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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1914)
10 THE MORNING OREGON! AN, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1914. ttmt POBTXANI1. OKXGON. Entered at Portland. Oregofl Fostoff lca as second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably I Advance (BY MAIL) Daily. Sunday Included, one year $8.00 Daily. Sunday Included, six months... 4.2-d Daily, Sunday Included three months.. -.25 Dally. Rundav Included, one month... .75 Daily, without Sunday, ono year 6.00 Daily, without Sunday, six months.... 3.25 Dally, without Sunday, three months.. 3.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month GO Weekly, one year..... Sunday, one year... 2.u0 Sunday and weekly, one year 3.60 (BY CARRIER) v Daily. Sunday Included, one year 19.00 Dally, Sunday Included, one month.. ... .5 How to Remit Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at eender B risk. Give postomca aaaress in tun including county ana state. roslage Ksln 12 to 19 pages, 1 cent; IS to 32 pages, z cents; 3 to 4S pages, a cents; cents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verree A Conk, lln. Tew York, Brunswick building. Chi cago. Steger building. San Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Co. 742 Market street. PORTLAND, TUESDAY. MARCH 17, 191. ANOTHER PENSION BELL. Approach of a Congressional elec- tlon is foreshadowed by the introduc tion of a new pension bill. Its aim is to pension widows and orphans of veterans of the Spanish War and the Philippine rebellion. It grants a pension of $12 a month to all widows of hon orably discharged soldiers, sailors or marines, either regular or volunteers, who served ninety days or more dur ing these wars between April 21, 1898, and July 4, 1902, the widow being "without means of support other than her daily labor, and an actual net in come not exceeding $250 per year." For each child under 16 years of age the widow will receive $2 a month, provided she shall have married the soldier prior to the passage of the act. This bill was introduced by Repre sentative Key, of Ohio, and is on the House calendar, backed by the United Spanish War Veterans. In its favor it is contended that the allowance is the same as has been made to widows and orphans of veterans of other wars. The total number who served during the Spanish War was about 434,000. Destitute widows and or phans are generally cared for by the veterans' organization, who, in their own words, "ask absolutely nothing for themselves, but only provision for the helpless widow and orphan." Widows can secure pensions under present law, if they can show their husbands' deaths to have been caused by disabilities incurred in the service, but this is rarely practicable. The bill is said merely to continue the well-recognized policy of the Govern ment. Failure to provide for depend ents of Spanish War veterans is pro nounced unjust discrimination. The burden of public debt is now much lighter than when Union veterans were pensioned. Against the bill it is argued that it grants pensions regardless of wheth er widowhood and dependence are due to the husband and father's service. Where dependence is due to disa bility incurred in the service, the present law makes provision, and pen sions should be given only where the United States has caused death. The bill grants pensions from date of en listment to discharge, regardless of actual field service, though the sol dier may never have smelled gunpow der and may have run no risk and In curred no disability. The fact that the bill continues the present policy is held to be an argument against it, not in its favor. As to the reduction of the National debt, if pensions are justified, they should be given with out regard to the Government's abil ity to pay. As proof that the bill Is only the ntering wedge for wholesale pen sioning of Spanish War veterans, the growth of the Civil War pension roll Is cited. Pensions in the '70s totalled about $30,000,000, but reached a maximum of nearly $180,000,000 in the present fiscal year and for the year 1915 the estimates are $169,150, 000. The increase in amount has con tinued in spite of a decrease in num ber of pensioners. This reached its highest point 999,446 in 1903 and in 1913 had fallen to 820,200. The pension committee can only guess at the expense the bill will involve, but it estimates the first cost at about $1,500,000 a year, with a slight in crease each year. The Pension Office places the initial expenditure at $2, 500,000 "with a promise of increase from year to year for a number ef years." The passage of the bill Is considered certain, for no member of the House dare criticise it unless he is prepared for political extinction. How easily a. Representative's defeat might be en compassed by voting against a pension bill, in which not only the veterans, but all their relatives are interested, is shown by the situation in Massa chusetts. In 1910 the total vote for Congress was: Republican, 203,136; Democratic 203,624. In five districts casting 182,000 votes, the total of pluralities of the winners was only 2S06 and in these districts there were about 18,000 pensioners. The bill Is sure to pass the House, but will meet with determined opposition in the Senate. The President's attitude is problematical. MAKING PEOPLE READ. A publishers' co-operative bureau has been formed In the East to foster the reading habit. They say it has been decaying of late for many rea sons. One reason, and a strange one, is the modern method of living in apartments. The ordinary flat has no room for books, which, small as they often are, still take up space and when there is barely room for the bed and the kitchen table libraries are only too likely to be crowded out. Another reason for the decline of reading is said to be the multiplica tion of public libraries. We doubt the soundness of this, how;ever. If all public libraries are conducted like the one in Portland they promote reading habits instead of weakening them. There Is an organized and persistent effort at our public library to IrsjJSuce patrons not only to read books, but to read good ones and there is ground to believe that it is successful. Still there is no question but that people read far fewer books than they ought and the effort of the publishers to persuade them to better things is praiseworthy. The fact that it will incidentally enlarge profits need not be dwelt upon too consis tently. The publishers complain Justly that the book store is not what it once was. It seldom contains a clerk who Is over head and ears in love with fcooks, nor Is the proprietor often of that rare old stamp who hated to sell a book because he cherished it so dearly. To the modern keeper of a book store, say these disgruntled pub lishers, a book is like a lump of coal. Without adopting to the full their scandalous opinion, we may admit that there is something in it. There is also substance in the com plaint that readers who would lik to buy a new book oftentimes cannot get it at the store. They see some thing fascinating advertised .in the magazines, a thrilling thought pro voker, it may be, like Walter Lip- mann's "Preface to Politics," and run to the book store in hot haste to buy it, only to be met with the answer that it is not in stock. By the time the book has been sent for and pro cured the prospective buyer has his mind on something else, perhaps on a picture show, and the opportunity is gone forever. WHAT IT ALL MEANS. Clearly the city is stirred over this meter agitation as it has not been for years. In a definite way the referen dum is a protest against high taxes, colossal waste and demonstrated in efficiency and a demand for econ omy. The tax-eaters would better take heed. The uprising of the long- suffering taxpayers is portentous. The tax-ridden public sees that me ters will cost $500,000 of the public moneys. When Commissioner Daly devises a plan to put $500,000 in the taxpayers' pockets Instead of a waste ful scheme to take $500,000 out of their pockets, he may look for more appreciation and less criticism. The citizen who pays $1 for water on a flat rate and finds that his neighbor is paying 75 cents Is often for meters. Naturally. But the me ter business is Intended to include everybody. When all houses are me tered, how can one pay less than an other, conditions being equal? The water department must have revenue. When all places are metered the cost of administration and of maintenance will be heavily increased. The av erage rate for the ordinary consumer will not be less; it must then be more. Commissioner Brewster .is handy with figures on water. So is Com missioner Daly. The water depart ment has figures to bestow when a Commissioner is to use them. Yet when Chairman Conway, of the ref erendum committee, asked Commis- sioner Daly for an estimate of the cost of a certain phase of water serv- ce he was put off with the excuse that it would take six weeks to get the figures ready. The Oregonian has Information that Mayor Rushlight asked a competent engineer to make an estimate of the extra cost to install reinforcing mains to supply the sections now not ade- quately furnished with water during all seasons. The figure was $60,000. Yet the experts of the water depart ment in the city's employ seek to alarm the public with the talk about millions. THE BLUEBIRD. As it has done in Boston and Chi cago, not to mention other places, the Drama League will probably under take a campaign to make "The Blue bird" a notable success in Portland. The play is one of the most beautiful n the world. Not only is it perme ated by a profound philosophy, but the action is charming throughout and the spectacles it exhibits are va ried and wonderful. Even those who pay no attention to Maeterlinck's thought in "The Blue bird" are fascinated by his dramatic power and the marvels of the action. To some spectators the climax of the fairy play is in the scene with Queen Night where Tyltyl, in spite of her threats, ventures to open the door into the garden of happiness, where the air is full of bluebirds, though un happily the boy does not manage to catch any genuine specimens. Those that he does capture here and there in the course of the play all turn some other color in the sunlight and it is only at home, returned from his wan derings in fairyland, that he Anally wins the mysterious object of his quest. HARD TO DRAW THE LINE. Democratic leaders find that legis lation supplementary to the anti trust law is not so easy to draft as they have imagined. Already, as a result of conferences between Presi dent Wilson and Chairman Clayton, of the House judiciary committee, it has been decided to rewrite three of the "five brothers." These are the bills defining offenses against the Sherman law; the bill regulating trade relations by supplementing the Sher man law, and the bill forbidding in terlocking directorates. The great difficulty evidently Is to state in general terms what is for bidden as hurtful without including that which is beneficial to the public or is a reasonable exercise of freedom In business. Yet in an effort to pre serve what is beneficial and not to impair reasonable liberty, Congress might leave a loophole for harmful combinations. How can combinations similar to the oil and tobacco trusts be forbidden to fix an excessive uni-1 form price without by the same law forbidding fruitgrowers to combine for the purpose of marketing their crops at a price which, while higher for them. Is lower for the consumer than would be the price made by middlemen to whom individual grow ers in competition with each other would sell; or without forbidding worklngmen and women to combine in securing living wages? That is the puzzle before Congress. Criticism of the Interlocking direc torates bill has made such an impres sion on the House committee that the conclusion is that the bill is too broad and goes too far. The bill forbids any person to be a director In two or more banks, or in two or more corporations engaged in interstate commerce, or in a corporation supplying material to a railroad and in the railroad also. In many towns there is some one leader in business whose services are of great value to several Institutions in which he holds stock, but this bill would de prive them of his services and compel them to fall back on men of a lower grade. The test to be applied in each case should be the effect of each act or fact on public interest In preserving competition. A combination in its very nature monopolistic should be condemned as .injurious, but one which results only in good to the public should be permitted, so long as its effects are beneficial not only to its members, but to the consumers. Such discrimination cannot be made by law; it can only be made by an administrative body vested with pow er to judge of each case according to its peculiar circumstances. Such a Doay wouia De the proposed trade commission, and the broad powers which it would exercise require that it be composed of men of the highest type, free from partisan bias and from any business entanglements and above the Insidious Influences which would doubtless be used with It. A board of this character, well paid, with Ion tenure and above party influence could secure to the people all the ad' vantages of co-operation in business and keep them free from the oppres- sion of monopoly. AN EXAMPLE IX CO-OPERATION, An interview in The Oregonian, March 15, with Mr. Haberlach, secre tary of the Tillamook Creamery As soclation, a corporation which' is com posed of eighteen of the twenty-two cheese factories in Tillamook County, Is fraught with much food for thought for all interested In the upbuilding of Oregon. It also gives the intimation that the cheese manufacturers of the Northwest, as well as those of all oth er sections of our country, may see at least a small slump in prices when the new tariff law hits us with its full force. Thus far there has been but little cheese imported under the new condi tions, but Australia will likely under take to compete with us to our disad vantage as soon as the cheese-ship ping season opens. The Tillamook manufacturers have accomplished wonders for their sec tion, but we must remember that dairying conditions there are practi cally ideal. With a few exceptions, and those along the Pacific Coast in Oregon, are there any spots in Uncle Sam's domains where the dairy cow does as well as in Tillamook. But even under those conditions the cheese business of that section would not have prospered as It has except for the rare Intelligence of the manu facturers displayed in their co-opera tive manufacturing and selling opera tions. The eighteen large plants men tioned, with a total output last year of 3,505,516 pounds of cheese, which brought the sum of $541,748.46, mar keted the entire product through the selling agency conducted for them by Mr. Haberlach. The other four cream eries, with an output valued at $85, 000, sold through various other chan nels; but the Haberlach system dom inates the business of the county. Mr. Haberlach sees a bright future for the cheese business in his section, but points to the need of cheap money for land-clearing operations that more pasturage may be had. He thinks if 5 per cent money could be had by the landowners of that section on long time the business would show won derful increases year by year. One who goes to that section and sees the large areas of logged-off lands now lying idle will feel the force of Mr. Haberlach's statement. It might be well to point to the Tillamook co - operative operations among the dairymen for the benefit of canneries already formed and now forming for handling fruits and veg etables and turning into cash the by products now going to waste in many sections. There is no better evidence to be gained in the West of the bene fits of intelligent co - operation than that of the Tillamook dairymen. WATER A GOOD THING TO L'SE. In his letter published today Com missioner Brewster quotes a para graph from an article heretofore printed in The Oregonian. The para graph expresses a doubt that installa tion of meters will alleviate a short age of water in districts where such shortage Is due wholly to inadequacy of distributive system. In another article The Oregonian expressed the same opinion but added the qualifica tion that rates might be high enough on measured water to promote such economy that the shortage would be lessened. In a certain section of South Port land three-fourths of a water shortage due wholly to small mains has, ac cording to Mr. Brewster, been cured by installation of meters in part of the district. His figures on compara tive cost of these meters and the new main that otherwise would have been required show a saving in five years in interest and other charges of more than $10,000. We are not wholly satisfied with Mr. Brewster's figures. The new main would have relieved the entire short age. The installation of meters did not. If installation of meters in part cured but three-fourths the difficulty the $6525 charged up to meters ought to be $8684. Then meters make nec essary a useless billing system, which it is estimated costs a dollar a year per meter. It would require 993 me ters to measure the water on the premises of every consumer in the district and in five years the overhead charge for billing would be nearly 5000. As a matter of fact the money saved is about $3500 or $700 a year. To save this $700 nearly 1000 families would have to be restricted in the use of water when there is an ample quantity to be had within a distance of two miles. The district cited Is occupied large ly by worklngmen's homes. If these water consumers have been dis couraged in ornamentation of their ards the saving is not cause for great exultation. We have gone to great expense to bring water from a moun tain stream to the City of Portland. The supply of pure water is more than we can use. The reservoirs are full and overflowing. Yet the distributive system is such, that in certain portions of the city householders are compelled to economize, when they should be encouraged to freer use of water. It is shown by the statistics ,fur nished by Mr. Brewster that the av erage daily consumption per capita where ,the wrater supply is metered is 52 gallons. Fifty-two gallons used daily by each of a family of five will cost about $13 a year at the present rates. Under the flat rate the same family, if water is used by them for sprinkling purposes, pays $13. The flat-rate consumer uses on an, average 112 gallons daily. It thus appears that the meter rate is more than double the flat rate. No wonder the worklngmen in South Portland econo mized when the meters were put in. The Oregonian Is opposed to the meter plan chiefly as a matter of principle. It seems absurd to expend $500,000 to restrict the use of water when we have three times as' much water as we use. The Oregonian op poses wanton waste, but believes that the use of water should be encouraged when It goes to beautify the city and maintain Its reputation through out the country for wealth of lawns, roses and shrubbery. Waste can be curbed where there is waste by an inspection that will post prac tically nothing. Where there is a shortage that cannot be ascribed to waste, but wholly to insufficient mains. a high-priced meter service to restrict an adequate, legitimate use of water is far less preferable than new mains, even if the latter are actually more costly., 'Kansas City has discovered that the problem of divorces is largely individ ual. Finding that its judges were granting one. divorce for every three marriages, the people raised a fund to hire a divorce proctor, who, the first year, cut down the number of divorces 40 per cent and the second year pre vented an increase, though the popu lation Increased. He found the in crease to be principally in uncontested divorces, where the parties agree to separate, and behind the scenes Jn these cases he found "the unscrupul ous lawyer, the meddling neighbor and the too obtrusive relative." He made it his business to bring the couple together and owes his success chiefly to his work as peacemaker. Since divorce on any but serious grounds is against public policy, the public should be represented at di vorce hearings. The great Louis Agasslz "had no time to waste making money" and died comparatively poor, but with world-wide fame. His son, Alexander, developed the Calumet mining prop erty and died a millionaire. His grandson, Rodolphe, draws a princely salary as one of the Calumet officials, besides owning a huge block of stock. The family has changed its view on the money question since grandfather died. There was a time not long ago when the Portland Y. M. C. A. had more members than any other on the Coast. A number of circumstances conspired to place the lead elsewhere last year, but the association is now making a grand effort to regain its former prestige. For the Y. M. C. A numbers mean power and power means good work for mankind. All who can join ought to Join. Ships that pass in the night need no longer be quite so mysterious to one another as Sarah Grand found them. They can now converse by wire less telephone and learn each other's secrets as each flits on its way. The Duke of the Abruzzi has reported a wireless conversation over forty-five miles of water. This is a good begin ning. Chats across the Atlantic will follow soon. President Foster nobly proclaims his faith in leadership and leaders. "A thousand petty lawyers, seeking what trouble they may make, cannot take the place of a Charles Hughes; a thousand reporters of idle gossip can not take the place of one Lyman Ab bott." Such words as these, taken properly to heart by the Reed stu dents, are worth more than all their textbooks. The usefulness of the parcel post steadily improves. By a new regula tion soon to be in force farm produce may be shipped in any convenient packages just as by express, at least within the first two zones. In de veloping the parcel .post Mr. Burleson outruns the public. We do not avail ourselves of half its possibilities to shave the bristly cost of living. A Floridan died at 114 yesterday and a Missourian at 115. The former attributed his age to his system of regular habits. The dispatches fail to state the brands of liquor and to bacco used by the latter. Militant suffragettes would better keep out of Scotland. In knocking down one who attacked him yesterday Dr. Devon, at Glasgow, gave her a taste of what will follow. The Scot s a serious-minded person. Huerta says he will refuse to pay our bill for feeding interned federals at El Paso. Talk as chesty as you like, Vic, there's nobody in the Ad ministration to rebuke you. The idle army in California has de clared a hunger strike. Very conven ient and opportune. Nevertheless housewives will do well not to put their pies outdoors to cool. Ninety degrees in Missouri. A fort night since they were freezing. A month more and they 11 be suffering from heat prostration. Such is life in the Middle West. Who wouldn't be a policeman? More than 300 are seeking appoint ment locally. A uniform possesses a ure the able-bodied man cannot re sist. Not every man who today wears a tag has the proper blood in his veins; but it is a safe guess that every one wishes he had it. Huerta announces an increase in his army to 250,000. Of which 2500 are about all that he can drum up for muster. In fighting among themselves the Democrats should not forget what brought on the last Republican Wa terloo. Having attacked an American cus toms-house with impunity, those Mex icans will be marching on Washington yet. The llama given to Bryan has been shipped from Buenos Aires. Just in time for the Summer vaudeville sea son. Teddv. thus far, has escaped attack by savages in Brazil. No doubt the savages saw him coming. Lucky thing it wasn't a German or French Consulate those Greaser band its raided. Many aspirants for reserve bank honors will see the Joke on April 1. Russia visited by a mud storm. The heavens greet the Czar fittingly. Militants are offering prayers for Mrs. Pankhurst. She needs 'em. Where are the March winds that should be blowing? But then toll exemption has not been repealed yet. Mother" Jones is the mother of trouble. Are the gods trying to destroy Ja- pan ? - USE IS RESTRICTED BY METERS Water Consumption Fnll Off In One District, Says Commissioner. PORTLAND, March 16. (To the Ed itor.) In an editorial March 13 you say. To attempt to alleviate conditions with meters In the southeastern district Is ex travagance, because the meters actually promise no relief. It i not a question of how much water the consumer uses, but a question oi wnen he uses-it. If we buy meters we shall still have to enlarge the mains or regulate the hours of sprinkling by law. In South Portland there is a pretty definite case of relief afforded by meters without enlarging mains. For about 20 years there has been a ten Inch main from the upper reservoir In the City Park running out Corbett street. The elevation of the reservoir is 300 feet, and the water In the mains should go to 250 feet or better. Up to five years ago there was a great shortage each Summer along and near Corbett street and extending from Whittaker street to Hamilton avenue. In ordinary Summer weather there was no pressure at 150 feet, and a general shortage throughout the district. About five years ago more than 700 meters were installed, with the result that the pressure extends to an elevation of 243 feet, except after an unusually long, hot dry spell. More than 75 per cent of the trouble has been eliminated. If the meters had not been installed it would have been necessary to lay a 20-inch main for a distance of two miles at a cost of $52,800, reckoned at $5 per foot. Such a plan would today have cost the city as follows: Interest 5 years at 44 per cent $11,8S0 Depreciation 6 years at 2 per cent... 8.2S0 Total $17,160 The original cost for meters was ap proximately $9000, reckoning 750 meters at $12 each. Today, after five years' service, the cost Is: Interest 5 years at 4H per cent $2025 Depreciation 5 years at S 1-3 per cent. 3750 Maintenance. 20 cents per meter, per annum 750 Total $6525 The water office recommends the pur chase of 250 meters for the South Port land district in the belief that the re maining shortage will be entirely over come. In the southeastern district there are 5500 houses on the water service. There can be no question about the responsi bility of the city to provide sufficient water for house use and fire protection, and so far we have not met the re sponsibility for this locality. The cause of the trouble is from the small pipes taken over by the city from the pri vate companies, which must ultimately be replaced with larger sizes at an estimated cost of $584,200. Mr. Clarke has recommended the purchase of meters for the district, which will post pone the laying of mains costing $232, 000 for five years beyond the period when they would otherwise be required. Let it be assumed that It is neces sary to extend $352,200 In any event, and that the only question is concern ing the sum of $232,000 which must be spent for mains if meters are not In stalled, but which may be held back for five years if meters are installed. Invested In mains, $232.000 Interest for 5 years at 4 per cent. .J52.2O0 Depreciation for o years at 2 per cent 23,200 Total $73,400 Invested In meters, $64,020. Interest for 5 years at 4 per cent. .$14,539 Depreciation for 5 years at 8 1-3 per cent 28,925 Maintenance, 20 cents per meter per annum 5,385 Total $46,849 Mr. Clarke Is not responsible for the above calculations, but he must have gone through something like the same process before he advised Mr. Daly to install meters in the southeastern dis trict. According to his critics, Mr. Daly should have brushed aside his engi neer's advice and recommended to the Council the expenditure for this one locality not only of $352,200 for mains. but an additional $232,000 for the same purpose, although by so doing he would lose to the city almost $30,000. The effect of meters on consump tion is shown by figures for the year- ending October 31, 1912. The avera daily consumption in Portland for the unmetered residence service was 11 gallons per capita; for metered resi dence service (12,240 meters) was 52 gallons per capita. The general attitude toward meter ing appears from the statement that out of 73 cities In the Lnited States with populations ranging from 54,000 to 2,200,000, there are 25, including Portland, with less than 30 per cent of the service metered, nine' between 30 per cent and 60 per cent, and 39 be tween 60 per cent and 100 per cent. WM. L. BREWSTER. NO PLAYGROUND PLAN IN MIND Park Block Not Coveted for That Pur poae by Shattuck School Patrons. PORTLAND, Or., March 16. (To the Editor.) I read nthe communication concerning the Shattuck School site on The Oregonlan's editorial page today with considerable interest. This pro test comes from a lack of information concerning our plans for the school. We want it distinctly understood that we are not asking tor the Park block for a playground ror the school. We ire not asking tor, nor do we want, .swings, ladders, bars or ball grounds thereon. We do want our new building to face this block. We want the School Board to make the most of this out look in designing our new building. We desire this location for the light, the air space, the beauty of the parks as much as for the fact that it is away from the car tracks and la compara tively free from noise and dust and at the same time is far enough removed from the hills on the south and west to be in the open and out from under the shadow of the hills. This is very Important during the short days of Winter. We realize that we are demanding a school site in a thickly populated section, and there is not room for play grounds, In connection therewith. We also know the Park blocks were do nated to the city the whole city, and not the few living in their immediate vicinity. We insist upon our right and the right of our children to breathe the air in the vicinity of these parks and to look upon their beauty. We want this block made even more beau tiful. The Shattuck School Association will gladly furnish the flowers and shrubs to beautify this park that we may help to teach our children a love for the beautiful and the healthful. This building must of necessity be placed in a irlore or less thickly popu lated district, and what could be more beneficial or Inspiring than an attrac tive school building facing upon a beautiful garden or park? We want our school building In the open, In. the sunshine, clean, healthful and inspiring. We desire that the en vironment shall be the best possible In our district. MRS. J. F. KELLY, President Shattuck Parent-Teachers' Association. Kees for Naturalization. PORTLAND, March 16. (To the Edl- (tor.) Please' advise me if an appli cant for second citizenship papers can be compelled by the County Clerk to pay a second fee of $4 because one of his witnesses was disqualified. A READER. If the case is dismissed because of disqualification of a witness and a new petition for second papers is filed, then the Clerk is required to collect a sec ond fee from the applicant. Often when a witness is disqualified, the judge con tinues the case, to allow a new wit ness to be secured, in which event a second payment of the fee is not required. COST OF METERS IS FORMIDABLE Writers Figures tpAnnnal Chnrge at More Than $100,000. PORTLAND. March 15. (To the Edi tor.) Since D. D. Clarke declared in The Oregonian, several days ago, that operation and maintenance of water meters in Los Angeles cost "only 30 cents per year per meter and deduced from this that the expense for these items would be the same In Portland, I have noticed repeated assertions that "water meters will cost Portland only 30 -cents a year each." Although this is obviously absurd. It Is bound to make many people be lieve that the meter system will mean an added expense of only 30 cents a year to each family. I think it ought to be made plain what the real cost will be. In the first place "operation and maintenance" does not, of course, in clude Interest. If we are fortunate enough to sell the proposed 4 per cent meter bonds at par, which is extremely" unlikely, we would pay at least 48 cents per year interest on the invest ment represented in the cost and In stallation of each meter, which at the lowest figure is placed at $12 . Then there is the charge for depre ciation. It Is conceded that the life of a meter averages not more than 12 years, so we must chalk up $1 a year per meter for depreciation. Next we must not forget the billing system. If we do not install meters there is no reason that we may not discontinue the extravagant practice of sending out bills. The billing system annually costs the city 24 cents per meter for stamps alone, but the total cost of the system Is about $50.00,0, or approximately $1 per meter, as has been pointed out by The Oregonian from the water bureau records. Now if we add Mr. Clarke's estimate of 30 cent3 per meter for operation and maintenance, which, I suppose, in cludes repairs, meter reading, etc., we shall have a very formidable total. But, since we do not know exactly what Mr. Clarke's 30 cents per meter is meant to include, let us eliminate It, and forget that we are going to have to pay for repairing, reading and inspect ing meters, and for addtional clerical hire. We still have for the annual cost of a meter, 48 cents for interest. $1 for depreciation and $1 for useless billing system, or a total cost of $105. 209 annually for the 42.504 services in Portland that are now unmetered. Of course this is far too low, for the items we have eliminated namely, repair ing, reading. Inspection and additional clerk hire will by no means be elim inated in the final showing. Mr. Clarke suggests that we may make something of a saving by a quar terly billing Eystem. So it is intended to tack that on as a rider for universal meters. Whatever we may say about Mr. Daly, we must give him credit for persistency. After the people had overwhelmingly defeated the quarterly billing system, on his own referendum, he tried to shove it through as a rider on his landlord-pay-the-water-rent measure. Now Mr. Daly, through his engineer, says quarterly billing is to be a phase of the universal meter plan. Does any one for a moment believe that water rates can be lowered when each consumer must meet an added ex pense of more than $2.48 a year for meters. If they can be, what would be a reasonable water rate, without meters and with the city back again where the billing system is confined to the comparatively few larcre con sumers who. everyone admits, should be on meters. E. T. RECOGNIZED AFTER MANY YEARS Value of Alaska, Taken to Oblige Rus sia, Realized nt Last. PORTLAND. March 16. (To the Ed itor.) The Congress of the United States has authorized the building of a Uovernment railway from a coast point on Prince William Sound, Alaska, to the Yukon Valley, appropri ating $35,000,000 therefor; the Presi dent has signed the measure, and it is safe to assume the road will be speed ily built. Taking a retrospective view. it has taken this country 47 years to arrive at a true appreciation of the importance and utility of the region in the Far North acquired from Russia in 1867 for the sum of $7,200,000. Russia parted with that territory because she could not hope to hold it if England saw fit to take it; and our Govern ment accepted it indifferently, and paid the money more to reciprocate for Russia's friendship during the Civil War than as an idea of acquirin a territory of great value. At a time during the war when Eng land and France were ready to recog nize the Confederacy, Russia sent two naval forces to the shores of the United States one to San Francisco and the other to New York. This act was con strued as notice to the world that if England, especially, made a hostile demonstration against this Government and in support of the Confederacy, the warships of Russia would be at the command of President Lincoln. It was a counter move on the part of the Czar at that time which checked the course of England and contributed power fully to the triumph of the Union cause. Regardless-of what the Russian government may have stood for then, or may stand for now. this voluntary piece of strategy, by an absolute mon archy in favor of a republic engaged In a death struggle for existence ap pears as one of the thrilling incidents in the history of nations. Blaine's "Twenty Years in Con gress" gives a concise and interesting account of the debate in the National House of Representatives at the time the question of appropriating the money for the purchase of Alaska was being considered. Outside of General Banks, a member of the House, and William H. Seward, Secretary of State, very few there were who fore saw the future of Alaska, or had a conception of Its area. Mr. Blaine, whose book was written 30 years ago. seemed then to have a better grasD of what that territory was than some public men do today. That Alaska is at the beginning of a great era of de velopment there can be little doubt- Her known resources in gold, copper. coal and timber are great, and her grain and grass possibilities may sur prise us some day. As an attraction to Summer tourists, that land of gla ciers, great rivers and a midnight sun is equal to any In the world. And why should not Portland have a regular Alaska fleet? W. A. SCOTT. Spite and Barbed Wire Fences. TROUTDALE. Or., March 14. (To the Editor.) Please tell me what con stitutes a spite fence. Also, Is there law against barbed wire fences in the city? A SUBSCRIBER. A spite fence is a fence erected for spite between two houses to shut off the light and view of one or the other. There Is no law regarding the subject. either defining what constitutes such a fence or prohibiting Its erection. There is a law prohibiting all barbed wire fences In Portland excepting that a board or picket fence four feet high may have one strand of barbed wire six inches above the top of such fence. Securities for Bonk Notes. SKAMOKAWA, Wash.. March 10. (To the Editor.) (1) What securities besides United States bonds are ac cepted by. the Government as security for National bank notes? (2) What is the legal time a check may be held and the drawer still be responsible? An answer to the above quesions will greatly oblige an old subscriber. Yours respectfully, C. L. SILVERMAN. (1) None. (2) There is no law on this subject, but checks usually are questioned by the banks after a year. Twenty-five Years fi.go From The Oregonian of March 17. 1SS9. Port Townsend. March 17. The steamer Walla Walla was seized by the customs officers for smuggling $10,000 worth of opium. Salem. March 16. There is a great deal of feeling in Polk County over the killing of Thomas -F. Ferryman by O. F. Beardsley at Eola. Beardsley is in the jail at Dallas, which is guarded by five men. Salem, March 16. General Beadle, the new superintendent, and other of ficers of the Chemawa Indian School, met with citizens today to endea-vor to enlist Government aid in draining Lake Labish. Salem, March 16. Articles of incor poration were filed by the Koseburg Water Company; R. R. Sheridan. D. S. Buick, W. S. Hamilton, W. F. Benja min and O. L. Willis, incorporators. Seattle, Mach 16. The trustees of the Denny Hotel decided to begin immedi ately work on the building. H. K. Hines, D. D who has been ab sent three months in Idaho, has been spending about a week with his family In Portland. Mrs. Deacon Hall and Mrs. Smith start East in April. Walter Phil Friedlander, a well known to bacco dealer, was walking along Front street on Wednesday when a saw fell from the hands of a man on the top of an electric light pole and ruined Phil's hat. Two inches more and Phil might have been fertilizing the ground somewhere by this time. Joe Morin, a porter at the Holton House, last night fired five shots at Al Cody, a hotel runner, and wounded F. J. Goodenough. the night clerk, near the right shoulder blade. Mrs. S. M. Brown, of Vancouver, died on Friday. Captain U. Sebree, United States Lighthouse Inspector, is expected to return from the Sound today. Bids were opened yesterday by th County Commissioners for building the foundation of the south wing of the Courthouse, which is estimated to cost $48,000. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of March 17. 1S84. Francis Ely, sentenced to die for de sertion, was shot at Fort Walla Walla on the 11th Inst. If the telegraph had rciched the post, it is probable that his life would have been saved, as tho President last week commuted the punishment of all deserters under sen tence and ordered them to be confined at Tortugas during tho war. London, March 4. Military opera tions in Schleswig are suspended. Washington, March 14. A guard yes terday took possession of the Naval stores at Washington by order of Sec retary Welles and arrested several clerks and Navy agents to serve as wit nesses against Savage and parties in New York and Philadelphia charged with swindling the Government in Naval contracts. Cairo, March 15. Porter's fleet bom barded Trinity, Tex., drove out Hie enemy and occupied the town. Tint fleet proceeded up the Wachita to Har risonburg, drove the enemy from their batteries and burned the town. Washington. March 15. A general order calls delegates to the Union con vention Umatilla County, W. H. Barnhardt and Thomas R. McCoy; Baker County. A. Witherell. A. F. Johnston and B. M. Wade. The con ventions of both counties favor th nomination of J. G. Wilson for Circuit Judge. The steamers of the Willamette como and go from Its source to this plate well loaded with passengers and freight. Several of our citizens interested iri mining companies have formed a stock board consisting of the following mem bers: R. R. Thompson, president; John McCraken, secretary: H. D. Green. .1. C. Ainsworth. E. W. Tracy, P. C. Schuy ler. Jr.. D. F. Bradford. T. A. Davis. J. Myrick, L. Brooke. The fire in the woods is spreading. We were informed last evening by Mr. Cram, purser of the Julia, that a large amount of property has been destroyed In the vicinity, of Stites' Landing. Mr. Stites lost his barns and their con tents; Mrs. Osman has lost her house, stables and fencing, and Richard Howe his fencing. There was also a fire above Cape Horn, burning furiously. The sloop Christina, Captain Dodge, is undergoing a refitting to be used a.s a pleasure boat. The large boiler that has been lying on Couch's wharf is to be taken to the new mines at Owyhee by Messrs. Foun tain and LaFelle to furnish steam for their large five-stamp quartz mill. Council proceedings: J. D. Dunseth was awarded the contract for painting the plaza fence at the rate of 30 cents per running foot and W. H. Frusli the contract for building the sidewalk around the same at 50 cents per foot. The citizens of the Grand Rondo Valley are soon to be furnished with printing office. One or the proprie tors, Mr. VanCleve, called on us last evening. The material is taken from the stock of the -State Journal at The Dalles. H. A. Levens has lost ten head of cattle by poison and inform us that the woods up and down the Columbia are fu'l of dead animals. Feed being scarce, stock take poison weed. The New Spring Bonnet What about your new Spring hat? There is no one article of dress that a woman takes as much pleas ure in buying as her first Spring hat It seems to mark an epoch. The second or third one is very interesting, but the purchase of the first is an affair of prime impor tance. Don't let your pleasure be spoiled by making a mistake and getting the wrong thing either as to style or becomingness. Keep your eyes open and see what is what before you buy. Look at the millinery advertise ments in your newspaper and see what is In tile shops. A great many of the advertisements are illustrat ed and they will help you. Pretty soon you will have formed a definite idea of what you want and when you have reached that point go and buy your hat. You are sure to be right if you have made up your mind with full knowledge of what the market of fers. Adv.