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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 1963)
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MLDrOhD. OREGON THURSDAY, AUGUST 13. 1SI3 B 5 Alcoholics Decome involved in Imrterstafce Commeiree By ROBERT BUCKHRON United Press International Washington - (UPB - A fight ing priest whose job is reform ing alcoholics says the govern ment has told him to keep his drunks out of interstate com merce or sober them up under the federal minimum wage law. The priest is Msgr. William N. Wall, who heads the Mount Carmel Center and Hospital for Alcoholics in Paterson, N.J. His charge against the gov ernment: It's guilty of a "re actionary, nonsensical a 1 1 i -tude that will assure this na tion of a, skid row in every city from New York's Bowery to San Francisco's Market street." The government's answer: The law is the law, and must be enforced. The Monsignor's rebuttal: This is "totally Caesar's law, and none of God's law. This is bureaucracy at its worst . . . I cannot, on moral grounds, have any part of it." ' The thing that brought on the collision was the minimum wage law and its application to the Monsignor's home for alcoholics. Simply put, the Labor de partment said the Monsignor must pay his alcoholics the $1.15 minimum wage if this work brings them into inter state commerce. If he does not, the Labor department said, he may, since his alcoholic center falls in a special category, accept a designation as a "sheltered work shop for handicapped people." This would exempt him from the provisions of the wage law. The Monsignor told UPI he couldn't accept either choice. "The first one could very well put me out of the business of rehabilitating alcoholics," he said in an Interview. "The center couldn't afford it." And in a letter to the Labor department, he said he might be forced "to call in the city, county and state relief people and enroll every last one of these alcoholics. This way, they can get relief, but no work; they can get money but no sobriety; they can get food and booze, but not God's grace." The Monsignor's objection to the department's second choice is both moral and medical. He said his center is not a shelter, nor are the a 1 c o holies handicapped. He added: "Jails are shelters, mental institutions are shelters, flop houses are shelters . . . alco holics need not shelter, but hope: not shelter, but compas sion; not shelter, but love and understanding." As for an alcoholic being handicapped, the Monsignor says it isn't so. Sick, yes, handicapped, no. This desig nation "may be expedient and a d ministratively efficient -but it is guaranteed to main tain the role of the social out cast for addicted alcoholics," he declared. What triggered the dispute between the clergyman and what he terms the case of "Charity Versus the United States," was a contract to de liver rags to a New York City firm. Rag-picking is one of the main sourws of income for the alcoholic center, but in reselling the rags out of state, the Labor department said, i They'll Do It Every Time -- By Jimmy Hatlo ! " f HOW LONG DOES ) ( I TOLD HIM A " S ! r ' this go on? i didn't have uf he took I THANKSDOM'TL f' HE SWORE OFF MO - SAlD I MNE AND MV A ?T MIND IF I TAKE X THREE MONTHS AGO.' I HE'D WALK ME OUT BOOK OF ) I TWO? THAT'LL HOLD MEU HE'S BEEN MOOCHINo TO THE CIGARETTE J I MATCHES UNTIL NOONTHE DOC NBOuT A PACK A S MACHINE- V. ' TOLD ME TO CUT 'EM OUT ( DAV FROM ME - --"V 'tf Z AND I AM I AM-I DON'T 1 V EVER SNCE Jf Auat'c BUY ANV- BUT YOU KNOW I -I'LL SAV HE f I If VVU V I HOW IT IS- CAN'T OIVE rTUl I NEVER BUYS-HE'S It" I VVCNT RATK 'EM UP ALL AT ONCE--in FV TIGHTER THAN THE M jStUE Pipe S-- I N r ME WAS I ftty ofrSNmcocOUT mE Small Worlds Around Us By LYNN M. WATKINS (Register and Tribune Syndicate. ".94 J) Poisoned Insects Spelled End for Hungry Birds Because natural fooJ in the form of worms, insects and their eggs were difficult to find and in short supply, she wouldn't eat one herself. In stead she fed them all to her hungry youngsters; she sub iisted solely on weed seeds, and an occasional handout of trackers or bread, dropped on the ground by some kind hearted householder. In spite of constant care and diligent feeding, her first brood of the summer sickened and died. One by one the anx ious bird mother pulled the little bodies from the nest and dropped them over the side. When the last one was gone, she rested a little while, then selected another nesting site and begin again. She im proved a little in the con struction oi tnis nesi, n. na a more solid support, was better protected from the ele ments and seemingly safer. She laid and incubated the. eggs. Hungry for Food Three gawky, naked birds broke out into the world and opened their pink-lined mouths with impatient anti cipation, hungry for food. Again began the frantic search for worms, insects and in sect eggs, sufficient to fill those three hungry mouths and gaping throats. Both par- ent birds, neglecting their own appetites, struggled to supply food to the gawky youngsters. Worms, and plenty of in pct food was the way it was intended to be, and every bird - parent, with patience and dawn-to-dark persever anno cm 10 ht the wherewithal to feed their family. In the original and overall plan h was arranged that baby birds and the hatching and abund ance of insect food should ' Parent birds, to survive themselves and to feed their vrtimn tirprp one of the natural agencies to hold the insect nomiiatinn within reasonable limits. Given a chance, they would have succeeded; but a dark shadow cast its ominous form over the land. Touched Baby Birds That shadow touched those .in it hahv hirds: one after another they died; each in turn was cast from me nesi, and the worried parent birds tratert all their atten tions to develop pin feathers. Mr. and Mrs. Bird must have been encouraged, they would have been justified in be lieving they would succeed in raising at least one baby bird to adulthood. These parent birds, living as they necessarily must in a world of men, many of which recognize no rights except their own, had no way of knowing that the worms and insects they were feeding their children, were poisoned with chemical insecticides. Even when the last little survivor in the nest laid down his head, and was still, and refused to respond when another lethal worm was of fered it, those trusting parents birds could not know where the trouble was; they could never understand that man's inhumanity to man is of noth ing when compared to his in humanity to creatures lesser than himself. Two Accidents Are Reported To Police Two vehicle accidents were investigated by Medford po lice late Tuesday. Two cita tions were issued, but no one was reported injured. At 5:30 p.m. near the inter section of Main and Kenwood sts., a vehile operated by James Robert McCormack, 21, of 903 South Third St., Jack sonville, hit a pickup truck operated by Marion Ray Hull, 37, of 345 Hanley rd.. Central Point, which was forced into a sedan attempting to turn left. The third vehicle did not remain at the scene, police said. McCormack was cited by police for violation of the basic rule. In the second accident about 6 p.m., vehicles operat ed by Kelly Burns Caskey, Longview, Wash., and Herman Weston Pearson, 245 Windsor ave., collied on Willamette ave. between Ninth and Tenth sts., according to police. Cas key was cited for failing to yield right of way, police said. Less than 2 per cent of nor ma 1 children have crossed eyes. Learn How Experienced Investors Increase Earnings with COMMONWEALTH 5' SECURED BONDS A growing number of income-minded Oregon investors now use Commonwealth 5 se cured bonds to up-grade investment earnings. , If you have need of additional income you will want to consider the financial advantages of these high-grade securities. A prospectus con taining full information is available to you. In MEDFORD Mr. Harry Clement, Investment Coun selor and assistant Vice President of Commonwealth Investors, Inc. wilt be at the Medford Hotel in Medford. August 21st, to answer your personal questions relative to the advantages, earnings and security of Common wealth bonds. For Complete Information Mail Coupon or Call Mr. Clement at the Medford Hotel, Aug. 21st Try and Stop Me By BENNETT CERF- ONE DAY William Jennings Bryan was posing for his portrait to be presented to his wife on their thirtieth wedding anniversary. The artist suggested that Mr. Bryan nave his hair cut before he posed. "No sir," was the answer. "When I was courting Mrs. Bryan, she complained that my ears stuck out, so I let my hair grow this long pur posely to cover them. She was very pleased, too." "But Mr. Bryan, protest ed the artist, "that was over thirty years ago." "So it was," agreed Bry an. "But the romance is still going on!" Touring army bases one Christmas season, a famous TV come dian found himself in South Korea, with an audience composed largely of native soldiers who didn't understand a word of Eng lish. Fortunately, a Korean major volunteered to translate the comedian's monologue. The performance was a riotous success. When he left the stage, the comedian admitted, "That old routine of mine never got half that many laughs before. Thanks for your wonderful translating job." The major registered acute embarrassment "You talked so fast," he admitted, "that I lost you completely after jour first three sentences. I was telling the boys a few stories of my own." A fakir in Delhi cried out, "I've discovered two sacks of brand new nails." "Hurrah," cheered an even bigger fakir nearby. "Let's have a pillow fight."' C 1963, by Bennett Cert. Distributed by Kins Feature Syndicate 8-IS O TO: lOMMONWEALTH 200 Equitable Bldg., Portland 4, Oregon Send complete information about j Commonwealth Bonds. j d Have Mr. Clement call me for appointment, j NAME ADDRESS-CITY the Monsignor's business fell under interstate com m e r c e. Hence, he must pay his 30 pickers the minimum wage. Bated on Progress Each of the 92 men cur rently in the center is paid from $30 to $60 weekly, but the Monsignor said the pay scale is based "progress to ward sobriety," not the mini mum wage law. "To m a n 1 p u late" these men's allowances by law is "bureaucracy, not rehabilita tion," he said. If he did pay the men as much as the gov ernment asks, he said, they would only "go blow it all," and the rate of dropouts at the center would increase by "several hundred per cent." The Monsignor told Clar ence T. Lundquist, administra tor for the wage and hour di vision of the Labor depart ment, that "he doesn't pre tend" to pay his alcoholics who fall under interstate com merce a minimum wage. "Frankly, we don't separate the men," he said. "They are all alcoholics; all get the same therapy, the same medical at tention, regardless of their federal status. All men get full coverage under God's law of brotherly love - no partial coverage under Caesar's laws of interstate commerce." Picture, Black The Labor department says the Monsignor is painting too black a picture. Lundquist said other centers similar to Monsignor Wall's conform to the law, but he admits the Monsignor "really believes" there is a matter of principle involved. Describing the men in his center, which he said, in contradiction of the Labor department, is like no other, the Monsignor painted this picture: "They are homeless, tired, sick, weary. Most have his tories of skid row living and have been in the revolving door of short term jail sen tences for drunken offenses. Most are over 45. They have an employment record that scares off anyone, even the employer of the most menial and despised unskilled work . . . their only companionship is a constant inner sense of doom." Unlike other shelters, the Monsignor says, he does not recruit alcoholics. They must come to him. They do all the work to keep the center run ning. In his fight, he has picked up some allies in Congress. Sen. Clifford P. Case (R-N.J.) asked Labor Secretary W. Wil lard Wirtz to look into the bat tle. Rep. Frank J. Becker (R N.Y.) reported to Congress that he thought "our great Department of Labor would have other important and ser ious problems to handle, rath er than spending time and energy, at the taxpayers ex pense, to harass institutions of this nature." Lindquist says "no firm policy decision" has been made. The case could be taken to court, he said, "or no action could be taken at all." But to Monsignor Wall this is a matter than "cannot be ignored or condoned." Nor does he plan to let It become either. He told Labor department officials "My health if food . . . my zeal is great ... my cause la Just ... I welcome the debate." Time for a NEW Car? 450 You pay a lower rate of inter- est with a new car loan from The Oregon Bank. There are no hidden costs or penalties for prepayment and your loan l arranged quickly. Compare loan costs before ' you buy. $ pir aiee A VtAH NEW CAR L0ANSI 'A DOWN Upto30 months to pay WE'RE EAGER TO SERVE YOU I vi iwa v PORTLAND East Medford 701 E. 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