The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 5, 1949, Page 1

i { i THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE VOL. LXXIV., NO. 11,368 T0 CANCEL CHARTERING OF VESSELS Proposal Is Resenfed by Representative Tollef- sontoU.S. M. C. TACOMA, Dec. 5—(P—Rep. Tol- lefson (R-Wash) told the US. Maritime Commission Saturday it would be guilty of a ‘“deliberate flouting of the intent of Congress” if it cancels the policy of charter- ing vessels to private lines. In a letter to the commission, the Tacoma Congressman said he had been informed that such a policy now is being followed by the com- mission. He described it as posing a threat or disaster to Alaska and would put many private operators out of busi- ness. Tollefson said the House Commit- tee on Merchant Marine and Fish- eries had studied”the practice of chartering ships to private lines. It had recommended minor changes in the program, he said, but did not suggest discontinuance of the charter program. The suggested change was merely to eliminate one-trip charters, mak- irng the charter period instead four months for liners and six months in the case of tramp steamers. “The problem is perhaps more critical now than at any previous time because of the strategic position Alaska occupies in the na- tional defense picture,” Tollefson said. “Service to the territory must be maintained and not interrupted.” The charter service has been val- uable to operators in the north inasmuch as it enables them to handle the rush season without in- volving themselves with costly construction of additional ships. SHIRLEY TEMPLE ENDS TURBULENT MARRIAGE TO AGAR LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5—#—Shir- ley Temple divorced John Agar today, testifying that her marriage to the handsome actor was tur- bulent. She accused him of paying too much attention to other women and of drinking too much. Courtroom - spectators gasped when the one-time child star testi- fied that Agar's conduct once forced her to leave their house and consider “driving over a cliff.” She said that when she was five months pregnant Agar brought an- other woman into her bedroom and urged her to go out to a party. Alsg, she dreclared, Agar fre- quently came home “very drunk,” and with lipstick on his face. Miss Temple, 21, and Agar, 28, were married in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sept. 19, 1945, while Agar " was in the Air Force. It was one of movieland’s big romantic events. They have a daughter, Linda Susan, 22 months. The Washington Merry - Go- Round Bv DREW PEARSON Copyright, 1949, by Bell Syndicate, 1Inc.) ‘ASHINGTON—Here is a con- trast between what two groups of Americans_have done to influence their country’s standing abroad. One is the Junior Chamber of Com- merce in Texas. The other is the half-inebriated Senate Appropria- tions Subcommittee traveling through Spain. First, the antics of the Senators. The Subcommittee, headed by Sen. Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma, traveled in a special Air Force plane, including six crew members, two stenographers, three clerks, three wives and a doctor—Dr. Wil- liam E. Lovlace of Albuquerque— to look after the health of New Mexico’s Senator Dennis Chavez. “They call this a junket,” care- fully explained Senator Thomas to newsmen, “but that’s a misnomer. The country’s spending seven bil- lions of the taxpayers’ money, and the taxpayer is entitled to know how the money is being spent. That’s what we're looking after.” But the Senator glossed over the fact that the U.S.A. is spending not one cent of money in Spain. “One of the Senators had a relative in Spain he wanted us to meet,” (Continued on Page Four) “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” JUNEAU, ALASKA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1949 COMPETITION IS |- NOT OPPOSED BY ALASKA STEAM Unwarranted Government Condemned by Zeusler SEATTLE, Dec. 5—(®—An offi- cial of the Alaska Steamship Com- pany said today that the company is not opposed to competition on the Alaska freight run, but con- demned what he called “unwar- ranted government interference in private industry.” Adm. F. A. Zeusler, Executive Assistant to the President, took issue with reports from the In- terior Department on “the need for some competition in steamship lines serving Alaska.” The department’s statement came as a reply to Rep. Hal Holmes (R- Wash) who had inquired why some Alaska shipments had been di- verted from Seattle to Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles ports. The department said that its policy was to ship government sup- plies to Alaska by the method and route which would résult in the lowest cost. If the cost is approxi- mately the same, railroad and other cargo is divided among the com- peting lines available. Zeusler said that the government subsidized carrier rates and the Alaska’s Line’s are the same. “The Alaska Steamship Company is offering complete transporta- tion to Alaska generally,” he said, “and we would welcome competi- tion on that basis or any other fair basis.” “But when by tonnage guarantees, the government. induces a carrier tc' come in and serve exclusively ! the two major revenue ports of the Alaska trade to the detriment of the rest of the territory—that we consider unfair competition and unwarranted government interfer- ence into private industry.” Zeusler said that the government | cargoes should be distrituted on the basis of total number of voy- | | Interference, However, | Fenster Has Broken Nedk, X-RayReveals Mt. Edgecdn?t;; Doctor Car- ing for Plane Crash Pilot ~Operation NotNeeded Mike Fenster, 28-year-old well- known Juneau pilot of the Grum- man flying boat which crashed near Wrangell Friday with loss of cne life, was found to have suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck, it was revealed today. Fenster was Alaska Coastal Airlines co-manager Sheldon Simmons Saturday after- noon, apparently suffering only from slight cuts and bruises and some shock. Later, after treatment, he seemed completely on the mend, other thar complaining of a sore neck. Com- pany officials asked that an X-ray be taken, which showed the fifth vertebrae fractured. Placed in St. Ann’s Hospital, a plane was sent{ immediately for Dr. Phillip Moore, orthopedic surgeon at Mt. Edge- cumbe Hospital, but was unatle to return until this morning. Dr. Moore advised the company this afternoon that he Lelieved an operation would not bLe necessary, but that the injured vertebrae would heal with time and hospital care. The pilot is at present under “traction” with a 30-pound weight attached to his head. The body of Miss Margaret Ada ] Annis, 42 years old, was shipped to Seattle on board the Baranof to her family home in Puyallup, Wash. The body was brought here aboard the same plane which car- ried Fenster. OTHERS INJURED David Dreibelbus, Juneau adding machine agent, among those hos- pitalized in Wrangcll after Teing rescued from a trapper's cabin a mile from the crash scene, was { ages made to the territory. He said | found to have a compressed ver- | 2K | thal lreport from Jan. 1, | t according to a government : tebrae in his back, according to ad- 1949 through | vices reaching Simmons from O. F. Sept. 30, the Alaska Steamship Benecke, ACA general office man- the “Despite “this differential,” Zeus- ter stated, “that line received prac- tically the same government ton- | nage as we—out of all proportion to the service rendered Alaska.” e e 0 0 0 v o> WEATHER REPORT (This data 1s for 24-hour pe- riod ending 7:30 a.m. PST.) In Juneau—Maximum 42; minimum 32. At Airport—Maximum 32; minmum 28. FORECAST (Junean and Vieinity) Mostly cloudy with ‘occas- ional light' snow and rajn tonight and Tuesday. Gusty northeasterly winds Tuesday. Lowest temperature tonight near freézing. Highest Tues- day about 36. PRECIPITATION (Past 24 nours ending 7:30 a.m. today City of Juneau—Trace; since Dec. 1—172 inches; since July 1—48.83 inches. At Airport—Trace; since Dec. 1—36 inches; since July 1—33.48 inches. e o o & 0 o 0 o o GLENN HIGHWAY JOB GOES TO PORTLAND FIRM; BID $1,223,057 Contract for reconstruction and repair of 44.35 miles of Glenn High- way was awarded to' Rogers Con- struction Company and Babler Brothers of Portland by the Alaska Road Commission today. The firm’s Lid was for $1,223,057. Six bids were submitted. 8. Birch end Morrison and Knutson of Seattle were second lowest bidder. Their bid was $1,565982 for the job. Only Alaska construction firm to bid was Stock and Grove of An- chorage, who were second highest bidder. Reconstruction and repair work on Glenn Highway will be between Palmer and Glenallen — mileage posts 102 and 146.35—Alaska Road Commission spokesmen said today. STEAMER MOVEMENTS Denali from Seattle due some- time tomorrow aftergoon. Princess Norah from Vancouver due tomorrow afternoon or eve- ning. 4 Baranof scheduled to sail from ‘Seunle Saturday. 1 00000 e®e00csc000000000 00 ‘rival might be delayed, company | line made 91 voyages to Alaska and | ager, who was on the scene shortly tonnage subsidized line only 19. after the wreck. He accompanied three passengers into Wrangell on Loard the boat Totem. Others in the Wrangell hospital are: A. “Zeke” Dale, of Hood Bay, who sustained two broken legs, and Harry Dierks of Wrangell, cuts and bruises. . June Otness, only other woman passenger on board, was taken to Petersburg, her home, by a Coast Guard cutter. Benecke said a thor- ough examination failed to show serious . injuries, although it was not known if X-rays were taken. Dreibelbus also was treated for a sprained wrist and a cut over one eye. Fenster was taking the Peters- burg-Wrangell-Ketchikan run when the accident occurred. A short dis- tance from Petersturg, a sudden snowstorm came up, and Fenster decided to “sit down” until it abated. As he lost altitude, he realized he was above the mud and grass of Knig Slough on the Stikine Flats, but because of the blinding snow could not do other than at- tempt to glide into the mud. The plane came to an abrupt stop when it touched, causing loss of its left wing and engine. Despite his injuries, Fenster turned off the master switch and aided all passengers to the ground, and struggled through the ankle- deep mud a mile to a trapper’s cabin for aid. He returned with the trapper to help, until all were safe in the shelter. A river boat rescued them at high tide next day. Benecke was expected here about 3 o'clock this afternoon, but weather was uncertain, and his ar- officials said. Fenster is married and has a young son. MRS. GUNDERSEN FILES FOR HOUSE KETCHIKAN — Stating that “I feel that I would like to return to the House to rectify a few thipgs and complete a few things which | were started and not finished,” Amelia Gundersen of Ketchikan to- day announced that she had filed her candidacy on the Democratic ticket for re-election to a seat in the House of the Territorial Legislature, | Mrs, Gundersen is just complet- ing a term in the House. unt.l April of next year, brought here by TOP COURT DECISIONS REVEALED Upholds "Right to Wor Martial Case of Murder WASHINGTON, Dec. 5—(#—The Supreme” Court today upheld am Arkansas “right to work” law which makes it a crime to use force or ithreats to keep a worker from any ! lawful job. In another decision, the tribunal ruled 6-2 that the old Wagner Act permitted the firing of work- ers who tried—despite a closed shop contract—to have their union | replaced by a rival labor organiza- tion. The Taft-Hartley Act flatly bans such discharges. In other actions today the court: 1. Agreed to rule on the po of American Civil Courts to over- turn court martial convictions. The tribunal will review a decision by |the U. S. Circuit Court at New lOrleans that Eugene Preston Brown, lan American Soldier convicted . of murder by an Army Court in Ger- many, should be freef. | 2 Refused to rule until State courts have considered further the Law - Will Review Court MEMBER A SSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS Pt 'FASTEST' PLANE CONQUERS SONiIC BARRIER ROARING THROUGH SKIES IN TEST FLIGHT, Navy’s Douglas Skyrocket passes sonic barier, NO 'GREAT CASE WITNESS Burley Henry Schrimpf Gives Further Testimony in Bridges' Case SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5—(P— HATRED,’ SAYS ! gpeeding in neighborhood of 800 miles per hour over Muroc Dry Lake, Cal. Pllot} Eug! " says world’s fastest plane repeatedly exceeds speed of sound, 760 m.p.h(International Soundphoto) ene F. May TRUMAN'S HOLIDAY GARB CANAL MAPS IN SHIPMENTS T0 RUSSIANS Investigators Hear Lend- Lease Story from G. Racey Jordan By DOUGLAS B. CORNELL cohstitutionality of a Los Angeles|Big, burley Henry Schrimpf said to- anti-Communist program intended day he had had many hot words ito determine the loyalty of coumy|wnh Harry Bridges but he denied employees. A group of 26 county having a “great hatred” for him. employees challenged legality of the Schrimpf, a native of Australia program which requires them to!but now a United States citizen WASHINGTON, Dec. 5—(P—G. Racey Jordan testified *today that two suitcases of Panama Canal maps as well as atomic materials were among the mysterious war- ! time shipments that went to Rus- swear to loyalty oaths. i 3. Refused to-consider a govern- | ment complaint that Federal JudgoI {Ben H. Rice, Jr., of San Antonio, Tex., had shown “an abuse of judi- ‘cial power” in his handling of an janti-trust case. 4. Agreed to review a Kansas Supreme Court decision denyingj citizenship to a conscientious objec- tor, rman-born - Martin Ludwig Cohnstaedt, who told a naturaliza- ition examiner in 1947: “I cannot contribute anything to be used solely and directly in fur- !therance of armed conflict.” | 5. Agreed to hear arguments in two suits brought by the Federal government in an effort to get pos- ‘sesslon of oil-bearing tidelands off | the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. The tribunal refused a Louisiana plea for a rare jury trial before the Supreme Court. Work Will Be ' Speeded On Alaska Radar! WASHINGTON, Dec. 5—(®—The Air Force said today it has can- celled or cut other projects in order to provide $50,000,000 to speed | work on the U.S.-Alaskan radar warning system. l | Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Chief | of Staff, made the announcement. He did not disclose what other ap- proved projects had been eliminated or curtailed. Air Force officials said Congress authorized an overall expenditure of $85,500,000 for construction of | the defense network. But, they satd. the lawmakers stipulated that funds for the first phase must be di- verted from money already appro- priated for other Air Force activi- ties. Congress also provided that ex- penditures on the radar system should not exceed $50,000,000 dur- ing the fiscal year ending next June 30. Under present plans, the Air Force announcement said $18,800,000 is being used for construction in the United States while the re- maining $31,200,000 is being devoted to Alaskan stations in an aircraft control and warning network, “Sites which comprise the et have in most cases already been surveyed and selected koth in the United States and Alaska,” the an- nouncement said. “Rights of entry, property leases and construction plans have been completed on most of the installations. “With the funds announced to- Cay, the necessary construction to permit installation of the latest type of early warning and control electronic equipment con now move forward.” The radar net is designed to de- tect enemy aircraft approaching the United States from the Arctic vorthwest. Canada will cooperate by establishing a similar system : within its borders, The network is to include some ship radar sta- Primary election will not be held!tions but the system is to be con- | Ralph, trolled by the Air Force. | ) and a longshore walking boss, was ]under cross examination at Bridges’ | perjury and conspiracy trial. “As long ago as. 1937 did you harbor a great hatred against Har- ry Bridges?” asked James MacIn- nis of defense counsel. way,” Schrimpf retorted. “I fought himy on many occasions on policy. Solktinies we came to words.” tional Longshoremen’s and Ware- aides, Henry Schmidt and J. R. Robertson, are on trial—Bridges for perjury and conspiracy, the others for conspiracy only. The government charged that Bridges lied, and the others abetted the deceit, when he said at his 1945 naturalization hearing that he never. had been a member of the Communist Party. Schrimpf has testified that Bridg- es took an active part in Communist Party councils during the 1934 wa- terfront strike here. MacInnis pursued his examination of Schrimpf’s feelings toward the defendants. “Did you not assault Henry Schmidt on one occasion with your fists?” he asked. i “I protected myself from Schmidt frem an insult,” Schrimpf said. Coal Miners Back jl Work PITTSBURGH, Dec. 5—(®—The nation’s soft coal mines were back in business today after one of the briefest strikes in that industry’s history. The 480,000 United Mine Workers —Already hard hit financially by three previous 1949 walkouts— promptly began to fill the mines at 12:01 am. (EST) under a new three-day week schedule ordered by their union chief, John L. Lewis. The big 7 am., shifts reported in strength in western Pennsylvan- ia’s rich bituminous regions. ‘There were no reports of a con- tinuation of last week’s overnight strike. CHOIR DIRECTOR FALTERS, DROPS DEAD AT SERVICE SEATTLE, Dec. 5—\®—The choir director of the Brighton Presby- terian. Church through a Christmas carol yester- day and then collapsed and died as! the congregation prayed for him. ‘He was Roy E. Bissett, 54, direc- tor of the choir for the past 10 vears. Members of his family said “I never expressed myself that | yr hithor ¥ ¢ Bridges, President of the Interna-} housemen’s Union, and two of his | | i President Truman, vacationing at the Key West, Fla, Naval Base, wears a jaunty cap, a sporty shirt { and carries a cane as he strolls i in the brilliant sunshine on the station’s grounds. (® Wirephoto. IMAY JAILED FORBRIBERY, CONSPIRACY ASHLAND, Ky, Dec. 5—(P—An- drew J. May, complaining of his heart and protesting his inno- cence to the last moment, became ia Federal prisoner for wartime bribery and conspiracy today. The 74-year-old former chairman of the powerful House Military Af- fairs Committee succeeded in slip- ping—without fanfare—into the government correctional institution near here before daylight with the help of his personal friend, John M. Moore of Lexington, U. S. Mar- shal for eastern Kentucky. May and the Garsson Brothers, Henry and Murray, operators of a wartime munitions combine, were convicted July 3, 1947, for using for profit May's considerable influ- ence as committee chairman, The former Congressman, him- self, was accused of accepting more than $50,000 in bribes for getting War Department favors for the Garssons. Moore had denied to newsmen last night that he had received any commitment order for the ex- Congressman. May's final appeal to escape sery- ing the eight to 24 month sentence ifaposed on him after his convict- ion two years ago, had been based on a claim of poor health, and his age. | | ! STOCK QUOTATIONS NEW YORK, Dec. 5—Closing quo- tation of Alaska Juneau mine stock teday is 3%, American Can 100, International Harvester 27%, Ken- necott 10%, Northern Pacific 14Y%, Steel 25%, Pound $2.80. U. 8. | Sales today were 1,820,000 shnres.! 1 Averages today are as follows: || gressional sia in lend-lease planes. In a public hearing, the former Air Force Major repeated to Con- investigators the story he told oh the radio last week: That he found some “Oak Ridge” material in a suitcase bound for Russia and also a White House note signed “H.H.” saying “had a hell of a time getting these away from .| Groves.” And that the late Harry Hopkins, adviser to President Roosevelt, tele- phoned him hurry-up orders to ex- pedite the Russian shipments, mov- ling by air from Great Falls, Mont., where Jordan was stationed. « Jordan testified from notes he raid he made in 1943 and 1944. One note said: “Panama Canal Com- mission maps.” Jordan said there were a “couple of suitcases” of * them, Jordan was before the House Un- American Activities Committee for expansion of the story he told last week on the radio. Jordan said he examined the suitcase sometime during the winter of ,1043-44. The note signed “H.H,” he said, was on White House stationery and he said he thinks it was addressed to'a Mr. Mikoyen, whom he was told was “one of two or three ot the most important men in Russia.” Oakridge, Tenn., was a major point at which the atomic bomb was developed. The head of the, atomic project was Gen. Leslie Groves. At the same time he was open- ing Russian suitcases, Jordan said, he was stationed at an airfield at Great Falls, Mont., from which lend-lease planes were ferried to Russla by way of Alaska. ‘Before putting Jordan on the stand, the committee got from its own senior investigator, Louis J. Russell, testimony that the group bas evidence of three shipments of atomic materials to Russia in 1943 Russell said he had no informa- tion that Hopkins was connected with them in any way. ANCHORAGE MILK NEED T0 BE MET BY FLYING COWS SEATTLE, Dec. 5—(®—Land hungry veterans of World War II are sparking another Matanuska Valley land rush. The fertile valley west of An- chorage, Alaska, which achieved prominance when it was settled by middle-west farmers 14 years ago, is unable to meet the demand from Anchorage and Fort Richardson | faltered midway | Anaconda 28%, Curtiss-Wright 71, for milk, two officials of the Mata- !nuskn Valley Farmers’ Cooperative 51%, New York Central| reported here. The pair, Virgil Eckert and Merle i Anderson, flew to Seattle to pur- chase 60 head of dairy cattle for i gssociation members. Anderson also he had been suffering from a heart | industrials 194.74, rails 50.70, util- irtends to purchase 10 head for oilment for some time. A former resident of Snohomish, Wash., he had lived here since 1906. Among the survivors is a son, stationed at Alaska, with the Army. {ities 39.56. i The average number of-cars in U.S. freight trains has increased ! 545, his own herd. The animals will be flown to Anchorage for trucking to Palmer. It will cost between $150 and $175 Anchorage, ! fairly steadily from 344 in 1918 to|to fly each cow north, with each plane carrying about 12 cattle. ATOMS WENT T0 RUSS '43, SAYS RUSSELL Hopkins Nol—lavolved, He Says — Won't Bare Sec- ond Name Involved WASHINGTON, Dec. 5—(P—Sen- jor investigator Louis J. Russell said today the House un-American Act- ivities Committee has evidence of three shipments of atom bomb ma- terials to Russia in 1043. He sald he had no information that the late Harry L. Hopkins was connect- ed with them in any way. Russell was a witness before the committee on whose staff he serves. He said that zormer Air Force Officer G. Racey Jordan, who has sald Hopkins was Instrumental in shipping atom bomb ingredients to the Russians, will appear before the committee this afternoon. The information on three ship- ments of A-bomb materials was not new, A former member of the com- mittee, John McDowell, Pennsy!- vania Republican, told the House and reporters about it last year, Committee Counsel Frank Tav- enner said to Russell: “I would like to ask you whether in the course of your investigation any information came to your at- tention that the late Harry Hop- kins was involved in any way?” Another Involved “To the best of knowledge,” Rus- sell sald, “his name was never brought up. But another name was brought up and I would rather bring his name up in executive Session.” i McDowell had sald two high ad- ' ministration officials were connect- ed with shipments. Earlier Jordan sald in a’ radio interview Friday night that big loads of. what.a Russian Colonel called uranjum afid’ were flown to Russia - hurry-up instructions telephon: Jordan by the late Harry Hopkins. b d [ 5 oo w3 ¢ i t Hopkins was @ right hand mgn ‘to . . President Roosevelt. The question- for the House com- mittee was whether to allow its Senior Investigator, Louis J. Rus- sell, to unfold in public the infor- mation the committee has dug up. Present for the meeting today were Chairman Wood (D-Ga) and Reps. Walter (D-Pa), Moulder (D- Mo) and Harrison (D-Va). More than a year ago, John Mc- Dowell of Pennsylvania, then a member of the committee, said the group had evidence that atom bomb material had been shipped to the Russians by way of Great Falls, Mont,, and the Alaskan route. No Hearings McDowell said two prominent ad- ministratfon officlals were involved and that the names would come out in public hearings. The hear- ings never took place. McDowell was defeated in the last election. He was a Republican. Jordan was stationed at Great |Falls as a liatson officer between U.S. and Russian officers at the time he says atomic materials were handled through that base. Suit- cases full of secret government doc- uments, some dealing with the atomic profect, also were loaded laboard Russia-bound planes at Great Falls, Jordan said. He added that he had reported these activties to the then air in- spector general. This official, Maj. Gen. Junius W. Jonees, n on/ duty near Sacramento, Calif., said he knows nothing about such a re- port, does not recall Jordan, and (Continued on Page 2) Denali Purser May Go Daffy and Here Is Good Reason SEATTLE, Dec.. 5—®—If the purser aboard the Alaska Steam- ship Denali goes daft at his books this trip—blame the Murphys. ‘The ship sailed Saturday for Ketchikan with five Murphys aboard. They're all from Ketchikan and all named PFrancis, or Frances. De- pending on the sex, of course. There's Francis Murphy, Sr., his son PFrancis Murphy, Jr.; Francis, Jr's wife, Frances, and their two children, Francis IIT, 13, and Fran- ces, 2, Murphy admitted it probably would be quite confusing to any- body—except another Murphy. The elder Murphy is called Frank. His son is known as Spike. Spike’s wife is called Fran. They call their young koy Sonny and the young daughter Kas,