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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1961)
0 W w 0 w Hi)rw"L ilr jflrtf) (jnnr1r$) fin? Writ ri) rfsi u n ine ir o r0 h I Regional Edition Medford 20 Pages Castro Indicates ainst Roman Catholic Church Printing Plant Of Religious Paper Closed Militia Guarding Havana Approaches Havana -(UPD- Premier Fidel Castro's militia moved in on half a dozen Roman Catholic institutions today, indicating a major government offensive against the church might be under way. It was announced that U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Daniel Braddock and the rest of his staff would leave Cuba Saturday morning after turn ing over the keys to the em bassy to Swiss Ambassador Waller Bossi. Defense Preparations The Castro regime stepped up its preparations for defense against an alleged "invasion" and sought to turn its failure to get United Nations action against the United States Into "a moral victory." Militia and army units were ordered into a round-the-clock guard of the city's approaches. The government newspaper Revolucion headline said "Paratroopers, vessels readied for invasion." Castroite militiawomen closed the printing plant of the Catholic bi-weekly Quin cena, the last publication in Cuba that had dared criticize the government, and posted guards at the Salesian Con vent that housed it. KC Quarters Occupied The nuns were not mo lested. The militia also occupied the downtown headquarters of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic laymen's lodge, and the Catholic Workers' Associa tion. Reports from the provinces said militia detachments had seized seminaries at Calvario and Santiago de las Vegas. Re ports that at least five priests had bee" arrested could not be confi d immediately. The militia invoked the emergency powers granted it as part of the current "inva sion" scare. Salcm-iUPIi-A 1,560-acre oil and gas lease in Coos and Curry counties has been ap proved by the State Land Board. WEATHER FORECAST: Cloudy wilh rain and gusty southerly winds to night. Intermittent rain Satur day. Low tonight 3R-40. High Saturday 45-48. Temp. HiKheU Yesterday 41 Lowest This Morning 34 Prec. to 10 a.m. Today, Trace. Our Skies Tonight Sunset today 4:54 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow 7:41 a.m. Moon rise tonight .... 9:42 p.m. Last Quarter Jan. 9 PROMINENT STARS Allalr, low In west .... 6:20 p.m. Procyon, high In south 12:49 a.m. VIS1HLE PLANETS Venus, In the south- west 8:0ft p.m. Mars, In the west .... 3:13 a.m. Duncan Sees Top Legislature Problem Salem (CPU House Speaker Robert Duncan (D-Medford), said today the main problem of the 1961 legislature as in past sessions will be to deter mine the level and cost of services the state will pro vide during the next two years. Duncan was on the job to day working on prelegislative planning. Five Specific Issues He said at least five specific issues stand out this session. He listed them, not necessarily in order of their importance, 1. A new law providing em ployee election procedures f W chopping bargaining a?ents for management. Such a bill is pftposed by tilt) In (grim com mittee on !abo-tjian;(j)mcnt relations. 2. reapportionment. 3 O'onstilutional revis i o n. with a "minimum result" fp' rjvuion of anTriterim comn- a o MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY Oregon Tideland Technical Aid Offer Extended By Oil Companies Salem - IUPII - Oregon offi cials were told Thursday they would be wise to begin tide land oil explorations in the slate's 600,000 acres of off shore lands - and were of fered technical assistance. The subject was discussed at a conference of Oregon, California and oil industry officials called by Oregon At torney General Robert Y. Thornton. The attorney general is pre paring legislation which would allow Oregon to grant a lease for oil exploration in the tidelands, so' far undevel oped. The slate granted an ex ploration lease in 1958, but the contractor did not drill a well and it was cancelled. This issue came up again two months ago, when Shell Oil Co. asked the Oregon Land board to negotiate a lease for offshore oil exploration. Thornton advised the board last month that present Ore gon laws are inadequate for the state to enter into such a lease. The board, headed by Gov. Mark Hatfield, directed Thornton to prepare new laws for introduction in the 1961 legislature, which convenes Monday. Hatfield said he believed negotiations for such a lease should involve competitive bidding.' Francis Hortig of Los An geles, executive officer of the California Lands commission, described tideland oil as a "blue chip operation." He was asked to attend because Cali fornia is the forerunner of all states in offshore oil develop ment. Hortig said California's ex perience can be "extremely helpful" to Oregon. He said state regulations have made the problems of fish loss by underwater explosions and water pollution due to oil operations virtually "nonex istent." Oregon officials have ex pressed concern about protec tion of other natural resources and the beauty of the coast line. Henry Wright of Los Ange les, secretary of the Western Oil and Gas association, of fered technical assistance from the association, which represents about 85 per cent of the oil industry in six west ern states. Services as tee to study the problem in 1962. 4. Education at all levels. 5. Government reorganiza tion. Duncan said Gov. Mark Hatfield's proposed move to ward a cabinet system is basi cally "on the right track." Duncan agrees with Hat field on abolition of the Board of Control and regrouping state institutions according to function such as correctional under one department and ! mental institutions under an other. New CemmitteM Duncan said he is consider ing creatio of three special nef hou committees this ses sion - rMpportjonmenl, reor ganization nd constitutional revision. Also under ccQidcration, he said, is elimination of the foods and dairy committees in the house. He said its work probably can be handled by th ag?ultuig)committee. Urged To Begin Oil Explorations Limousine Firms On Probation for Six-Month Period Both of the city's limousine companies have been placed on six-months probation by the Medford city council. The action came last night follow ing arguments by attorneys representing both of the firms. The term of probation will expire when the companies' licenses expire. Any viola tions of the city code or air port regulations that occur during that time will be con sidered by the council as the basis of further penalizing ac tion. Repeated violations could mean the council would refuse to renew one or both of the licenses when' they .expire in June. 'V -;'-, L The deoisjon io -place- the companies on probation came last night after a motion to revoke the license of the Yel low Cab Limousine service, owned by Carl Kellenberger, failed by a 6 to 2 vote; The. Medford Airport Lim ousine service, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Johes, had requested that the council re voke Yellow Cab's limousine license charging them with repeated violation of the city code. Does 'About Face' Councilman R. L. Van Sickle, who said he had done an "about face" in his think ing, made the motion to re voke Yellow Cab's license. He was backed by Council man Donald Hansen. Hansen said he had held from the be ginning that there was not enough business at the airport to support two limousine com panies. He said: "The result of the hearing and recent newspaper articles are evidence to me the two operators cannot com pete in business." Other councilmen, while noting that violations of the code have occurred, said they were in favor of placing one or both of the companies on probation but did not think that the violations warranted revoking Yellow Cab's li cense. Councilman Jimmy Dun levy, saying that he agreed with Hanson that there is only enough business to support one company, added that "it is a cat and dog fight between two competitors." He con tended that there is just as much competition among oth er firms, but the council docs not try, nor does it have the authority, to regulate it. He indicated he felt the council should not interfere In the existing competition between the limousine services cither. Councilman Al Bradford said the only thing the coun cil should consider is whether the result of a recent hearing on alleged violations of the cily code by the companies "justified cancelling out one license." Bradford said: "I can't substantiate in my mind that we should cancel It out on the basis of this report." Report of Finding! The report of his findings at the hearing, held during December, had been submit ted to the council by Alan B. Holmes, then municipal Judge acting as hearing examiner, now district attorney. Attorneys for both of the companies were given three minutes to speak at the meet ing last night. Ben Day, attorney for Med ford Limousine service, con tended that the vlo!tlons by Yellow Cab wtpY! "serious matter' and go right to the hcart of the authority of the council and city oflfttf'lford." He told the council that al though they have never be foreyevoked a liqQi f "oh fil Tribune 6, 1961 Campaign has been issued, it is now the time for a "hard decision." Robert Dickey, attorney for Yellow Cab, said "we deplore that this has been made into the controversy that now ex ists." He said the situation "doesn't warrant it," and said the problems should be set tled in a conference. Dickey said that if mistakes have been made then "we promise you we will correct that." He said the company would like to sit down with the council and go over the code and other problems. City Manager Robert A. Duff was directed by Mayor John Snider to have a confer 'ence with the heads of both companies and further explain the code and its application. Mayor Snidor also said: "I would ask the owners (of the companies) to follow the Christian practice of trying to find some good in each other," and added, "I mean that sincerely." Tentative Site For New Federal Building Located A new federal building, ap proved for construction in Medford, will be located on 10th st. between Riverside and Central aves. if the prop erty can be acquired by the government at a reasonable cost. The tentative site for the proposed building, to cost an estimated $2,365,000, was an nounced today by the General Services administration. Information regarding the site was received by the Mail Tribune from Congressman Edwin R. Durno and Senator Maurine B. Ncubcrger. It is believed that the build ing will be located on the southeast corner of Central ave. and 10th St., since federal survey crews checked that area last year. The building is expected to occupy the half block area west of the alley on 10th st. between Central and Riverside aves. and one block deep along Central ave. Across From Chamber The site would be across the street from the proposed new Medford Chamber of Com merce building. At the present the site is occupied by DeLcigh Motors Used Car lot. a restaurant, and doctors' and appraisers' of fices in addition to several empty lots. Authorization for construc tion of the new federal build ing was received lost year. The building would house the post office and provide space for the department of agricul ture, defense, health, educa tion and welfare. Justice, lab or and treasury, the civil serv ice commission, the housing and home finance agency, se lective service and veterans administration. The building will include 81,700 square feet of gross floor area with 51.700 square feet of net assignable space. StATO Deiwftt lews; No DevciWon ('cfaf Bangkok, Thailand - IUPH -The anti-Communist Southeast Asia Treaty Organization d bated today whether trecon- vene t:(e) 1954 Ccnor) Con ference on Ind'Qina to try to settle the crisis in I(S).i. It apparIy reached no (S) cijion. 55th Year Price 10 Cents No. 250 Testimony Starts In Bengtson Case; In Grants Pass Grants Pass-Testimony got under way this morning in Josephine county circuit court in the trial on the second in dictment charging O. H. Bengtson with larceny by em bezzlement from the Medford Escrow company. Bengtson is a Medford lawyer and former official of the company. Expected to testify the ma jority of the afternoon, ac cording to Paul Haviland, court appointed prosecuting attorney, is Mrs. Rachel Pe terson Carter, Jacksonville, former president of the Med ford Escrow company. First witness called by the state today was John Humph rey, Medford, life insurance underwriter for Mutual of New York. He reviewed an analysis he had made in 1958 of Bcgnlson's five life insur ance policies and that he, at Bongtson's request, had writ ten to each company to see how much money could be borrowed on them. He said that Benglson told him he needed the money for "a lax settlement." Discuss Purchase Humphrey said that at that time Bengtson discussed the possible purchase with him of a 325,000 executive equity life insurance policy. He testi fied that the premium was first listed as $1,600, but later raised to $1,658.25. Humphrey said that due to the change the first check he received Feb. 1, 1960, he re turned to Bengtson and re ceived another check for the larger amount. During cross examination by Defense At torney Richard Carney, Port land, tile check for $1,658.25 was introduced as an exhibit. Hearing the case is Judge Orval Millard. The jury of nine women and three men was sworn in Thursday at 4 p.m. Opening statements by the state and defense were given prior to (he close of yesterday s ses sion. Converted to Own Use In the opening statement by Haviland, he stated that the state would show that Bengt son, as secretary of the Med ford Escrow company, took company funds which he con verted to his own use. The state charges that Bengtson instructed Mrs. Carter, presi dent of the company, to write a check for $1,658.25 to pay for a life insurance policy for himself. Carney said that the de fense would show that Mrs. Carter, who handled the bookkeeping for both Bongt son's legal practice and the Medford Escrow company, took it upon herself to write the check for the policy from the company's funds. The de fense claims that Bengtson did not know that a company check was used until several months later. Leo Levenson, Portland law yer, who is one of the defense attorneys, told a Mail Tribune reporter following Thursday's recess, that "in the last month or two the defense has spent more than $3,000 for a com plete audit of Bcntgson's ac counts." ACTIVITY CURBED Portland -'UPli -Winter storms in the F6ast and Midwest kept lumber iind plywood activity t t minimum this week, ac cording to Crow's Lumber Mflket News Service. QOfl CAUCUS CALLED Salem - Pli- House Minority LiQIor F. F. Montgomery (R EuHe) today called (Slcaucift) of !,ublican(iyite roprcsenvg) imgi'WJ:! p.m. wnBB w it o.'v ft ' " 4 IfeVl ' rj :h "ti j ' " i GENERAL ALARM FIRE Flames shoot through the Thomas hotel in San Francisco in a goneral alarm fire that gutted the hotel, killed 18 persons, and injured at least 30 Herter Requests ICC To Settle Fighting in Laos Washington -1UPH- Secretary of Stale Christian A. Herter soid today the United Stales wants the International Con trol Commission to return to Laos and try to settle the fighting which has threatened world peace. Herter slated the U.S. policy to the Senate Foreign Rela tions Committee in a two hour and 20-mlnutc report on world affairs which was described as "not very encouraging." tarly in the current Laotian crisis, the United States ar gued wilh its allies that the International Com mission, composed of India, Poland and Canada, could not be trusted to work out a settlement that would save Laos from Commu nist subversion and intrigue. This position has gradually weakened, however, as the situation grew worse today. Herter said he feels the com mission could be reconstituted and "go back in business." Action Defended Committee Chairman J. Wil liam Fulbright (D-Ark.) and senators soid Hcrter's testi mony also carried these high lights: The secretary defended the Eisenhower adminislra t i o n's action in severing relations with the Cuban regime of Fi del Castro. Pressure on West Berlin may be expected because the Soviets ore expected to "re open negotiations" wilh the Kennedy administration In "the very near future." Herter is "very anxious" not to say or do anything lhat would make problems facing tne new administration any more difficult. Officials Gratified Over 'Lights' Plan Medford school officials this morning said they were grati fied wilh the enthusiasm of audiences at "Lights on For Education" programs last night. Audiences ranged from a few interested citizens in some areas to comparatively large crowds In others. The pro grams consisted mostly of panel discussions, followed by question and answer periods. Similar programs were held throughout the state last night to focus attention on possible legislation affecting schools and youth. 1,142 Enroll for SOC Wmfer Term Ashland - Southern Oregon coIIpkc winter term enroll ment refthed 1,142 yesterday, college officials announced to day. On a comparable date last year there were 1,122 reg istered. Of the ol registered this term. 6(17 file men a(di 475 (ti e woiOn. Hegislralion will contlmMi mnxflli (MWMM, others. Nolo the fireman, bottom left, as he prepares to be taken up to Evacuate possible survivors. (UPI Telephoto) Home Rule Group Seeks Answers to Two Questions How Is the home rule char ter affected by state law? What can and what con not a county under home rule charter do In relation to state law? These' are two mdin ques tions which the Jackson coun ty home rule study committee feels must be answered be fore it goes further, with ils study. Last night the committee agreed to ask Orval Etler, at torney and research assistant with the bureau of municipal research, to confer with the group late this month. The committee also will in vite the Lane county admin istrative assistant to . meet with it in the near future. Committee Member MacLoed Maurice, Gold Hill, said he met with the administrative assistant in Lane county Dec. 14. The Lane county official has served for 15 years under succession of county commis sions, Maurice reported. "He serves as a buffer for the commissioners," Maurice explained. "No salesmen con tact them; they are delourcd to the central purchasing agent. He is a great believer in centralized purchasing and a county personnel depart ment." The Lane county man said Jackson county's budget of $3,500,000 to $4 million could justify the salary and costs of a purchasing department, inventory and storage if prop erly handled. The administrative assistant prepares each county budget. He makes all of the prelim inary contacts with the vari ous departments and obtains their estimates, Maurice was told. Under his personal super vision, the Lane county offi cial has arranged a pool of automatic office equipment, extra typists and stcnogra pers. This pool of extras pro vides a nucleus of partially (ruined employees to fill addi tional Jobs and replacements as they occur in the various county deportments, Maurice told the committee, Doctor's Virus-Laden Needle Studied In Accidental Deaths of 14 Patients Trenton, N.J. - 'UPli- Aulhorl-I Wciner, who Is head of the tics today probed the possitaili- neuro - psychiatry al Cherry ty that a respected doctor oc- Hill, N.J., Hospital and has cidentally injected death into been a licensed physician for Hie veins of 14 of his patients' 18 years, with a virus-laden needle. i A health department spokes Liceme Lost man soid Thursday the attor- Dr. Albert L. Welntr. U. of I "7.,?''? u""'" TJ,,!"." Frllnie N.I. hie l.muir.rilv lost his llcen:e to predict as an osteopathic psychiatrist, be cause -the persons who died last year vOre among 44 of of his patients who hecamo 111 Ih on "acute liver disease, presumably scrum hepatitis." None of the poticn(g) 10 9mi:n Aid four men, was The committee last night reviewed interviews wilh nine! county otticuus ana toimer county officials. All those in terviewed agreed that the county, under present legal restrictions, is not able to meet adequately problems of sanitation and water supply. The people interviewed agreed there is a lack of au thority in fiscal capacity and planning, but some felt this system of checks on spending is healthy. A majority interviewed fa vored a trained and qualified administrator. However, they disagreed on whether such a man should be elected or hired. Most of those inter viewed favored centralized county purchasing. Committee members agreed that their sample of opinions so far is comparatively mea ger and more peop.a should be interviewed. Home Ransacked; Burglars Have Meal Central Point - Hungry burglars visited the home of the Rev. Harllc Patterson on Fifth st., Central Point, over the New Year's holidays, Cen tral Point police have re ported. The Pattersons left town Friday and returned Wednes day to find their home ran sacked. All clothing chest drawers hod been emptied and the contents strewn about the floor. Police said it appeared the burglars had been search ing for money. Instead they invaded the kitchen pantry, and polished off two bowls of dry cereal, leaving the empty bowls on the kitchen tnblc, Aside from the helpings of cereal, the only other thing taken was 15 pounds of veni son stored in the freezer, po lice said. An invesliogtion Is being mode. The burglars gained en trance to the house by prying off a screen latch on the back door. ...""""", among others, that the disease wo:Oronsmllted to the patients accidentally through unsani tary hypodermic needles. O Gave Tranqulliiers The spokesman sa.C that be cause Wciner dealt largely with mental disorders. ie fre quently gave his patieiVs tran quivers, mental drugs, or so Tenant Arrested On Suspicion Of Manslaughter Smouldering Fire Suddenly Erupts San Francisco-'.l'PP -A small fire that was believed to hava been extinguished suddenly erupted into a general alarm blaze in the Thomas hotel here early today and fire of ficials said 18 persons wera killed. Firemen said the blaza .started in the first floor room of Raymond Gorman, 62, and ordered him arrested on sus picion of manslaughter. Turned Into Torch Gorman and 26 other ten ants, two firemen and two policemen were treated ot emergency hospitals forsmoko inhalation and other Injuries' suffered as the fire turned tha six-story low-rate hotel into a huge torch. Most of the 150 occupants of the 50-year-old building were elderly pensioners. The brick structure was located at 5th and Mission sts. in down town San Francisco. Gorman admitted freely to newsmen that he had been drinking the night before and ' I was feeling no pain." Wit nesses said the fire started when Gorman dropped a cig arette in his mattress in his first floor room. Went Back to Sleep Fire Chief William Murray said Gorman and a neighbor thought they had extinguished the fire and went back to sleep. But the mattress re kindled during the night, causing the inferno, Murray said. As the blaze swept through the building, occupants leaped in night clothes into fire nets I and down light wells onto mattresses hastily placed in position by the 200 firemen who responded to the blaze. Firemen helped others down. ladders. A. hero of the disaster was clerk , Harrv Gould, 71, who dashed from his second floor room and banged on doors to rouse- tenants. . ... , "It was horrible," Gould said. "It was the first time I've seen anybody at a fira act like animals. Stunned by Fear "But these people wera making animal sound, stunned by fear, as they fell or walked out." Another hero was night clerk Clarence Broderick, 53, who remained ot the switch board and called room after room, waking tenants. Work To Start on New Chamber Office Construction of a new build ing to house the Medford Chamber of Commerce will start soon, Dwight Houghton, chairman of the building com mittee, told chamber directors yesterday. The building will be located at the corner of Central ave. and 10th st. on a site which was cleared recently. Houghton said financing for the new building and proper ty is complete. Costs will In clude $17,500 for the prop- -erty and $13,320 for the build, ing, a total of $30,820. Month ly payments by the chamber will amount to $350. Houghton expressed appre ciation to Bob Taylor, new Chamber president, for his work In arranging the financ ing of the new building. Roy Johnson, chairman ot the chamber's annual banquet, said the banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Rogue Valley Coun try club. Castro's Invasion Charges Buried by UN United Nations, N. Y.-IUPP-Prcmler Fidel Castro's chargo Hint the United States planned an Imminent invasion of Cuba was buried In United Nations files today after his regima tailed to produce any support ing evidence. dium amytal, commonly known as truth serum. "It looks like he got hold of a dirty needle," the spokes man said. He said a patient of jjelnce.-'s may have hod serum hcpatltus, State Health Commissioner Roscoe P. Kandle said filler had been "most cooperative" during the Investigation, The disease is not contagi ous by external contact. There is no danger to persons other th patients of Wciner and the odds are 90 to 1 against any more deaths, Kandle said. Nchnrges have been filed In the case. 9
