4
THE lEOKfnsrG- OT&BGQUCUlK, WjBDSTESDATT, JAXT7AB1T 16, IS9p
J&erjeg0txmu.
Entered at the Postofllce at Portland. Orecos.
cs second-class matter.
REVISED SUBSCRIPTION' RATES.
By Mall (postage prepaid) In Advance.
Xtelir. -with Sunday, per znenth ? 1
Xkatly, Sunday excepted. pr year. 10 00
Daily, with Sunday, per year... ....- 1- 00
Sunday, per year. ........ .........- W
The Weekly, per year 1 50
Tne Weekly, three months K
TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS.
Sally, per week, delivered, Sunday eseptetL.23c
Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday Jcchided..S0c
DAILY METEOROLOGICAL. REPORT
PORTLAND, Jan. 15. 8 P. M. Maximum
temperature. 40; minimum temperature. 34;
height T river at 11 A. M 154; change a the
past 24 hows. O.l. predpitatton today. 0.W);
predptutton from September 1. Ife34 (wet sea
son), to date, IS.'.s; average. ISS.US: deftcfency.
f 19; Mtmher boom of sunphine Monday, r:00;
1.6KiHle Rttmlier, U:l(t.
WKATIIBR SYXOI'SIS.
There le tonight a monster worm central m
lh Pacific ocean C Eureka, Cal. At KurrtcA
Toe barometer te readtag uniwuaHy lew. TIm
torm t too far south to cause precipitation in
Oregon r WashingtoA uxJav. though eventually
Jrfsavy swow will likely follow. It is thought
that by Thursday the storm will have moved
far enough nrth to cause precipitation In Ore
Bon. Heavy sales prevail on the coaet.
WEATHER FORECASTS.
J"recasts made at Portland for the 24 hours
fending at midnight January 1C:
lor Oregon, Washington and Idaho Fair
.weather and cooler. fre4i to brink eat to north
Hvinds, with easterly scle on the oeast.
For Portland Kair weather ana cooler, with
fresh northerly winds.
B. S. PAGL'E. Loral rorecast Official.
PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY. JAN. 10.
EAST .SIDE WATER.
Expenditure of money for pumping
!water for the East Side ought to be
stopped at once. The cost is nearly
SflOOO a month, and Bull Run water is
running to waste. The East Side could
))e supplied at once from the reservoir
at Mount Tabor.
It rests with the common council of
the city. The watei committee offers
to turn water into tnpipes on the East
Side at once, if the common council
will turn over to it the control of the
East Side pipe system. Of course, if
the water committee supplies the water,
it must have control of the pipes and
collect the revenue. It has no legal
power to assume the bonds of $250,000
issued for the water and light service
of the East Side before consolidation;
"but those bonds, by 'consolidation, be
came the bonds of the whole city, and
the common council has power to levy
a tax upon all the property of the con
solidated city to meet the obligations
accruing upon them.
The water committee has expended
a large amount. of money in preparatiqn
for a supply of water for the East Side.
It has done this with an eye to the fu
ture; yet it has no legal power to as
sume the bonds issued by other author
ity than its own. As the law now
stands, there is but one thing that can
be done, if the East Side is to have Bull
Run water, namely, the surrender by
the mayor and common council to the
water committee of the East Side pipe
system. Bull Run water can be turned
into the pipes of the East Side within
an hour, and nearly $1000 a month can
.be saved to the taxpayers of the city.
The common council ought to act at
its meeting today. There is no excuse
for throwing this money away. The
water is here, and is running to waste.
The water committee cannot legall5
assume the bonds, but the city is re
sponsible for them, and the common
council has legal power, and the legal
power is in its hands alone, to
levy the tax necessary for pay
ment of interest. This tax will
aiot fall on the East Side alone, but on
all the property of the city. It is a
gross wrong to the city 'to waste
money in pumping water from the East
Side wells while Bull Run water, to the
extent of millions of gallons a day, is
running to waste. The common council
is the only body that has legal author
ity to act in this emergency. It ought
to act today.
AX ANTI-REIUULICAN ISSLE.
It is the right of any republican to
he a candidate for the United States
tseiate. But every man who asks the
suffrage of his party should stand on
Ills party's principles. The effort to
force the election of a United States
senator by introduction of the free-silver
Issue is contrary to the principles
and purposes of the republican party,
which, as a national organization,
Sever has declared for free coinage of
silver nor evar will, but, on the other
liand, has always opposed it, and when
in power has always refused to grant it.
If there is any one thing the republi
can party never will consent to, it is
debasement of money. In all ways
during many years it has resolutely op
posed basa-inoney "" schonies. Sound
auoney is one of Its cardinal principles,
and they wjio do not support sound
money, the befct money, have no right
to wear its livery or to carry its flag.
So, vhiljHt was and is the right of
any republican to be a candidate for
the United States somite, or for any of
fice whatever that his party has to be
Mow, it is bis duty to stand on re
publican ground, if he seeks to intro
due a false or unauthorised issue, he
should be rejeeiwd. Mr. Dolph, as a
tandid&te for the senate, stands on re
publican ground, while his opponents
are making their ctutvass on an Issue
directly antagonistic to the history,
principles and purposes of the repub
lican party. Thy make a demand,
moreover, that no party can grata t.
"Had not the opposition to Mr. Dolph
raised a false issue to beat him, an issue
pregnant with danger to the repub
lican party and to the country, there
would have been scarcely a contest in
the election of a senator at this time.
At Chicago yesterday a sensation was
produced by an exposure made by the
Evening Past, of that city, of the
schemes and crimes of so-called press
associations, through the manager of
one of them, to get the news of the
Associated Press before its publica
tion. The yearly cost of the Associated
Press dispatches is $1,20,600, and to se
cure portions of this news the pirati
cal organizations have resorted to all
fc-orts of devices of clipping cable dis
patches from early editions and rewrit
ing them to give them the appearance
of originality and tapping wires leased
by the Ab&ociated Press for its partic
ular service. In order to catch these
i ews thieves, two of the lesi-known de
tective agencies Jr. the country were em
ploye!. Tin devtac was adopted of
reviving and recasting a lot of old news
dispatches, printed in Chicago from
eight to twenty years ago. and of put
ting them on the wire which was be
lieved to be manipulated. This wire
"nut rkilt" 'iliac aiifcTfln fhtnarm
The trap worked perfectly. The Even
ing Post exposes the whole business,
gives the names of the thieves, and
shows forth the fraudulent and crim
inal methods of those who profess to
give news through unrecognized press
associations. It is a heavy blow to
fake newspapers, of which the Pacific
coast has its full share-
AX ECOX03IIC IsOLVTION.
There is interesting evidence, in cer
tain changes in industrial operations,
commercial exchanges and personal
habits in the United States, that large
contribution to solution of the silver
problem will be made by increased use
of silver in the arts. This is the eco
nomic solution of all problems of over
production. Excess in nroduction of
any article of consumption causes de
pression of price. This causes Increased
consumption, by bringing the article
within reach of many who could not
afford it before, and the excess soon is
taken up.
"When the overproduction was acci
dental and due to temporary causes
only, the price goes back to the old
figure as soon as consumption over
takes production. This is commonly
the case with food products, which are
destroyed and disappear in the process
of consumption. "When it is due to per
manent reduction of cost of consump
tion by cheapening of processes, use of
the article is permanently enlarged
and the price remains low, though the
excess soon disappears and the entire
product is consumed. "When the arti-
7;",iri:i"r , ". in"e"ucuie
rX' "iSr "rS"elr
time, but it is sure to be made in the
end. Economy abhors an unconsumed
surplus.
This generation has seen a large eco
nomic surplus of diamonds, due to the
large and sudden yield of the South
African fields, taken up by increased
consumption due to lower price of all but
the finest stones, which retain a rarity
value. Now it begins to see a greater
economic excess of silver, due to cheap
ening of productive processes and en
hanced by reduced monetary demand,
which has depressed the price more
than half in twenty years, taken up in
the same way. In both these cases,
since the articles are indestructible and
do not disappear with consumption,
like food, the reduced price and in
creased consumption are likely to be
permanent.
Evidence of increased use of silver in
the arts is to' be found in all the shops
and in the homes of most persons of
moderate means. Time was when sil
ver plate for table use, except for a
few small and cherished articles, was
confined to the homes of the rich. In
vention tf electroplating, while it served
to increase use of silver, probably did
so less in reality than in appearance,
since it enabled the poor and the taste
less rich to replace a little plate with a
quantity of cheap and showy sham.
Probably during the reign of electro
plate, silver has been even less common
on the table than before. Since the fall
of price, consumption of real plate has
increased enormously. Cost of mate
rial has fallen off half and that of the
plainer and more standard finished ar
ticles about one-third. This alone should
double the consumption of real sliver
plate, by bringing it within the reach
of twice as many persons.
Moreover, infinite new uses have been
found for silver since the fall of price.
Persons who still regard it as a precious
metal are tempted to buy articles of
personal adornment made of it and of
fered for a price that seems trifling.
It enters also into manufacture of thou
sands of articles of personal use, like
pen-knives, utensils of women's work,
and, above all, articles of the toilet
Time was when silver-backed brushes
were rarer than diamonds in middle
class houses. Now nearly every woman
thinks she must have them, and smaller
articles of solid silver are scattered on
every toilet table.
Increased use of silver for these pur
poses is enormous, and it must extend
all over the world. In time this must
consume the excess hoarded by specu
lators and governments that have aban
doned use of silver as money. This
will tend to restore the natural balance
of production and consumption. Though
it will not restore the old price, still
it will give some stability and perma
nence to the price which shall prevail
when the balance is established.
mr r j .., 111UJ L4A.rk1; LUltlC
AX OLXCE OP PUE ENTION.
The publication of the excellent and
practical report of the state board of
horticulture, coming at the same time
that preparations are being made to en
tertain many of the leading pomologists
cf f heUnited States, should draw special
attention to the fruit industry and to
the things necessary to promote it.
While it would be of great value to the
fruit interests of the state to impress
favorably these many specialists, who
wilt soon be with us. and there is no
question that they will be so impressed,
it would be of far more practical value
to give heed to the recommendations
of this board in its report. Our first
attention should be directed to the pro
duction of good frujt. When this is
done there will be found a market for it.
Possibly the most benefit to be de
rived from the expected -visit will be
the warning these men will be certain
to give us to guard our orchards against
the introduction of diseases and pests.
They have seen the havoc created by
them elsewhere, and can give advice
that is valuable on this subject. They
must and will say the same things
that are so well said in this report,
but coming from strangers, and men
so high iu the pomological world, It
will no doubt make a deeper impres
sion. With the Snn Jose scale, tli
woolly upfcis, the codlin moth, the
ppple rot and half a doaen other ptsis
and diseases already in our orchards,
and still others threatening to invade
the, it is of more importance to the
state to pursue sanitary measures in
the orchard than to exploit markets
for fruit that may not be tit to ship to
them when found. It is only a few
years since such a thing as a bad apple
was difficult to find in Oregon, and now
the difficulty is to find a good one.
This is through no deterioration of the
soil or change of the climate, but solely
because we have permitted pests to be
introduced and to multiply, until they
liow possess the state. Through the
same neglect and beoause of the same
snsuiiicioiu jcj;isiiHm, auii omer p-sis
and diseases threaten to make their
appearance daily.
i'' w..w,. .... i
Two things are necessary to enable
Oregon to produce a quality of fruit
suoh as will command a distant market,
and such as she already has sent to
that market. There must be a quaran
tine wall reared against the lntrodua
UftB ii. vl?,.?!? f infected fruit,
trees or scions, and there must be a gen
eral purification of our orchards, large
and small. To do either of these re
quires that ample authority be lodged
in some individual or board whose spe
cial duty it shall be to exercise it
There must be authority to keep out
dangerous 'importations, to seize and
condemn infected fruit or stock
wherever found, to compel owners of
nurseries, orchards, single trees or
fruit to give them proper remedial
treatment, and even, in an emergency,
or when remedial measures ordered are
not performed, absolutely to destroy
the infected objects. Heroic treatment
of this matter is the only one that will
accomplish the object of creating a
great fruit industry in Oregon, from
which a great annual revenue may be
derived. If our visitors do nothing
mpre than impress this truth upon us
so that we will act upon it, they will
amply repay us for all the courtesies
we extend them. If, also, as they cer
tainly will, they help to make our fruit
better known abroad and widen the
market for it, they will more than
lecompense us. The most cordial wel
come should be extended to them.
KAILTXG AT THE ROTHSCHILDS.
Mr. Sidney Dell complains that the
great newspapers of the United States
do not join him in denouncing the
Rothschilds for "confiscating one-half
the property of this country through
the gold standard," and he is grieved to
find that only the small dailies and
country weeklies raise their voices with
his own. The great newspapers, he
TO Pwachfny, "are dumb slaves
of the most gigantic money power of
nistory. The great newspapers are
not quixotic. They have soine judg
ment of actual facts as to the world's
values, and have no thought of making
a windmill tilt against them. Even if
our country do now find it is not so
rich as It supposed itself, that is a con
sequence often witnessed, both in cases
of communities and individuals. It
happens with special frequency in new
and undeveloped localities, and among
peoples carried away by excess of spec
ulation. And even if gold has appreci
ated throughout the world, what are
we going to do about it? It is Mr.
Dell's favorite assertion that the Roths
childs have confiscated thirty billions
of our property. He finds it as easy to
say billions as millions or thousands.
Undoubtedly the Rothschilds are a
great power jn, the financial world, but
what are we going to do about that?
Make reprisal by war upon the coun
tries that harbor them? It is the im
pression of our great newspapers and
of all persons of well-balanced judg
ment that we of the United States will
have to accept, willy-nilly, the world's
valuations of gold, wheat, silver, wool,
cotton and all other commodities, and
that if all Rothschilds were to drop out
of existence the conditions would still
be the same. Mr. Dell, as a silver man,
has presented one single fact that has
value not that the fact is an original
discovery, but because he is the only
silver man who admits freely that free
coinage of silver would give us the sil
ver standard of money. What he says
more than this the world could spare
without loss. If we go to the silver
standard we shall not hurt the Roths
childs, but ourselves. We may debase
our own money, but cannot debase
that of the world.
The actual occasion of the French
ministerial crisis that caused the resig
nation of President Casimir-Perer is
insignificant, yet the event marks an
important step in constitutional devel
opment It appears that the cabinet
submitted to the council of state a
question as to the duration of the gov
ernment's guarantee of interest on cer
tain railroad bonds. The decision of
the council, which should have been
final under the constitution, was called
into question by the national assembly,
which claimed the right to decide this
question for itself and condemned the
cabinet for submitting it. This is much
as if our own congress should question
a decision of the supreme court upon
an administrative question. The coun
cil of state is a quasi-judicial body in
herited from the empire. It is appoint
ed by the president and its function is
to advise the government in matters of
administration, though it has lost the
control over legislation it exercised un
der the empire. The refusal of the na
tional assembly to accept its decision
in this case is a step in the evolution
of complete parliamentary government
that is, of assumption of executive
as well as legislative authority by the
national assembly which has been go
ing on ever since the republic was es
tablished in Prance. The crisis proba
bly will end in destruction of what re
mains of the authority of the council of
state and in establishment of complete
authority of the chamber and reduction
of the president and cabinet to the same
absolute dependence upon the will of
the majority in the assembly as the
British parliament exercises over the
administrative there, the monarch be
ing reduced to a mere figurehead. This
is the natural and inevitable develop
ment of a government organized on the
parliamentary model.
It is all very well for the legislature
of Oregon to appoint a lot of commit
tees to wander over the statehouse and
the city of Salem and go through the
form of examining official accounts and
state institutions; but it must not send
a committee junketing about the state
at public expense and it must not make
these committees the vehicle of a lot
of useless 55-a-day clerks; but probably
a few of the more important standing
committees of both houses require the
services of trained clerks; but probably
one-fourth of the usual number ap
pointed would do all the real work and
not be overtaxed. Many committees
need no clerk at all, and none except
the enrolling committee needs more
than one. These perfunctory special
committees need clerks least of all and
none should be allowed them. Appoint
ments to others should be strictly lim
ited and scrutinized. The multiplica
tion of clerks, of all sorts and sexes,
has been a biennial scandal. It is time
to stop it.
Dr. Wilson Bowlby, who died yes
terday at Forest Grove, was a man of
character, ability and power. He was
a native of New Jersey, came from In-
Washington county, where he had lived
ever since, except auring a Drier period
at i'ortianu. -rat? was uunng many
ms, i. iiituiui aikLiyiicik v. utter i
house or the other qf the legislature I
years a member alternately of one
of Oregon, was a presidential elector
on the Grant-Colfax ticket In 1S6S, and
was collector of Internal revenue from
1S71 to 1874. During the greater part
of his active lite ne was a practicing
physician, apd was noted for his udg-
ment and success in his profession. Dr.
Bowlby was a man whose presence
would have been felt as a powerful
force in any community. During- forty
years he was the leading citizen of
Washington county. Till within the
last few years he took an active interest
in politics, and was a very able and
impressive speaker. Latterly he has
lived in retirement at his old home
in Forest Grove. His life was one of
the most useful, and justly will be
among the most memorable, of the pio
neers of Oregon.
There is another reminder, in the
death of Stephen F. Chadwick, that
the men of distinction who belonged to
the early era of Oregon are passing
away. Mr. Chadwick was a member of
the convention that formed the consti
tution of the state of Oregon; later, he
was secretary of state, and for two
years was acting governor. Though
not in the highest rank of the men who
made Oregon, he was a very consider
able and even a conspicuous figure. He
came to Oregon about 1S50, was a native
of Connecticut, and his ancestry runs
far back into the early history of New
England.
Work on the Indian appropriation
bill was finished a few days ago by
the house committee on Indian affairs.
Its total is about 5200,000 below the es
timates, it being held that provisions
are cheaper than formerly, and, as
most of the self-supporting inhabitants
of the United States are forced to prac
tice unusual economy in their current
expenses, the Indians should share the
same conditions. The idea that a bene
ficiary should economize is new; the
idea that he must economize is start
ling. It is time for the Paupers' Rights
Society to take alarm.
The most pitiable featpre of the dire
destitution that exfsts ip certain dis
tricts of Nebraska is the suffering
which it iniposes on a large number of
children. Huddling in fireless homes,
without sufficient food, clad In scant,
unchlldly rags, these pinched, helpless
victims of poverty and misfortune con
stitute a striking object lesson of mis
ery. No better use could possibly be
made of the first quarterly installment
of the foreign missionary fund for the
current j'ear than to advance it for the
relief of these children.
The attempt to run a newspaper on
the co-operative plan, recently insti
tuted in Spokane, has failed, and the
daily Times, the bantling of the scheme,
perished from lack of sustenance.
Briefly, it starved to death. It is a
doubtful experiment at any time to at
tempt to create and supply a demand
in the newspaper field, and doubly so
when business Is slack and people are
not indulging jn superfluities.
It was an excellent -idea, suggested
by Representative Paxton, that the
general appropriation bill should be re
ported at least one week prior to ad
journment. This requirement will en
able its features to be scanned closely.
One of the greatest of the abuses of
our legislative work has arisen from
huddling the business of the appropria
tions right at the end of the session.
Why sljould committees to walk
through the state prison, insane asylum
and so forth, spend 53 a day each for
a clerk? There is nothing to do but
write a report,nd the chairman of
such committee probably can write. If
he can't, it Is not worth ?5 a day to the
state to interpret his lucubration?
through a typewriter. This pest of
clerks must be abated.
It is pot necessary to send a legis
lative committee to Astoria and Cas
cades to see what work has been done.
The country knows already all that
a committee could tell It, and the money
would better be saved.
It is by no means too late for the re
gents of the state university to recall
McElrcy's appointment. It was a mis
take; the appointment was unfit, it was
not necessary, and the error should be
corrected.
The sundry civil bill, completed by the
house committee yesterday, carries
5100,000 more for the Portland custom
house, enough, with the 5500,000 already
appropriated, to make a decent build
ing. The ways and means committee will
report Wilson's bill to repeal the sugar
differential. Jt will pass the house, but
the. senate will smother it.
ixiiAfc.yriox, xot inspiration.
And Vet It Is Common Sense About
Silver.
Prineville Review.
We aie fully aware that what we don't
know about silver would make volumes.
Yet, out of all this silver conglomerated
literature that is going the rounds nowa
days, we are gradually coming into the
possesion of a few pointers a few simple
elements that might be clashed as rudi
mentary knowledge on this subject. We
have taken In this primary knowledge by
inhalatlon, not inspiration. It is so com
mon nowadays to become inspired upon
this subject, that we have been waiting
patiently our turn, but as yet the spell is
not upon us; and, had we not come in pos
session o a meager knowledge of this
subject by inhalation, would till yet be in
utter darkness.
Some time since we took into our sys
tem the following pointer, and hereby give
It to the world as a correct principle, to
wit: Some honestly believe we have all
the coined silver in this government at the
present ratio our gold will carry. Some
think not. The latter has every right to
call the former a "gold-bug" and a "plu
tocrat," that the former has to call the
latter a fooj. Ihis is one feature of the
subject upon which we have made up our
mind. Next there is a principle in natural
philosophy, bearing upon this subject,
that we took on when quite young, as fol
lows, to-wit: You may take a 32-pound
weight, put It into one pan of well-balanced
pair of scales, put 10 pounds of but
ter in the other pan, and the scales will
not balance. If they balance there is
something wrong with the scales. Any
one who claims a well-regulated pair of
scales would balance under such circum
stances has a wheel loose in his head. The
only way under heaven to make the butter
balance with the weight is to put some
thing representing weight in the pan with
the butter, say a government fiat "prom
ising to pay" either more butter, or more
thap butter is worth.You may stand there
and howl "gold-bug." "plutocrat" and the
like throughout eternity, and nothing but
more butter, or its equivalent, will make
the scales balance. As before stated, this
was considered a cardinal principle in
natural philosophy when we were quite
young, and so far as we know, has never
been successfully refuted. Then, it natur
ally follows, that so long as the govern
mental supply of butter, or its equiva
lent, hold out, that 16 pounds of butter
can be' made to do the duty of 52 pounds.
But whenever that ability to redeem, or
make good, is taxed to its full capacity,
yie butter will o up with a bounce. And
the fiat won't help it, because it has lost
the power to make its promise good Its
weight. It Is the opinion of all our lead
ing financiers, our bankers, our mer
chants, together with our president and
congress, that this government was ap
proaching the danger line. Silver was not
only plenty and cheap, but growing more
plentiful and cheaper. As wise men, what
could those in control of our national af
fairs do under the circumstances but call
a halt, and give nature a chance to cure
itself 7 We will keep en breathing, and it
at any time we take in our system any
thing that will give any light upon thus
subject, we will make it known to our
readers. There's no chance for an inspir
ation in our case; we have given that up.
ARGUMENTS FROM CLATSOP.
A Citlscn. of Astoria Shows Why Mr.
Dolph SlioTtlu Be Senator.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 14. (To the Ed
itor.) It Is too late now for me at least
to enter into a discussion of the question
of who should be elected United States
senator by the legislative assembly which
convenes next week.
It appears plain to me, however, that
If we consider the wants of the people
and of the whole country, as indicated
by the election In Oregon last June and
confirmed emphatically by the subsequent
elections all over our vast country, then
it is the duty of our legislature to elect
a senator whose actions, sentiments,
views and opinions are in complete ac
cord with the announced views, principles,
promises, and platforms so emphatically
indorsed by so large a majority of the
electors at the aforesaid elections.
Such indorsement was not made in
haste or without due consideration, as
was the case in their indorsement of the
free trade and free silver platforms at
the November elections of 1S92.
On the contrary, the voters had in the
recent elections of 1S91, a year, or two
years of bitter experience of the mistake
they made in November, 1S92. That ex
perience was and is of such a character
so personal and convincing to many and
most of the voters that there is no prob
ability of their changing their minds
within the next six years at least.
Then the condition of affairs, of busi
ness, both in Oregon and all over the
country, has been and continues to be
such that every sensible man, It seems to
me, will, or ought to admit that what ia
needed now to restore confidence of mon
eyed men and of managers of money-furnishing
institutions, and thence all kinds
of legitimate business, is the application
in national legislation of the well-known
and outspoken views of Hon. J. N, Dolph
on tariff, sound money, internal improve
ments, NIcaraguan canal and other im
portant matters.
No other man in Oregon can be named
now who has the needed experience, na
tional reputation and ability to help re
store the normal condition of manufac
tures, trade, commerce and business gen
erally so much as can be done by Mr.
Dolph,
From his acts as our agent in the
United States senate heretofore, we know
he will be our faithful and efficient advo
cate in the future. W- W, PARKER.
FROM HARNEY COUNTY.
The Gcncrnl Demand fqp Economical
Adniinintrntlon.
BURNS, Or., Jan. 14. (To the Editor.)
Now that the legislature is in session, the
people hope you will continue to urge
that "economy shall be the watchword."
It seems that hard, times fs the cause of
the inauguration of many schemes to
draw money from the public treasury.
One little scheme has come under our own
observation here. The county court of
Harney county allowed the assessor 510)
out of the county funds as expense money
while attending the assessors' conven
tion, and the only service he did the
county was to vote for a higher salary for
himself.
The sheriff of Harney county attended
the late sherlfls convention, and it is
understood that he contemplates asking
for 5100 as expense money. We are not
advised as to whether or not the county
courts of other counties have been so
lavish with their public money.
The general feling it this county is that
the several county officers accepted their
offices understanding-, knowing what
their compensation would be, thereby en
tering into a contract with the people,
and it would be just as legal for the legis
lature to reduce their salaries as it would
be to increase them.
The people here fully agree with The
Oregonian "Let economy be the watch
word." Republicans being so largely in
the ascendency, tho party will be held re
sponsible for legislation.
Our people do not believe that the silver
question should cut any figure in the sen
atorial question. A. W. WATERS.
PORTLAND AND THE STATE.
PORTLAND, Jan. 13. (To the Editor.)
I find the following in the Roseburg Re
view of the 10th inst.:
''Sunday's Oregonian sas Dun's Mercan
tile agency yesterday received a dispatch
from the San Francisco Merchants' Pro
tective Association, to the effect that the.
association had garnished the insurance
of Chrisman Bros., of Silver Lake. This
is the unfortunate firm whfch was burned
out in the terrible holocaust Christmas
eve. The insurance amounts to $2300.
The Chrismans have ample means with
which to pay all their debts. They have
written a letter to a wholesale firm in this
city explaining that their delay in set
tling their accounts is unavoidable. All
their time has been taken up in attending
to the dead and wounded in the stricken
town. The Portland creditors are lenjent
with the firm, and have offered them
every assistance. One local jobber has
written to them that they can order from
him to any extent."
The foregoing shows where the true
friends of the interior can be found; and
similar cases might be multiplied by
scores. Portland has a direct interest in
the welfare of every business firm in the
state, and every business firm should have
an equal interest in Portland's prosperity.
The abuse which Portland has received
from many portions of the state is wholly
undeserved. The legislature now In ses
sion please take notice. G. H. H.
m
PERSONS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT.
Miss Lenora F. O'Connor, of Louisville,
Ky has been admited to practice in the
police courts of that city.
J. S. Coxey, the populist leader, has re
moved from Massillon, O., to Philadelphia.
The change of home, Mr. Coxey says, is
made in the interest of his family from
an educational point of view.
Horace Chilton, of Tyler, Tex., who is to
succeed Senator Coke, is not yet 40 years
of age. He Is a well-built man with a
bearing at once dignified and kindly.
Though pot an orator, he is a master of a
simple and lucid style.
The Bayard Taylor memorial library,
soon to be erected at Kennett Square, Pa.,
will contain many articles connected with
the life and work of Bayard Taylor, in
cluding a file of "The Phoenjxville Pion
eer," his first newspaper venture.
John M. Thurston, Mr. Manderson's suc
cessor as senator from Nebraska, is a na
tive of Vermont, and 47 years of age, and
has never held political office. He has been
one of the legal advisers of the Union Pa
cific railroad since 1879, and general solic
itor for the road since 1SSS.
Mrs. Ben Hardin Helm, a sister of the
wife of Abraham Lincoln, has been post
mistress at Elizabethtown, Ky., since
18S1. Her term will expire January 9, and,
notwithstanding the department is official
ly advised that the administration of her
office is Al, an effort is making to retire
her.
"The Village of Falls of Schuylkill,"
says the Philadelphia Record, "has more
historic name? connected with it than peo
ple of this day imagine. Before the Revo
lution, John Piokinsop, author of the once
famous 'Farmer's Letters,' and the battle-
I cry of the war, 'Taxation without repre
sentation Is tyranny, resided there. Wash
ington, encamped at that place during the
war, Robert Morris had mills for making
glassware at West Falls, opposite Mifflin
mansion, jn 1790, and Thomas Jefferson
was connected with Hagner's mills, where
cotton-spinning machinery was used in
the manufacture of candle-wicks a great
industry in those days. Dr. Smith, the first
provost of the university of Pennsylvania,
resided there for many years, and Joseph
Neff, pupil of the celebrated Pestalozzl,
established the first kindergarten in the
United States at Falls of Schuylkill in
1S00."
Hamilton Fish, speaker of the New
York assembly, is a very pleasing man
socially. He married a daughter of
Judge Mann, of Troy, N. Y a very hand
some woman. Miss Mann was one of the
belles of Troy, who with Miss Price,
afterward Mrs. Hamersly and later the
Duchess of Marlborough, and Miss Gris
wold, who marrier Walter Webb, formed
a trio of handsome women that made
Troy society famous.
DUTY OF LANDLORDS.
A Sensation Second. Only to That
Created by I.exovr.
New York has had a sensation which
but for the excitement caused by the
startling revelations before the Lexow
committee would have attracted national
attention, says the Milwaukee Evening
Wisconsin. Inspectors of the board of
health reported that a number of the
tenement-houses owned by the Trinity
corporation are dilapidated, filthy, and in
a scandalously unsanitary condition. The
president of the board of health supple
mented the report of the Inspectors with
a statement showing that the death rate
in the Trinity tenements is S3 per cent
higher than the general death rate in the
city.
Although the Trinity corporation owns
some modern apartment-houses, its tene
ments are mainly tumble-down structures
which have been repaired and altered
without proper regard for modern sani
tary requirements. The corporation is no
more responsible than many other land
lords in thus making old buildings con
tribute toward the payment of taxes on
property that is far too valuable to be
covered by rookeries, but the mercenary
management of its tenements, is con
trary to the rpirit which should actuate
a corporation of its character, and for
that reason Trinity has been pilloried by
the New York public. Dr. Parkhurst
intimates that when the Lexow business
Is well pff his hands he may turn his at
tention to the Trinity tenements.
This flurry over the mercenary meth
ods of a great church corporation will
for a time concentrate public thought
upon the subject of the duty of landlords
toward their 'enants and the public, and
the power of the health authorities to
compel owners Qf even the veriest shacks
of buildings that are leased for tenement
purposes to Keep their buildings in good
sanitary condition. It would be expensive
to put plumbing systems into old tenement-houses,
but sanitation is more im
peratively necessary in crowded tenement
districts than in the sparsely-peopled sec
tions of cities; and it is illogical to com
pel the owners of new buildings to put in
the latest plumbing appliances while the
owners of rookeries are permitted to lease
tenements which have the crudest of san
itary systems.
If the Trinity tenements are improved
in a sanitary way, the rents may have
to be raised. This would be considered a
hardship by the tenants, many of whom
would "doubtless prefer to have things
remain as they are. But New York can
not afford to permit such threatening con
ditions to exist. Tenement districts be
come plague spots when the public health
declines, and epidemics are bred in the
poisoned atmosphere of crowded tene
ments. THE PAMIR QUESTION.
Its Settlement Carries "With It Con
cessions to EiiKluntl.
Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.
The brief announcement of the settle
ment of the "Pamir question" appeared
in the foreign dispatches a few days
ago. In connection with the announce
ment it was stated that the terms of the
settlement contemplate large concessions
to the claims of Great Britain.
The Pamirs consist of a number of
bleak plateaus and shadow valleys about
13,000 feet above the sea level, between
Chinese Turkestan, Russian Turkestan
and Afghanistan. They are sometimes
called "The Roof of the World." Although
they were inhabited pnl by roaming
bands of Khirgiz robbers, they have for
years been the subject of contention,
chiefly between Russia and England, as
they are practically the gateway to In
dia, toward which country the Russians
have been moving with the sureness of
glacial progress.
In 1S64 Prince Gortsqhakoff issued a
diplomatic circular to allay English ajarm,
stating that the Russian empire had been
brought in contact with half-savage
nomad people in Central Asia and declar
ing the purpose of Russia to exercise a
certain ascendancy over the pomads in
the interest of the security of the fron
tier and the commercial relations of the
empire. The Russians have supported
this declaration by exerting themselves
to civilize Central Asia. They have built
roads and established industries, and have
thus shown what can be accomplished by
firm, government.
The adjustment of the Pamir difficulties
removes the danger of war between Rus
sia and England in that direction, and
shows that Russia is sincere in the pur
pose declared by Prince Gortschakoff SO
years ago. It is also new evidence of the
peaceful and progressive disposition of
the young czar. The new ruler of Russia
appreciates the importance of maintain
ing peace in Central Asia and thus Insur
ing a continuation of the development of
a region which is now contributing largely
to the Russian food supply. He is wise
enough to see that with the passing years
England is becoming more able to make
a winning flght for her Indian posses
sions, and la therefore probably well
pleased to remove all possible cause of
war iu the direction of India. As an ex
ample of what England could do in the
way of moving troops in the event of war
in India, it is stated that fast steamers
which have just been placed on the In
dian -route can make the run from Eng
land to India by the Suez route in 17 or 18
days. This would enable reinforcements
from England to move toward the Indian
frontier within three weeks after a dec
laration of war.
RETRENCHMENT.
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 13. (To the Edi
tor.) I have been much interested lately
in your articles in favor of retrenchment
and reform. They are timely. There are
many jobs and sinecures that shohld be
done away with, but I think the demand
by some for reducing appropriations for
state schools is unwarranted. Economy
is demanded and needed everywhere, and
if there is extravagance In the schools
it should be stopped. However, I think
there are lines in which retrenchment
is much more needed. The useless rail
road commission, the appropriation for the
militia in large part, the adjutant-general's
office, the attorney-general's office
and alj needless commissions should be
abolished. These are ways to save public
money. But education should not be dis
couraged, as it is all the more needed in
these hard and degenerate times.
JAMES D. BAKER.
A Graceful Salesman.
A patent-medicine salesman, who deals
ip an iron tonic, exhibited a small bar of
iron in Happy Camp, Cal., last week, and
declared he had made it from blood taken
from hie arm after- driking 17 bottles of
bis .preparation. The miners all said they
never saw such a hea-y man walk Span
ish so gracefully as the salesman did after
spinning his yarn.
NEWS OF THE NORTHWEST.
Oregon.
The ladles of Pendleton netted 5133 30 oa
the charity ball given last week.
Mrs. O. S. Boardman. of Mitchell, land
lady of the Boardman hotel, died last
week.
Eunon Commons, aged 74 years, who has
resided on the Nestucca since 1S30, died
January 4.
Mrs. Lennox, an old Yreka pioneer, died
at her home on the Upper Klamath, Jan
uary G, aged 72 years.
Monroe has a fine mill site, and good
water-power, and wants a flour mill and
will give a bonus of S30;).
Colonel Wallace Baldwin, commandant
of the Soldiers Home, is convalescing
from a serious illness of several weeks
duration.
There is active opposition in Astpria to a
project by Portland men to convert the
Stuttz theater into a beer hall and con
cert garden.
The rabbit drives in Lake county con
tinue to be made at the rate of two per
week. The total of dead rabbits now
numbers C0O0.
Captain C. Graham, of Company A, at
Roseburg, has been ejected junior major
of the Second regiment. O. N. G., vice
G. O. Yoran, elected colonel.
Frank King, the young man who was
accidentally shot while hunting deer in
Coos county recently, by Mr. Lawhorn,
died last week at Marsh field.
Suit has been brought at Salem by Ladd;
& Bush against the Salem Motor Rail
way Company, to foreclose a mortgage for
$10,163 33 upon the Marmugslde addition to
the city.
Klamath Falls had a "pants club" or
ganized by a strange tailor named Otto
Pielenz, six months ago. It still has the
club, but the tailor has gone elsewhere.
The pants are nowhere.
RayMcKinsey,al4-year-oIdboy, worS ing
for Mr. John Waters, of Mosier. was per
haps fatally gored by a heifer while feed
ing her in the stable Saturday. She thrust
her horn through the boy's neck, near
the jugular vein. Dr. Morgan, of Hood Riv
er, happened to be near at hand and took
the boy to Hood River, where everything
possible was done for him.
The stage to Lakeview was held up last
week near Bly by a panther. The horses
stopped in the dense timber and refused
to move even when urged. They snoreed
and began to back. The driver thought he
was about to be robbed, but soon xle
scried a mountain lion in the road. He
had nothing to shoot with, but began
throwing snowballs at the brute and final
ly drove him away.
Washington.
Fourteen-inch Ice is being harvested! at
Ellensburgh.
I The ladies of North Yakima have- or.
ganized for charitable purposes.
Frank B. Cole has been elected presi
dent of the Tacoma Press Club.
It took the town marshal and a Win
chester rifle to seat the new mayQC of
Ocosta.
Mrs. Timothy Cosgriff, wife of a pioneer
of Tacoma, fell dead at her home la that
city Monday.
The Puget Sound Poultry Club's first
show has opened at Seattle with more
than 400 entries.
Olivar Allard, a Walla Walla pioneer
resident of 40 years, died in that city
Monday, aged G7.
It cost Wm. Hayes, of Dayton, $23 JO
fine and costs to abuse a Chinaman and
otherwise enjoy himself.
An Aberdeen paper says the superintend
ent of the railroad work being done at
that place can not get men enough.
The Seattle board of aldermen and house
of delegates have passed an ordinance
closing up the side entrances to saloons.
Wheat is being hauled into Garfield at
the rate of from five to fifteen tons a day.
Thp price has been raised from 28 to 27
cents.
Captain F. R,, Reed, pf the Nojjh Yak
ima cavalry'troop, has beep elected major
of the batalllpn, vice Ashton, promoted
brigadier-general.
The capacity of the Roche harbor lime
works, on San Juan island, is 1500 bar
rels per day. There is enough marble
there to last a thousand years.
Ben. E. Snipes, the Ellensburgh banker
and stockman, has confessed judgment
at Seattle to $30,000 on promissory notes
in favor of the Merchants' National bank.
Mrs. I. Crawford, of Aberdeen, drew
the lucky number in the raffle for a house
and Iqt donated to the railroad subsidy.
Four hundred tickets were sold at ?130
each.
L. E. Kellogg has sold the Wenatchee
Advance, founded by him three years ago.
He was also a founder of the Colfax Ga
zette, Cheney Tribune, and Big Bend En
terprise. Mltchel Jasous, the recently-made Arab
ian husband of the Tacoma woman who
walked off the cars near Ashland, and
was killed, has filed a petition stating
that he is the only heir-at-law, asking
for an administrator and alleging the es
tate to be worth ?100,000.
Friday night Mattie V. Llnde, a young
lady of Snohomish, while gathering
moss on the beach near Seattle, fell into
the water, striking her head upon a log
and becoming unconscious. This was at
4:30 n the afternoon. Seven hours later
she regained consciousness and found
herself bruised and scratched; lying on
the beach, with the ram beating down
upon her. She lay in that helpless con
dition until 6 o'clock the next morning,
when she was discovered by two fisher
men, taken to their cabin and restored
with stimulents.
o
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
A man is known by the company he re
fuses to keep. Galveston News.
Spacer What cap I say in this obituary
of Lusher, the bartender? Liner Work
in something about his "having a smile
for everybody." Truth.
Mr. Viveur Did you see many old ruins
while you were traveling? Mile. Frivole
Oh, yes, many! Why, one of them
wanted to marry me! Tid-Bits.
"Don't you think that Snobkins' man
ners are very affected?" "No. What
makes them really objectionable is that
they're natural." Washington Star.
We're told that Annie Laurie's voice
Was always sweet and. low.
And if her hats were just that style,
We'd love her well, we know.
Inter Ocean.
Mrs. Longwed Have you any Idea what
is meant by the fires of love, dear? Long
wed Er those the husband builds the
first three months after marriage, I sup
pose. Buffalo Courier.
Now, Johnnie hastens off to skate,
With warnings to take care.
But strikes an airhole, and instead
He takes the golden stair.
Inter Ocean.
He You said before we were married
that I could sit around with my coat off
and smoke when I pleased. She Yes; but
you don't please when you sit around
with your coat off and smoke. Philadel
phia. Inquirer.
THE LAW OF 1S3:.
PORTLAND. Jan. 15. (To the Editor.)
A correspondent in your paper some time
ago said the legal tender quality of silver
was changed in 1S33 to $3 or less, and that
silver coinage was then limited. I think
he is mistaken, as the silver dollar was
full legal tender until 1873, when It was
discontinued and thus demonetized. Would
you please explain the so-called law of
1S53? L. P. SIMPSON.
The coinage law of 1833 did not affect
the silver dollar, It merely reduced the
amount of silver in the fractional coins,
so that they should not be melted and
sold for bullion, the silver in these coins
being previously worth more than their
face,
i