THE SIOBNING- OREGONOLAjer, ' THUESDAT, FEBKTTAEV 21, 1895
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In The Oregonlan should he addressed Invariably
"Editor The Oregonlan." not to the name of
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DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. S P. M. Maximum
temperature. 52; minimum temperature, 42;
height f river at 11 A. 1L. 2.7; change in the
past 21 hours, 0.3; precipitation today. 0.01 J
precipitation from September 1. 1834 (wet sea
son. to date, 1B.US; average. S2.C2; dehciency,
12.01.
"WEATHER SYNOPSIS.
There appears to be a storm approaching the
coast opposite the mouth of the Columbia river.
Quite a heavy fall occurred in the barometer
over Western Washington, which indicates that
the storm is moving northeastward. Light rain
fell in the western portions of both states. It
became much cooler in Western Washington,
end slight changes in the temperature occurred
"WEATHER FORECASTS.
Forecasts made at Portland for the 24 hours
.ending at midnight February -1:
For Oregon Light rain and stationary temper
ature, with fresh southerly winds.
For Washington Light rain and warmer.
with light southerly winds, briik to high on the
coast.
For Idaho Fair weather and slightly warm
er, with light southerly winds.
For Portland Light rain and stationary tem
perature, Ytith fresh southerly -winds.
S. M. BLANDFORD.
Acting Local. Forecast Official.
that is In them. It is claimed that this
institution is a model of its class, and
its record for economical management
is embellished by the statement that
two years ago the trustees turned back
into the treasury nearly $16,000 of the
appropriation previously made for its
maintenance, while this year, in spite
of the increase of Inmates over the num
ber upon which the estimate was made
and the appropriation of two years ago
based, there will be a surplus of about
$2000. These facts are cited to show
that there are some things for which
citizens of the tax-ridden common
wealth of Washington have to be
thankful, though in the grand total of
$2,6S1,885, the estimate upon which the
state government expenses for the next
two years is based, such small savings
are insignificant. Every one has heard
of the process of "saving at the spigot
and wasting at the bung," which,
though an unsatisfactory method, is, it
must be allowed, better than a leakage
at both ends of the governmental bar
rel.
PORTLAND, THURSDAY, FEB. 21.
MORE TURNS OF THE SCREW.
The Oregonlan has made the best ef
fort It could for reduction of the taxes
of this overburdened community. It
has assisted or has had the assistance
of citizens who realize that Portland
must have this relief, or it will not be
possible to own property, pay taxes
and do business in the city. The condi
tions are constantly growing worse.
Property cannot bear these burdens.
None will venture to invest, except at
prices that heretofore would have been
deemed ruinous. Owners of property,
pressed to extremity by public burdens,
are trying to get out of it anything
they can. In all private affairs the
closest economies are enforced. Men
and women pinch and scrimp in all
possible ways. But taxes are as high as
ever. Official emoluments are not re
duced, and a swarm of office-holders,
fed fat at the public expense, have suc
ceeded at the capital of the state In
defeating the economical reforms that
were promised to the people.
It is discouraging, but the effort must
go on. The conditions are relentless,
and will compel obedience to their mandates.-
-Till these taxes shallbefre
duced, Portland will remain practically
dead. Who will put money into a city
so ridden by profligate officialism, so
oppressed by taxation? Where is the
employment for labor? There is none,
because men will not embark money in
undertakings subject to such ruinous
taxation. There is coming the biggest
delinquent list on the tax-roll that Port
land has ever known.
It is astounding that the state's rep
resentatives should have united to de
feat the effort to cut off the superflui
ties, extravagances, peculations and ex
tortions of officialism In this city and
county. The effect will be felt not only
in Portland, but on the prosperity of
the state. It will be the basis, more
over, of a political revolution; for these
conditions cannot continue, and the peo
ple will turn in any direction for relief.
As stagnation shall deepen and distress
shall Increase, It will be found out how
imperious is the demand for such re
duction of the public burdens as will
emiblc men to own property, pay taxes,
" make improvements and carry on busi
ness in Portland.
Even non-taxpayers presently will
learn that they cannot stand it, be
cause capital shrinks from investment
in such conditions, labor can get no
employment, and paralysis of industry
ensues. Portland never has been con
fronted by a situation so grave. It
should have had this relief at this time.
But it appears that other turns of the
screw will be necessary to enforce it.
We shall get them.
MUNICIPAL REFORMS IN NEW YORK
Changes growing out of the reform
victory of last year have brought the
city charter of New York into full har
mony with the most modern notions
of municipal government. These will
therefore have an effective trial on a
larger scale than ever before. As they
are still regarded as experimental,
though in successful operation for
some years in Philadelphia, and for a
shorter time in Brooklyn, and in par
tial effect In Chicago and Boston, the
object-lesson of New York will be ex
tremely valuable.
Consolidation of administrative power
in hands of the mayor, which is the cen
tral and dominant idea of the modern
science of municipal government, had
been pretty well completed before the
election of Mayor Strong. Successive
republican legislatures have stripped
the venal and incapable board of al
dermen of one power after another.
After failure of the experiment of nam
ing executive boards by the legislature
itself, their appointment was given to
the mayor, of course without confirma
tion by the council. This brought some
relief from mlsgovernment and corrup
tion under mayors like Hewitt and
Grace, but when they were succeeded
by men like Grant and Gilroy, of course
the whole administration fell into
hands of Tammany, and corruption ran
riot through every department.
Even the popular uprising of last
summer and the election of Strong did
not put an end to this infamous regime,
because administrative boards and
heads of departments had been ap
pointed by his Tammany predecessor
for fixed terms, and could not be dis
placed. The police commissioners were
forced to resign by the shameful ex
posures of the Lexow committee, but
other officials held on, some with sev
eral years of unexpired terms ahead of
them.
No better practical Illustration could
be given of the vital Importance of
that feature of the Philadelphia and
Brooklyn charters which give3 the
mayor power of removal as well as of
appointment. This weakness of the
New York charter was so clear that the
legislature lost no time in curing it by
passing a law giving the mayor power
to remove all executive officers, whether
heads of dapartments or members of
boards - . y . 'hTk,
This Jaw now 4s in ''effect,Jand under
it Mayor Strong is clearing out all the
Tammany crew and filling the offices
with new men. His appointments gen
erally meet the approval of the prac
tical reformers who brought about his
election. They are not only non-partisan,
but non-political, Including such
men as Colonel George Waring, E. L.
Godkln of the Nation,' ex-Mayor Grace
and many whose names are not so well
known, but who are described as mem
bers of the body of earnest men who
have fought misgovernment and cor
ruption in both parties. It remains to
be seen how much practical aptitude
for affairs there reformers have. One
thing probably can be relied upon;
they will not steal. If they cannot gov
ern. Municipal reform Is on trial In
New York, and the result will be ex
pected with general interest.
state of Oregon should protect salmon,
and that is for the benefit of the state.
Salmon supply an abundant and cheap
food for the people, and add several
millions of dollars to the state's in
come. For these reasons regulations
should be adopted that would assure
the continuation of these benefits. The
Idea that legislation is for any particu
lar class or business method should be
abandoned. We see the same idea
dominant in the game laws, which have
been so arranged as to create a favored
class of sportsmen and deprive the peo
ple generally of the benefit to be de
rived from the game of the state as a
food product.
It may not be too late to accomplish
something in the way of closing streams
for breeding purposes, though the sen
atorial fight may continue to interfere
with everything useful. However, a
committee should now be appointed to
report at the next session a bill drawn
upon the lines of absolute protection,
regardless of the business interests of
any men or methods of fishing or work
ing. This committee would have time
to learn something about salmon and
practical regulations, something that no
committee can hope to do in the brief
time It can give the subject during a
legislative session. It should have time
to learn the motives qf those who seek
to mislead it, and to make Independent
Investigation. The report of such a
committee, intelligently and honestly
made, would no doubt be proof against
the attacks of selfish interests and com
mand the support of all members of
the legislature not dominated by local
influences. If this Is not done, a few
years will render salmon protection, a
subject not worth worrying about.
senate now. That majority does not ex
ceed ten, and may be less. The reduc
tion Is due to the Influence of the ad
ministration over democratic senators.
It may be added that the Sherman bill
followed the proceedings above de
scribed. The house refused to concur
in the senate's free-coinage measure,
and there was a. conference committee,
out of which came the Sherman act
the most mischievous of all our silver
projects.
The senate has passed a bill for de
duction of indebtedness. If it shall be
come a law, an enormous number of
wealthy men will escape all taxation.
There Is less property value and more
debt in proportion than there was two
years ago. Wfiile property is under
valued, debt is deducted in full. There
fore the tax-dodger wJJl have larger op
portunities than.he had then, and they
who cannot dodge taxes by deduction of
debt will bear all the heavier burden.
The naval appropriation bill has
passed, and we are to have three new
battle-ships. They ought to be made
superior to anything afloat. Great
Britain has just launched the first of
seven great ships of the latest model,
which will serve as a pattern. So far
every new ship we have built has been
superior to the newest British ships of
the same class. We ought to be able
to beat them again with these three
new ships.
THE "WORLD'S WOOL SUPPLY.
A writer in the Bankers' Magazine for
February reviews the world's wool situ
ation. He produces estimates of the
London board of trade, according to
which the visible supply of wool, by
which is meant the wool that reaches
the world's markets, has grown from
955,000,000 pounds In I860 to 2,456,773,000
pounds in 1891. Since 1891 there has
been considerable further increase.
The tables show that the Increased
wool supply comes almost wholly from
three regions of the Southern hemi
sphere, which have entered upon wool
growing as a special industry during
the last forty years. Australia and
New Zealand in 1894 produced 581,000,000
pounds of wool, against a product of
60.000.000 pounds in 1860; the Blver
Plate region 443,000,000 pounds in 1894,
against 43,000,000 pounds in 1850; and
the Cape of Good Hope 122,000,000
in 1894, against 26,000.000 in 1860.
It is this prodigious increase that so
profoundly affects the world's markets.
The production of wool has been in
creasing far faster than the normal In
crease of demand for the products of
wool. This Increase is one of 'the most
interesting industrial phenomena of
the times. It Is matched by the devel
opment of no other great staple com
modity. While it is not probable that
the supply from those three regions of
the Southern hemisphere will continue
to increase as rapidly as in the past,
yet it is regarded as certain that their
maximum production has not yet been
reached.
Of wool-producing countries, the
United States is third in the list Its
product in 1S94 is estimated at 325,000,
000 pounds.. it was but 60,"000;000 pounds
in 1SC0. While, therefore, the increase'
In the United States has been a little
over five-fold in thirty-five years, it
has been nearly ten-fold in Australia
during that period. The wool clip of
the United States has averaged for
some years about 22 per cent of the
world's supply of clothing wools.
Under pressure of free trade in wool, a
considerable reduction of this product
may soon be expected. Prices will re
main at the foreign level, and many of
our people will give up the wool busi
ness. The wool clip of the country will
not disappear, but it will be greatly
reduced; and Oregon will suffer about
as much as any other of our states.
What is to prevent the government
from offering a popular loan of 4 per
cents at 110, if authority to sell 3 per
cents cannot be had? Then the Lon
doners who subscribed to the syndicate
loan ten times over, paying 8 per cent
more than the bankers paid the gov
ernment, can come here and take it.
This is the way things are done In
France. No groul? of bankers makes
$5,000,000 on a single small French loan.
The January statement of foreign
trade Is not encouraging. Exports ex
ceed imports by only $14,000,000, against
$34,000,000 a year ago, and gold exports
exceed imports by $26,000,000, against
$600,000 a year ago. For the last seven
months gold exports were $47,000,000,
and merchandise exports exceeded Im
ports by only $94,000,000, against $206,
000,000 for the same time In 1894, when
we Imported 554,000,000 of gold.
The Japanese send word to LI Hung
Chang that they will make peace no
where but In Japan. When other en
voys went to Japan they were sent
home. Next thing these cocky Japs
will require the emperor of China him
self to go to Tokio and sue for peace.
The new United States loan was
taken ten times over in London at 8
per cent advance over the price paid
to the government by the syndicate,
which will make $5,000,000 out of it. It
was a great success for everybody but
the administration.
"The faction'- was again playing with
the name of Judge Williams yesterday.
Its vote was centered on him merely as
a landing-placg", while the preparations
go on with the populists and democrats
for fulfillment of the real object of the
"bolt" r:
Income from Indian investments, but of
these classes the large majority are al
ready conservative, and would vote con
servative under pretty well any circum
stances. At the time of writing, Mr. Balfour's
great speech had escaped my memory,
but J. B. M.'s quotation recalled it.
Such a speech to such an assemblage, or
to a chamber of commerce, whether in
London, Manchester or Liverpool, is es
sentially an appeal to the moneyed and
more educated classes; but its facts and
figures will hardly stir the hearts or
passions of the masses of the people.
It was Mr. Gladstone who first (unwisely,
as many think), invented the phrase,
"The classes and the masses," still it Is
to some extent a convenient one. The
classes, as a whole, will in any event
vote conservative or unionist, and lead
ing conservatives may favor a confer
ence on blmetallsm; but as yet no author
itative announcement has been made that
the unionist party, as a party, is com
mitted to such action. The masses will
in all probability divide their votes at the
next general election between conserva
tives, the various shades of radicals and
home rulers, according as they are influ
enced by such subjects as disestablish
ment of the church in Wales, home rule,
house of lords, unearned increment, land
laws, etc., and it Is over these points the
coming battle will be won or lost.
Taking the ordinary London newspa
per (with the exception of the Times),
it Is rare to see an article on blmetallsm.
So far as my memory serves me, and I
have no statistics at hand, I should say
the Times has most frequent references
to the subject, only in the last number
which reached me (of the 25th January)
there was an article speaking of the re
moteness of any International agreement.
I regret only on Sunday I posted It on
to a friend, or I would have quoted parts
of the article. The Times, too, with
out committing Itself, seems the most
favorable to a dual standard.
Other papers, such as the Standard,
Telegraph, Morning Post, Daily News,
Chronicle, Globe and St. James's, rarely
mention the subject. Yhen they do, my
recollection is that they are momometal
lic. Within the last fortnight I have had
copies of tho Standard, Telegraph, and
various London evening papers, and I
don't remember any article, or even men
tion of the subject, other than cables from
the United States concerning affairs In
congress, and then It would rather be
the silver question than blmetallsm.
The London papers I have mentioned,
though of vast power and authority
among the middle classes, are not the
papers that guide the workingman in the
bestowal of his vote. It is the Dispatch,
the Sun, Star, Echo, Evening News and
others that form the opinions of the mass
es, and in those papers an editorial allu
sion to blmetallsm would be very rare.
Personally I think the whole question
of currency is for qualified experts to
pronounce upon, and not at all fitting
for the necessarily ill-informed electorate
to deal with. For that reason I should
be very sorry to see It become really a
party question at home; however, so far
as I have yet read, or know, I do not
think it will so become. If it is really
deemed wise and beneficial for Britain to
join in a currency conference, I do not
see why radicals should oppose, or tories
make a party matter of it.
Universal blmetallsm, which I suppose
means a universal fixed ratio between
gold and silver, would probably largely
benefit English commerce, inasmuch as
It would give a fixed value to the ru
pee, and steady Eastern exchanges, but
it appears to be just in the fixing of that
ratio where the difficulty comes In.
Yours truly. C. S.
which she has lived 6S years, in East
Xorthfield. Mass. She Is In good health,
and superintends the work of her house
every day.
Anson Cory, who lives In Lafayette coun
ty. Mo., probably Is one of the oldest ex
slaves In the United States. He was born
15 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., In 17S3;
went to St. Louis with his master in 1795,
thence to Fort Sibley, and was present
with his master, Dort Hlcklin, when the
site where Kansas City, Mo., now stands
was purchased from the Indians.
Senator Chandler is said to have mel
lowed wonderfully of late, and his sarcasm
Is no longer of the frosty, killing kind. Ho
says sharp things, but they are disarmed
by his genial laugh. He 13 keen, but the
blade glances where It used to penetrate
to the bone. His wit, which bubbles forth
a hundred times a day, is sugared with
the utmost good humor, and It amuses and
entertains where onec it rankled and embittered.
YAQUINA HARBOR.
GUARD THE TREASURY.
Friends of Economy Need to
Be
Mr. Henry WUson may pay a nomi
nal fine for assault and battery, but no
jury' would -"hav1 punished - him -for
"homicide. There'-' aeh'urnan'"rights 'to'
which fornraf law bows.
New Orleans councilmen are being
sent to the penitentiary for various
terms. There are worse things for
councilmen than losing their salaries.
The proposed combine of the popu
lists, semi-populists and democrats on
Lord again failed yesterday, but may
be attempted today.
The free kindergartens of the city,
instituted and kept up for the benefit
of the children of the poor, are mediums
of the most intelligent charity, and de
serve Its generous support. The fact
that Individual charities are the first
item in the expense account that is
made to feel the stress of hard times
is oxcmpllfied In the falling-off of the
subscriptions for the support of these
kindergartens. There are four of these
Infant schools, situated in sections of
the city where the children of the very
poor are most numerous. Their work
is of the strictly charitable order, and
its benefits are incalculable. To close
one of them would be a calamity In its
way, and yet the indications are that two
will have to beclosed,unless the subscrip
tion list can be at once increased. The
good people of the city should Inter
est themselves to the extent of pledg
ing the relatively small monthly sum
required to prevent a retrograde move
ment In this basic charity, which works
tho combined miracle of cleanliness, po
liteness, morality, Industry and happi
ness In its beneficiaries.
The Washington legislature, through
committees appointed for that purpose,
has found the eleemosynary and re
formatory institutions of the state eco
nomically and humanely managed and
worthy the confidence of the taxpayers.
Thjs Is especially true of the school for
defective youth in Vancouver, and the
refrni school at Chehalls. The latter
institution has In charge at the present
time J60 boys and girls, who had, be
fore, their commitment, little or no home
training,' but who are moving toward
honorable manhood and womanhood
along linos of discipline, instruction and
industry calculated to bring out the best
ANOTHER FIASCO.
The utter inability of the legislature
to accomplish anything for the general
welfare has again been shown by the
defeat of the salmon bill. While that
measure was by no means perfect, It
was a great improvement upon the
present Insufficient, conflicting and im
potent law. The legislature began in
a most unbusinesslike way by appoint
ing two committees, one to Investigate
the salmon industry and the other to
confer with a committee of the Wash
ington legislature on the subject of
joint regulations. These committees
arrived at somewhat different conclu
sions, and by so doing discredited the
work of both of them.
There are half a dozen conflicting In
terests that always struggle to protect
themselves at the expense of each
other whenever this subject is before
the legislature. There are glllnet fish
ermen, trapowners, cannerymen who
own traps and those who do not, wheel
owners on the upper river, canners in
the same locality, and market men and
shippers of live salmon. Whenever the
legislature appoints a committee to in
vestigate the matter, representatives of
these interests swarm about It, and the
one that brings the most irffluence to
bear secures a report on regula
tions favorable to its branch of the
business, and then all the others fight
the bill. This time the wheelowners
and cannerymen of the upper river got
what they wanted from the committee,
and the canners and fishermen of the
lower river succeeded in killing the bill.
This leaves us just where w.e were be
fore, with regulations that the United
States fish commissioner has officially
reported will lead to the speedy exter
mination of the salmon, and will pre
vent, as they did last year, the opera
tion of hatcheries by the flsh commis
sion, and which are nullified by con
tradictions and by decisions of the su
preme court.
The difficulty is that the various in
terests are purely selfish, and, while
professing a desire to have the salmon
protected, are not willing to have it
done if it inconveniences them or calls
for any temporary sacrifice on their
part. Each wants it done at the ex
pense of the others. Coupled with this
is the idea that salmon laws are made
for the benefit of the men engaged
in the salmon Industry, instead of for
the public good, and this Idea seems al
ways to dominate committees and the
legislature Itself, so that proper regu
lations cannot be bad, because some
glllnet man, canner or wheelowner
raises the cry that it Interferes with
his business.
There is only one reason whv the
The financial depression promises a
political revolution in Canada as well
as In the United States. The revenues
are falling off, there is a deficit of over
$1,000,000 this year, and the public debt
has increased $12,000,000, mainly on ac
count of government subsidies. Last
year at this time the treasury had a
surplus of over $2,000,000, so that the
real loss, as compared with a year ago,
is between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000. The
estimated net deficit for the year is
about $6,000,000. The cause of the defi
cit is the decrease in customs receipts,
due to smaller Imports rather than un
usual government expenditures. The
conservative government has been lib
eral in its distribution of bonds for sub
sidies and public works, and has loaded
the treasury pretty well with obliga
tions, which are and will be maturing
for some time, but, had revenues kept
up, the deficit would have been small.
The disposition of the government
seems to be to wait for something to
turn up. Premier Bowell does not like
to ask parliament to increase taxes,
and is loth to face the commons with no
plan for dealing with the situation, and
It Is predicted, therefore, that the elec
tions will be ordered without another
session. This suits the liberals exact
ly, as they will go Into the campaign
with the cry of extravagance and cor
ruption against their opponents, and
the promise of reform on their own
part, and probably will win.
BI31ETALISM IX ENGLAND.
It Is Not anil Probably "Will Not Be
come a. Party Question.
PORTLAND, Feb. 19. (To the Editor.)
Your correspondent, J. B. M., has rather
the advantage of me in a matter of con
troversy, as he is evidently at home and
able to consult books of reference and files
of newspapers, whereas I am compelled to
Tely on my memory, and have not even a
Whitaker to assist me.
' Quite possibly I am In error in believing
that no reference was made during the
late elections to blmetallsm, but that
speeches of Mr. Chaplin on that subject
had any determining power at either I
do not think. I read the weekly edition of
the Times carefully during the time, and
had both the Standard and Telegraph
every few days, Dut i cannot say my
memory recalls any speech, which made
me think blmetallsm was an important
factor In the elections. To imagine the
average agricultural voter of Lincolnshire
(of Forfar and Worcestershire I do not
know so much) weighing the merits or de
merits of such an intricate subject as bi
metalism is to credit him with an ability
and intelligence I am afraid he does not
possess. It must not be forgotten it is no
longer the squire, the farmers or even the
small tradesmen who control the majority
of votes, but under the new register the
franchise has been lowered to very near
manhood suffrage.
I notice J. B. M. bases his assertion on
a cable to a New York newspaper, not on
quotations from an English, paper, and I
would point out, how very often the
American correspondent fails to grasp the
really salient points of any occurrence,
and cables some portion of a speech, or
lays stress upon some minor fact, which
Is scarcely at all regarded by the English
press.
Of course the same thing occurs with
English correspondents in America. Doubt
less they cable to England a variety of
matter as being Important an American
would regard as of no weight-
An American correspondent in England
would be especially liable to attribute an
exaeKerated importance to any pronounce-
ment of Engll3h statesmen which seemed
In favor of silver, whereas English people
would read the same speech and be little
stirred or affected by it.
Notwithstanding J. B. M.'s quotations
from Mr. Balfour's speeches, I adhere to
my opinion that at the present time bl
metallsm is an academical rather than a
political question In England, and that it
will remain so until thsre is some reason
ablechance of an universal national agree
ment being reached; secondly, that It Is
not a question that will form a real
ground of party difference, or will be of
general interest to the vast mass or the
English electorate.
Just now some leading men on the con
servative side and the conservative party
generally, may be more willing than the
radicals to send British representatives to
a monetary conference; but a conservative
will not give his vote to a radical of what
ever shade because he happens to be a
bimetallst, or a radical vote for a conser
vative candidate because he is the re
verse. It is quite different, of course, in
the United States, where the silver ques
tion Is the question of the day, to the ex
clusion of almost everything else.
The people in England to whom the
pros and cons of blmetalism are Interest
ing are the representatives of the great
mercantile and banking houses, con
cerned In forelsm and Eastern trade, and
measure for it. This was carried by a J secondly (a numerous class, I admit),
vote of 43 to .24 nearly two . to one. I those, connectcd-wlth the Indian military
There Is no such silver majority in the i and civil staff, and those deriving their
of Economy Need
Wntclifnl Still.
THE DALLES, Feb. 19. (To the Edi
torsTaxpayers of Oregon have cause to
feel thankful at the nrobable defeat of
all special bills calling for appropriations.
.forschools at certain points,. TWhy should
Lakeview have $5000" and 'Klamath Falls'
nothing? Ashland $5000, unless Coquille
City is given a like sum? The same rea
soning which appropriates $5000 for Drain
would entitle The Dalles to $20,000.
The one thing now to be closely watched
is the general appropriation bill. The
university at Eugene will ask for $30,000,
the agricultural college at Corvallis the
same, and the normal schools (at Mon
mouth and Weston) for substantial sums.
That tbe state university, with an an
nual attendance "of les3 than 200, and more
than half of these from Eugene alone,
should ask for more than $10,000 is little
less than shameful. These are hard times
and taxpayers are fairly groaning under
the load they must carry. The manage
ment of the state university seems unable
to comprehend this, and, instead of econo
mizing, has actually added to Its expense
by creating one or two unnecessary pro
fessorships. Still, there may be method in
this. With $30,000 from the state, and $10,
C00 to $15,000 annual interest on the land
and endowment fund. It requires some in
genuity to spend all this money. And, of
course, it would never do to have a dol
lar of surplus at the end of the year.
Let members of the legislature who are
friends of economy be watchful still. Nor
should they be hoodwinked by the ex
pected, but misleading cry of fostering
the educational interests of the state. The
general appropriation bill should be care
fully scanned, and every item cut down
to the lowest possible limit. The uni
versity at Eugene shculd not have more
than $10,000 at the outside. The agricul
tural college iccelves $15,000 per annum
from the general government, and has
no need of special state aid. Smother for
all time those "certificate factories," the
so-called normal schools, by withholding
all appropriations, and let those who would
teach, win their way on merit alone.
TAXPAYER.
The result of the municipal election
in Philadelphia is extremely significant.
The democrats took advantage of the
municipal-reform contagion, to which
they mainly attributed the election of
Strong in New York and Schieren In
Brooklyn, to run ex-Governor Pattlson
for mayor. Pattlson has a larger pub
lic record as a reformer than Strong or
Schieren, but he was defeated by over
CO.OOO majority, the largest ever given
In the city. This throws new light on
the election of Strong and Schieren, and
suggests that, after all, they may have
been elected as republicans rather than
as reformers. There is reason to
suspect that the height and depth and
strength of the republican reaction has
not yet been measured. Manifestations
of it continue to crop out In unsuspected
places. The idea that New York really
Is a republican city Is almost Incredible.
The silver majority in the senate is
smaller than it was five years ago. At
that time there was no difficulty in
putting any free-coinage measure
through that body. When Windom was
secretary of the treasury, a- hill was
drawn up at his suggestion for limited
purchase of silver. It passed the house,
but when It came to the senate a motion
was made to substitute a free-coinage
PERSONS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT.
Ruskin is reported to be in excellent
health at Brantwood Coniston, in the lake
country.
Rev. Dr. T. T. Stone, of Boston, Mass.,
the oldest living graduate of Bowdoin col
lege, celebrated his 94th birthday recently.
Mme. Hissa Ohyama, wife of the Japan
ese minister at Vienna, has joined the
Roman Catholic church, with, her hus
band's consent.
Governor McKlnley will make the annual
address before the Alumni Association of
the Chicago Northwestern university, on
commencement day.
Oliver Wendell Holmes' library is ap
praised at only $804 50. It is evident that
the poet went on the principle that it is
enough for a man to write books without
collecting them.
The bust of Richard Malcomb Johnson,
of Kentucky, at one time vice-president,
has been placed In the senate chamber. "It
is the work of James Paxton Voorhees,
son of Senator Voorhees, of Indiana.
W. W. Fuller, of Durham, N. C, is to re
ceive a salary of $50,000 a year as chief at
torney of the American Tobacco Company,
of New York. He is a son of Judge T. C.
Fuller, of tBe United States court of pri
vate land claims.
The chain long worn by the Count von
Moltke, as knight of the Black Eagle, the
highest Prussian order, is to be given to
Count Waldersee a great honor for him.
The count's wife, before marriage, was
Miss Lee, of New York.
Professor Charles W. Walcott, director
of the United States geological survey, has
had confred upon him the Bigsby medal
by the Geological Society of London, in
recognition of Important services rendered
by him to geology and paleontology.
Galusha A. Grow, for all his three score
years and ten, Is one of the sturdiest and
mo3t vigorous men in the house. He is
more regular In his attendance than al
most any member except Reed, and he Is
as much in evidence as any of those who
are no more than half his age.
Dwlght L. Moody, the evangelist, cele
brated his 5Sth birthday recently in San
Antonio, Texas. On the same day his
mother, Mrs. Betsey Holton Moody, cele
brated her 90th birthday in the house in
which she brought up her children, and in
Captain Synions Report Satisfactory
to the People of Vaquloo.
NEWPORT, Or., Feb. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) In your issue of February 16, when
commenting on the action of certain of
our citizens concerning the improvement
of Yaqulna harbor, you state that the
people here are said to be very sore about
Captain Symons' last report. While there
may have been some expressions of re
gret, by those who would have been per
sonally benefited by the expenditure of the
money in the vicinity, that the appropria
tion may be discontinued for a short
time, yet all who have a desire for the
welfare of the state can but rejoice that
the results of the Improvement have so
far surpassed Captain Symons opinion
of what they would do; that from a shift
ing channel of eight feet it has been
changed to a permanent channel of 15 feet
at low water, and Is continually being
deepened by the scouring process of the
current. It would hardly be expected Li
the most enthusiastic that the full ef
fect of the improvement would he realized
at once, but that the change would be
gradual. That any one would expect Cap
tain Symons to make any change In the
plan thrit has been so productive of the
desired fend, until the effect of the present
plan is fully determined. Is unreasonable.
Near the entrance of the present jetty
the current has removed 12 to 13 feet of
sandt giving 21 to 22 feet of water at
low water, where formerly there was but
eight to nine feet. Now, if this current
action is sufficient to remove such quan
tities of sand in one place, under similar
conditions it will be equally effective in
other places. To produce these similar
conditions it will only be necessary to ex
tend the present jetties far enough to
direct the current on the sand to be
moved. Captain Symons, however, at this
time hesitates to make this recommenda
tion, for the reason that there is a pos
sibility that it will throw the "bar be
yond the protection of the outer reef,"
which' is such an effectual barrier to
heavy seas approaching the entrance of
the jetties. But there is a condition that
a careful study of the surveys will sus
tain, and that is, although the inside of
the bar has been cut away or moved
seaward, the outside of the bar has been
stationary and parallel with reference
to tho inside of the outer reef. Between
the bar and the outer reef there is a
permanent channel about one-quarter of
a mile wide, having a permanent depth of
water at low tide of 30 to 40 feet. That
this channel is maintained by an eddy
current flowing south at right angles
to the jetties at a rate of from two to
three miles per hour, there is but little
reason to doubt. If the jetties were ex
tended toward the reef the same principle
would apply as in the groin system; the 1
velocity would be increased as the space
diminishes; thus the jetties would serve
the double purpose of jetty to the en
trance and groin to the eddy current.
But why speculate on plausible theories
and reasonable possibilities when, In re
,aUty,.rYaoTulnaiharbqr is now as good, if
not' better, than'that, on which Portland,,
with her marvelous wealth and great
commerce, was built and sustained for
25 years, until the experiments at Yaquina
bay proved to a certainty the method of
applying and permanent benefit of the
jetty system that has been adopted with
such splendid results at the mouth of the
Columbia?
One has not far to search among the
ports Of the country to find many places
less accessible than Yaquina that are
transacting more business than all Ore
gon Is at present producing.
That part of Captain Symons report 5n
reference to Yaquina being unworthy of
further improvement has been by some
misunderstood. In the plans for a new
project submitted to Captain Symons for
his consideration, there is a prescribed
form for reports on the same, and these
forms are usually worded worthy or un
worthy, and do not preclude at some fu
ture time the recommendation of a pro
ject for further improvement. Captain
Symons certainly would not declare that
Yaquina harbor was not worthy of greater
improvements, if the project, in nis opin
ion, was for the benefit of the harbor,
when we consider that the opening in
Oregon of this practically new harbor
has saved to the people of the Willam
ette valley in reduction of freight alone
within the past five years over five times
the amrint expended by the general gov
ernment in its improvement, to say noth
ing ahout the advance of the price of
produce, which will amount to at least
$2 per ton on all grain raised in localities
accessible by rail or water to this port.
In view of these facts, connected with the
very bright prospects of an early exten
sion to an Eastern transcontinental con
nection, with branch lines extending to
Eugene, Salem and Portland, the holders
of Yaquina bay property have no good
reason to feel jealous of Portland or any
other seaport In Oregon. I.
; ?EWS OFTHE SOUTHWEST.
Oregon.
Joseph Dame has been appointed re
ceiver of the Ashland mine.
Herrick's new cannery at The Dalles Is
being put In shape for work.
The Florence fire department Is con
structing a bell tower 3S feet high.
Union has a new fire bell In the tower
of the city hall, ready to ring out alarms.
Albany's new charter provides for Is
suing $20,000 in bonds to pay off accumulat
ed Indebtedness.
The telephone company at Joseph will
increase its capital stock and extend its
line to Wallowa, and probably to Elgin.
Albany has reduced expenses by dis
charging the engineer of its fire engine.
It will trust to luck and volunteers In
case of a fire.
George Cramer died at Eugene Monday
at the residence of his daughter. Mrs.
Johnson. He was almost 90 years, old. He
was born in Ohio, and" lived there and In
Iowa and Missouri before coming to Or
egon in 1S90.
The Salvation Army invaded the Wasco
county jail Sunday and held services for
the benefit of Otis Savage, the young
robber, the only prisoner there. A Dalles
paper says that if that is part of his sen
tence It is all right, but If not he ought
to be protected.
C. J. Armstrong informs the Jackson
ville Times that the cold weather has not
Injured the grasshopper crop. He has
been examining the ground in the Hanley
alfalfa field lately, and finds thousands
of eggs of the hoppers almost ready to
hatch. If the conditions are the same in
other parts of the county, they may have
trouble with the pests this summer.
W. E. Davenport informs the Rose
burg Review that the grain aphis Is so
thick In the ground on his place, on the
river bottom west of Roseburg, that the
newly-plowed soil has the appearance of
ashes. The Insects seem to be mainly
in the sorrel roots, and on warm days
are quite lively. Mr. Davenport's dis
covery will not reassure the farmers, who
were hoping the pest would not reappear
this year.
DUTIES IN GOLD.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. To the Editor.)
My answer to "Single Standard" is this:
If a reservoir is supplying a demand It
must have a contributing source of sup
ply. If a bank has a regular line of de
positors every day, it can keep up an
average deposit, or, as we call It, an
average reserve. So with the United
States treasury. If duties be made pay
able In gold, the treasury becomes the
great receptacle of geld. Importers and
bankers will deposit their gold and take
from the treasury gold certificates of de
posit for the same. These certificates
are used to pay duties. Thus the treasury
becomes the great depository for gold in
stead of the banks. This known deposit
of a large amount of gold in the treas
ury creates the necessary confidence.
Formerly, when duties were paid in gold
and pledged to the payment of Interest
on the public debt, one had no distrust.
This is one of the remedies necessary; not
the only one. H. W. CORBETT.
An Expert's Opinion.
Jacksonville Times.
It is amusing to note the difficulties into
which our representatives are getting
themselves, and their efforts to crawl out
of the slough of their Inanity, by char
acterizing everything regarding their do
n as lalsehoods. It is easily to be
proven that Jeffrey did promise a clerk
ship to a lady of this county, and that he
did not appoint her, but instead she re
ceived an appointment at the hands of
the Multnomah delegation, a place which
in the nature of things she has as much
chance of getting as we have of meeting
some of our brother editors in the here
after. The committeee on education has
three lady clerks, and If the Hon. John A.
didn't have the naming of one of them,
he isn't nearly as "foxy" as we thought
him.
Somewhat Exacting.
Walla Walla Statesman.
Many land seekers from Nebraska are
heading this way, but the trouble with
them is they not only want an improved
farm well stocked given to them, "but also
require the owner to pay the hired help
for them.
Woahlnerton.
Troop A, N. G. W., will present "After
Taps"at the Spragua opera-house Fri
day night.
Professor Otto Kross, a prominent Se
attle musician, died of consumption in that
city Monday.
Lieutenant George H. Fortson has been
elected captain of company B, at Seattle,
to succeed Captain L. S. Booth, resigned.
Everett has taken a fit of spite against
Seattle, and will show it by joining Ta
coma In Calllns Mt. Rainier Mt. Tacoma.
There are three candidates for appoint
ment as surveyor of Pierce county to fill
the vacancy caused by the resignation of
Shepherd.
Snohomish and Marshland debaters have
held a joint discussion of the time-worn
theme about labor-saving machinery be
ing a detriment to mankind.
While celebrating the county-seat vio
tory at Snohomish, Alman Buck received
a painful wound in the hip, from the ring
of the anvil used In lieu of a cannon.
The Sprague Rod & Gun Club was or
ganized Tuesday night with a membership
of 20. The following officers were chosen:
President, J. W. Merritt; secretary, C. F.
Bassett; treasurer, H. W. Boone.
The Famous clothing-house, at Seattle,
was entered by a burglar Monday night,
and, although he was detected in the
very act of rifling the money-box In the
office, and was pursued and fired on by
officers, he succeeded in making good ni3
escape. The burglar secured $11 20.
'
INTERROGATION POINTS.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Editor.)
Dr. Grant is reported to have remarked to
your reporter at the ministerial meeting,
held on Monday last, as follows:
Why should the, press go nosing around tryinff
to 8me!lbt'8ometfafne''8'ensatlb'alil?-'Anylnfng
that is foul; anything calculated, to belittle; or
to bring anything or anybody Into disrepute, the
press is sure to rake it up.
Thanks to The Oregcnlan for Its alert
ness and enterprise in keeping the citizens
of this city and state so well informed,
upon everything of a news character
from all quarters. But, aside from this
there are one or two questions I would
like to ask in connection with Dr. Grant's
statement:
First, does The Oregonlan go "nosing
around to smell out something sensa
tional," where there is nothing sensational
to smell out? And, second, can It be pos
sible that at a meeting of evangelical
ministers, held In this city of Portland,
anything of a "foul" nature could have
taken place, or "anything calculated to
belittle anybody or bring anything Into
disrepute"? It seems hardly possible to
conceive that such could occur at a meet
ing of Portland divines; and yet this Is
the impression Dr. Grant's statement
leaves upon the minds of the worldly
minded. PARAGRAPHERS PLEASANTRIES.
Interrupted. "Who called?" "The doc
tor." "I can't see him tell him I'm not
well." Pall Mall Budget.
"Git any valentines?" asked Tommy.
"No! Didn't git noVnln' at our house cept
a baby," sniffed Johnny. "Girl, tool"
"Anything new or fresh here today?"
asked the reporter. "Yes," said tne oi
ficlal addressed; "that paint you're lean
ing against." Philadelphia Record.
A How do you know that Maler has
come in for a fortune? 3 Why. for
merly people always said he was crazy;
now they say he's original. Lustlge Blaet
ter. She did not mind the wintry blast.
Nor stinging, bitter cold;
For poetry and cook books, too,
For long years she had sold.
New York Morning Journal.
LUlie Why did you speak to that hor
rid fellow In the car? Weren't you afraid
it would affect your standing? Millie
Not a bit. He never offered a girl, a seat
in his life. The Sketch.
"I don't see why Ethel has so many ad
mirprs" she remarked. "She neither
sings, plays, paints, nor speaks French."
"H'm'm," he replied, reflectively; "may
be that's why." Washington Star.
The reporter wrote "She is au fait,"
But the printer made it "all feet,"
And the writer's best girl, so they say.
Don't speak to the scribe when they
meet. New York Morning Journal.
Bear (in trap) Wowl ow! ow! Free
Bear Roaring won't get you out of the
trap. First Bear It's not the trap I'm
roaring at. That brute away up there
congratulated me on having "quite a
snap" here and I can't get at him.
Judge.
Miss Manchester Mamma, I was awful
ly afraid papa would forbid me to marry
Sam when he found out that he played
poker. Mrs. Manchester Well, your papa
made a good many Inquiries about Sam
and found that he nearly always win3.
Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
A militia regiment In the north of Ire
land usually drilled in a level field close
to the side of a river. One day the drill
corireant. who was given to blustering.
and was by no means choice In his re
marks to the men, met a young recruit
coming late to drill. "You're late again,"
roared the sergeant. "Go down to the
river and fall in!" "Oh, no," said the
recruit; "I wish you to understand that
I did not enlist in the Coldstream Guards."
TlilH Ought to Sell Lot.
Astorlan.
W. W. Wishon and James Cummings,
of Butte. Mont., who were In Astoria
some time ago and secured a number of
lots which they placed on sale In their
city, advertise Astoria as the New York
of the Pacific coast, with an additional
statement that the Northern Pacific rail
road Is headed for this city. They also
state that the 2000 vessels which annually
load In Portland will hereafter (as soon as
the Bonner and Hammond railroad Is fia-
i Ished) load their; cargoes at this port