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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1958)
Renewed Amorican PI Mayors ps mi ill 53rd Year Medford 16 Pages Council Won't Get 'Free-Hand' In Amendment Councilman Says There Are Safeguards City Councilman Robert Van Sickle, Ward III, told Medford voters today that ap proval of the charter amend ment Dec. 10 would not give the council a "free hand" in developing an off-street park ing program. "This is not the 'free hand' that some have implied but has definite limitations." he said. "All of the additional steps necessary, after the ap proval of the charter amend ment Dec. 10, are set forth by law and have built-in safe guards for you and me, as residents of Medford." The amendment would au thorize the city to issue up to $500,000 in general obliga tion bonds to finance a mum cipal off-street parking pro gram. The bonds would be paid off by revenues from the off-street facilities, up to 25 per cent of parking meter revenue and assessments from . a special district of those properties benefited by the facilities. Not General Tax Measure "This ballot measure is not a general tax measure," Van Sickle said. 'This is a charter amendment which, when ap proved, will allow the ordi nance calling for the down town assessment district, the proper hearings on the forma tion of the district and other steps outlined by existing leg islation to solve the parking problem. "I urge you," he said, "to east your 'Yes' vote as an informed voter who is inter ested in the planned economic growth of our city." Van Sickle said planning of proposed boundaries for a! downtown assessment district' are in preparation. He said a complete evaluation of the "Keeney Plan" for a self -parking platform straddling the Southern Pacific railroad tracks would follow approval of the charter amendment. Basis of Consideration He said that whatever plan was selected would be con sidered on the basis of its feasibility, unit cost of instal lation and operation and other economic factors. He stated that the loss of parking spaces to comply with state highway requirements plus the loss of private and municipal off -street parking spaces currently available would accelerate in the years ahead. He described the ballot measure as vital to overall plans for providing off-street parking relief, and urged vot ers to inform themselves of its merits. Pendleton (DPD Two more West Coast airline flights to increase service to eastern Oregon have been added here. WEATHER FORECAST: ..Variable ..tlondt nesi .. and., continued., mild through Wednesday. Patchy valley fog during late night and early morning hoars. Low tonight 42; high Wednesday 37. Temp. Highest Yesterday 5S Lowest this Morning 42 Our Skies Tonight Sunset today 4:40 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow t:Z3 a.m. Moonrise tonicht 11:05 p.m. Last Quarter Wednesday PROMINENT STARS Altair, low in west .. 8:35 p.m. Regulus. near the Moon. VISIBLE PLANETS Mars, in the east 5:55 p.m. Jupiter, rises 5:54 sum. Five Organizations Are Added to Beauty Program Five more Medford organ izations have volunteered to aid the current "Make Med ford Beautiful" program and the public schools have stated they will cooperate with the project, it was reported at the noon luncheon of the commit tee Monday at the Medford hotel. The recent survey made of the approaches to the city is now being broken down into four-block segments, Darell Huson, chairman of the sur vey committee, reported. Once this is completed, the survey action committee, with Gransville Brittsan as chair man, will organize the work projects needed. Brittsan stat ed that he planned to hold a meeting of his committee next week. Members of the MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1958 STANDING 99 FEET HIGH, this is Engel man spruce which will be set up as Christ mas tree in White House ground. It was cut in Kootenai National forest, near Libby, Directors In Eight Districts Claude Thompson and Charles Bateman retained their seats on the board of the Central Point Rural Fire Pro tection district yesterday in one of eight elections in Jack son county. Central Point voters also approved by a 28-25 margin the annexation into the dis trict of a tract in the White City area. Thompson, receiving 54 votes, was reelected for a five year term. He is currently chairman of the board. Bate man, appointed to the board previously to replace the late Harold Gebhard, was elected to serve out the remaining four years of his predecessor's term. Wallace Bowen, Central Point police chief, received 15 write-in votes. Otto Bohnert received two, and Rupert Wil son and Wesley Claslin, one each. - ' Neff Reelected Asher Neff was reelected for a five-year term as a di rector of the Medford Rural Fire district. Glen V. Allen was elected to serve out the re maining four years of a seat vacated recently by H. Chand ler Drew. They were unop posed. Delmar Logan was elected for a five-year term as a di rector of the Shady Cove-Trail Labor Payoffs Charged, Denied Washington -0JP&- The Sen ate Rackets committee heard sworn charges and denials to day that a Chicago union of ficial received $27,000 from a Wichita, Kan., company as payoffs for labor peace. Chairman John L. McClel lan D-Ark.), promptly order ed a transcript of the conflict ing testimony sent to the Jus tice Department for possible prosecution of what he de scribed as deliberate perjury. Carl L. Burrows of the Coleman Co. of Wichita told the committee the money was paid to Arthur H. Cronin, a vice president of the Sheet MetaTs Worker union, to solve difficulties with the union. But Cronin, who followed Burrows to the witness stand swore that the only money he got was a $5,000 Christmas present which he returned. Salem -(DPD Elsa Schneider of the U.S. Office of Educa tion is spending a week here conferring with Oregon edu cators. committee include representa tives from the county, city, federal government, business, schools and residential areas. John Chaney, representa tive of the Medford Realty Board and local attorney, re ported on "field" trips along Bear creek investigating the sewerage situation. He also commented on the trash prob lem along the creek back in the downtown area. The "Make Medford Beau tiful" committee will present the program at the weekly Chamber of Commerce round table Monday, Dec. 15, at the Jackson hotel, according to Lou Cranston, committee chairman. Various members of the committee will review the history of the committee, its aims, and progress that has been made by the group. Elected Fire Protection district, re ceiving 29 votes to Walter Sattler's 14. Albert Conner was elected for a one-year term with 30 votes to 8 for George Mason. In water district elections, Fred Marchbanks was elected for a four-year term as a di rector of the Charlotte Anne district; B. Sam Taylor was reelected for a three-year term in the Elk City district; Charles Hoppe was reelected for a three-year term in the Jacksonville Highway d i s trict; Mrs. Geraldean Graham was elected for a five-year term in the Maple Park dis trict; and in the King's high way district James A. Phillips was reelected for a five-year term and Harold E. Tolle was elected to fill the remaining year of an unexpired term. All were unopposed. Mayfield to Talk At Fund Meeting Dr. Leonard B. Mayfield, superintendent of Medford schools, will discuss the econ omic and cultural values of the Oregon Shakespearean Festival5 at a meeting of the building fund committee at the Red Cross building, 60 Hawthorne ave., tomorrow noon. Tomorrow's meeting is the third report luncheon in the campaign to raise $275,000 for construction of a new theater building for the Festi val. Ashland's race to meet its $50,000 portion of the goal has pulled ahead of Medford's New donations reported at Monday's meeting raised Ash land's total to $38,829.09, com pared to $33,040 contributed in Medford last week. A. C. Fries, Festival associ ation president, Ashland, urg ed Ashland workers to reach the quota by next Monday, and Ashland Mayor Richard Neill noted that with only 26 per cent of Ashland's potential donors contacted, workers al ready have received donations for three-fifths of the goal. Medford's goal in the cam paign has been set at $100, 000. Morgan 'Regrets' Railroad's Action Salem (UPD " Public Utility Commissioner Howard Mor gan said today .it was a "shame" that Southern Paci fic plans to reduce operation of the Shasta Daylight train to three times a week during the winter months between Portland and San Francisco. "They are losing money on some of their passenger opera tions," Morgan said, "but this is not the case here." He said that formerly in dividual state public utility commissioners had power to prevent such reductions and that the last time Southern Pacific made this proposal the California PUC vetoed it. However, the last Congress passed a bill which switched most passenger regulations to the Interstate Commerce Com mission, Morgan said. He add ed a study of the law would be made to see what action Oregon can take. Los Angeles (DPD An in spection of school buildings to prevent a tragedy such as hap pened Monday in Chicago has been asked by county supervisors. Price 10 Cents Tribune No. 217 Mont., and will be tallest ever used in cere mony. Two specially equipped flat cars will carry tree 2,490 miles to Washington. Light ing ceremony is set for December 24. Redden Resigns As Chairman of Democratic Party James A. Redden, Medford attorney, has resigned as chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Party. A new chairman will be elected by the Central com mittee Wednesday, Dec. 10, at a meeting at the Labor tem ple, 2Wz South Grape st., Medford. On the nominating committee are Mrs. Myrtle Newton, Ashland; William Frohnmayer, Medford; and Donna Straus, Sams Valley. Redden was elected chair man of the party in 1957 to fill the unexpired term of Larry Sheehan, Rogue River. Redden was reelected this year. Rewarding Experience Redden said "It has been an interesting, invigorating, and rewarding experience .to serve the ' Democratic Party" of the county. "I regret the necessity of announcing my resignation at this time, but the press of family and business commit ments would mean that I could not devote the time the job of county chairman de serves," Redden said. He added that "We have made great strides forward in the past year that are at tributable in great part to the hard working Democrats of the Jackson County Central committee. We reelected our representative in the House, who will be the next speaker of the House, captured the traditionally Republican of fice of county clerk, and came within a few votes of electing the first Democratic state senator in decades. In regis trations, we have our greatest victory, and we will be, with out doubt, the majority party in Jackson county in 1960." First Steps Taken For Roadside Area Preliminary steps were taken yesterday toward devel oping a roadside area on the Dead Indian rd. as a picnic and rest spot. Members of the county court, County Planning Tech nician Jack Eaton, and coun ty surveyors inspected the site near the springs oil the Dead Indian rd. and made plans for its development. Development of the site had been recommended by the county planning commis following an inspection by members of the county court and planning commission. Medford Businesses Plan to Hire About Same Number of Extra Help for Holiday Medford businesses plan to hire approximately the same number of extra personnel during the Christmas season this year as last, according to a poll made by the Mail Trib une this week. Although the stores report ed that the majority of their current hiring . is from a group of former holiday sea son employees, they do hire new persons each year. The majority of the store managers stated that experi ence in use of the cash regis ter and meeting the public is desired for new employees. Recent U.S. Labor depart ment statistics reported that 11 per cent more elderly per sons were placed during last December than the previous year on a national leveL Thii U.S. To Defend Air Lift Routes If Necessary Berlin To Elect Parliament Sunday Berlin-(DPD-Renewed Ameri can pledges to fight an all- out war if necessary to main tain the U.S. position in West Berlin have b o o s t e ed the chances f of Mayor Willy Brandt to win a smashing vic tory in Sunday's city elec tions. On Sunday West Berlin's 1,650,000 electorate goes to the polls to elect a new 127 seat city parliament which in turn will elect a mayor. Brandt's Social Democrat Party has ruled since 1954 and his strong position on Berlin and Western support were raising his stock. Seen as Strongest Pledge He was helped late Monday when informed sources passed the word in the city that the United States would support its garrison against any mili tary attack by the Commu nists against West Berlin. West Berlin newspapers ac cepted it as the strongest pledge yet. The sources also said the United States would defend any new airlift to Berlin and would return the fire of either Soviet or . East German air craft, raising the possibility of a limited air war in the three 20-mile-wide air corri dors leading to Berlin. The sources said the United States had no plans to bomb Soviet or East German bases from which eastern aircraft could attack airlift planes and that it was believed the So viets would not attack Ameri can Air Force bases. Could Mean War The United States realizes that sending supply aircraft over the Soviet Zone to Ber lin in defiance of Communist warnings could mean a full scale war. But the United States is determined to take this risk if necessary, the sources said. The sources said there was no plan to fight through with armored trains or tanks since this might mean firing the first shot, and that the mas sive airlift would be the an swer to any blockade. In any case, the sources said, the West will not recognize East Germany nor will it negoti ate with the East German gov ernment. It followed a declaration Sunday by Gen. Henry I. Hodes, American Army com mander in Europe, that the United States would consider an attack against the Ameri can garrison as an attack against the United States. Pupils Stay Home; Road Too Narrow Vancouver, Wash (UPD - Eleven families in the Sal mon Creek area near here re fused today to send their chil dren on foot down a narrow road to meet the school bus. The parents said they would rather keep their children home than send them down a narrow road three-tenths of a mile long which has no side walks. They said the traffic danger was too great. The school bus did not drive up the hill and the children remained home. Local school officials said the problem was a policy mat ter between the parents and the school board, which next meets Dec. 16. Pasadena, Calif. - (UPD Pa mela Elaine Parther, a green- eyed, 19-year-old blonde, has been named as queen of the 70th annual Tournament of Roses to be held in connec tion with the New Year's Day football game between Cali fornia and Iowa. increase does not appear to be the case in Medford, the sur vey showed. Majority of the hiring, whether on part-ime or full time basis are housewives or school girls, it was reported. Some business owners 6tated that the felt the sales jobs, where a person has to be on her feet all day is too strenu ous for the older woman. Many of the stores stressed that they would be glad to hire older persons if thoy have experience, but added that a younger person with experience would be given preference. Not all of the businesses have completed their hiring, it was discovered, with more personnel expected to be add ed a week or two before M fML State Seeks Fire Fighting Costs From Power Firm Case Opens in Court Early Today Opening statements were heard by Circuit Judge Orval J. Millard this morning in the case of the state vs. the Cali fornia Oregon' Power comp any. The state is asking that $40,682.40 be paid the state forestry department in fire fighting costs by the Calif ornia Oregon Power company. The state alleges the costs were incurred during the Sykes creek fire on Sept. 5, 1955, when 4,200 acres of for est land were burned. It is charged further that Copco has one of its main transmis sion lines extending through the fire area. The non-jury case was ad journed near noon today to allow the circuit court judge from Grants Pass to inspect the area involved in the suit. Claims Copco's Duty The state alleges that Copco had a duty to protect the for est lands through which its transmission line extended, was an owner, operator or person -in possession of pre mises." The power company denies these things. The state charges further that the power company al lowed a 75-foot pine tree to remain near the power-line after it was erected and left inflammable debris nearby. A high wind snapped off the top section of the tree and blew it into the line starting the fire, the state charges. In its answer Copco admits the existance of the pine tree and that it -is owner of a grant of right-of-way for the transmission line and that the fire started. It denies all other charges. Stores to Remain Open Two Nights owntown Medford retail stores will be open evenings on each Monday and Thurs day until Christmas, accord ing to a spokesman for the Retail Merchants association. The evening opening policy was adopted at a recent meet ing, and most stores are ex pected to comply. In addition, stores will re main open Tuesday, Dec. 23, but will close Christmas eve to permit their employees to spend that evening with their families. The evening opening will be until 9 p.m. in each case. Highways Mostly Clear in Oregon Salem-(UPD-The State High way department today report ed icy spots at Chemult and packed, sanded snow at Aus tin. Otherwise, the Depart ment said, Oregon highways are bare. There were two inches of roadside snow at Santiam pass and Meacham. Christmas An employment agency painted a different picture as to the local trends in the hir ing of older women. It was mentioned that during the past six , months there has been a definite increase in requests for persons, especial ly women, in the age group near 50. This was particularly mentioned for clerical work ers and experienced sale per sonnel. These permanent po sitions need to be filled by women who will not leave to be married or have a baby, it was explained. Medford merchant needs for additional Christmas per sonnel range from a high of 40 at some of the department stores to two or three at the smaller shops. "Oh, Jaycees to Sponsor Lighting Contest The Medford Junior Cham ber of Commerce is sponsor ing the third annual residen tial Christmas lighting con test in the city this year, Del Landing, contest commitee chiarman, has announced. . . T.he. contest is organized to encourage and promote Christmas spirit through de corative lights. Prizes will be awarded on the basis of orig inalty, lighting and theme with the iirst place winner be ing entered in General Elec- tric's $5,000 nationwide Christmas decorating contest. Entry blanks are available at several downtown loca tions, Landing said. Divided Into Sections Medford and the suburban area will be divided into four sections with Highway 99 (Riverside ave. inside the city limits), and East and West Main st. ad boundaries. . Prizes will be awarded to each section, with first and second place winners being picked from the combined areas. A prize also will be awarded for each area on a drawing basis. Prizes will be displayed at a downtown Medford store later, Landing said. v The Jaycees have several brochures which give ideas Neuberger Sees Chance To Cut Budget Portland -(DPD- Sen. Richard L. Neuberger (D.-Ore.) said Monday selection by Presi dent Eisenhower of a panel to review military aspects of this nation's foreign aid pro gram offers "one of the few genuine opportunities to re duce the vast national budget in the field of arms." Pearl Harbor Sinking of USS Arizona Pearl Harbor, Hawaii OJPD Retired Navy Rear Adm. Sam uel G. Fuqua, wearing the Congressional Medal of Hon or stepped aboard a small platform at Pearl Harbor early Monday to participate in a memorial ceremony for his old ship-the USS Arizona. Only the mast of the battle- fship showed above the water to mark the permanent tomo for 1,102 officers and men who went down with the Ari zona during the Japanese at tack 17 years ago. Officer in Charge Fuqua,-now a mathematics instructor at the Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, was a lieutenant commander aboard the battleship on Dec. 7, 1941. He stood at the helm of the Arizona with Japanese bombs landing all about him and learned' that he was the officer in charge of the vessel all of the higher ranking officers had been killed. He received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest - L No' on decorations and lighting techniques, Landing said, and persons interested may ob tain one by writing the Med ford Jaycees at post office box 251, Medford. Assisting Landing are Hal Gardner, Greg Orr, Gil Gil bert, Joe - Walsh and Bob Hjelm.' $112,696 Reached In UMC Campaign The United Medford Cru sade reached $112,696 of Its $131,030 goal for this year, General Chairman Richard Travis reported at yesterday's report meeting. The amount is about $2,500 less than was reported at this time in the campaign last year, when the goal was $124,000. Travis expressed optimism in the afct that a large fruit industry will complete its canvass for funds this week. He also noted that several other firms have not complet ed solicitations and proceeds from several special events are expected to be received this week. Plans will be formulated soon for furthering the cam paign should a deficit still oc cur after funds are reported from the fruit industry and other sources not yet reported- Detroit XUPD More than 8, 500 employees at Chrysler corporation's Dodge plant walked off the job today when negotiators failed to reach agreement on a dispute over an alleged work speedup. Rites Mark award, for his bravery during the attack. At 7:59 a.m. Monday, Fu qua looked up as a squadron of Navy aircraft flew in low over Pearl Harbor, tracing the path taken by the Imper ial planes 17 years ago. At that moment, television master of ceremonies Ralph Edwards stepped from con cealment aboard a Navy tug and said quietly, "This Is Your Life." Surprise Meeting Members of Fuqua's family and former shipmates from the Arizona were flown here for the surprise meeting with the admiral. Edwards, making one of his rare television appeals for funds, asked television viewers-to contribute $2 million to build a permanent memor ial to the Arizona, her officers and men. The program, recorded on video tape, will be seen across the nation Wednesday, and is expected to reach Hawaii in about three weeks. 87 Students, Three Nuns Die In School Blaze Grieving Parents Identify Victims Chicago -(CPD- Police ques tioned pupils in a grief strick en West Side neighborhood today in an effort to learn if one of them accidentally caused a fire which killed 87 students and three nuns in a Roman Catholic school. A squad of 35 officers was assigned to question boyi whose task it was to carry wastepaper jfrom classrooms to trash bins near a basement stairwell where the fire ar parently started. Authorities questioned two boys during the night and called two more youths to the Austin Police Station late this morning. Police theorized a pupil might have tossed a Other stories about the tragic fire at Our Lady of Angels school in Chicago appear oa page 10 of today's Mail Tribune. lighted cigarette .into the trash, setting off Chicago's worst fire in 55 years. The fire flashed through Our Lady of Angels parochial school Monday only about 20 minutes before classes were to be dismissed at 3 p.m. The flames and blinding clouds of black smoke which billowed through the build ing killed 53 girls, 34 boys and three nuns. The children were from 9 to 15 years old. At the morgue, grieving parents identified 76 of the little victims. Eight others were identified tentatively. Some of the dead were charred beyond recognition and the process of trying to identify them through the re mains and personal effects moved slowly. At mid-morning, two bodies were identified by their teeth. The victim's fathers, who had been waiting tensely through the night, gave in to uncon trolled grief. Policemen, who had seen the scene repeated hour after hour, broke down and cried. One of the fathers. Victor Silvio, collapsed and shouted in hysteria. Investigation Deferred Coroner Walter McCarron deferred a "blue ribbon jury" investigation of the fire in or der to select "the top men, the best I can find" to serve on the panel. In the face of such grim tragedy it is imperative that we move slowly and with firm determination to learn the basic cause of this trag edy," he said. The coroner said he would call an inquest into the fire sometime next week. Of the injured, 82 remain ed hospitalized today. Four were near death. Some Found at Desks Many of the children leaped from windows on the upper floor of the two-story build ing, their clothing and hair afire. Bystanders and firemen caught or broke the fall of many of them. Others smash ed to the frozen ground and were killed. Still others never left their classroom desks and were found suffocated, seated in front of their open books. Chief of Detectives Patrick Deely ordered the arson squad to "try to enlarge" on the theory that a hastily discarded cigarette might have touched off the tragedy. (Continued on Page 10)
