THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY. OCTOBER 14, 1921
7
PLUMBERS ACCUSED
OF SCHOOL COMB
Grand Jury Investigation of
Methods Threatened.
BIDDING HELD FRAMEUP
Director Sliull Vncovcrs Condition
Indicating Conspiracy to Keep
Jobs at High Figure,
A threatening cloud In the form
of a grand jury investigation hangs
ever the plumbers of Portland, and
Samuel Fierce, deputy district at
torney and counsel for the school
board. Is ready to start the storm if
an Informant of School' Director
fchull, through whose tip ten days
ago the existence of a supposed com
bine was learned, says he will appear
before the grand jury and repeat
what he told Mr. Shull.
In addition to the plumbing com
lne the matter of specifications set
down for building brick, so only the
product of a company partly owned
by the son of School Director Martin
and located at Forest Grove, could
be used, has been brought to the
attention of the board. This, how
ver, has been amicably adjusted and
is expected to be cleared up within
A week without further difficulties.
Bidding Held Frameup.
The exposure of the. reputed
plumbing combine came about after
considerable secret work on the part
of Director Shull, who withholds the
name of his informant. The infor
mation was to the effect that the
plumbers of the city, in bidding on
school Jobs, took turns In bidding low
no as to get the work, and specific
Uy that Al Dauch, a plumbing con
tractor, would place the low bid on
James John school.
Director Shull quietly set to work
Investigating the merit of this report
and also told the district attorney
about it. On "Wednesday night the
bid of Dauch for the plumbing of the
school proved to be the lowest re
ceived and a motion was about to be
put before the board for its accept
ance when Mr. Shull Interposed and
asked for permission to put a few
questions to Mr. Dauch. He then re
lated his information without reveal
ing Its source, and asked Mr. Dauch
as to its merits.
Mr. Dauch Admits Combine.
Mr. Dauch admitted the existence
of the scheme among the plumbers,
but said he had withdrawn from the
body and was working independently
because he wanted to "keep his
fingers clean." He declared he could
make a profit at $48,000, which was
$6200 less than the estimated cost
et by Captain George Kdmondstone,
superintendent of properties.
In working alone, he said, he had
ao arranged that no members of the
plumbers' combine had even known
he was going to place a bid on the
work. He told of securing the plans
and going about preparing his figures
quietly. In order not to let the others
know what he was doing, he secured
his prices in- Seattle, although he
aid he intended Xp buy his materials
in Portland.
Plumber Get "Donble-Crons.
Continuing his replies to Director
Shuirs questions, he said members of
the combine were at tne courtnouse
when he appeared to present his bid.
so he slipped around, entered another
door and submitted It without their
knowledge.
The nearest bid to Mr. Dauch s wa
that presented by W. S. Fleming, J500
higher.
"Was Mr. Fleming a member of
the combine?" he was asked.
"He was a member of the Master
Plumbers' association," Mr. Dauch
replied.
Director Woodward asked It it was
the custom of the combine to have
the member who was to get the bid
figure the Job on a basis of 10 per
cent profit and 10 per cent overhead,
and the others would then arrange
their figures so as not to conflict?
Mr. Dauch could not answer.
Trouble Brews Some Time.
Director Shull said the matter
really had been brewing ever since
the trouble over tne jiarysvnie
achool, when the board decided to do
the Job Itself. He had had informa
tion then, he said, that something
was wrong, and consequently ne was
disturbed some ten days ago wnen
he heard Mr. Dauch was to make the
low bid on the James. John school.
School Director Woodward was or
the opinion last night that some
thing should be done, although it
was not the duty of the school board
to do it. .
Mr. Dauch denied. over tne tele
phone that he had made a statement
to the effect it was usually a fore
gone conclusion among the plumbers
who was to get tne joo, ana in re
ferring to the 10 per cent overhead,
10 Der cent prom basis, aeciarea n
to be a legitimate margin lor
plumbers to work on.
Hart J-'- LOlie;, jfreoiuenu
Master Plumbers' association, said
that current conditions in tne nuua-
lng trade had made the working of
the organization s rules almost oui
of the question.
The lowest bid ror tne masonry oi
the James John school was submitted
by George IsacRson, a contractor,
and was objected to by Director
George B. Thomas because Isaackson
was not to use the bricks made by
the company at Forest Grove, une
engineer's eatimatos had specified
this brick or another of the same
size, color and quality. Superintend
ent Kdmondstone said he had found
the Forext Grove brick closest to his
specifications and had noted it on his
estimate.
Isackkson declared the Dries mar
ket was falling and use of the brick
in question would cost mm ij&uu
more than the one he would substi
tute. Director Martin said he would
refrain from voting acceptance of the
contract because of his son's connec
tion with the company. This was the
first intimation the board had had of
the relationship.
Director Thomnit Oppoxes Delay.
Director Thomas then opposed
crranting the delay neceary to allow
Isackson to procure samples of the
aubstltute brick, but Director Shull
interposed, because, he said, the For
est Grove brick was not absolutely
specified, and another of equal size,
rolor and quality could be used.
Isackson was granted a week to pro
cure his camples before action will
be taken on the contract.
The bid on the plumbing for the
school submitted by Mr. Dauch was
accepted when he convinced the board
he was not a member of the alleged
plumbing combine.
TEACHERS GET TRAINING
IS of Xew Normal Students Have
Schoolroom Experience,
nprnnv vnRMAr. Rownnr. .r
mouth, Or., Oct. 13. (Special.'). Ac
cording to registration figures 52 of
the new students who entered the
normal -this fall have had teaching
experience, ranging from a few
months to 23 years. The majority
of these, however, have taught but
one or two years. Twenty-four stu
dnta entered from other institu
tions of higher education, four of
these being from other states. The
great majority of those, who have
Just entered, are young students who
have Just completed their high school
education.
Multnomah county, with about 20
per cent of the entire student-body,
leads In the number of students. Al
most as large a number come from
eastern Oregon counties The Willam
ette valley and the coast counties are
well represented, but only a few are
from the southern part of the state.
Several have come from 'Washington
to attend the Oregon normal and one
is from California.
NEAR EAST FILM BOOKED
MOVIE TO BE SIIOIVX TONIGHT
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Screen Story Will Feature Girl
Saved by American Relief In
Constantinople.
Alice, a little girl who was rescued
from a house of ill repute in Con
stantinople by American workers and
- -"
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1 -tl "
ii
F - I
Allre, little girl rescued by
Americans In C'onMtantinople,
to be featured in moving pic
ture.
later brought to this country, will be
featured In the motion pictures which
will be shown tomorrow at the state
conference for the near east relief.
J. J. Handsaker state director for
tho near east relief, said he had a
partial promise that the girl would be
brought to this city some time this
winter.
The picture to be shown is grouped
around the Imaginary visit of a little
American girl to Armenia. She was
reading "Alice in Wonderland" and
wakened to find herself in "Hunger-
land. Alice, the star, was declared
to be a beautiful child. She speaks
three languages fluently.
"Wa all fell in love with her when
we saw her In our large orphanage the
day of our arrival," said Mr. Hand
saker. "There was a friendly contest
among several members of our party
as to who might adopt her and bring
her home. The men of the party gal
lantly gave way to Mrs. Florence
Spencer Duryea, national director of
women's organizations, and Alice and
hor foster mother are now visiting
conferences in the east.
The motion pictures will bo shown
at the First Presbyterian' church to
the children of the city tonight at 7,
7:45 and 8:30 o'clock, and at the
luncheon at the Benson hotel Satur
day noon, when the conference meets
for luncheon with the Oregon Civic
league with Governor Olcott presid
lng.
Police Personnel Increased.
SALEM, Or., Oct. 13. (Special.)
An increase or lour men in tne po
lice department and the purchase of
a patrol automoDUe were auowea oy
the special budget committee of -the
city council at a meeting held here
tnHav Tha Kuriirot am finallv nn-
proved by the committee, includes
items aggregating is,i3.. 'ine
lurirpRt ripnartTnpntAl increase la for
police. For the present year the cost
01 paying tne salaries oi tne bis pa
trolmen and office attaches totaled In
excess of $10,000. Six additional men
had been asked for the fire depart
ment, but this request was rejected
by the budget committee.
Corvallis Alumni Organize.
GRESHAM, Or., Oct. 13. (Special.)
Hoy E. Cannon was elected presi
dent of the Oregon Agricultural col
lege alumni association at their first
meeting held in the Gresham branch
library Monday night. Teachers from
the local high school predominated
although quite a few from out of town
attended. S. B. Hall, county agricul
tural agent, was appointed chairman
of a committee to organize the asso
ciation and to plan social events for
the coming winter.
tf1 VVi ONAlOtf '
(aswelLs
(offee
1.80oXwtfcipj were jerved
at tie PANAMA.-PACIFIC
ilioml EXPOSITION
Iniatm
'""MLB ItnauiWS1
I nnaj ujiuaj
Perhaps you'd be
surprised at the num
ber of successful busi
ness and professional men who
are buying their clothes ready
made these days.
They know a good tailor would charge
nearly twice as much for the kind of qual
ity they get in
Hart Schaffner &Marx
Clothes
Fall suits and topcoats ready now; you
can't get finer fabrics, better styles, bet
ter fit or more real value anywhere.
Sam'l Rosenblatt & Co.
Fifth at Alder
'."few :
Copyright 1921 Hart Schaffner & Marx
PC
INQUEST HELD NEEDLESS
DEATH OF IIAROLJ BCSCOMBE
CLEARLY SHOWS SOCIDE.
Request of Father for Investiga
tion Will Not .Be Considered
by Cosmopolls Officials.
ABERDEEX, Wash., Oct. 13. (Spe
cail.) Despite the request of his
father, said to be an ex-mayor of
Vancouver. B. C, no inquest will be
held in connection with the death of
Harold, Buscombe. 22-year-old em
ploye of the Grays Harbor Commer
cial company, who was found dead
in his room at the best rooming house
in Cosmopolls about 7:30 o'clock last
night. A telegram was received this
morning from Frederick Buscombe
stating that he would arrive here to
night and asking that an Inquest be
arranged for tomorrow morning.
Officials here, however, consider that
the evidence of suicide is so con
clusive that the father will not ask
for an inquest when he learns the
details.
The young man was last seen about
3 o'clock yesterday afternoon by the
owner of the lodging house and she
said that he seemed normal The
body, was found In the evening and
it is believed that he had been dead
three or four hours. Kvldently he
shot himself with a small revolver
which was found at his side.
No motive for the deed has been
assigned, but authorities say they
are certain Buscombe was not a drug
addict. '"
GRESHAM NOMINATES 12
Candidates for Councilmen Are
Named at Mass Meeting.
GRESHAM, Or., Oct. 13. (Special.)
Twelve citizens were nominated for
three places on the Gresham council
at a mass meeting held in Metzger's
hall, in Gresham. Monday night. Be
cause of a mistake in the ballot a
year ago the marshal was elected for
one year Instead of two, but it was
finally decided to retain the present
marshal, Gregg Cox, and to overlook
the fact that his term of office had
expired. This was done on the ground
that he could legally hold office until
his resignation or until & successor
had been elected.
The councilmen whose terms have
expired are: T. R. Howitt, B. L. Wal
rad and Al Hammar. The nominees
were: Al Hammar, George Leslie, T.
R. Howitt, E. H. Kelly, Charles Cleve
land, James Elkirrgton, H. J. Pulfer,
C. U Raker, William Thorn. J. V.
Cogswell. H. W. Cooley and Mrs.
Emma Ross.
SUICIDE S INDICATED
Man's Hat and Coat Are Found on
Broadway Bridge.
A suicide from the Broadway
bridge was Indicated last night by a
hat and coat, found by Night Opera
tor P. J. Hyde on the walk near the
west tower. Police found dust on the
railing marked as it might have been
by the hands of a man vaulting over.
Alphonse Bruneau was the name
found on a set of naturalization
papers which were in the coat pocket.
Initials "A. B." in the hat band showed
that the papers belonged to the man
wearing the coat. The papers were
signed on October 19, 1904, at Ka
lama. Wash. A few pennies and a
pair of spectacles were the only other
articles found in the pockets. The
clothing was turned over to the in
spectors' department, which will in
vestigate today.
The harbor petrol searched the wa
ter about the bridge but found no
trace of the man.
to make the lyceum course which
the school Is putting on a success.
This is the first year that the local
high school has attempted anything
of the kind, and every student Is
working hard to make it the biggest
thing in the way of entertainment
that has ever been attempted here.
FAIR SITE DRIVE STARTS
Ross Island-Council Crest Organi
zation Begins Work.
At a meeting at the public library
last night an organization to work
for the Ross island-Council Crest site
for the 1925 exposition was com
pleted. Officers were elected and
local committees appointed to arrange
for meetings in different districts.
The officers are: Kenneth Brown,
president; D. A. Norton, executive
secretary; E. H. Collins, treasurer;
Victor Joh.-.son, trustee. Detail work
o' the organization is to be carried
on through Mr. Norton's office, 606
Gasco building.
Local committees appointed were:
South Portland district, Burt Jones;
Scllwood, J. E. Reinke, H. W. Mor
gan, H. C. Menasco; WoodBtock, H.
Kyder. A. M. Stanton; Eastmoreland
and Westmoreland, Dr. Calvin SI
White. E. E. Hupp, Henry Boyd; Ful
ton Park, L. E. Latourette, Raymond
Van Dalen; Council Crest, D. A. Nor
ton of Huber, H. Nellson of Aloha, H.
Denlinger; Brooklyn, C. W. Boost,
C A. Blanchard.
The local committees are to call
meetings in their districts next week
Permits the Use of Her Name.
Rachell Walker, . 53 D. St.. Way
cross. Ga., writes: "I suffered with
kidney trouble for four years, and
Foley Kidney Pills is all that gave
me relief, so you may use my name
as one who recommends them." This
safe remedy for kidney trouble and
bladder ailments relieves backache,
rheumatism pains, etc. Sold every
where. Adv.
Students Boost Lyceum.
GRESHAM, Or.. Oct. 13. (Special.)
A house-to-house canvass was
started yesterday by the students of
the Gresham high school In n effort
Worth Reading
LOOKS LIKE RAIN
imnnp in it
v Ai? nnno n niro
Wll Protect
You
R
L i 1 1 1 H i ii u in iJ
and what's more, it looks that way, and does rain quite often.
PREPARE NOW AND SAVE MONEY BY
ATTENDING THIS SALE OF
AINCOATS
of E?ery Kind for Rain or Shine
Consisting of Cravenette-proofed
GABARDINES, Topcoats, Motor Coats,
Scotch Tweeds, Mohairs, Moleskins,
Silk Rubberized Coats, . Transparent
Oilskins and Combination Rain-or-Shine
Coats. .
Ever sit down in a restaurant and give your order
and then loose your appetite by the time the order
came?
Drop down to Alder street, just above Gill's, and see
the appetizing food set out for your selection. No
waiting there. And the quick, courteous service and
a desire to please will make the trip worth while.
Any time, from 6:30 A. M. to 7:30 P. M.
r
Bake -Rite Cafeteria
Alder Street, Near Gill's
The Home of Homelike Food
3.
$8M S12S1SH
Were S12.50 Were S1S.50
22H $20
Were $33.00
Were S30.00 Were SZft.OO
1
25
Were S:t5.00
Boys' and Girls'
Raincapea
$40
Were f 7.50 Were S 4.00
$
10
Were $15.00
Women's and Misses'
Silk Mohair. antonrtte, Casaimrre and Poplin
Raincoat and Cape Coal.
Were $13.50
Were $18.00
$22
Were $30.00
EXTRA SPECIAL
A boat 16S men's nllKhtly Imprr
f rot coat from handling- In fac
tory. Vaually sold at $12.50. PC QC
for three days only rdiJJ
Were $25.00
$25
Were $35.00
The Only Exclusive Raincoat Store in Portland
3341
Washington BAiNCOAr COMPANY
Street OPPOSITE OWL DRUG CO.
334
' Washington
Street
Lowest Prices in Portland !
1U
FAC
SAMPL
01RY
SHOP
Morrison, Bet. 4th and 5th OQC
-00 Next to Lion Clothing Store -SOO
Look for Big Sign with Hand Pointing to
280 Morrison St. Factory Sample Shop
First Sale of
Tills Season
Thousands of ladies to wear garments to be
sacrificed at lowest prices.
Hundreds of
Women's
Suits. Coats
All sizes, up-to-date fall
styles, values to $45. Sale
price $18.95 and
1
4
mm
i
PlSs
Lowest Prices in the City !
Thousand Dresses
All up to date,
hundreds of sam
ples, all sizes,
values to $39.
Extra special
$18.95 and
HUNDREDS OF
Sample Coats, Suits, Dresses
Values to $85 at
$26.95 to $48.95
Plueh Coats
Values to $55 at only
$18.95
BEAUTIFUL
Fur Trimmed
Suits and Coats
Values to $150 at less than
2
Price
Hundreds of Dress Skirts
Values to $25. Many samples in QC
this lot; sale price pu.J7J
Hundreds 0 Silk Waists
Values to $10 $195
Moneys Worth or Money Back!
L"
1
Tpisps rs n
'Bayer" on Genuine Aspirin say "Bayer"
Warnlnc! Unless you see the name
"Bayer" on package or on tablets you
are not getting genuine Aspirin pre
scribed by physicians for twenty-one
vears and proved safe by millions.
Take Aspirin only as told in the Bayer
packasa lor Colds, Headache, Neu
ralgia. Rheumatism. Karache. Tooth
ache. Lumbago ami for I'aln. M
druggists sell Bayer Talilet of As
pirin In handy tin boxes of 12 nml Ii.
bottles of 24 and 100. Aspirin ! : 1, r
trade mark of liayer Mrmnfut'l nre t:'
MonoaceticacliUsur of Salic li.atiu.