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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1937)
/ Washington D ige st National Topics Interpreted By W IL L IA M BRU CKART NATIONAL PRESS BLDG WASHINGTON, D C Washington.—Some weeks ago when the Treasury was parading a lot ot names of Finding well known indi- the Goat viduals before a joint congression al tax committee, I discussed the purposes of the investiga tion and reached the conclusion that the whole affair was staged. It X remember correctly, I called It a vaudeville stunt, designed by the Treasury to save its face for having made bad guesses as to tax collec tions. The tax collections, as ev eryone knows, were much below New Deal estimates and somebody had to be the goat. So, it was nat ural to make rich men the goat by calling them tax evaders. At the same time, I reported to you the fact that there was a differ ence of opinion among Treasury subordinates. Some of them wanted to make a great show of names of individuals who had resorted to practices not prohibited by law in order to reduce their taxes. I did not know at that time how serious the disagreement was with in the Treasury. It has only lately come out into the open. As a result, two important Treasury officials have quit their jobs and have gone back to private life. I refer to Mor rison Shafroth and Russell I. Ryan, chief counsel, and assistant chief counsel, respectively, of the bureau of internal revenue. These two men know more about tax evaders and tax avoidcrs than anybody else in the Treasury but they had one grievous fault. They wanted to be honest about the whole situation. That was a fault because being hon est did not make possible a flam boyant display of hatred for taxpay ers who had employed legitimate means to pay as little tax as the law permitted. As far as I can ascertain, Messrs. Shafroth and Ryan wanted to co operate fully with the higherups in the Treasury in so far as a tax in vestigation by a joint congressional committee would point the way for Improvement of the law. They knew, ns many others know, that the internal revenue laws have holes in them. The smart lawyers and smart taxpayers naturally have taken advantage of these holes in the law because they are human despite the fact they are rich. So, the chief counsel and his assistant proposed to Secretary Morgenthau and Treasury General Counsel Her man Oliphant that the investigation be made along lines of a scientific character, that close study be given to some of the methods that had been employed to avoid taxes. In other words, Shafroth and Ryan were anxious to develop legislation on the basis of the experiences which they had had and loopholes they had found to be in common use. But their fault was honesty, as government officials would not be denied the vaudeville perform ance and the columns upon columns of publicity which Mr. Morgenthau and Mr. Oliphant, not to mention President Roosevelt, desired to see. • • • I stayed through all of the hear ings before the joint congressional committee. They Stooping ran for fourteen Low days. Each day the Treasury trot ted out another official as the wit ness before the committee and he was armed with a prepared state ment which he read for some two hours to a committee that sat back in easy chairs and smoked cigars in comfort—while newspaper men avidly wrote stories about rich men, some good and some bad, who had committed the heinous sin of paying as little tax as the law permitted. The resignations of Shafroth and Ryan rather convince me that the Treasury stooped to about the low est level it has reached in recent yfears. Of course, it was not the first time in our history that income tax has been used for political in timidation. Reprisal is a strong word to use about government of ficials but I cannot escape the feel ing that the Treasury used that in vestigation as a method of reprisal against many men who had opposed the New Deal. I reach that conclusion on the basis of a review ot the names which Messrs. Shafroth and Ryan refused to parade before the com mittee but which the IVeasury itself used ss the principal actors. Not more than three ot the eighty-odd names presented to the committee had contributed to the Democratic national campaign fund a year ago. The tactics were not far from those employed by the late Huey Long in enforcing his will upon the people ot Louisiana. I can add to this a statement of the fact that Under-Secretary Magill, who had charge of present ing the so-called evidence before the committee at the capltol. believed the Treasury was not following an entirely wise course In the methods it employed But Mr. MagiU went along with the scheme and there were many of the correspondents L O W E R BIG BEND MISS FLORENCE RUSSELL li WéfÆM covering that hearing who felt he tried to do the job fairly. So now Morrison Shafroth and Russell Ryan are back in private life and in their places are men picked by Mr. Oliphant, men who are likely to obey orders regardless of the whims of Mr. Oliphant and Secretary Morgenthau. • • • Another instance of official ac tion that seems to indicate a bad trend in govern- Indicates ment lately has Bad Trend occurred. This in cident was propa gated by the federal power commis sion, one of the numerous federal agencies that Is supposed to be largely judicial in character but which is equipped at the same time with administrative powers. The facts are these: There was a group of men who served as directors of the Associat ed Gas and Electric company. These same individuals were direc tors for numerous corporations that are subsidiaries of that same com pany. The federal power act provides that the commission may require directors of one power company to divest themselves of connection with any other power companies— one of the strongest features of the law. The commission is empowered to make its own investigation of these interlocked directorates and then on its own motion may require such directors to appear and give the commission satisfactory reasons why they are holding places on the boards of more than one corpora tion. This also is a sound provision of law and undoubtedly works to the benefit of all consumers of light and power. Before I proceed further, let it be definitely understood that I have not a great deal of respect for the Associated Gas and Electric com pany. Its record does not warrant my respect as an observer. Un doubtedly, however, its manage ment complies with the terms of its corporate charter but as a great public utility it has obligations to the public beyond the terms of its charter and it is my opinion that the moral obligations are such that this age demands full observation of them. This brings us to the crux of the power commission action. Late in September Vice Chairman Seavey of the commission had ordered the group of directors referred to above to show cause why they should not be compelled to relinquish various positions on other boards of direc tors. A hearing date was set A few days before the hearing date, the directors in question resigned the positions to which the commis sion objected and then their attor ney issued a statement which said, in effect, that they had resigned because they were convicted in the minds of the commission before the commissioners had heard the case. He used rather strong language, perhaps too strong in expressing his views. Upon publication of the attorney's statement. Vice Chairman Seavey promptly ordered him to appear be fore the commission to give his reasons for the statement and to defend himself against disbarment from practice as a lawyer before the commission. Now, lest I be midunderstood, I do not know the attorney, Mr. Pax- son; I know nothing about the mer its of the case in question. But it is significant that an agency of the government suddenly decides that it can prevent a man from earning his living because he criticized mem bers of that agency. • • • Occasionally, situations develop in national politics that provide a real laugh. On« of Ju»t a them is not at Big Laugh hand. It results from the nasty controversy that swirls around the head of Hugo Black of Alabama, newly appointed associate justice ot the Supreme court, who is charged with being a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Terrible as is the charge and worse if it eventuates that Mr. Jus tice Black still is subject to the oath of the Invisible empire, there is hu mor in the way a lot ot senators and other government officials are running to cover. It has been al most a scramble among Democrat ic senators to let the public know by issuing statements that they would not have voted for Senator Black's confirmation as a member of the court if they had known he was a klansman. It makes one laugh again when one recalls how carefully the majority of the Demo crats In the senate refused to hear evidence or hold any sort of e hear ing concerning Mr. Black's qualifi cations. They did this by voting down a motion for hearings. It is not pleasant to contemplate how the senate so many times passes an judicial appointments with the carefree abandoa ot e bay his way home from school. Mr. and Mr s Joe King left at six o'clock Monday m cm ing for the moun ains above Unity to hunt deer They will stay week. Mr Ketch- em is taking care of things while they are away. Mr. White was taken to the On tario hospital last week following i stroke. Miss Rose Christiansen was visit ing old friends in the neighborhood Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stradley re turned Wednesday from a visit with their son Elmer and family in Ar cadia. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlelgh Hardman and infant daughter ot Ontaric visited with their aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs. Joe King one evening last week. Mrs. Edward" Abbl and Mrs. Roe Milter were Ontario visitors Thurs day morning. The Jolly Janes met with Mrs Luit Stam Thursday. A very pleas ant afternoon was spent sewing. Myrtle, Helen and Fern Hatch were hostsses. Mrs Harvey Russell and daugh ters spent Saturday in Nyssa with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Ser ve ss. Junior Lowe o f Nyssa spent the week end with his aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Harry Russell. Mrs. M M. Greeting and Mrs. Roy F. Perry were busiess callers Tues day morning in Big Bend. A large number of Big Bend high school students took the bus to Nys- sa f : r the Freshman reception last Friday night. A new house is now going up on the J. W. Scott place where the old one burned down. Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Young and boys and Mrs. Clara Young of On tario spent Sunday with Emma Young. Misses Mae Belle, Dorothy and Carl Pond are on the sick list this week. Mr. George McCart is having a sale Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Teter and Dale were visitors at the Russell home Tues day. KINGM AN KO LO N Y By MRS. C. E. ELLIOTT Mr. and Mrs. Page of Council, Idaho, have been visiting at the Al len Curtis home. Mrs. Page is a sister of Mrs. Curtis. The booster program which was given by the grange was well at tended Thursday evening. One of the high lights of th program was a talk by Mr. Larson, county agent, on the work that the various granges are doing in connection with farming. He also spoke on sev eral phases of present day farming Ice cream and cake were served at the close of the meeting. The Tom Ooodiers were surprised this week by a visit from their friends who live in Calamay, Neb raska. They were Mr. and Mrs. Clay Pitklns, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Lynes. Mrs Joe McClure and Mr. Smith. Mrs. Pitkin is a sister of Mrs. Price who lives In Kingman and they visited there also. Kingman Sunday School has grown until It has become necessary for the teachers to divide several of their classes until there are now seven al together. A joint birthday dinner was given In the Winters home Sunday, hon oring Mr. John Gowey and Marg aret Winters. The 4-H club leaders and several ,-thers are planning to give a home talent play about the middle of November. The Olrl Scouts are giving a play also. Theirs, however, will be ready about the middle of October. Wade, Owyhee and Kingman will hold a Jclnt 4-H Achievement Day program, Friday evening, November 5th with everyone Invited to at tend. The Junior Sunday School class held a party and weiner roast at the sand hill Saturday. Mrs. Lane had charge of the party. A 4-H Health club was organized in the 5th and 6 th grades by Miss Bra ton this week Officers are President, Dudley Kurtz; vice presi dent, La V cm Glascock; secretary and Treasurer, Virginia Mae Jar vis. Twenty-nine members enrolled. Among those wha attended the State Officers meeting of the grange were Mrs. Conrad Martin; Mrs. Lee Thrasher, Mr and Mrs. Perry and Mr. and Mrs. M. M. G reeling. The Robert Overstreet, Jr., family of Boise spent Sndiy in the R-bert Overstreet home here. kírs. C. C. Co ton and Mrs. M. M. Greeting attended the Health club meeting of Malheur county Thurs day. They also enjoyed the 12 o'clock luncheon given at the Moore Hotel in Ontario. BIG BEND NEWS By MRS. E. H. BRUMBAC1I Mrs. C. E. Elliott of Kingman, President of the Club Leaders Coun cil of this county visited Bend schocls during the week. She an nounced that 4-H Achievement Day would be celebrated November 5 at Kingman Kolony. Mrs. Bob Welsh attended 4-H leaders council in Ontario last Sat urday. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cartwright were Caldwell visitors last Tuesday J.Ir. Wright returned home with them for a visit. Mr. Wade, State scale inspector spent Wednesday in this vicinity on business connected with his office. Vernon Parker has been under a doctors care the past week for an in fection on his neck and was unable to attend his work at Eder Store in Adrian. R. G. Larson, Cousty Agent of On tario was a business visitor in the Bend Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Basil Poe and daughter left Monday for their old home in Misosurl having spent the past year working in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. B. G. Roberts enter- taned their nephew, Mr Place and family of Wyoming during the past week. They were on their way to California to visit other relatives. M rs Clyde Riggs of Parma spent Friday visiting her mother Mrs. B. G. Roberts. Mrs. Luit Stam entertained the Jolly Janes at her home Thursday afternoon. The two Bend school nines had a double header Thursday afternoon in which the lower Bend school proved winner. In the girls and boys mixed team the score was Bend 2, Wade 0. In the boys game Bend 8 Wade 6 . Miss Wilma Coldwell spent the week end with friends in Boise and Caldwell. Mr. and Mrs. John French of Roswell, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne French of Boise and S. G. Tuning of Roswell were callers in the Lester French heme Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Brumbach and Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Welsh were guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Case of Arena Valley Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Baldridge and children of Emmett were Sun day guests of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Baldridge. * I ; Mrs. M. M. Greeling of Kingman spnt Tuesday in the Bend in the in terest of Christmas seals. The Edson Stansell ranch which was rented by C. E Pond has been sold to a Mr Baldwin o f Nebraska. Mr and Mrs. Grant Rinehart and Miss Lucille Rinehart of Nyssa and Mr. and Mrs Vem Shoemaker of La Grande were week end guests in the R. L. Haworth home. Mrs. R H Hatch and Mrs. B. O. Roberts attended the grange school of instruction at Bculevard Hall on ' Monday, at which time State Master Ray Gill and other state, district and county officers were present. Mr. and Mrs. Will Van de Water of Wilder were guests in the Ha worth home Sunday. The friends of Mrs. M Maxwell cf Orchard Tract were grieved to hear that a fall caused her to break her shoulder blade. She is under the care of Dr. Cole of Caldwell. Wade P.T.A. held a very inter esting meeting at the home of Mrs. R. L. Haworth Friday afternoon. Twenty three members have signed up so far, among them several new ladls who have moved into the Bend during the past year. A pie social and Halloween party is planned for Friday evening, Oct ober 29 to which all are invited. The County Ccunicil meets at Ontario October 23. Mrs. F. A. Miller will be hostess for the November meeting. A dainty lunch was served by Mrs. Haworth and her mother Mrs. M. E. Rogers. SUNSET V A L L E Y MRS. L. E. NEWGEN L. B. Landreth got a $5 prize at the Nyssa Sale Yard Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. John Case made a business trip to Nampa Saturday. Ed. M ortis'n spent Sunday at the Newgen home after an early morn ing pheasant hunt with Bill Boli ho. Shorty Black has a new well finished Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Cox and family of Talogo, O kla, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Morty Wixen. They expect to lccate here. Mr. Cox is Mrs. Wixen's brother. Ed Mortison went with Will and Don McGinnis, Don Linville, Ted Newton and Cecil Smi h to Steen's Mountain deer hunting. They brought back feur deer. Mrs. Bill Bolitho called on Mrs. Leslie Ditty Thursday afternoon. Joe Glenn and Melvin Given had supper Sunday evening with Jake Kollen. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ditty made a business trip toWalla Walla, Wash., last week. The trip was too much for Mr. Ditty and he has been con fined to his home since their return He is reported some better at this writing. Mr. and Mrs. Grover Cooper of Oregon Trail spent Sunday with the L. B Landreth family. Mr. and Mrs. Terra called Sunday afternoon at the Newgen home. Ellis Givens spent Saturday night with Bob Newgen and visited Sun 7 day with his many friends of this community. He is being adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Ctoper of Oregon Trail and says he is very well pleas ed with his new home. L. E. Newgen attended business in Ontario Monday. District Attorney Biggs of On tario met with Mr. Newgen, admin istrator, Mr. Wilson. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Kollen, appraisers, at the Givens ranch Wednesday to arrange a sale for the perse nal property there. The date of sale will be an nounced later. Mr. and Mrs. Morton Urixcn and Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Cox left Sun day for California where they expect to work during the winter. Mr. and Mr s Paul Ransom were business visitors in Ontario on Sat urday. On Monday Mr. Ransrme started cuiting clover for Mr. Terra. Mr and Mrs. Chas. Schwelzer and Mrs. C. A. Abbott of Nyssa went to Boise on Saturday. The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Kollen who has been under the care cf Dr. Belkna pof Ontario is im proving rapidly. On Monday evening such strange noises came out of the Roy Rook- stool barn that M rs Rookstcol fear ing that her husband had met with an accident and was in agony, drop ped everything and rushed out to do what she could to relieve him. She found Roy practicing a new yodel. Subscribe to the Journal at $1.50 a year. Riverside Tires Knobby Tread Power Grip Guaranteed 16 x 6 :0 0 -$10.80 Naturlube (bulk) Oil At a bargain O. K. TIRE SHOP Ed. Wild Rex This Week Only IO Per Ceni; Advice To The Road-Worn O ff HH Hh HH E. V. PRUYN, Auto Repair Nyssa, Oregon Gentlemen: I am thinking seriously of sending for some c f Dr. Snozzleburg’s “Youth Tablets” for lost energy. The advertisement says that one of us run-down cars can regain our lost energy in three days with doses of these tablets. I'd sure like to regain my youth What do you advise? I ain't been getting by very well lately. Very truly yours, Squeaky Klutch. — on all Bed Springs and Mattresses -----------------------------——------------------ »-■ STU DIO CO U CH ES $29 to $39 50 Just Arrived— Coal Ranges Priced to Sell Dear Squeaky Klutch: It's your funeral. But since you ask us, we suggest that a monkey wrench and a screw driver will do more for you In three minutes than Dr. Snozzleburg's “Youth Tablets” will do in three days or three years. Sincerely yours, . E. V. PRUYN, Auto Repair E. W. Pruyn Hotel $39.50 to $88.00 \\ e have a few pioces o f Used Furniture at almost your own figure. Nordale Furniture Store PHONE 94 Auto Repair Phone 56F2 Nyssa NYSSA : : : : OREGON Sat. Midnight SUN-M ON-TUES. It tops “One In A Million’ AMERICA' Yes Sir Folks, No One Barred Don’t Forget the Merchandise Awards W e ’ll Have . . . COW S W e’ll prove that there’s life in your old clothes! We’ll clean them, press them, make minor re pairs and return them t o y o u in tip-top shape. Nyssa Tailor Shop PIG S The best in the market That will be money makers. Farm Equipment That will save you money IF YO U W A N T TO SELL AN Y TH IN G — BRING IT IN Nyssa Sale Yard Col. Bert Anderson, Auctioneer Fox & Son, Managers