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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