The Capital Journal from Salem, Oregon • 1

Salem police chief takes Colorado position By DAN BERNSTEIN Capital Journal Writer Salem Police Chief Ben Meyers will resign Dec. 31 to become chief of police in Grand Junction, Colo. City Manager Robert Moore said Meyers, 43, informed him of the resignation this morning. Moore hunted the city would conduct a nation-wide search for a new chief. "The job will be open to applicants from all over the country," he said.

Moore said Meyers' resignation was "not unexpected," adding, "he thinks he's leaving the department in good shape and I'd agree with that." Meyers, who came here in 1967, cited the new challenge and the climate as the two main reasons he accepted the Grand Junction job. "This department right now is probably the finest in the Northwest. It has ceased to be a challenge' here because it runs so well. It's not a challenge for a progressive police chief like me. "It (Grand Junction) is an area where I prefer to live.

My three choices were Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. And I finished third for the Albuquerque (New Mex.) job. I'm basically a desert-rat." Meyers said he began looking for a job early this year when the Salem Civil Service Commission rejected his bid to demote Captain Walter Esplin to lieutenant. He noted that the Grand Junction police force does not have civil service. Meyers, who makes $21,000 a year, will take a base salary cut to $16,000.

But certain fringe benefits including a paid life insurance policy, exemption from social security payments, and vacation and sick leave benefits partially offset the cut. Meyers says the new chief should come from. outside the department, apparently ruling out a recommendation that Maj. Everett Van Osdol (now second in command) step up to the job. "I've always been committed to an outside search because I don't feel a man who has grown up.

in a police department can be effective. He has made certain compromises, and has his biases about people. A new man will give everyone a clean bill of health." The new chief, said Meyers, should be "strong enough to withstand the extreme political pressures that are brought to bear on a police chief in this area." Specifically, Meyers said a new chief should be prepared to deal with a statewide system of law enforcement, compete for federal funds, and "deal in the political arena of the city where the council members are pretty well split between progressivism and provincialism." Meyers said the city should have confidence in the man who finally is chosen. "I hope the council and the mayor won't sit back and second-guess the (city) manager and the chief when thev (manaeer and suppest inno- "OO vations to combat the crime situation." Meyers added that the new chief should be committed vto a consolidation effort. "The Marion County sheriff's department and the police department should beconsolidated into a metropolitan police force." "Don't get me wrong," he said.

"I like this t-i 11 1 community, ineyve paia me wen, ana 1 ve tried to serve them well. I just never liked the climate." olbrook stay in -mm i 1 1 i a realty chief KJA Oregon, Monday, December 10, 1973 Goth Year No, 293 it Salem, t. By LARRY ROBY Capital Journal Writer M. Jeffery Holbrook is going to stay on as Oregon's real estate commissioner. The announcement was made today by Gov.

Tom McCall after he, Holbrook and Commerce Director Hillman Lueddemann met in the governor's office. The governor refused to accept Holbrook's resignation which was presented last week while the chief executive was vacationing in Hawaii. Holbrook quit last Tuesday after spending only three months in the job. He said he resigned because the state Emergency Board refused to provide adequate funds to enforce the Land Development and Protection Act. The 1973 legislature passed the law with funding to be made by the Emergency Board.

At last month's Emergency Board meeting, Holbrook was refused nearly $600,000 to finance the law which goes into effect Jan. 7. Some of the Emergency Board legislators Court may define obscenity decision said they were surprised by Holbrook's request since they supported the bill with the idea it would not require more money for staff. Holbrook insisted he can't enforce the law on a shoestring budget and asked for "ample" funds to enforce it. The Land Development and Protection Act was designed primarily to control land developments and promotion plans.

Real estate commissioners from throughout the state and members of Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), often considered to be at opposite ends of the. real estate spectrum, requested that Holbrook remain in his job. The Emergency Board subcommittee that refused to give the money for the act is meeting next week. Attempts apparently will be made to come up with a compromise budget for administering the new law. See picture Page 20 Writing for the majority in the June decisions, however, Chief Justice Warren Burger said that only "hard-core pornography" would be subject to criminal sanctions under the decision.

JCIIMIIO IdWJClS UlgUCU II let I. LUC VJCUIgld obscenity law equates any portrayal of sex in motion pictures as obscenity. They said the state law absolutely prohibits i i i i me snowing oi movies inai cuiuain poiirayai ui any of the acts which are prohibited by Georgia's Dublic indecencv law. i nus, nis lawyers conunuea, me ia manes no distinction between ideas and communication protected by the First Amendment and commercial exploitation of obscenity. The Supreme Court has not yet confronted an instance where so-called indecent exposure laws have been applied to films.

But, Jenkins' lawyers said, its past decisions make clear that such an application is not permissible. The Georgia Supreme Court split 4 to 3 in hold ing "Carnal Knowledge" obscene. Insurance cuts seen a 43 Fages (4 Sections) Price 10 Cents it's done tapes ski by Sirica involved presidential meetings on March 13 and 22, 1973. Sirica also said that technical experts who have been studying the 1814-minute gap in one of the subpoenaed tapes asked for the tape back during the weekend. They had examined it at a laboratory in New York City and then returned it a week ago to the judge.

Sirica said he hopes to have their report eby the end of the week. Great weekend to learn how the mountain as ski school director Bill Hilfiker conducted a clinic for the instructors. (Capital Journal Photo by Gerry Lewin) The Salem Jaycees' ski school will get under way at Mt. Hood in January, but the instructors already are hard at work brushing upon their techniques. Sunday was an ideal day at White House turns over WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court indicated today that it may be ready to refine its sweeping decisions of last June that cracked down on what the court called "hard-core pornography." The court agreed in a routine order to hear arguments in an obscenity case from Georgia in which the critically praised, R-rated movie "Carnal was ruled obscene.

Among questions raised by the Georgia appeal is one which has been voiced generally around the nation since last June's obscenity decision: Whether standards used to judge obscenity should be those of the state or of individual communities. The case will be argued later this term with a decision expected by June. The case brought to the Supreme Court by Billy Jenkins, an Albany, movie theater operator who was arrested in February 1972 after the Dougherty County sheriff's office seized the film "Carnal Knowledge" at his Broad Avenue Cinema. Jenkins was fined $750 and given 12 months probation for the offense. His lawyers claimed that the Georgia laws used to convict him of obscenity were unconstitutional on their face and that he was denied due process of law at his trial.

In its 5 to 4 obscenity decisions last June the Supreme Court swept aside the previous requirement that obscenity be judged on a national standard. The court also strengthened the hand of prosecutors by easing their burden in demonstrating obscenity. Before last June they had to prove that a work had no redeeming social value. They must now demonstrate only that it is not a serious work. ed to blockade an Interstate 5 interchange near Tigard Friday.

Three trucks blocked the interchange. State police told all three drivers to move or face arrest. Two moved off the interchange. One did not. He was arrested and his truck was towed away.

Schmidt said representatives of the state's independent truckers, the Oregon Trucking Association and truck stop operators will meet with McCall Wednesday to discuss the situation. Schmidt said the independent truckers are asking for increased weight limits to allow them to parry more freight per trip and relief from increasing diesel fuel costs and the diesel fuel shortage. Schmidt also said the independent truckers are opposed to the state's 55 mile per hour speed limit. No spring thicken Mostly cloudy with periods of rain tonight and Tuesday. Low tonight near 40, high Tuesday near 50.

Chance of measurable precipitation 40 per cent tonight, 70 per cent Tuesday. Sunset today sunrise tomorrow 7:40. Maximum yesterday 44; minimum today 35. Total 24-hour precipitation for month 1.45; normal 2.33. Seasonal precipitation 22J7; normal 1X33; report by National Weather Service.

hard blockades Oregon pursues line against Special prosecutor Leon Jaworski declined to say which conversations had been received from the White House in its weekend delivery. "We have asked for these and we have insisted that they be delivered to us and they were delivered," he said. Jaworski added that there were "'still some outstanding requests for tapes from the White House." Jaworski's office also said substantial number of documents requested by the special prosecutor were also delivered and assurances have been given by White House counsel that searches are now in progress for other documents for which requests are outstanding." Asked to specify the materials provided Jaworski's office, Deputy White House Press Secretary Gerald L. Warren said he would "prefer to maintain the confidentiality" of dealings with the prosecutor. The two conversations turned over to Jawor- Three hunters shot to death A 40-year-old Dallas man was one of three hunters shot to death in Oregon over the weekend.

John R. Abel, 918 Hayter was shot and killed in the Tanglewood area two miles west of Dallas Sunday morning. Abel was on a special deer hunt with his son and father at the time, about 8:30 a.m. Polk County sheriff's deputies said the hunter who fired the shot fled the scene, but they have a good description of the man. The deputies still are investigating.

A 19-year-old Hillsboro youth is being held in the Yamhill County jail on a charge of negligent homicide in connection with the Saturday death of 11-year-old Dale Oakley Smith Forest Grove. Robert Keith Ornduff was arrested later in the day in the Cherry Grove area of north Yamhill County where the Smith boy was killed by a rifle shot about 7 a.m. In another hunting incident, Joseph South-wick, 16, Pendleton, died Saturday while duck hunting near Pendleton. State police said he apparently was killed by a shotgun blast from a companion's WASHINGTON (AP) The special Watergate prosecutor's office said today the White House turned over "a significant number" of presidential tapes on Saturday. And two of the subpoenaed White House Watergate tapes were given today to the prosecutor's office by U.S.

District Judge John-. Sirica. The developments marked the first time the prosecutor's office has received any White House tapes. Brooks man traffic victim A 65-year-old Brooks man was one of three Oregonians who died in weekend traffic accidents as the state's traffic toll reached 600 for the year. Cecil Albert Claiborne, 8491 75th Ave.

NE, died Sunday at 4:40 a.m., nearly three hours after his car ran off Oregon 214 just east of Woodburn. State police said there were no passengers in -the Claiborne car and that the driver was not wearing seat belts. A 38-year-old Corvallis woman died and four other persons were injured in a two-car collision on Oregon 99W about five miles south of Monmouth. Dead is Jean Tucker Patton. Polk County sheriff's deputies said Mrs.

Patton died at the scene of the 8:45 wreck near Helmick Park. They said she was a passenger in a car driven by Connie Sue -Barber, 20, also of Corvallis. Miss Barber is in critical condition today at Salem Hospital with head injuries. Two of Mrs. Patton's children, Brady, 10, and Crystal, 13, were hospitalized at Good Samaritan Hospital, Corvallis.

Brady is listed in good condition today and Crystal is satisfactory. Deputies said the driver of the other car was Earl Alfred Land, 68, of 340 Craven Monmouth. He was not hospitalized but his wife and passenger, Calla Donna Land, 68, remained in serious condition at Salem Hospital with ankle, hand and jaw fractures. In another accident Minnie A. Chiles, 70, Milwaukie, died Saturday night after being struck by a car as she and her husband were crossing Oregon 224 near Milwaukie.

State Insurance Commissioner Lester Rawls said today he expects automobile insurance companies will be able to reduce their rates if the number of accidents continues to decline as a result of lower driving speeds. Rawls said, however, he could not predict when rate reductions might come about. State Treasurer James Redden sent a letter to Rawls today suggesting that the insurance companies should "go back to the planning boards" on rates because of the imposition of lower speeds. Rawls said his office has been looking at the rate situation ever since Gov. Tom McCall asked for voluntary speed reductions in August.

President Nixon also called for reduced driving speeds to conserve gasoline and the official maximum speed in Oregon is now 55 miles per hour, down from the previous 65-to-70 mph. The reduced speeds have apparently been a major factor in the declining number of accidents. The state Motor Vehicles Division reported that the traffic death toll for the year is 607, compared with 712 at this time last year. The December toll of 10 is less than half the December, 1972, death toll of 21. Rawls said there is no question that the reduced speeds are bringing about a drop in the accident rate and, in turn, should bring down insurance rates.

"The problem is timing," he said. The insurance companies can not cut the rates until they have had experience with the new accident rates, Rawls said. "I think the companies are aware they are going to be expected to respond in an affirmative way," Rawls said. Inside Today Abby 7 Capital Life 6-8 Classified 34-39 Comics 33 Editorials 4-5 Horoscope 8 Markets 32 Movies. 12 Obituaries 13, 16 Regional News 20 Sports 23-27, 29-31 Television 33 Weather Details 28 By United Press International Oregon is pursuing a hard line against attempts by truckers to blockade highway interchanges in protest of rising diesel fuel costs, lowered speed limits and fuel shortages.

"Ronald Schmidt, assistant to Gov. Tom McCall, said today the state "Will not stand for blockading of our highways." Only two minor attempts to block truck stops were reported at Portland today despite threats during the weekend that truckers would block all major truck stops in the metropolitan area, this morning. Fred Jubitz, manager of the Jubitz Truck Stop on North Vancouver Avenue said one truck blocked that station "for not more than five early this morning. He said the driver left voluntarily and police were not callfd. At Barbur Boulevard truck stop in southwest Portland, two cars appeared with protest, signs early today.

"Police followed them in and they left," said manager Bud Tgurlow. He said the cars remained parked outside the station more than an hour and a quarter later. No truck stops were blocked elsewhere in the state. Managers of all truck stops indicated truck traffic was near normal today despite threats of slowdowns and stoppages. Schmidt said truckers who attempt to blockade interchanges can expect the same treatment state police dealt to three truckers who attempt-.