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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1906)
icr THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER . 28, 1906. rap T IE TO PACK MEETING Threatened Coup by Monta villa Taxpayers Fails to Materialize. LEVY OF 2.5 MILLS VOTED William DeVeriy Makes Speech In Defense of tlie Honor of Mon tavilla Kstimates for the Coming Year. By popular vote a special tax of 2.5 mills was levied hy the school board of school district No. 1, at the annual meeting- of the taxpayers held at the Hljrh School last night. A more cut-ami-dried affair would he hard to imagine and the rumored plan of the Montavilla taxpayers to control the meeting failed to materialize. There were not more than 3J persons present and the levy was made by a unanimous vol e. William DeVeny was the only per son from Montavilla who took any part in tne proceedings. He most em phatically denied that there had been any scheme on foot to pack the meet in?, and appeared to be incensed at the very suggestion of such a thing. "That rumor is unfair to the people nf Montavilla," he declared. "I and others out there would like to know the name of the sensational woman who telephoned to Chairman Beach that such a ruse was contemplated. Why It 1b really absurd, and those who are responsible for the origin of the ruinor should be censured." He went on to explain that the peo ple of Montavilla had always taken extreme pride in their schools, and that he hoped the levy would be large enough to provide additional accomo dations. He said the school at Monta villa was badly overcrowded, and de clared that a new building should be erected at Center Addition. After Chairman Beach had read the annual report of the directors, J. N. Teal made a motion that the report be adopted, and that the levy of 2.5 mills, as recommended in the report, be made. A. H. Devers seconded the mo tion, and after Mr. DeVeny had spoken, the motion was put to a vote. As there were no "nays" it was not necessary to take the vote by ballot, and the meeting then adjourned. The whole proceedings did not consume more than 20 minutes. Tax Will Produce $405,000. The special levy was made upon an assessed valuation of $1 68, 000, 000 and will produce $430,000. The total es timated receipts of the district for 1907 is $802,450. Of this 42.t000 will be Bpcnt In teachers' salaries, $33,000 In janitors' salaries, $180,000 for new buildings, and the remainder will be eaten up by Incidental expenses. The report of the directors dwells rather vaguely upon the new buildings and additions that are to be erected. It says: "Many parts of the district are In sore need of additional room and more room should be provided at Arleta, Terwiiliger, Peninsula, Highland, Irv lngton, Portsmouth and Montavilla, as well as In other localities. If sufficient funds are available." The question of giving Center Addition a new building will be considered by the board. By the vote of the taxpayers last Spring there were added to district No. 1 five adjoining districts, thus greatly increasing the area of the dis trict as well as the number of pupils attending the schools and the number of teachers employed. This addition to the district, together with the large Increase in the number of pupils at tending the schools in the old terri tory of the district and the condition of some of the buildings in the added districts made it necessary to increase to a considerable extent the estimates for the coming year. The following statement of esti mates of expenditures and Income' in detail for the coming year was sub mitted in the report of the directors, which Is as follows: Probable Expenditures in 190 7. Teachers' salaries $425,000 Janitors' .aiaries ao.000 School clerk's salary 2,00 Superintendent's clerk's salary 7."0 Superintendent of repairs' salary.... I.ltoo Interest 10, 000 Telephone 300 Insurance 9.0O0 Water S.0O0 Advertising 200 Rent 1.000 Stationery n.")O0 Fuel 10.000 flu 60 Janitors' supplies 2,roo Printing k 1.200 Streets and sen-ers 7,roo Repairs and sanitations 15.000 High School laboratory 3.000 School election 400 School furniture 11.000 Attorneys' tees 500 School census 1.000 Kx-raordlnary expenses 1.300 Klectrlc power 2.500 Manual training 6,000 New hulUlinKS and completion of huildliiKs 130.000 Outstanding accounts and due on building contracts 72 000 Total estimated disbursements. .. .$802,450 Kstlmate nf Receipts for 1007. County school fund . $310,000 State school fund 00.000 ; linquent taxes 1.850 Tuition 6oo Special tax levy, 2'i mills 405.000 Balance on hand after paying jani tors' salaries for December 85.000 Total estimated receipts $S02.450 PERSONALJIENTION. Cyrus A. Dolph. a member of the law firm of Dolph. Mallory. Simon & Gearln, has been confined to his home, 363 West Park street, since Thanksgiving, suffer ing from a general breakdown. He has been under the care of a physician all the time. Yesterday he was reported as improved. His condition Is not regarded as serious. News has been received in Portland that Theodore Hardee has resigned his position as secretary of the Ways and Means committee of the National Civic-Federation. After the close of the Lewis and Clark Exposition, where he was assistant to the president, Mr. Hardee went to New Tork Oity to take up the Civic-Federation work. His res ignation will take effect January 1, after which he will probably come out to the Pacific Coast CHICAGO. Dec 27. (Special.) Oregon lans registered today as follows: From Portland A. F. Herbst; F. A. Mo. Kinnon, at the (Majestic. 'From Salem 'H. W. Farson at the Windsor Clifton. NEW TORK, Dec. 27. .Special.) Northwestern people registered at New York hotels today as follows: From Portland, at the Marlborough. W. J. Hoffman and wife. From Spo kane, at the Herald Square, B. Clen- dennlng: at Hotel Astor, Dr. E. Bun ton. From Rollins, Or., at the Price. George W. Flynn. From Seattle, at the Navarre, M. Terrell. NOT AUTHOR OF PRAYER Bishop Lawrence Denies Connection With So-called Endless Chain. Rev. A. A. Morrison, D. D., has re ceived a communication, from Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, requesting Dr. Morrison to "announce that the bishop has had nothing to do with the "prayer chain" in circulation in the United States, and purporting to have originated with the bishop. Several copies of the prayer have been received through th mails by residents of Portland. The recipient Is told to repeat the prayer a certain number of times, and to mail a number of copies to friends, that the chain may not be broken, and is promised a great blessing if the directions are faithfully carried out. A curse Is threatened those who fall to comply. Woodstock Push Club Social. The Woodstock Push Club will give a social and dance tonight at the Wood stock hall. C. Ben Riesland of the club announces that there will be a strong programme, and cordially invites all to be present. Professor C. M. Yoder and his pupils will render vocal and Instru mental selections. C. M. Smith, the first president of the club, will speak on the work the club has done, while Mr. Ries land will tell of its future needs. After the programme there will be a dance and lunch. The Women's Auxiliary will Join in the meeting. Divorce Suits Allege Desertion. OREGON CITY. Or, Dec. 27. (Special.) Two divorce suits, in each of which de sertion is alleged, have been filed here. A. A. Dickerson is suing C. D. Dickerson for a divorce, charging failure to pro- vide and desertion in December. 1S05. They were married in Clackamas County in December. 1903. J. E. Doyle is also suing Mattie Doyle for a legal separa tion, alleging that the wife, whom he married at Portsmouth. N. H., In Sep tember, 1897, wilfully deserted him in April, 1905. Sheridan Liibel Suit Postponed. BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 27. (Special.) The criminal libel case, brought against R. S. Sheridan, manager of the Capital News, by Governor Gooding was called before Justice Dunbar. On request of the de- 1 fense It was postponed until January 8. CONTRACTS LET FOR 10 FILLS Pacific Bridge Company Only Bidder for Big East' Side Improvements. COST WILL BE $45,937.10 Company Keeps Barely Within En gineer's Estimate, Plus Ten Per .Cent for Profit. ' Street Contracts. The street committee of the executive board yesterday afternoon awarded two contracts to the Pacinc Bridge Company for fills on East, Morrison and East Eighth streets the cost of which will aggregate $45,937.10. For these two Im provements the Pacific Bridge Company was the only company to subnilt bids. The contract for filling East Morrison street between East Seventh and East Ninth street amounts to $17,960.34, which Is only 46 cents under the City Engineer's estimate with the customary 10 per cent added. The contract price for the fill on East Eighth street is for $27,876.76. which is 64 cents less than the City Engineer's estimate, with the 10 per cent added. The Pacific Bridge Company has dump cars and a gravel pit at Montavilla. and Is In a position, it is said, to make the fills more cheaply than any other concern in the city. Other contracting companies did not send In bids because they could not do the work within the estimate made by the City Engineer, as they do not own dump cars. When a petition is filed for stjreet Im provements the City Engineer makes an estimate of the cost of such improve ments which is placed on file as a public record. He figures closely and the con tract Is awarded to the bidder who makes the lowest tender, which must be within the estimate plus 10 per cent for profit. Realising that It would have no compe tition the Pacific Bridge Company kept within the estimates of the City Engineer by cents only. City Engineer Taylor and several contractors at the meeting yester day declared that the proposals of the company were reasonable and the mem bers of the board decided to award the contracts as there were no prospects of other bids being offered for the two Im provements. The award of the contracts by the street committee are subject to the approval of the executive committee. Other awards for street improvements made yesterday are as follows: East Seventeath street, between Ve-halem and Linn avenues, A. L. Keenan, (4933.32. Jarrett street, between Kerby and West Piedmont streets. Bechlll Bros.. $374.78. Dakota street, between Macadam and Wis consin streets, O'Nell & Co., $3588.42. 3rand avenue, between Belmont and Caat Btark streets, Warren Construction Company, 15.390.6t. Simpson street, . between Kerby and West Piedmont streets. BechUl Bros.. $356.29. California street, between Macadam and Vir ginia streets. O'Nell & Co., $343.1. East Eighth street, between Hawthorne sve- jMia and Belmont street. Concrete Construction Company, $3777.09. Jefsup street, between Kerby and West Piedmont streets, BechUl Bros., $394.73. East Ninth street, between Hawthorn ave nue and' Division street, Harry Howard. J64S1.81. Gieblsch & Joplin. $4858.11. Mississippi avenue, between &tanton and Bellwood streets, LAindstrom & " Johnson. $314.20. Knott street., between Vancouver avenue and Delay street, Harry Howard, (2812.81; BechUl Bros.. $7501.13. .East Nineteenth street, between East Morri son and East Stark streets, Joplin and Meeks, 2888.11. Kerby street, between KilllnuBWorth ave nue and West Piedmont street, BechUl Bros., $30154.41. Russell street, from Williams avenue to Brendle'a Addition, Lundstrom & Johnson. $4214. East Eighteenth street, between East Mor rison and East Btark streets, Joplin & Meeks, $2715.12. Church street, between Kerby and West Piedmont streets. BecblM Bros., $546.86. East Ninth street, between Taajrart and Ellsworth streets. Stevens Bros., $1701.30. Commercial street, between Kussell and Page streets, J. M- Manning. $3168.38. East Sixth street, between Division and Ho warth streets. Stevens Bros.. $8388.64. Santa Monica street, between Union avenue and Alblna street, George Bauer. $1764.87. Wireless Plant for North Head. VALLEJO, Cal., Dec. Ti. Master Elec trician George Hanscom. of the Mare Isl and Navy-Yard, with five of his assist ants, left today for Ilwaco. Wash., to establish a wireless telegraph plant at North Head. This will be completed in a month, when another station will be fitted out at Cape Blanco, 200 miles south of Ilwaco, completing the chain of wire less stations on the Pacific Coast. Elks Give Annual Xmas Tree; Santa Claus Is Present THE ELKS' CHRISTMAS TREE : - 'a sjr .j.... t.mM4L.i i.x . ' .A..?..r?.:jijSSs,ii.s s j.s... ? vj ' I . - I t! -b K ?A i 1 fc-.S --r , f -rxa'.r rJ - ; I 4"' A '"s!. i " 7T ' 1 3 f ' t " 1 LTHOUGH Santa Claus was a Uttle J late in finding the Elks Club, It m . was many hours later before he got away after he did find it. In fact, at j the time this goes to press uin santa is Btlli handing out presents and listening to Joe Day sing. The Elks had a Christmas tree last night. They had other things as well, but the tree waa the drawing card. Wear ers of the antlers came from all over the American map to attend the doln's, and If they didn't get enough to eat and plenty to wash it down It was because they were bashful. Half a thousand members of the ant lered herd gathered at the lodgeroom of the Elks building, corner of Seventh and Stark streets, last night and were chil dren again for a time. There were pres ents for every one, and it is known that several prominent Elke received several gifts that they did not tell their wlvesl about. It was 9 o'clock when "Alabama Blos som" Day took charge of things. Day was night then, having been blacked up so that he outshown the ace of spadea. Dr. McKay Introduced him as "Mr. Coon," and for once the color line was not drawn. "If you don't spit no one will know you," was the advice given Day toy Henry Griffin, just a? "Mr. Coon" was about to assume command. But Joe laughed, which gave him away at once. Noting at once that there was a spirit of thirst In the multitude, sweet cider and amber water was ordered passed around, after which the collection was taken. Then old St. Nick blew In. This Santa Claus had the usual snowy beard and white locks, red flowing robes and a nose that would have been a model for a strawberry patch. Henry Griffin played this role, and he proved an excellent "present master." There were gifts by the hundreds, and It was nearing the wee small hour time when all of the things were passed out. James Anderson's brick mold and the poem that acompanied it was one of the hits of the evening. One of the most pleasing features of the entertainment was the songs toy the Arton Society, under the leadership of Louis Dammasch. They gave several well-known German songs, each number being greeted with cheers. Santa present ed the singers with pipeo, telling them to go .'way back and smoke up. The vaudeville features were the best that Portland affords and this is the best "what am." To L. C. Keating, of the reception committee, is due the bulk of the credit for arranging this seclon of the programme. The following appeared: Marron and Marron, from the Pantages, they having been the two Johns who re cently appeared at the Empire; the two Fishers, from the Grand: Wilson, the trick bicyclist, from the Grand; Dunbar, the monologist. from Pantages; Devoy and company, from Pantages; and Frank M. Kelly and company, from the Grand. The entertainment committee was: Jay H. Upton, chairman: Captain W. J. Riley, George Otten, George B. Thomas, Sig Werthelmer," L C. Keating, Daniel Greg ory and Joe Day. Harry Lavery, steward of the Elks Club, received compliments from every side for the fine refreshments he prepared for the feasting. Now, If your husband was late getting home and said be was at the club, believe him! All left late, and many later than others. CUTER BLOCKS LOW WATER RATES Amendment Must Be Passed Placing Burden of Exten sions on Property-Owners. MAYOR FAVORS CHANGE Water Board Will Probably Recom mend to Council Reduction of Wa ter Charger Charter Amend ment Will Then Be Forced. If the family water rates are lowered by a third as will probably be recom mended to the City Council by the Water Board which will hold a special meeting Monday morning, the Legislature or the people of Portland will be forced to amend the charter so as to compel prop erty owners to assume part of the ex pense of keeping up the Water Depart ment. The revenue of the department will be reduced to such an extent that to secure the extension of mains, which is necessary if Portland is to have an adequate water service. It Is believed the Legislature or the people by popular vote will be compelled to come to the aid of the department by enacting the desired legislation. The Water Board has placed itself on record as favoring an amendment to the charter "Which would enable the levying of a tax upon the property owners and if the board recommends the. one-third reduction of the family water rates it will be a move to effect this end. The most popular plan proposed to reduce the rates paid by the consumer Is to levy a tax upon the property owners who have mains running in front of their property. If this is done It Is believed that next year the rates will be reduced to about half what they are at the present time. Upon the surface there appears to be little doubt but that the Water Board will recommend this reduction when it meets Monday morning. The belief that the Council will adopt the recommenda tions is also general as there is a feeling among the members that the present system of collecting revenue for the Water Department- is unjust. If the Water Board does what Is an ticipated an ordinance providing for the reduction will be presented to the Coun cil with the recommendation from the board that it pass. This ordinance will probably be passed at the meeting of the Council Monday morning at 10 o'clock without being referred to the committee. The charter provides that a readjustment of the rates must be made before the beginning of a new year. It Is a fore gone conclusion that Mayor Lane will not veto the ordinance. "The Legislature or the people of Port land will have to amend the charter if the Council makes the cut," declared Mayor Lane yesterday. "The reduction will compel legislation or otherwise the Water Department will be sadly handicapped through lack of funds. It Is. simply putting it up to the people. "If the Legislature does not amend the charter so that the property owners may be taxed to share with the consumers the cost of maintenance and Improvement of the system It will undoubtedly come up for popular vote at the Spring election. The present system Is vicious and the people will see to it that a change is made." It is' estimated that to make all the extensions of mains demanded by the growth of the city would cost approxi mately $1,000,000. By the reduction of the family rates the estimated fund available for this purpose would be reduced tq less than $209,000 which is entirely inadequate. Before the cut was contemplated It had been estimated that $32S,000 would be available for extensions. The proposed reduction will, if It Is made, happily affect about 20.300 families. About 25,000 buildings in Portland receive the service and of these 20,500 are dwell ings, the Inhabitants of which will re ceive the benefit of the reduction. The family rate by the month is for faucet 50 cents, toilet 50 cents, and bath 50 cents, making a total of $1.50 for the three. The proposed reduction would make the rate for faucet 50 cents, toilet 25 cents and bath 25 cents, thus bringing the change down to $1. For additional service, such as an extra bath, for which there is charged 25 cents, no reduction is contemplated. SCHMITZ ASKS QUICK TRIAL Attorneys Desire Transfer to An other Department. SAN FRAXCISCO. Dec. 27. A new move was made today by the attorneys for iMayor Schmitz in the Indictment case. Notice was filed with the District Attor ney that they have moved that the Pre siding Judge in the Superior Court trans fer the Mayor's case from Judge Dunne's department to some other department. The motion wil be argued before Judge Graham tomorrow. The arguments Sch mitz advances in an affidavit attached to this motion are that lie wants a "speedy trial," separate and apart from Ruef. The affidavit states "that by .reason of the earthquake and fire of Aprlll 190i, and the result thereof and of the recent heavy rains, the said city and county- is in a most deplorable condition and affiant should therefore be permittted to have an immediate trial, so that he may as Mayor devote himself to alleviating said con ditions and performing the other duties of his office." The Japanese controversy and other matters are referred to as requiring the Mayor's attention. Continuance for one day in the Ruef Dinan conspiracy case, written pleas for separate proceedings and separate trials in the Ruef-Schmitz extortion cases, and the waste of much time in an attempt to show that a single grand juror was unfit to serve such was the progress in the trial of the alleged municipal grafters be fore Judge Dunne this morning. The Mayor's attorneys filed documents de manding complete severance of all legal relations between Ruef and Schmitz, as far as the five extortion indictments are concerned, but made no verbal argument. When this had been done Attorney Ach again called Grand Juror Greenbaum to the stand and tried in every way to wring from him an admission that he Is biased, but met with no success. An at tempt of Ach to find a conflict between this testimony and the testimony of Greenbaum when the grand jury was ex amined in the Nicholas case also failed. HOLIDAY BATES. Announced to Ocean Beaches. To enable patrons to visit ocean beaches during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the O. R. & N. Co. will, on No vember 28 and 29. December 24 and 25, and January 1, sell round-trip tickets to all North Beach points at a rate of $2.50 For further Information ask at City Ticket Office. Third and Washington streets. Portland. Or. To regulate the stomach, liver and bowels and promote digestion, take one of Carter's Little Liver Pills every night. Try them. The- TV TT TT new ear re: For 1907 o goma The Annual number of The Oregonian for 1907 will be published on Tues day morning, January 1. This number will be re plete with information of Portland and of the prin cipal interests directly connected with Portland's most rapid development during 1906. The total volume of business handled by Port land in 1906 has vastly ex ceeded the total volume of business for 1905. This is a remarkable showing, when it is remembered that the Lewis and Clark "World's Fair was held in Portland during 1905. The most enthusiastic forecast in the latter part of the year 1905 did not antici pate that the volume of business handled in Port land in 1906 would begin to equal in volume the business 'of Portland dur ing Exposition year. The keynote of the An nual number of The Ore gonian for 1907 will be the wonderful degree of pros perity Portland has en joyed during 1906 in the building line. The number will contain two full-page engravings of Portland buildings now under con struction, and of other miscellaneous features connected with the erec tion of these buildings. Special attention will also be paid to the rapid appre ciation of all Portland realty values. A great deal of Portland's best business property has doubled in value during the past .year alone. Inci dental to the activity of the real estate market in Portland, considerable at tention will be paid in the Annual number to horti culture and irrigation pro jects in Oregon. One page will be devoted to irriga tion, and an adequate amount of space to rail road development and the present status of fruit cul ture in Oregon. Oregon fruits carried off the first awards at the Buffalo Ex position. The number will contain a double-page illustration of the business section of Portland. Portland to day is the greatest lumber shipping port in the world. It is one of the greatest export cities in flour and wheat in America. It is today the most important railroad terminal center of the Pacific Coast. Everybody in the East wants information o f Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The Annual number of The Oregonian for 1907 will be mailed to any address in the United States, Canada or Mexico for 8 Cents Postage Prepaid Address The Oregonian Portland, Or.