The Daily Chronicle from Centralia, Washington • Page 1

M. Roin-loden clouds from Pacific Ocean storms dumped about 1.57 inches of rainfall in the Twin Cities area Saturdoy through Monday and probob. ly more In the headwaters of the Cheholis River. By Tuesday morning the heovy runoff had raised the river's level to 53 feet, compared to 49.7 feet Friday morning at the Mellen Street gauge In Centralia. There Is no risk of flooding at the present time, however, since flood stage is Rainfall raises river 63 feet.

Photo of river obove was taken at Meskill, downstream from Ro.nbow Falls. By Tuesday morning, rainfall in October in Centrolia totaled 5.67 inches, .99 of an inch above the October average of 4 6 8 Inches. In September, by comparison, only .01 of on inch was recorded The forecast predicts more roln. Chronicle Staff Photo by George H. Blomdahl QTKe Bailu Chronicle 1Scents Tljesdav 1Q Tuesday.

October 28.1975 60 Pages 87th year. 87th issue Twin Cities transportation voters Another in a series of articles exploring issues of relevance to voters in Centralia and Chehalis as municipal elections draw near. This article deals with public transportation; tomorrow the candidates will address the issue. By EVAN JONES t- Chronicle SUfl Writer The Nov. 5 general election wiil signal the beginning of some political careers and perhaps the end of others in Centralia and Chehalis.

And because of advisory ballots, the day may prove to be the launching or torpedoing of a bus system in one or both of the Twin Cities. Chehalins will be asked if the city should propose a plan for public transportation to the voters, shall it be funded with a monthly utility tax of up to $1 per customer, and should Chehalis join the county or Centralia in the system? Centralians will be asked if they would help subsidize a bus system for the city with a utility tax of between 50 cents and 51 per month. In both cities, the ballots will be advisory' only. They will oaly indicate whether citizens want a bus system and are willing to support it. If a system is planned and a tax formulated, citizens will have to vote for the tax before it could be enacted.

Officials in each of the Twin Cities are merely seeking the constituents, before beginning any extensive plans for bus systems. If a 50 cent a month household utility lax is approved by voters, Chehalis would generate annually for transportion and Centralia about $18,000. Also, depending on whether the cities operate buses jointly and what time period they to, state and federal matching funds would be available. Under one program, the federal government would pay 80 per cent of costs for all equipment, vehicles, garages and parking lots for buses and riders. Voters could also choose to fund public transportation with addition to the sales tax of one, two or three tenths of one per cent.

A three tenths of one per cent tax would generate about $221,000 in 1976 for Chehalis and $200,000 for Centralia (figures supplied by the Department of Revenue were used to compute the amounts). Such a tax would mean an addition of nine cents to a $30 grocery bill. An addition to the sales lax is used to fund public transportation in Grays Harbor and King Counties, and is being considered in Bellingham and Snohomish. At present, Centralia owns two buses one of which serves as a standby vehicle. The city budgeted $10,000 of its revenue sharing funds to operate the bus in 1974, and spent $10,596.

For 1975, 815,000 was budgeted. As of Sept. 30, the city spent $8,656 to subsidize its transportation system. According to slate studies, there are no operating transit systems in Washington which are self- susta ining on the fares collected. The fare for the Centralia bus is 50 cents per person, and 25 cents for persons under 16.

The bus runs hourly on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Mayor Don Naismith points out that, no one living south of the Skoomkumchuck River has to walk more than four blocks to catch the bus. Because the city operates a bus system, federal funds of about $48,000 for 1975 are available for street repair -provided the the work is contracted by June 30, 1976. For the following year, $48,800 are available. Thus for spending about $25,000, the city is eligible to receive about $96,000.

"We'd be fools if we didn't keep the bus system going." said Naismith. Centralia purchased the buses from Bellingham for $5,000. They needed some repairs, and Naismith said the tab was reflected in the first year's operating costs. Options for public transporation include using school buses or London-style doubledecker buses. However, Naismith said school, buses are impractical because they're often loo large and the steps are too high for elderly people.

He also said the doubledecker buses are not feasible because of purchasing and maintenance costs. Though the Centralia bus doesn't leave the city limits, there is bus service between Ihe Twin Cities, and in fact through a large portion of the county. Greyhound buses run three times a day, each way between Toledo and Tenino. The full ride costs $2.40. A ride between the Tw in Cities costs 75 cents.

Tomorrow, Twia Cities candidates address the issue of public tran- sporatioa. U.S. records balance of trade surplus despite 9.5 per cent jump in oil imports i 7 1 i i i I WASHINGTON (AP) A surge in im ported oil eroded the nation's foreign (rade balance in September, but the United States still managed to record its eighth consecutive monthly surplus, the government said today. At the same time, the government reported that investments by foreigners in the United States are much higher than previously estimated, totaling $106.7 billion in 1974. The report includes government and private investments.

The Commerce Department said the foreign trade surplus forSeptemher was $976.4 million, compared to $1.04 billion in August, fl was Ihe smallest monthly- surplus in five months, largely because of a 9.5 per cent jump in oil imports. Girl Scouts refuse fo return favor by letting boys join their program WASHINGTON' (AP) The Girl Scouts voted today to remain an all- female organization. By a show of hands, 1,800 delegates-to the 40th national convention of the Girl Scouts of America overwhelmingly refused to return a good turn by the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts voted last year to ad- mit girls aged 14 to 21 to their Explorer division. The two groups are not affiliated.

At a session Monday, the delegates plus 2,700 visitors and other guests young, middle-aged and old, but all Girl Scouts discussed whether membership should include boys. By the clapping and cheering for those Sadat talks with Ford WASHINGTON (AP) on a quest for American weapons, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat discussed economics and military aid with President Ford today in tteir second eeting in a a n'y ays A spokesman for Ford described the discussion as smooth, open and friendly. But the spokesman, White House Press Secretary- Ron Nessen, said Ford deeply regrets New York Mayor Abraham D. Beame's refusal to officially welcome Sadat to New York City on Wednesday, when the Egyptian president addresses the United Nations. Ford particularly regrets Beame's refusal because he considers Sadat and his wife to be guests of the President, Nessen said.

The two presidents have agreed to meet again Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla, where Sadat will be a guest in the home cf Raymond Mason, president of the Charter a conglomerate with extensive oil interests in the Middle East. Before meeting with Ford today, Sadat met for half an hour at BUii House with Defense Secretary James R. Schlcsinger. Blair House is government quarters for visiting dignitaries. who opposed the idea, it was doomed from the start.

The delegates were to vole later in the (Jay on whether a mini-scout program should be started for children under six. Those who favor the admission of boys argued that it would attract more girls and increase membership. The Camp Fire Girls offer membership to boys from 14 to 18. And, last year, the Boy Scouts offered membership to girls 14 to 21. "We need coed programs," said Mrs.

Clyde Bridges of Hibbing, Minn. "A merger would interest and retain the older girls and cut expenses." Virginia Fell, a council leader from Harvey, 111., argued for "coequal status" among girls and boys in scouting. "Young men and women must learn to put aside their biological differences," shesaid. The critics of the idea dominated, however, insisting that girls mature faster than boys so grouping them by age would be a problem and that the Girl Scouts should retain their female identity. Over-all, imports rose 2.9 cent during September, while exports advanced 1.9 per cent.

In separate reports the Commerce and Treasury' departments said investments by Middle East oil-producing nations were only a very small part of the total foreign investment in the United Slates. The biggest investors, the reports said, are from the United Kingdom, a a a a a Switzerland, with substantial investment from Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Japan. Direct investments of at least ten per cent of a U.S. company totalled $21.7 billion. Indirect investments were estimated at $85 billion.

Indirect investments, also known as portfolio investments, include stocks, bonds and government securities. Treasury officials said portfolio in- vestmenu of S5 billion were nearly twice previous estimates. They blamed outdated information for the estimate shortfall. The Treasury said foreign portfolio investments in U.S. industry in 1974 totaled $25.6 billion, of which $24.7 billion was held by private holders.

Investments in U.S. government securities by foreigners totaled $21.8 billion, of which $20,8 billion was held by- foreign official agencies, such as government banks. The Commerce Department said foreign direct investment in the United States increased 200 per cent between 1961 and 1974. Morton boy fatally shot MORTON' A 13-year-old Morton youth was fatally wounded in an apparently accidental shooting in a neighbor's home Monday at 5:42 p.m. Terry Shortridge, son of Mrs.

Gladys Shortridge. died instantly from a gunshot wound to the mouth, according to George Blomdahl, Lewis County coroner. O.L. (Lee) Green, Morton police chief, said the tragedy occurred in the Marietta Wright home, a couple of houses away from the Shortridge home on Division Street inold town Morton. Green said the victim and two or three other children were in the upstairs bedroom of the Wright house.

"The victim and another boy were sitting on the bed and a 16-year-old boy was putting in and ejecting shells from a Jever- action rifle. "The boy had his back to the boys on the bed and then turned around and either had the breech of the gun open or was closing it when the rifle discharged, the build striking the victim in the mouth." Green said the boy had asked his older brother, earlier in the day, whether he could use the rifle to go hunting. His brother told him he could but that the last time he used it the spring as weak. "He said he was testing the spring to see if it would eject the shells. He had put three shells in the gun for the second lime when the mishap occurred," Lee said.

The older youth was taken to the Juvenile Services Center, Chehalis, where he will remain pending the completion of the investigation. His mother was taken to Morton General Hospital where she was treated for shock and released. Today in the News Innocent plea entered SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A federal judge entered an innocent plea for Sara Jane Moore today at her arraignment on a grand jury indictment accusing her of trying to kill President Ford. U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Conti also set Dec.

15 for her trial. He took the action despite objections from Mrs. Moore's attorney, public defender James Hewitt, who argued that she should not be a rraigned until the completion of psychiatric tests to determine whether she is mentally competent to stand trial. Franco still lives MADRID, Spain (AP) Pressure increased today on the Spanish government to name Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon chief of state, though Generalissimo Francisco Franco clung to life and was reported in improved condition. A midday medical bulletin said'the 82-year-old Franco's fever had disappeared and his blood pressure was normal.

It said that cardiac rhythm was stable at 80 beats per minute, and signs of congestive cardiac insufficiency had been reduced However, it added: "Intestinal hemorrhaging has not disappeared. Gravity continues." Strike continues CHICAGO (AP) Doctors and interns decided today to continue their strike at the Cook County Hospital despite a court order to return to work, union officials said. "It is the spirit of the court order that we were harming patients," said Dr. Robert Madsen, a member of the House Staff Association's governing council. "Our statement is that we're in the long term helping patients.

In the short range, no patients are being stranded without care." Ford will speak WASHINGTON (APJ President Ford will make what was described as an important speech about New York City's financial problems on Wednesday, the White House said today. Press secretary Ron Nessen said Ford will deliver the address before the National Press Club here. Nessen declined to say whether Ford has changed his position against federal help for New York. Ford will deliver his speech at noon and then will depart in the early afternoon for a two-day Republican fund-raising trip to California, with a stop in Milwaukee on the way home Thursday. Evans angry OLYMPIA, Wash.

(AP) Gov. Dan Evans angrily accused four oil companies with refineries in Puget Sound with foot dragging on a proposed conference on a single tanker unloading point. "I've just about reached the end of my patience with the oil companies," Evans told a news conference Tuesday. "They are going all around the bush, denying a direct gubernatorial request to join in helping find a solution." Oil compensation made CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) The American-owned Exxon Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell accepted today Venezuela's compensation offer for their subsidiaries in the government's nationalization of the country's huge oil industry, government and company spokesmen said.

The two companies are Venezuela's largest oil producers and account for a little over 1.6 million of the country's total 2.4 million barrel-a-day oil production. Position changed WASHINGTON (AP) A leading sociologist who once advocated busing to achieve school desegregation today told Congress that forced busing has had the opposite effect in the nation's large cities. Dr. James S. Coieman of the University of Chicago told the Senate Judiciary Committee that court-ordered busing "raises a spectre of a country- of black cities and white suburbs." Credit tew begins WASHINGTON' (AP) Beginning today, lending institutions will be barred by federal law from refusing credit or loans because of an applicant's sex or marital status.

Under provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a woman cannot be asked whether she plans to have children, and lenders cannot assume from loan applicants' ages that they are likely to become parents. Lenders cannot use discouraging com- mentsordelays in processing of applications as a subtle form of sex or marital discrimination. Nuclear blast felt MERCURY, Nev. (AP) An underground nuclear warhead test shook parts of three states early today, swaying tall buildings in Las Vegas and chandeliers in Fresno, Calif. No damage was reported from the blast, also felt in parts of northwest Arizona, which registered 6.5 on the Richter scale at the University of California Seismographic station at Berkeley, Calif.

People were shaken from their sleep in Ridgecrest, 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles. A spokesman at University of California, Berkeley, reported its telemetry devices felt the blast throughout California. Fighting fierce BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) Moslem and Christian gunmen battled in front of Lebanon's Parliament today, the deputies had to be evacuated by armored cars. The warring private armies also battled around the major hotels downtown as Christians tried to dislodge Moslem snipers from a unfinished office skyscraper. On the inside Candidate speaks George Bright, candidate for Centralia mayor, criticizes the incumbent and talks about economic development.

Page 2. Criminalcode Chehalis attorney takes exception lo some parU of the criminal code, proposed for adoption in the Twin Cities Page 3. Initiative 314 The sponsor of Initiative 314. Rep. Charles Moon, says he is confident the measure will pass.

Page 4. Thesecond of an Associated Press scries looks at the same measure. Page 11. docs not specify the form of government best suited to securing those inalienable rights. It is not a 'democratic' those inalienable rights 'equality' is nowhere mentioned but liberty is -and liberty is thegreat Managers honored Manager of the year honors have been issued by baseball's two leagues.

The identities are revealed on page! Orchids Boxing's "orchid man" is dead. Page Sample ballots are now available for all elections in Lewis County. Page i2. Notdemocratic Ballots available Declaration of SHOWERS Showers with periods of portiol clearing 'onighl. Periods o( rain Wednesday.

Highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s. neor 40. Winds southerly 5 to 15 m.p.h. through Wednesday. Complete weather on page 1 1.