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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1961)
G3 STATEHoHIsj Gov. Mark Hatfield's knockdown-drag-out fight with the State Public Welfare Com mission has burst upon the Oregon Legislature and the public - as predicted in this column two weeks ago. Much is at stake in the out come of this very serious dis pute. Proud and powerful men have taken public positions from which it will be difficult to retreat. Of these, the governor, who made known his wish to get rid of four members of the commission (who have refused to resign) at the same time he announced his "definite" in tention to run for reelection nftt year, hns the most to gain - or lose. His decision to condemn Oregon's welfare administra tion at a time when many Oregonians are "on welfare," appears to be a calculated risk designed mainly to get the public stirred up in favor of Hatfield's government reor ganization plan which is now in -the hands of the legislators. The governor's appeal to the public to rally to his sup port came in a press release at the end of the Legislature's third week. It includes the following paragraph: "I call upon all citizens who have knowledge of welfare abuses to contact their legis lators, the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate. I believe the Legisla ture is the only place correc tions can be achieved in view of the present administrative chaos and the shackles on the Governor." This poignant picture of the governor in shackles sur rounded by administrative chaos contains some back ground color which may ex plain why the chief executive of a sovereign state feels he must resort to such dramatics in order to win over the first major threat to his heretofore almost unchallenged position. Here are some angles to help clarify a muddied situa tion: 1. Governor Hatfield's plan for reorganization of Oregon's government from a system of semi-independent boards and commissions (loosely coordi nated within the executive de partment) to a system of cabi net officers dominated by a strong chief executive, is one of the major issues before this Legislature. 2. Support for much of the Hatfield plan already has come from the top Democratic leadership including former Gov. Robert D. Holmes, House Speaker Robert B. Duncan, former Senate President Wal ter Pearson, Democratic State Chairman Robert Straub, Sen. Alfred Corbett, and others. 3. Opposition to some key points in the Hatfield plan is being heard from some of the top Republican leadership, in cluding State Treasurer How ard Celton, Secretary of State Howell Appling, and others. 4. The Democrats' challenge to Hatfield to round up Re publican support for the Re publican governor's own pro gram is an embarrassment, es pecially when the Legislature is controlled by Democrats and only as much of Hatfield's own program will pass as the Democrats allow to pass. 3. Rather than have his re organization plan remain at the mercy of the Democrats and Republican legislators who are under pressure from both sides, it would be much more expedient and politic if the governor could arouse great public interest in and support of his program. The most stubborn lawmaker will tremble before an avalanche WITH MEDFORD TRADE IS MEDFORD MADE Counsel With . . . Mr. Insurance Fred Brennan f '.ft" ; Fred R. Brennan, C.I.A. MEDFORD INSURANCE Agency PHONE SP 3-7343 27 North Holiy Street By Marguerite W. Wright o of lettefc from his constitu ents! o o 6. But it is hard to get peo ple excited about something that seems so far away from homers the dimly-understooS governmental set-up. The av erage Oregon citizen is about as much concerned about the bureaucratic organization of his government as the average soldier is concerned about the chain of command at the Pen tagon; it all seems too remote and impersonal. At that dis tance, who knows, the good guys from the bad? 7. The welfare commission, whoever its members may be, is not a popular image. Hard working citizens usually bear an instinctive resentment at having their tax money used to support other people who are not working - regardless of the reason for such unem ployment, whether they be a depressed economy, illness, old age, or sheer perversity and laziness. It dies hard: the old unreasoning suspicion that poverty is a sin and unem ployment is a result of lack of initiative and hard work by the unemployed. This feeling of resentment is easily trans ferred to welfare workers, so cial workers, and other "do- gooders." Hence, "nobody likes the welfare commission." Hence, he who criticizes the welfare commission has a good chance of getting auto matic support from the pub li (Welfare recipients are not li.. :ly to come to the defense of the hand that feeds them.) 8. Time and again, the gov ernor and his staff have indi cated that the problem with the welfare commission is an example of "what is wrong" with the whole present gov ernmental board-and-commis-sion system which Hatfield wants changed. 9. Once people have accept ed the idea that the welfare commission is at fault for everything, it will be fairly easy to accept the idea that the governor s plan is right. 10. And if the public re sponds to the governor's plea to "do something about" the welfare situation by applying pressure on the Legislature, the battle may be half over. This, admittedly an over simplification of an extreme ly complex situation, explains why saner heads among the legislators fear that the wel fare commission duel may en danger basically desirable gov ernment reorganization legis lation by bringing in raw, tough politics. However, the blow-up was bound to happen, and perhaps it is better for the public to know what it's all about than to remain in the dark while wrangling continues behind the scenes, as it has for months. Welfare commission mem bers whom the governor said he had asked to resign (all four appointees of ex-Gov. Holmes and three of them Democrats), express ed "shock" at the headlines. Three of them said it was all news to them! All of them in dicated they had no intentions of resigning. (They can't be fired except for "cause which might lead to court tangles.) Governor Hatfield said their basic disagreement was over "welfare philosophy." Com mission members said they had never been adequately in formed about the governor's welfare philosophy. They said they didn't know what he wanted them to do. There has been a break down in communications, one member said, meaning there has been no direct contact be tween the governor and the BUY LOCACIY! KEEP PROFITS AT HOMEI Even if we hove a sharp upturn in the economy, it behooves all of us to buy from local merchants, and as many products of local processors as are avail able. This vill support more local payrollsl Insure with MEDFORD Five-Year Plan For Teachers Hit Salem - (UPU Rep. Carroll Howe (R-Klamath Falls) said Monday HB 1056 that would require a five-year training period for elementary teach ers would result in discourag ing youngsters from middle and low income families from entering the teaching pro fession. This would add to the present shortage of grade school teachers, he said, and also create a number of "sub standard" certificates now in the hands of present elemen tary teachers. -commission in months. Com mission members did not feel that contact with Hatfield's underlings was a satisfactory substitute for a real under standing with the governor himself. An illustration of the lack of understanding is that both sides (governor and commis sion members) claim credit for originating certain pro grams which have proved popular with the public. One is the program to give county jobs (cleaning up road sides, etc.) to able-bodied wel fare recipients. Hatfield said he wanted this program but that the commission "dragged its heels" in putting it into effect. According to the minutes of commission meetings, the work program was proposed at a meeting June 26, 1959, by Commissioner Gerson Gold smith (one of those Hatfield wants to get rid of). The com mission sent out "neutral" let ters to county welfare depart ments about this program, giv ing both advantages and dis advantages as revealed in other states, and left the de cision of going ahead with the counties. Some counties did go ahead. The governor says the "work projects were under taken only after my insist ence." Hatfield also says he spark ed the move to get federal sur plus food to needy Oregon families. On Jan. 13, this year, a Portland paper quoted the governor as saying the welfare commission had thrown up "road blocks" in the way of distributing surplus- foods. Yet, the commis sion's records say that the first word from the governor to the commission in regard to the surplus food program was a letter dated Jan. 17, 1061, written by the governor after U.S. Rep. Edith Green said she was disturbed that Ore gon wasn't using surplus food for welfare recipients. Wherever the truth may lie, the main fact now is that both work programs and surplus tooa distribution are the com ing thing in Oregon. Food, such as butter, corn meal, flour, dried milk and rice, will be brought to Portland at the federal government's expense and then transported around the state at the coun ties expense. Cost estimates of distribu tion (including handling, pack aging, record-keeping, etc.) vary from less than one per cent of the wholesale value of the food up to 10 per cent depending upon figures from different states. It's possible that the distribution work could be part of the welfare "work for relief" program, es pecially if women come under that program, or that volun teer agencies may aid in food distribution. Surplus food cannot be used as a substitute for welfare food allotments already made it is a supplement or addition to such allotments. That means that many Oregon children who now are not getting an adequate diet for health and growth, because welfare al lowances have not been in creased enougn to meet ris ing costs of food, will have a chance to get more and better food. Th'e reason food allowances were not increased per famrly is because the number of fam ilies needing welfare aid in creased; there was only so much money to go around and it had to be spread out thin ner. A rise in unemployment in Oregon has meant that those already on welfare have to tighten their belts still fur ther. (This situation is another issue between the governor and the commission. The gov ernor favors a "closed-end' welfare budget which limits the amount of money avail able; the commission favors an "open-end" budget which maintains certain minimum standards of aid and allot ments, regardless of the in crease in welfare cases.) Commission memoers are worried that publicity about this intra - goOrnmental dis pute will harm Oregon's en tire welfare program, as well as seriously hurt morale Oi the understated and under paid welfare department. Governor Hatfield says, "A democracy functions best when its citizenry is alert to abuses, violations and miscar riages of justice. . . . Know! edge of these instances must be made known to responsible officials who will have the courage to act. MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, Bills Approved By Senate, House Salem -IUPD- Measures ap proved Monday: By the Senate- SB59-Sen. Yturri and oth ers; making three volumes of Oregon law dupli.ue origi nals. SB135 - Oregon employees association; retirement. SB154 - Public employees retirement system - rights of beneficiaries. SCR2 - Legislative rules. By the House - HB1053 - Rep. Van Hoomis sen; penalties for false swear ing. HB1062 - Rep. Layman; business names. HB1112 - Rep. Whelan; con tracting by port of Portland. Signed by the governor - HB2001 - Finance depart ment allotments. Banker's Daughter Awaiting Sentence Sioux City, Iowa - IUP1I -Mrs. Burnice Geiger, 58, con fessed embezzler of more than S2 million, calmly pleaded guilty Monday to 35 counts of embezzling funds from her father's bank. The banker's daughter, speaking in a clear, distinct voice, solemnly replied "guil ty" 35 times as federal Dist. Atty. F. E. Van Alstine read off the list of charges. Sentence was delayed pend ing investigation and Mrs. Geiger was returned to the Woodbury County jail where she has been held since Jan. 16, steadfastly refusing to post the $10,000 bond under which she was held. She could be sentenced to a 175-year prison term since each count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both. 4-H News The Griffin Creek Dairy club held its first meeting Jan. 26, at the home of the leader, Ed Goodwin. The meeting was called to order by President Marthanne Goodwin. We elected officers. They are president, Marthan ne Goodwin; vice president, Steve Clark; secretary and re porter, Margaret Goodwin and junior leader, Peppi Clark .We set goals for the coming year. The meeting was adjourned and refreshments were served. The next meeting will be held at the home of Peppi Clark on Madrona lane, Feb 9, at 7:30 p.m. Margaret Goodwin, Reporter , Phoenix SaddlcR'es The . Phoenix Saddlelites 4-H club held an executive board meeting at the home of Verna Adams in Griffin Creek recently. Plans were discussed for the meetings in 1961. The new leader, Gale Hammond, at tended, as did her advisor, Sharkey Anderson of Phoe nix. Other officers for the new year include Verna Adams, Griffin Creek, president; John Hughes, Medford, vice presi dent; Donna Welch, Jackson ville, secretary; Sue Griffin, Jacksonville, reporter; and Chris Prentice, Medford, jun ior leader. All members are urged to attend the next regular meet ing Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Verna Adams' resi dence. Sue Griffin, Reporter Applegale Sheep The third meeting of the Applegate Sheep club met re cently at the home of C. H. Elmore for the 1901 club year. Officers were elected and Mr. Elmore demonstrated how to check sheep wool. The meeting was closed and re freshments were served by Mrs. Elmore. Mary Petrie, Reporter Desert Pegasus The Eagle Point Desert Pe gasus Horse club will sponsor a film at the Eagle Point Ag riculture building Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. The event, open to the pub lic, will include films pertain ing to horse club members. A short business meeting will be held first. Lauramay Noble, Reporter Grange News Phoenix Grange At the regular meeting of Phoenix Grange, Jan. 24, plans were discussed for a ham dinner to be held April 23. Lloyd Whiteride was at the master's station during the ab sence Of Master and Mrs. Lloyd Lacy, who were unable to attend due to the recent death of Mrs. Lacy's mother. Mrs. Olin Poe was in charge of the lecturer's program with readings and singing for the entertainment. On the serving committee were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hunter and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hockcrsmlth. i ORE. Prior Unmet Needs in County Being Met, Inter-Agency Told Many of the 11 needs unmet in Jackson county in 1958, when the Jackson County Inter-Agency Council was es tablished, have been met or are being met, Mrs. Laura Porter, council chairman, re ported at the group's annual meeting recently. Representatives of 18 organ izations attended the meeting, at which a program for the year was outlined. Mrs. Porter reviewed the history of the Council, noting that it was established in 1958 in an effort to acquaint or ganizations with the limita tions and policies of various agencies to promote intelli gent referral and counselling of persons needing assistance and guidance. The Council, she said, is in the process of revising its di rectory of social welfare serv ices, which was first publish- SEEK SUDAN ACCESS Moscow - lllfll - Russia has asked Sudanese Premier Ibra him Abboud for permission to send food, medicine, and 20 trucks through Sudan to the pro-Lumuniba areas of The Congo, the Soviet news agen cy Tass reported today. ( One (out of 647,700) of Oregon's wage about Oregon. But while you're sweet-talking new industry into the state, let's don't forget our Oregon job-makers like the guys I work for. Why dontcha' run an ad saluting my company? Look, in just 12 short years, we've.. " OK, OK, OK-don't gel excited! Wc under stand how you feel and we auree. After all, wc employ a few (6,087) people ourselves, and we've been Oregonians since Lewis and Clark. We'd be daft lo suggest that anyone forget the job-makers who arc already here. We agree that the first csscnli.il to growth is to "start with what you have." Attracting new industries (and new people) is important because it brings cd after the Council was or ganized. Financing for pub lishing the revised edition is being sought, sue added. Reviews Unmet Needs Mrs. Porter reviewed the 11 unmet needs in the county in 1958 They included lack of financial support for exist ing social services; a need for medical care Jor marginally indigent persons not eligible for help from welfare or vet erans' benefits; a need for a qualified person to collect in formation about needy per sons relevant to Christmas basket distribution, and giv ing by groups in the area; and the need for special serv ices for children. Other unmet needs in 1059 included a lack of a travelers' aid agency; lack of a substan tial winler payroll and social problems relating lo the com munity economy; a need for vocational training facility for young people with appren ticeship opportunity with com pensation; a need for city or county park and year-round recreation program; a need for cooperation between em ployers of migratory workers and the community to help seasonal workers find a sat isfactory life here and to help the community accept them; a need for greater rehabilita J-'T tion program and facilities for physically disabled persons not taken care of by existing programs; and the need for a family counselling service. Mrs. Porter pointed out that since the list was drawn up, many of the needs have been, or are being, met. Lindsay Vinsel. director of adult education for the Med ford public schools, reviewed the vocational training pro gram conducted by the school, and Capt. William Ricken of the Salvation Army explained the Christmas bureau project handled by the . Salvation Army, the public welfare com mission and the Red Cross. Explained Next Meeting The family counselling serv ice will be explained by Thomas Guff at the next meet ing, and Jim Sullivan will re view the parks and recreation program in the area. A list of new or different unmet needs in the county was asked for by the Inter Agency Council. The next Council meeting will be in the Red Cross building Tuesday, Feb. 21. Attending Ihe recent meet ing were representatives from the United Medford Crusade, Salvation Army, YMCA, soci al security administration, board of parole and probation, - earners mildly stimulated by our recent ads had this to say: s, words! the world balance into the economic b.ne of our com munity, and in our book industry that is already here deserves top billing, tix). Wc have aimed most of our whimsical news paper drum-beating at getting new people and new industries into Oregon because Oregon needs tourists and industry. The job-makers who are already here arc proud of Oregon, and are doing their own brand of promotion. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. 1961 juvenile department, the child guidance and family counsel ling clinic, the Jackson county health department, Medford public schools, the county ex tension service, Southern Ore gon college, Washington AIDEN F. MOYER Frigidaire Salesman, Says My customers like Frigidaire because the Automatic Soak Cycle give them the flexibility to wash denims, diapers and even woolen blankets sately. A SWIITHIART Ot A PAIR AT MpI'Mk A SWEETHEART LEONARD ELECTRIC "Medford's Leading Appliance 309 EAST MAIN STREET Your company probably is, too. No matter what size, every company plays an important role in Oregon's continued growth. Just for fun, here are three interest ing for-inslances: Omark Industries, Milwaukie. Founded in 1947 with four employees in the founder's basement. They now huve more than 500 employees and make about o all tlte world's sawchain, as well as related products. Lamb-Weston Inc., Weston. Founded in 1934, they pioneered "Shelled-at-the-l'lant" pea han- ' dling and dehydro-jreeiing of peas, carrots, and diced potatoes, and extended agricultural out put. Current peak employment is 1000 exactly double the number of employees in 1955. Iltlithy llmise Inc., Medford. Started in late 1959 with nothing more than an idea on how lo make better vacation-type travel trailers. By the end of I960, they employed 85 people and are starling production of an all fiberglass model. Before you are tempted to sit down and write an irate letter tion your great company, let us point out that these three firms were picked at random by Gus, our statistician. He picked them out of his Stetson with his eyes shut. But each of the unchoscn ones nonetheless is an essential partner in the future of Oregon. Cut this ad out and make a few points with youfc Boss. If you've got two Bosses (shudder), call your Telephone Business Oflice and we'll send you additional copies. And now, we'd better gel back to work. Our phone is ringing. P.S. Let's tell the world about Oregon! PACIFIC TELEPHONE Of !Hl NftllftN riOL A 5 school PTA, Hedrick Junior High school PTA, the Jackson County Council of PTAs, the city coordinating council ot PTAs, the Medford Minister ial association, the Red Cross and the welfare commission. Exclusive Automatic Soak Exclusive Somersault Washing Exclusive Flowing Heat Four Automatic Drying Cycles Budget Priced . . . S Year Warranty COMPANY Dealer for the Past 30 Years" PHONE SP 3-4541 ) asking why we didn't mcn ( NORTHWESTff A) IILL DIIIK VT"Vv 1 Atl: Jtttti. tf3 1 -wVVvr,rn ''J W U' JI'JULLJ (LJ i i njr-
