The Capital Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 1

Council Ditches ajpital Jl Journ! Truman to Sign Atlantic Pact By Week-end gasoline Taxes, Molor License Fees Increased Senate Approves 6 Cents Gas Tax and $10 License Fee five Cents 61st Year, No. 81 Oregon, Tuesday, April 5, 1949 o-te- KF-ame 'Wfwp-fi -fliMl I F) Tl i Skff Si til i i r- i i Nab $884,660 Bank Defaulter Washington, April 5 VP) Rich ard H. Crowe was seized in Day- tona Beach last night on charges of fleeing with $884,660 from New York's National City bank. Crowe, assistant manager of, the bank's branch at 195 Broadway, was arrested by FBI agents. He had been missing since March 27.

FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover who announced the arrest said Crowe was tracked down after a wide search in Florida. Crowe was taken into custody in a bar after the agents and Daytona Beach police had trailed him from the street. Hoover said Crowe admitted taking a "large sum" of money from the bank but declined to specify any particular amount. Agents recovered $54,798.63 Previously, Hoover said, $36, 505 of the funds had been recov cred and an additional $39,850 had been located.

All told. Hoover added, a to tal of $131,153.63 of the stolen funds have boon accounted for. Crowe told the FBI, Hoover related, that he threw the stolen bonds and securities in the Atlantic ocean and "took these only to make bank officials angry." Planes Given Iran Tehran, Iran, April 5 lP) Seven U.S. air force C-47 trans port planes will be turned over to Iran today in the first delivery of aviation material under the American $10,000,000 arms loan to Iran. a- House Group Rejects Tax Plan Senate Passed By JAMES D.

OLSON Without having senate amend ments to the tax program read, members of the house committee by a vote of 8 to 3 refused to concur with the senate action. But apparently the members didn't mean it for no sooner had that action been taken than discussion arose as to the time when the senate amendments would again be discussed. At the invitation of the house committee Sen. Dean Walker, chairman of the senate taxation committee, and William Daugh- erty, attorney for the same com mittee, came over to the house committee and explained the amendments made to the two house tax bills. Hadn't Read Them As soon as the explanations had been completed Rep.

Giles French moved that the house committee refuse to concur in the senate amendments. Even though the senate amendments were placed on the desk of the house members last Saturday morning, a number of committeemen admitted that they knew nothing about the bills save the explanations made by Walker and Daugherty. "I'll hold the amendments on my desk for a couple of days. announced Ralph T. Moore, chairman, "and if any of you wish to change your minds on the motion you can do so." Someone suggested a night session to consider the amend.

ments but this not meet favor with the majority of the com mittee. Attention was called to a regular Wednesday meeting of the committee and it was finally concluded that the senate amendments would be again tak en up at that session. (Concluded on Page 5. Column 6) Tear Up More County Roads While one county crew is scarifying for replacement about five and a half miles of pave ment between Pratum and North Howell, another has started the same sort of work along stretches on market road 73 between Ger-vais and West Woodburn and market road 65 between West Woodburn and Broadaeres. The former stretch to be torn up and replaced is about three-quarters of a mile long and about a mile of work is to be done on the lat ter.

Still another long stretch to be torn up and replaced is about 3'A miles on the Meridan road between Silverton and Monitor. It is expected a crew will get at this soon. Members of the county court hope, said Commissioner Ed Rogers, that the county will be able to repave all of these stretches of roadway this summer. The pavements were virtually de stroyed by heavy freezing and thawing. In addition to scarifying the old pavements new rock is being put on so 'the road bases will be even better than when originally laid.

Meridian Dam Bids Portland, April 5 VP) Bids for relocating 2.5 miles of Southern Pacific Railroad and 2.5 miles of state highway at the Meridian dam site will be invited Wednesday. The work represents the fifth contract on the project on the Middle Fork of the Willamette river. Bids on another job, involving 2.5 miles of rails and one mile of highway, will be opened April 12. Truman Addresses Foreign Ministers Above, President Truman makes his address at the North Atlantic treaty signing ceremonies, held in Washington, D. C.

In the first row behind President Truman are (left to right): Foreign Ministers Bevin (United Kingdom); Lange (Norway); Been (Luxembourg). On the extreme right is Spaak (Belgium). Below, secretary of State Dean Acheson signs it for the United States. Left to right at the table: Vice President Alben W. Barkley, President Truman, Secretary Acheson, and John Foley, state department treaty adviser.

Left to right in Bevin (England); Lange (Norway); and, 'Been (Luxembourg). (Acme Telephoto) Baldock Street Traffic Plans At Closed Session Substitute Proposal Informally Voted By STEPHEN A. STONE At a closed meeting Monday afternoon the city council gav unanimous approval to a substitute traffic plan for Salem that may be adopted instead of the Baldock plan. But another result may be long delay or a complete job of dynamiting the whole effort to control traffic and relieve Salem of its bottlenecks. Whether the council, in formal meeting, votes what was approved informally Monday, depends on estimates expected in a few days.

These will be turn-, ished by the state highway department at the request of City Manager J. L. Franzcn. May Ditch Program Some aldermen today were guessing the cost would be so high that the plan will not be approved by the highway commission. The council's substitute plan would leave Salem practically without one-way streets.

Location of bridges over the Willamette was not discussed. Relative to bridge locations any action of the city council is not binding on the highway commission. Its position is advisory, and the commission has said it would consider the council's wishes, but since the bridges would be part of the state highway system the commission could locate them wherever it desires. Costs Expected High The council's alternative to one-way streets proposes the widening of North Capitol from Union street to the Underpass, and the widening of Commercial from Pine, in the extreme north end of the city, to the south city limits. Both of these widening projects would be for four-lane traffic.

The cost estimate for Commercial is expected to be high, since acquiring much right of way would be necessary. The plan would include the Pine street route from highway 90E to Commercial, as recommended by City Manager Fran-zen. A two-block extension of the street would be necessary to connect with 99E. The Pine street route would remove the necessily of one-way traffic on Norway and Shipping, as proposed In the original Baldock plan, on Highland and Co lumbia, as proposed in a later proposal, on North Capitol and North Summer, on Court and Chemekela, and on South Com mercial and South Liberty. The only one-way street travel should the bridges be located at Center and Marion, as proposed by Baldock, would be at the approaches to the one-way bridges.

I Concluded on Pane IS, Column 7) Appropriation ill Approved Washington, April 5 W) Programs to combat communism abroad and subversives at ho ma got strong financial support today from the house appropriations committee. In an omnibus $747,216,102 money bill sent to the house for debate late this week, the committee recommended $2,900,000 more for the slate department's "Voice of America" and more for the FBI than the agencies got this year. The voice of America broadcasts are the mainstay of the state department program to acquaint the world including areas behind the Soviet iron eurlain with the facts about America. The FBI is in the midst of an expanded program to track down subversives throughout Ihe nation. The house bill providing funds for both these programs finances the stale, justice and commerce departments and Ihe federal judiciary for the year starting next July 1.

lis total includes in cash and $62,600,000 in contract authority for which future appropriations may he required. This is a cut of in cash and $5,400,000 in contract authority from what President Truman requested. THE WEATHER (Relcfuted by United States Weather Bureau) Foreenst for Salem find Vicinity: Partly cloudy tonight and Wednesday with cooler temperatures. Lowest temperature expected tonight. 36 degrees: highest Wednesday 5ti.

Maximum ypsterday 77. Minimum today 38 Mean temperature yesterday 57 which was 7 above normal. Total 24-hour preripitatlon to 11:30 a.m. .0. Total precipitfltinn for the month, trace which is .43 of an Inch below normal.

Willamette river height at Salem Tuesday mornlnst, 1.8 feet. Enter m) tecond elut matter tt fiilem. Oresc. Salem, Over 50 Killed In Hospital Fire But 60 Escaped Effingham, 111., April 5 (Pi- More than 50 persons, including at least 11 new-born infants, were reported killed today in a fierce fire that destroyed St. Anthony's hospital.

Hospital and firefighting of ficials said the death toll may reach 60. At least 15 bodies were removed. The Red Cross said that at least 60 patients escaped. Arthur Jones of St. Louis, Red Cross disaster director, said the total was reported in a check of nearby homes and hospitals.

The fire was discovered short ly before midnight in a laundry chute. Eyewitnesses said the 60- year-old, three-and-one-half sto ry brick structure quickly became a great mass of flames. Patients Leap Windows "It burned so fast, it couldn be fought," said one rescuer. Many patients leaped from windows. Some died in their flaming rooms as nuns and townspeople tried to save them The bodies of 11 infants, still in their flame-blackened metal cribs on the second floor, were the first to be removed.

Uncounted bodies were strewn in the twisted wreckage of the upper floors. There were about 30 patients on the third floor, nurse said, "And I don't believe any of them got out." Effingham is a community of 8000 in south central Illinois, 100 miles northeast of St. Louis and 200 miles southeast of Chi cago, on the Pennsylvania and Illinois Central railroads. Nuns Die in Rescue Work Hundreds of the city's residents rushed to the aid of the 100 or more patients in the 125-bed hospital. But they were ham pered by falling bricks and rub ble, and the danger of falling walls.

Inside, the Roman Catholic nuns who were on duty braved the flames to lead some patients to safety. Some nuns died in the attempt, and others perished in their rooms, where they were asleep. The hospital is operated by the sisters of the Order of St. Francis. The hospital chaplain, Father Sandon, died in the fire.

His charred body was found in a room next to the hospital chap el. Dr. George Wood, staff phy sician, estimated the number of dead at 56 or 58. Lt. Nelson Page of the Illinois state police said the toll is from 50 to 60.

Chief J. H. Green of the Effing ham police said "There's just no way of telling." Mill City Logger Killed in Forest Slayton, April 5 Joseph Frank Ziebert, 35, of Mill City was killed shortly before 5 o'clock Monday afternoon when he was crushed by a log while engaged in the Freres Frank logging operations a few miles above Mill City. The body is at the Weddle funeral home with announcements later. Ziebert was born in Prelate, Canada, Sept.

4, 1913. He is survived by his widow, Mrs Ruby Ziebert and three child ren, Richard, Robert and Kenneth Ziebert, all of Mill City; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ziebert, Gates; brothers, Tony, of Mill City and John Ziebert, Sublimity, Al and Albert Ziebert, both of Gates; sisters, Rose Harden, Sublimity; Barbara Do ran and Frances Hallam, both of Salem and Mathilda Greule, Sacramento, Calif. cessful escapes, make the prisoner "the end of the world." Since all "vicious" criminals are sent to Alcatraz, he said, it would not be possible to operate vocational courses and industries at other prisons if these prisoners were divided among them It would mean constant watchfulness for serious disciplinary problems, he said.

Bennett also said that if another maximum security institu tions, such as Alcatraz, were to be built elsewhere the cost would be about $7,000,000. Although feelers have been put out to the navy and other government agencies, he said there appears to be no interest on the part of any of them in taking over the island. i imiu. in win hi ma Armed Services Reprimanded Washington, April 5 VP) The house armed forces committee emphatically told the army, navy and air force today to stop their public bickering. It unanimously adopted a res olution saying that "persons in the national military establish ment, on the government payrolls, are endangering the national security through their ef forts to sell the public their own particular views regarding ail power." The committee warned: "If persons in the armed scrv ices, or in their employ, con tinue to pass statements to the press which are calculated to deprecate the activities of sister service and which, at the same time, jeopardize the national security, the commit tee will step in with a full scale investigation.

"We will not tolerate the con tinuance of this practice." Chairman Vinson Ga told reporters the resolution was prompted by two recent "leaks' of information from the Penta gon. One was that the military establishment has picked out 70 cities in the Soviet Union which would be particular bombing targets in event of war. The other concerned effectiveness of the air force'i giant B-36 homo- cr. Ambassador's Eye Seriously Injured Southampton, England, April 5 VP) A fishhook caught In U. S.

Ambassador Lewis Douglas left eye while he was fishing yesterday and caused "a very serious injury." Surgeons removed the hook in an operation last night in the Southampton hospital. A hospital spokesman, de- scribing the injury as very ser- ious, told questioners today "it I is too early to tell" whether he will loss the light of the eyt. Two Other Steps in Prospect to Implement Treaty Washington, April 5 VP) President Truman is expected to send the north Atlantic treaty to the senate before the end of his week with an appeal for speedy approval. This is one of three major steps which officials forecast to day for carrying out the pact that the president acclaimed last night as "a milestone in history." The treaty was signed by 12 western nations in a solemn, fast-moving ceremony yesterday afternoon. How soon the senate might act is uncertain; the issue is controversial and other major leg islation is crying for attention.

American Aid Sought The other two steps in pros pect to implement the treaty are these: 1. Completion of an American arms aid program, costing close to $2,500,000,000. Mr Truman is expected to recommend this to congress early next week. 2. Discussions among the 12 treaty powers on organization of a council and a defense com mittee.

Their assignment would be to unify the defenses of the non-communist western world under the new alliance. (Concluded on Pane 5, Column 7i Acheson Sees Progress Made Washington, April 5 Wl Secretary of State Acheson be lieves "substantial progress" has been made in settling world problems despite differences between Russia and the western powers. He gave that report to the house appropriations committee and coupled it with an optimistic prediction that "further gains are expected." However, assistant secretary Garrison Norton told the com mittee of trouble with commu nists in Cuba and related sonic of the difficulties in dealing with the Soviets. He referred one point to Soviet Foreign Min ister vishinsky as working witli Acheson and Norton tcslifie I early in February during heav-ings on a bill to give the state department money for expenses The committee approved the bill and made public their testimony today. At the time he appeared before the committee, Acheson had just been installed as secretary He reviewed foreign policy in general terms and promised thai this country will continue to lake the lead in efforts to es tablish "peace, freedom and security." Norton's crack at Vishinsky was short.

He told of a United States policy of seeing to it that all countries have free access to seaports and international waterways, like the Danube river through the heart of Europe. That," he said, was one of the arguments we used with Vi shinsky, and that bunch of racketeers who were bulldozing the Riparian (river-bordering) states Into giving up their rights on the Danube. That was exact ly what the Soviets did." Detroit Contract Let Portland, April 5 W) The fermanente Cement company said today it had won the con tract for 1,200,000 barrels of cement for construction of De troit dam. Trucks will begin moving the big order to the dam site next year. The company now is supplying 700,000 barrels of cement for the McNary dam.

with most of the 85,000 daily last Friday. The number of cahs on the streets has been rising steadily and violence has been decreasing. The striking unit ol the United Mine Workers' union seeks wage increases, a closed shop and other benefits for the cab drivers. Employers demand the union show a majority through an election before bargaining may begin. In the aluminum workers' dis pute, the union claims the com pany pays lower salaries in two Alabama plants than in the other factories.

Reynolds Metals stat ed, however, it had offered to wipe out the difference in basic pay scales. Involved in the dispute arc eight plants in Louisville. Ky and plants at Richmond Va. St. Louis, Mo Glcndalc, and Sheffield and Listerhill, Ala.

By PAUL W. HARVEY, JR. The Oregon senate gave overwhelming approval today to house-passed bills increasing gasoline taxes and automobile license fees to let the highway commission begin its huge 15-year $467,000,000 road modernization program. The gasoline tax will be increased from cents a gallon to 6 cents beginning July 1. The $5 automobile license fee will be doubled starting next year.

The vote on the gas tax was 25 to 4, while the license fee increase was approved by 24 to 6. Motor Truck Raise Looms These two bills, plus the house-approved $1,000,000 annu- al increase in motor truck taxes which hasn't been considered yet by the senate, will raise 000 more a year. The state high way commission will get $5,600, 000 of that, while the counties and cities will get $2,400,000. The bills will give the com mission $28,000,000 a year to spend, which will not be enough to complete the new program. The highway commission says it needs $10,000,000 a year includ ing the $5,600,000 it will get from the program approved today.

The increased taxes were recommended by the legislative interim committee on highways, which has conducted investiga tions for the past two years. The legislature probably will contin ue the committee for another two years to figure out the rest of the financing. $7 Millions More for Roads The gas tax boost will raise $4,500,000 more a year, and the registration fee increase more per year. Sen. Ben Musa, The Dalles, opposed the license boost on grounds it hit the poor man just the same as it hits the rich man Sen.

William M. McAllister, Medford, also opposed it because "I don't know what the highway commission's program is, and the commission won't tell us." Sen. Austin Flegel, Portland, accused State Highway Engineer R. H. Baldock of having "arro gance and indifference to public opinion.

The commission public relations are at the lowest ebb in years." McAllister moved to re-refer the license boost to the committee on highways until the high way commission tells what its plans are. But his motion was beaten 25 to 5. $30 Million tor State Colleges The joint legislative ways and means committee today approved a $30,000,000 budget for higher education, and named a subcommittee to draft a finance plan for new buildings for higher education and state institution. The total budget is $200,000 more than the governor recommended, and is $8,000 more than was spent during the current budget period. The budget includes for a new heating plant for the University of Oregon, but that is the only new building provided.

Requests for higher education buildings total $12,000,000, and for state institution buildings total $9,000,000. The subcommittee will try to find a way to finance these buildings. The committee also voted to send to the floor the old age pen sion bill. It recognizes the basis of need at $50 a month, but it does not provide for $50 monthly minimum pensions. The bill is expected to provoke the biggest battle of the session.

The committee also recom mended to give state supreme court justice a salary raise from $8,500 to $9,000 a year. The senate already has voted for $10,000. Two States Voting On Referendums (B the Axsoelated Preu) The question whether a state shall have the right to tax land owned by the federal govern ment is being put to a referendum test today in Wisconsin. Georgia voters, in the only other state-wide balloting in a series of local elections, are dc ciding in another referendum whether they want to pay more taxes to provide $45,000,000 in increased funds for education roads and other state services. In all, more than 500 local and county elections will be heid this year between now and No-f vember.

Only a scattered fev come off today. U.N. General Assembly Opens Stormy Session New York, April 5 VP) Secretary of State Acheson said today it is "the conviction of the American people that the United Nations is our best hope of building a peaceful world community." Acheson's statement was handed to the press as the UN general assembly opened a session which many delegates believe will be a head-on clash between the Epidemic of Strikes in Transit and Metals Plants (By tin Aswwlntrd PreMJ Efforts to settle New York City's two five-day old strikes east and west over the North Atlantic pact. Today's session brought Russia's Andrei A. Gromyko face to face with the signers of the pact, but Gromyko's plans were closely guarded.

Acheson said the UN "embodies the hopes and aspirations to which we dedicate ourselves in the war." He added, "We are determined those purposes shall not be lost, however great are the difficulties to be surmounted." Acheson did not mention the Atlantic pact specifically although he did say: "This country has cooperated with other peace-loving nations in efforts to achieve world economic recovery and assurances against aggression. "We look upon these as the necessary foundation, for the kind of constructive and peace ful cooperation among nations which the founders at San Fran cisco visualized as the real work of the United Nations." Many delegates believe Gromyko may soon give the clue tc what Russia intends to do about the defensive alliance which the Russians say is aimed against them. But the Russians are guarding their plans carefully here. Red Cross Fund To Date $36,062 The Red Cross fund campaign lagged even more Tuesday with only $48 being turned in during the morning to bring the total to date at $36,062 against the quota of $52,000. Monday, the professional division exceeded its quota, being the fourth division in Salem to date to accomplish the feat.

The goal was $1675 for this group and that is the amount tallied in late Monday. Loring Grier and Carl W. Wood led the professional division. Many county reports still are due to be turned in, and several of the Salem divisions still have their quotas to mak. the brewery workers and taxicab drivers took optimistic turns today.

But the full impact of a transit strike al Scranton, made Plan to Abandon Alcatraz Prison Because of Cost Washington, April 5 (U.R) Federal Prison Director James Bennett says abandonment of "The Rock" famous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco bay is being considered. It's costing too much to keep the prisoners there. Due to the necessity of hauling in water and other supplies from the main itself felt on the first work day, riders resorting to autos, trucks and car pools. Thirteen plants employing more than 4000 Reynolds Metals Co workers in five states were being picketed by strikers. The AFL International Council of Aluminum Workers claimed the walkout yesterday was called to protect job security In New York City, "substantial progress" toward settlement was reported in the strike of 7000 workers against 14 major breweries.

The CIO Brewery Workers union struck last Friday for more money and a shorter work week. In the New York taxicab drivers dispute union and management representatives were studying Mayor William O'Dwy-cr's plan to settle the strike. De tails of the plan were not disclos ed. Some 60 arrests have been mad sine tht itrlkt started land, Bennett said, it costs So per prisoner per day at Alcatraz compared to $3 a day at other prisons. There are 228 prisoners at Alcatraz.

Bennett's statements were made while testifying before the house appropriations committee on money needs for fiscal 1950 for the state, justice and commerce departments and the federal judiciary. The most important consideration, he said, is "to what ex tent the 'build-up' and the psychology with which Alcatraz has been clothed over the years is an effective deterrent to crime." Underworld characters, he said, know that the strict dis-siplinc in Alcatraz and the fact that there havt been no suc.