OREGON CITY COURIER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, .1908
111 EXPERT0PIN!0N,
Corporate and Government Man
agement Clearly Contrasted.
A Publlo AocounUnt Estimat of th
Men Who HandU Our Great Busl
net Enterprleea Intelligence, Econ
omy, Honesty, at a Premium Such
Qualitlea Often Lacking In the Ad
ministration of Government Bureaus.
By ELIJAH W. SELLS, C. P. A.
The position of the public accountant
iu respect to corporations and their
management Is always an Independent
one. Unlike the attorney, be is not
expected to make out a case. The
character of the service he renders Is
Impersonal. All he can do Is to tell
what the facts are, and they exist for
his examination In forms so tangible
and so subject to other scrutiny than
his own that even if he were willing
to prostitute his cajllng he would never
flare to do so. It Is equally true that
the knowledge he obtains of the af
fairs of corporations Is necessarily ln
Umate, accurate and substantially
complete.
We are told that the corporation man
agers are dishonest, that they "exploit"
the people and their utilities, that they
put their own enrichment above their
duty to the stockholding Interest or to
the patronizing public and that before
there can be a return of the splendid
prosperity we were enjoying the cor
poration must be regulated and the
government must step In with a sharp
eye and a big stick.
My experience in the conduct of In
dependent and Impartial examinations
of books of account and affairs has
covered many years and has been con
cerned with the federal government,
state governments and city govern
ments. It has covered the field also
of railway, street railway, light, pow
er and other public service corpora
tions. It has dealt with luduntrial cor
porations, the so called trusts. It has
taken me Into banks, trust companies
and Insurance companies, Into educa
tional and charitable institutions. I
think I may say It has taken me pretty
generally over the wholo field of pub
lic and private business, and If I am
to Judge by what my eyes have seen
tt Is the unassailable truth that almost
any. one of the men who stand at the
head of our great business institutions
Is far more competent to run the gov
ernment and would run it more eco
nomically, more wisely and more hon
estly than any of those who aro in the
business of running governments.
I know as a matter of fact that the
management of our great properties is
generally Intelligent and economical
and that the management of our gov
ernment bureaus Is generally loose, Ir
regular and frequently dishonest, and
when I read the articles with which so
many of our newspapers and maga
zines are filled nowadays reflecting on
the men whose genius Is developing
the country's resources and when 1
hear the proposals of politicians from
the most eminent to tho least for tlx)
passage of laws to hamper and restrict
the energies of these men on the theory
that their Integrity Is open to susplclou
my mind Inevitably brings up the con
trast that I always observe between a
corporation's way of doing things and
a government's . as disclosed by their
respective records and books of ac
count. For the purpose of this comparison
Incompetency and dishonesty need not
be separated. Tutting them together,
it Is my deliberate estimate that, Judg
ed by the highest standards prevailing
In the best conducted corporations,
there Is less than 10 per cent of both
among men In the management of cor
porations generally and at leust 00 per
cent of both among public officeholders,
and I base this estimate upon my ex
perience as a public accountant.
The men Intrusted with the manage
ment of the corporations are better fit
ted to administer the affairs of such
corporations and to cxerclso Judgmeut
In matters concerning both the Investor
and the public, which takes their prod
uct or utilizes their franchises, than
are those men who hold public ottlee
qualified to fill even their own posi
tions, much less to undertake admin
istrative control over corporations.
Tho facts that prove this do not deul
with the mere matter of honesty and
efficiency. The organization of a pub
lic bureau Is much less compact, much
less harmonious Iu Its operation, than
the organization of a great railway or
a great Industrial corporation.
Tho men at the head of such business
organizations In practically every case
are experts, working diligently in har
mony and ready to work to tho limit of
their endurance, with full and direct
control of their subordinates. On the
other hand, nothing can bo more no
toriousthe results are obvious to ev
ery public accountant who Investigates
than the fact that In nine cases out
of ten the head of a public department
sponds most of his time promoting his
political Interests, and the employees
generally, protected by the civil serv
ice regulations, are looking to see how
little rather than how uuieh work they
can get Into their nppoiuted short
hours.
Wasteful Government.
If we would only bring homo to the
people the way iu which wasteful gov
ernment bears upon them In their
dully life, If we could only make them
rwallze the way they are robbed by lu
(fflclency and the fact that the taxes
that are paid to support an extrava
gant administration In. their tlnal In
cidence come upon the poor, we should
have everywhere recruits In the army
of reform. Governor Charles E.
Hughes of New York.
What Is Best lor Indigestion?
Mr.
A. Robinson of Drtnuquin, On-
tario,
Iihs been troubled Jtnr years
Indigestion, and recommend
with
Chamberlain's Stomach mid Liver
Tablets as "the best medicine I ever
used." If troubled with iiidi)ontitm
or constipation give them a tiial.
They are certain to prove beneficial.
Thoy Hre easy to take and pleasant iu
effect. Prioe 25 eeuM. Samples free
at Houtley Uros., Oregon City and
Molalln
The Courlor. Is the paper that gives
you the market report
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT.
Oalesburg's City Waterworks Are
Run on Business Destroying Prin
ciple Water Less Popular Than Gas.
A recent issue of Public Service con
tained an article by William H. Hodge
on the public works of Galesburg, 111.,
under the title "Ownership That Does
fJot Pay," Although tho rates are high,
the waterworks lose upward of $10,000
a year, with a liberal allowance for
hydrants. Tho contrast between mu
nicipal and private management is
sharply brought out by the fact that
for. every three families that use city
water there are five that have gas
stoves, gas being supplied by a com
pany. The writer explains:
"The city does not seek to encourage
new business. Consumers immt deposit
$13.50, or the full cost of a meter, be
fore receiving service and keep the
money on deposit as long as th'v k'M'p
the meter. They are required to put
In and pay for the lateral pipes, or
eervice connections with the street
mains, and no Inducement!! whatever
are held out to them to encourage them
to become patrons of the city water
plant. If a patron becomes delinquent
and moves away the city Insists ou
some one paying the bill before the
water is turned on for the succeeding
tenant, thus forcing either the landlord
or the new tenant to liquidate expenses
belonging to others.
"Even those citizens who wish to be
come pah'ons are not permitted to do
so in many cases because the city Is
niggardly In extondlng mains. Scarce
ly a council meeting is held at which
unsatisfied demands and protests are
not presented calling for new mains to
newly built up residence sections.
Numbers of these are without city wa
ter and seem to be unable to get it.
The last annual report of the water
superintendent shows there are thirty
three miles of water mains. In the year
1900-7 extensions amounted to only
4,105 feet of six Inch pipe, costing
$4,525.99.
"Those conditions and others make
the water situation in Galesburg a
curious study. The 190G-7 report of
the superintendent shows 1,575 me
ters In use, meaning Just that many
water takers, or one to every 14.0 per
sons, less than one in every three fam
ilies of four Individuals.
"There were, roughly speaking, more
than 1,000 gas stoves In excess of users
of city water In Galesburg at this time,
which would lead to the conviction, if
all other conditions were equal, that
the gas stove In this town Is consid
ered far more important to health,
comfort and happiness than municipal
water. The owner of a gas stove,
however, has his service connection
mado free, pays nothing for the use
of the meter and a reasonable price
for the fuel used, features, It is clear,
which have not been lost upon him."
The writer goes on to describe the
municipal electric light plant, the rec
ords of which are quite Inadequate.
A low estimate,, however, makes the
cost per lamp per year over $00 on
moonlight schedule, which Is the equiv
alent of about $80 to $00 for nil night
service.
Mr. Hodge also quotes the mayor as
saying that ho doos not think munici
pal ownership and operation can be
made a success In the United States
so long as present political conditions
prevail. He thinks that public utili
ties should be operated by private com
panies under franchises fair to all con
cerned and Is of the opinion that such
a method contributes to the economy
of the community and its development
and upbuilding.
ST. JOSEPH'S PREDICAMENT.
The Political Plum Proves to Be a
Pickle.
The unseemly squabble In the mu
nicipal electric plant of St. Joseph,
Mo., Illustrates the meuuee of politics
Iu such plants. Some mouths ago City
Electrician Stewart, who hus charge
of the plant, was Indicted by the grand
Jury. A thorough investigation by ex
pert accountants resulted iu quashing
these ludlctmeuts, as there was no
evidence that he had been guilty of
anything worse than tho "loose book
keeping" which is so. essential in mu
nicipal plants if they are to make a
good showing.
In spite of bis vindication Stewart
was removed by tho mayor, who ap
parently thought It a good chance to
put a friend of his iu the position.
Stewart refused to surrender the plant
on the ground that the mayor had no
power to remove hhu except for cause.
For some weeks both meu have been
at the plant, neither drawing any sal
ary, and the case Is before tho courts.
Meautlme a flank attack has been
mndo by the mayor's party by Intro
ducing au ordinance to abolish the of
fice of city electrician and create that
of superintendent of the electric light
plant, thus gettlug rid of Stewart and
enabling tho mayor to appoint his own
mau.
The St. Joseph Tress protests against
such tactics In un editorial headed,
"Save tho Electric Light Plant From
Politics." Such protests are futile so
long as "practical politicians" are In
charge of city affairs, for to them mu
nicipal plants are the plums which
make otBce worth striving for.
Berkeley, Cal., Rejects M. O.
J. V, Mendeiilmll, town clerk, writes
("hat the citizens voted against the
proposition to Issue bonds to rstabllsb
an electric light plant In connection
with an Incinerating plant, for which
I lie proposition to Issue bonds was oIno
defeawd.-KU'ctiical World.
The public Is liest scrvid where the
corporations are most prosperous, and
the corporations are most prosperous
where the public Is best served,
Everett W. Uurdett.
How's This?
We offer imo hnndred dollars reward
for liny esse nf catarrh that cannot be
cured hy Hall's Catarih Unro. . J.
OHKNKY & CO., Toledo. Ohio.
We, the undersigned, have known
F. J. Cheney for tho Inst 15 years,
and believe him perfectly honorable iu
all business transactions and tinau
eiwlly able to carryout any obliga
tions mado by his tirni. YValding,
Rinnan it Marvin, Wholesale drug
gist", Toledo, (.).
Hall's Oatarrh Cure is taken inter
nallv, acting directly upon the blood
and mucous surf twos of the system.
Testimonials sent free. Price 750 pi r
bottle Sold by all druggists.
Take Hull's Family Pills for constipation.
1 llira
The "BROOKS" Cold Tire Setter
Compresses the Metal COLD
No burnt or charred felloe sur
face to wear away but a hard
wood surface instead. It gives
just the amount of "dish" re
quired; no guess work about it.
We Guarantee our work and re
fund the money if not satisfac
tory. Give us a call and see the
machine in operation.
SCRIPTURE & BEAULIEU
Oregon City, Oregon
Clever Housekeepers Buy
their groceries here because
they know the qualities are
always the highest. That
does not mean that the prices
are the same, however, The
Prices of Our Groceries will
compare favorably with any
We invite your especialj'at-
tention to our Brand of FJour
"SEELEYS BEST."
Every pack guaranteed satis
factory and better than any
other brand on the market
today. Made in the most up-to-date
mill of the choicest
Washington Hard Wheat.
The largest sale of any new
brand of flour in Oregon City
Include a sack with your next
order and be convinced.
Price $1.40 a pack or $5 20 a
barrel.
SEELEY'S
TSi Peoples' Store
Main Street OREGON CITY
txcrci:e Ccfcrc Fc.-ling.
Tlio exer; ', .' ;.i v: liel'ore fouling
should not be ui:,'lM-t: !. They enn he
worked with nit kr; i r; to within a
week or ten tlins li" r e fouling, pro
vided they re lum.llc.l cir.-efnily. After
they have l een t:il;en nr.t of harness lie
sure that they g.-t n nc exercise each
day and do nut feed hii;:e qiuinlltles of
nutritious irrain. nx (Ms will tend to
stimulate the milk I'ow too soon and
may emise mill: fever or n had udder.
I also believe there are many eases of
scours la eolts caused from this error.
The quantity of grain should be gradu
ally reduced and the amount of bran
tncreasod. Professor H. C. Obrecht,
University of Illinois.
Excellent Health Advice.
Mrs. M. M. Davidson, of No 8U7
Gilford Ave., San Jose, Cal , fays:
The worth of Electric Ei.teis as a
general family remrdy, for hendacl e,
biliousness mid lor per of tin' Iivtr ami
bowels is so pronounced that I tun
prompted to say a word in it favor,
for tlio benefit of those set king relict
from such ulllictions. There is nioie
health for the (tigestivo organs in a
bottle of Eltctrio Bitters than m any
other remedy I know of. " St id un
der guarantee at Jones ltng Co. 's
drug store. 60c.
Horso Collar. Siould l-it.
A badly lilting collar makes tho
young team horse troublesome, it is of
the greatest Importance that the collar
should lit perfectly, so that tt does not
cause discomfort to the animal nor
wring ov hurt Its shoulders. The shoal-,
dors often become mors or less tender
at first through the pressure of the col
lar against them, and In order to
hardeu the skin on them it is a good
plan to bathe them with a solution of
salt Iu water (or alum in water) when
the young horse has finished Its work
for the day.
vt
THE CITY'S SNAIL SERVICE.
Th Slower the Work the Steadier the
Jeb Has Been the Rule In the Public
Worlti of Boston.
In Its latest report to the mayor the
finance commission deals with one of
the most flagrant abuses in municipal
lervice that has yet come before it.
The item of labor is about the heaviest
that has to be met by city appropria
tion, and a great deal depends upon lm
efficiency or Inefficiency. It is a mat
ter of common observation that the
city employees are time killers. The
sluggish pace at which they perform
their labors Is a popular Joke, but It
is no Joke to those who pay tho taxes
and for every dollar contributed re
ceive but the fraction of Its value in
service. Any one watching the per
formance of a gang of city men in any
particular line of work can be con
vinced that we are supporting an army
of drones. The principle by which
they are governed is not a fair day's
Work for a fair duy's pay, but the
smallest amount of work that can he
accomplished without endangering a
position.
Unfortunately positions have been
only too secure under recent condi
tions, because they have not depended
upon values, but upon pull, It has
been even probable during the last
few years that a man was more iu
danger of losing his job from being too
active than from being too inert. Ac
tivity endangers the opportunities of a
larger number of men. The more the
work can be made to hold out the
greater the number of places for the
benctit of the political contingent.
We have not needed au Investiga
tion to prove all this to the average
citizen. The proof is patent wherever
city work is carried on, but the finance
commission has rendered a service by
showing through comparison with the
work of private corporations to what
exteut approximately the city Is be
ing defrauded and to. what extent It
has lost ground In eUicicncy during the
past thirty years. Under the system
of fewer hours there has been more
than u proportional loss Iu accomplish
ment. Tills Is not only demoralizing to
nil holding city Jobs, but it is embar
rassing to the claim of labor organiza
tions that as much work could be done
in an eight hour day as in one of nine
or ten hours. Thus they are not only
cheating the city, hut they are doing
au injustice to the great industrial
body for whose good faith they are in
no small degree responsible.
The figures furnished by the commis
sion: are eloquent. They Show thnt in
a sewer department Job the highest
average number of bricks laid per hour
was seventy -eight, whereas the lowest
average upon metropolitan work was
1G5 and the highest 3S4, or nearly five
times as much Iu the latter case. If
this discrepancy exists In skilled labor,
where some pride of cnlllug may be
supposed to exist, to even a greater ex
tent is It likely to be found In those In
ferior lines where the deficiencies of a
single worker are concealed in those of
tlio whole number. -Posron Transcrlnt.
The discrimi
SLOAN'S
For spavin, curb, splint sweeny, capped hock, founder, strained
tendons, wind puffs and all lameness in horses -For
thrush, foot rot and garget on cattle and sheep
For hog distemper, hoq cholerOi thumps and scours in hogs
For diarrhoea, canker and roup in poultry -
AT ALL DEALERS - - PRICE 25 .50. I $ I.0O
Send for free book on Howes. Cottle, Hogs end Poullry-" -Address Dr.Earl S.Sloan. Boston. Mass.
NO MAN WILL EVER WEAR A MORE
THERE'S DISTINC
tion in it; Gives a man
a "so - different" look;
high-toned.. You' 11 miss
a good thing if you don't
see and wear THESE
CLOTHES
THE NEW FABRICS
are very fine; browns
with rich stripes in har-'
monious colors; grays of
vrious shades and kinds.
We can fit you perfectly
in these goods; and they
are All-Wool, perfectly
tailored.
L.
1 'm
99H3HSESBHBQSB9I
FOR SlLLUoflB
- 1 rf v"
ft w f f
kV- f 1 1 . -
V IK:.
sr
$ - ' I
Just Completed All modern improvements 7 Rooms, Hot and Cold
Water, Electric Lights and Bath. On one or two Lots.
ROSE CITY PARK
Portland's Fast Growing Addition. On the Main Street to New Driving
Park. Terms.
EASTHAM, SMITH & CO.
OREGON CITY,
nannq
STYLISH SUIT
Than Our HART SCHAFFNER & MARX
"Varsity" Sack Suit
fl11 i
J y
Copyright 1900 by Hart Schallner & Marx
ADAMS
'Oregon City's Busy Store"
ASK FOR RED TRADING STAMPS
rn
IN PORTLAND
farmer keeps a supply of
LINIMENT
We'll sell you
a Suit
or
an Overcoat
here
at the right,
Price
Bunsa
OREGON
vfc. v . - j-.- : kvvj 'si , v. "; 4