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THE IIOENESTG OREGOlTCAi fiHUBSDAT; JAKUAllY 10, 195'
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Entered at the Postofflcc at Portland, Oregon,
3 eccond-class matter.
REVISED STJESCPJPTIOJf BATES.
By Hall (postage prepaM) In Advance.
Oallr. "with Sunday, per month $ 1 00
Dally, Sunday excepted, per year.. 10 00
Daily, -with Sunday, per year ...... 12 00
Sunday, per year....... .... ...... 2 00
The Weekly, per year...... 1 &
2te "Weekiy, thresumoatbs-.,. ,. - 60
. j TO CTrr SUBSCRIBERS.
Daily, per-week, delivered. Sunday excepted..2Sc
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DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT
PORTLAND, Jan. 0. 8 P. M. Maximum
temperature, EC; minimum temperature, 30;
height of ri'er at 11 A. 1L. fi.4; change In the
past 24 hours. 2.0: precipitation today, 0.13;
precipitation from September 1. 1694 (wet sea
son;, to .date, 16.74; average, 22.54; deficiency,
ti.SO.
WEATHER SYNOPSIS.
There 1b an area of high pressure prevailing
tr the North American plateau, which -will
likely Influence the weather on the Pacific
coast. A decided decrease in the barometer oc
curred at Eureka, CaL, and the pressure over
Washington remained stationary. This is a.
good fair-weather Indication. East of the Cas
cades the weather remained fair, and light
fhonera occurred to the et of them.
"WEATHER FORECASTS.
Torecasts -made at Pdrtland for the 21 hours
fending at midnight January 10:
For Western Washington Occasional show
ers and stationary temperature, with light vari
able winds.
For Oregon, Eastern Washington and Idaho
TFalr weather and stationary temperature, with
Uglt variable winds. A
For Portland Fair weather ".end stationary
temperature, with light variable winds.
B. 8. PAGBE. Local Forecast Official.
PORTLAND, THURSDAY, JAN. 10.
MUST RETIRE FROM BANKING.
Many democratic newspapers, includ
ing those of greatest eminence, are
urging the retirement of the govern
ment from the banking business. In
an article entitled. "Strike at the Root
pf the.; Evil," the Louisville Courier
Journal says that until a large volume
of the governments paper shall have
"been retired there can "be no restora
tion of confidence in our currency.
"Presentation of this paper at the treas
ury for gold will go on so long as the
Redundancy of notes is allowed to
continue. The only way out of the
difficulty, therefore, is through destruc
tion of he means by which the gold is
drawn out and the treasury continually
threatened with bankruptcy. The
treasury -is simply in the position of a
greafj'barik which has too many cer
tHlca'tes6ut, and Is forced to a con
tinual struggle to take them up on
presentation.
"It seems pretty plain," says that
'eminent democratic journal, the New
yqrkTimes, "that the opinion of busi
ness men very generally is concentrating-
-upon two points in the finan
cial situation the final retirement of
treasury notes and their replacement
by bank notes, issued on the bonds
with which the treasury notes are re
tired." The trend of competent dpln
ion runs steadily n this direction, in
every part of 'the country. This action
will be compelled, because it offers the
only solution of the'eurrehey problem,"
tho only remetfy?' that 'wilCfelve confi
denafcasTa!llty'ta&nTnej Whether
we like it or no we have it to do, be
cause it is the only measure that will
produce the results the qountry must
have. In no other way can the uni
ersal distrust as to maintenance of
v the-narity of -all our money -be assured.
5 ""Hence, "Tlfis must "be done. It is an
' emergency as compelling as any emer--gency
of war. The proposal, of course,
does not mean that'all treasury notes
shall be retired at once, or wholly re
tired perhaps for a long period; but it
does mean that enough shall be re
tired to diminish the excess of them
with which gold is continually drawn
. from the treasury, and the" loss of the
money basis, the parity of money, the
" gold standard, is so continually threat
ened. The government must" go out of the
banking business.
. . NEEDED AT HOME.
It Is wuilthaj. Jchn Burns, M. P., a
recognized- leader of the more responsi
ble element in Brlti&h labor circles, has
taken his departure for home. The
workingmen of the UnLted States do
not need his counsel as do the laborers
of his own country, and from all indi
cations he cannot reach London too
soon for the good of the labor cause, as
lepresented -by trades-unionism. The
lesser luminaries among the labor lead
irs of the kingdom have taken advan
tage of his absence to shine by their
i-wn light. Hardio advises gangs of 30
unemployed men each, in Glasgow,
Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and
London, to loot the shops in those
cities in order to supply their
wants; Joseph AVIlson. M. P. for
Mlddlesexbbrough, 4s 'accused of hav
ing fraudulently spent 150,000 of the
funds of the seamen's union, of which
h was custodian, and of issuing a
false circular purporting to account for
tho money: and Bon Tillett, leader of
th dock laborers' union, while howling
lustily because the public does not
moro generously respond to the appeals
made in behalf of theso idle men, has
found means, lo collect enough money
In the capacity of a professional work
ingman. to build a villa for himself at a
cost of 2000 and exhibit other sub
rtantlal evidences of prosperity.
It is probable that the men whom
Hardta harangues will be wiser than
tholr leader and thus avoid a collision
with the constabulary of the great man
ufacturing cities of the realm, of which
there could be but one issue. As to
AVllson and Tillett, every intelligent
member of the trades-uqions which
theso men rule and represent should
Imow by thisnttne that they are in the
jjuslneea of labor leaders for what they
can mnko out of it. It is the old story
of tho misplaced confidence of the
thoughtless masses and the self-ag-grandlzcment
of the professional re
former. John Earns has thus far escaped the
stigma of selfishness and dishonesty
tht is in England, as in this country,
a stain upon the name of labor reform.
XTo has moreover counseled his follow
ers to respect the law and observe or--der
In pressing their just demands upon
thaB.ttenU&n of employers, while his
sympathy for their wretched condition
hns been genuine and his championship
of their right to a Jiving wage strong
.find unflinching. The evidence that hi
is needed in England is as strong as is
that which proves that lie was not
reeded on Jhlsside-of the-Nvater.
Republican senators will not aid in
theronsideration or enactment of finan
cial legislation, knowing the effort to
b? hopeless, but they will show their
patrictlsm by, the offer to raise revenue
- r 3 J ?
M
i i
by consenting to a horizontal increase
of tariff duties and an additional fex
of $1 per barrel on beer. Of cdursej
democrats will not accept the former
proposition, but there is no reason why
they should reject the latter. It would
produce at once new revenue to the
amount of $30,000,000 per year. The
administration needs revenue sorely
and can get it so quickly and so surely
in no other way. Probably a beer tax
could be passed through the house with
aid of republicans. The action, of the
steering committee is assurance of its
passage in the senate. This would
tide the government over its most seri
ous difficulties till the next congress
shall meet.
AN UNNATURAL ALLIANCE.
The populists in the senate are try
ing to tempt the republicans Into com
bination for the purpose of organizing
the senate and controlling some petty
patronage. This is a most absurd and
unnatural alliance and republicans
ought not to consent to It. They have
nothing to gain, except partial con
trol of the committees, and it is proba
ble that the populists would exact such
organization of the important commit
tees as would enable them to control
the action of those committees upon
financial legislation. This combina
tion would be deliberate surrender of
the key to legislative control in the
senate to a pitiful and dangerous mi
nority. We do not believe the reputt
licans will make thjs sacrifice of prin
ciple and duty for & few petty clerks
and messengers. , '
As was well said in the- "Washington
dispatches yesterday, an alliance be
tween the republicans and democrats
to organize the senate would be more
natural and fitting. Now that the
tariff question is out of the way for
nearly three years, there are no vital
differences between the republicans
and the administration democrats.
There has not been a straight party
division in either house this session
and It is not likely that there will be
one. On the Nicaragua canal, the rail
road pooling bill, the bankruptcy bill,
on all prominent legislation catalogued
by the steering committee, parties are
divided and democrats and republicans
vote together.
On the great question of the day, the
regulation of the finances and reform
of the currency, the republicans and
administration democrats stand closely
together, against the populists and anti
Cleveland democrats. Upon the silver
question the national platforms of the
two parties are almost indistinguish
able, both pledging bimetalism, with re
striction of silver coinage and main
tenance of parity of values. The sub
stantial agreement of the two parties
upon this question has practically
taken it out of politics.
On the more complicated and stlU
unsettled question of currency reform
there is more division between repub
licans and democrats, due mainly to
the platform declaration of the latter
in favor of repeal of the tax on state
bank "circulation. But there is wider
division between both and the popu
lists, who demand flat money as well
as' free silver. Administration demo
crats and republicans agree that the
government mustjgo out of the bank
ing business. TjievdJLflger only as to
the details of" the system of private
banking which is to supply the place
of the treasury notes when retired.
The populist party is made up of men
who left both the democratic and re
publican parties to set up financial
f-dootrines of their -own, leaving those
parties nearer to each other on all
money questions than either to the
I populists. The purgation of the repub
lican party Is most complete. It was
opposed by the populists in every state
west of the Mississippi river, the dem
ocratic party disappearing or taking
Sthlrd place. All the silver states and
two pr three others in the West were
carried by the populists against the
republicans in 1S92. Nothing could be
more absurd than a combination of re
publicans in the senate with their chief
opponents in so many important states.
Moreover, the democratic party is di
viding and purging itself as the re
publican has done. With separation
of the populist element in the South
and West, which will be still more com
plete in the next congress than in this,
the administration democrats will be
left powerless for independent action,
but free for union with the republicans
lo carry out a ppllcy upon which both
are substantially agreed. That is the
natural and patriotic alliance to be
made in the next senate, not to organ
ize the senate, which Is of no conse
quence to anybody, but to carry
through necessary measures of cur
rency reform. The republican house
will unite loyally with the president to
pass such a bill as he deems essential
to reform the currency. Such, a bill
can be put through the senate by a
combination of republicans and admin
istration democrats. In this alliance
lies the hope of the country.
REASON AND JUDGMENT.
It is puerile and unjust to complain
of the little imperfections disclosed "in
the first trial of the great work that
supplies Portland with water. When
the magnitude of the work is consid
ered, and the extent and success of the
water supply, some slight imperfec
tions resulting from the general nature
and magnitude of the work and the
rapidity of construction are to be ex
tenuated. In what private undertak
ing, involving large expenditure, have
not mistakes been made? Those dis
closed In the water works of Portland
are the least in any work of consid
erable magnitude executed in the
Northwest Because this is a public
enterprise there is no need of complaint
and cavlllation. The water committee
has given -even more attention to the
work than its members have- given to
their own private and personal affairs;
and there are many individual mem
bers of the committee each of "whom
has suffered more losses, through mis
takes in his own business than the city
suffers through this mistake about the
reservoirs. It is time now for appeal
to resumption of Intelligence, reason,
justice and common sense, J5top the
snarling and carping and nonsense A
little time and moderate expenditure
will put the two reservoirs in good
condition. The city had no right to
expect so great a work to be executed
without a mistake, to be perfect and
complete and answer every expectation
and demand, at once. It' never is so
with any great undertaking, public or
private. The wonder is that lrf this
case the first result is so good as it is.
Bull Run water is here,, arid It will be
steadily supplied. The imperfections
disclosed in two of the reservoirs will
be made good, at much less expense
than ? riYiT"rvw? tViwit- TvfclcF0i.1.
tica in every private enterprise of great
extent. To carp and -find fault Is al
ways easy, but' there is seldom much
profit in it.
IN ITS OWN LIGUT.
Some of these days the people of the
.great West will wake up to the fact
that as a section of the country they
liave been standing In their own light.
T?he. West is great in many ways, but
-some things it is not yet old enough
nor rich enough to do. Geographically
considered, the region west of the
Mississippi cdntains 2,243,165 square
miles, while that east of the great river
contains only 882,435 square miles. In
dustrially considered, the West is the
great food-producing section. "Upon
its corn and wheat, cattle, sheep and
hogs subsist not only the people of the
United States, but millions in Europe
and Asia.
Yet our vast expanse of territory and
the magnitude of our production are
no greater than our need. Badly as
the crowding civilizations of the world
need the room upon our prairies and
table-lands, and badly as they need
our food products, their demand is no
more urgent than is ours for capital.
Money once poured into the West free
ly. It built railroads; and when the
railroads once were built, we formed
anti-monopoly parties and made war
upon such enterprises with a scarcely
concealed, purpose of making them un
productive. Any law which promised
to wrest property from them or to cur
tail their revenues was hailed with
loud acclaim. Of course, it was only a
question of time, and not so very long
a time either, till money made haste
to withdraw, from any such abiding
place as railroad stocks. Litigation
and distraint followed, the epoch of receivers-
was upon us, and the courts
were employed sanctioning reductions
in salaries.
We should like nothing quite so well
in the West as to -borrow gold and pay
back, if we cannot repudiate entirely,
in some cheap money. Anyone who
prefers-keeping money to such lending
we denounce as engaged in a base con
spiracy. Badly as we want to borrow
money, we are swift to put in the way
of any who might lend us money all
the obstacles we can devise. Oregon's
position in the West is well known. It
is an important factor, politically, com
mercially and industrially, in the
Great West. It is of the highest im
portance that its voice should always
be on the side of sound doctrine and
against the vagaries which banish cap
ital: One of the best things the state
ever did was the defeat of populism
last" June. One of the worst things it
could.possible do would be the repudia
tion ot that verdict by listening to the
opposition to Senator Dolph and the
principles -ho has become identified
with. '
What we really want in this Western
state, as .in other Western states, is
not so, much to borrow money from the
East as to have Eastern people invest
their mpnfly here because they have
confidence ' in us. We want them to
build irrigation ditches to subdue and
render productive our wide areas of
unproductive lands; to build and op
erate manufactories; to establish bank
ing and jobbing-houses; to build the
A&tbrIarallr'oad34and( extend, the Ore,
g6n Pacffid' easlward Many ana
urgent &sx 'o.ur-"wants arewe are
scarcely in a position to dictate to peo
ple with money as to what views of
finance and trade they shall hold to.
Good policy would "be "to encourage
them by ensuring certainty of returns
for their investment, in unimpaired
equivalent, Unfortunately, most of
our exclusively op pre-eminently West
ern theories tend emphatically the
other .way. And by so much we are
simply" standing in our own light.
Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, whose death
occurred recently, was a woman who
made the mistake of setting her will
againSt Established custom and was
driven by ridicule from the contest.
Though a most estimable and womanly
woman, sincere In her desire to in
augurate a radical change in the dress
of women in as she believed the in
terest of their health and comfort, she
is known only to the general public as
a "mannish" creature who sought no
toriety and found plenty of it, such as
it was. She had the good sense to re
treat from a position that she could
not hold with credit and benefit to her
sex, And for many years prior to her
death she lived a retired life and wore
the conventional woman's dress. To
the relatively few who knew her, her
name, is a synomyn of courage and
philanthropy; to the public In general,
it suggests that curious libel upon
humanity, "a masculine woman," strid
ing about the country In uncouth ap
parel, in pursuit of a mission; a gro
tesque neuter, whose feeble complement
is a "womanish man."
vTroo"ably the Carlisle" currency bill
has been Tdlled for this congress. At
any rate, it has been so crippled that
it will be easy to finish it in the senate.
The house refused to order the pre
vious question upon a rule fixing time
to vote on the bill, mainly, it appears,
because the managers of the bill re
fused to promise to allow a vote up"on
an amendment to strike out the en
acting clause, which, If carried, would
kill the bill. It has been clear for some
time that the bill could not command
a majority, but few expected the blow
to fall so soon. Probably it would
have been delayed, had not the op
ponents of the bill distrusted its mana
gers and feared some trick. Appar
ently only the Cleveland democrats
voted for the bill. The opposition was
made up of republicans, populists, free
silver democrats and opponents of the
state bank tax repeal, the latter being
no inconsiderable number.
Everybody but Springer and Carlisle
is hopeless of reviving the currency
bill. Probably the president will give
this congress up as hopeless and pre
pare another measure for a special ses
sion, to be called as soon as this 'con
gress shall die. He has been able to
do nothing useful since he was in
augurated without aid of republicans.
Now ho cannot have this apd he can
do nothing. Next April a republican
house will reform the currency for him.
He will need only to command half a
dozen democratic votes in the senate.
This .he can do by the power of patron-age.--
Until that time, it will be useless
to attempt financial legislation.
Fruitgrowers of all the Northwest
will meet those of Oregon in general
convention, in Portland, on the 29th.
The American Pdmological Society,
composed of fruitgrowers of all the
states, meets this month at Sacramento
and has accepted an invitation to visit
Portland while our convention Is held.
It is desired to extend a reception to
tfcess representatives of a great and
5o no
growing industry and raise money to
pay the Incidentalc expenses of a con
vention that me&f here upon the in
vitation of our rjcjUzens. The finance
committee appointed will canvass the
city tomorrowi-and & hoped that our
people will contribute to this end, and
enable visitor from abroad to see and
appreciate thir products of our region
and understand tlie great extent that
orchards aret planted through the
Northwest, feisjhe intention to make
as good a wioteriiexhiblt as possible of
the fruits of thlsnfcgion.
The funeral 'hoSbrs paid to the late
Representative Post of Illinois in the
house of representatives Monday were
decorous, timely and impressive. The
duty of that body was fulfilled, how
ever, when the event had been duly
observed witlpra,yer and eulogy. The
appointment f nine members, or in
deed of any dumber, to escort the re
mains of their late associate to Illinois
for sepulture nwas wholly superfluous.
More than that,.rthe junket thus pro
vided for at the expense of the national
treasury wiir riot, unless it deviates
widely in detail from those of a like
nature that hare preceded It, reflect
either honor upon the memory of the
dead or credit1 u"pon the sensibilities of
tho living. These funeral excursions
have been a disgrace to congress and
an injustice to: the people for years, and
they should be discontinued in the
name of decency and out of proper re
spect .for the dead. A private wake,
with liquid refreshments and the hilar
ity that follows the unbridled in
dulgence therein is bad enough; a
national wake is outrageous.
It is twenty years since the first
steam vessel, the Challenger, passed
beypnd the Antarctic circle, and from
that time until 1S92 no other vessel
followed in its wake. In that year two
Norwegian fishing vessels penetrated
on the ppposlte side of Graham's Land
to the 68th and 69th parallels. A num
ber of new lands and, islands were dis
covered and the fact was brought out
that the supposedly continental land
mass of Graham's Land is not unlikely
an archipelago. Whether such results
are commensurate with the endeavor
made to secure them is a matter of
grave doubt to all except enthusiasts
in geographical science. Certainly, to
the ordinary mind, they present little
that is'of value.
We are told we must restore silver to
its place. It is impossible. Our coun
try cannot restore silver to the place
it once had in the values of the world.
The relation of values is world-wide.
Nothing could be more futile and ab
surd than an attempt on our part to
hold silver by 'legislation up to $1 29 an
ounce when it can be bought at any
place on earth for 60 cents an ounce.
Silver probably never will be restored
to the place it once held in the values
of the world; and certainly it will notbe
restored without the concurrent action
of the principal commercial nations.
President Cleveland probably will
call a special session of congress in
March. This will be the new congress;
and as. the republicans will control the
house, the president may liave confi
dence that the problems with which
his -own party- has proven- so- incom-.
petent to, deal, -will be met and solved.
But what a confession of incapacity
in the democratic party the calling of
a special session of- the new congress
would be!
The president will not commend him
self to American public opinion by his
advice to congress to consent to a
lease of one of the Hawaiian islands to
Great Britain for a cable station. He
might as well propose to turn over to
Great Britain one of the Alaskan is
lands, or to give her a naval station in
Southern California. Generosity to our
greatest commercial rival is the most
hateful feature of the president's pub
lic career.
This house is helpless to legislate be
cause the dead timber killed by the
storm of t,he last election still cumbers
the ground. It will alL be cleared out
on the 4th of March. Then something
can be done.
The whisky trust is reported to be
looking out for a receiver. Applicants
fortheposition will doubtless be plenty,
should the report be verified.
PERSONS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT.
Rubinstein had, it seems, written two
volumes of memoirs, but he destroyed
them a few days before his death.
A. J. Balfouc- carries neither stick nor
umbrella as he; travels throughyt-Jf(P$treets
of London. He never gets -wearied enough
to need a cane,, nor wet enough to want
a shelter.
Dr. Jon Stefansson, of Iceland, had an
audience with the emperor of Germany a
few days ago.for the purpose of inviting
him to visit that country. It is probable
that he will accept the invitation.
Lieutenant Naoki Miyaoka, naval at
tache of the Japanese legation In Wash
ington, and the author of the account of
the battle of the Yalu, has been raised to
the snark of cfcmmander In the navy of
Japan.
Bishop William Taylor is now making
his fifth tour among the Methodist mis
sion of Africa. He is accompanied by his
niece, Dr. Jennie M. Taylor, the first mis
sionary who is also a dentist to enter the
Dark Continent.
After all, itsa'tso astonishing that the
model for Artt Gibson's typical Ameri
can girl shouldgbe Irish. Ada Rehan, the
Juno of the American stage, is Irish, too,
and she was chosen before all others as
the model for the famous Montana statue.
The will of John Lithgow, who died in
Boston a year ago, has been disallowed.
By its terms his estate, worth $150,000, was
to be held ujlHl all of his children and
their issue we dead. This might have
locked the property up for 100 years, and
the courts decided that he was of unsound
mind.
Dr. Palmer's article in the current issue
of a magazine on old Maryland homes
describes, among other historic places,
the Lloyd estate at Wye. where Fred
Douglass passed his boyhood In slavery.
In 1SS1, when Mr. Douglass was marshal
of the District of Columbia, he revisited
the scenes of his childhood and was cour
teously entertained by Colonel Lloyd's
sons.
President Woodruff, of the Mormon
church. Is S3 years old, and, in spite of the
hardships of the early pioneer days, he is
as sturdy today as any well-preserved
man of 60. Regardless of the weight of
years, the venerable leader possesses re
markable powers of memory. He has for
years cultivated a farm of 40 acres with
no other labor than that of his own
hands and the of his family. His wife
and daughteriLYalse chickens, preserve
fruit and ruiPaialry. while his sons ratee
hogs and do general farm work.
The Rev.iHThomas Dixon, of New
York, told his congregation last Sunday
that Hall Caine's "Manxman" has a ''mar
velous power Jthat, is something immor
taL" "Talk iubnt preaching," exclaimed
Mr. Dixon, "why, when I read such a book
I think I would crawl on my hands and
knees around the world if I could write
one like Jt, When a thousand preachers
shall have died and been forgotieri,"thal
book shall preach to generations xiet un
born, preach to millions and millions .un
changing truths of the human heartland
the human life."
Mary Ann Dalton. of Asnland, N. JL Is
96 years old, but is active enough, to supply
all her own wants. She spins, weaves
and makes the cloth and clothes she
wears, the rugs she walks' on, and ths
sheets and blankets she sleeps -under, and
molds the candles which she "burns In her
house.
, ONE GOOD RESULT.
The Verification. oC Another Very Old
Mnxiru.
Atlanta Constitution.
The low price of cotton, while it has re
sulted seriously to our farmers throughout
the South, seems to have brought one
good result, verifying the maxim, "It is
an ill-wind that blows no good."
From private Information we understand
that there is a much larger movement in
the Eastern states to bring the cotton
mills South than the public- has been no
tified of. The truth is that several large
manufacturers in New England are cast
ing about to establish cotton factories
near the cotton fields. They seem to re
alize the fact that the low price of cot
ton has come to stay. They say that this
cheap cotton makes it necessary far this
movement. They argue that cotton at 10
cents a pound costs for -freight 1 cent a
pound to deliver it from the fields to the
factory in New England. This is 10 per
cent on the cost of the raw material. Cot
ton at 5 cents a pound costs just the same,
which is 20 per cent- The result is, fac
tories near the cotton fields are making
much more money on cheap cotton than
the factories away off, where the freight
is much larger. They claim that there is
a very heavy profit for them saved alone
on freight.
The New England people have always
been considered the shrewdest people m
the United States. They have' kept up
closer with manufacturing-than any other
part of this country. They have discov
ered the fact that Jhe Southern manu
facturers have a decided advantage by
being closer to the cotton, and they arc
going to avail themselves o this advant
age. They see that it is Impossible to
lower freights, as they are now at the
minimum, and they are going to move
their factories and ship from the South to
their various patrons throughout the
world the manufactured goods and save
the freight on the raw material.
We have information that this move
ment is very large, and the South will ba
greatly benefited by It. It will not only
give employment to our people, but it
will be the opening to various other kinds
of industry, and alonjr with the cotton
factories we may expect a thrifty class
of farmers from the East and North, who
will do for our state what the Ohio men
are now doing in Houston county in fruit
culture. We may expect in the next five
years almost a complete revolution, not
only in cotton factories but in iron also.
The cheerful news comes from Annis
ton, Ala., that the pipe works of that
place made a dividend of 18 per cent
during the year. This is a remarkably
fine Bhowing for the dull times. They
have contracts from all over the North
west, and to Seattle, Wash., for pipes.
It is today probably the cheapest market
in the United States for iron-pipe work.
They are running on 'full time, and will
enlarge their works during the coming
year.
These are two exceedingly bright fea
tures for the future in the South amidst
all our gloom on financial matters. It is
well that Providence smiles on us occas
ionally and cheers us, for it seems that
our statesmen at Washington are doing
all they can to wreck the country.
irZ .
. GRESHAM'S. SPANISH .BLUNDER. '
The Wrong: Thing, and the "Wrong
Thinsr In an Incompetent Way.
Philadelphia Press.
Secretary Gresham came into office In
March, 1893, nearly two years ago, with
reciprocal trade relations working smooth
ly with nearly all the countries which
supply the United States with products
not furnished by our t own "soil in suffi
cient quantities to meet our demands.
With Brazil, with Cuba and with Ger
many these reciprocity arrangements had
instantly increased trade, and with Cuba
the change had revolutionized our com
mercial relations and created a new nrar
ket. Whether these reciprocity arrangements
were desirable in" principle or not, it
must be clear to everyone that their abo
lition ought to be conducted so as to .in
volve no needless friction. From the start
President Cleveland declared against the
principle, and Secretary Gresham and the
democratic majority in both chambers of
congress looked to the repeal of these ar
rangements. For 18 months the subject
was discussed, voted upon, and at length
passed. The measure was watched by
the administration at every point, Secre
tary Carlisle was constantly consulted,
and, in a matter like the protection of
the sugar trust, his advice was implicitly
followed.
At length, after 18 months, in which
Secretary Gresham had been watching
the matter, the Wilson tariff was passed.
It was then discovered that Brazil had
been treated with so little courtesy that
its government abruptly replied by de
nouncing the treaty, an act within its
powers, but against which Mr. Cleveland
felt called upon to protest. Treaty stipu
lations with Germany were violated and
the last message had a pitiful plea for
legislation on this point. With Cuba
reciprocity arrangements were broken off
in the same fashion, and Spain has re
torted, as that country had a perfect
right to do, by imposing the tariff pro
vided under the Spanish law for countries
with which that country has no special
rates arranged by treaty, and this action
has practically cut off our trade with
Cuba. In retaliation Secretary Gresham
finds himself compelled to threaten
course which would increase the price of
sugar for the American consumer by shut
ting out Cuban sugar altogether.
Now, about reciprocity, there may be
two opinions, although there has only
been one experience that such arrange
ments increase trade; but there can be
only one opinion as to the necessity of
terminating such arrangements without
the rupture of friendly relations and
without breaking treaties.. But here, as
everywhere else, President .Cleveland's
administration has not only done the
wrong thing, but it has done the wrong
thing in an incompetent way.
The Grcshamania 13 a mania for
blundering.
MUCH ADO ABOUT LITTLE.
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 9. (To the Ed
itor.) It seems that at intervals all
through this vale of tears, some one de
sires to pose as "seer, revealer and
friend," and by the exercise of a little of
his surplus brains regulate what is amiss
in the order of nature and things.. With
this in view, our friend Tom Strong does
a weekly regurgitation of his think-pot,
and has undertaken an overhauling of
the reservoirs. Had the water commit
tee been advised of the- vast reservoirs
of knowledge assumed by Strong, there
would have been no need of any other
engineering ability to assist 3olon el Smith
in the late undertaking, and Mr. Schuyler
would thus have escaped the lampooning
bestowed upon him. But even then it would
have been more than likely that a few
cracks and fissures would .have shown
themselves in their work so same other
mentor could have scolded Tom wjth the
same fish-wife shrillness hat (Tom be
stows on Schuyler.
Inasmuch as tamping Was nof properly
attended to at reservoir Nor 2t I think. Mrt
Schuyler can consistently heblameuV
There was considerable subsidence hi a
few spots, and the laborers who jbacbis
to do shirked the work. Mr7 ffcfiuyfef
weighs 360 pounds, and it was his duty to
trot over that ground and tamp it him
self. For this remissness he should be
severely censured. If friend Tom and ail
the other snarlers who criticise can be T
prevailed upon to keep their shirts on for
a brief Interval, it will save their arrest
for inclement exposure and all will be
wen. The trouble at the reservoirs Is of
little moment and can be easily and
cneaply adjusted. No one saving those
URe Strong in league with omnipotence
could have foreseen all the contretemps
that would arise in a work of such mag
nitude. It seems to me that all the en
gineers In charge of such an immense un
dertaking are deserving of unstinted
praise, and with the single exception I
have named, most of all Mr. Schuyler is
to be commended.
I believe Mr. Schuyler has given a can
did and impartial statement of his stew
ardship; that time will justify his conclu
sions that It Is a solid, durable and cred
itable work, and that his detractors will
by and bye be blaming the other galoots
who did all the talking.
C. P. CHURCH.
o
NO TAX FOR CHURCHES.
Protestant Denominations Wonld
Suffer More Thnn the Catholic.
PORTLAND, Jan. 9. (To the Editor.)
"Man is neither a clod nor a brute," but
is a religious being. In this country the
form of his religion is not Mohammedan,
Buddhistic nor Confucian, but Christian.
The constitution of the United States rec
ognizes the Christian religion in the pro
vision which it makes for the considera
tion of bills presented to the president by
congress. "If any bill shall not be re
turned by the president within ten days
(Sunday excepted) after it shall have been
presented to him, the same shall be a
law." The constitution thus provides that
the chief executive of the nation shall not
be disturbed in his religious worship, med
itations and rest by harrasslng questions
of state. The highest courts have decided
again and again that the Christian re
ligion is a part of the common law of the
land. The government makes annual ap
propriations for the administration of the
Christian religion in her army, navy and
congress; and exempts from taxation,
church property in the District of Colum
bia. . The granting of a subsidy, therefore,
to the church is neither unconstitutional
nor un-American.
With the several states of the union it
Is simply a question as to the manner of
this grant. From the beginning they have
seen fit to do this by exempting church
property from taxation. They have rec
ognized in the church their most powerful
ally as a conservator of the morals, as a
promulgator of intelligence, and as a
protector of the unfortunate and dis
tressed of the state. How does the church
do this? She dpes the first directly by
her teachings, the second through her
schools and colleges, and the third In her
philanthropic institutions.
Now the logic which leads to the tax
ation of church property leads to the tax
ation of all her belongings. Is the state
of Oregon prepared to close the doors of
all these schools and colleges which have
been founded and are maintained by the
generosity of the church? The state has
no more powerful adjunct for Its develop
ment and prosperity than these same
schools and colleges. These.4nstitutlons
are every one of them doing a noble
work for the state in the face of the
pinchings of poverty. Like the, state itself
they are In their infancy, and are all
struggling against fearful odds for anex
istence. Is the state prepared to strike
down, with one fell swoop, the philan
thropic institutions connected with the
church, every one of which is relieving
the state of a tremendous burden In their
care of the suffering and unfortunate?
The" head cannot be crushed without the
death of the body. I take Itthat this sud
den demand for the taxation of church
property is the outgrowth of an uprising
against the encroachments ., of Roman
Catholicism upon our free Institutions. I
-take at, still further, that thfe members
of the "patriotic societies," largely inter
ested in this movement, are for the most'
part Protestants. Now may not an at
tempt to throttle Romanism, by the tax
ation of church property, result in a great
er disaster to Protestantism and to the
state itself? For instance, If find the fol
lowing facts and figures in the last United
States census: There are in this state 592
church edifices, distributed among the
leading denominations, as follows: Meth
odists, 199; Presbyterians, 76; Baptists, 71;
Catholics, 48; Disciples, 40; United Breth
ren, 28; Congregational, 27; Episcopalian,
26; Evangelicals, 24; others, making the
total of 592. The total vajualion of the
church property of the state is $2,829,150.
Of thi3 the Methodists own $693,000; Pres
byterians', $463,000; Episcopalians-, $361,000;
Baptists, $319,000; Catholics, $290,000; Con
gregational, $160,000; Unitarians, $139,000;
and other denominations ranging from
$1000 to $10,000. The census also shows a
total church membership or 70,524. Of
these 30,231 are members of the Catholic
church. Now with these figures before us,
which will be the easier other things be
ing equal for 30,000 Catholics to pay taxes
on 48 church edifices, at a property valua
tion of $290,000, or for 40,000 Protestants to
pay taxes on 514 church edifices at a
property valuation of $2,539,000?
Let us by all means correct the crying
abuse of a great privilege, by the taxation
of all church property producing an in
come, or which may be held for specula
tion or increase of value.
THOMAS BOYD.
THE NEW ERA.
Cincinnati Commercial.
That solid political South which has al
ways, since the war, been a menace to
legitimate progress, has been broken;
it has been broken through Kentucky,
Tennessee, North Carolina, West Vir
ginia and virtually througn Alabama, and
now the people of the Southern states
are ready to co-operate with the people
of the Northern states, through legisla
tion that will advance national prosper
ity. Louisiana is also falling into line,
and South Carolina is not very much out
of line, except that it espouses populism,
so-called, which is only a step from
Bourbon democracy, or war prejudices, to
national republicanism.
A prominent democratic leader In Ken
tucky recently remarked that he was
glad of this evidence of progress. The
breaking of the solid South was to him
an evidence of national prosperity, and
he was not even discouraged by the
prospect of Kentucky at another election
becoming republican. Thus war preju
dices are being suppressed, and in pro
portion national interests are being
promoted. The North more and more i3
becoming convinced that the South is a
part of the country, and the South is be
coming more and more convinced that the
North Is a part of the country. Thus we
are progressing- toward national prosper
ity, national commercial union, and a
condition of affairs which enables all the
people to shake hands and join shoulder
to shoulder In the work of national prog
ress. The days of boycotting and sectional
prejudices are ended, and now we can
go forward as one people in promoting
the interests of the whole country.
The Record of a. Prohibition State.
Kennebec (Maine) Journal.
The years of 1S93-4 will be noted In the
jail annals of this state for the number
of commitments, that of the past year,
6116, being over 2000 greater than during
any year previous to 1SS3, when the num
berof commitments was 49S7. Also in the
number of commitments for drunkenness
the excess over previous years is notice
able. In 1S9I. 2S08 were sent to jail for
drunkenness, 900 more than In the previous
year, and there were over 400 more tramps
committed than in 1S93.
o
Whnt Mnkcx the Difference?
Chicago Times.
We wonder why it is that Governor
Pennoyer, of Oregon, is a "blatant blath
erskite" because he launches a philippic
at President Cleveland every two or three
months, while Editor Charles A. Dana is
a brilliant journalist because be does the
same thing evtry day,
SEWS OF THE NORTHWEST.
Oll'AOB.
The annual- cat of. wood at-Meachata is
SOCIO cords.
The Dalles boasts of unsurpassed coast
ing on the hills.
Eugene is collecting a carload of pro
visions -for the Nebraska sufferers.
The Astorlan predicts great activity Irf
road construction by the Clatsop county
farmers next spring.
The first Southern Oregon state board
of agrioulture- will hold Its annual meet
ing and election of officers at Ashland
January H.
Umatilla county figures out a profit dur
ing the first six months of the salary sys
tem, as cdmpared. with the fee system
formerly in vogue.
A female deer, driven out of the moun
tains by the storm, was seen quietly
browsing in Max Pracht's orchard, Jn
Ashland, a few days ago.
A petition to the legislature Is being
prepared at Eugene, asking for legislation
preventing Indians from hunting deer off
the reservations, as they are rapidly
exterminating the game.
A meeting was held in the Ashland city
hall Saturday evening to organize a
branch of the Oregon Bimetallic League.
The officers elected for the new organisa
tion were as follows: President, M. F.
Eggleston; vice-president, T. J. Howell;
secretary, George W. Trefren; treasurer,
W. N. Luckey; executive committee, F.
Roper, C. B. Watson, Robert Taylor.
The Grand Ronde donation to the Ne
braska sufferers is ready to be shipped.
It consists of four cars from La Grande,
cne from Island City, and one from Elgin.
The value of the subscription- can hardly
be estimated in dollars and cents, as it
consists, except the flour donation, of
produce that has no stated price in the
market, but probably worth $1500 at a fair
valuation.
Washington.
Miss Emma Driscoll has been elected
city librarian at Spokane.
According to Librarian Gilbert's report,
tte state library ha3 over 20,000 volumes.
The Tacoma Poultry Association's flr3t
annual show will be held from January 13
to 19.
Proposed amendments to the Spokane
city charter would reduce the salary ll3t
by $16,0S0.
The A. P. A. will establish state head
quarters at Olympia during the session of
the legislature.
Suit has been brought at Seattle by
Dexter, Horton & Co. for 5217,148 93,
against William A. and Anna B. Harring
ton. The Tacoma Rod and Gun Club has
cidered four dozen Mongolian pcasanty
to be distributed in Pierce county. It
has also drafted a new game law.
The Tacoma Land Company has com
menced suit to set aside an assessment
of $26,401 97 for street Improvements, upon
technicalities in the council proceedings.
J. J. Kaufman has been elected chief
of the Walla Walla fire department. The
retiring chief, Y. C. Blalock, was pre
sented a gold matchsafe by the mem
bers of the department.
A hunting party in the Olympic moun
tains report having seen 500 elk in a
single day, without attempting to flhoot
any of them, because their pack animals
were already laden with game.
Dell Lashier, representing the A. P.
Hotaling Company, of Portland, was
taken from the State hotel in Walla Walla
to the jail Sunday, having a violent hal
lucination that persons were endeavoring
to kill him. It was the result of a pro
tracted spree.
David E. Drurie, who went East with
Eugene Semple and Julius F. Hale, to se
cure $5,000,000 with which to build the Lake
Washington canal, has returned to Se
attle and reported that the money has
been raised. After securing necessary leg
islation, at-Olympia rthe moneumWllo
paid and the work commenced.
. m
PARAGRAFHERS' PLEASANTRIES.
Jess Eating onions quite often causes
me to get a good night's sleep. Bess How
so? Jess They drive young Staylate
away early. Town Topics.
Minnie What do you understand by the
term platonic affcetion? Mamie It usu
ally means that the young-man feels that
he cannot afford to marry. Omaha Bee.
So, when the old year hobbles out,
Without regrets 'twill be,
When you recall 'twas he who brought
Such songs as "Sweet Marie."
Exchange.
Head Mistress Miss Balfour, I saw you
kiss that Tarleton boy. What is the
meaning of that? Sweet girl under
graduate I can spell it, but I can't define
it. Chelsea Free Lance.
Ten thousand dollars hath Marie
For every year she's been alive;
I'm sorry she's but 43;
I wish she was 75!
New York Herald.
Blanche Do you think, Mr. Waters,
that hanging is a very painful death?
Waters Well, ladies, it is generally al
lowed that there is nothing so painful
as suspense. Chicago Times.
Miss Keddick What do you think of
my new photographs, Mamie? Miss Rick
etts They are perfectly beautiful pic
tures. Miss Keddick Oh, I'm so glad you
think they look like me. Town Topics.
Fenderson Evidently my friends think
I'm smart, whatever you may say. I
know that whenever I say a bright thing
they remember it for months. Fogg I
should think they might. Boston Tran
script. Prisoner (sentenced to 10 days) What
would ye do if OI said ye was an ould
fule? Judge You would get 10 days more
for contempt. Prfsoner Thin, begorra,
OI'll not say it-Oi'll only think it.-New
York Herald.
"This passage," said the publisher to the
great author, "seems ambiguous to me.
What do you mean by it?" "I don't
know," replied the great author. "I left
it there for the commentators to work over
when I'm dead." Washington Post.
When proposing to his choice
His weak and wavering voice
Was so feeble as to hardly make a sound;
But at the game his yell
And his "Well! well! well!"
Split the air for nearly seven squares
around. Indianapolis Journal.
Hojack Young Hunker tk an unfair
advantage of his well-known color-blindness
at the Dolyer's Christmas party.
Tomdik What did he do? Hojack Pre
tended that he thought all the hollyberrles
were mistletoe. Detroit Free Press.
Sweet Nell stood under the mistletoe,
Beautiful, winsome, bright.
And really I saw her fair cheeks glow
As I kissed her there that night.
But winsome Nell may to Texas go.
Or further, for all I care;
I heard she stood under ther mistletoe
Sometimes when I wasn't there.
New York Press?
"Well," said Weary Wiggles, "dis is
Noo-Year's day, an I suppose wese has
got to go hungry. "Hungry?" cried Dusty.
Rhodes. "Cert'nly. We can't tramp,
'cause de day's a holiday, and trampln
s business; an we can't make no calls,
'cause callin on Noo-Year's day has went
out You don't expect no pies to come
chasin us, do you?" Harper's Bazar.
In Arizona.
Detroit Free Press.
"How did Smithers get along out
West?"
"Not very well."
"He was a remarkable fellow. So quicK
at repartee."
"Yes, that's how the trouble rlz. Ef ha
bad been not so quick at repartee an a
little bit quicker with a gun, he might be
injyin' this climate yet."
Interrupted.
Cincinnati Tribune.
"Now a bribe," said the statesman, "si
bribe, a I take it '
But the roar of delighted interruption
that followed convinced him that further
remarks would not be listened to with the
r-wpect due the utterances of a man of.
his standing, - .