1
TWO
THE ON'TARIO AROUS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1915.
THE ONTARIO ARGUS
PUBLISHED EVEKY THUK8DAT
Kt r"i in the .t.ti.M,.-.- tit Ontario, Orniron, for transmiMio through the
utla Mcnncl-olM matter.
W. C. MARSH
What Intercut Have the People in Railroad Oppression?
The Dalles business DID gave a cordial welcome re
cently to O. VV. i. A N. officials :uil protested against fur
ther legislation to burden public carriers.
As a result of good feeling- displayed $900,000 is to be
expended enlarging the railroad shops at The Dalles,
There is not a city in Washington or Oregon would
not do its utmost to get Midi I payroll
As Industrial investors and employers of labor the
railroads alone ask no subsidies for benefiting a community.
Railroad extension in the Pacific northwest must be
made with eastern capital which can only be secured if in
vestments already made are profitable.
Few people know how rich a held for political explor
ation the railroads have become of late yearn. Here are
the facts: "In 1909 II State Legislatures passed 664 provi
sions, and in the spring of 1041 40 State Legislatures pass
ed 270 provisions affecting railways. When it is consider
ed that Congress and the Legislatures had passed H(X pro
visions affecting railways in the live years of 1JK)4-1!K)H, in
clusive, and that numerous such laws have been passed
since, one i- disposed to wonder if there can be many sub
jects pertaining to transportation left for the lawmakers to
deal with."
Judge A. O Spencer, of Portland, speaking at The
Dalles said: "During the years to which I have referred
while this hostile legislation has been in progress the rail
roads of the country, and particularly the states of Oregon
and Washington, have expended large sums of money in
new constructions and betterments. From the year 1006
to 1014, inclusive, this company in the three states of Ore
gon, Washingon and Idaho has expended in the develop
ment of this property $'.H,'2PU MM), and during the same
period its total net income has been $:2,M()(),0(K. The ex
Cess of its expenditures over its income will be observed to
be $66,074,000. The tigures disclose an expenditure of
$0,800,000 a year and during the same period our competi
tors, the Hill lines in Oregon and Washington and the
Milwaukee in Washington, have made expenditures on ap
proximately as large a scale -
Can any rational citizen read the above facts and not
Conclude that legislation has gone to the limit in killing
our gold-eggdaying goose.
Fight For Oregon Industries
The Senate judiciary committee by unanimous vote
decided to report favorably on a bill by Senator Hingham
which, the members say, will aid the manufacturers of
the state and relieve the unemployed situation to a
large extent.
Manufacturers and organized labor leaders, who ap
peared before the committee, were a unit in urging adop
tion of the bill, which provides a differential of 5 per cent
in favor of t regon concerns in the letting of contracts for
public work and the purchase of materials and supplies
for public use.
I'nder the bill County Courts, Boards of County Com
missioners, School Councils and all other public boards
and commissioners charged with the letting of contracts
for public work may accept bids of Oregon concerns which
do not exceed by more than f per eent the bids quoted by
competitors of other states.
A. S. l'attutello, of the Oregon Iron & Steel Company
of Oswego, said his company recently lost a $(J5,000 con
tract becavse its bid was only 200 higher than that of
the successful bidder. If it had obtained the contract
$15,000 of the money would have gone to Oregon labor.
W. B. Beebe, of the Northwestern Steel company,
said his company lost contracts in Portland because of its
bids being only a little higher than that of the competing
OUtlide company. He felt certain that the passage of the
bill would mean more contracts for manufacturers and
more work for the workingmen.
William McKenie, of the International Steam and
Operating Engineers' Union, said the labor unions favor
ed the bill,
"We have always been in favor of laws like this that
would give the manufacturers more business," he declared.
"That would mean more work for our men. This law
should have been passed long ago. Labor, at all times,
has been in favor of giving the manufacturers of the
state the preference."
K. J. Stack, Secretary of the State Federation of
Labor, and B.' W. Sleman, of the Carpenters' Union, in
dorsed the statement of Mr. McKenzie, and declared the
law would aid materially in giving employment to men
out of work.
Time For A Let up on Regulation
The more practical business principals are applied to
public affairs, the more it appears that government needs
regulation more than business and industry.
Still there are legislative and administrative activities
that see no way to keep busy but by overhauling industries
and all large investments.
During the past ten years the politicians have done
nothing but pass laws to regulate business and "benefit the
people."
With less business and higher taxes than ever before,
the ptoplt are beginning to feel that they have had about
enough assistance in this direction.
Officials, courts, boards and law-makers should turn
around and help the people get more industries of all kinds
and get them onto a money-making basis if they want to
restore prosperity.
Billy Sunday says he i going to "make hell hreak loose" be.
fore he quiti in Philadelphia. Billy generally does it too.
There must have been weather forecaster in Isaiah's day,
for he told us to beware of false prophets.
The. Rev. Mr. Sunday Bays nothing can turn New York
from its wicked path. Not even Mr. Sunday?
Paying an income tax is an honor and distinction that the
ordinary man cheerfully sacrifices.
LIVESTOCK PROSPECTS GOOD.
There never lias lccii a tinje in the history of the state when the
fanners have had such an Opportunity to make money by raiting
livestock for meat purposes as at present. With an aggregate
shortage of over 3.000.(MH) meat animals approximately 800.00d.ni mi
h minis, in the kediflg pecking centers of the I'nitcd States, it is cer
tain that for Mmc ften to COtni there will not only be an unlinitcd
demand for meat enfanelt, but it is alto certain that prices will range
high and it is nut impossible that all previous records may be broken.
It is a fact that nearly all the big cattle ranges of the state have
been broken up and that in only a few locations is it possible to find
pasturage for large herds, but it is also a fact that the average farm
COuM be made to produce a larger number of animals than it is now
doing. With the big packers and bankers willing, and anxious, to
CO-operati with reliable farmers in the state in stocking farms ami
ranches, it would apjiear that any fanner who fails to take ad
vantage of his opportunities in this direction is making a big mis
take. The M)pulation of the entire northwest is increasing at a rapid
i ate, the pCOpH must lc supplied with meat, and if Oregon ranches
cannot meet the demand it will certainly be met by other states, a
large amount of money will be sent away ami the meat industry of
the state damaged to just that extent.
ONTARIO IS CHOSEN.
The favorable location of Ontario has again been utilized, this
time by the French government, in buying up cavalry and artillery
horses. They will establish an insertion here between February
10th and 20th, and thus insure a market for certain classes of horses.
A good many horses were sent from here last fall to Caldwell to
Ik- sold, but this was very unsatisfactory as the price paid was tx)
small because the horses had to pass through so many hands. So to
overcome this handicap several men of Ontario have lieen trying for
On ut a month to get tin." horses inspected here and have succeeded
now, the horses will la- sold direct to the b'rench government, thus
insuring a higher price to our home people. Ibis will be a greet
gain to this district in a business way and emphasizes the value of
home enterprises. F.vcry Ontario horse sold in Caldwell had to le
sold for a price low enough for two profits to be made while now this
is eliminated and the gain is to the producer.
Possibly Carranza is still hanging around because Huerta
didn't leave enough for him to get away on.
Perhaps the report that Gen. Villa was wounded grew out of
the feet that the loss of Mexico City hurt his feelings.
One of the pleasant things of the day is the approachment
between young Rockefeller and the state of Colorado.
There is s startlingly large collection of gentlemen who are
the president emeritus of Mexico.
Being Khedive of Egypt just now must he a good deal like
being the husband of a distinguished woman.
Alaska reports a new river open to commerce, but Colonel
Roosevelt has not yet given his official sanction.
Well, if the male voters divide on prty lines, the women
have only to hang together to elect their candidate.
Colifornia is thinking of dividing into two-states, having no
hops of ever growing to the size of Texas, anyway.
Rl8sed is the woman whose husband can always find what
he ip looking for just where be left it.
When the consumers of all the nations get together and de
velop a class consciousness there will no more wars.
We have noted the recent statement that John D. Rocke
feller has given a ipiarter of a billion of "our money" away.
Senators oppose 1 to the Ship Bill run some risk of being re"
garded as belonging 'o the traitors of their country's interest.
The purchase of the Dsetl is hringiug forward debators who
may well expect to be retmed to sooner or later as sea lawyers..
What some legislatures need is a chaperon.
What the world needs is more laughter.
February nearly always lives up to its uaughty reputation.
Wheat and cotton ought to get together aud strike an average
Rules of war Anything you are strong enough to enforce.
Ualt the world's business panics are pyschologic.
Now is the time to trade your bale of cotton for a sack of
Hour.
Why do so many geniuses get their pictures taken while
they are lingering their faces f
If war were as slow as diplomacy, every other generation
would escape.
After a naval buttle the loser at least does not claim to have'
fallen back for strategic reasons on a position previously prepared.
' t
One trouble with Chicago Mayors, is that it has always had
too much promising material aud not enough fulfilling material.
It is said that Washington was so opposed to lying in any
form that he refused to establisb a weather bureau during his administration.
Can't sombody persuade the persistent Fairfax County Uame
Warden that the rabit was hunting Mr. Bryan and not Mr. Bryan
the rabbit.
Another famous opera singer is to be married. This has
been a hard year for the songbirds, mauy of them being driven
to matrimony.
In considering the literacy test it may be found that some of
the incoming future citizens are desirable because of the things
they have not read.
Some men find it so difficult to save a little money when
single that they don't even think it worth while to try after
marrying.
Kaiser Wilhehn apparently regards the crown prince as th
infant terrible of Europe.
From all accounts, the nations at war are equally neutral in
knocking the United States.
To know that sugar is getting cheaper again helps to sweeten
the general state of affairs.
New York feels deeply hurt about Thaw's reluctance to re
turn to the state.
Money is said to b scarce in South America,
other bond of sympathy with North America.
Here
is an-
Mexico should try to get a president with Carauza's respect
ability and Villa's energy and ability.
The heaven-sent blessings of prohibition reminds us that
Mahomet cut out vodka 1,800 years ago.
Among the cleverest of Irv Cobb's impressious of a battle
field it that it's no place for a fat man.
After a few more lawsuits, people will begin to suspect that
baseball is not an amusement and a pastime, but a variety of
cold, calculating business.
I'.. -ton boasts of a husband who likens his wife's soul mate
to a beaveuly being. Arouud here we have plenty of men who'd
soon make an augel of him.
They say there are 142,000 physicians in this country.
With all that competition no wonder they have to discover new
diseases once in a while.
"Be Americans tfrst" ought to be good advice for those
earnest souls who are permitting their sympathies with some
European nation or other to overrule their American patriotism.
Some people say the new moon is a dry moon. Then there is
the prohibition movement and much of the water has been
squeezed out of the stocks. Can anybody discern signs of a de
vasting Mood anywhere'
We suppose the object of an iron ring is for the dogs of war
to cut their teeth on.
A Cuban aviator has decided not to attempt to Hy over a
British cruiser lying off Havuua and drop a bundle of newspapers
on her deck. Somebody probably asked him how he intended to
identify himself as a Cuban dropping papers.
Best Job Work at The Argus Office