The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1919-01-24

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sen, two Polk county residents, whS
before coming to America were resi-
dents of Russia, were refused natural
ization papers in the circuit court al
Dallas by Judge Harry H. Belt be
cause they were classed as "conscien
tious objectors to war" Both stated
that they did not believe in war and
would not fight for this country.
The towns of Jacksonville, Grants
Pass, Roseburg, Eugene, Albany, Sa.
lem, Oregon City, Astoria, st. Helens,
Hillsboro, McMinnville, Dallas, Cor.
wallis, Tillamook, Toledo, Coquille,
Gold Beach, Medford, Ashland and
Marshfield are to receive German can
non taken as trophies in the late war
by the terms of a bill introduced in
the house by Representative Hawley
While records at the office of the
insurance commissioner do not yet
disclose the effect of the influenza
epidemic upon the insurance societies,
1t is known that they have been hard
hit. Between 80 and 40 fraternal in
surance societies are licensed to op-
crate in Oregon and at the office Of
the commissioner it is said that the
fraternals have been suffering severe
ly.
To discuss the financial end of start
ing force account jobs to give employ
ment to discharged soldiers and sail
ors, the state highway commission
met with the roads and highways
committees of the legislature Monday
Meanwhile, Highway Engineer Her
bert Num- has been instructed to en-
gage about so soldiers and sailors to
work on the Three Rivers road project
at once.
Representative Macarthur has an.
nounced that he has been authorized
by the war department to appoint tNo
cadets to the United States military
academy for the term commencing
June 13, 1919, and that a preliminary
examination will be held in PortlanG
on February for the purpose of Sc
lecting candidates for the final ex-
animation conducted by the academy
on March II.
William F. Turner, president of the
Spokane, Portland & Seattle railway
was appointed receiver for the Pacific
& Eastern railway, a subsidiary cor
poration of the Hill railroads, owning
53 miles of road extending from Med
ford to Butte Falls. The short line
railway was thrown into receivership
on the petition of the Columbia Trust
of New York, trustee for
the eastern bondholders of the com
pany. n
1t is barely possible that final de-
cision on the question of an increase
in rates for the Pacific Telephone G.
Telegraph company may not come
from the public service commission
until late in February, or possibly un-
til after the adjournment of the legis
lature. The telephone company asked
for hearing on Monday, to present
further data, and the commission CON
handing down it's order
few weeks afterward.
Following the arrival in The Dalles
of ]. E. Peck, resident engineer repre-
senting the state highway department,
work was started on
Wasco county's 100000 road program
for 1919. Besides the road from
Mosier to Hood River, the Dufur road
will be paved from The Dalles to
Three Mile creek; the road from The
Dalles to Chenowith will be hard-sur-
faced, and the 11-mile link of the
Columbia river highway from The
Dalles to Seuferts will be paved.
The first train on the Sumpter Val
ley railroad to carry passengers since
the strike was called on January l.
left Baker Friday morning to make
the run through to Prairie City. The
train was manned partly by officials
Of the road and partly by employees,
and was taken out after a two days
session between D. C. Eccles, presi-
lent of the road, and the strikers, in
which the latter were offered their
positions at the old wages, The at
tempt to open up the road for traffic
Is being made by President Eccles,
who is of the opinion-that the govern.
ment does not intend to take any ac-
tion affording the road relief, and also
because appeals are being made by
that the line serves,
stating that the closing of the road Is
causing suffering and distress.
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