d)
Ifi)
Rogue Valley Edition
Medford
55th Year Price 10 Cents
Kennedy Greets
Released Airmen
At Andrews Base
Tribune
20 Pages
MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1961
Cigarette Tax Propose
ight
O&C Allocations
Result in Reduced
Equalization Fund
Court, School People
Discuss Remedies
Jackson county's substantial
allocations of O&C funds to
schools in the county, started
4'2 years ago as a property
tax reduction measure, actu
ally have caused considerable
amounts of stale school equal
ization money to be lost to
the county.
As a result, the county has
used O&C money for schools,
which could have gone for
other county purposes, while
at the same time it has lost
hundreds of thousands of dol
lars from state sources, which
otherwise would go to many
of the county's school dis
tricts. The reason is an obscure
provision in Oregon school
law.
It provides that an amount
equal to $10 per census child
in the county be levied and
distributed to districts on a
per census child basis. This
S10 has no effect on state
equalization funds, if it is
levied.
But, if this S10, or addi
tional amounts (and Jackson
county last year allocated S20
per census child to school dis
tricts), c o iri e from other
sources, it acts to decrease the
amount of school equalization
funds from the state.
During the 1060-61 school
year, the county lost $211,
378.18 in stale equalization
funds for this reason. The to
tal of equalization monies re
ceived this year was $107,
357.16. Had the O&C funds
not gone to schools, the equal
ization total would have been
$318,735.34.
The amount received was
distributed to only three dis
tricts, Ashland, $31,757.16;
Central Point (6C), $60,427.
72, and Rogue River, $15,
172.28. Unless a "way out" can be
found, the county stands to
lose even more next year. The
allocation for the 1960-61
school year was reduced on
the basis of last year's allo
cation of $20 per census child
from O&C funds; for next
year it will be reduced on the
basis of the $35 per child
allocated from O&C funds this
year.
School officials have been
meeting with the Jackson
county court this week to see
If some way can be worked
out whereby the school dis
tricts of the county will not
continue to lose money be
cause of what started out to
be a generous gesture of sup
port from the county.
The formula under which
slate equalization money is
distributed to school districts
is an extremely complicated
one, and takes many factors
into consideration. The O&C
fund distribution is only one
of them.
Before the decision was
first made to allocate O&C
funds to schools by Jackson
county 4'i years ago, a check
was made with state authori
ties to determine whether
there would be any effect such
as the reduction of state
equalization of state equaliza
tion money.
Local school officials and
the county court were assured
there would be no substantial
reduction, but in the applica
tion of the formula, the reduc
tion turned out to be far great
er than anticipated.
Durno Asks Immediate
Action on Labor Problem
Washiiigton-'IPI'-Rcp. Edwin
R Durno (R-Ore), today urged
Agriculture Secretary Orville
Freeman to move immediately
to solve what he called one
of the major economic prob
lems of Oregon and the Pa
cific Northwest.
Durno asked Freeman to
look into a cost-price squeeze
on forest products, which he
said has resulted in a loss
of 17,400 iobs in the industry
in me .onnwesi in me pas.j
Survive Crisis
Howard Morgan
Picked by Kennedy
For Post With FPC
Washington - IUPII - Former
Oregon Public Utility Com
missioner Howard Morgan
Thursday was appointed by
President Kennedy to the Fed
eral Power commission.
Morgan was named along
with John Swidler, Nashville,
Tenn., attorney, to the FPC.
Morgan, 46, who served as
public utility commissioner in
Oregon from 1957 to 1959
during Democratic Gov. Rob
ert Holmes' administration,
will fill the remainder of a
term that expires June 22,
1963.
Paul A. Sweeney has been
serving in the post on a re
cess appointment.
Morgan, who owns a ranch
at Sisters, was slate Demo
cratic party chairman for 4'2
years. He did not seek reelec
tion in 1956.
Reed Graduate
Morgan, a graduate of Reed
college, said in Salem that
he would go to the nation's
capital Saturday with his fam
ily. He said he would contin
ue to operate his Sisters ranch.
He declined to comment on
the proposed Nez Perce and
high Mountain Sheep dams,
proposed as rival projects on
the Snake river.
He said he did not know
when he was to appear before
the Senate Confirmation com
mittee or when he would ac
tually go to work.
The FPC job pays $20,000
annually.
Staub Likes Choice
In Salem, Oregon Demo
cratic Chairman Robert
Straub said the appointment
of Morgan is one of the "out
standing appointments" the
new Democratic president will
make.
Straub said Morgan's ap
pointment "not only will ad
vance the public welfare in
affairs regulated by the FPC
but brings considerable credit
to the slate of Oregon."
Stewart Culvert
To Be Extended
The Jackson county court
will include some funds in the
1961-62 fiscal year budget for
extension of the Stewart ave.
culvert, it was reported today.
A group of Stewart ave.
residents have petitioned the
county court for extension of
the culvert to Columbus ave.
Although the culvert will be
extended, the county court
has not yet decided how far.
County Engineer Robert J.
Carstcnscn said- work on the
widening of Stewart ave. is
ahead of schedule due to
favorable weather. The work,
which started Jan. 3, is due
for completion early in May,
according to the tentative
schedule. Counly road crews
spent the first two weeks on
the project building forms.
BILL INTRODUCED
Salem - H'Pli - A bill intro
duced in the Senate today
would provide for a penalty of
one year imprisonment or a
$1,000 fine for making a long
distance call on another per
son's telephone without in
tending to pay.
Salem -H'PP- A 15-mile per
hour speed limit will be set
and strictly enforced at Can
non Beach, the State High
way Commission decided to
day, year. He said it has been
caused by failure of the U.S.
Forest Service to make real
istic appraisals of timber
values.
Durno asked Freeman to
make an Immediate investiga
tion to determine the extent
to which National Forest tim
ber appraisals arc unrealisli
cally high in the light of exist
ins distressed condition in
the lumber industry and to
take stepj to have the an-
111k ll
HOWARD MORGAN
Fills Unexpired Term
Opinions Voiced
On Selection of
Howard Morgan
By United Press International
. Democratic National Com
mitteeman C. Glrard Davidson
said today he felt there were
others "who are as well or
better qualified" than Howard
Morgan, former Oregon Demo
cratic chairman named Thurs
day to the Federal Power
Commission.
But Davidson, who said "we
have had our political differ
ences," added that he wished
Morgan well in the FPC job.
Other comment included:
Gov. Mark Hatfield: "This
brings recognition to the state
of Oregon. He will make him
self known on the national
scene."
Democratic Chairman Rob
ert Straub: "The appointment
will prove to be one of the
outstanding appointments by
President Kennedy. Morgan
will perform with dynamic
force, keen ability and com
plete honor.
J. D. McDonald, Oregon
AFL-CIO president: "It is a
good appointment."
Sen. Maurine Neubcrgcr:
"Although I was not consulted
about the apopintment, I was
pleased to learn . . ." of the
appointment. "Morgan served
ably as Oregon's public utility
commissioner."
New Deputy DA Is
Named by Holmes
A new deputy district at
torney, Thomas J. Owens, will
start work here Feb. 1, Dis
trict Attorney Alan B. Holmes
said today.
Owens has been chief dep
uty district attorney of Coos
county under District Attor
ney John Eaton for the past
three years. He was admitted
to the Oregon state bar in
1957. He is a member of the
state bar association, Amer
ican Bar association and the
Coos-Curry Bar association.
He is 33 years old, single,
and was graduated from Whit
man college in 1949 and from
Willamette university law
school in 1957.
During his law school years
Owens was active in law
school work and was a mem
ber of the Phi Delta Phi legal
fraternity. He spent three
years as an enlisted man in
the U. S. Air Force. While
living jn the Coos county area
he has been active In Elks and
Jaycees.
Cuban Executioner
Arrested in U. S.
Wasliington-il'Pli-Atty. Gen.
Robert F. Kennedy announced
today the arrest of Herman F.
Marks, a native of Milwaukee,
who reportedly was respon
sible for the execution of
more than 200 inti-Caslro Cu-
in Havana.
Opposition by
Hatfield Brings
Scuttle Threat
Governor Denies
Any Doublecross
Salem - IUTII - There were
signs today the three-cenl-a-
pack cigarette tax proposal
might survive its first crisis in
spite of the warfare it has
prompted between the gover
nor's office and the House
Tax committee.
Tax Chairman Richard Ey
mann (D-Mohawk) reiterated
his threat to scuttle the mea
sure unless Gov. Mark Hat
field retracted his announced
opposition to the tobacco levy.
Waste of Time
Eymann said he considered
it "a waste of time" to con
tinue consideration of the bill
in the face of Hatfield's oppo
sition. In a letter earlier to Hat
field, Eymann said the gov
ernor's "liberal use of the veto
in the past" seemed to make
futile any further discussion
of the cigarette tax measure.
But Hatfield told United
Press International his dislike
of the measure did not imply
an automatic veto if a cigar
ette tax bill passed.
Seeks Other Changes
The governor, who has ar
dently urged a net receipts
tax and other tax reforms,
added:
"There is no way'bf Know
ing what form it might take,
or how it might be incorpo
rated in the overall tax pack
age.". Hatfield denied any double
cross in revealing his opposi
tion to the cigarette tax, and
said his support of other tax
changes never had extended
to the tobacco tax.
Senate President Harry Boi
vin, Klamath Falls, and House
Speaker Robert Duncan, Med
ford, warned that death for
the cigarette tax likely would
put an end to hopes for an in
come lax cut.
Consideration Hoped
Rep. Victor Atiyeh (R-Port-land)
said after a talk with
the governor he hoped the
measure would receive fur
ther consideration. Atiyeh sug
gested the measure might be
referred to the voters, a deci
sion that might prevent a
veto, but opponents of the tax
have predicted it would meet
certain defeat at the polls.
Hatfield indicated he would
be unwilling to sec the other
tax reforms he advocates go
down along with the cigarette
tax.
On the oilier tide, in spite
of Eymann's powerful posi
tion, several Democrats indi
cated it was unlikely they
would concede Hatfield such
a quick victory by dropping
the measure.
Seven-Year-OldHit
By Car in Medford
A 7-year-old girl sustained
apparently minor injuries on
Thursday afternoon when she
was struck by a car while
crossing Holly si. between
Main and Eighth sts., accord
ing to Medford police.
The girl, Vickie Dale Jef
ferson, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Dale Ellis Jefferson, 2448
Edgomont dr., suffered bruis
es and abrasions of the left
ankle, knee and left hand, po
lice said.
Witnesses told police the
girl stepped from behind a
line of cars into the path of a
car operated by Bill Bobb
Hobbs, 18. of 30.1 Ross lane.
Police said the Hobbs vehicle
skidded 13 feet before strik
ing the girl. No citations were
issued.
Riverside Widening
Project Approved
Salem - it'Pli - The Oregon
Highway commission today
approved a request by the city
of Medford for a Joint project
to widen South Riverside ave
from 9th si. to the intersection
of South Central ave.
The project will cost SI 32
000. The city will pay $34,500
and the Hale til. itt.
HAPPY REUNION President Kennedy stands aside as the
freed RB47 fliers are reunited with their wives at Andrews
Air Force Base, Md., today. At left, Capt. Freeman Olm-
Suspect in Bank
Robbery at Drain
Nabbed by Police
Drain -IUPII- Donald Gene
Kelso, 35, suspect in Wednes
day's robbery of approximate
ly $2,000 from the Drain
branch of the U. S. National
Bank, was taken into custody
just north of here Thursday
night.
Kelso was apprehended by
state police officer Ken
Thome as he was apparently
trying to flee police in a Eu
gene taxicab. The cab driver,
who said he picked the man
up at a cafe here, told police
he did not know the man's
identity.,
Kelso was taken " to the
Douglas county jail in Rose
burg. Earlier Thursday the
Federal Bureau o Investiga
tion announced that a com
plaint had been filed against
Kelso with U.S. Commission
er Claire Mundorff in Port
land after witnesses had
picked out Kelso's photograph.
Didn't Resist
The getaway car was later
found on a logging road a few
miles west of here and police
had been searching the area.
The state policeman said
Kelso did not resist arrest.
Authorities said it was first
believed two men may have
been involved in the bank rob
bery, with one driving the car,
but that it may have been a
solo operation.
Kelso listed his last address
as Coos Bay.
Temperature Equals
All-Time High for Date
When the mercury in the
weather bureau thermometer
at the Medford airport
climbed to 62 degrees yester
day, the temperature equaled
the all time high on record
for Jan. 26 for Medford and
vicinity. Previous 62-degrce
reading for Jan. 26 was in
1924.
The weather station antici
pated a maximum tempera
ture of near 60 this afternoon
with cold air aloft keeping the
mercury from rising to the 64
degree all-time high for Jan
27.
"Nature And Some Minor Officials Have
Failed You"
o
Evaluation
Mosquito
Program Received
An evaluation of and rec
ommendations for a mosquito
control program in Jackson
county have been received
from the Oregon stale board
of heallh.
The study is the result of
a meeting in Medford last
month with members of the
county court, county health
department, and the vector
control program of the slate
board of heallh.
In addition to recommenda
tions reviewed at the meeting,
field investigations were also
made. Thirteen general rec
ommendations were Included
in the report.
The mosquito problem In
the counly should be defined
by determining mosquito spe
cies present, their relative
abundance and seasonal dis
tribution, the report states. It
calls for the locating and re
cording onto maps all breed
ing sources and determining
when they can best be con
trolled to save both money
and time.
Education Suggested
An evaluation of the cost
benefit ratio of the mosquito
control program should be
made to ascertain whether or
not the control presently car
ried out in small localized
areas away from populated
centers is justifiable from a
cost standpoint. It also calls
for a realistic budget to allow
for full-time personnel to car
ry on mosquito control during
the mosquito breeding season.
Other points brought out in
the report include an educa
tional program to acquaint the
people wilh mosquito control
and how they can help in the
program, source reduction
measures to be undertaken,
the purchase of necessary
equipment to identify mosqui
to adults and larvae and a
study made of all log ponds
to ascertain species of mosqui
toes present.
It was pointed out that
some ponds produce non-biter
mosquitoes, which need not
be controlled. The use of a
stead embraces his wife, Gail. At right, Capt. John R.
McKone kisses his wife, Connie. Watching, in background
right, is Mrs. James Olmstead, the flier's mother.
(UPI Telephoto)
of Area
Control
mosquito fish, Gamusia, is also
recommended.
Cooperation on the part of
mill owners, irrigation dis
tricts and water-users in the.
maintenance of dikes and ca
nals and good agricultural
practices are also necessary
for the success of the control
program, the report states.
The study said that the
equipment which the counly
health department now has
is -adequate to carry out the
control of mosquitoes in the
urban area. It added, how
ever, that after the .survey
is completed additional equip
ment may bo indicated.
The report also lists three
insecticides which may be
used in the program, stressing
the areas where each should
and should not be used.
Charge Against
Picard Dismissed
A charge of failure to file a
registration against Roy R.
Picard, owner of Picard's of
Medford Jowelers, was dis
missed in municipal court this
morning when one of the
city's key witnesses was un
able to appear.
O. R. McNccl, city building
inspector, is recuperating at
his home from a back ailment.
He was one of the city's chief
witnesses in its case against
Picard who they accuse of
selling electrical products
without a city permit.
At first it was suggested
that the trial, originally sched
uled for today, be poslponed
until McNecl had recuper
ated. Robert Dames, defense
attorney, objected to this,
however, as one of his witnes
ses was leaving town tomor
row for six months.
Municipal Judge Ronald L.
Ricketts then ordered the
ease to be dismissed, but noted
that the city could bring new
charges against Picard at a
later dale.
City Attorney Joel Rccder
agreed to the dismissal. He
said later that It Is not the
city's desire to prosecute Pi
card, but to force him to com
ply with the city ordinance.
The trial would have been
the first jury trial in Med
ford's municipal court this
year. A six-man Jury had al
ready been selected at the re
quest of Picard, who entered a
plea of Innocent to the charge.
Pirate 'Accepts'
Navy Protection
San Juan, Puerto Rico-il'Pll-
Rebel leader Henrique Gal
van radioed today from the
hijacked liner Santa Maria
that he would "accept" U.S.
Navy protection against Por
tuguese warships while taking
his 620 captive passengers to
an undisclosed port.
Galvao, in a message inter
cepted here by the Navy, said
he would "land passengers
near the South American or
west African port, giving pref
erence to Africa" If he were
guaranteed that the ship and
his followers wiMcf not bt
captured, o
Medford Planners
Reject Request
For Zone Variance
Mcdford's city planning
commission last night turned
down a request for a zoning
variance to operate a kinder
garten at the Congregational
church, 300 Oakwood ave.,
after several residents of the
area expressed their opposi
tion to the request.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence
Miller have been seeking the
request and the commission
called last night's special
meeting to consider it. Fol
lowing the vote to recommend
denial of the request, Com
mission President Jack Edson
told the Millers they had the
right to appeal the commis
sion's recommendation to the
city council. Miller indicated
that he would do this.
One of those speaking
against the kindergarten pro
posel was R. A. Plckell, 34
South Richmond ave., who
noted that the kindergarten
would be operated for a pro
fit, and said: "Im certainly
not interested In having any
private enterprise In our resi
dential district."
Piekell said he would not
be opposed if the kindergar
ten were to be run by tne
church on a non-profit basis,
but said "this is definitely not
a church operation."
Mrs. Miller told the com
mission that the kindergarten
would have a maximum of 25
pre-school children. She said
the fee to be charged would
be less than that charged by
the average kindergarten, and
the profits would be shared
with the church.
Miller elaborated on his
wife's comments and said
there is a "definite need" for
a kindergarten In Medford.
He contended that the exist
ing kindergartens in the city
are not aimed at preparing
the child for school, whereas
this one would be.
It was pointed out that
there are two other kinder
gartens In the area of the
church. But, It was also noted
that one of them is a non
profit school for handicapped
children, and the other was
in the area prior to adoption
of the existing zoning laws
some years ago.
Commission Member
Larry llorlon moved to rec
ommend denial of the request
on the basis of the opposition
that had been expressed by
residents of the area. He was
Joined by Commission Mem
ber Harold Snodgrass.
Members Donald Walters
and Walter Higgins abstained
from voting because of a "con
flict of interest" on their part,
they said. Edson, as commis
sion president, did not vote.
Living Costs
Record Hiqh
Washington - UM - Living
costs edged up to a record
high In December for the
fourth consecutive month, the
government reported today.
Higher prices for food and
housing nudged the Labor De
partment's consumer price in
dex up by one-tenth of 1 per
cent to 127.5, a new high.
This meant that prices of
goods and services bought by
middle income families were
27.5 per ceo higher last
month than in 1047-49.
Robert J. Myeri, deputy
Families Taken To
Guest Apartments
Washington (UPD Two
American airmen flew homa
today to a welcome from Pres
ident Kennedy and a joyou
reunion with their wives
after seven months in a Rus
sian prison.
An Air Force Constellation,
carrying the RB47 fliers,
Capis. John R. McKone and;
Freeman Bruce Olmstead,
landed at nearby Andrews Air
Base, where Soviet Premier
Nikita Khrushchev first set
foot on American soil in 1959.
McKone and Olmstead, who
were shot down by Red jets
over the Barents Sea last July
1, stepped from the white
painted plane into the arms
of their wives.
President Backs Away
They shook hands with Ilia
President, who had dramati
cally announced to a radio
televised news conference
Wednesday night that tha
fliers had been released by
the Russians.
The President's word as ha
greeted each of the fliers
were:
"How do you do, captain;
glad to see you."
Kennedy, smiling shyly, im
mediately backed away to
make way for the officers'
wives.
After the two fliers had had
some moments with their
wives, the President approach
ed them again.
Talks Several Minutes
The fliers, their wives at
their sides, stood talking with,
Kennedy for several minutes
in the 22-degree weather.
A procession o Air Forca
cars was drawn up to taka
the released airmen and their
families to guest apartments
at snow-covered Andrews Air
Force Base.
In the welcoming group
with Kennedy were Air Forca
Secretary Eugene Zuckert and
Gen. Thomas D. White, Air
Force chief of staff.
The President flew to An
drews by helicopter.
He then joined Mrs. Mc
Kone and Mrs. Olmstead to
walk to the side of the plana
and welcome the returning
heroes.
Returns to White House
After seven minutes of tha
happy homecoming ceremony,
Kennedy strode across tha
field about 50 yards to his
Marine helicopter for tha
journey back to the White
House.
Meanwhile, the fliers and
their wives happily obliged
photographers who wanted
pictures, repeating the em
braces and kisses that had
marked their arrival.
There was a ban on Inter
views with the men about
their experience In Russia and
their present condition.
Public Hearing on
Pollution Bills Set
A public hearing on two
water pollution control bills
of Interest to many Jackson
county people will be held at
8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. State
Sen. Lyndel Newbry told tha
Mail Tribune today.
The hearing will be held by
the Senate local government
committee in Room 114 of tha
Capitol.
One bill is proposed by the
state sanitary authority, tha
other by the city of Portland,
and the two are similar in in
tent, Senator Newbry said.
WEATHER
FORECAST: Kir with mild
daytime temperatures through
Saturday. Low tonight 25-28.
High Saturday near 60.
Temp.
HUtieat Yesterday 82
I.oweit this Morning 41
Prec, to 10 a.m. Today, Trace.
Our Skies Tonight
Sunitt todny 5:1(1 p.m.
Riinrlfte tomorrow .... 7:30 a.m.
Moimict tomorrow 5:07 a.m.
Full Moon Jan. 31
The liar, Betelieu, li high In
the outh tonight at .. 9:38 a.m.
Above It li the Moon and ihove
the Moon li the planet, Man.
Climb To
in December
commissioner of labor statis
tics, said no long-range abso
lute price stability Is In sight.
He said that In 1961 the con
sumer price Index Is likely
to rise by 1 to 2 per cent.
Myers said, however, that
the index for January might
hold steady because declines
in some prices might offset
Increases in others.
The department eprted
that ir all of 1960 ttie'pnice
index, averaged 126.3, fc5
per cent from 1959.
I
O
o