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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1961)
0 , e e Uiiprecedfentetl 0 Beached, Ike Says o Heights'. Rogue Valley Edition Medford 36 Pages Reorganization Bills Introduced Representatives Get Labor Bills; GOP Caucus Held Salem - IUPII - A flock of bills were introduced in the Oregon Senate today includ ing one covering the major portion of Gov. Mark Hat field's government reorganiza tion plan. The bill is jointly sponsored by Sens. Walter J. Pearson and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Yturri (R-Ontario). The bill sets up six major new state departments plus a revenue department abolish ing the state tax commission. Agencies Listed The "cabinet" agencies in clude commerce, land, natural resources, public safety, social services and transportation and utilities. Sen. William Grenfell Jr. (D - Portland) introduced sev eral bills, one declaring state u n employment compensation in a state of "emergency" and changing the qualifications from 20 to 18 weeks of work with an average of 16 hours per week. The bill would .delete $40 as the maximum weekly bene fit and provide "no more than 50 per cent of Oregon's aver age weekly wage." This would at least double current maxi mum benefits per week. Salem-IUPD-A raft of labor backed bills, including a mini mum wage measure and sev eral workmen's compensation proposals, were introduced in the House today. Action on a controversial resolution to repay lawmak ers for out-of-pocket expenses was deferred until Friday. House Speaker Robert Dun can called for the delay so House members could "ex amine" the measure. His comment came after Sen. Carl Francis, R-Dayton, told the Senate Wednesday he would not have voted for the proposal if it had been read in full. Caucus Held House Republicans held a caucus this morning and Mi nority Leader F. F. Montgom ery. R-Eugene, said House GOP members still were split 14-13 in favor of the expense proposal. Montgomery opposes the plan. The labor bills were intro duced by Rep. Edward J. Whe lan, D-Portland, and a group of Portland area Democrats at the request of the state AFL-CIO. One would set a minimum SI. 25 hourly wage and a maximum 40-hour work week. Official Says Help Needed for Aged Washington - IUPII - A lop official of the Eisenhower ad ministration told the final ses sion of the While House Con ference on Aging today that Congress should do more to help older persons to pay for medical care. Arthur S. Flemming, out going secretary .of Health, Education and Welfare, said this was one of the major issues facing the nation. "Move One To The Back Burner One Up To The Front Burner " MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1961 UNLOAD SUPPLIES Laotian soldiers are shown unloading ammunition from a Civil Air Transport plane at Luang Prabang, Laos, Wednesday. The ammuniton was flown from Bangkok to the airport here aboard an Air America transport under contract Laotian Pilots in U.S.-Made Craft Attack Guerrillas Vientiane, Laos-IUI'll - Lao tian pilots in the cockpits of four U.S.-built training planes flew rocket strikes today against pro-Communist guer rillas entrenched in the jung les and mountains of northern Laos. , The planes, propeller-driven T6's used for reconnaissance in the Korean War, took off from Vientiane airport this morning to attack the rebel positions in the north. The government disclosed the first strikes were flown against the Communists Wed nesday, but informed sources said the inexperienced Lao tian pilots missCd their tar gets. The air attacks may have signaled the start of a mas sive offensive against the Communist Pathet Lao troops and rebel sympathizers to con solidate the position of pro Western forces before an in ternational truce move begins. The world's major powers appeared to be moving toward international conference aimed at ending the Laotian crisis that has threatened to plunge Southeast Asia into war. The four single-engine fight ers that took off on today's rocket mission were delivered Wednesday to the government of Premier Boun Oum under the U.S. military aid program. The first air strike Wednes day was carried out shortly after the Laotian government delivered a stiff note of pro test to Russia warning the Soviets to halt air drops of arms to Laotian leftists. Portland - IUPII - Robert H. Nelson, 46, Portland, was dead on arrival at a hospital Wed nesday night after his car was involved in an accident. 1 C b to the U.S. government. In Washington Wed nesday, the U.S. disclosed it is giving "earn est consideration" to a Cambodian proposal for a 14-nation conference on the Laos crisis. (UPI Telephoto) School Study To Be Made Current Dr. Keith Goldhammer of the study of enrollment trends the bureau of educational, re- search, school of education at the University: of Oregon, will be asked:' by the Medford school board to bring a study of the district's school facili ties and needs up to date. A survey of district needs and enrollment trends was first made under the direction of Dr. Goldhammer in 1857, and was revised in 1959. The latter study served as a basis for a two-year building pro gram, now nearing comple tion. The school board this week expressed a desire lo have Decline Research Program Sought Washington - (UPD - Eight West Coast House members called today for a coordinated crash research program by government and industry to fight a disease of pear trees that threatens to cripple pro duction of the fruit in Oregon, Washington and California. Although they did not draft any specific proposals, the congressmen agreed that sep arate programs seeking a solu tion to the problem should be tied together and strengthen ed. Another meeting, possibly to agree upon a request for additional federal action, will be held later, a spokesman for the bi-partisan group said. The disease, called pear de cline, cut production of the fruit by 50 per cent in Wash ington and 25 per cent in Ore gon last year. It is expected to cut the next California crop almost in half. The loss in California last year was S4.5 million, it was reported. The disease attacks the roots of penr trees and eventually kills them. It has plagued Washington growers since 1952. Oregon has been fighting it for four years and" California since 1958. 'Imminent Invasion' Warnings Disappear Havana-lUPD-The "imminent invasion" warnings of the past week disappeared today from Havana's government control led press, strengthening belief Premier Fidel Castro soon will announce his foes have again been "scared off." The sudden halt to the frenzied "war fever" propa ganda campaign coincided wilh reports that government officials were having to cope with Increasingly difficult problems of feeding and main taining the estimated 200,000 men now on war alert. Salem - aTC - Salem City,, Manager Kent Mathewson an nounced Wednesday night that Clyde Warren, Salem po lice chief for the past 11 years, will, retire July !. 55th Tribune brought up to dale after viewing the 1960 school cen sus, which showed a total of 11,613 people between 4 and 19 years old living in the district. When counted In 1958 the census for the Medford district, and the five districts which have since consoli dated, was 10,577. In 1959. when the census was esti mated according to formula, the total was 11,170. Close to Enrollment Dr. Leonard B. Mayficld, school superintendent, point ed out that Dr. Goldhammer's projection of enrollments in 1957 and 1959 have been close to actual enrollment figures. Board members and admin istrators agreed that the sur vey of enrollment trends and facility needs should be brought up lo dale so discus sions may be started as to fu ture needs. Based on the 1957 Dr. Gold hammer study, the need for a new high school in the dis trict was indicated to be four to five years in the future. However, the 1959 survey, and preliminary study of the 1960 school census, indicates that a new high school may not be needed as soon as at first anticipated. Dr. Goldhammer's report is also expected to indicate popu lation trends by areas, so plans for future elementary school facilities can be studied by the board. Total of $1,035.34 Serif to Hospital The Sisters and personnel at Sacred Heart hospital to day expressed their thanks for the money raised for the hos pital by the Moose lodge's Christmas tree lift recently. Sister Luke, administrator, said that $1,035.34 has been received by the hospital. She commented on the "fine spirit which prompted the Moose lodge lo conduct the tree lift for the hospital s benefit. Also receiving praise for their assistance in the project were the Boy Scouts and oth ers who participated in the tree collection. AF Plane Makes Emergency Landing Here Because An Air Force C 131A hos pital plane with 12 persons aboard was forced lo make an emergency landing at the Medford airport Wednesday shortly after 2 p.m. due lo extreme icing conditions en countered north of here. Capt. Richard Barnes, pilot, said the plane was en route lo Portland from Travis Air Force base near San Fran cisco. It was carrying six hos pital patients and six crew men, Barnes said. The Convuir aircraft left Travis at 12 p.m. It was due to arrive in Portland at 2:20 p.m. Barnes said that about Ojif'.viiy bct'.vcn Medford and Year Price 10 Cents No. 255 Negro Students Suspended from Georgia College Police Break Riot With Tear Gas Athens, Ga. - lUri) - Two Negro students were suspend ed temporarily from the Uni versity of Georgia early today when police had to use tear gas to break up student riot ing. At Macon, Ga., U.S. District Court Judge W. A. Bottle ruled that a state law cutting off funds from any integrated school is "patently unconstitu tional. The judge said he would issue later today even broader and much more sweeping injunction against the law than the one now in force. Gov. Ernest Vandivor said in Atlanta at midmorning that he had no immediate plans lo return them but Dean of Stu dents Joseph Williams said in a emotional statement that he, not Vandiver, removed them and he emphasized that the removal was temporary Suspended At Midnight Charlayne Hunter, 18, and Hamilton Holmes, 19, were suspended by the university at midnight. In Atlanta, Gov. Ernest Vandiver was prepar ing lo take that action himself lo "protect them against threats to their lives. The two Negroes, who had ' just finished their first full day of classes at the university without incident, were taken to their homes in Atlanta by state highway patrolmen. Miss' Hunter was weeping, and Holmes appeared angry. Police were forced lo use tear gas and a fire hose Wed nesday night to break up the wild demonstration that led to the suspension. Vandiver issued a statement early today 'admonishing all citizens of this state against violence or overt acts of violence." Wednesday night's riotous demonstration that resulted the arrest of at least 12 students and 9 adults appear ed to have been carefully planned, and it included quite a large number of adults. Hospitals Reported At Near Capacity The two Medford hospitals reported that they have been "very busy" the last several weeks with a near, or over, capacity number of patients. Sacred Heart hospital offic ials reported the hospital has averaged between 85 and 88 per cent of capacity the last several weeks with only four beds empty on one night. Rogue Valley hospital at midnight last night had 92 patients, two over capacity. Officials reported that beds were put in public areas. sacred Heart hospital re ported November as it quietest month while Rogue Valley listed it as their busiest. The reason given was the closure for the maternity ward at Sa cred Heart hospital. Both hospitals report an unusually high number of chil dren patients. Medical cases account for the majority of patients, they said. Boise -IUPII- The Idaho Sen ate today defeated a hill which would have abolished the death penalty in the Gem slate. of Icing Conditions Eugene extreme icing condi tions developed at the plane's 12.000 feet altitude. Capt. Don Spencer, co-pilot, said defrosting equipment was turned up as higli as It would go, but was unable to cope with the ice. The windshield was completely Iced over, he said. After contacting Port land, the decision was made to turn back to Medford, he said. For a short time, there was" a question as to whether the plane could make it to the Medford airport. The ice was getting so thick on the wings and body that it was weighting the plane v v r y mmmmm$m state of union VAN -rf nrtsirk1 ,V V :- r- -- t.y ( ZONE ggx HAWAI1. k ft I ,V SHIPS MOVING Newsmap spots area where three Russian missile tracking ships (A) are moving into the Pacific testing grounds in a possible prelude to a new Soviet space spectacular, the Navy announc Two 'True' Bills Are Returned By Grand Jury A Jackson county grand jury returned a true bill yes terday on John R. Taylor, 27, Salem, charged with assault with intent to kill, according lo the district attorney's of fice. A true bill was returned also on Thomas Ernest Smoot, 57-year-old transient, charged with the armed robbery of the former Safeway store at 130 North Bartletl st. Circuit court arraignment of Smoot is scheduled for 2 o'clock this afternoon and Taylor at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. Taylor, charged wilh the i wounding of State Policeman Donald Cnin the evening of Dec. 20, is scheduled to ap pear in Jackson county circuit court Jan. 18 on two charges of grand larceny, Taylor is charged with fir ing three bullets which hit the state policeman who had stopped Cain at the Intersec tion of Highway Btf ana hb for questioning. Taylor is also charged with taking two au tomobiles. Smoot is charged wilh Ihe robbery of the Safeway store here on Dec. 2 He was appre hended by Medford police near the store a few minutes after the crime. He had a re volver and a paper sack stuf fed with $599 in currency when arrested. Public Hearings On Commission Agenda Five public hearings are on the agenda for tonight's Med ford city planning commission meeting. The meeting will start at 7:30 o'clock, in the city hall. Four of the hearings in volve requests for changes of zone and the fifth is a request for a variance to zone sign re quirements. Two of the prop erties seeking a change of zone are located on Crater Lake highway near the pro posed interchange with the new freeway. 647,700 Residents Of State Working Salem - (UPD - Oregon Em ployment Commissioner Da vid II. Cameron said Wednes day 647,700 Oregon residents had jobs in mid-December and 52,300 were out of work. The employment figure was down 6,800 from November while at the time unemploy ment rose 8,900. Portland -IUPII- Oregonians paid more money for liquor in December than in any month in history, the Oregon Liquor Control commission said to day. We were losing altitude at the rale of 500 feet a minute Spencer said. They contacted the Medford airport and po. lice and fire rescue crews were sent to meet the craft "The ice persisted at 9,000 feet and finally at 7.000 feet started to moll," according lo Spencer. By the lime the plane safe. ly landed most Ice was melted. It left the airport shortly be fore 3 p.m. and it wis sched uled to return to Travis after making stops at Portland, Ta cmna. Wash., and Walla Wi.. Wash. ed Wednesday. The ships were seen by patrol planes Wednesday heading toward an impact are 1,050 miles southwest of Oh hu, Hawaii, where previous Russian mis siles have been fired. (UPI Telephoto) Defense Rests Case In Bengtson Trial Grants Pass - The defense rested its case this morning at 10:30 o'clock after three other witnesses testified in addition to the defendant, O. H. Bengt son. The trial, under way in Josephine county circuit court, entered its fifth day to day. Bengtson, Medford law yer and former secretary of the Medford Escrow company, is charged with embezzling $1,700 from the firm. Witnesses called this morn ing by the defense included Mrs. Belle Parker, former Bengtson employee now liv ing in Hoopa, Calif.; Kenneth Poole, a former Portland law yer now practicing in Eugene; and former Jackson county Deputy District Attorney Ger ald Scanncll. Testimony concerned con. versa tions the witnesses had had with Bengtson or Mrs Rachel Peterson Carter, form er president of the escrow firm, Scannell identified a $1,700 check as one which he the Jackson had shown to county grand jury prior to an indictment being returned against Bengtson. Dog Alerts Couple As House Burns A new name will be the just reward of a Sealyham terrier pup owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Davenport. They have been calling the little dog "Useless." This morning, awakened by the pup's barking and her scratching at the bedroom door about 2 o'clock, the Dav enports discovered that their home on Griffin Creek rd. (route 4, box 379) was on fire. Mrs. Davenport escaped through the back door with the dog. Her husband man aged to save a few clothes before getting out through the bedroom window. The five- room, two story house burned to the ground. Davenport, who operates a nearby farm machinery busi ness, said that the roof over the kitchen was ablaze when ho and his wife were awak ened. He reported that the fire appeared to have started in the attic and may have started from wiring. The resi dence was healed electrically and had no heating stove. Alarm was turned In to the Medford fire department, but firemen on arrival at the south boundary of the rural fire district observed that the blaze was some distance be yond the boundary. The Davenports arc staying at the home of his brother-in- law and sister, Mr. and Mrs, J. H, Slevic, Victory lane. Court Appoints Man To Planning Group The Jackson county court made one of two remaining appointments this morning. The court unanimously ap pointed Ivan Peoples, Gold Hill realtor, to the Jackson county planning commission. Peoples replaces Ronald James, who resigned last year. Peoples told County Commis sioner' Edwin Taylor he has served on a planning commis sion for 22 years, but did not say whore it was. The remaining appointment is (or the dog control board. However, County Commis sioner Chester Wendt said the court wouliPhave lo "discuss yiWj op it foi awhile." Rebuttal witnesses for the state included Poole; Leland unci Frank Knox, Medford, certified public accountants; Dwight Houghton, U.S. Na tional Bank, Medford branch; Hugh Collins, Medford law yer, and Mrs. Carter. Testimony centered on bank accounts for the Escrow com pany and Bengtson, conversa tions regarding the company after Mrs. Carter failed to ap pear at the office on May 1, I960, and deposits made ill the various accounts. The defense may ask to make a surrebuttal this after noon which will be followed bv nrcuments. Defense witnesses testified Wednesday regarding a meet ing of Medford Escrow com-1 sione. ot the Elsenhower f or pany officers allegedly held inei8n policy. . December, 1957. ' I The President did not de- Meeting In Medford" ' llver hls message in person. The meeting, mentinnpd hv iienglson when he testified Wednesday morning, was re. ported to have been held at the Medford home of Mrs. Beulah Balderston, former ivil-uiuiu i&cruw ' company president now living In An derson, Calif. Others present at the mooting, according to Bengtson s testimony, were Mrs. Carter, and himself. Bengtson and Mrs. Baldor ston testified that at the meet ing Mrs. Balderston resigned as president of the firm and Mrs. Carter became president. It was testified that Bengtson was to continue as secretary of the company, but would sell all of his stock lo Mrs. Carter. Bengtson testified that min utes of the alleged meeting had been in the company's file prior to May 1, 1960. Bengtson charged that she had taken the copy of the minutes with her, as well as the three existing copies of the contract he had with her regarding the purchase of the company. Bengtson staled during cross examination that he had been anxious to "dump" Ihe Med ford Escrow company as it had been costing him money. He added that he had been notified by the government that they would not allow the money he was putting Into the company as a tax deduc tion. Arguments The afternoon's testimony was interrupted for arguments when Paul Haviland, court appointed prosecuting attor ney, asked Bengtson if he had ever been convicted of a crime. Objections of Defense Attorney Richard Carney Portland, were overruled by Judge Orval Millard. Bcnglson slated that he had been convicted of embezzle ment, but that the verdict is currently under appeal. It was pointed out that Bengtson did not testily in the first trial. Other witnesses called by the defense during Ihe after noon included Irving Allen, Burns, former law associate of Bengtson and present dis trict attorney of Harney coun ty, and Dwight Houghton, U. S. National Bank, Medford branch. Allen testified that Mrs. Carter had told him in laic 1958 that she owned the Med ford Escrow company, and Houghton testified regarding various loans Bcnglson had received from the bank in recent years. PERMIT ISSUED , The city building depart ment today issued a bulldlgg permit lo Rogue Valley hos pital. 2825 Barnett rd to erect a $1,104,000 addition to thft structure. The heiel id ': ijg ! for f'o permit. Problems Here, Abroad Inherited By John Kennedy Message Read Today Washington -IUPII- President Eisenhower said in a fare well State of the Union Mes sage today that the United Stales reached "unprecedent ed heights" during his admin istration. But he acknowl edged that President-elect John F. Kennedy will inherit many problems at home and abroad. The President's 6,000-word valedictory to Congress re viewed his eight-year steward ship in the While House. It also catalogued achieve ments and continuing prob lems, expressed "best wishes" to his Democratic successor, and carried a prayerful hope that future American leaders "will be able to keep the na tion strong and at peace." ". , . We have honored our commitment to pursue and attain special objectives," he said of his administration. But ho frankly acknowl edged that he was not "imply ing that all is well-that all problems are solved." Cuban Problem Serious On the grim side, the Presi dent warned that "Communist penetration of Cuba is real and poses a serious threat." Communist activities, he said, "have caused and are con tinuing to cause grave trou bles in the world"-in Berlin and in Laos, as well as in Cuba. "At home," he said, "several conspicuous problems re main." He listed the need for high er employment, for continu ing a steady economic growth and a sound currency; elimi- iiHung iarm surpluses; over coming deficiencies in health and education programs, Eisenhower defended his defense and space programs. And he expressed hoDe that the. incoming Democratic ad- rmnisirauon will continue pro- - 1 grams which form the corner He sent it to the House to be read by clerks. The Sen ate, In recess today, will hear it Friday. ' The White House announc ed, however, that Eisenhower will deliver a farewell speech lo the nation next Tuesday night, three days before he leaves office. (See Story- on Page 6A) fee Stiff fn Good Skating Condition Supervised ice skating is planned for Howard Prairie lake again this week end, City-County Parks and Recre ation Director Robert Haworth said today. Haworth said the ice was In good skating condition. Su pervisors will be at the lake both Saturday and Sunday. Additional facilities, such as skate changing huts, equipped with oil stoves and a coffee and sandwich snack bar will be provided this week end, he said. Also, Haworth said an ade quate supply of firewood Will be available, and a first aid station will be located near the lake. He said the parking problem should be reduced this week end through the ef forts of the Ashland Explorer Scouts who have volunteered to help with traffic control and parking at the lake. Russia Asks UN Take Trust from Belgium United Nations, N.Y. - (UPD -Russia demanded today that the United Nations strip Bel gium of Ruanda Urundi, the African trust territory from which a Congolese force mounted an offensive against troops supporting ousted Pre mier Patrice Lumumba In Kivu Province on New Year's Day. It suggested a new emer gency meeting of the General Assembly on the worsening Congo situation if the Security Council, meeting at Russia's request today on the Ruanda- Urundl Incident, does not act. WEATHER Forecast: Increasing cloudi ness tonight with a few showers In the vicinity. I'atrhy valley fuf early Friday, bevomtni; part ly cloudy during the afternoon. i.ow lonigni 34-36. nigh Friday 3D. tkmpkhatuiie fllghcftt Yesterday 5:i Lowest This Morning 33 To 10 a.m, Today 04 Our Skies Tonight Sunset today -3:01 p.m. sunrise tomorrow ....... 1:39 a.m. Moonrlm tomorrow ....4:01 a.m. New Moon Jan. 16 NIOMINKNT UTAH 8 Vega, low In northwest 7:09 p.m. Uench, low In nortMycst . 8:38 p.m. V1siAl.fl PI.ANKTS Airs, In the east 7:18 p.m. V-nns low In west 8:3J p.m. 0 0
