Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1922)
12 HASTY MARRIAGES I ON INCREASE 53 Per Cent of Divorces . Started in Five Years. MONEY CAUSES TROUBLE Women Assert Promised Homes Do Not Materialize and That Abuse Often Follows. Statistics show that hasty mar riages trial marriages some term them are increasing Instead of de creasing in number in Multnomah county."" Divorce court records tell the story. The divorce docket tells the story also of the neck-and-neck race be tween Portland and Vancouver In turning out hasty and ill-advised marriages. It discloses no evidence that Vancouver's unenviable reputa tion as the Gretna Green of this community is likely to diminish. The figures seem to indicate that the city across the Columbia is bet tering its record in tying in marital bonds giddy incompatibles who no sooner encounter the everyday con tacts of married life than they rush to the divorce court for relief. No week passes during which divorce suits are not filed at the courthouse by persons who lived as husband and wife only a few weeks, or six or seven months, at most. Brief Marriages Numerous. In the first 22 business days of December there were filed in cir cuit court, where divorce suits are handled, seven complaints seeking separation of persons married this year. Approximately every ninth divorce suit Instituted Is that of a spouse who has tried married life less than 12 months. One out of every five persons fil ing divorce complaints in Multno mah county was married only in 1921 or 1922. Many of these have lived with husband or wife only a part of the time since their - mar riage. , Of the persons married only this year who now seek separation, four were wedded in Vancouver and three In Portland. These figures are all for the first 22, days of December, when the total of divorce filings was 66. That the figures are not specially selected and must be representative is easily shown. On the last two clays of November three newlyweds of the 1922 class filed divorce suits. One had been married In Portland, one in Vancouver and the third In Hillsboro. In short, had the' check been extended to include this 24-day period it would have shown an ag gregate of 10 divorce suits filed by parties married since January 1, 1922. ' Half In Five-Year Class. Expressed in percentages the fig ures for the period give food for study. Eleven per cent of the di vorce filings involved 1922 mar riages and 15 per cent 1921 nuptial events. Marriages of these two years led to 26 per cent of the fil ings. Marriages of the past five years, 1918-1922, inclusive, account ed for 53 per cent of all divorce fil ings. Portland and Vancouver mar riages were involved in 80 per cent of the 36 divorce s,uits growing out of weddings of the past five years. For this period Vancouver leads Portland with 42 per cent as com pared with Portland's 38 per cent. The score, in suits, stood: Vancouver 15; Portland 13. In the total of suits growing out of all marriages, in this check run ning back as far as 1887, Vancouver and Portland are tied, with a record of 19 apiece. It so happens that thi3 Is also the number of suits growing out of marriages performed In other states. .Marriages per formed in Oregon, outside of Port land, would seem to be unusually felicitous and successful. But six persons married in outside towns have commenced divorce action here this month. Hillsboro looms here as a secondary Gretna Green, as three of those six nuptial knots were tied in, that county seat. But two per sons married in a foreign country filed divorce action In the 22. days. 66 Actions Are Filed. Distribution of divorce actions covered by the check, with reference to the year of marriage, was as fol lows: 1922, 7; 1921, 10; 1920, 6; 1919, 6; 1918, 7; 1917, 8; 1887-1916, 22. Total 66. A variety of complaints are set forth in the actions of plaintiffs newly wed. Probably 50 per cent of the hasty journeys from hymeneal altar to divorce court are occasioned by trouble over money. Numerous wives receive their first rude awak ening when the husband fails to provide a home for her. In nearly every case of this kind it is alleged that the man promised to establish wifey in a suitable home of their own. It is very frequently the case that after marriage the husband be gins urging the wife to take up some sort of work or declines to let her stop working if she has been employed. xnese lunaamentai troubles as disclosed by the complaints, quickly ieaa to rows ana swearing and the use of "vile names" instead of the endearing terms that marked the courtsnip. Probably 50 per cent of the filings by young wives charge that their husbands inflicted cruelty by means of vile epithets. There is no hint in a single one that the wife responded in kind, or with anything but kind and loving words. Operation Annoys One. A wife, married only in September, wants a divorce because her hus band has become cross with her, in timates that he is sorry he married her and has repeatedly said that she and her mother conspired to induce him to wed her so he would have to pay her bills. The bill particularly mentioned is for an operation. She explains that it was entirely unex pected. He believes, according to the complaint, that it was foreseen. The amateur investigator' will be interested in knowing just what, is embraced in some of the more triv ial actions for divorce. Here Is re produced about the entire summary of the trouble which has led a couple marrying only last April in Portland to the divorce court. This is the main portion of the wife's formal complaint: "This defendant has been guilty ol crwsl and inhuman treatment to ward tnis plaintiff in the following I;artJars: That immediately after the marriage this defendant became . dissatisfied with the marriage rela tion and did begin a systematic course of nagging, scolding and tor menting the plaintiff. That said defendant began to complain about married life and did then and there state that he was getting a dirty deal out of married life; that he was not accumulating anything and did intimate to this plaintiff that he was sorry that he was married and MAP OF DOWNTOWN PARKING PARKING DISTRICT AO PARKING ON BRIDGES OP BRIDGE APPROACHES 1, otic way TPAffK EAST Otfir- 19 ritrm rwrxrrrv HO PAPKW VZM 2 hoops . 7 AH TO 4Pff 2 HOUPS 4PM roipj SO HIN ttrcHOS FO NORTH soe or HOTfST' m va n VA VA 2 HOUR PAPKWO s ON WAS KING TOM , tO TH TO l TM ST Forty thousand circulars bearing: the above map are being sent to automobile owners in Portland so that none will be able to plead Ignorance when 40 traffic officers set into swing, starting January 2. that he did not know why he ever got married; that said assertions on the part of the defendant were habitual and continuous. Expenses Canse Complaint. That during the month of July, 1922, this defendant told this plain tiff that they ought to separate and that he could not support a wife. and that the expenses of married life were too high, and during the past month this defendant has frequently and continuously told this plaintiff that he would never be satisfied un til he got his freedom, and has told the plaintiff to move " and get out and that lie did not care for her any longer. That on December 22, 1922, this defendant did, In the presence of a mutual friend, tell this plaintiff that he was tired of her, that he no longer cared for her or loved her that he was tired of married life and wanLed his freedom." In the usual formula, this action and these statements by the hus band has made the wife's life "bur densome" and their married life has become "unendurable." To give the reader further insight Into what goes onto the divorce docket another classic complaint, picked from the week s grist, may be worth quoting. This pair was married on June 1, 1920, so have managed to live together almost 2 years. But it has been a gruelling experience, if one is to give credenoe to the wife's assertions. Drunkenness Follows Wedding. The complaint sets forth that the woman has been a "good and duti ful wife," which is always true of the complaining wife or husband according to the complaints. "But the defendant has become and Is," the document continues, "an habitual, gross drunkard, which habi of drunkenness has been con tracted since marriage (It must be thus in divorce actions). Further, the defendant has inflicted personal indignities upon the plaintiff and has been guilty of cruel and in human treatment to her, rendering her life burdensome. The whole of the married life of the plaintiff has been one series of cruel acts and inhumanities, rendering her life burdensome; that the plaintiff does not feel that an enumeration of the acts of cruelty and of the vile, foul language employed towards her by the defendant is necessary, because she does not care to spread upon the records conduct and words which are indecent in the home and which are not necessary to set forth, be cause plaintiff has already alleged enough to get her a divorce." That is the complaint, drawn by a well-known attorney. He will doubtless present before the court facts sufficient to obtain the divorce. There will be no question about it in case the husband elects not to oppose. The same will' probably be true in the case of the couple mar ried last April. In that case , the knowing judge will discreetly seek to learn whether or not an adjust ment of the trifling incompatabili ties may not be effected. If con vinced that the pair cannot face the inharmonles and little gallings of married life together he will likely grant that decree without delay. Hastiness Is Blamed. No one regrets to see the increase in hasty marriages more than the circuit judges. Several of them have delivered addresses on the sub ject, some of them repeatedly. They follow the laws of the state in han dling the cases. The investigator would find few cases in the thou sands of divorces handled each year where the law was not faithfully administered in the granting of de crees. The judges are a unit in pointing out that the trouble is not so much one of hasty divorces as hasty mar riages. Circuit Judge Gatens, now retiring after 14 years on the bench, during which he unquestionably granted more divorces than any col league, takes this view: 'The judges do their very best to make the best of a bad situation," he said. "The trouble is fundamen tally that of hasty marriages. I cannot give the name I apply to such marriages, as it is unprintable. After all, I feel that those churches which used to require the publish ing of banns were doing the right thing. We should have something likethat or else an examination of persons mtending to get married. with reference to their attitudes and knowledge of the responsibilities of married life. Anything of this sort which would slow down the parties headed for the marriage altar and make them think more seriously of the step they were about to take would forestall a large percentage of these ill-advised marriages and correspondingly cut down the num ber of divorce suits." New Officials to Be Guests. Governor-elect Pierce and Representative-elect Watkins will be guestg. of honor at a dinner and re ception to be given by the Jackson ciub of Oregon at the Portland Chamber of Commerce Monday, Jan uary 8, at 6 P. M. The affair will he informal. A programme of music will precede the dinner. Harvey G. Starkweather, president of the Jack son club, has announced a list of prominent democrats as members of the reception committee. DISTRICT AS PREPARED BY COMING CAMPAIGN. v. 1 ? v- - DE3 BS'E ri i YAMWL.L 57 I F'll POLICE TACKLE PROBLEM DRIVE TO EDUCATE MOTOR ISTS OPENS TUESDAY. . Forty-one Traffio Officers Are Assigned to Duty Downtown to Enforce Regulations. Tuesday will see 41 traffic of ficers operating in the downtown districts prepared to teach Portland autolsts parking rules and regula tions. The police bureau is launch ing a campaign to solve the city wide problem of congestion and for 30 days will go the limit with tags and arrests in -the hope that the snd of the period will see drivers on their guard in the matter of parking and other traffic rules. At a meeting Friday the city council authorized Chief Jenkins to employ 20 additional men to fill vacancies made in the force by the transfer of the 20 additional men to reinforce the 21 officers now on traffio duty. . Motorcycle officers will be pulled into the downtown district on occa sions during the month to nab of fenders who cut corners and break other rules of operation. . If at the end of a .rrfonth there is no improvement the bureau will continue Its campaign, the chief Indicated yesterday. Maps of the traffic district with parking regulations have been printed to the number of 40,000 and are being sent out to car owners. TREES OBSTRUCT ROADS Reed Students, on Coast Hike, See Havoc Wrought by Gale. Travel over the highways linking the Oregon beaches has been im paired by fallen trees and other ob structions blown across the road by the 70-mlle gale which lashed the coast during the past week, accord ing to James G. Stone, Donald P. Abbott and Roger W. Reynolds, Reed college students, who returned yesterday from a three-day hike from Seaside to Tillamook. Between Seaside and . Cannon Beach, the boys reported, motorists were delayed as often as three times a mile while logs which blocked their passage were sawed and re moved. Trails also have been filled by torn and blown branches, they said. The hikers arrived in Seaside to begin their journey Wednesday noon, just as the tall of the storm was lifting. They made Cannon Beach by nightfall, having encoun tered at one point water knee deep which surged across the road for one-half mile. Below Cannon Beach the youths deviated from the road and took the trail to Neah-kah-nie, thence to Tillamook, where they arrived Friday. They completed the 45-mile hike in two days and a fcalf, returning to Portland early Saturday. EX-OFFICERS GET LIMIT Former Policemen Fined $500 Each for Bootlegging. Two former policemen who quit the law-enforcing business to go in for bootlegging on the big scale appeared before Federal Judge Bean yesterday and were promptly fined KNIGHTS TEMPLAR WILL HOLD COMMANDERS' i Oregon commandey No. 1, Knights Templar, have' issued invitations for a commander's hall to be held at the Multnomah hotel tomorrow. This is to be an annual event and will give all the sir knights an oppor tunity of meeting their new officers.' The drill corps will participate in full uniform. The officers for Oregon' comrnandery for the ensuing year are: Commander, 'A. H. Trego;' generalissimo, L. R. Elder; captain general. R. E. Fulton; senior warden, L. L. Scott; junior warden, C- E. Minsinger; prelate, E. C. Bronaugh: treasurer, A. M. Brown; recorder, C. F. Wiegand; standard bearer, J. T. Hotchkiss; sword bearer, W. L. Cornell; warder, I A. Jacobsen; captain of guard, A. G. FIndiay; first guard, J. Oswald; second guard, J. C. Jones; sentinel, P. P. Klibouxne. TTIE SUNDAY OKEGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 31, POLICE BUREAU FOR ITS : m m m 11 1 1 w K2T VA the maximum allowed by law, $500 each. One of the backsliders was Walter ("Bed") Watts, who, when he was a speed officer in various lower Co lumbia river towns, was the terror of offending motorists. Tho other was M. N. Johnson. Watts and Johnson, according to evidence laid before Judge Bean by Assistant United States Attorney Baldwin, had bargained with prohi bition agents to deliver five sacks of bonded whisky. When the of ficers called at the .headquarters of the two men, in a garage at East Fifteenth and Irving streets, there was some haggling over the price and -the sale was not consummated. However, the two were arrested for the possession of liquor. Mr. Bald win, in presenting the case to the court, dwelt on' the fact that a sale had been negotiated and that the two men -were nothing but profes sional bootleggers. Before the heavy fine was Im posed Judge Bean commented on the laxity of the law and openly voiced his regret that he was unable to send the pair to jail. - Watts and Johnson, after being fined, had no difficulty in obtaining the $1000. CUT- REFDRIBS FAVORED PENDLETON. MAYOR URGES NEW GOVERNMENT. Smaller Council and Municipal Manager" Are Advocated After Two Years in Office. PENDLETON, Or., Dec. 30. (Spe ciai.; Kecommenaation of a new form of municipal government for Pendleton was made at the closing meeting of the present city admin istration by retiring Mayor Hart man, who declared that after two years' study of city problems he believed theJ city affairs should be handled by a smaller board or coun cil elected at large, which should be legislative only, and that the ad ministrative work of the city should be in the hands of a city manager, appointed by and responsible to the elective council. A review of his administration was made by the mayor. iie recommended the plan for a new garbage dump-ground farther from the city, more park improve ment with children's playgrounds, i simple system of street naming and numbering, a new east entrance to eliminate three dangerous grade crossings, the opening of the south hill of the city by a safe passage across the railroad tracks in the west end of the city; the foreclosure of delinquent property owing money to the city, the heating of the city natatonum, the construction of a public auditorium and a slightly higher miliage tax on the city to care for essential Improvements. Mayor Hartman, in closing his re port, said thatx Pendleton was sec ond lowest In tax rate in cities of Oregon having a population of 2000 or more, and that the tax rate here. was only 11 mills. College Saves Farmers Money. PULLMAN, Wash., Dec. 30. More than $2,500,000 was saved to farm ers in the state of Washington dur ing the past year by the extension department of Washington State college, according to the annual re port of that department. The sav ings were made possible by using better methods in the activities on the farm and in the farm home. P4 L WZm m r VA VA r- t.,,i.ii.L.Lli i .hiius i i i jMiiffiii iiifc'ifliHTm i Jljl iliji liiMiiflliira I CHI VIRGIN FIELD liHOIECQMICS Alva B. Milam Tells of Her Inquiry in Orient. PEOPLE SHOW INTEREST Methodist Movement to Elevate Standards of laving Proves Absorbing ia Development. An interesting paper outlining her work in preparing a report to be submitted to the Ten Ching col lege, a branch of Pekin university, in Pekin, China, was received from Miss Ava B. Milam, dean of home economics at the Oregon agricul tural college, who is completing her investigation of Chinese home life, by the members of the home eco nomics association here and read at the session of the home eco nomics department of the Oregon State Teachers' association Friday afternoon. Miss Milam is making a report upon the best methods of providing a course of home -economics in the Pekin institution, which will be based upon her in vestigations of the homes in China. She is spending two years in the orient. ' Yen Ching college is one of the institutions for which support is provided by the oriental college fund subscribed to by American women's organizations, although the work ot. Miss Milam, who is assisted by Miss Camilla Mills, an Oregon Agricultural college gradu ate, whose home is in Forest Grove, Is being carried on under the di rection of the Methodist missionary board. Chinese Are Interested. Yesterday I spoke to a group of 420 Tioys who seemed quite as in terested as the girls In the subject of better home life," she wrote. "I am finding the response most stim ulating and encouraging. The stu dents and the faculty all seem eager to develop this work, and recognize the need ror it in tne schools. So I predict that Pekin college and the other colleges of China, as soon as they introduce the home economics work, will have a very big field for training of ! teachers of this subject, for the schools will introduce the work just I as quickly as teachers are avail able. ! "It seems to me that there is even greater need for home eco nomics work in China than in such countries as America. One reason I have for making this statement is that most of the girls who are in school even the little children in the primary departments rare boarding students, so their life is largely institutional from 6 or 7 years of age to the time they finish their schooling. "I am greatly impressed with the earnestness of the Chinese students. Most of them make a very great struggle to get an education and as a result they make more of it than many of our American students. I often wonder how many of our American students would make the effort to get their education that is made by the student in China? I wonder if any of you have read the article in the September numbed of Good Housekeeping entitled, "Stu dents of the world"? It is well worth-reading. Poverty Is Overwhelming. "I am also impressed with the overwhelming poverty existing in China, If you have just seen the slums of our American cities you have simply, as one man expressed it, had the first lesson in poverty. Most of the students are very poor and most of them feel very keenly their responsibility in serving their country after ,they have had the opportunities which are afforded them in the schools of China. I am .thoroughly convinced that in each place where there is an American teacher of home economics, a Chinese trained woman is needed to help in making the adaptation. I believe that the training of teach ers for the elementary and high schools can be done in our colleges in China, but the training of teach ers for college for a while should be done by taking college gradu ates of China who are suited to the work and giving them a year or two in America. "Sometimes I am led to believe that the Chinese woman who spends too long a time in America is some what unfitted for her work when she returns. I do think, however, that it is a mistake for the Chinese girls to be taken to America be fore they have completed their col lege work in China. "I am greatly impressed with the high standards of work in Pekin university, Ginling college at Nank ing and Hau Nang fit Foochow. There is a big problem, however, of getting funds for giving these few girls training in America, for most of them have taken their college course here and are receiving very small salaries, and are helping their families. But surely some way will be opened up and we shall be able to carry out the programme-which seems to be right. "You may be interested to know BALL TOMORROW. 1923 JANUARY CLASS OF FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL TO PRESENT PLAY. J M: JSL m n& :l SCHOOL JOJIVE PLAY FRANKLIN IS TO PRESENT "THE SCHOOLMISTRESS." Entertainment to Be Given in Auditorium of Lincoln High - on Next Friday Night. : The January, 1923, class of the the Franklin high school will pre sent the old Englisji play, ."The Schoolmistress," by Arthur W. Pinero at the Lincoln high school auditorium Friday night. The pres entation will be under the direction of William G. Harrington. The play, which is a three-aot comedy, was first given at the Old Court theater, London, March 27, 1886, and it proved immediately suc cessful. The scene is laid in Volum nia college, a girls' boarding school in London. Complications arise when Miss Dyott, the principal, played by Sadie Read, in order to increase her income to pay off her husband's debts, becomes Queen Honerine in Otto Bernstein's suc cessful comic opera. Miss Dyott marries the Hon. Vere Queckett, played by Thomas McKenzie, for a title and he marries her for her money. Further complications set in through the efforts of the gov erness Peggy, played by Gertrude O'deen, to restore Dinah 'Rankling, who had been locked up in the school because of her runaway mar that I have been from the north to the south of China already and have visited the following places: After leaving Pekin I visited Wuchang, Hangyang and Hankow in Central China; the following cities along the Yangtze riven Kiukiang, An king, Nanking and then Soochow, Shanghai, Hangchow, and am now in south China at Foochow. - "Next week I go to Canton, with a day's stop at Amoy and a day at Swatow. Some of you will remem ber that Swatow was the place where it is estimated 30,000 people were killed by the typhoon this summer; I am told that very splen did relief work is being done there. After about ten days at Canton I plan to go to Manila for about two weeks, leaving there December 24 for Shanghai. So, so far as I can now see, my Christmas will be spent on the boat, for it is about six days from Manila to Shanghai. I am scheduled for some more work in Shanghai the first of January and from there plan to go to Taianfu, the birthplace of Confucius, Tsinan and Yientsin, reaching Pekin about January 16. Home Life Data Gathered. "In all the schools, Young Wom en's Christian associations and women's organizations question naires concerning home lite are being filled out for me, so that by the time I reach Pekin I hope to have detailed information con cerning home life in different sec tions of China and in different types of homes. This questionnaire I have had translated into Chinese and printed so that the answers will have to be translated back into English. After this Is done I hope to devote my time to summarizing and digesting this material, after which we will want to use the data in introducing home economics at Pekin university. In each place I am visiting in Chinese homes and I wish I could tell you of the cus toms and the types of homes into which I have gone, for I know this would be of real interest to you, but I think I should not attempt it now. Suffice to say that it is very, very different, but very interesting, and I can see that straight Ameri can home economics could not func tion in China, so it must be home economics adapted and is going to take the best thinking that Camilla and I possibly can do to make the right start. "I also wish that I had time to. tell you about the work of the missions and Young Women's Chris tian association, for it has been most inspiring to me to see the wonder ful service being rendered here. I am also impressed with the splendid Bervice which is possible through the mission work. I wish also that I could tell you about these old cities which I have visited. For example, this city of Foochow is one of very great interest and the country is very beautiful. It seems very tropical to me. The latitude is about the same as Key West. High hedges of poinsettias are in bloom now and hybiscus, and beautiful roses that - would compare most favorably with those in Oregon. - Students Grow Bananas. "In one school where I visited this morning I saw bananas grow ing. They are able to raise all the bananas they use for their school. Gardens are being planted now. It seems to me that much of the heavy work is done by the women. What terrible loads they carry! Only a few moments ago I saw a little child 5 or 6 years old with a heavy load. "The peasant women of this sec tion do not bind their feet because of the heavy work they do, but most of the older peasant women of the north have bound feet. In fact it seems almost universal. It was a great surprise to me to find. that the binding of the chests of the girls is commonly practiced in China. The binding of chests so that the lungs are crowded is prov ing deleterious to their health. It is a custom which the schools are combating effectively." Rail Shop Striker Fined. ' ROSBBURG, Or., Dec. 30. (Spe cial.) Arthur O'Neil, an ex-employe !n the Southern Pacific shops here and one of the recent etrikers, was fined $10 in the city court for using profane and abusive language to ward A. K( Gibbs, one of the pres ent employes of the company. He entered a plea of guilty following his arrest. . riage. The entire play Is full of surprises. The cast of "The Schoolmistress" includes the following: The Hon. Vere Queckett, Thomas McKenzie; Miss Dyott, principal of Volumnia college, Saddie Read; Rear Admiral Archibald Rankling, Herbert Jasper; Mrs. Rankling, Carrie Sorenson; Dinah, Lulu Wood land; Reginald Paulover, Freeman Fike; Peggy Hesslerigge, Gertrude O'deen; Lieutenant John Mallory, Lorenz Sahli; Mr. Saunders, Sylves ter Grynes; Gwendoline Hawkins, Frances Sefton; Ermyntrude John son, Louise Cordy; Otto Sernstein, Harry Leavitt; Tyler, Allen Seidel; Jane, Helen Guerrettaz; Jaffray, Richard Fay. IE CASTS TO ADVANCE HIGHER PRICES ABOUT JAN UARY 2 LIKELY. Rumor 3urrent on Automobile Row, Though Not Confirmed, Is Counted Dependable. All leading tire manufacturers represented in Portland, excepting a small number which raised prices a couple of weeks ago, will an nounce increases in tire prices ranging from 10 to 15 per cent on or about January 2. Such was the rumor current along automobile row Friday, which, while lacking def inite confirmation, emanated from supposedly reliable sources. Definite notice of an increase in prices January 2 has been received at the Portland branch of the Uni ted States Rubber company, offi cials of tha,t branch said yesterday, although just what the new prices will be was not yet known. "Those who have watched the markets and noted the advancing prices of raw tire materials have seen that an increase in prices was inevitable' said an official of that company. "W,e anticipate an in crease of 10 to 15 per cent over present prices." Local officials of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber company said they expected an increase in tire prices and had received intimations that such an increase would be effective January 2. Similar reports were made at the local branches of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber company and the Firestone Tire & Rubber company. Intimation of a possible general rise in tire costs was given two weeks ago when a member of tire companies. Including the Mason, the Federal and the Kelly-Springfield, advanced prices approximately 10 per cent. CARRIERS TO GET REST No Mail to Be . Delivered, Today and Tomorrow in City. ' -s There will be no mail delivery service whatever, either window or carrier, today or tomorrow, accord ing to announcement of J; M. Jones, postmaster. The usual collections from street letter boxes and dis patches to outgoing trains will be made as usual. It is desired to give the employes the benefit of the holiday to the fullest possible extent. Postmaster Jones explained, as many are worn I out from the long and arduous service rendered during tne heavy Christmas period. SPOKANE WEDDINGS LESS Marriage Slumps During- Year, but Divorce Decrees Climb. SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 30. Di vorce decrees granted this year ex ceed those of last year, but mar riage licenses continue to slump, and this year is far behind last, ac cording to official figures compiled at the county courthouse here. A total of 767 divorce complants was filed last year, and 559 decrees were granted. This year only 7-51 complaints were filed, but 570 de crees have been granted. Last year 1771 marriage licenses were Issued and but 1605 were issued this year. Liquor Suspect Bound Over. Despite a contention that he had been trapped and coaxed into a vio lation of the law by prohibition agents, O. It. Fields, 724 East Fifty ninth street, was held to await grand' jury action by United States Commissioner Frazer yesterday on a fcharge of possessing and trans porting liquor. Government agents, it was shown, impersonating one of Field's friends, succeeded in Induc ing him to deliver two quarts of moonshine to a north-end hotel. Fields claimed that he did not deaL in liquor and had obtained the moonshine to accommodate the sup posed friend. COURT PeOCEDURE TERMED WASTEFUL Judge Gatens Asserts Tech nicalities Silly Nonsense. MUCH TIME IS CONSUMED Jurist, Retiring After 14 Years on Bench, Favors Abolition of Present Trial System. In a farewell interview yesterday W. N. Gatens, retiring as circuit judge after having been on the bench 14 yeani, severely criticieed present day court procedure as wasteful of time and concerned en tirely too much with technicalities instead of actual merits of the cases. The judge considers It nonsensical, he said, that trials are half the time no more than a battle of wits be tween lawyers. "After li years on the bench my strongest impression is that the present day system of pleading and the trial of issues should be done away with," eaid the judge. "There is need for a simpler form that will obviate the technical manner of pleading such as distinguished be tween actions' at law and f uits In equity with a view only of doing substantial justice. . Battles Take Half of Time. "My experience is that half the time of the court is taken up with a battle of wits between lawyers as to whether he is following the right procedure. I understand that in one appellate court of this country 65 per cent of all cases before it were reversed upon questions of pro cedure. A litigant is not Interested in procedure, he wants hia caso tried upon its merits. Why should he -be penalized because his lawyer used 'and' instead of 'or' or left out the word 'said.' Take a replevin, action for instance. Unless you al lege that the defendant 'wrong fully withholds said property in Multnomah county,' the complaint is defective. It seems to me, where the party withholds is immaterial so long as he wrongfully withholds. "Silly Nonsense," Says Judge. "It is just such silly nonsense that has brought our courts into disrespect among many people. When court procedure is simplified so that ordinary laymen will under stand it and are satisfied that their cases are to be tried wholly upon their merits, when they feel that their lawyer's ability to prepare pa pers is not to be seriously consid ered, then and only then will people have a higher regard for the courts. "In leaving this office I want to say that I shall miss the pleasant association of my friends on thi bench, who are conscientious, high minded men. However, I hope to seif them occasionally. I am sure that my successor, who is a well bal anced, serious-minded man, will merit the esteem and confidence ol the people who have honored him with this position." CLUB TO GIVE SMOKER Hillsboro Organization Outlines Activities for 1923. HILLSBORO, Or., Dee. 30. (Spe cial.) The trustees and executive committee of the Hillsboro club met Thursday night and reviewed the condition of the club and outlined a programme for 1923 activities. A smoker will be given members and friends next Thursday evening. It is designed to create a closer relationship and enthusiasm among members and business men of the city. The club will give a dance in the big auditorium January 20. profits from which will go into the club treasury. Read The Oregonian classified arts. Be Cured to Stay Cured I GUARANTEE to per manently cure your Piles without cutting, burning, stitching, anaesthetic, con finement or unpleasant after-effects. My patients are reputable men and women in every walk of life to whcSra you may refer about this painless, non-surgical cure. If you are a sufferer from Piles, Fistula, Fissure or other rectal disease, call or write today for my FREE booklet. - Cost of treatment returned if I fail to cure your Piles. D!3. CHAS. J. BEAK IHD AMD MORRISON PORTLAND, ORCKH MENTION THIS PAPTR WHEN WRITING mu m.j.M.,'i.'nji.f.H' i m"-mmvm WiIHIi.i1.- ir"- nut t -rnmim It torn pipes KROiBKS YOIR DHAl.VS STOPPED I P 'l'Oli PREPARED COCOIZE Drain Pipe Cleaner FIFTY CENTS Thaws and Clears Sewer Pipes. Ask the nearest GROCER, DRVGG1ST, PLl'KBER, HARDWARE DEALER Or Telephone East 8319. COCOIZE PRODICTS COMPANY 150 K. 7th, Corner Belmont BING CHOONG CHINESE MEDICINE Remedies for all diseases made from the harm leas Herbs, Boots and Bark, these well-known cures 'or nervousness. mach, Lungs, fc.itiaeya, Llv iir. Rheama- ism, Bladder : a t a r r h Jiood, Gall, - - e anu au oisorders of Mn. Women and Children. Try Bing Choong s Wonderfcul remedies. Qu ck results will surely follow. BLNG ( HOO.NG, 334 Flanders St.