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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1895)
THE STOBNTN'G- OBEGKXNIiJSi WEDNESDAY, dTAjniAKT 8, 1895 pt (rsgormsm Watered at the Posicfllce at Portland. Oregon, ta second-class matter. ItEVISED SUBSCRIPTION HATES. By Mail (postage prepaid) In Advance. Dally. -vrlth Sunday, per month --..$ 1 00 Daily, Sunday excepted, per year - 10 Dally, -with Sunday, per year.. ..-.-.-- I2 Sunday, per year - 2 J The Weekly, per year. - 1 The Weekly, three months - M TO CITY SUBSCRIBEE3. Dally, per xreelc, delivered. Sunday exceptcd23c Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday lncluded..30c Xews or discussion Intended for publication In IThe Oresonlan should be addressed Invariably "Editor The Oregonlan." not to the nane of any Individual. Letters relating to advertising subscription or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oresonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories Xrcm Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscript sent to it without solici tation. No tsamps should be lndosed for this purpose DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPOKT PORTLAND, Jan. S. 8 P. M. Maximum temperature. 30: minimum temperature. 32; lieigbt of river at 11 A. M.. 10.4; change in the jast 24 hours, 0.9; precipitation today, .03; precipitation from September 1. 1894 (wet sea son), to date, 1C.33; average, 22.06: deflciency. C.47; number hours of sunshine Honday, 0:18; possible number. 8:54. - WEATHER FORECASTS. A very severe storm Is central over Vancouver island, whloh is apparently moving southeast ward. East of the Cascade mountains from two to five inches of snow fell, except rain in the AValla Walla valley. Snow continues in East wn Oregon and Northeastern Washington. Heavy rain fell in California and in the west ern portions of Washington and Oregon. From the heavy gradient in the barometer, high winds with rain must, be expected. WEATHER SYNOPSIS. Forecasts made at Portland for the 24 hours Ending at midnight January : For Western Washington and Western Oregon Rain and warmer; fresh to brisk southerly in inds, -with severe gales on the coast. For Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and Northern Idalio Snow or rain and warmer, .with brisk southerly winds. For Southern Idaho Snow and slightly warm fer. with fresh variable winds. For Portland Rain and warmer, with brisk southerly winds. B. S. PAGUE. Local Forecast Official. PORTLAND, WEDXESDAY, .TAX. S. A. TIMELY RECALL. Salem's Committee of One Hundred lias set forth in preamble and resolu tions the right doctrine in regard to public education. Briefly stated, it is declared that the state should not pro vide educational facilities beyond what is termed a good common school edu cation; that the endowment funds of the state university and agricultural college, with reasonable charges for tui tion, should be ample for support of those institutions; that further appro priations from the general fund ought not to be made to any educational es tablishment; that all laws now provid ing or requiring a levy of taxes for support of the state university should be repealed; and finally, that the Jaws should be so amended as to do away with all free tuition, or favorit ism In scholarships. It is proposed to recommend these suggestions to the legislature, with the request that they the enacted into law. This strikes the right key. The pub lic educational establishment is Im mensely overgrown. During the last twelve or fifteen years It has been in creased by continual additions. The school machine, which has dictated the legislation, and then piled additions, 3n the way of rules and regulations, upon the legislative acts, till Pellon has "been heaped onOssa,has Itself grown by what it has fed on, till it has become a greater power than any political ring ever known in the state. It tries to imake or unmake state officials, to dic tate the election of members of the leg islature, and even threatens to appear in the arena where the election of Uni ted States senators is contested, if its demands are not complied with, or if an effort shall be made to check its ra pacity or refuse its demands. The sys tem it has created has given rise to the scandalous scramble recently witnessed Sn the selection of schoolbooks. The de tails of its administration throughout tire costly and needless, and it is feared, corrupt. Adoption of the recommenda tions of the Salem Committee of One iHundred would go far toward destruc tion of the state school machine. One recommendation, quite as necessary as the rest, was, however, omitted. The loffice of state superintendent ought to he abolished. "We should not be con sent merely to hack the limbs; we fehould first hew the head off. The true function of public educa tion lies wholly within the common tjchool. But even the common school Shas been expanded into a complicated rand enormous machine, requiring greater expenditure of energy by Seachers and of money by taxpayers to keep a vast system of unneces sary parts in motion, than to do the real work of the schools. Simplicity 3s lost sight of, and the study Is how to do the plainest things in the most troublesome ways. The state university at Eugene, and the state agricultural college at Corval lis, both have annual appropriations direct from the state. This system throws upon the taxpayers the charge of providing a collegiate education for a favored few. There is a special pro hibition of any charge or fee for tui tion in the state university, but a di rect tax upon the people takes from them $22,000 to $24,000 a year as a con tribution to its support. This explains how it is that the regents were able to take up the discarded superintend ent of public instruction (McElroy) and give him a fine salary as a literary professor in a department created Xor him. The legislature should repeal the law that authorizes this tax, and, as the Salem One Hundred recommend, "do away with all free tuition or favor itism in scholarship." The state nev-jr should levy taxes for educational pur poses beyond the means necessary for common-school Instruction. "Within this line it renders a service common to all. Going beyond it, it favors the lew at the expense of the many, and taxes the public to do for individuals what they ought to do for themselves. No young man, possessing a common school education, ever yet in America was surrounded by such difficulties as could prevent him from obtaining a higher education if he wanted it; but, whether he could or could not obtain it by his own exertions, the state does not owe it to him and has no right to make him its favorite. Portland's Committee of One Hun dred could hardly do a better thing than to take up the Salem Commit tee's recommendations on this subject and make them its own. The Orego nlan is glad to herald, as one of the signs of the times, a reawakening sense of the proper limits and true functions of public education. The Salem declar ation is a note that sounds a timely recall to a system that, during recent years, has been much perverted from Its proper intent. PEACE OXLY AT PEKING. Nothing will come of the pending peace negotiations. It is clear that China has not been thrashed enougn. Her envoys have been forbidden to dis cuss the question of cession of terri tory. China expects to make peace up on the basis of the independence of Co rea and a war Indemnity. She would have welcomed these terms before the taking of Port Arthur, when the Japan ese had no important footing on Chi nese soil. They are absurdly Inade quate now. The independence of Corea Is an established fact. No concession by China is needed to confirm it. Japan will accept no pledge of war indemnity from a corrupt, perfidious and bankrupt government unless secured by cession of territory. The peace negotiations will break down at this point. Japan Is not eager for peace, and will welcome the opportunity for farther conquests opened to her by the mad ness of China. Undoubtedly the Jap anese have done all they could to retard and make barren peace negotiations, without inviting condemnation and pos sible interference from Europe. They will be rejoiced to be put in position where they can refuse peace without the blame of Injustice. Truth is, the work of Japan is not done. Her mission is not performed. It is not well either for her own govern ment or for the people of China; it would be contrary to the political in terests of Asia and to the commercial Interests of the whole world that the war should stop short of occupation of the capital and the complete regenera tion of the empire. There have been many hints in newspaper correspon dence that the national vanity of Japan cannot be satlslled with anything less than a peace dictated and signed in the enemy's capital. Much more than na tional vanity is involved. Probably the Japanese could not make a secure peace out of the capital. There is no security for a war indemnity except in control of the central pewer of taxation. The territory so far conquered gives no command of financial resources, though Japan might be content to annex it in lieu of money payment. But if she wishes to hold territory temporarily, merely as a pledge for money, Japan can hardly avoid going to Peking and assuming control of internal tax collec tion, since the European powers would not permit her to take control of the customs at the treaty ports. The establishment of the Japanese at Peking for some years, during payment of a large war indemnity, would benefit the Chinese nation immensely and would, in the end, serve the best inter ests of all commercial nations. They would, in their own interest, introduce modern methods of fiscal administra tion and put an end to corruption in the ciil service. Even if the occupation were only temporary, China would learn useful lessons in governmont from her conquerors, and the decaying empirenight take a new lease of life after their departure, to the distinct ad vantage of every nation that wishes to carry on fair trade with China, and to the disappointment only of those that wait to seize the fragments of the ruined empire. The advantage to the commercial world would be still greater, if the Japanese occupation and fiscal control were to drift gradually, as that of England In Egypt has drifted, into a permanent protectorate. No happier fate than this could overtake the peo ple of China, English papers are preparing to make all the capital possible out of the re tributive acts of the Japanese upon the occasion of the capture of Port Arthur. Evidence of the nature and extent of these acts has been collected and care fully sifted. Probably the truth in re lation to them, so far as it ever will be ascertained, was published in American papers weeks ago. The Japanese gov ernment has made frank and manly admission of the misconduct of its troops, and has promised to control them better hereafter. There is nothing more to be said about the Incident. The English papers are rehashing it with artistic exaggerations to stir up public opinion in Europe to the point of sup porting forcible intervention to put an end to the war. Of course, the motive of this effort is not humanity, but de sire to protect the commercial interests of Great Britain in Asia. The quality of British humanity, when commercial Interests do not run along with it, has been proved in India and Africa by bloodier and more cruel reprisals than those of the maddened Japanese at Port Arthur. It is not likely, therefore, that the affected horror of the English press will make much Impression upon the powers of Europe, especially as the quality of Russian, French mid German humanity, as proved in the Caucasus, In Algiers and in the French provinces. Is not noticeably different from English. The attitude of these nations toward the Asiatic war will be governed by considerations of policy rather than of humanity. There- will be no interven tion till Russian, German and French policy runs with British in this regard. The right man for United States sen ator for Oregon on the silver standard platform is Hon. Jonathan Bcurne. He is the true silver champion of the state, the real corypheus of the silver movement; he is its apostle, prophet, philosopher, publicist, high priest, polit ical organizer and campaign leader. The effort for the silver standard in Oregon is based on his energy and in tellectual power. It is he who has switched off from their party's policy men like Fulton, Tongue, and other politicians; it is he who has called them into service under the silver flag, for silver monomatalism. They are but puppets, as he pulls the strings. He supplies them with their phrases and arguments, out of his wealth of ses quipedalian words of hazy meaning, studied from his silver phrase-book. Mr. Bourne is a very able man. Through his talents he has mounted the throne of the silver party in Ore gon; politicians gather at his feet or speed at his .bidding. He Is the real leader; The Oregonlan gives him the honor, and it trusts he will not be too modest to claim his due reward. No Na poleon ought to be on a back seat. The Oregonlan is told that its duty to the "West requires it to join in the call for free coinage of silver. Is the West, then, to dictate the money standard of the country and of the world? It is The Oregonlan's impres sion that the value of the materials of which money is made, gold and silver, and their relation or ratio to each other, are adjusted in the world's markets. So it has doubts whether the "West could enforce any different relation or ratio, if it should try. Besides, it Questions whether it would be the real Interest of the "West, even if it could, to force on the United States a money standard different from that of the chief coun tries of the world. The prices of our great export products are fixed in those places where these exported products are marketed, and fixed on the gold basis. Then, if prices be fixed in this country on the silver basis, we must be sufferers at least to the extent of exchange fluctuations, which always discourage exports from the country of lower money standard. Again, labor always loses in countries where a low money standard prevails. In no other countries is labor so badly paid as m silver money countries. The "West can not force the United States to the silver basis if it would; but if it could and should, it would injure Itself and the whole country irreparably. THE LATEST PROM MAIXE. The latest report of the practical workings of the prohibition law in Maine comes from a special correspon dent of the Boston Herald, who gives statistics of the city of Lewlston that are startling to one who looks upon Maine as a "dry state." Lewlston Is a city of about 25,000 population, and ac cording to the correspondent nearly 300 pay the special United States liquor tax. This Is but a few less than in the city of Portland, with more than three times the population. In estimating the number of places where liquor is sold no one placed it at less than 400, and some went as high as 500. An old lesident informed him that on Lisbon street, the chief business thoroughfare, there were 150 of these places. He went into some of them and ascertained that he had only to ask for a drink to re ceive it, and that there was no pro tense of secrecy made. Drug stores, barber shops and cigar stands were the chief liquor-dispensers, and as a rule the stuff they sold was very vile. The hotels did a Jarge but more guarded business. During the year the police made 444 arrests, of which 292 were for drunken ness, being two-thirds of the whole. This may have been because the poison sold at these unlicensed places made its drinkers fighting drunk quicker than decent whisky would have done. "What ever the cause, it shows a pretty large proportion of drunks in a city where it is unlawful to sell liquor. The city liquor agent cost the taxpayers $8773 30, and he collected for the city $6784 07. The citji not only lost the license money It might have had to help pay the po lice authorities to care for the 292 drunks, but was out of pocket on the expense of collecting fines for violation of the law. "Whenever such a state of affairs is shown to exist, either as to a prohibi tory law or any other, the invariable answer made by its supporters is thar. if the officers did their duty it would be different. The answer to this is that officers almost always do their duty when backed up by public sentiment, and that if they do not it is easy to elect others who will. Failure to en force a law is evidence that there is not enough active public sentiment de manding its enforcement. It is one thing for a majority to go to the polls and vote for a certain measure and quite another to create a public senti ment that will insist upon the enforce ment of the measure in its practical workings. Prohibition is pnjy possible promoiuon is a iarcei jfracucat pro hibition can only be had when a pre ponderance of public sentiment actl ely demands It. This suggests that the fu ture of prohibition or any other fGrm of lestrictlon of the liquor traffic depends more upon education than upon law. The energy of the city physician, cor dially seconded by the council, has made quarantine of public school pupils afflicted with contagious diseases ef fective. This will tend to check the spread of typhoid fever, scarlet fever and diphtheria, which are shown by the annual report of the health officer to have been unduly prevalent the past year. Purification of the domestic water supply by the Introduction of Bull Run water will go far to cut off these diseases at their origin. Tainted water is the main source of typhoid and the most com mon source of scarlet fever and diph theria. But tainted air also is danger ous, both directly, through infection of the throat and air passages, and indi rectly, by conveying poison to water and so to the stomach. Air is tainted by decaying organic matter anywhere, whether in streets or back-yards, neg lected lots, cesspools, open vaults or leaky sewer connections. The effluvi um from filth in any of these places may be as deadly as poisonous water. Not all sources of infection have been cut off. The most dangerous that re main are the basement abominations and unscientific plumbing of some of the public school buildings. Abolish the state commissions. They are costly and useless. There is no need of the railroad commission or of the state board of equalization. The railroad commission has no powers, and most of the roads are bankrupt and in the hands of the courts. As for the board of equalization, its duties may again be performed, as of old, by a board consisting of the governor, sec retary of state and state treasurer. These officials can be required to do a great deal more work than they have been doing, without oppressing them in the least; and they will not have to work as hard as the common herd of citizens do these times, either. The only question as to silver is, whether the country wants to go to the silver basis or not. It now has the gold standard, with large auxiliary use of silver. Free coinage of silver would give it the silver standard and silver monometallsm; for gold, worth so much more, would not circulate with silver when silver was the stand ard, the sliver dollar necessarily re duced to the value of silver in the bul lion market. The only question, there fors, as to silver is, whether we want to go to the silver basis, or not. The Atlanta exposition has asked the government to Issue a special post age stamp to commemorate and boom the forthcoming cotton exposition. The remembrance of the Columbian stamp monstrosity is too vivid as yet for this request to meet popular ap proval. The gigantic postage stamp is unsightly, cumbersome and (liver pads being cheap) unnecessary. Let the cot ton exposition be boomed if the gov ernment is to lend Its aid to a local in dustry In a less objectionable way. January S, which passed yesterday, has not been so noted in Oregon ior the battle of New Orleans as for the famous "fifth and sixth resolutions," formulated a.t Salem, January S, 1557, These resolutions, adopted at the "Jackson jubilee" that year, read out of the democratic party all opponents of the junta, or Salem ell que, then in the control of the democratic party. It was the beginning of a division in the party in Oregon whose effects have continued to this day. The Oregonlan's legislative corres pondence this morning points out a fact concerning the opposition to Senator Dolph which should not be overlooked. An effort has been made to throw dust in the eyes of the people of the state by representing that a sort of imper sonal clamor is going up from nobody knows just where against Mr. Dolph's re-election. It is time to say plainly that senatorial booms do not get them selves up and then cast about for some one on whom the mantle may be thrown. The opposition to Senator Dolph is the creature of those who want the office for themselves. It is the re sult of planning and forethought In the interest, mainly and originally, of C. "W. Fulton, of Astoria, directed by Jon athan Bourne. Senator Vest Is undoubtedly right when he says a majority of the senate would vote to repeal the Havemeyer duties if they had the chance. The Havemeyer senators make the greatest obstacle to a change in the rules which would permit a majority of the senate to legislate. Under the present rules, half a dozen corrupt scoundrels, whom no senator would listen to or follow, have absolute power to prevent legisla tion. The American Book Company has got everything. This was expected. The result has cost a lot of labor and mon ey, for which the trust will recoup grandly during the next six years. In a short time R. L. Edwards will let It be known who is to be elected school director in Portland for the ensuing year. The information may be expect ed to leak out through Brother Roby. The great reason why money is scarce is the excess of the substitutes for mon ey. This excess keeps money in a fever, through fear that redemption cannot be continued. If we should call in and burn two or three hundred millions of demand notes we should have a great deal more money than now; for then the fear of loss of the basis and value of money would be removed, and money would rest on confidence again. "Will the Salem Statesman, which has found fault with Portland's Committee of One Hundred for directing part of its attention to state affairs take notice that Salem's Committee of One Hun dred is not "confining itself to local matters," but is "meddling with state affairs," and in fact "spreading itself all over the state?" "We may add it is doing some very sensible meddling and spreading, too, and trust it will con tinue. The populists, who claim eight votes in the next senate, want the republi cans to join them in organizing it to demonstrate to the public, especially in the South, how easy it is to command patronage by fusion. If the republicans are wise, they will keep clear of this alliance. It will cost them more In the North and East than they possibly can gain in the South.. The estimated ctfst of the government of the city of New Tork for this year is but little short of $40,000,000. The "World remarks that this is "two-thirds the cost of the national government before the war and far exceeds the ex pense of any state government in the Union." Tammany levied $20,000,000 more in the way of blackmail. The supreme court of the state has both a clerk and a reporter. One man can render the service of both; and the fees, moreover, may be so dis posed of as to save much to the state. Suppose the legislature of Oregon should elect a silver senator what? One more blatant fool in the senate of the United States would not change the values of the world. Oregon's legislature will assemble next Monday. Then should begin, as poor Bill "Watklnds used to say, the work of "cleansing the Oregon stables." The legislature at the coming ses sion must smash the school ring. It Is the big ring and the corrupt ring of the state. Punch's advice on marriage will be excellent for young women who think of going to Salem to get clerkships Don't. PERSOXS "WORTH ICXOWIXG ABOUT. uur r The Duchess of York for some years has devoted a portion of her leisure In the winter to the manufacture of clothes for the poor. The latest work of Ernst von Hesse Wartegg Is a book on Corea, for which he collected the material while his wife, Min nie Hauk, spent a summer in Japan. Queen Victoria received three prizes at the Smlthfield cattleshow and the Prince of Wales captured two. British royalty either raises fine cattle or has a strong "pull." The queen of Sweden, who has always taken an interest in hospitals and the nursing of the sick, had the first experi ments made in Sweden with the new cure for diphtheria. Archdeacon Farrar has been appointed one of the queen's private chaplains in place of the late Canon Prothero. The official title is deputy cl'erk of the closet In ordinary to her majesty. Bartram Hlles, the armless artist, of Bristol, England, whose pictures, sketches and designs have won for him several prizes, is only 23 years old, and, though he grasps his brush between his teeth and paints with much dexterity, he was not born armless. His arms were amputated above the elbow in consequence of a tramcar accident when he was S years old. Dr. Burrell, whose church Tom Piatt joined because of certain live discourses against "bosses," preached by Dr. Park hurst, has a great terror of "Trilby." He thinks that one of the greatest dangers of the social evil is its influence on lit erature. "I deplore the fact," he says, "that such a novel as this should have gained so many readers In this country whereas in England it has fallen flat," Mrs. Yates, of New Zealand, the only lady mayor in the British dominions, is to go on a prolonged lecturing tour at the close of her term of office, a few months hence. She Is to be piloted through the colonies and to England by Mr. R. S. Smythe, the well-known impressario. Mrs. Yates Is an excellent platform speaker, and during the last ten years has taken a prominent part In the agitation that re sulted In the recent legislation of female suffrage in New Zealand. Drink was the cause of all the misfor tunes of James "Walker, the old partner of Bonanza Fair. In the day of his pros perity his wife gave many elegant recep tions, but they, were invariably marred by the appearance of "Walker in a. condi tion which added little to the success of the entertainments. "Walker lived in Oak land, doing business in San Francisco, and as he always "loaded up" early, he had a contract -with a hackman to meet him at the train every night and take him safely home. A Florentine named Polazzl, with a taste for poetry, undertook to write a ritornello in a cage containing four young and lively lions. To insure that the work of composition should be actually per formed in the presence, of his leonine companions, the subject of his poem was to be chosen on the spot by a committee of the audience. After the lady lion tamer had performed a serpentine dance in the cage, the Intrepid director entered it, and announced to the public that the sole object of his novel undertaking was to give the readers of his journal some idea of his impressions in a den of lions. Upon receiving the subject of his poem Signor Polazzi sat down at a small table provided with writing materials, seized a quill, and composed the ritornello, quite oblivious, to all appearance, of the lions' presence. In five minutes the work was finished, and the author then stepped out of the cage and read the poem amid the plaudits of the onlookers. MR. SCHUYLER'S LETTER. A Member of the "One Hundred" Makes Some Remarks Upon It. PORTLAND, Jan. S. (To the Editors Reviewing briefly the letter of Mr. Schuy ler, it is true that reservoirs 3 and 4 were located before he came, and for this orig inal location the chief engineer Is respon sible; but very soon after Mr. Schuyler's arrival, the danger of the situation be came apparent, and as very little work had been then done, it could easily have been stopped. The location must, there fore, be considered as having been fully acquiesced in by all the engineers. Instead of paying sufficient attention to this danger, the engineers, although warned to the contrary, carried on their excavations and laid on their cement lin ing apparently in full faith that the slopes would stand. At what is known as the big cut on tne "West Side railroad, and at three great slides of similar character on the Cornell road, of very recent occur rence, there were striking Instances al most within our city limits of the In stability of much flatter slopes, even when uncut; but I do not think Mr. Schuyler even went to see them. The buttress that Mr. Schuyler refers to in the upper reservoir was no part of the original plan, but was an expensive piece of patching, similar to many other devices of like character, both at the upper and lower reservoir. In fact, other engineers have said that changes were so frequent, that it is doubtful if ever there was any sufficiently well-considered original plan, and it is almost certain that had not public clamor compelled a change, the dams and reservoirs would have been even less substantially constructed than they now are. There Is no question but that In an engineering sense, the work was too much hurried, but a conscientious engineer dealing In problems of such grave Importance would not have allowed any committee to hurry him beyond the dan ger point. But whatever excuse can be offered for the park reservoirs, there is absolutely none for reservoir No. 2, at Mount Tabor. So good was the natural foundation here that it required a skilled bungler to put in a bottom that could fall out; and still the thing was done. It may be in Mr. Schuyler's opinion somewhat officious for the Committee of One Hundred to express itself upon these matters. The damage to reservoir No. 2 may be by sub-engineers treated lightly, as trifling as only costing $1500 to repair, as in fact altogether too little a thing to justify criticism; but I do not think the public will so judge. "We have fought hard to reduce the salaries of school teachers, firemen, policemen and others, where a great many of such reductions would be required to make up $1500, and why should we not criticise engineering mistakes that are sure to cost the city $20,000, and possibly five times that sum? The water committee, fine committee as it is, and its employes must stand up to be judged of their work as any other city committee or commission, and so long as the Committee of One Hundred exists as now constituted, it will doubt less deal with high-priced engineers just as unceremoniously as it does with the lowest-priced official in the city. The upper reservoir at the park, as a reservoir, is practically a wreck $20,000 may or may not permanently repair it. The lower reservoir is subject to the same danger, and unless careful engineers and other observers are at fault, Is already showing signs of weakness. Reservoir No. 2, at Mount Tabor, has failed, and at the lowest estimate will cost $1500 to repair, and it may cost much more. Mr. Schuyler was fully trusted, had practically unlimited resources, and notwithstanding this, even the old Roman engineers did better work. One hundred years from now these reservoirs as originally con structed should be standing unimpaired. If this shall happen to be the case. I will then gather together as many of the Com mittee of One Hundred as may be on the same side of the "Great Gulf" and will with them consider the subject of making all due and proper apologies. THOMAS N. STRONG. A FLEASAXT EPISODE. President Cleveland's Grand Recep tion at Georgetown, S. C. It appears that the president's latest visit to the South, says the Washington Post, amounted to something more than a delightful and refreshing episode of sport. It had, also, a social side, and one of peculiar and memorable Interest. All accounts agree that the shooting expe dition was eminently successful from ev ery point of view. The weather was per fect, the game plentiful, and the circum stances thoroughly satisfactory, -air. Cleveland enjoyed the outdoor life of which he is so fond, and from which he derives such substantial benefits; and he returns, we are happy to say, very ma terially improved In health and spirits. But Mr. Cleveland had an experience in that little village of Georgetown, S. C, whereof he will like to think in the days to come. The word "reception" is, we know, suggestive of anything rather than pleasure to the eminent public man who may be its appointed victim on the occa sion, and it will be remembered that the president declined very hastily when he first learned that such an affliction was proposed in his case by the patriotic peo ple of Georgetown. He relented, however, afterward, and, as we have said, the chances are that he Is glad the second thought occurred to him. As things turned out, the "reception," as under stood in Georgetown, S. C, was n.ot the fussy, tiresome, unprofitable function that the president had, with only too much reason, apprehended. It was a simple, kindly, cordial and well-bred demonstra tion of estaem. There was no vulgar, noisy ostentation, no offensive scramble for precedence, no Ill-bred effort to turn the president into an exhibition. The people came together in an unaffected spirit of loyalty to the nation's represent ative, and joined in a testimony of respect and affection toward an illustrious fel low citizen. They gathered from miles around, serious, hospitable, considerate, soberly, delighted. One lady, the widow of a former governor Allston of the state, rode nearly 20 miles in her car riage to greet the president of the United States and offer him her ceremonious but sincere homage. Eighty-five years of age, though still erect and courtly of manner, this charming and venerable survivor of a chivalrous generation lent to a beau tiful and homely scene the picturesque touch that made It wholly perfect, We are told that Mr. Cleveland was deeply impressed by the experience. He found himself surrounded by friends, en veloped in an atmosphere of genuine re- gard. Tnere was no clamor, no affecta- tlon. no servile eagerness just a. spon- I taneous and staple and self-respecting manifestation of courteous and genuine good will. We are glad to think that Mr. Cleveland included this incident In his trip. He conferred great pleasure upon & number of the most worthy people, and we are happy la believing that he re ceived a great deal for himself. 9 THE MAX PROM MAIXE. Democrats Surprised by the Mag nanimity ot Reed. "Washington Star and.). There is one thing that the democrats have been greatly surprised at. They came back to clean up the last session of this congress shame-faced and in dread of the taunts they would have to endure from the republicans, especially from Reed. They braced themselves for the trying ordeal and assumed an awk ward air of defiance to help them in facing it out. To their utter astonish ment. Reed has scarcely given them any notlce, and from the general bearing of the republicans it would be difficult to find any indication of the triumph they feel. In this is disclosed a trait of Mr. Reed's character which is not generally recognized. Every one is so in the habit of looking upon Reed as a fighter and a bitter satirist that the idea of his being magnanimous Is not suggested. He has a playful way of tormenting men of light weight who try to pose as states men, and in a contest with an equal he Is aggressive and uncompromising, but he always stops fighting when his adversary Is down. He is not given to the habit of crowing over a fallen foe, and he is not apt to remind the demo crats of their bad plight unless an oc casion arises where such a reminder is necessary.. His exultation over his victory in compelling the democrats to count a quorum was carried only to the extent necessary to impress the fact upon the record and to make it clear to the public that his own course while speaker had been vindicated to that extent. Reed is no more than ordinarily amiable, shows no signs of trying to cultivate popularity, and Is as pronounced in his opinions and seemingly as free to take a position on any question as he ever was. In his short speech on the railroad pooling bill he showed clearly enough that he was not disposed to play the demagogue, and if he has not yet ap peared much in the proceedings of the house, there is no evidence that he is trying to avoid taking a position on any question. The most noticeable change in his bearing lies in his appearing to be always busy. During the two congresses, up to this time, that he has been out of power, he has been conspicuous on the floor for his attitude of indolence and the satirical expression of weari ness which rested on his face while the democrats were floundering about in their efforts to do something. He would loll back in his chair like a lazy giant, either watching over affairs with only an occasional evidence of interest, or surrounded by a group of admirers, who listened to his indolent irony, re ceiving his remarks with loud bursts of laughter. Now he has an air of business about him. His expression of countenance is more serious, and his frequent confer ences with his friends are conducted with heads close together, and are not accompanied with peals of laughter. He is more frequently in the cloakroom than in his seat, but whether in the cloakroom or in his seat, he is usually in earnest conversation with some of his colleagues. His Influence with his party associates is directed toward hold ing them down, with a view of as sembling all their reserve force to deal with the problems confronting them in their prograsg toward complete restora tion In powir, and to avoid errors which' are apt to come from impetuosity. He does not want them to assume any re sponsibilities which do ndt belong to them, or to make any attempts to do the impos sible. An,Espcriment "Without Passes. Chicago Herald. An experiment of great interest and im portance will be tried at the coming ses sion of the Wisconsin legislature. The railroads have announced, and the press, backed bv public sentiment, has de manded the abolition of the pass evil and abuse. The railroads evidently are In earnest, for each company has appointed a pass clerk to be stationed at Madison during the sesion, whose duty it will be, of course, to refuse applications for passes. The corps of clerks appointed for this duty is unusually strong. The sand baggers will be on hand in force, of course, to defeat the pass reform. The American Railway Union programme, to compel the employment of double the pres ent number of train hands on each train, and the old 2-cents-a-mile passenger rate bill will have advocates. The outcome will be awaited with thrilling sensations by an anxious public. The Spirit Still Abides. Boston Herald. The return of thegreat New England day, on which we celebrate the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth, is so near the great Christian holiday that It has latterly been diminished in impor tance, but the landing at Plymouth Rock can never pas3 out of our history or cease to have a meaning for those In whose veins flows the blood of the Pilgrim fathers. The spirit of those men still lives and animates the minds and hearts of our best men and women. If the Puritan faith languishes, the Pilgrim spirit abides and is reflected In all that is best in our daily life. The setting forth of these con victions in public demonstrations is the meaning of the great New England festi val, and our literature is full of the spirit of the Pilgrims and the Puritans as they shaped and guided the settlements on the coast and gave character to the commun ity in which they lived. Ostrich Farming? Xot n Success. New York Sun. An ostrich farmer in Southern Califor nia says the ostrich experiment is not an entire success, although not a complete failure. He was one of the first to en gage in the business of raising the big birds for their feathers, and expected to realize a big fortune quickly. He says that, while much money has been derived from the sale of feathers, the birds do not increase as rapidly as was expected. Then, very many are so vicious that It is im possible to remove the feathers without killing them. He still hopes that, as the farmers gain more experience in the man agement of the ostriches, the business may become as big a success as was at first expected. 3Ir. Springer as Manager. Washington Post. Secretary Carlisle doubtless desires It to be generally understood that his presiden tial boom is not dependent upon Mr. Springer's management of his currency plan. Xo Cause for "Worry. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. After a calm survey of the elections of 3S91 the democrats have concluded that there Is no need to worry at present over a pivotal state or a logical candidate. The Only Sure Way. Chicago Inter Ocean. The only way Secretary Carlisle can keep his gold as long as there is a demo cratic administration in power Is to bury it in the backyard and camp on the grave. Freeze It Ont. Chicago Inter Ocean. The more the Carlisle wildcat scheme is studied' the weaker it will get. If the weather should blow up cold early in Jan- I uary it would perish. KBWS OF THE XOR.TJOW1EST. -Oreo. ' A charity ball is Pendleton's present society effort A merchants carnival, to raise funds for road improvement, Is proposed in Baker City. Pendleton, Athens and Heppner are col lecting a carload of provisions for Nebraska. The Island City Mercantile & Milling Company has gone Into the pork-packing business. The movement to establish a creamery at Albany is not meeting with much en couragement. A farm residence at Fairfield, belonging to Dr. J. M. Keene, of Salem, was burned Saturday night. Baker City business men are demand ing an increase in the police force and talking a$out a committee of safety to look after loafers and tramps. The Bullen Bridge Company has com pleted the Grant county bridges across the John Day, at Prairie City and Hall's, and is at work on the bridge at Dayville. While hunting near Miller's, . in Linn county, Sunday, Ed Prettyman, a Port land youth of 17 years, rested the muzzle of his gun on his foot and fooled with the trigger until the gun was discharged and the foot lost its largest toe. A long petition by "taxpayers, water consumers and laboring men" is being prepared for the Astoria water commis sioners, asking them to require contrac tors bidding on work to pay not less than! $2 per day for labor and charge not more than $3 50 per week for board, and that excavating be done by day's labor. Frank Skinner, 30 years of age, has been missing from his home at Coburg since January 1. He went to Eugene on that day and cashed checks to the amount of $105. His wife is alarmed by his unex plained absence. Several years ago he dropped out of sight for a week in the, same way. A week's spree ought to ex haust his money. At Westfall, Malheur county, last week, the infant son of J. E. Madden was shot In the knee by the accidental discharge if a gun in the hands of his older brother) Charley, who was placing a cap on it with tae muzzle carelessly pointed to wards the little boy. Physicians were se cured after much delay and the chlld'3 limb was amputated. A rancher living on Suttore creek, a few miles from Baker City, sold some chick ens in that city recently. In. the craw of one of them the purchaser found some particles of gold. The rancher was in formed of this, and at once began pros pecting in a gulch near his house, with the result that he discovered diggings yielding 25 cents to the pan. Next spring he will turn his attention to mining. He Is of the opinion that the poultry business is very profitable when the chickens en gage in prospecting. Washington. Garfield has a skating-rink reaH ice, too. Pierce county will pay $072,7050 taxes this year, if it is all collected. There Is a movement on foot at Oakes dale to establish a creamery there. , The young people of Puyallup are hav ing a good time skating on "Moore's pond." Seattle has a newsboys union, which i3 engaged In a fight with the news com pany and threatens to establish a news depot of its own. Mrs. Perry Hughes, of Oakesdale, has become insane from too close attendance upon revival services in that town. She is expected to recover. The farmers of Marsh, Snohomish county, will put flood gates in the Will iams and Stephenson ditches at a cost of $100. and reclaim much valuable land from overflow. The deaths in Seattle last year were 467, and in 1SD3 were 4S3. Figuring on a population of 60,000, this was 7.7S per 1000 last year,, and S.0S In 1S3S. This is a. very low rate for 60,000. The Northern Pacific has begun the construction of a new depot on the wharf at Tacoma. The old one will be torn down- The new depot will be two stories high, and provision will be made on the second floor for quartering Chinese while waiting for the sailing of vessels on which they have secured passage. PAHAGRAPHERS PliEASAXTRIES. Miss Gotham Have you any papa and mamma, little boy? Newsboy No, mum; me fam'ly's abroad. Truth. Sunday-school Teacher Now, children, what happened on Christmas; can't you remember? Little Fannie It snowed. Texas Sittings. Husband of Her Do you expect me to marry the whole family? Father of Her and Seven Others Well, you are young, you know. Detroit Tribune. Bacon What are you doing with a pic ture of a football-player pinned to your coat? Egbert Oh, yes! My wife pinned it there so as to remind me to have my hair cut. Yonkers Statesman. Jeannette Ma, are you going to give me another piece of pie? Mother What do you want to know for? Jeannette Be cause, if not, I want to eat this piece slowly. Pearson's Weekly. Father (impressively) Suppose I should bo taken away suddenly; what would be come of you, my boy? Irreverent son I'd stay here; the question is what would become of you? West Chester Critic. Dickey was overheard saying his prayer the other evening at bedtime in this fabn ion: "Oh, Lord, bless Billy Holllday and me, and don't let any of us die, but if any of us has got to die, I'd ruther it was them. Amen I" Chicago Tribune. A tragedian recently playing "Richard III." In a small Kentucky town was wait ed on after the show by an honest farmer, who said that "if the genel'm who wanted a horse was still in the same mind, he would like to make a dicker with him." Truth. Teacher Tommy, you may draw a map of Turkey and tell us all you can about It. Tommy Please, ma'am, can I wait until next week? Teacher Why? Tommy It makes me sick to think about turkey since last Christmas. Chicago Inter Ocean. "It do beat all how lonesome I've been sence we come to New York!" "Why, how's that; not enough people here?" "Oh, yes. people enough; but how's a woman to jes' throw a shawl over her head 'n go through the back yard a-neigh-borin in one o' them flats?" New York Recorder. Trumpets blow your level best! Rob the whole wide world of rest' Roman candles, flame and fly Rockets climb toward the sky! Big balloons ascend ascend! Thunder, cannons without end! Let Fate do her very worst No more bills until the first! Atlanta Constitution. Young Lady I must have some money to go off on a journey. Father Eh? Where? "I don't know yet, but I must go somewhere at once." "Good lands! What's happened?" "The dressmaker misunderstood, and instead of a walking costume she has made a go-away gown." New York Weekly A Boy's Ideal Dinner. Buffalo Express. A Buffalo boy when asked to write out what he considered an ideal holiday din ner menu, evolved the following: Furst Corse, Minse pie. Second Corse, Pumpkin pie and turkey. Third Corse. Lemon pie, turkey and cranberries. Fourth Corse, Custard pie, apple pie. chocolate cake, .nd plum pudding. Dessert. . w s N "v fie. "" h k ,