa and Mrs. Brennan. He said the Test Fleet did not hire drivers but leased trucks to a Flint, Mich., firm called Commercial Carriers, which hauled automohiles from fac tory to dealer. Commercial Car riers hired the drivers under a standard area wide contract with the Teamsters Union, he said. The committee , called Hoffa for questioning about many things, including charges that he enlisted hoodlum Johnny Dio to help set up seven phony locals with a view to seizing control of all teamsters in New York City. Admits Convictions Hoffa read a statement in which he said he would refuse to answer questions he consider ed outside the committee's au thority. Committee Chairman John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) hinted that such a course might get Hoffa in contempt trouble. The wit nys dirt npjtl however, challenge the committee's authority in the early rounds of questioning. At one point, Hoffa admitted he once was accused of extort ing more than $7,500 from groc ers and butchers. He said the charge was reduced to a "simple misdemeanor, "The case was settled on "a misdemeanor plea," a?id he returned the mon ey. Under questioning, he ad mitted he had been arrested "about 17 times" but convicted only three times. Five Fighting Fire In Prospect Area Prospect Five state for estry pumpers and men and equipment from the Elk Lum ber company are fighting a for est fire near Prospect, state for estry officials said today. The fire, first reported at 11:40 a.m. by the White Point lookout, is believed to have started in the dump across the road from Prospect and has now spread to the adjoining state protected forest land. YOUTH IN CUSTODY A 14-year old Medford youth has been released to the custody of his parents after he was ar rested by Sheriff's Deputies on a charge of malicious mischief. The boy admitted breaking windows in five cabins at Bear Creek Orchards July 31, officers said. He was arrested Saturday. Further investigation is pend ing by juvenile authorities. "All Right, Men Just Sing 'Auld Acquaintance' And Walk Right Through" Benson Would Meet With Humphrey to Discuss Affairs Subpena Not Needed, Secretary Declares ', . Washington OPt Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson said today he would be "glad" to discuss department affairs with Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.). Humphrey has threatened to subpena Benson to testify before the Senate Reorganization sub committee on reports that he has been exercising a veto over Rural Electrification adminis tration loans. Benson said he didn't think a subpena would be necessary. "I've never refused to meet with any committee or to meet privately with any member of Congress," Benson told a news conference, his first since June 25. Humphrey has been trying for several weeks to get Benson to testify before the subcommittee. Benson Returns Benson returned to Washing ton last week after a 50-day ab sence. Benson said he wrote Humph rey, dated today, informing him that he would be "glad to visit with you" when REA Adminis trator David A. Hamil returns to Washington. Hamil is now on a field trip and is expected back in Washington on Labor Day week end. Benson also told Humphrey he had declined to appear be fore the subcommittee "when my schedule will permit." He added that there are no facts within his knowledge ' which could not be testified to by other officials of the depart ment. -" ' Benson told his news confer ence there has been no reorgani zation of the REA despite the fact that Hamil must now clear loans of more than $500,000 with Kenneth L, Scott, director of Agricultural Credit services. Benson, explaining his long absence,, said he had been in specting the forest service since June 26 and that from Aug. 1 to Aug. 13 he was on vacation. As for the REA, Benson said the shearing of Hamil's author ity was done "to achieve full co ordination of all REA activi ties." He said there had been a tight budget situation, a greater request for REA loans, and the problem of low interest rates. Time Re-scheduled On Public Hearing The public hearing before the Public Utilities Commission on California-Pacific Utilities com pany requested rate increase will convene at 3 p.m. tomorrow in City Hall here and be re cessed until 5:30 p.m., a PUC spokesman said at noon today. This is to give those who can not appear earlier a chance to attend the hearing, it was ex plained. Other-hearings regard ing the rate increase are sched uled for Klamath Falls city hall, Thursday, and the Roseburg po lice and fire station Wednesday. If granted, the increase would mean a raise in rates to all cus tomers receiving gas service in the company's southern Oregon division. Plan ' I W': 11 " SETS ALTITUDE RECORD Maj. David G. Simons (left) an Air Force doctor, has soared to nearly 21 miles into the sky to set a new manned balloon altitude record. Major Simons is shown adjusting his helmet prior to takeoff from an open pit iron mine near Crosby, Minn. On the right is the launching of an unmanned balloon from the same location last summer. Balloon Carrying Air Force Doctor Starts Descent From Record Minneapolis (IP) A balloon carrying an Air Force doctor finally headed toward earth to day after a record-breaking flight in the heavens. Air Force officials said Maj. David Simons started his de scent at 9:15 a.m. (PDT) after more than 26 hours aloft. Sim ons had reportedly completed the tests and experiments in his pressurized capsule. An AirForcesjpokesman said trackTng crews were 'rioTcertain of the area where Simons would land. Weather conditions were unsteady. "He has a lot of cloud cover age to break through yet," the spokesman said. Slight Variation Any slight variation In the winds could make a consider able difference in where he lands." Simons had soared to a record altitude for manned balloon flights during his space voyage. Air Force officials said they believed his descent would take about three or four hours. Col. John W. McCurdy of the Air Force said that after the landing Simons might have time for a brief chat with newsmen at the landing point and then would be whisked away for 24 hours. McCurdy said that after his sleep, Simons would hold a news conference, but that this probably would not be held un til Thursday. An Air Force spokesman said Simons reported the winds had also boosted his balloon to an altitude of 96,000 feet, and he said it was still rising. "Because of the opportunity to complete extra tests and ex periments," the spokesman said, 'Major Simons has been allowed to remain up." Weather Factor Officials, however, were un certain when Simons would be gin his descent. "There is still a weather factor involved," the spokesman said. Should turbu lent weather threaten to imperil the landing, Simons would be ordered down immediately. The major had already begun his descent when the wind gust gave his flight new life. Simons said it was "really spectacular" . to watch a light ning show from above. He also was impressed by the "vast ex panse" of the sunrise from that high up. Pendleton (IP A 1 ,200-acre fire that destroyed grazing land, timber, brush and stubble 25 miles northeast of here Monday had been mostly brought under control Monday night, officials said, but 500 acres were expect ed to burn throughout the night. Weather FORECAST Variable hUh clouds thrnuEh Wednesday. Low si, high Wednesday near to. TEMPERATURE Richest Yesterday Lowest this Morning 40 Our Skies Tonight Sunrise 5:23 a.m. Sunset ..7:06 p.m. Moonrise Wednesday 1:05 a-m. PROMINENT STARS Fomalhaut, low ill southeast, 9:56 p.m. Antares, low in southwest, 10:1)5 p.m. VISIBLE PLANETS Venus and Jupiter, low ia west, 7:59 p.m. Saturn, above Antaret. Sill Simons radioed early today that one of his most impressive astronomical observations was that the stars overhead do not twinkle as they appear .to do from lower altitudes. An Air Force official said it was believed to be the first time this had been determined. Simons soared to a record height of nearly 19 miles short ly after he had took off Monday Morning. McKinsfry Resigns As Cify Engineer E. N. McKinstry has submit ted his resignation as Medford city engineer. . A letter submitted the resig nation was given to City Mana ger Robert Duff yesterday. Mc Kinstry stated that he has ac cepted a position as public works director and city engi neer at North Bend. McKinstry has been city engi neer for Medford since Novem ber, 1948. His residence is 744 Dakota ave. Picking Hears End For Bartlett Pears The picking of Bartlett pears will finish this week, according to C, B. Cordy, county horticul ture agent, with the first of the D'Anjou pears scheduled to be picked Wednesday. Full scale picking of the D'Anjou crop will be next week, Cordy said. A good crop of D'Anjous, not as large as last year, but still above average is reported by Cordy. He said that the Bart lett crop was well under last year's but the fruit size was good. He added that cullage was heavy due to frost marks. The agent said that the Bart letts were picked in good sea son with the majority of the crop in cold storage awaiting shipment East. Peaches will be picked in a few orchards this week with the major crop being picked next week. GOP Leaders Fight for Stronger Bill Washington (IP) GOP leg. islative leaders told President Eisenhower today that they will continue their fight for a strong er civil rights bill even if it keeps Congress in session into Septem ber. House Republican leader Jo seph W. Martin Jr. said there is "always room for compro mise" on the stalled civil rights measure "as long as we get an effective bill." . Martin said, however, that he has detected no willingness to compromise on the part of "southern-led northern liberals" in the House. Senate Republican leader William F. ' Knowland said af ter the White House meeting that it would take "a series of satisfactory breaks" to permit congressional adjournment by Aug. 31, and he did not kaow Evidence Mounls Of Intention for Station in Syria Move Would Lessen 6th Fleet Effect By WALTER LOGAN Unitsd Press Correspondent Official quarters in London said today there was mounting evidence the Soviet Union in tends to establish a submarine base in the Middle East as a fol low up to its victory in Syria. A Soviet submarine base in Syria, or one controlled by Rus sia, would outflank the Baghdad pact powers, lessen the effec tiveness of the U.S. 6th Fleet and would change the strategic picture in the Mediterranean. The reports coincided with growing fears in the Arab world itself that the Soviets were be coming too well entrenched. Mideast reports said Syrian President Shukri EI Kuwatly was being approached for a "last resort" Arab conference to try and halt the Soviet advance. Unconfimed rumors circulat ing in Beirut, Lebanon, said the Soviet was pouring in techi cians and civilians to speed the "take-over" of Syria. There was no confirmation of these reports in official quarters. In Cairo? the government newspaper ai uomhouria re ported Syrian officers had. trained in Poland to operate two Russian submarines being turned over to Syria by the So- , viet Union under their arms pact deal. o West Will Meet Egypt recently received three submarines from the Soviets, but Al Gomhouria noted this was not the same type of agree ment reached in Moscow by Syrian Defense Minister Khaled Elazm. United Press correspondent K. C. Thaler reported in Lon don that the NATO pact allies were expected to confer In Paris on this new threat to NATO and the Baghdad nations Tur key, Iraq, Iran,. Britain and Pakistan. British and American diplo mats already were conferring on the new threat, but Washing ton dispatches indicated the ad ministration had come to the re luctant conclusion it could do nothing because the Eisenhower doctrine is not applicable in the Syrian case. Al Gomhouria said the Syrian submarine officers first attend ed the Egyption Naval academy at Alexandria then went on to Poland to learn how to handle the submarines. Rift Appears Healed The Cairo press meanwhile used a surprisingly mild tone toward the western powers in urging them to adopt a "concili atory attitude'- toward the Syrian-American crisis. The Cairo newspapers also hinted that the split between Jordan and Egypt would end soon and that Jordan would re open its Cairo embassy Sept. 2. The embassy was closed after Jordan accused Egypt of plot ting political assassinations in Amman. Report of Plane Crash Being Checked by Dunn Salem IIP) Bob Dunn, as sistant director of the State Bureau of Aeronautics, said to day he was checking a report that wreckage of a light plane had been found in the Cascade mountains near the Three Sis ters. Say They Will whether even that would be possible. Martin spoke up and observed wryly, "I hope to eat Thanksgiving dinner in New England." Northern Democrats, led by Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas, want the House to accept the civil rights bill largely as it was passed by the Senate. House Republicans, however, are in sisting that the bill's enforce ment be toughened to make it more like the version originally passed by the House. Martin insisted that any com promise must be an ''improve ment" of the Senate version. Asked whether there was any room for compromise on the amendment providing for a jury trial in all criminal contempt cases, Martin said "there is al ways room for compromise as long as w get an effective bUl."