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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1902-1919 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1915)
OREGON CM COURIER, OREG ON CITY, OREGON OREGON CITY COURIER Published Thursdays from the Couri er Building, Eighth and Main streets, and entered in the Postoffice at Oregon City, Ore., as Zd class mail matter OREGON CITY COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY, PUBLISHER M. J. BROWN, A. E. FROST, OWNERS. Subscription Price $1.50. Telephones, Pacific 51; Home A 51 Official Paper for the Farmers M. J BR.OWN, KATOOJ1BA Most everybody likes a bright gem of verse. Few ol us agree as what is 18.karet. Here's one Bflitnr ran onto that he thinks to the really poetry. I don't know who Charles Keeler. the author, is, but he knows how to harmonize meter and mntinunt ntlrl tn write CL trlO 01 verses a lover of good stuff will read twice. 0 my rosy laughing Jennie, will you hie away with me? I've a station in the gum-bush where the srrass will touch your Knee I've a thousand sheep a-bleating, I've a cosv hut for you; It is lonely in the gum-bush and there's room enough lor two; 0 the lyre-birds are singing 'neath the wattle's golden boughs. And the distant doves are cooing in the erlen their plaintive vows; How the gaudy parrots chatter, while the magpies sound their tune, f I'm lonev here, mv Jennie, but . you'll make me happy soon! And your voice, my merry Jennie like the Leura's silver fall, I shall hear about the paddocks ans wering whene'er I call. When the waratah'a in blossom I am comintr after vou. For I'm lonely in the gum-bush and there s room enough lor two! The way the state legislature raz zles and dazzles us with now the sen ate and now the house, will leave us just where all two-house law making bodies leave us in doubt who to blame, but holding the sack in the dark. The big appropriation bills 'are now having their inning at Salem. Ex-Governor West says the chances for lower taxes look slim. The promised cutting and slushing at the beginning of the session haven t ma terialized. It is high time the legislature was restricted from passing any law re pealing an initiative measure, or any part of it. If the people made a mis take, let them grin and bear it awhile and they will be more careful next time. . The Hague bunch framed up a list of rules that should be PE11MIS SABLE in war an arrangement of killing by rule. And one day the question jumped into my dome: "Why not have framed rules that would PROHIBIT war?" Ever think of it? The press dispatches of today an nounced that John D. Rockefeller has given a quarter of a billion to philan thropy. To give him credit is rot. The law which allowed him to accu mulate this vast Bum is a crime against humanity. He robbed nature as well as the people to secure his fortune and all the philanthropy in heaven, on earth and in hell cannot make wrong right. Had he divided his profits among his laborers as Henry Ford is doing there would be no poverty among the poor today but there would be peace, content ment and plenty. He hus hundreds of millions left and it is not yet too late for it to be used in bettering labor conditions. Rockefeller is an old man who must soon die. What kind of a story is he to tell to his Maker? Mt. Angel, Times. The courts of Oregon shame upon theml have "drawn the teeth" of the liability law passed by the people by a majority in every county of the State in 1910. Workingmen are de manding that these "teeth" bo re stored. If the Legislature refuses to do so, then they may be restored by the people through the initiative, sharper, longer and better rooted. The way the supreme court has care fully extracted those teeth would be a disgrace to a shyster court in a southern state trying a colored gentle man for stealing watermelons, when prisoners are badly needed to work the road leading past the premises of said shyster court. Put the teeth back I We may have to recall one or more of our honorable and entirely too numerous supreme judges before they fully realize what they wear their mother hubbard9 for. A Mistake That Might Happen to You "I mado a bad mistake today," said Blank to his wife. "I went to pay that subscription to the daily, which was $5.00. I found out afterward thnt I had handed tho agent a $10 bill and didn't notice it until he was gone guess he didn't either. I suppose the fellow is honest and I'll get my money back, but it'll be some trouble." "I've been telling you" said his wife "that you should deposit your money in the bank and then pay by check. Then you won't be making such mistakes and having so much trouble." Was she right? She was. We invite one and all to open a checking account at our bank. The Bank of Oregon City Oldest Bank in Cleckama9 County Society of Equity of Oregon EDITOR Sue-ar iroinir ud. What for? War! Rats! The sugar growers, field workers and farmers, will not get any of that rake-off. It will De hnnnVi of lawless train robbers. real old-time Oklahoma train robber was a gentleman, a humanitarian, and all kinds of a chump compared the, sugar trust! to When the legislature does not want to do anvthinp- for the people it falls back on its pledges to economy. Whim it wants to do the people and do them plenty pledges become mere scraps of paper and pulls oi not air. 'Twas ever thus. Why not limn tne iBwislat.ure to a total sum of appro priations and let the members worry keeping inside of nl HOW WOULD THIS DO? The constitution of the State of Oregon is hereby amended, etc. Kppf.inn 1. The total appropria tions made by any legislature for the maintainance ot tne state govern ment during a period of two years shall not exceed $3,000,000. Appropriations exceeding such sum bv less than $1,000 shall be de- Hnpted bv the Treasurer pro rata from the salary of the members of the legislature making the same; an in excess of $1,000 shall be appor tioned "ani subtracted pro rata from all the appropriations. The total contingent expenses, in cluding salaries and per diem, hire of employees, printing, heating, lighting and any and all other ex nnnMs connected with any regular session of the Legislature shall not exceed $20,000. No snecial session shall be allow ed any expenses whatever unless call ed by the governor more tnan six months after the adjournment of any retrular or special session, and in no enKfi for more than $10,000. The neoDle of any county by the- initiative, mav limit the total amount of appropriations for county purpos es, and may reduce or increase tne salaries of any officer, official or deputy. , The more perfect wording or sucn a measure can easily be obtained; but what do vou think of the general idea? Why not cut taxes down by cutting away the power to make ap nronrrations? Whv not limit the legislature to a reasonable expense? Why not? Those in favor or cut tlmr down state expenses will come forward: those opposed will stay where they are. County and local expenses amount to more than state exnenaes. Whv not take tho power to limit them? Officers wished by a leei.slature uDon a county without anv need or appreciation of them are one great cause of high taxes. Why not take the power to do without them? A LONG, LONG ROAD Under the prohibition bill it is pos sible to have a literal lake of beer and booze in Oregon, for the law per mits one to have 24 bottles of beer and 2 quarts of whiskey within 28 days. But the possibilities will not bo the probabilities. There are thousands of families who will never import a gill, and there are thousands of others who may desire the liquor but will not go through the red tape and possible publicity to get it. But out of it all the saloons of Oregon are abolished and in them was the greatest danger. The sa loons are simply annihilated. No doubt the liquor interests will hold the law up on a referendum, and the probabilities are the legislature will call a special referendum elec tion for this full, to prevent the ref erendum, if it should carry, from holding up the prohibition law for ubout a year. And if such nn election is called we will have this rather laughable situation: First, the people voting a state prohibition law. Then the legislature guessing at what the voters wanted and adding it on. Third, the people voting again to determine if what they voted for in 1914 was what they really wanted in 1915. "It's a long, long road." m I SANE TAXATION The following article is copied I from the Mt. Angel Times. At this time when everybody is talking tavnt.ion remedies, the article certainly be interesting, and it will make the one who reads it tmnk.j The confusion worse confounded of our tax laws illustrates anew the in estimable value of popular govern rnent What of all our institutions gives greater scope to the human will? Where else can be found such trairffdv. Ruch melodrama and such rf comedy? And its greatest charm is that i'h our governments ours to laud tn pondemn. to set ud or to tear down, to make just or tyrannical. We can enact a set of laws and then turn rl make another set that contradicts and nullifies the first. And the men we select to administer the laws pick from among them such a a tVipv think should be enforced. Having in mind the univesrality, as well as the inevitability, of death and taxes it is not to De wonuerea at that the more vexatious of the dread ed twain should have arisen in the state attorney's office. Nor should l ha surnrisintr that an able and ener getic official should have added to the gayety oi politics Dy unaertaKing to enforce the personal property tax law. That a grand jury at the insti gation of a state's attorney should have sought to pillory a conspicuous rich man for defvine a law that both the grand jury and the attorney had broken illustrates the lniinite possi bilities of popular government. Rut now that we have had our laugh the question arises: Is govern ment really a joke Are all laws nul lified bv other laws? Must statutes ever remain ridiculous and unenforce able? Is there no science of govern ment? Can there be no honest taxa tion Ts there order in all things else, material and immaterial, physi cal and spiritual and no law govern ing social relations? Reason an NO. And order and harmony will come when we have discovered and applied the law. The people throughout this coun try are discussing the question of tax ation. It is the chief topic in Wash ington, in every state capital, in every city council and in every county, township and village. Everywhere the question is raised: Tow shall we ohtnin revenue, and everywhere the admission is made that the system in vogue is unsatisfactory. There are principles of taxation that are universally recoenized. One of these is that a tax is a burden, and tends to drive away the thing it is laid unon. When congress wished to stop state banks from issuing money it avoided questions of constitutional ity by laying a tax of 10 per cent up on their circulation, and that tax was as effective as the most drastic pro hibition. This principle is recognized in those communities that seek to attract new industries by exempting them from taxation for a term ot years. It is understood by those who place heavy taxes on saloons to keep down the number and exempt hospi tals, schools and churches in order that there may be more of them. - Though conscious of this funda mental pricniple, however, this all pervading force, we are slow to give it ceneral aDnlication. While we do - - o t discriminate among a few things in levvine taxes, the great mass ol values falls under a common rule. This policy of a common treatment of all values, however, is not as popular as it once was. The impracticability of enforcing the nersonal property tax is leading many to think it should be abolished. But such a proposition will not be cenerallv accepted bv the people unless they are given an intel ligent reason. Thes mall owner is not likely at first to look kindly upon a proposition to tax homes while exempting the personal property of the rich. He will accept it however, when he understands the true basis of taxation. There are two values, and only two, that can be taxed: The value men make when actinir toirether. and the value men make when acting in dividually. The first attaches to those elements of nature that politi cal economists call land: the second attaches to the products of human labor. Both of these values exist re gardless of the form of taxation, but their distribution and enjoyment will depend very much upon the form ol the tax; for a tax laid upon one of thpsa values has the onrjosite effect from what it does when laid upon the other. Without a recognition ot. this fact a just and workable system is impossible. A tax laid unon any product of labor a table, for instance will be added to its price, and will be paid by the consumer. But a tax laid upon one of these values has the onnosit.e effect from what it does when laid upon the other. Without recoemtion of this fact a just and workable system is impossible. A tax laid unon any product of lubor a table, for instance will be added to its price and will be paid by the consumer. But a tax laid upon land values does not enter into the price, and cannot be passed on to the consumer. The reason for this seem- ine paradox wilt be apparent upon a moment's reflection. Labor products are produced as needed, that is, in re sponse to demand. If the Consumer refuses to nav the tax levied on the table the cabinet maker can refuse to make any more tables until he does pay it. Land, however, is a fixed quantity, the area of the earth being the same whether taxed or untaxed. Hence the land owner lacks the redress of thee abinet maker. He cannot shut off the supply. The land is already in existence and in quantity greater than society can use. A tax on vacant land cannot be shifted to the tenant because there Is no tenant; a tax on improved land cannot be shifted to the tenant because of the competition of the owner of the vacant land. Clean your mirrors and lamp chim neys with soft paper instead of cloth. ONE OF THESE DAYS (Alfred D. Cridge) It requires an entire generation sometimes two or even twenty to complete a process, of reasoning upon a very simple proposition. People in the United States once believed very sincerely and to the ut most devotion of life and fortune, that a king could do no wrong and ruled by some holy and divine right. That idea is still prevalent among many millions of people in Europe, and because of it a few insane mon archs have driven into a terrible war many millions of people. That idea still prevails even in Oregon to some degree, and accounts for the absurd reverence given to our courts, the judges on the bench for the most part being a bunch of hair-splitters, and no better than the lawyers pleading before them, or the average criminal sentenced by them It will require perhaps another generation or more to get to the point where we will take the absolute power out of the hands of the courts, simplify the administration ot just ice, do away with nine-tenths of the courts and 99 per cent of the lawyers. We do not reason on this or we would have done it in 1904 when we first secured the power to do it. Then there is the absurd supersti tion that we must have two house legislatures. If ever there was any excuse for it there is none now, but the human mind is a benumbed instrument for some time after the glow of common sense is turned upon it, and there fore a simplified, responsible legis lature is such a terrible thing that two out of three vote against it the first time it is put before them. One of these days the third of the people who are afraid to take a step forward along the road of common sense will be persuaded to do so, and the third of the people who never take a step forward will be forced to ad mit that a single housed legislature is an institution come to stay. Then there is the silly superstition that land was not made to be used, but made to be owned by some idler, noble, thief, forger, tax dodger, alien somebody who would not let any body use it, nor use it himself. In time to come this will be regard ed as one of the greatest and most evil superstitions ever controlling the mind of man. Because of this (superstition we not only pay taxes upon every thing to relieve the land monopolist of the burdens of government, but we bitter ly oppose any relief of this condition, and cheerfully pay fines upon every useful and commendable action in order to continue the holding idle by idlers of nine-tenths of Oregon. There are indications, however, that this superstition is being eaten away, and that one of these fine days the one man out of six who now isl afraid to step forward and assert that God Almighty did not make the land to be held idle by idlers, will take his stand by the two men out of six who have abandoned tho super stition, and the people of Oregon will then guarantee the inalienable right of every man and woman in the state to as much of the God-created land as they need to use, and no more. Think of an Oregon with a single- house legislature unable to spend more than a fixed amount for its session, restricted as to the total amount of its expenditures and ap propriations. Think of a supreme court of three men sitting once a month for a day to hear cases, and the rest of the time administering justice in the three and only circuit courts of the State and without any mother hub bard gowns on them! Think of an Oregon where no man is fined for being industrious, and where no man owns an acre he does not use nor uses an acre he does not own. Think of an Oregon where all means of public transportation are owned by the public and operated in the same way as a set of elevators in a big city office building. One third of us are ready for these things now; but to get over their superstitious reverence for things as they are, that one man out of six necessary to enable us to take these steps may require from four to 40 years yet. Such is the peculiar reluctance with which men use what they think is their reason, but which, in fact, is the rufusal to use it. . Alfred D. Cridge. AN OLD CRY IN A NEW FORM When flour passes $8 a barrel in a country which harvested its great est wheat crop six or seven months ago, and which is at peace with the world, the daylight robbery of the millions for the interest of the spec ulators in wheat is a matter so ser ious that it calls imperatively for a Federal investigation to determine whether the people of the United States are helpless in the hands of gamblers. We boast our "land of the free and the home of the brave." Who is free where the necessities of life are not determined by the demand and the supply, even by the demand of the belligerent countries and the sup ply in a peaceful country, but are fixed m accordance with the plans and coups of speculators? Ancient history bristles with the records of the exportation of wheat being forbidden by autocratic decree when the situation warranted a fa mine. A condition very nearly ap proaching a famine will be brought about in America if the price of wheat goes to a poin at which the price of bread will be double what it Is under normal conditions. The people of America are rich in linCtisiinem comparison, with the hungry millions in Asia, but they are not well enough off to pay $2 for $1 worth of fldnr that a handful of players in a game in which the necessities are used as a basis of illegitimate transactions may buy steam yachts at the expense of wage earners. A good deal was said on ebmargo on wheat when the war began, and about an investigation to regulate the American product for American con sumers. Now is the time to inves tigate. Congress is in session. Louisville-Courier Journal. "IT'S THE WAR IN YOEROPE" When a trust is boosting prices with sugar, flour or soap, or bread, or wire-netting, or hogs, or nails or rope, then they tell us trusting farm ers, and city sweaters too, it's the war in Yoerope done it, and then what can you do? When the trusts are knocking prices on everything you sell, and millions standing idle, and business shot to Hell, then the trusts turn out the story, and it's told and told to you, "It's the war in Yoerope does it," and then what can you do ? When you go to buy a toothpick, or a harrow, or a fence, the way the sellers sock you and add on the expense, makes you wish you were a woodchuck with only roots to chew, with no war in Yoerope bother ing or pestering you. Perhaps if Uncle Sam would stop all ships of goods and clothes of any kind to Yoe rope, if they starved or if they froze, these gambler, trusts and combines would face the music, too, and we'd tell them just what did it, just like they tell to you "the war in Yoe rope done it," and done it the right way. If you speculators want to eat, get right to work today. Then sugar, flour and bacon would hit a fair price round, and all United States would hear from Yoerope peaceful sounds. We ain't no obli gations to feed them crazy wars, we ain't no combinations to match up cause 'gainst cause. If the war in Yoerope done it, then let us all forget, and ship no stuff across the pond there d soon be peace, you bet. Alfred D. Cridge. Not Responsible says J. W. Smith Both the Enterprise and Oregon- ian printed the news story that Com missioners Smith and Mattoon oppos ed Judge Anderson on the matter of having a county road engineer, and brought about the release of Engineer Hobson. Mr. Smith says be objects to be ing made responsible for the acts of his successor, and that he thinks Mr. Knight has been commissioner long enough for the newspapers to have discovered the fact, as he was elect ed November 4. MRS. MARY POWERS The funeral of Mrs. Mary Aange- lina Powers, formerly of Redland, who died February 4, was conducted by Rev. A. B. Waltz at the Crema torium in Portland Saturday. Her three sons and three son-in-laws acted as pall-bearers. Mrs. Powers was born in Ohio. In 1871 she crossed the plains to Idaho. In 1876 she was married to William S. Powers. She was the mother of 11 chil dren of whom the following survive: Mrs. Lucy Edwards Bruce, of Port land; Miss Katherine Flayd Edwards, Vancouver, B. C; Mrs. Lester A. La- Point, Portland; Mrs. M. Lillian Hayes, and Miss Ina C. Powers, Port land; Henry C. Edwards, Portland; W. Emery Powers, Oregon City, and J. Elmer Powers, Haines, Oregon. Legiilative Brevities. The senate passed house bill re pealing a law providing that dogs caught pursuing deer be shot. A joint resolution authorizing the superintendent of public instruction to annotate and publish the school laws of the state was adopted by the senate. What is regarded by many as one ot the most Important new laws en acted Is that repealing the free text book enactment of the last session. By passing this measure the legislature has saved itself a controversy. Dan Kellaher Introduced a bill in the senate providing for weekly payments of various employes, which is said to have the support of certain labor in terests and unquestionably will fill the halls of legislation with lobbyists. To facilitate the operation of the constitutional amendment passed by the people at the last election which provides that only citizens of the United States shall vote in this state, Senator Moser introduced a bill em- nnwerinE; county clerks to strike from the registration records the names of all aliens. After amending Representative Schuebel'i bill, merging all special funds into the general fund, so as to make the licenses and fees collected by the state fish and game commis sion constitute an appropriation for that commlssiou, the house passed the measure by a vote of 53 to 5, two mem bers being absent. To give farmers power to arrest hunters who trespass upon their prop erty Is the object of a bill passed by the house. Under the present law a trespassing hunter is subject to ar rest, but the owner must obtain a warrant. Representative Fenwick, au thor of the measure, pointed out that by the time a farmer procures a war ia!t llio damage is done and the hunt- it, ,jUO. Sluggish bowels and torpid liver usually go together and it does not take long for constipation to produce a bad condition a feeling of languor or lazinessthe "blues" headaches, palpitation or other malady. Indeed, when in this condition the system in vites more serious illness and is not able to throw off disease. Foley Cathartic Tablets are a wholesome laxative and cleansing cathartic. They act without inconvenience, grip ing or sickening. Sold at Jones Drug Co., Oregon City. The new Clackamas County com plete record report cards are now for sale at the Courier office at 15c per. dozen. Postage S cents. $2.00 For 69 We have about twenty-five $2 from our January sale, and we wa chance at this great bargain. You all know an O'Cedar or W each, and here is a far better oil m stock in it than an O'Cedar, a per way for 69 cents. This is actuall terial used in the mop, but "shoul to get rid of them at some price a Huntley Brothers Company The jl&waJUL Storm Effective February 1 Reduction No. 3 On Goodyear Tires Making Total Reduction of 45 per cent in two Years to Give Always theMost.for the Money We are glad again for the third time in two yearsto announce a big reduction on Goodyear tires, effective Feb ruary 1st. Goodyear policy on price is to give the utmost in a tire at the lowest possible profit. Our reductions are made to that end, without ever reducing the quality. That always means, with our matchless output, more for the money than any other maker can give. As rubber came down our prices came down. As our out pit multiplied, reducing factory cost, our prices came down with it. In two years our reduc tions including the present have totaled 45 per cent. Last year we increased our output 26.6 per cent. A few days ago the embargo on rub ber was modified so that sup plies seem assured. The market price for rubber seems for a time established. Fabric costs less than last ,year. So, under our minimum profit policy, we announce this new reduction. ONLY FAIR BASIS We consider profit margin on a tire the only fair price basis. We keep that margin just as low as our line allows. While we do that, Goodyear tires will always undersell tires that compare with them. That is because we have the largest THE GOODYEAR TIRE GoodByear Fortified Tires iRim Cuti by our No-Rim-Cut feature Blowouti by our "On-Air" cure. Loose Treads by many rubber rivets. Iniecurlty-by 120 braided piano wires. Puncture and Skidding by our double thick All-weather tread. People Are Constantly Moving I bay their Farnitare, Stoves, etc Many of these articles are as servicable as new goods, hot yoa can bay them mach cheaper. It is well worth climbing the hill to see how mach yoa can save on both New and Second Hand Goods. J. H. MATTLEY Seventh and Madison Sts. Oregon City, Ore. Office pliones: Main 50, A50; Res. phones, M. 2524 1751 Home B251, D251 ' WILLIAMS BROS. TRANSFER & STORAGE Office 612 Main Street Safe, Piano, and Furniture Moving a Specialt Sand, Gravel, Cement, Lime, Plaster, Common Brick, Face Brick, Fire Brick If You want the Courier. $1 per BE-50LVED THAT IT WILL DOYoVRi HEART dOODToSEEl HOWARJOfYOUCAN tier For your, money IN OU STORE. IT Will DO QUR HEART (iOODTo MAKE A FRIEND AND CUSTOMER. OF YoU WE WISH YOU A HAPPY VALENTINE .DAY. Cents--$2. 00 .00 Oil 'Polishing Mops left over nt the Courier readers to have a izzard mop costs $1.25 to $1.50 op with almost 50 per cent more feet self oiler and better in every y less than the cost of the ma- d worry" the makers write us nd we will sure do it. output. We have a new fac tory, modernly equipped. And we have world-wide facilities' for buying rubber, of our ex tra grade, at the lowest market price. For a long, long time most tires have sold much above the Goodyear prices. Some have sold one-third higher. A few have sold lower, as some always will, because of less rubber, less quality. But we can and do, under all conditions, give more for the money than any rival tire can offer. THE BEST WE KNOW Goodyear Fortified Tires of fer the best we know. They are built to give you the low est cost per mile. They mini mize tire trouble in five costly ways employed by no other maker. And they are always the same, regardless of price reductions. Most tires will always sell higher, because of smaller out put. Some tires will always sell lower because of lower standards. But we promise you that none will ever give better than Goodyear value. This policy has made Good years the largest-selling tires in the world. It will make them more so as more men find them out. Ask your Goodyear dealer for our new price on the size you buy. & RUBBER CO, Akron, O. truth, Read The year in advance