THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1907.
CONGRESSTQTARE
UP RATE QuESTluN
Amendment to Hepburn Law
Affecting Rates to Be
Passed.
DEFECTS ARE DISCOVERED
Interstate t'nmmetce Commission
Should Pass on Justice or Pro
posed Kate Increase Standurd
May Fnter Lumber Industry.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Oct. 15. The railroad rate Ques
tion Is going to ligure prominently be
fore Congress next Winter, in view of
the action of the National Association of
State Railway Commissioners at their
recent convention held In this city. There
will be no general attempt to amend the
Hepburn law, but an amendment will be
proposed along the lines suggested by
the Commissioners, making it unlawtul
lor a railroad company to enforce a new
rate until that rate shall have been ile-4-larcd
by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to be reasonable
It was the consensus of opinion among
the various State Commissioners that tile
Hepburn law had not been sufficiently
tried to develop its weak points In gen
eral, and it was therefore decided to rec
ommend no general changes. In fact
not a single amendment would have been
proposed but lor the action o'f State
Commissioner Clyde B. Aitohlson, of Ore
gon, who called attention to tho injus
tice of tho existing law In that It per
mits the railroads to raise their rates,
despite the protests of shippers, and al
lows them to collect the Increased rate
for an indefinite period, or until the rate
shall be declared unreasonable by the
Commission.
Interstate Moves Slowly.
While Minnesota, Texas and one or
two other states have laws prohibiting
railroads from increaaimr intra-state
rates until so authorized by the State
Commission, it is not so essential that
ttate Commissions should have this au
thority as that a similar authority should
be conferred Upon the Interstate Com
merce Commission. If a raie within a
Btate Is unreasonable, tho shippers can
enter complaint and the case can bo de
cided within a very few weeks, so that
no lasting harm is done if the rato be
excessive. But when it comes to Inter
state commerce, no such speed is possi
ble. The Interstate Commerce Commis
sion is Hooded with all manner of com
plaints from all over the .country, and it
must necessarily dispose of complaints in
the order in which they are riled. Thus,
as the law now works, it a railroad
raises a rate, it need only serve notice
through the Commission, and after a
fixed period the rate becomes operative.
If shippers consider the rato exorbitant,
they can tile a complaint, but the Com
mission cannot give It immediate con
sideration; perhaps it cannot dispose of
the complaint for a year or more. Mean
while the Increased rate is in effect, and
o remains until declared unreasonable
by the Commission.
It is true, that if the rate is ultimately
held to be unreasonable, the shipper can
recover tho excess freight he has been
compelled to pay, but In the meantime
he has been deprived of the use of his
money, while the railroad has been the
ealner. But thu most serious objection
to the present law Is that it permits the
railroads to raise their rates, and main
tain them at a high ligure, thereby dri
lng out of business many small shippers.
The Increased rate on Pacific Coast lum
ber is a specllin instance.
As an Illustration of the way the Itw
works at the present time. It is pointed
out by Bonn; authorities tlia there is a
working agreement between James J.
Hill and Weyerhaeuser, the lumber
. baron, whereby they work together for
a common profit. Weyerhaeuser furnishes
the lumber and Hill the transportation.
By mutual agreement Hill can raise his
rates on lumber, which AVeyerlineuscr,
under the law, muFt (pay, along with his
competitors, but Weyerhaeuser can af
ford to pay the rate, while the small
lumbermen cannot. The consequence Is
that an Increased rate drives the small
men out of business and Weyerhaeuser
controls the market. That enables him
to fix his price where he wrants it, and he
loses nothing In the end; In fact he gains
by reason of his absolute domination of
the trade.
Standard OH Slay Knter Lumbering.
It Is charged that the Standard Oil
Company, which owns large sections of
forest in Montana, is planning to do
business on this same Fcale. With Wey
erhaeuser and the Standard Oil In con
trol, and with a hlfih freight rate which
the small millman cannot pay, and with
no Immediate relief In sight, the fate of
the small shipper Is apparent. I
What can be done in the lumber trade
can of course be done in other lines of
business, and the action of the National
'Association of Railway Commissioners
serves to bring to the attention of Con
gress the crying need for amending the
'Hepburn law. Now that the issue has
been so prominently raised, an amend
ment will bo proposed In Congress, and
public sentiment is likely to be so strong
that friends of the railroads will not he
able to prevent action. That the rail
roads will fight the change is assured,
for a quiet effort was made to suppress
' the resolution presented to the Railway
Commissioners' convention. The samo
men who fought to rob the Hepburn bill
of its teeth will fight to prevent , the
adoption' of this amendment. - The fate
of the proposed legislation depends large
ly on the amount of interest shown by
the public. The next Is an Ideal session
at which to secure popular legislation,
especially legislation aimed at curtailifig
the powers of railroads, for It is the ses
sion just preceding a National and Con
gressional campaign, and the average
Senator, and Representative will want to
make himself solid with his people.
Therefore., if the public generally shows
a deep concern In the proposed amend
ment. It is more than likely that such
an amendment will be adopted.
AITCHISOX DRAFTS AMENDMENT
Suguests Right of Commission to
Pass Upon Rate Increases.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Oct. IB. The joint action of the
Oregon and Washington State Railroad
Commissions secured the adoption by
the National Association of Railway
Commissioners of the Aitchlson resolu
tion declaring In favor of an amend
ment to the Interstate Commerce law
which will prohibit common carriers
from arbitrarily boosting their-rates,
without respect to the rights or wishes
of ehtppers. This resolution was dis
cussed but briefly. As the convention
was about to adopt a resolution In
which It was stated that It "would not
recommend any amendment to the in
terstate commerce act until the oper
ation of the present law has been fairly J
and thoroughly tried and Its defects
demonstrated," Mr. Aitchlson, the Ore
gon Commissioner, rose and said:
"If the last sentence of the commit
tee's report Is borne in mind, you will
notice that the committee recommend
no amendment until the defects have
been demonstrated.
"We of the Pacific Northwest think
that one defect at least has been most
clearly demonstrated. That is. that the
Interstate Commerce Commission la
powerless, at the present time, to pre
vent the most unjust rate you can
Imagine being put into effect and re
maining effective and tariff being col
lected on it for a considerable period
of time until after the rate has be
come effective and decision can be had
as to Its reasonableness.
"Our experience has been such as
to indicate that this power on the part
of the carriers may be used to an ex
tent that will paralyze sections of the
country. I
"I therefore move, or suggest. at
least, as an amendment, this thought:
" No Increase or discontinuance '
"I am not talking about a lowering
" 'No Increase or discontinuance of
an Interstate rate shall be permitted
without opportunity to protest being
afforded, and upon hearing and de
termination as to reasonableness when
objection Is made In advance of the
new rate becoming effective.'
"I only want to call the attention of the
commissioners from the South to what
they doubtless know very well the his
tory of the yellow pine cases, where for
years rates had been collected amount
ing to millions of dollars, which the
United States Supreme Court said were
unreasonable, and where, as I am in
formed, many of the claims for reparation
are entirely barred by the statute of limi
tation. "I only wish to call the attention of the
commissioners of the Northwest to the
Increase on lumber rates, which directly
affect at least one-third of the population
of the Pacific Coast, amounting to $3.50
a thousand on lumber. I will call the at
tention of t lie commissioners from the
Middle West to the fact that this in
crease, if it is Justifiable at all, must be
borne by their constituents.
"I am not talking, of course, as to the
reasonableness of any particular rate:
but the broad principle seems to me to
underlie it that the shipper ought to have
an opportunity to be consulted In advance
of the rate becoming effective." .
Before the motion was put to vte.
Chairman Fairchlld, of the Washington
Commission, spoke briefly In support of
the motion of Commissioner Aitchlson,
saying:
"I desire to my simply a word. It is
a matter that affects, as the gentleman
from Oregon stated, at least a third of
the industries of the Paaclfic Coast. It
Is not with us a question of paying exor
bitant rates. It is a question of one of the
greatest industries, of the Pacific Coast
being paralyzed. I am assuming now, that
the rate is an unreasonable one. If it be
an unreasonable rate, the business that
has been built up there during these years
will not be able to move, the customers
that the Pacific Coast lumbermen have
will be loft to them. It is something
whore there would be no remedy.
"Now, If that rate can be put In force,
and Is unreasonable, the damage is done,
there is no question of recovering the
excess rate, because the excess rate will
not be paid, the lumber will not move.
Three dollars and fifty cents you can
readily see will prohibit tho moving of
the lumber. I apprehend this reaches
very tar in its effect: in short, the effect
of this amendment means that Congress
shall have the power not to correct an
unreasonable rate as today, but It means
that Congress has the power of. lixlng
the rate in the first Instance. It is very
far-reaching, because If you cannot
change the rate, that means that these
rates that are now established cannot
be changed. If objecttion Is made, they
cannot be changed. That is, they can
not be changed without the consent of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
and the effect of that Is the placing of
the power In the first instance in Con
gress of fixing the rate. It is very broad
in that, particular. . Hut I do believe that
power ought to be granted. I believe that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
ought to- be vested with the power of
saying that, until it is demonstrated that
a rate Is unreasonably low or not re
munerative, that rato Bhould not be ad
vanced. If objection is mad?; and I
therefore heartily support the amend
ment" In turn Commissioner Jones, of Wash
ington, supported the resolution, saying:
"The proposition is very simple, it
seems to me. The people of the Pacific
Coast simply want an opportunity to hold
their business. If they are not paying
reasonable rates, they are willing to pay
them, but they want to have the fact
demonstrated that those rate3 are rea
sonable before they are put Into effect.
As with the, present law, the rates will
bo put into effect and the money col
lected from the lumbermen, and our
trade, that has taken years to build up,
will be taken away from us and it will
bo impossible for us to recover that
which we have at the present time, and
It seems to me that there is every reason
why the present law should be amended
so as to give us the opportunity that we
speak of." . ...
Commissioner Lawrence, of Washing
ton, also advocated the resolution of the
Oregon Commissioner. He said:
"I move the adoption of the report for
the reason that a motion to acc?pt a re
port does not give an indorsement to a
report such as this Is entitled to, and I
believe that ordinarily this association
ought either to adopt' or else refuse to
adopt a given report, because If a com
mittee has taken the pains to gather to
gether the material for a report and put
it in specific form and present It to the
association, that committee Is entitled to
have It considered on its merits. That
much In explanation of my motion to
adopt, and which I favor because that
report in the main meets my personal
approval.
"Now, just a word of explanation In
addition to what has already been said
as to the amendment offered by Mr.
Aitchlson, of Oregon. It means an ex
ception to the general proposition in the
report and the amendment made here, it
adopted, will become a part of theTeport,
because, as Mr. Aitchlson has said, this
Is something that is approved definitely
In existing law. If notice Is given of a
proposed Increase in a rate, shippers
ought to be given an opportunity to be
heard before the rate becomes effective.
That Is all the amendment means."
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The illustration shows a clever
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iHrfZbz Wome
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$32.95
That exemplifies the exclusive
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of the Silverfield stocks. These
Tailored Suits, strictly man
tailored, are fashioned of styl
ish novelty suitings with in
visible stripe effect. It is but
one of the many attractive models in various
new fabrics that will set the pace for value
giving. Today only $32.95
New Arrivals
SEE THE MANY NEW SUIT ARRIVALS
RANGING IN PRICE FROM $25 TO $75
Inspection Invited.
WIVES ARE TRIED
If First Does Not Suit, the Es
kimo Takes Another.
PROBLEM SEEMS SETTLED
Tribe Lives In Ideal Condition of
Communism Until Christianity
and Civilization Come Chil
dren Well Provided For.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 10. A special to
the Washington Herald says:
Trial marriage among the Eskimos of
Alaska and in the region of the Macken
zie River is a complete success, and tho
life and morals of these people excel
those of any civilized country, in ! the
opinion of V. Stefansson. ethnologist, of
the Leffingrvell-Mlggelson polar expedi
tion, who has just returned from the Far
Korth.
Mr. Stefansson went through some ex
citing experiences, and the results of his
ethnological studies of the Eskimos will
probably delight the heart of Mrs. Par
sons, the wife of Representative Parsons,
who wrote "The Family," which book
caused much discussion at the time of
its publication.
This entire problem, he says. Is worked
out to perfection, divorce and family Jars
among this raco being practically un
known. In every instance, declares Mr. Stefans
son. he found that those farthest away
from religion and civilization as exem
plified by the white man, had a much
higher moral and physical standard than
those who have been Christianized and
civilized.
This conviction, he says. Is borne out
by the almost unanimous testimony of
the traders and the Canadian mounted
police, who penetrate this country. Their
exemplification of the family, he asserts,
is superb, and cannot be equaled any
where. They Marry Young.
"When a boy reaches the age of 16 or
16 years he marries a girl of about the
same age or a year younger," says Mr.
Stefansson. "There is no ceremony in
this union, and- it is seldom a permanent
one. Cases are rare where cnuples first
united have remained together. It is
sometimes the second, and generally the
third union, which proves lasting.
"This last marriage usually takes place
when the couple reaches young manhood
and womanhood, and its ties are rarely,
if ever, broken. If a couple, upon first
mating, for any reason proves uncon
genial, the one wishing to do so simply
marries someone else.
"There are no hard feelings, and there
is no complaint, as it Is considered that
neither party has cause for complaint.
"A peculiar feature of these matches la
the fact that young couples are, as a
rule, not very affectionate, which Is a
peculiar contrast, as when permanently
settled, and reaching the age of from 25
to 86, they become affectionate and lov
ing in the extreme, and never unneces
sarily leave one another's side.
Children Well Cared For.
"Naturally, you ask what becomes of
the children springing from the trial
marriages, tout this Is also easily disposed
of, and in a most satisfactory way.
"Children the few in this region from
various physiological reasons. In somo
Instances they remain with the mother.
In others with the father, but a majority
are adopted by other and settled couples.
"Their care is no burden or expense, as
these people are communists In every
n s Suits
TnrW nr
Extra
sense of the word, and even should a
mother who was crippled or ailing keep
her children, they would never want, as
food and clothing and every need of life
are held In common by the community.
"This is another aspect in which the
Christianized Eskimos compare unfavor
ably with the so-called savage brothers,
for where civilization has tainted them
they are selfish and unwilling to share.
"On the other hand, if a family livln?
in tho remote regions has food enough
to keop them only, one day, and starva
tion is staring them in the face, they
would no more think of refusing to share
their food with anyone who came along
than a Washlngtonian would have of re
fusing a stranger a drink of wrater at the
public pump. This communistic idea is
absent only where traders and mission
aries, innocently enough, have t.Aught
them white men's methods and manners."
JUDGE WILLIAMS' ADVICE
Says Oregon Trust Depositors Should
Take Telephone Bonds.
George H. Williams has sent a letter
to the officers of the Depositors' Asso
ciation, who are working for the re
organization of the Oregon Trust &
Savings Bank, heartily indorsing the
plan. The letter is to Secretary Rich
mond, and Mr. Williams says:
Dear Sir I am a depositor In the Oregon
Trust &. Savlnss Bank and my deposit
amounts to about J10O0. I was among the
first to accept the proposition to take tele
phono bonds for my deposit.
It Is surprising to me that depositors
should hesitate one moment to take these
bonds for their deposit: It Is perfectly clear
that they can: realize In this way the full
amount of their deposits and it Is equally
clear that if the business Is left to go
through the regular rourse of receivership
they will probably receive not more than 50
cents on a dollar, certainly not the full
amount of their deposits.
Upon those who refuse to enter Into this
arrangement to resuscitate the hank will
rest the responsibility of the losses which
they and othnrs will sustain by suoh action.
Yours very truly.
GEORGHJ H. WILLIAMS.
"I cannot understand why deposit
ors are not coming in more readily and
taking telephone bonds and bank stock
for their balances," said Receiver Dev
lin yesterday. "I wish there were some
way to hurry this matter up. There is
about $300,000 yet to be raised in this
way and hesitation on the part of de
positors is delaying the whole matter.
I am anxious to have the affairs of the
bank straightened out at, the first op
portunity. The delay on the part of
the depositors may cause the defeat
of - the whole plan. Everything else
that the reorganization depends on is
assured. It only remains for the de
positors to take the bonds."
"Two-thirds of the distance has
been covered to success," said Secre
tary Richmond. "If the plan should
fall now. It will be easy to find the
ones whose selfishness and short
sightedness caused them to work
against the financial interests of them
selves and other depositors."
Subscriptions continue to come In
for both telephone bonds and bank
stock and the reorganlzers still hope
to carry through the plan of reopen
ing the bank.
PARK DEER FAST DYING OFF
Beautiful Animals Quickly Succumb
to Ravages of Tuberculosis.
TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 15. From a
large band of 45 deer In Point Defiance
Park the ravages of tuberculosis have
reduced the number - to three. Super
intendent Roberts reported to the park
board that one of the beautiful animals
died Saturday. They will not stand
being confined in the parks. A pe
culiarity of the case is that Central
American deer and elk kept on either
side of the native deer seem to stand
captivity well, but if kept too close to
the native deer soon contract tuberculosis.
O'Sullivan heels of brand new
rubber soften your tread and ease
your steps every day of your life,
from the time you arise in the
morning till you retire at night.
They make you walk with light
ness, spring, and buoyancy keep
your energy compact and forceful
relieve the strain of business and
fatigue.
How can they do it?. Because
they are made of new, live rubber.
Midweek Specials
AT SAVINGS WORTH YOUR
WHILE TO INVESTIGATE
See Window Displays
A Millinery Special
For Today Only
New Fall Street and Dress
Hats, regularly sold for $8.50
to $12.00; today only.. $7.35
See Fourth-street Window
Display.
Mothers!
Children's Bearskin Coats, fine quality, in
white, brown and gray, regular $4.00 and $4.50
values; for today only $3.69
HE IS DANGEROUS CITIZEN
JUDGE THUS CONDEMNS DISBE
LIEVER IN PART OF IiAW.
Socialist Who Selects What Part of
Law lie Will Obey Rejected
as a Juryman.
CHICAGO, Oct. 15. (Special.) There
not only are "undesirable citizens" in
this country, as indicated at one time
by President Roosevelt, but there are
"dangerous citizens," and in this sec
ond class, according to Judge Gemmill
of the Municipal Court, are those who
acknowledge fealty only to such laws
as suit their purpose.
This declaration by the court was
made today when John McVey, a ma
chinist, while undergoing an examina
tion for venireman, said he was a So
cialist and a believer in the law only
in part.
"Sir," said Judge Gemmill in a loud
voice, rising from his seat, "If you only
believe in part of the law, and you
leave that part to be selected by your
self, you are a dangerous citizen and
should not be protected by the law
which protects good citizens. Tou are
dismissed."
DELAYS IN ADAMS' CASE
Defense Secures Postponement It
Slay Not Go to Trial This Winter.
RATHDRUM, Idaho, Oct. 15. (Special.)
The case of the State against Steve Ad
ams, charged with the murder of Fred
Tyler, was called in tho District Court
and on request of counsel for the defense
was passed until tomorrow mornliig. It
Is thought likely that the case will not
come to trial this session. The case was
transferred here from Shoshone County.
The defendant wb then ready for trial
Today we hatch out the finest
brood of Suits, Hats, Shirts and
Furnishings that has ever
broken the shell in this city.
They are all "birds."
Come in and see the plumage.
CioflnngCo
IN ui Ma Tbsrd W.
iiCClS
No other heels are.'' Live rubber
gives spring and buoyancy that's
why they help you to walk with
ease help you to carry your load.
This means much to you. You
weigh 150 pounds, more or less.
You walk about three miles a day,
upstairs and down, in the house,
in the yard, or on the street, and
you lift 1,181,000 pounds, accord
ing to scientific calculation. If
you weigh more, you lift more.
Fine
Are you seeking something ex
tremely swagger in Furs? Get a
Combination Set either a Neck
piece, Hat and Muff, or a Coat,
Hat and Muff to match. We are
the only furriers on the Coast that
manufacture them. We have in
stock an endless variety of styles
in all fashionable furs, and more
than likely you can find just what
you want among them. If not,
we will make to order anything
your fancy may dictate, at a rea
sonable Mrice.
Extra Special Today
Only
Beautiful Siberian Squirrel Set,
latest style, consisting of Throw
and Muff : fine quality, elegantly
lined. Reg. values to
New Fur Catalogue of '07-'08
MAILED FREE UPON REQUEST
We make a specialty of repairing and remodeling Furs
at most reasonable prices.
and an understanding was had that, in
consideration of the change of venue, the
state would bring the case to trial at a
time to allow the presence of Clarence
Darrow. The Pettlbone pase was post
poned today until v-ctober i'S. Judge Ed
win McBee said tonight that it had not
been decided whether the defense would
be ready to set the trial when the case
was brought up again tomorrow morning.
MOTHER AIDS THE BRUTE
Revolting Story of Moral Depravity
From Cottage Grove.
BUGENK, Or., Oct. 15. (Special.) Mrs.
John Ijynch and Clyde Hastings, of Cot
tage Grove, were, given a preliminary
hearing and were bound over to the Cir
cuit Court here today on the charge of
assault with attempt to commit criminal
assault. The 14-year-old daughter of
Mrs. Lynch is the victim, and the evi
dence shows she was brought by her
mother to a room in a Cottage Grove
hotel for the express purpose of having
Hastings debauch her for a stipulated
price. A man In an adjoining room who
heard the conversation and the girl's
protests called an officer and the door
was forced in and all three found dis
robed in the same bed. Bond was not
furnished.
Abdul Aziz In Sore Straits.
PARIS, Oct. 15. In a dispatch from
Rabat, the correspondent of the Matin
THE NEW POLICIES of the
COLUMBIA LIFE 6 TRUST CO.
Are Ideal Life Insurance Contracts Issued by a Home Company
LOW NON-PARTICIPATING RATES HIGH CASH VALUES
Superior inducements offered to reliable active Agent3
Apply to JESSE R. SHARP, Manager of Agents
214 Lumber Exchange Bldg.
W. M. LADD, President THEO. B. WILCOX, Vice-Prea
leasure is written all
m over the faces of the
men who
IlONQUEROR
SHOESJorMEtf
$352 Seoo $500
Preston B, Kaith Shoe Co., Makers, Brockton, Mas.
SOLD BY W. J. FULLAM
283-285 Morrison Street
of New Rubber
S Don't you see the value of rubber
cushions on your heels ? Don't you
see the importance of wearing new,
live rubber heels O'Sullivan's?
For your own sake, have your
shoes fitted at once. Be sure to
specify " O'Sullivan's " when order
ing, or you may get the worthless,
wearless, snapless, imitation, scrap
heap rubber kind. All shoe stores
and shoe makers sell O'Sullivan's
at 50 cents attached.
The Fashion Center
Entire Corner Fourth
and Morrison Streets
Fur Sets
$30.00; special today. .$17.45
days the extremity of the Sultan Abdul
Aziz is worse than was at flrBt thought.
He had only money for three days and If
France does not come to his rescue Im
mediately, he will be forced to disband
his army and shut himself up In Rabat.
OWLS OPEN THEIR EYES
Entertainment Given for Members
and Guests Ixtst Night.
The Brotherhood of Owls, Portland Nest
No. 4, opened the Winter season of fes
tivities with a programme at their ball
at Second and Yamhill streets last night,
which was attended by over 400 members
and their friends. ,
The programme was enthusiastically re
ceived and the list of attractions In
eluded professional and home talent,
among the latter being vocal solos ren
dered by Miss Belle Lawrence and Frank
D. Hennessy, the latter making a decided
hit with his new song, "General Hardtack
on Guard." as on his initial rendition of
the picec at the Elks' social last Thursday
night. P. B. Struck and his sons and Leo
Hlnkle entertained tho assemblage with
two boxing exhibitions. Several numbers
by local talent were well received from
the different local theaters. During the
evening refreshments were served.
The Bummer season at Newport, R. I.
was the most dismal In years. Th rich.
It is supposed, were hard hit by the slump
In the Htock market.
wear .
!
Hi
4
EnmnilU;il!pfHffiEl)
KSKiiansiiaiEEUi