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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1902-1919 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1915)
Un,lverslt Eugene, ...- Ore The Courier, largest cir culation in the Willam ette Valley CITY When war is given to the people to vote on there will be no war 32d Year OREGON CITY, OREGbN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1915 Number 44 OREGOM Two Bills by Dimick Senator Dimick has introduced two bills in the senate, one at the request of Maple Lane farmers standardizing the weight of shorts at 80 pounds and bran at GO. Farmers claim they get short changed about three sacks to the ton. The other bill prohibits the baiting of ducks on the Columbia river. Ihe sportsmen are dead wise down there and they keep out tons of wheat to stop nearly all the ducks from coming up the Willamette valley, when the sportsmen can shoot them almost at will. Dimick would stop this baiting. A Chautauqua Suggestion We would like to . see the ball games at the Chautauqua, at Glad stone, next summer played between the high school teams of the county. It would put the games more in line with the rest of the session. Sev eral things in connection with the ball games did not harmonize with the surroundings. Another advantage in having the high school teams would be to get the young men of the schools, in touch with the educational features of the Chautauqua. The playing would average as good as the games did last year. The interest would be as great in the games be cause people are always interested in the school pupils. Molalla Pioneer. Just a Law t Here is a plain section from the state road laws, a section that is gen erally disregarded and is not enforc ed, yet under its terms no road supervisor, is entitled to pay from the county until he has complied with it: "Every supervisor shall erect and keep up at the forks of every high way and every crossing of public roads within his road district a guide or finger board containing an inscrip tion in legible letters directing the way and specifying the distance to the next town or public place situat ed on each road respectively. "Provided, that the road supervis ors shall not be paid after submitting their report to the county court until they have shown to the satisfaction of the court that the provisions of his section have been complied with." First Aid to the Police It is published that the three men caught in a gambling raid in a Chi nese joint last week did not appear for trial Monday and forfeited their bail. The report says the three men refused to give their names, but that the police claim they could easily rec ognize them and will continue their search. If the published report is true we would mildly ask why men should be admitted to bail when their names were not known? And to save the city police a lot of unnecessary work in running down these unknown men, we would in form them they're not gamblers from Seattle or Portland, but that all three live in this city, and if they will come to the Courier office we will start them out with names and locations of the men they are hunting for. And in the meantime Woo Wong's name was printed; he was arrested, he was fined. What's Good, Bad or Lacking? The Courier would really like to hear from its readers as to what should be cut out or added to the paper to give better satisfaction. We would like to determine what particular pages or features please most; what ones are not liked and what suggestions for new features. Honestly, we would like to have your honest criticism, we don't care where it hits or how hard it hits. We will publish your criticisms or suggestions, with or without your signatures, and publish them without taking from or adding to. You may send them in as strong as you like. Seriously, we would like toh ave you tell us what you think would make a more interesting paper. Don't be afraid of criticism, for we have a thick hide. Just be honest and let 'em come. HE'S QUITE SHY Story of a Theatrical Troupe and an Oregon City Lawyer Last September a theatrical troupe under the management of an actress, came to Newberg and appeared for several nights at Duncan's hall. It was a party of actors and actresses of ability and, of course, not adapted to so small a town as this. It was not a financial success and a number of obligations were incurred which the manager could not meet. She wanted to pay her bills and finally a lawyer of considerable prominence in Oregon City agreed to endorse her note for $150. A note was written for that amount and the two signed it the various creditors being given notes signed by the woman for their respective claims. These were to be paid Dec. 11th out of the note which bore the law yer's endorsement which note was left in the First National Bank of Newberg for collection and was by that bank sent to an Oregon City bank several days before it became due. The latter notified the law yer of its holding the note but the lawyer evidently a shy, bashful man said he would rather the woman would pay it and, after a bout a month of vain effort to collect, the note was returned to the bank m this city. The creditors are now talk ing of suing the Oregon City man for the amount due on the note with interest from its date. Newberg En ter prise. LIFE IS E MODERN CIVILIZATION OR DAYS OF LEISURE AND PLENTY? LIFE BEFORE THE WHITE MAN And Life in 1915. Compare them and Think a Few One morning I sat on a hillside overlooking the pueblo of Isleta and watched the Indian village come alive. I had traveled hundreds of miles to this communial village on the Rio Grande river, hundreds of miles to see these foundings of history, these relics of the barbarous stone age, start out on their day's work. A big buck came out of a 'dobie, stretched himself, looked up at the sun, took down his gun and started out. He was going out to knock over a cottontail for breakfast, to give the cornbread a relish. A squaw came out with a handful nf kindling's and started a fire in the mud oven tob ake thee orn bread. Girls came from the 'dobies with wgtor iiirs. nrt went to the mountain springs. They returned with the jars full of water, balanced on their heads. Tha vnntiir lads awakened, pulled n tVmir nne-o-arment suits and eroup- ed in play while the bread was bak ing. TnHinns came from the many homes. Some rode off on ponies; some lay down in tne sun eating corn bread, others walked out of the vil- And rs I looked over this silent awakening of the village, I thought back to civilization. l ui th white man awakened by the bell of an alarm clock at a cer tain hour. t i th fire lighted at a certain time, the breakfast eaten on schedule the hurry for the scheduled car, ana the same old work-a-day started on the tick of the clock. And I couldn't help but question which was the happier and worth more life that of the untutored, un civilized savage, or that of the white man who looked down on them from the hillside in curiosity? tino ,oi-o hundreds of Deoole liv ing a communial life, without laws, without taxes, without money aim o0(-iVoiHr without work, and yet they were getting all that any white man should ask tor tne suppiy his wants. 1 ' ! 1 i" The land was owned in common. Each Indian could turn out his goats, cows or hogs and they were as safe as if enclosed in a six wire fence. Any man who wanted to prepare a piece of ground for a patch of corn simply went out ana prepareu ii TT ma not havA to buv it, lease it or pay taxes on it. It was his and just as free to him as the air over it. There was land enough for all, and no one had yet become enough "civilized" to cop out more fhon ha pnnld use and force his brother Lo to pay him for the use of it. The only laws were customs, lhey were not printed two successive weeks in the oinciai newspaper aim clippings posted in conspicious places. Thore were no officers, no public hnilrlinffq. no lawvers. no law suits absolutely no public expenses. True there was a noie in tne ri lar, eatnfa a deen hole like a water well, which none but the chiefs entered, where they met oc ti consider government; to keep the initiative and recall in working order. The initiative was when the Big Chief told the Indians where to head in at. The recall was when a sacred cus tom was broken and the Indian was quietly murdered. And the recall is seldom used. There was no money in circulation, because there was no use for it. A handful of beads, bits of turquoise or pieces of silver were far more de sired than chunks of gold. They could be used in ornaments and the ornaments could be traded for corn meal and pigs. Gold couldn't be ex changed for anything. Thooo mpn had onlv to raise a few bushels of corn, turn out a pig or cow or two, and their years worn was done. The rest of the time was for rest and recreation. If I were to have asked one of these Indians if he was ever sick he would hardly have comprehended the question. Many of them live to over a hun dred years. They would stare at you like an idol if asked if they ever had ner vousness or indigestion. You 'couldn't find a bald-headed Indian if you took a census of every pueblo in the southwest. I never saw an Indian who did not have perfect teeth and I don't believe an Indian, ever saw a dentist And for hundreds of years these first Americans have lived this com munial life, without care, want or anxiety lived without restraint, 1 OF MOR WORTH without trouble, without money, tax es or laws. And I couldn't help but think that these Indians whom tourists come from afar to see, had a whole lot on our Republican form of government, and that they lived far more happily in their freedom than we who are being civilized into early graves. No, we can't go back, I looked into a few of the 'dobies, without anything that looked like a bed; with a crude bench or two and a few earthen utensils, perhaps a few "civ ilized" tin cups or spoons, and I real ized that we had gone too far be yond them to ever go back. Yet I realized that if we could only have the freedom of land, and the freedom from laws, conventions and expenses these Indians have, how much more of life we would live to enjoy. BOBBIE BURNS CONCERT Splendid Musical Concert for Red Cross Benefit Friday Night Friday night of this week the Bobbie Burns Society will give its fourth annual concert, and all lovers of music will well get their money's worth at this entertainment. The two headliners are Walter J. Stevenson and F. A. Crowther Scotchmen who can sing. Crowther was a splendid hit at the Heilig in Portland, where he was repeatedly called back with wild applause. Stevenson is well known on the coast. The Oregonian in comment ing on his singing says he has a rare bass voice of wonderful depth; that he can easily go down to low D flat, even to low C and up to D, above middle C. There will be the usual attractive local talent at this concert, beside the special features, and the prgoram will include Scotch songs, highland fling, Scotch recitations, addresses, etc. The receipts are for the Red Cross society. Tickets are 25 cents, and may be had of Angus Mathewson, Peter Forbes, J. Laidlaw, C. S. Noble. Fighting to Save Supervisor Law The "S. 0. S." call was sent out to school supervisors and their friends and they rushed to Salem this week tos ave the ship. There were many good arguments presented both for and against repeal of the law. Some counties say it is good and want to retain it; others want to shake it off. Sentiment in this county is strong ly for the law's repeal. If Senator Dimick can't get away with it, he might agree to a change to let each county take it or leave it, by submit ting it to the voters. Children or Vegetables? Senator La Follett wants the wo mans' minimum wage law loosened up at one end so that the canneries may lengthen the hours of girls from eight to eleven. As ex-Governor West expresses it, it is proposed to strike from the pedestal the women and place in her stead a can of toma toes or a jar of preserves. Eight hours is long enough for a girl to work in a canning factory or any old factory, no matter what the wages for the extra three hours. Brotherhood Installation Oregon City Lodge No. 302, Fra ternal Brotherhood, installed the fol lowing officers Friday evening: Pres ident, J. T. Searle; vice-president, Mrs. Alta Conrad; secretary, Mrs. Annie Robinson; treasurer, A. M. Sin nott; chaplain; H. E. Hoots; sergeant-at-arms, Harry M. Smith; mistress-at-arms, Miss Hilda Sheehan; inner door-keeper, Sam Shelley; outer door keeper, Albert Wiltse; musician, Miss Flossie Blackburn. After the instal lation a fine banquet was enjoyed, and games and dancing followed. . Fishermen Have Strong Backing J. F. Albright, J. W. Erickson and Ed Reckner of the fishermen's com mittee went to Salem the first of the week to appear before a legislative committee in opposition to the Gill bill to close the Willamette river to net fishing from Oregon City to Os wego. The fishermen are backed in their protest by the four Clackamas county legislators, the commercial club, the rod and gun club and a lengthy petition. Pipe Line Bill Now Law The joint pipe line bill for West Linn and Oregon City has passed both houses, has been signed by the governor and is now a law. GRAND CONCERT Tuesday, January 26, 19 15 Eight o'clock p. m. sharp Orchestra of thirty pieces, direction Gustav Flechtner Assisted by Miss Moreita Hickman, Soprano Tickets 25c, Reserved Seats 50c COME! A Treat to all Music Lovers T IT COSTS TO BE AND HOW THE FIGURES STEAD ILY CLIMB AND CLIMB WHERE WILL THEY RUN TO? If Every Year they are Added to and New Jobs Created? Editor Young of the Coquille Sen tinel has a pretty level head and is a man who digs into things pretty deeply and carefully. And last week he gave the follow ing summary and comparison of state expenses which are well worth first page position, and well worth care ful study and consideration. The Sentinel says: "Two or three weeks ago we noted the fact that the estimates for legis lative appropriations this year are three and a half million dollars great er than the actual appropritions four years ago. On examining the items a little more closely it appears that whenever some new department of government has been established and a commission appointed to supervise it, the treasury is called upon each year for a larger appropriation. "The largest single increase is on account of the Workmen's Compen sation Act which was not in existence four years ago and for which $967, 178.12 is now asked almost a mil lion of that three and a half. This is not of course included in the tax levy, but the industries of Oregon will have to pay it nevertheless; so that the need of amending that act in the interest of economy is very apparent. "The next largest item is an appro priation of $490,000 for road build ing," where nothing was expended by the state four years ago. Should this practically half a million be appropriated this year, Coos county would probably fail to receive a dol lar while she would have to pay $10,000. This doesn't look good. "The increased appropriations ask ed for the State Normal School is $64,000. "For the State University $434, 000, is demanded for resident in struction and $150,000 more for the Portland medical school making a total increase of $584,000. j "These four items of increase total $2,105,000 in round numbers and ac count for three-fifths of the additions but it will be well to direct attention to some of the smaller and perhaps less defensible additions to the bud get. "The expense for orphans and foundlings jumps from $39,000 to $85.000 considerably more than double. "The Fish and Game commission thinks it needs to use $51,000 more than four years ago. "The Social Hygiene Society which was non-existent four years ago, got $20,000 in 1913 and wants $31,000 this year. "The Board of Forestry expended $60,000 four years ago, but thinks it can't get along with less than $111, 240 this year almost double. "The Board of Horticulture jumps from $12,000 to $18,000. "The state immigration agent got $25,000 four years ago, and it is pro posed to give him $71,790 this year. Too much. . "The Sanitary Livestock Board barely got its nose in the trough four years ago, with an appropriation of $5,258 in 1911, but it now asks for $49,940 which is certainly going some. "We got along without any appro priations for 'mines and gealogy' four years ago and only a modest little $50,000 is asked now. ... "The State Water Board cost us nothing in 1911, then $20,000 in 1913; and now $40,000 is asked now. "And finally a brand new expendi ture which has never appeared before is asked in "emergency allowances on account of deficiences' to the tune of $58,224 "It seems to us that every member of the legislature owes it to his con stituents to study closely these pro posed increases in our tax burdens and pare them down except whore ab solutely convinced that the public welfare demands increased appropria I tions." Urges Rural Credits Representative Allen of Marion county introduced a joint resolution and a memorial to congress to help on rural credits, and urging the Oregon delegation to work for long time loans at low interest for farmers. Oswego Schools Closed That the spread of a mild form of smallpox in Oswego might be prevent ed, Health Officer van Brakle order ed the schools closed for a few days until the building could be thoroughly fumigated. Fred Hetman Dead Fred Hetman, aged 77, died at the home of Charles Moehnke at Willa- mett Tuesday. He was an old pioneer, was born in Germany in 1837 and came to America when a young man. The funeral services and burial were at Beaver Creek. Mighty Fine Example At Oregon City the Jones drug store and the. Price Bros' store gave ten percent of their gross receipts to the ladies' committee for the relief of the city poor. This is a mighty fine example for'merchants who have business to warrant such giving. McMinnville News-Reporter. , Not Subject of Charity Senator Dimick refused to accept the five daily newspapers at the ex pense of the state, as provided for in a senate resolution. "I was not sent here to read newspapers at the ex pense of the state. I can buy my own," said he. The item means but a few cents to the state, but the principle means much. New Fruit Inspector The county court has appointed P. F. Standish of Garfield precinct as county fruit inspector in place of O, E, Freytag, who it is said has too many other jobs to give the matter needed attention. Mr. Standish is fully qualified for the job, and he will do something beside drawing his salary. Sherman Gets Verdist of $50 The game warden case of Jessie Sherman against Warden Frank Ervin was tried before a jury in the Circuit Court. The action was a charge of false arrest and was brought for $5,000, but the defense denied that Sherman was arrested at all. The jury returned a verdict of $50 for Sherman. . Warden Ervin de nounced the verdict an outrage and says he will ask for a new trial. The Pacific's Hold Up Game The Molalla Telephone Co. has a system that operates through a large part of the county, connecting with this city, Canby and other towns, and their charge is but 50 cents per month. Last year the rate was even less, yet the company not only paid all operating expenses, but built a new line from Molalla to Needy and yet had a cash balance in the bank. And yet the Pacific Co. which tries to monopolize this city, tells the railroad commission the lowest it can possibly serve new takers is $1.75 a month, $1.25 more than the Molalla company charges, and the Pacific Co. has ten times more business. Make the Jitneys Pay President Griffith of the P. R, L. & P. Co. says the jitney autos should be recognized as a common carrier and made to bear their part of tax ation. His statement is dead right, and it is only justice the autos should come through. The P. R. L. & P. Co. and the 5. r. Co. have spent a lot of money in building their own roads from Port land to Oregon City. Clackamas county has spent a pile of money in building roads from Portland to Oregon City. And why these roads should be hauted over without charge to the auto bus companies, we can't see. It isn't fair to the county nor to the railroad companies. Oregon Dry in 115 Words Representative Cardwell of Doug las countv. thinks it is all nonsense to have a prohibition bill of from 6,000 to 8,000 words to fight over and tear to pieces, and he has intro duced this bill of 115 words which he sayB is all that is needed to make Oregon as dry as a barrel of lime. This is the full bill: "Any person or persons who shall, after the first day of Jauuary, 1916, manufacture, sell or have in his, her or their possession for the purpose of sale, anv intoxicating liquor of any nature shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be minished by a fine in a Rum of not less than $200 or more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the County jail for a term not exceed ing six months; provided, however, that this act shall not apply to licens ed physicians prescribing alcoholic liquors for medical purposes or the sale thereof for scientific, sacrament al or mechanical purposes. All laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed." Short but Full of "Pep" Representative Cardwell, who framed the short Prohi bjll has put in another brief one, with all the where fores and whereases cut out, and it simply says all insurance companies shall pay full losses, as per policies, exccDt in cases of actual fraud. It should pass. KNOCKING THE COUNTY COURT FALSE AND MISLEADING RE PORTS IN THE OREGONIAN UNJUST CRITICISM RESULTS ImpressionGiven that County is Im proving Streets in West Linn In Wednesday morning's Oregonian was a criticism from this city of the county court in the statement "that road supervisors have in many cases materially exceeded their allowance is evident from figures now being prepared by County Clerk Harring ton," which criticism is followed by this paragraph: The case in which West Linn finds itself is typical . The County Court ordered William Kaiser, street superintendent of the town, to repair thorough ly the road leading north from the suspension bridge on the west side of the river, and when the work was completed the dis trict had a shortage of $5914.90. The court does not expect, how ever, to leave this burden on the district, and will make up the deficit. Either the Oregon City correspond ent to the Oregonian is endeavoring to get the county court in bad, or he is not at all familiar with his subject and the law. As for certain road districts ex pending more money than they raise, this has alwavs been uermitted in certain districts and no doubt always ... . i ! .1 l J J i will De, and tne general lunu is laro-filv for this Duruose. as the bridges only need ' a part of it. If each district kept all its money mere would be no need for a general road fund. The paragraph about West Linn carries the impression that the county court is improving the streets of that incorporated city out of the o-eneral fund, and in view of the fact that West Linn is endeavoring to keep all its road levy in the city, the above statement has caused much criticism of the court, the voters ask ing why the county should improve streets in an incorporated city. As a matter of fact the county isn't doing anything of the kind, neither is William Kaiser street su perintendent of the town, neither is he improving the streets oi west Linn, nor has the court ordered him to improve them. The improvements the court has ordered is on the county road north nf Bolton. NOT north of the suspen sion bridge, but entirely outside of the corporation limits of West Linn and a county road. William Kaiser has nothing to do with the work, as he is road supervisor or a district in the vicinity of Willamette. There is no excuse for such mis leading and absurd stories to be sent out from this ulace. for a correspond ent has but to ask any of the county court members to verify or disprove these street-chasing rumors. The county codrt has been the object of much criticism from this nit.v. tn which it has rjaid little or no attention, and it would seem from this garbled news report that the Oregon City correspondent minus it is safe to fire in almost anything. Such renorts Dublished in the Ore gonian, are naturally taken for true statements, and the fact of connect ing the name of the county clerk with them, gives added strength to them. The neonle of the county read them, and to them it appears that the county court has expended over $5,000 in improving West Linn's streets, "north of the suspension bridge." Such reports are not only untrue but subject the court to much crit icism that it absolutely does not de serve. If there is an object behind such misrepresentations, , the work is too Which Kind of Publicity? A Salem disDatch says George C. Brownell of this city wrote a letter to Senator Dimick telling him how to achieve publicity. "Don't fail to jump onto every thing from a grasshopper up to the appropriation bills. If you desire publicity, which every public man does more or less, I can suggest that one of the best ways to get it, is to pick out some leading newspaper editor of the state and jump all over him; from that time on you will Drobablv tret all the publicity needed, and it will save you a great deal of money in future political campaigns. "Vote 'no' on everv Dronosition ex cept that the senate shall be opened by prayer, and on that vote 'aye' and you will be sale. There are two kinds of publicity. One kind has made presidents, the other has filled coffins. FOR SALE Registered.. Poland China boars. Ready for service From prize winning stock. Inquire of Hettman & Fosburg, Oregon City, R. F. D. No. 3. Good for Hunt Represntative Hunt thinks wood cutter should . be given the same wage protection as carpenters and others,and he has a bill to give them a lien on the wood cut ' for their wages. May Combine for Pure Water Representative Risley has a bill prepared that towns may incorporate and bond for a water uspply. Oak Grove, Jenings Lodge and Clackamas are agitating such a project. Why not Simply Pass It? A resolution to submit the single item veto of appropriations to the people at the next general election showed up in the senate Wednesday, Why does not the legislature make it a law and not load down the bal lot? Any kid knows it is needed and wanted legislation. Why play horse? Would Stop Forced Vaccination Senator Gus . Moser of Portland doesn't believe any board of health or official has a right to compel a person to be vaccinated, nor to make vaccination a condition to attendnace of any public or private school, and has introduced a bill to this effect. It should pass. Vaccination is far worse than smallpox. No authority has a right to compel vaccination. It's effects are too often blood poison ing, with lifelong ill results. S. P. Change of Time Thursday of this week a new time card went into effect on the Southern Pacific, with the following changes: Number 19, south bound, formerly due at 2.68 p., m., will arrive at 2:43 p. m. Trains number 27 and 28, Wil lamette Valley Limited, will go as far south as Brounsville instead of Lebanon. No. 18, northbound, which was formerly due at 3:41 p. m., will now arrive at 3:37 p, m. No, 20, northbound will arrive at 6:30 p. m. instead of 6:35 p. m. 300 Need Help, No Money The ladies of the local relief com mittee once more appeal . to the people of the city and county to help ' the dependent suffering of this city. They state that about 300 people are the dependant suffering of this city, and that in two weeks the cash will be exhausted unless further aid is provided, and that some of the people will have to starve unless1 aided. This country has sent $14,000,000 to Belgium to date. It is now time to look after our own suffering. The committee has moved its head quarters to the Weinhardt building, the rooms in the rear of Elliott Bros, store, where they will thankfully re ceive anything you may give in food, cash, clothing, work or wood. Let all come alive to the situation. We must not let our people suffer or starve. Let us forget Europe and look to home. West Backs Schuebel's Bills Mr, Schuebel's bill to terminate certain continuing appropriations means more to the taxpayers of this state than any other measure yet introduced or likely to be introduced. While our educational institutions, and perhaps one or two departments, should be left on a permanent basis, every other continuing appropriation should be wiped out and deparmtents made to come to each legislature with a showing as to how its last appropriation had been expended and full information as to its needs for the future. No reform could be adopted which would do more to keep the public educated as to the cost of our state government and curtail ex travagances, than the suggestion of Mr. Schuebel's. Another splendid measure is Mr. Schuebel's bill to do away with most of the special funds now being main tained by the state treasurer and turn practically all money into the general fund. ThiB reform will put an end to the payment of interest upon in dorsed warrants. Oswald West. Six and Three are Nine All Alike The boys have evidently forgotten the governor's advice that but few and needed bills be introduced at this ision. There is already a long string of the needless ones, and it daily grows. Here are a half dozen tossed in Wednesday. Don't you believe the state government would yet live and jog along if they had never been thought up and dragged in: To instruct school children on the harmful effects of booze. Regulating the capture of young sturgeon. Limiting a day's catch of crabs to 50. Permitting Spanish war veterans to fish without licenses. To establish a state athletic com mission to regulate boxing. To regulate the practice of em balming. The Courier would suggest three more to tie with them, of equal im portance: Defining the best rations for Ply mouth Rock hens. Extending the pure food law to Oregon cottontails. Regulating the speed at which baby carriages could be pushed or pulled on the sidewalks of all incor porated cities of over 2,000. Schuebel's Bill Passes Representative Schuebel's bill re quiring lobyists to register and Work in the open, passed the house Wednesday.