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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1906)
PORTLAND, OREG0X,'" MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. XLVI.-XO. 14,:JT2. ) THROUGH DENSE FOG DEATH COMES Thirty-Five Killed in Train Collision. . IN SUBURB OF WASHINGTON Fifty Persons Are Injured and Many More Will Die. HORRIBLE SCENES ENACTED. tiurrlTors Describe Disaster Jn Brief, Terse Language Waiting Passen gers at Train Are Engulfed In Wreckage as Trains Meet. WASHINGTON, Dec. 30. An appalling disaster resulting in the death of about 35 persons and injuries, as far as can lis learned, to about BO persons, occurred about 6:30 o'clock tonight on the Balti more A Ohio Railroad at Terra Cotta, a suburb of "Washington. The Frederick City, Md.. local No. 66, on the point of pulling out from the station, -was run into by a train made up entirely of eight empty coaches bound from the West for Washington. The Dead. Following is a partial list of the dead: MART LEPl'OLD, SO years old, employed at the Bureau of Engraving, this city. T3EORGB 1IIGBEE. S, Brookland, D. C. KLIZABARTH PEARMAN, Takoma Park. DTI. B. GARTH ER HARRIS. Washington. MISS KOLb ( Y W. C. A.) card was found in her pocket. WHITE GIRL, IS years old, unidentified. WHITE GIRL,, 1R years old, unidentified. NEGRO BABY, unidentified. WHITE BABY, unldentilled. NORMAN ROGERS, white, Marlon, Ind. MRS. J. M. MCAGHL.E Y and her 13-year-old son. EDWARD M. BELT, white, 14 years Old. address unknown COMMODORE V. BROWJT, 60 years old. address unknown. PROFESSOR KING, organist of Wesley Chapel, Kensington, Md. TWO NEGRO WOMEN", unidentified. TWO WHITE WOMEN about 30 years old, undentlfled. WHITE WOMAN. 2S years of age, un identified. WHITIB WOMAN, 20 years old, un identified. WHITE CHILD, unidentified. UNKNOWN WHITE BOY, aged 12, died on relief train. UNKNOWN NEGRO, MAN, aged 35, died on relief train. LEE LOW. Washington. L RUPPERT, Washington, merchant. HENRY HIGHE95, Brookland, (father of George Higbee. ) THEODORE MERTZ, New York. MRS. P. W. SHREWBRIDGE AND BABY, Washington. MAY COOK AND BABY, Washington. MISS HALI.IE K. BUTTS. Washington. . aged 30, Identified at the morgue. MRS. A. W. REDDING, who was on the train Is missing. - COLONEL ROBERT ALDERSON, New ark. O. The Injured. Partial ast of injured: T. W. Baker, United States District At torney for the District of Columbia, Ger mantown. Md., heel cut off. Mrs. Edith Barnes. Washington, seriously. Estelle. Barnes, daughter of Edith Barnes, broken leg, scalp wounds. Cornelius Eckhardt, Kensington, Md., au ditor of the Washington Evening Star, -seriously. Alfred York, Woodburn, Md. Fred Hlser, Terra Cotta. Henry Krebs, Terra Cotta. Miss Peake, Braddock. Va., seriously. Mrs. Katherlne Hughes, this city, hand broken and slightly Injured about the face. John Dickens, Terra Cotta, D. C, scalp wound and throat lacerated. Quentln M. Moore, this city, leg broken. Injured internally. Mrs. Moore, wife of Quentln M. Moore, bruised. John Dewltt Moore, B years of age, slightly. Clarence Proctor, this city, leg' crushed. Proctor is an amateur ballplayer. Mrs. Proctor, bis wife, badly shaken up. A. I.. Chambers, this city, slight. W. S. Legge. this city, seriously. Clinton L. Moore, this city. Mrs. D. M. Carr. Kensington. Md. E. M. Moore, this city, slight. Raymond J. Cooley. seriously. Louis Baldwin. Washington, Internally. John C. Kauler, both legs broken, in ternally injured, will die. John Wright, negro. Baltimore, will die. W. C. Johnson, agent United States Ex press Company. Washington, . arm broken and head Injured. Frank Bodllta. Frederick. Md .newspaper man. slightly. Boy Elder. PoolesvHie. .Md., leg broken. Edward Williams, negro, this city. N. W. Washington, .face lacerated, John A. Kundo, this city, leg broken. Fannie Austin, negress, this city. . C. F. Fagan. Frederick. Md. Miss C. Cross, address unknown. - B. S- Ceggs. Washington. Lucille Campbell. Washington. Mrs. A. Moore. Washington. Mrs. D. Koake. Braddock Heights, Md. Catherine Hughes, Washington Jenanette Reed, 12 years old. Falls Church. Va. Howell Chambers, Washington. B. tF. Leigh, brakeman of passenger l train. Washington. Miss Rosle Cross. Seneca, Md. John C. Thellllng. Washington. ' Miss Anna Moore, Sheridan, Md. Miss M. Cooley. Washington. Camden Ramaburg, Frederick, Md., scalp wound. Richard T. Elgin, both legs broken and head badly Injured. Washington Brakeman B. Franklin, leg, body and head badly out and crushed: condition serious. John Wllklns, who got aboard the train at Terra Cotta, had his back and ankle broken and head hurt. . l.ysle Jones, address unknown. ' Harry Thomas, wife and baby, -Washington. , Mrs. Elisabeth Tleran. Takoma Park. Lucille Com p. aged 6 years, severely In jured and mar die. Her father escaped with a shaking up, but the mother has not yet been located. Thomas C. Hommller, of Seneca, . severely Injured about the head. Roy Adler, Poolesvllle. Md., arm broken. John P. Martin. Harper's Ferry, due to arrive here on the Ill-fated train, but has not been found Miss Purman, school teacher, Washing ton, slightly Injured, (her mother killed.) Mrs. E. J. Cooley, Washington, arm broken. Frank Legg, brakeman, will probably die. B. M. Maywood, Alexandria County, Va., seriously. F. J. Johnson, Washington. Fred H. Berney. Terra Cotta H. Thorne and wife. Washington. A. Brown, no address. Kennerly Ekerhardt, Mayor of Kensing ton. Md. H. K. Krebs. Terra Cotta. Mrs. Kemlo, Washington. Mrs. N. Cooley, Washington. Tr Herron, Washington, fatally. Thomas Homiller, Seneca, Md., internal Injuries. Camden Remsburg. 2ft years of age. Fred crick. Md., Injuries slight. John P. Martin. Harper's Ferry, W. Va.. injured fatally. Mrs. John Kunlo, Washington, scalp wound. Compiler, girl, 5 years of age, both legs fractured; daughter of William Compher, Washington. Mrs. Compher 1s reported missing. Fog Hid the Signals. The engineer could not see the block on account of the heavy fog and plunged ahead on his mission of death. A dense fog and a drizzling rain prevailed during the day and the night and to the inability of the engineer of the rear train to see the signal showing that another was in the block is attributed the accident. The grade at the place where the accident oc curred is downward-and the tracks were slippery. The Frederick train is run on Sundays only, largely for the accom modation of those who have gone into the suburbs on Sunday and for the bene fit of churchgoers who desire to attend services In Washington at night. Pre sumably a number of the latter were on the train. The train is scheduled to reach Terra Cotta about 6:15 o'clock and was about on time tonight when the crash came. At first, owing to the fog, it was im possible to determine the extent of the disaster and early rumors placed the number of killed at higher figures than reported. When the news reached Wash ington, people began to go to Terra Cotta and many who had relatives killed or Injured remained at the scene of the wreck until the special train that had beea dispatched to Terra Cotta brought the injured, whose wounds had been hastily dressed, and they were sent to various hospitals. Three died on the way to the city and one death occurred in one of the hospitals. Engine Crew Arrested. The engine of the rear train is said to be one of the largest and latest types of passenger engines used on the road. The fact of Its size probably saved.it from total destruction, the prlnctpal damage to it being confined to the front of the engine. Because of this Engineer Hildebrandt and his fire man escaped. Hildebrandt Is said to have been a substitute. He and his firemen were arrested, but no formal charges have been placed against them, pending the Investigation. - The wrecked train was composed of an engine, smoking car and two day coaches. The two rear coaches were reduced to kindling wood, and the rear of the smoker was telescoped. So great was the impact that the local train was scattered along tho track for a con siderable distance. Fortunately the wreckage did not take fire. Traffic was delayed by the accident, and it was after midnight before the bodies of the dead could be brought to the city. There was an entire absence of any attempts at theft. As soon as possible the bodies were covered and laid aside to await the coming of the train sent from the city. From the appearance of the bodies It (Concluded on Page 8.) CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAYS Maximum temperature. 45 degrees; minimum, 38. TODAY'S Rain; westerly wlnda. Railroad Wrecks. Collision near Washington kills 35 and In jures 50 persons. Page 1. One killed, many injured by runaway elec- mi hi -iiiuumuii. rage 3. Flv tramps ground to death In California. Page 3. Foreign. Baronesn Burdett-Coutts. richest and best wuman in .ngiana, aeaa. ra.ge 2. Ratsull tries to cause quarrel among- pow ers. Page 3. National. Resignations In postal service cause move ment to Increase salaries. Page 6. Forecast of business of Congress. Page 1. Politics. Important measure to be acted on by State jueguiaiures. r age l. Attorney -General Jackson offers to contest oiayoraiiy ior .Hearst, rage 8. Domestic. Blue laws enforced In Boston. Page 3. Rich Kansas City man hacked to death with axe. rage a. Prie confesses murder of Mrs. Lewis at r niiadeiphia. Page 3. Tragedy In New York hotel. Page ft. Stormy meeting at Zlon denounces Vollva,. rage 3. Death of Ex-Senator Caffery. of Louisiana. and ex-Senator Bowen, of Colorado. Page A. Sport. Gossip of Seattle-Chicago football game. . i'age 7. Dispute between Gans and Hermann about fight. Page 7. Pacific Coant. Tacoma's large supply of Senatorial candi dates. Page 4. Wreck of ship Great Admiral foretold In dreams. Page 4. Shippers convention at Albany to devise remedy for car shortage. Page 4. Tongues of Fire fanatics at Albany. Page 4. Wild man of Montana accused of many crimes. Page 4. Portland and Vicinity. Portland Democrats are annoyed because William J. Bryan will speak in Portland under auspices of Y. M. C. A. Page 12. Despite streetcar strike, police record shows few arrests for December. Page 12. Thomas W. Kettle, M. P.. will address Port land people on Irish home rule Page 12. Columbia County Sheriff has new evidence against boy murderer; latter subject for criminologists. Page I. City council will make tax levy today. Page 1. Senator Haines seems certain of election to Senate Presidency. Page 8. Schooner Alice McDonald ashore on Clatsop Spit. Page 8- Captain Evans, of Glenerirht, thinks dere lict was French bark Turgot. Page 7. ROBBERY MOTIVE OF BilY MURDERER New Evidence Against Albert Oleman. STOLE FROM FOSTER PARENTS Damaging Discovery Made by Columbia County Sheriff. KILLING NOT IN PASSION Youthful Assassin Puzzle for Crimi nologists Peculiar, Ever-Changing Eyes That Chill, Fea ture of His Appearance. BY WIT.t. G. MAC RAE. ST. HELENS, Or.. Dec. 30. (Staff Correspondence.) Albert Oleman, assas sin, 13 years old. This is the mere child who ruthlessly murdered his foster mother and friend stole up behind her while her aged fingers were busy with needlework and shot her dead. ' Then he fled from the room that was bespattered with human blood to arouse- the neigh bors and with the ever ready lie on his Hps, sought to place the crime upon some one else. All this was done by Albert Oleman, flaxen-haired and 13 years old. Now the problem the authorities of Co lumbia County are trying to solve Is whether Albert Oleman, who killed Mrs. Ayers, had robbery for his motive. Since the arrest of the boy and his confession, Sheriff White has found that Mrs. Ayers was twice robbed, once of $10 and again of $5. Albert was never suspeceed be cause the first time he said that he had caught a man In the act of leaving the house and with hl3 dog had pursued him. When Mrs. Ayers found her pocketbook It was on the floor and $10 was missing. When the loss of the $5 gold piece was discovered, it was believed , by Mrs. Ayers that sorrtecne again had entered her homer - -' .'..j,. - On the night of the murder Sheriff White made a careful search of the house. The old people and the boy slept upstairs in separate beds. When Sheriff White examined these beds he found them turned topsy-turvy, as if someone had ransacked them In search of hidden valu ables. Mrs. Ayers had been in the habit of handling the money of the family and at times, it is said, kept in her possession considerable sums of money. Spent Stolen Money. It Is only since the murder ' of ' Mrs. Ayers that Albert Oleman has been sus pected of the theft of the $15. So far Sheriff White does not accuse the boy of murder for -purposes of robbery, but the fact that he has found that Albert bought a 22-caliber rifle for $10 and later changed a $5 gold piece at a grocery store leads him to doubt the boy's story that he committed the murder in the heat of pas sion. Sheriff White did not suspect the hoy of the murder at first". It was not until it dawned upon him that this lad was the coolest of all of the people who were at the Ayers' home when he arrived that the Sheriff's attention was attracted to the boy. Then he began to question him. At first the boy told the same story to the Sheriff that he had told to others and all the while he looked straight Into the officer's eyes. "There was something in the expression of those eyes that made me feel uncom fortable and I had to quit looking at him," was the way the Sheriff put It yes terday. "When I finally cornered him and we found the rifle Inside the house the boy admitted the murder." This same Albert Oleman, cool, self posseseed, and bold beyond his years. Is ' FORECAST OF THE WEEK ' Congress .will reconvene next Thursday at noon, but It is 'not ex- pected that much business will be transacted in either house until the week following. No programme so far has been arranged for either body and the general expectation is that nothing will be done In that direction . until the houses are called together. There has seldom been such an exo- dus of public men for a brief respite from work as there was when the recess began, and as the members are returning very slowly there are not - enough either of Senators or Rep--resentatives in the city even to out line a plan of action. The purpose is to proceed with the appropriation bills as rapidly as pos sible, but as neither house has one of these measures before it, both will be foi ced to take up other matters or adjourn from day to day until the committees can bring in some of the supply measures. It may there fore happen that one or both of the hous-?s may adjourn from Thursday or Friday until the following Mon day. It Is known to be Senator For sker's wish to secure early consider ation by the Senate of his resolution for & Senatorial investigation of the Brownsville (Tex.) episode. If, as seems likely, the attendance during the first few days of the renewed sesslcn should be meager, Mr. For aker may postpone the matter until the seats generally are occupied. The question of Senator Smoot's eligibility also is in- condition to be considered by the Senate, but, as Mr. Foraker Is counted upon by the Utah Senator's friends to lead In his de fense. It Is understood that the ques tion will be deferred for a time, if not indefinitely. There Is a great de sire among Senators to postpone ac tion, and predictions that the session will be permitted to pass without a vote are not Infrequent. Mr. Smoot, however. Is very solicitous for a bal lot and his wishes may be permitted to prevail. Senator Gearin, of Oregon, has a speech on the Japanese question, but he will not be heard until later In the session. The Senate will give part of the session Thursday to the consideration of Senator McCumber's general pen sion bill. In the absence of the Speaker and other members of tha committee on rules, no prediction regarding pro ceedings In the House before the ap propriations bills are reached would be justified, but no Important matter will be taken up. The next appro priation bill to be reported will be the fortifications bill, and this will be followed by the District of Co lumbia bill, but neither will be ready for consideration before January 10. The Senate Committee on appropri ations will report the legislative and judicial bill about a week, after the reconvening of Congress, and It will soon be followed by the Indian bill. If there should be no efforts at spe cial legislation on that measure. Among the changes In state admin istrations to take effect this week, much interest attaches to that in New York, where Charles B. Hughes becomes Governor. The Important hearing by the In terstate Commerce Commission into the affairB of the Union Pacific Rail way Company will be opened In New York on Friday. E. H. Harriman will be one of - the first .witnesses called. The Algeclras protocol providing for Moroccan reforms having been ratified by the nations concerned, the treaty will be signed by representa tives of the different powers Decem ber 31 In Madrid. The Japanese training squadron, consisting of the cruisers Itsuku shlma, Hashldate and Matsushlma, under command of Rear-Admiral Kateoka, formerly president of the naval cadet school at Yokohama and commander of the third squad ron under Admiral Togo off Port .Ar thur, will start from Yokohama on a cruise across the Pacific January 5. The squadron is expected to ar rive at San Francisco February 18. and subsequently wit! visit Seattle and Tacoma. the only human being ' in all Columbia County who wag not shocked by the dia bolical crime which was committed at Warren last Friday nlgrht. He of them all Is now least concerned. Yesterday he sat in the gloomy, old Jail here, reading: (Concluded on" Page 8.) COLUMBIA COUNTY BOY MURDERER, AND HIS VICTIM GIRDING UN ARMOR L Legislatures to Curb Corporate Greed. RADICAL LAWS TO BE PASSED States Will Adopt Stringent Railroad Laws. CURE FOR CAR SHORTAGE Oregon Leads Among Those Demand ing Better, Railroad Service. Banking, Insurance, Income Tax Among the Issues. CHICAGO, Dec. 30. (Special.) Leg islators of the Western States are girding on tholr armor for the most militant fight they ever made for the square deal. Advance Information from the various state capitals indicates that more vital legislation for reform of public , abuses will be enacted than during any previous single period in the history of the West. Likewise there promises to be more spectacular battles on the floors of state assemblies than ever before. The year 1907 Is to be the beginning of a new epoch in curbing the rapacious and in conserv ing the welfare and rights of the every day citizen. Public service corporations espe cially the steam railways and insur ance companies are to be the main tar gets for reform and remedial laws. Bills offered for enactment into statutes will range from the timidly conservative to the limit of radicalism, with prospects that several states will take advanced ground and establsh no"el precedents. 1 Governors Will Sound War Cry. The foregoing summary shows where the decisive battles are to be fought out and what are the dominant Issues at stake. The governors In most In stances will make the declaration of war in their messages, but battle cries will come as well from the legislators and from administrative department chiefs. Aroused by fuel famines and the in ability to forward grain, livestock and other commodities to market, the Leg lslatures of a dozen states will assai the railroads on the car-shortage problem. State railroad commissions will be clothed with greater power to deal with this evil, or remedial laws will be enacted dealing directly with the problem. Of the many measures proposed, that for a reciprocal demur rage charge is the main reliance of the lawmakers. ' Bills covering railroad regulation will be many and diverse. Several states will create railroad commissions with broad jurisdiction in dealing with rates and service. Existing commls slons in other states are to have their hands strengthened that they may sue cessfully tackle new problems that have arisen in transportation affairs. There Is a wide-reaching demand for a 2-cent passenger fare, for an anti-pass law as broad as the recent act of Con gress and for a heavier taxation of rail road properties. Around these proposals some hot fights will revolve. Fur to Fly Over Primaries. Four state Legislatures are pledged to enact a broad primary election law cov ering Congressional, state and county of fices. Political bosses are rounding up their forces to antagonize these measures and fur will fly a-plenty. The Governors of several states will emphasize In their or SQUARE DEA messages the crying need of nominating candidates by popular vote instead of by snap conventions. Bills regulating- insurance promise to be as plentiful as those relating to rail roads. Valued policies, curbing of pre miums, distribution of accumulations, ad justment of tables of rates for the better LIVE ISSUES BEFORE LEGISLA TURES. CAR SHORTAGE North Dakota, Colorado, - Michigan, Missouri, Ne vada, Oregon, Nebraska, Wash ington, Idaho, Wyoming, Minn ota. Reciprocal demurrage the main hope. RAILROAD REGULATION North Dakota. Colorado, Texas, Michi gan, Missouri, Nevada, Indiana, South Dakota, Nebraska. Idaho, Kansas, Utah, Minnesota, Illinois. Create new Railroad Commissions or strengthen existing ones. TU'O-CENT FARES North Dako ta, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minne sota. Fights will be bitter. ANTI-PASS MEASURES Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota ' Several As semblies virtually pledged. PRIMARY ELECTIONS North Da kota, Colorado. South Dakota. Ne braska, Washington, Kansas. Four states pledged. Governors in others favor. Bosses will oppose strongly. LIQUOR TRAFFIC Colorado, Mis souri, Indiana, Washington, Illi nois. Local option or more drastic state regulation. INSURANCE North Dakota. Texas, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Mis souri, California, Minnesota. Illi nois, Wisconsin. Avalanche of bills expected, some radical and sweeping. TAXATION Wisconsin, Texas, Ne braska, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois. Aimed chiefly against pub lic service corporations. Entire re vision of several codes INCOME TAX Wisconsin to consid er bill for graduated tax. Other states expected to have hot fights. DIVORCE REGULATION No men tion in any forecast, but many re strictive measures looked for. STATE AND PRIVATE BANKS Illinois and Kansas particularly propose drastic new laws to pro tect depositor. Other states to fall In line. MISCELLANEOUS California and Nevada to entertain bills against prizefights; Wisconsin to sterilize feeble-minded and insane and es tablish pension system for the aged; Texas to wipe out cotton bucket-shops; Illinois to rejuve nate charitable institutions. protection of the Insured and require ments regarding investments of earnings are some of. the. -matters to be Consid ered. Local Option and Taxation. Local option in dealing with the liquor traffic Is to be fought for In several states and more drastic laws relating to licenses will be enacted. Bills relating to taxation will be dic tated by local needs in the various states, but mo.4t of them will be aimed at railroads and other corporations. Texas must revise ber system to get reve nue to meet a $4,000,000 deficiency which is imminent. She purposes getting a big percentage of it from the railroads. Wis. consin has similar aspirations. The income tax and the divorce ques tion do not feature largely In the skir mish" talk, but scores of measures will be offered to correct abuses. Wisconsin, al ways coming forward with something to talk about. Is in training for a graduated Income tax struggle. More Klgid Banking Laws. The Stensland and other bank failures call forth new efforts to protect trusting depositors In state and private banks. Illinois will enact more rigid regulatory laws and Kansas talks of requiring all banks over which It has Jurisdiction to deposit sufficient security with the State Treasurer to protect all depositors. Gov. ernor Hoch will advocate such a meas ure in his messaee. Vtah, Idaho, Nebraska and Colorado have as the dominant issue the creation of a railroad commission or enlarging the authority of the existing commission. A primary election law has been paramount in Kansas, North Dakota and South Da kota. Texas. Washington and Wisconsin will be largely concerned with measures to increase the taxation burdens of rail roads and other public-service corpora tions. Insurance legislation will have the right of way In Indiana, where Governor Hanly will lead the fray, and in Cali fornia, where the interest of fire Insur ance policyholders in San Francisco and the rehabilitation of that city are in volved as live Issues. Railroad Issue In Oregon. Oregon and Michigan, especially are preparing for decisive battles on the transportation question. In Illinois Gov ernor Deneen desires that the rejuvena tion of the state charitable Institutions and the adoption of advanced methods of treating the insane shall be made the leading Issue. Similarly In Missouri Gov ernor Folk has set his heart on the crea tion of a state excise commission with almost plenary power to deal with the liquor traffic. Minnesota is Intent on the creation of a temporary tax commission to investigate the subject broadly and draft a new code of taxation laws. Sterilize the Insane. "Wisconsin will attract attention by the serious effort to be made to enact a law. for the sterilization of feeble-minded and insane wards of the state. This plan has found indorsement among many sociolog ical students and Is approved by the State Board of Control. In "Washington corporation influence will be focussed to prevent the passage of an act to amend the constitution provid ing for the taxation of all railroads and other public-service corporations for state purposes only. Utah, Washington and Wisconsin will consider measures for es tablishing a better system of public high ways or roads. Senatorial matters are pretty well set tled In advance, but there is likely to be Interesting material in Wyoming. South Dakota, Oregon, Michigan and Colorado. CITY LEVY WILL . BE FIXED TODAY Serious Problem Con fronts Council. RECOMMENDATION 15.7 MILLS Auditor and County Assessor Consider It Too High. WOULD CUT OFF FRACTION Additional Seven-Tenths Means In crease of 90 Per Cent in Taxa tion for City Purposes Within Two Years. TWO TAX LEVIES COMPARED. Total tax to City of Port land, 1907, with levy of B.7 mills, ail recommended by Council ways and means committee $949,000 Total tax to City of Portland, 1!0T. with levy of 5 mill, as favored by County As sessor B. T. sigler and City Auditor Devlin 832.000 Savins to city by S-mlll levy.tll7.000 Probable total levy on Port land property. 1907. with city tax of B.7 mills. .. .16.2 ml. Probnble total levy on Port land property. 1907, with levy of 6 mills 15.5 mis. Total tax revenue In City of Portland In 1U0G under 14.8 levy $682,000 Total tax revenue In City of Portland in l!t07 under pro posed levy of 16.2 mills 849,000 Increase In Portland tax rev enue over 1906. If proposed levy Is adopted 267.000 Increase in Portland tax rev enue over 1906, If city is t made 5 mills 150.000 If the City Council today votes a tax: of 6.7 mills, In face of the protest of County Assessor Sigler and City Aud itor Devlin, and thus forces the total levy Trfthe City of Portland to IS. mills instead of 15.5 mills, as contended for by those two officials. It will maka a difference to the taxpayers of Port land, of 1117.000. More than this, it will mean an In crease In taxation for cfty purposes of over 90 per cent in two years. And this, notwithstanding the estimates In the various departments of the city government, upon which the proposed levy Is based, do not contemplate a sin gle permanent Investment. If the Council today votes to sus tain the ways and means commutes In retaining the seven-tenths of a mill, it will probably force the total levy upon Portland property to 16.2 mills, while If the fraction Is cut off it will mean that the total levy will not ba more than 13.5 mills, and possibly less. If the lower levy is adopted, it will mean an Increase in the total taxation for the city, all taxes counted, of ap proximately 70 per cent over that of two years ago, which, In the length of time involved, is large enough. In tha judgment of Assessor Sigler, instead of the Increase of over 90 per cent, which would result from the proposed levy of the Council committee. Levies of Two Years Compared. The 1907 levy in the -City of Port- land, should the estimate of Assessor Sigler as to the county tax and tha recommendation of the Council com mittee be adopted, follows, compared with, the levy In 1906: Mills. 1907. 1POH. State 2 l. Htate school : 1.8 2 County.- general and road (es timated) 3.27S 2 9 Public library (county tax) 125 .t Port of Portland R .8 School district No.l 2.5 2.5 City of Portland (recommended) 5.7 5.2 Total 16.2 14. The Increase in the state apportion ment, apparent from the foregoing table, Is charged up to the referendum on the "$1,000,000 appropriation bill passed at the last session of the Leg islature and sustained In the last stata election. Because of Its being held up, the state is now required to levy what is almost equivalent to two years" tax In one. The Increase this year. In the county levy, over that of the year preceding. Is attributed to proposed increased ex penditures on the public roads, the building of a new county hospital and improvements to the Burnslde-street bridge. The County." said Assessor Sigler laBt night, "will probably Increase its levy so as to raise an additional 139,000, of which $100,000 is expected to be expended upon the public roads and the remaining $39,000 in the building of a new county hospital, which Is much needed. But both these will be permanent invest ments and Improvements. This Is an increase over the levy of last year of .475 mills. "Now the Council committee on waya and means proposes to Increase Its levy to the extent of .5 mill over that In 1908 without showing where there Is to be a solitary cent of permanent Investment. Five Mills Levy an Increase. "If It will vote a levy of 5 mills It will afford an Increase In Its tax revenues of $150,000 over 1906 or $542,000 over 1903, when the city waa preparing to operate upon a more extended basis, because of the approaching exposition, "The . proposed Increase In its tax la (Concluded en P ftA