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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1903)
10 ' THE MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1903. I0GING FOR TRUTH Federal Grand Jury Begins inqiiiry into Frauds. - UNO CASES MOST IMPORTANT ktter Disposing: of Check-Raining; and Postal Fraud Charges, It Will Talrc Up Timber Land Cases and Find Jolin Doe's Same, The Federal grand .jury summoned to in vestigate the alleged land and pension frauds and other crimes against the peace and dignity of the Government assembled yesterday afternoon in the United States courtroom and, after being duly sworn, commenced the work that Is before It The jury evidenced the fact that it means "business and will not brook delay by hear ing two cases yesterday afternoon. Others of minor importance will be Investigated today, and some reports are looked for by "Wednesday morning. The Important and Interesting work of the grand Jury will commence when the land fraud coses are called on Wednesday. These cases, in which Miss Marie Ware, H. G. McKlnley and S. A. D. Puter are known as defendants, involve many promi nent and wealthy men of the city and state, it is said, and It is expected that several sensations will develop during the Investigation. When these cases have been disposed of, that of T. A. Wood, grand commander of the Indian War Veterans, who is accused of fraud In connection Tvlth securing pen sions, will be taken up. Owing to the prominence of the parties concerned In these charges, the action of the grand Jury will be watched with keen interest. The jurors reached the city yesterday morning and appeared before Judge C. B. Bellinger at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon In the new courtroom that is being-fitted up in the temporary postoffice building. The Jury was sworn and then adjourned to the grand jury-room on the second , floor, where all the investigations will be conducted. The utmost secrecy will be maintained throughout the sessions of the jury. A bailiff guards the doorway, that no one ziray Interfere "with the proceedings within the closed doors. The examination of wit nesses is being conducted by Assistant United States District Attorney Edwin Mays. As soon as the Jury organized, the case of J. C. Coggins, of Eugene, charged with Taislng checks, was called. The specific charge against Coggins is that he altered two checks, raising the amounts from 50 cents to ?35, then passed them upon busi ness men of Eugene. Several witnesses testified qr to what they knew about it. When the evidence in this case was all in, the case of Fred Hewett, formerly postmaster at Ukiah, Umatilla County, was taken up. It Is charged that Mr. Hewett used stamps for the purpose of purchasing merchandise, and also that he padded his accounts while In office. The accused and several witnesses from Ukiah were present and were examined. TJie two cases were then taken under consideration, but it Is not expected that any report will be made upon either be fore this evening or tomorrow morning. Today several small cases of a similar nature will probably occupy the attention of the jury until time for adjournment. According to the present schedule the cases of Miss Ware. Mr. McKlnley and . ..-'Mr.. Puter wjllii called tomorrow morn ing. Miss Ware has not arrived in the city, and it is understood that she will not appear unless the Jury demands her attendance by a summons. The other two defendants are here and in readiness to appear before the Jury When the timber land affair is once opened up it will probably keep the jury busy for several days. Stacks of evidence have been accumulated by the represen tatives of the Government, and it will all be thoroughly gone into by the investi gators. Within a few days the John Doo in the case will probably be known, and, if the statement of the Government rep resentatives Is correct, many more un known parties to the affair will be ex posed. ELECTED BY MINISTERS. Ite-. Charles E. Chase Chosen Presi dent Congrrcffational AKsociation. At the monthly meeting of the Con gregational Ministerial Association of -Bortlanitnd vicinity, held In the First Congregational Church yesterday after noon. Rev. Charles E. Chase w.as elected President and Rev. D. B. Gray. Secre tary fon the ensuing year. Dr. E. L. House invited the members of the Asso ciation to be his guests at the next meet ing, and the invitation was cordially ac cepted. Rev. J. M. Barber read an admirable paper on "Bible Study as a Source of Power," which called forth an interest ing and profitable discussion. The essayist made a strong plea for a larger use and more diligent study of the Scriptures on the part of minis ters and people as a source of power and influence in morals, religion, and the building of character. He said, in part: "In order to be truly benefited and feel God's power working In us through the Divine Word, we need to pray, as did the Psalmist, 'open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy " law." Long before the Niagara Falls "were used for the benefit of the -world. It was conceded that there was a tre mendous force stored up In those mighty waters, but It remained for some one to have his eyes opened to the need of that power and to 6ee the wonderful things It could accomplish. The question is, have we an eye to the marvels of the Scriptures and a heart for the rich treasures they can reveal? The truth Is there, if we can discover, and compre hend it The Bible claims to be man's "best and competent guide. 'Whatever criticisms may be passed upon it. It is a safe guide. "Spurgeon eaid that as he was about to go home on a dark night over a dan gerous way, he was given a torch of pitch-pine. He objected that it was not sufficient. The giver said: 'It will light you home. " 'But the wind will "blow it out.' The answer came: 'It will light you home.' " 'But the rain will put It out.' His friend persisted: 'It will light you home. He took It and found the promise true. It lighted him home. "There are many doubts about God's I Woijd. and many objections are raised; but take It and, follow its teaching Its light will not grow dim. It will light vou home." HIS HOARDINGS STOLEN. "William Keller In Robbed ot $105 Concealed in Cabin. Two days before he would have depos ited $165, his savings for many years. In a Portland bank, William Keller, a farmer of the Taylor's Ferry road, lost the money through the work of sneak thieves, who, In his absence, broke into his cabin on the Cardwell farm and stole all the hoard ings ot the old man. He came to the city yesterday morning and told the police and the Sheriff's office of his troubles. The robbery occurred Saturday night, while Keller was at work on the Broker dairy ranch, not far from his cabin. He believes that the robbers knew Just where his hoard was kept, and -were equally aware that they would get something worth while by the robbery. Keller says that this money was all he possessed and that yesterday he would have brought It to-a bank in this city. Sheriff Storey has detailed Deputy Sheriff Fred Matthews " upon the case. STATE PRESS CONVENTION Official Call and Programme for Sleeting: at Salem. The call for the convention of the pre gon Press Association to be held at Salem on Thursday, Friday and , Saturday has been Issued by Arthur Conklln, president, and Albert Tester, secretary. It reads: Fellow Newspaper Workers, Brothers and Sieters: The 18th annual convention of the Ore gon Press Aspoclatlpn will be held In the beau tiful capital clt.of Salem Thursday, Friday and Saturday. October 22, 23 and 24. Drop your work and attend thla meeting. You will profit thereby. The meetings will be held In the city hall, the first session being called at T:30 p. m. On Friday evening the popular Salem Press Club will give us a roval reception, winding up with a grand ball. If you ar a member, your presence is cer tainly expected, and If you are not, you should be. Attend and be one of us. Applica tion fee $2. and annual dues 12. The legiti mate newspaper editors and publishers are re spectfully Invited to Join tht Oregon Press Association. The programme follows: Thursday, October 22, 730 P. 31. Applications for membership. Election xt members. Reading of proceedings of last meeting. Appointment of committees and new busi ness. Reports of officers and executive committee. President's annual address. Report of hlEtorlan. Paper. "Ethics of Journalism," E. Hofer, Dally Capital Journal. Friday, October 23, 10 Al 31. Reports of committees. Paper, "Echoes of the National Editorial As sociation Meeting at Omaha, Neb., July. 1003," F. S. Harding, national executive committee man, Telephone-Register, McMlnnvllle. Paper, "Advantages ot a Simplex Machine to a Weekly." A. E. Voorhles, Rogue Rtver Courier, Grant's Pass. Discussion. Paper, to be selected, Will G. Gils trap. Dally Register. Eugene. Discussion. Election of officers. Afternoon 2 o'GIock. Paper. "ClrculatIon.'"vV. F. Brock, Oregonlan. Discussion. Paper. "How One Secures Recognition as a Writer for Monthly Magazines," Dennis A. Stovall, Oregon .Observer and Evening Tele gram. Discussion. Paper, "Railroad Advertising," R. XL Hall. Selection of place for holding the next an nual convention. New nrpsidpnt announce n?nmlttK- Friday, October 23,- 8 P. 31. Reception and programme at Armors. City Hall: i Music, Salem Military Band, Professor W. E. McElroy, leaner. Address of welcome, R, J. Hendricks, editor Dally Statesman. Music, solo, Jrfrs. Hallle Parrlsh-Hlnges, Sa lem. Address, response Arthur Conklln, president Oregon Press Asssoclation, Grant's Pass. Music. Stalwart quartet, Salem. Address, C J. Owen, Evening Telegram, Portland. Address, John E. Lathrop, Portland Dally Journal, Portland. Music, Salem Military Band. Reception and bail, Salem Press Club. Saturday, October 24. Trolley ride and visit to state institutions. TO HOLD GRANGE FAIR. CoxnmittceH Are Appointed to Ar range Programme at Hockwood. ROCKWOOD, Or., Oct. 19. (Special.) At a meeting of Rockwood Grange, held on Saturday last, arrangements were completed for a grange fair on November 10. It will be held In the public hall at this place and last all day, to be followed by a literary programme and dance la the evening. State Deputy A. F. Mller was present at the meeting and acted as pre siding officer. He was able to impart in structions and Information concerning fairs and the members decided to have one. Rockwood Grange Is only 10 months old, but It now has a membership of about 120. Acting upon Mr. iilller's suggestions, the following committee chairmen -were appointed, each with authority to secure assistance from other members of the grange: Committee on Indoor exhibits, 3Irs. William Rowen; committee on stock, exhibits," Paul Osborne; committee on ta ble refreshments, Mrs. M. Multhauf; committee on entertainment, Mr?. E. L. Thorpe; committee on confectionery ta bles, Miss Daisy Dickson. These people will meet at the hall on Wednesday after noon at 3 o'clock to complete their com mittees and discuss methods for pro cedure. E. L. Thorpe was elected delegate to attend the state grange convention to be held In Portland on the 4th of next month. Great Interest is being taken In the coming- Xalr and every member has become very busy In hunting up articles for ex hibition. An excellent programme is as sured, as it Is known that several of the best speakers, singers and musicians in Portland will be present, and the home talent Is not very slow when It comes to entertaining the public. The grange at Pleasant Home will hold a fair on Saturday next, which will be largely attended by people front every surrounding neighborhood. These fairs are the source of much enjoyment, pleas ure and profit to oil, and there Is a grow ing tendency to inaugurate a county fair next year which will eventually grow Into a permanent institution. PRESS CLUB MINSTRELS. Parodied on Popular Songi Will Amuse Audience at the Empire. The rooms of the City Press Club these evenings resound with harmony, for the members are holding nightly rehearsals for the minstrel show to be given at the Empire Theater on Wednesday. October 28. The newspaper men will be so thor oughly disguised In burnt cork that their own mothers will not be able to recog nize them and they will lift the roof with, a volume of sound when the chorus of 50 voices opens the show. The opening chorus will be a parody on a favorite song from a highly popular opera, making It apply to a certain city official, -who Is much in the public eye. Gilbert Costello, who Is the possessor of a melodious voice, will sing the "Congo Love Song." A quartet will give several numbers on the saxophone. The oleo will deal -with several of the burning questions of the day and John H. Stevenson will settle the gambling ques tion In such a manner that It will stay settled. A. L. Morris, who Is noted as one of the accomplished talkers In the profession, will give a monologue on things In general. A. Lincoln Hart and Rea Irvine will show their ability as Dutch comedians, and wiH sing as a duet a parody on "Dusky Babe," written by Mr. Irvine and Jacob Ricer. The minstrel show will close with a chorus and the best features of the regular vaudeville show will occupy the rest of the evening. Rehearsals wUl be held every evening. beginning with tomorrow, in order that the performers may be thoroughly drilled. Tickets are on sale at all the theaters and cigar stores and by members of the Press Club. "In the Heart of the Continent' 11,133 MILEB Of railway east of Chicago, Peoria. St. Louis and the Mississippi River, with eastern terminals at New York. Boston and Montreal, are embraced in the NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES For tickets. Information, etc, call on W. C. SEACHREST. North Pacific Coast Agent 132 Third street. Portland, Or, W. B. Jerome. General Agent. J2i Monroe street. Chlcaxo. I1L SO AVE TYPES OF THOSE SUBPENAED FOR THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY 4 a. 1ZL?- e A LAND OFFICE BUSINjuss T TUB. BUILDINGS IN DEMAND PORTLAND NEEDS STRUCTURES OF ALL KINDS. Ready Rental for Wnrehooiies, Of fice Bulldina-ti, Retail Stores, Ho tels, Lodging-Houses and Homes. That Portland stands In need of more buildings Is common conversation on the street. How " crying the need and what classes of buildings are wanted is the sub ject of discussion. Two real estate men. one of whom Is a "boomer" and the other a conservative lender of money on safe Investments, were talking the situation-. over yesterday, when the boomer re- j marked In a flambuoyant manner: I "Portland needs all kinds of buildings and lots of them." 1 "On the contrary," answered the . con 8ervative man of money, "Portland Is growing In a slow, healthy way, and It would never do to run up buildings any faster than at present." Here we have the two extremes of opin ion, and there are many half-way views. One of the sanest -was obtained yesterday from H. L. Powera. of the firm of Hart man, Thompson & Powers. "From my observation," said Mr. Pow ers, "there are about five classes of build ings needed in Portland today ware houses, retail stores, ofilce buildings, ho tels, lodging-houses and homes. To begin with warehouses, there are a great many good mercantile concerns In Portland that are short of room warehouse room. They have no storehouses nnd can t find suit able ones. Several have been built lately, but they are all filled. Now most of these firms have plenty- of money back of them. but they need It In their business. What they want Is a long lease on a good ware house, with railroad and switching facili ties and easy access for hauling. They arc willing to pay a rent that will bring 8 or 18 per cent Investment on the money. Why Isn't the demand met? It Is, to a certain extent, but by no means to a suf ficient extent. People shy at warehouse property. But not reasonably so. In hard times It does not produce much rent, but that can be said of any property at such times. And at all times It Is a sure, un troublesome Investment. "But to go on to retail stores, the high- class retail district of Portland needs lm- provement or It Is going to spread out. and people -who are now getting high rents for mere shacks ,are going to find them selves some day out of the run of retail trade, with nobody but themselves to blame, unless their next door neighbor improves his property, and they catch the overflow. This ccVdltlon has existed In other cities and has existed here, and the outcome Is sure. Improve your property or somebody else will Improve his and get your business. We must have fine stores these days; shacks will never do. "Speaking of Intensive building, ask the people who were driven out of the Dekum building by the fire how they had to search for office room. It Is not to be had. New concerns come hero every day trying to find a place to open an office, and have to satisfy themselves with a desk or two In somebody else's office. Now you go out and look up at the sky-line of Washington street, for example. Did you ever see such a sight? A dozen modern buildings, and a lot of shacks that are not worth anything. That street ought to be lined with office buildings, with hand some new stores underneath. But the own ers get a comfortable rent, and don't see their gain in improving. Well, they will some day. "As to hotels, apartment-houses and such buildings, there Is hardly o.( vacant room In town. What are we going to do with conventions and excursions? Even such a little occurrence as the ticket agents' excursion that passed through here a few weeks ago took up all the available rooms In town. What will we do Fair year if we cannot meet ordinary demands? We need at least one more good hotel, and almost any number of apartment houses right in the center of town. "Homes? You don't have to urge peo ple to build homes. Give them the oppor tunity according to their means and they will build. And they are doing so right along. To all appearances thej arc going to go at it harder than ever this Win ter. "With such a demand for buildings, of course very little speculation' Is being done. Money Is going Into Improvements, nnd all sales are made to persons Intend ing to Improve." Contract for Cnpitol LiRht System. OLYMPIA. Wash., Oct. 19. (Special.) The State Capitol Commission met today and again awarded the contract for the electric lighting system of the Capitol to the Kllbourne & Clarke Company, of Seattle, at $10,500. The amount Is the same as named In the original bid of the Kllbourne & Clarke Company, which was accepted and then thrown out on account of a legal defect in the advertisement. There were a number of bids presented to TE3IPORARY FEDERAL BUILDING. the commission and the services of an expert were called on to determine which was the most advantageous offer. His decision was tor the Kllbourne 6z Clarke bid, and the report was adopted. EXPOSED TO SMALLPOX. Policemen Say Temporary Penthouse Is Needed. The necessity of hating quarters of some kind for smallpox patients who wan der Into the Police Station In search of medical aid Is being urged by police and health officials. Policemen say a rough shed of any kind would do, anything to separate any belated sufferer from the presence of the officers . on duty In the station. Their present agitation Is oc casioned by the occurrence of Sunday night when a pustule-covered Individual from Union, Or., walked Into the station and made the halr-raslng announcement that he had smallpox and wanted medical attention. The driver of the pesthouse ambulance having repaired to his home and retired for the night he could not be summoned until the early hours of the morning rolled around and in the Interval the of ficers on station duty suffered, much with their nerves. City Physician Zan censures the O. R" & N. Co. for allowing the patient to come Into the city, saying that the man was employed by the. company, and, when taken sick. Instead of being cared for by the company had to board a box car and come to Portland for attention, all of which Is contrary to the health ordinances. PERSONAL MENTION. G- J. Farley, ex-Mayor of The Dalles, Is In the city, a guest of the Imperial. Frank C. Robertson, a lawyer, who hails from Montana, Is at the Portland. Professor J. H. Ackerman, Statet Super intendent of Scnoois, is at tne imperial. D. Bier, a wholesale Implement mer chant of Indianapolis, Is at the Belvedere, Representative J. M. Haneborough, of Roseburg, Is In Portland on a business trip. Will Beckley. of Oakland, one of the leading cattlemen of Douglas County, is at the Belvedere. 3Irs. John L. Sharpsteln, wife of one of the leading politicians of Walla Walla, is at the Imperial. A. W. Severance, one of the leading lawyers of Tillamook, is among the ar rivals at the Imperial. T. J. Seufert, of the well-known fish- canning firm, at Tho Dalles, and 3Irs. Seufert are at the Imperial. Samuel Dlnsmore, of Missoula, 3Iont., who owns the largest orchard In Western Montana, Is at the Portland. 3I1.-S Alice Pittock, of Pittsburg, Pa., who has been visiting her uncle, H. L. Pittock, and family, the past five months, leaves for home today, accompanied by her cousin, Mrs. S. A. Mddleton. Edgar M. Lazarus, the well-known arch itect, who was superintendent of con struction of the new Custom-House, has been detailed by the Secretary of the Treasury for similar duty on the Postoffice Improvement. Miss Loretta LaPItre, of Chicago, Is visiting at the home of her niece, Mrs. Edward Sharkey, on the East Side. She Is an actress of considerable fame, her stage name being Dollle Dixie. She will remain In Portland til' Wednesday. V. Schmidt returned yesterday from the Northern Light mines on Huckle berry Mountain, In the Shena Creek min ing district. Dr. O. P. S. Plummer was walking to town last Saturday morning from his farm beyond Mount Zlon, back of the city, when he was overtaken by a severe bilious attack and forced to seek rest in a near-by house. It came upon him so quickly that he did not have the strength to get assistance, and the people whose hospitality he was forced Into demanding were too stupid to see his plight. By lucky accident, however, some friends noticed him as he was making for the house and sumnioned his family and a doctor. He was (weak all day, but towards night he was taken home and recovered gradually. He was out for a few hours today, but was not completely recovered. NEW YORK, Oct. 19. (Special.) Seattle people registered at New York hotels to dav as follows: at the Victoria, J. R. Mason: at the Imperial. C. Hall, W. Holland, E. C. Hawkins and wife. Gresham to Have Library Branch. A branch of the Portland Library will be opened this week at Gresham, and the first lot of books will soon be shipped. Miss Mary F. Isom. the librarian, on a recent visit to Gresham secured the co-operation of Miss Pearce and Miss Alexan der, two teachers, who will assist In open ing a reading-room. This will bo open Saturday evening and a few hours during the day. MUST PAY BACK TAXES REAL ESTATE 3IEX FEEL DECISION ON COMPROMISES. Bayers Refuse to Accept Title as Clear, Unless Amount Illegally Dcducted-Is Paid. The sweeping decision rendered several weeks ago that all tax compromises made by the County Court are void, for the reason that the county officers are not empowered by statute to make any such compromises, bore fruit for the first time yesterday. A. Demartlnl paid a balance of 5150' mortgage taxes for 1S92 on prop erty on"Fourth street; which ho had pre viously compromised for $S4. The $S4 paid before was the amount of the state tax, and the County Court ordered that on settlement of the estate tax the remain der should be cancelled on the books, which was done. Recently Mr. Demartlnl desired to make a transfer of the prop erty, and the attorneys and others en gaged in the deal on the other side. In view of Judge Cleland's decision against tax compromises, refused to accept the title as clear unless the tax was satisfied in full. Abstract companies long ago passed by mortgage taxes altogether, taking the po sition that they never would have to bo liquidated. Since the courts decided that mortgage taxes were a Hen on the prop erty, many people have paid them, and the mortgage companies compromised with the county. There were over 2000 com promises, and. If Judge Cleland's decision Btands, It will affect several thousand pieces of property, the title to which will not bo good unUl the taxes passed over by the abstract concerns, or taxes which were compromised, have been paid In full. Otherwise tax Hens will still prevail. Real estate dealers In making sales of prop erty are now said to be more perplexed and annoyed than ever because of these old taxes. WHOSE FAULT WAS ITf Experts Testify on Collision With 3Iorrison Bridge Draw. At the trial of the suit of Multnomah County against the Willamette & Colum bia River Towing Company, WlUlam Em- ken, the pilot, and others, to recover dam ages on account of the steamship Almond Branch having collided with the Morrison street bridge, Ralph Dunlway, attorney, endeavored to prove by witnesses yester day that the accident would not have oc curred If two steamers had towed the Al mond Branch Instead of one. As witnesses on this point Mr. Dunlway called Cap tains L. A. Bailey, E. W. Spencer, W. C. Snow, J. H. Burton and A. B. Graham. Other witnesses examined were: A. C. Stewart, A. W. Shearer, Edward A. Beals and J. T. Ford. James H. Richmond, foreman of the Morrison-street bridge, who witnessed the accident, told how It happened. Ho stated that three or four futile attempts were made to bring the Almond Branch through the draw. The draw was then closed to allow passengers to cross the bridge, and when It was again opened the Almond Branch and Vulcan made three or four more trials to pass through, and the last time struck the bridge. The witness stat ed that PUot Emken was stationed on tho bridge of the Almond Branch, and also the master of the vessel. Pilot Mitchell was In charge of the wheel of the Vulcan, Mr. Richmond testified further that on tho day following the accident Pilot Em ken made a statement about It In hla presence, and that -of Mr. Stewart and J. H. Lewis, of the Pacific Export Lumber Company. Emken told Lewis It was his fault, and Lewis said he was tired of hearing that Emken said they should have had more towboats. Stewart Inquired of Emken why he didn't refuse to go If he considered It unsafe, and Emken an swered that he would be called a coward If he didn't. Lewis remarked that they had to bring the ship down. The aim ot the defense In the cross-examination Is to show that the Morrison- street bridge draw is unsafe, and that It Is extremely difficult to handle vessels In tow between the Madison and Morrison- street bridges because of the short dls tance between them, when there Is any notlca'ble current In the river, and . that the accident was unavoidable. SHOULD HAVE PULLED ASIDE. The TenmKter Whose. Wagon Was Smashed by Car Loses Suit. William Dublver, who was driving a horse and wagon when a First-street car struck the rear of the wagon, testified In the State Circuit Court yesterday that. when he first saw the car, It was nearly 200 feet away, and that enly the hind wheel of the wagon was on tho track. On this evidence Judge Frazer yesterday granted a nonsuit In a damage suit of L, Dublver against the City & Suburban Railway Company, the court considering the testimony proved that William Dublver had ample time to get out of the way of the car before the collision oc curred. The accident tcok place on November 21, 1902, and the suit was to recover $179 damages caused by the breaking of the wagon and harness. Rufus Mallory, at torney for the defense, endeavored to show that Dublver had an old wagon so repaired as to practlcaly make a new one out of It, and was trying to make the street railway company pay the bill and more in addition. In another suit tried several months ago a judgment was ren dered against the company for ?o0j dam ages on account of personal Injuries sus talned by William Dublver, and the com pany appealed the case to the Supreme Court, where It la still pending. HOUGHTON' 3IUST BREAK ROCK. Thief Sentenced to Healthy Exercise for Benefit of County. "Chick" Houghton was sentenced to six months on the county rock pile yes terday morning by Judge Cleland. and in this capacity will probably do the first work ha ever did In his life. Houghton was tried last week on a charge of at tempting to steal from C. A. Aplin, at Rohse's Park, on July 13, and was con victed of simple assault. He was con victed and sentenced several months ago to serve five years In the penitentiary for robbery, and the case Is now pending on appeal to -the Supreme Court. Houghton made no stntement in tho court yesterday when asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be pronounced. He merely shook his head. His attorney addressed the Court, saying he thought Houghton had been sufficiently punished, having been con fined In the County Jail since the date of his last arrest, July 19, but Judge Cleland took a different view of the case, although making no comments. Hough ton was at liberty on ball on the robbery charge. He has been repeatedly In trou ble of a criminal nature, and appears to be trying to break Into the penitentiary. NO TAX ON LEWIS AND CLARK FAIR Coanty Equalisation Board Decides That Site Is Exempt. .Judge Webster and the members of the County Board of Equalization have de cided to withdraw the grounds of the lie wis and Clark Exposition from the as sessment roll. The valuation fixed on the property this year was J3CO0, on which the tax would have been about J100. Next year and In 1905 the value of the prop erty, Including Improvements, will be very much greater. It cannot now be told how much, but as the policy has been adopted of exempting the fair grounds from tax aUon. It will np 'doubt be adhered to until the end. The reason for doing this Is that the Fair site Is virtually In the hands of the state and not taxable. The attenUon of the Board of Equalization was called to the case by W. D. Fenton and Paul Wessinger. Troubles of Men Who Build; . A suit to recover $2012 on mechanics' liens was filed yesterday In the State Circuit Court by F. S. West against J. W. Higglns. a contractor, and the Aetna Indemnity" Company. West let a.contract to Higglns to erect a dwelling house at the northwest corner of East Fifteenth and Taylor streets, to be completed on November lo, 1902. The Aetna Indemnity Company, which furnished a bond for Higglns, had to take the contract off his hands and finish the work. West after ward was compelled to pay J2012 liens on the- structure, which he seeks to recover from the company. Stein Gives Bond and Gets Goods. Philip Stein, a North Third-street second-hand dealer, against whom a re plevin suit was filed Friday by Hibbard, Spencer. Bartlett & Co., of Chicago, to recover a quantity of cutlery, yesterday put up $1220 as cash ball. In order to ob tain a redelivery of the goods. The prop erty consists of samples valued at $510, and was purchased from Joseph Driner, a traveling salesman for Hibbard, Spen cer, Bartlett & Co. The amount of the redelivers" bond was fixed at double the value of the goods, as Is required by law In such cases. The cash put up by Stein Is subject to payment of any judg ment the claimants may secure against him. The contestants will fight the case out In court unless they reach a settle ment otherwise. Decisions to Be Rendered Todny. Decisions Will b rindrr1 .Turto-a Cleland this morning in the following cases; ROSa Rohse VS. CountV CnmmUiitnniiro' demurrer to complaint. S. L. Brown et al. VS. Rohflrt Ci. SmlHi- motion to strike out parts of answer. jonn M. jjiisberg vs. S. B. Huston et al.; demurrer to complaint. City Retail Lumber Company vs. C. S. Squires et al.; demurrer to answer. Multnomah County vs. Anna Holmes et al.; motion to strike out Darts of com plaint. W. E. Seeny vs. W. S. Lauthers et al on merits. Divorce Before Honeymoon Wanes. Martha A. Harris, who n.vrs that hoi- husband. O. C. Harris hont- trlxVorl struck and abused her three weeks after marriage, and forced her to appeal for protection to tne ponce, yesterday filed suit against him in the State Circuit Court for a divorce. They were mar ried in Portland in August. 1902. 3Irs. Harris states that Harris ungovernable temper, and she- became airaia to live witn mm. She asks to be allowed to resume her maiden name. xurnriage. Miller Says His Wife Is Innocent. A. J. Miller, proprietor of tho Twelve Mile House, who In conjunction with his .wife, Clara 3Illler, ha3 been sued by E. F. Strack for $5000, states that his wife had nothing whatever to do with the row of which Strack complains. Strack was shot In the foot by Miller, and the latter says his wife was not present at the time, and has been unjustly sued, and In his own defense Miller asserts that Strack was the aggressor and is to blame for what occurred. TO FIX GRAIN STANDARD Committee of Chamber of Commerce Will 3Icet This Week. A grain-standard committee of the Chamber of Commerce will hold a meet ing during this week to fix a standard for the wheat raised ill .Oregon, Wash ington, Idaho and Montana. This stand ard is recognized the world over by pur chasers and shippers of wheat, and be cause of this fact the meeting" of the committee Is one' of importance. For some days past letters of Inquiry have been coming to the Chamber of Commerce asking about the standard for this year's crop. As soon as the stand ard Is determined upon It will be sent to those desiring It. After that all ship ments of wheat must conform to that standard. The committee that will determine tho standard Is composed of the following members: W. J. Burns, of Balfour. Guthrie !& Company; W. S. SIbson, of the ' Portland Grain Company; Peter Kerr, of Kerr, Glfford & Company; T. B. Wilcox, of tho Portland Flouring 31111s Company; T. W. Smith, of the North western Warehouse Company; R. Kenne dy, of the Pacific Coast Elevator Com pany, and A. Berg. Another Eyesore Passes Away. The paving between the tracks of the City & Suburban Railway Company on Morrison street between Front and Third Is being repaired, and this much-frequent ed part of the street will soonbe In good PORTLAND'S GREAT CARD ENGRAVING HOUSE Cr'J y 1 'if f . 'j ttt-wi " T The firm of W. G. Smith & Co. have made very rapid growth since they began business in Portland in 1SS9. They are now not only the largest engraving firm north of San Francisco, but the only one who do all engraving, printing, stamping and designing on their own premises. They have the best fitted up engraver's Gflicc; In the United States. Beside card engraving they carry all the finest grades of stationery. We Have 184 Offices In America 'and therefore can make these VERY LOW PRICES Gold Crowns $3.00 Porcelain Crowns $3.00 Bridges ...... $3.00 per tooth Sliver Fillings 50c Full Set of Teeth, mounted on rubber, $4.00. Best Set of Teeth that can be made on earth, mounted on rubber, $7.00. Office Hours Daily 8 A. M. to 6 P.M. Sundays 9 A.M. to 12M. Telephone, Main 2796. ALBA DENTISTS OPPOSITE CORD RAY'S condition for the first time In several years. Until this Summer it was a series of humps and hollows, and In wet weather the hollows became a string of lakes, on which hunters might have gone gunning for ducks. The people may rejoice that another eyesore Is abolished. IMPROVING UNION AVENUE Gravel Beins Laid and Street Wid ened for Loner Distance. Work on the improvement of Union avenue is progressing northward from Weidler street toward Woodlawn under two contracts. John O'Nell has tho con tract between Weidler and Russell streets, and has covered several blocks. The Port land Railway Company has completed lt3 portion of the work by graveling between the rails and double tracks. Further north work has been started from Alberta street toward Woodlawn. There Is a deep cut on both sides of the tracks, which are to be lowered. The street was widened to 0 feet. This brings the new streets close up to several cot tages on the east side of the street, and it was necessary to remove the front porches. The owners will probably move their houses back. Union avenue will be improved through to Dekum avenue. Tho contractor expects to get gravel from under the street, as that entire section contains cement gravel. No new pits can be opened at Woodlawn under the ordi nance recently passed. This improvement of Union avenue 13 one of the most Important undertaken this year -on the East Side. The people of that district are In hope that the work will be completed before the rainy season. Inspecting Fish Hatchery Sites. LA GRANDE, Or., Oct. 19. (Special.) Secretary of State F. I. Dunbar, State t Treasurer C. S. Moore and State Fish Warden H. G. Van Dusen passed through La Grande en route to Wallowa County to Inspect fish hatchery sites. The Com missioners returned from Ontario last night, where they had been on an Inspect ing tour, and report everything all right. Experiments that have been made on Lower Grand Ronde River proved un satisfactory, and tho warden established experimental stations on Wallowa and Wlnnoha Rivers, feeders of the Grand Ronde. One of the stations Is about a mile above the mouth of the Wlnnoha and the one on the Wallowa Is about a mile and a half below Canyon bridge on the stream. While two years work proved unsatisfactory on the Grand Ronde, the work at the other two stations has proved thoroughly satisfactory.