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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1895)
4 THE i&IOIESXSrGr OREGONIAST, SATimDA.Y FEBBTTAITS 23, 1895 $pumt Entered it the Fostoffice &t Portland. Oregon, as second-class matter. REVISED SUBSCRIPTION KATES. By Hafi (postage prepaid) In Advance Daily, -with Sunday, per month... .-....$ 1 00 Daily, Sunday excepted, per year .--.. 10 00 Dally, Trtth Sunday, per year.. .... 12 CO Sunday, per year ...... ....... 2 00 The Weekly, per year ...... .......- 1 60 The Weekly, three months 00 TO CETX SUBSCRIBERS. Dally, per week, delirered, Sunday excepteL25c Dally, pur week, dehrered. Suadiy lncludefl..S0c ICew or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should be addressed Invariably "Editor The Oregonlan." not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to advertising, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to it without solicita tion. No stamps should be Inclosed for this pur pose. DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. PORTLAND. Feb. 22. 8 P. M. Maximum temperature, 57; minimum temperature, 44; height of river at 11 A. 1L, 3.6: change In the past 24 hours, 0.7; precipitation today, 0.7; pre cipitation from September 1, 1894 (wet season), to date. 20.25; aerage, 33.10; deficiency, 12.83; number hours of sunshine Thursday. 0:00; pos sible number, 10:42.. "WEATHER SYNOPSIS. There is a storm of vast proportions central tiff the coast opposite the mouth of the Colum bia riior. Owing to its sudden appearance, causing a decided fall In the barometer through out the country west of the Rockies, copious rainfalls resulted along the entire coast, and are still in progress. No heavy wlnds.have yet followed, but it Is expected that the winds will Increase in force during the succeeding 24 hours. WEATHER FORECASTS. Forecasts made at Portland for the 24 hours fending at midnight February 23: For Oregon. Washington and Idaho Rain and" Stationary temperature, with fresh southerly winds; gales on the coast. For Portland Rain and stationary tempera ture, with fresh southerly winds. S. M. BLANDFORD, Acting Local Forecast Official. PORTLAND SATURDAY, FEB. 23. SPECIAL FEATURES TOMORROAV. The fourth and thus far most interesting chap ter of Anthony Hope's great serial, "Chron icles of Count tYntonio." .A letter by Frank Carpenter, on "Vladlvostock, the great Pacific naval station of Russia. A letter by "Bab," taking to task, itnposters who use her name, and speaking entertainingly of dogs and other things. A Btory by General O. O. Howard, dealing with the brave exploit of Chambreau In carrying a message to Chief Moses when the Indian war was Imminent along the Columbia. An article on Artemus Ward, America's great est hutnorlst. by James Gllmore. tThe "Woman's Department" contains a fashion letter for elderly ladles, and articles on house hold decoration, invitation bazaars and eti quette for gentlemen in their association with ladles. IThe "Youth's Department" has a story of honor for boys, a continuation of "Little Mr. Thlm bleflnger." and other matter of interest for the young. A complete record of social happenings In Port land and vicinity. THE BRIDGE ADJUSTMENT. The creation of a commission to buy the Morrison-street bridge and the Stark-street ferry was the result of a demand for justice for the central part of the city. It was not right that the central part of the city, which pays so large a proportion of the taxes, should be left without means of free passage over the river; and It was a particular hardship when the result of that situation was the payment of taxes by this part of the city for trans fer of values elsewhere. A central free bridge therefore became a necessity. The bridge at Morrison street is not a very substantial structure, but it is central, and there is objection to ob struction of the river by another bridge near it. To make this bridge free or to build another central one would practically annihilate the Stark-street ferry as a property, and the owners of this property appealed to the sympathy of the public. Besides, they probably had some power which could have been used to prevent the purchase or erec tion of a central bridge. So the Stark street ferry was Included in the pro posal. The offer to sell the Morrison-street bridge is based on the sum of 5150,000, with the proviso that the cars of the City & Suburban railway shall be al lowed to run over it for $1800 a year. The bridge Itself may not be worth $150,000; probably is not A better one might be built for the money; but the position of the bridge, its relation to traffic and its peculiar use to its pres ent owners are facts which cannot be wholly disregarded. Again, the low rental of $1800 a year for the use of the bridge by the cars of the City & Sub urban railway is a proposal obviously based on the present relation of the bridge to the business of that railway, which owns a majority of the stock in It The paid-up stock of the bridge company is $200,000, and the City & Suburban railway acquired the control of it, for the use of its own business, on the basis of that valuation. No one will pretend that the use of the bridge by the company that owns it, as a nec essary part of its own business, can be disregarded in the terms of sale; and, moreover, this company asks for no exclusive privilege. All cars may run over the bridge after the sale. The rental of $1S00 a year would amount to 5 per cent on $35,000 of the purchase money during the next twenty years, leaving the city to pay interest on $114,000. But the best feature of this readjustment of the bridge busi ness of the city is the way that it opens for such collection of tolls as will provide a steady fund for main tenance of the bridges, with all parts of the city on an equality. This is to be submitted to the vote of the taxpayers at the coming school elec tion. Should it carry, as it ought, a fund of not less than $60,000 a year will be collected from vehicles a sum that will be a material relief to the taxpayers, and will put the bridge business of the city on an excellent basis. Nobody wants more bonds placed upon this city. But here is a condition of inequality and injustice that has loudly called for redress. It is easy to object to every one of the features of this measure to the sum to be paid for the bridge, to the rental stipulated for the passage of the cars, and to inclusion of the Stark-street ferry in the purchase; but in spite of all ob jections, this plan, with its provision for tolls on vehicles and equal jus tice to all parts of the city, seems to offer the best solution that can be had of a troublesome problem. Port land ought to have "had one central free bridge, no more. This one bridge could have been supported easily, and it would have given sufficient accom modation; but a mistake was made in buying the Madison-street bridge, and this opened the way; to an expenditure J for providing bridges for other locali ties that the city could not well afford. But now, with this final measure, in cluding a revenue from vehicle tolls, the bridge problem will be solved on terms the best that present conditions will allow. DmECT ELECTION' OF SENATORS. Undoubtedly the scandalous senator ial deadlocks of the last few years, which left no less than three states only half represented in the senate at once, not to speak of several senatorial elec tions more shameful than deadlocks, will give strong Impetus to the public opinion fast forming in favor of choice of senators directly by the people at general elections. This will be a slow reform, because they who profit by the present system United States senators and members of state legislatures are intrenched di rectly in its path. The reform can be brought about only by an amendment to the constitution. To make this, as sent is required of two-thirds of the senators and three-fourths of the state legislatures. This assent will be given only under absolute popular compul sion. The house of representatives has adopted twice a joint resolution for submission of such an amendment to the constitution to the states. The first time It was rejected by the sen ate, and now the senate committee on the subject has again made an unfa vorable report. No matter how large a majority such a proposition may se cure in the lower branch, most of the senators will oppose it, although it is not without advocates in that branch. The whole force of tradition and prece dent is on the side of the existing sys tem, and this is reinforced by the prac tical objections to a change of not a few senators, who have succeeded in getting elected by a legislature, but doubt whether they would be as fortu nate if they submitted their claims di rectly to the people. This amendment never will pass the senate until men are sent there absolutely pledged and instructed to support it. This never can be done until the un willingness of the state legislatures to see the change made shall be overcome by the same popular mandate. Oppo sition to the change is still more strong ly intrenched in state legislatures than in the senate itself, since it would take from the former a function always Im portant and sometimes lucrative. It may be taken for granted that the leg islatures will not move in this matter, except as they are driven by the peo ple. But it is certain that popular feeli ing upon this subject 13 gaining strength, and it is probable that it will soon make Itself felt in the politics of the various states. Nearly every biennial interval wit nesses two or three deadlocks, in which the public business suffers from the waste of time in fruitless Balloting, and still more from the absorption of minds in the scheming and intriguing that go on from day to day. It may be regarded as settled that no legis lature will do the work of lawmaking so well when it has to elect a senator and does not reach a choice promptly, as in a session when no such question is up. Moreover, a senatorial deadlock may be prolonged to the end of the ses sion and leave a state without one of its senators for two years. This hap-' pened in three states in 1893, and may happen in two or three this year. The people will not endure this infliction for long. They will Issue a mandate to both parties to consent to election of senators by popular vote. BATTLE-SHIPS. "We are to have three new battle ships, at a cost of $12,000,000. These, like our other fighting ships, will be built In the light of large and some times costly experience of other na tions, and undoubtedly will be the best of their class In the world. The policy of the United States has been to study thoroughly the latest models in for eign navies, and endeavor to excel them by employment and exerolse of the highest type of American skill and in genuity. So successful has this policy been that our battle-ships Indiana, Oregon and Massachusetts, of 10,000 tons, are thought to be superior as fighting ma chines to the British Majestic, Magnifi cent and others of that class of 15,000 tons, designed a little later, and to be completed about the same time. Com parison of these vessels as to size and armament gives only a partial idea of the qualities upon which this judgment is based. Following Is a comparative table of dimensions and batteries: a Oi Armor Thickness in inches Sg ?P : 3 Indiana.. ll0,23134SI69.224ti6 lSOOllSUTrTtO MaJestlc15.O0O39O75 f2S17fclS00l 9)14.1 Battery Four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, four 6-lnch, twenty 6-pouad and four 1-pound rapid firing. Four 12-inch, twelve 6-lnch rapid firing, sixteen 12-pound and twelve 3-pound rapid firing. Conclusions from these figures are not absolute. The greater size of the Ma jestic gives her no fighting advantage except In a heavy sea, when her great guns, twenty-seven feet above the water, would be more effective than those of the Indiana, eighteen feet above. She has no greater coal capac ity, and her larger draught will keep her out of harbors .our ship can enter. The Indiana having exceeded her con tract speed on trial, the two ships probably will steam at about the same rate. It will take the test of conflict to prove which vessel is superior In that combination of offensive and de fensive qualities which makes up fight ing capacity. The Indiana has heavier guns, but they cannot fie so readily and rapidly worked; has heavier armor, but pays for it in increase of weight and loss of agility. It would depend upon the conditions of any given battle whether the British ship were pierced and crippled by the superior energy of the American's projectiles, which are nearly twice as heavy as her own, or whether the American ship were beaten by the superior rapidity of the British fire and the greater agility of the en emy's movements, as were the Chinese ships in the Yalu battle. It Is highly probable, however, that our new ships will be fitted with lighter and tougher armor, forged by the new processes, and with smaller but quicker-acting guns. The great fighting superiority of the Indiana, however, will depend upon her power to concentrate" an enormous weight of fire in any direction. This is demonstrated in the following table, in which the pounds represent the weight of projectiles, and the foot tons their striking force: (Straight ahead On either 1 or astern. 1 beam. P lit IWelght tWpirtit ol pro jectiles. Muzzle (of pro- j Muzzle energy. Uectiles. , energy. I Lbs Fttons Lbs Fttonsj Indiana ...I Majestic .. 3,2001 99,2931 5,600) 172,963 9824 l.S2S 53,5961 3,456 reduced somewhat in practice. Inas much as the Majestic's six-inch guns are rapld-firers, they would be able to deliver their projectiles faster than from breech-loaders, and this would add somewhat to her fighting efficiency, as compared with the Indiana; but the latter's superiority in weight of metal and in the energy of the blows delivered is too great to be offset by the rapidity of fire of a few light guns. The ex traordinary protection given by heavy armor to the Indiana's guns would go far to prevent the Majestic's rapid-fire guns from doing harm to the former's battery, and It would not be long ere the American's eight-inch and six-Inch guns would wreck everything outside the Englishman's barbettes. Besides, our six-inch and eight-Inch breech loaders can easily be replaced by rapld firers, if it shall be found profitable to do so. Experience in designing and building the new battle-ships will throw a deal of light upon this and all other naval problems. AN INDIAN "SETTING OUT." The Nez Perce Indian reservation in Idaho will soon be opened by govern ment purchase and proclamation to settlement under the federal land laws. This Is a magnificent tract, richly di versified and well watered. The lands can be possessed by settlers only under the homestead, townslte, stone, timber and mining laws, and. In addition to the regular land-office fees, each entryman must pay $3 75 an acre for agricultural lands, and $5 an acre for those classi fied as stone, timber and mineral lands. One-half of this price must be paid within two years from the date of entry, and the balance before making final proof. No Interest will be charged on deferred payments, the government in the capacity of real estate agent being quite generous In this respect The secretary of the interior has not yet given out the regulations in regard to the payment of the Installments of the purchase price, but these will no doubt be made easy to the settler, the object being to give energetic, careful men a chance to secure homes and lands with the least possible hardship. In making terms by which this mag nificent tract is to be thrown open to settlement, the government has been exceedingly generous with the Indians. The indemnity fund reaches an aggre gate of $1,668,622. The money which the last six figures of this sum repre sents will constitute the first cash pay ment to the Indians, and will be im mediately disbursed. This will allow about $300 to every man, woman and child on the reservation, and will cre ate temporarily In the Indian com munity a condition of financial equal ity that would delight the soul of so cialism. In a very short time the usual inequalities of wealth will no doubt manifest themselves among them, and the few will have absorbed all that the white people have not gotten by barter. The government will- not, however, abandon its dusky beneficiaries solely to the blight of their own ignorance, indo lenceandmlsmanagement The$l,000,000 remaining will be retained, the govern ment paying 5 per cent interest for the use of it, devoting the income thus ac-. quired to the benefit of the Indians. In addition to this, the Indians are to become individual landholders, having been given their choice of lands from the entire tract, and having shown good judgment in the selection. It would be difficult to find an agri cultural community better equipped to "get along In the world" than the Nez Perce Indians will be when the ar rangements in progress for their "set ting out" in ways of civilization aro completed. With an allotment of 160 acres of the choicest farming land, and a cash payment of. $300 to begin with; an assured Income of $50,000 per year In interest on deferred payments, and the government to manage its disburse ment, they may well be regarded as among the richest agricultural people on earth. Senator "Vilas wants the government to build and own its postal cars, in stead of renting these vehicles from the railroad companies as now, and has embodied this idea in an amendment to the postoffice appropriation bill. Ac cording to his calculations, the amount paid by the government in one year for the use of postal cars would more than build all that are needed for the postal service, and the cost of transporting the mails would be confined to a haul ing charge, based upon the weight of matter. Since Mr. Vilas was formerly postmaster-general it is fair to presume that he knows what he is talking about, and It may be surmised that Uncle Sam has been and is paying an exorbi tant rental for postal cars. To correct this extortion and bring the service down to a business basis should not be beyond the power of the reform states man, who erstwhile "Emboweled with outrageous noise the air" In shrieks for economy and diatribes against governmental extravagance. Business men all over the country have met and corrected a similar condition, left by more prosperous times, by secur ing a substantial reduction in rentals. It is worth noting that there are few farm mortgages in the South. Less than 5 per cent of the farms in that section are mortgaged, while in North ern states the proportion in many cases exceeds 50 per cent. It is curious to observe that in New Jersey nearly as large a proportion of the farms are mortgaged as in Nebraska, the per centage for New Jersey being 48.91 per cent, and for Nebraska 51.90 per cent. Too much money has been borrowed for Improvement of farms upon a falling market for farm products. But the consequences 'could not have been fore seen, and, without doubt, the next cen sus will show a still further growth of the tenant class upon farms. Very much against their will, lenders upon farm mortgages will become owners of the lands, as a rule to find no profit in them. Taxation remains the same at Port land as when business was brisk and profits were large. Now, when there are no profits, or but very slender profits, continuation of the old tax rate, which is due to the extravagance of of ficialism, increases Immensely the gen eral burdens. All debts and all taxes must be paid out of profits. "When i there are no profits, maintenance of the I former tax rate ls'virtual confiscation. They who pay the same taxes on their property, when rents have fallen from $50 to $25, really have had their taxes doubled. This is the condition in which the owners of most of the property of Portland are placed today. And this is the reason why public expenditures that necessitate the continuance of such taxation ought to be reduced. But when this Is talked to office-holders, they appeal td,the legislature, which tells them they have a vested right to insist on continuance of this excessive taxation for their own benefit They are talking -about a substitute for the Kellly Pacific railroad funding bill. It is proposed that the railroads shall pay the government the principal of their debt, raising the money by selling second-mortgage bonds; then that they shall give a third mortgage for the accumulated' interest bearing 4 per cent and to be paid in fifty years. This would be a good bargain for the government if the new debt for ar rears of interest never were paid. That is, the government would be lucky to get the principal of the present debt and give up all hope of ever recovering the interest But it is not likely that the companies can borrow money enough on a second mortgage to pay even the principal of the debt to the government The truth Is, these roads are barely worth the first-mortgage debt They are not paying interest on that, and would not pay the principal if sold under the hammer. The value represented by the government's sec ond Hen is wiped out and never can be recovered. It is lolly to pursue It The wisest thing is to .sponge out the debt and lease the roads to the first-mortgage bondholders. An Oregon paper censures The Ore gonian for speaking of silver as "base money." "We are glad," it says, "to take silver, greenbacks or bank notes for anything due us, and so is The Oregonian." This remark indicates a total lack of comprehension of the prin ciples upon which silver, greenbacks and bank notes are kept at parity with gold and perform the office of good and full money. The whole system rests upon limitation of their quantity and maintenance of a gold reserve. It is adherence to this system by the na tional government that makes us all so willing'to take silver, greenbacks and bank notes. But our adherence to- it has not been vigorous enough. We have issued too many of these substi tutes for money for our small gold re serve, and it taxes our strength to maintain them. This creates distrust, and is now the main cause of the finan cial stringency and industrial depres sion. The device of causing pupils of the public schools, they having first voted to do so, to salute the American flag as it floats over their schoolhouse every Monday morning, Is one of patriotism, and may properly.be commended. It may be said to Inculcate two principles indlspensible to good citizenship that of freedom of will and the responsibil ity inseparable from its exercise, and veneration for the- national colors as the ensign of liberty. The existence of the republic can never be very gravely menaced so long as these principles abide, and certainir'tiiey will abide as longaVthey are $kr of publIc:school' training "' A new appointee 'is stenographer for the. .governor, at $1600 a year. The gov ernor has no need of a stenographer; former governors have had none. And if a stenographer were necessary, there are multitudes who would jump at the offer of such a place at $800 a year. Again, the governor is now to get $1000 a year for supervising public works, where $500 heretofore have sufficed. The legislature is so unusually liberal probably because It is so unusually easy to pay taxes. -If anybody had said last summer that we had elected a legislature which would put all the old jobs into the ap propriation bill, and many new ones, he would have been denounced as a malignant pessimist But we have all the old jobs, many of them enlarged, and a lot of new ones. It is a recocd that will tell when another legislature Is to be elected. It costs as much trouble to elect a senator in Idaho, where they are all for base money, as in Oregon, where only a minority want It EUROPE HAS SAVED AMERICA. The Situation. Almost Compelled Eu rope to Come to the Rescue. The circular issued by the banking house of Henry Clews & Co., New York, February 17, has many interesting points. We quote the following: The past week has witnessed little change In the speculative aspects of Wall street business. There has been, however, a good deal of earnest thinking, and on somewhat more cheering lines. The finan cial class has ceased to wait on congress and centers Its hopes upon the consum mation of the syndicate loan. The effect of the negotiation upon prices, was mere ly fractional, simply because speculators have become so disheartened as to be al most insensible to any sort of exciting in cident Nevertheless, the long-headed buyers are beginning to feel that some thing of real importance has come over investment and speculative interests, when the Rothschilds and other great for eign bankers have come to the rescue. The loan contract, bears an air of se rious purpose. It includes dimly defined provisions, which suggest something more than a transient negotiator's operation for the reward of a round profit and then leaving the luckless borrower to whatever fate betides. The work undertaken by these kings of finance Involves some very broad commitments and some tasks which befit only the boldest and most resource ful command of capital. Such financiers understand the significance of an under taking to repair the badly impaired finan ces of a great and vigorous nation. They appreciate the prestige of saving a na tion's credit, and are not likely to ad minister a momentary palliative and then leave the patient to perish. They work for higher prestige, as well as for high profit They comprehend that there is such a thing as patriotic gratitude, and are aware that a nation saved from the verge of momentary degradation is not likely to forget Its benefactors. EUROPE'S INTERESTS DEMAND IT. In the present case there are other con siderations which very directly concern the interests of these great negotiators. The United States is now in a condition that materially affects vast European In terests. The process of recovery from the great foreign reaction that set In with the Barings failure moves slowly and hesitatingly. There is still a conspicu ous absence of complete confidence; com merce Is held In restraint; important en terprises are kept in suspense; money ac cumulates in huge idle masses; capital and investment are suffering from stag nancy. Nothing contributes more than the enfeebled condition of the United States to the perpetuation of these conditions in Europe. We rank as the second trade power in the family of nations. Our de mand for merchandise is broadly felt in every great market of the world. Our In vestments are more largely held In Eu rope than those of any other country. Above all, we are an important silver us ing country; and the significance of that factor lies not wholly, if even principally, in the question whether this may Impair the value of our securities held sb largely abroad, but equally in the fact that. If we come out of our silver struggle with a fixed and permanent commitment to the gold standard, that presedent will go far toward settling the same question for all Europe. It Is easy to perceive how, under such circumstances, the world's leading bank ers may see, in the restoration of our finances and our salvation from the silver peril, much more than a mere profit on a large negotiation. It is easily conceiv able how they may regard the restora tion of American finances as a great step toward the revival of confidence and en terprise throughout the world at large a fulcrum for lifting universal confidence to a higher elevation. Upon this assump tion we may regard the purposes of the syndicate as probably extending much beyond the mere terms of their contract, as meaning, in short, a purpose to stand by this government until its finances are placed upon a sure and permanent foun dation. Wall street is scenting this sort of significance in the bond transaction, and may soon withdraw very encouraging conclusions therefrom, calculated to de velop a much healthier tone in the finan cial markets. The first half of President Cleveland's administration certainly proved very dis astrous to the business and labor inter ests of the country, as It was full of ob ject lessons of a drastic character. The president has now commenced on the last half of his term of office, and there are not wanting Indications that his policy will bo to restore confidence so as to bring back a return of prosperity. His ob ject lessons hereafter will be directed to the members of congress and not to their constituents. This Is one good reason for the belief that the winter of our distress will pass smoothly into a cheerful sum mer. o A. SENATORIAL TftEMINISCENCE. The Election, of E. D. Balder nad J. AV. NesniitU In 18G0. Hlllsboro Independent Colonel T. R. Cornelius called a few days ago, and while chatting of things political, gave some reminiscences of leg islative contests that were waged when the state was young. One celebrated session was in 1860, when Senators E. D. Baker and J. W. Nesmith were elected. Colonel Cornelius was In the senate from Washington county that year. The dem ocrats had a large majority, but were in two factions Douglas democrats and Breckinridge. The republicans had 13 votes on joint ballot Neither democratic fac tion could elect without the aid of the re publicans, wherefore they both coquetted with the 13. But as the Breckinridge wing was ultra pro-slavery, the republicans considered an alliance with them unholy. Some of the Douglas men, while they were willing to receive the republican votes for their favorite, Jim Nesmith, could not bring themselves up to the support of a "black abolition republican." There was a caucus of each party held. The Douglas wing named Nesmith, and the pro-slavery men nominated their men but could not elect E. D. Baker, Amory Hol brook and David Logan were aspirants for the place from the 13 republicans. The caucus named Baker. This done, Enoch Conyers, Henry Eddy and Amory Holbrook bolted the caucus nominee. The republicans promised the Nesmith men 13 votes, but could deliver but 10. However, with these 10, the Douglas democrats, then called the Bush men, could elect Nes mith, but Bush could not at first get enough men to elect Baker, and without such an assurance the 10 would not vote for Nesmith. About, this time the .pro-slavery- men absconded and broke a quorum in the sen ate, so nothing could be done. The ser-geant-at-arms scoured the country from Salem to the head of the valley, but could not find the runaways. Nearly two weeks passed, when, on Wednesday or Thurs day a resolution was passed, that ran: "Resolved that when we adjourn on Sat urday It be 'sine die.' " The pro-slavery democrats in the house raved and raved. They claimed that the resolution was il legal, that the legislature, not having a quorum, could not legally adjourn. ..The others claimed the contrary, and said they would go home on Saturday. So on Sat urday the carpetbags were packed and the Solons left for tall timber, but they took care to be back by Monday morning. In the meantime the Breckinridge demo crats came back in great glee that they had prevented happening so great a calamity as the election of a black re publican. The sergeant-at-arms swung to the doors, the adjourners were called in and enough Bush men having been In fluenced to vote for Baker to elect with out the bolters, the 10 threw their votes to Nesmith for the long term and to Baker for the short term. LET THE LEGISLATURE SEE. Scarcity of Salmon, in the River This Spring-. Astorian. It has been a long time since salmon brought so high a price in the Astoria markets as at the present time, owing probably to the scarcity of fish. Chi nook salmon are selling at 15 to 20 cents per pound In the city, and when a fish erman makes an average haul he has a neat sum of money at his command. The present scarcity of fish leads many of the fishermen to cast a dubious look toward the opening of the April season. Canners instead of canning them now, are dispos ing of the fish to the Astoria and Portland markets. After AH the Fish. The Dalles Times-Mountaineer. The news from Salem yesterday that no law will be passed this session interfering with fishwheels has given a stimulus to men engaged in the fish business in this vicinity. New wheels are being built, and, when the season opens, the salmon industry will give employment to a large number of men and send in circulation considerable coin. The Regulator had about 15 tons of sturgeon this morning, which was caught on the middle river. This industry has developed considerably in this vicinity during the past few months, and men are engaged in catching sturgeon from the vicinity of this city to the Locks. On the lower river this spe cies of fish are very scarce, and they gen erally congregate in deep places east of the Cascades. As they sell readily in the Portland market at 8 cents a pound, the business is a paying one. PERSONS WORTH KNOAVING ABOUT. Tolstoi learned Hebrew after he was 50. Queen Victoria's will is engrossed on vellum, quarto size, and is bound as a volume, and secured by a private lock. The ameer cf Afghanistan will pass through the United States this spring on his way to England, where he will be re ceived as a royal guest The niece of General Boulanger has an nounced her Intention of removing the general's remains from. Brussels, the scene of his suicide in 1SS1, to Paris for inter ment A French artist, who picks up many an American patron is Benjamin Constant, the portrait painter. He is now In Wash ington. He apparently gets his sittings to a great extent in this country. His patrons are distinguished people in social and po litical life, and hence excellent advertisers. Herbert Putnam has been chosen li brarian of the new Boston public library. Mr- Putnam Is the youngest son of George P. Putnam, founder of the publishing house of G. P. Putnam's Sons. He was graduated at Harvard in the class of 'S3, studied in the Columbia law school, and in 18S5 was admitted to the bar of Minnesota. Mme. Lillian Nordica, speaking of suc cess in opera, in answer to a question as to what one quality more than another was required to be a great singer, said, "Will, will, wilt" She says that strong f and unswerving will power can overthrow all ordinary obstacles and place the pos sessor In a position which great gifts or even positive genius would not win for her without that indomitable energy which must characterize a successful singer. Mrs. de Peyster Field, nee Hamersly, so well known in New York city in connec tion with religious and charitable work, and at one time prominently identified with the King's Daughters, has organized a Bible class for convicts in Sing Sing prison. The initial session was held last Sunday, when 50 convicts paid respectful attention to her lucid and interesting teachings. Mrs. Field intends to have her class meet every Sunday afternoon for an indefinite period. Edward Everett Hale's remark that there has not been a good Phi Beta Kappa poem at Harvard since Oliver Wendell Holmes' In 1S25 Is generally Indorsed. The Boston Herald recalls Bret Harte's extra-s ordinary performance, approaching the ridiculous, in this line, when, fresh from the applause of "Truthful James" and "Ah Sin," he read some very frivolous verses before his august audience. To ac centuate the absurdity the poet wore green kid gloves on the occasion. It may be add ed that in those days Mr. Harte inclined to gorgeousness in attire. IT NEVER HAPPENED. Must AH Have Been a. Horrid News paper Invention. PORTLAND, Feb. 22. (To the Editor.) As it is reported that I boasted of my audiences at the ministers' meeting, per mit me to say that I did not mention my audiences, not a single word as to how I got what few I have, nor whether I had any at all; in fact, I have nothing to boast of, anyway. You must have got the wrong man somehow. Neither have I publicly announced that I did not believe in "sensational preaching." There is plenty of preaching that does not create any too much sensation of any kind. As a matter of fact what we did say was: "As to this whole advertising busi ness, it is a strange state of affairs, that when we have been so long before the public, we should still be obliged to blow a trumpet of half a column in the Sunday press to have the people know that we are in town," and, "that it thus becomes more a matter of notoriety than of popu larity." All of this referred to myself as well as to any one else, being a matter of principle rather than personality. And I now repeat it Greatness and sweetness ought to spurn receiving an unklndness as well as the giving it. Like yourself, Mr. Editor, I suppose we are as liable to say some things that the world would be as well off if they were not spoken; but at that meeting there was not anything said or done that wa3 uncommon to any deliberative body where men meet The first that I knew that anything had happened to make a fuss about was through the newspaper. If I said ought to needlessly grieve any, I certainly would regret it But all this talk about it 1e "bosh." As to my awful sin of not eating with good Dr. Elliot at Dr. Clapp's, house; I remember we had discussed certain evan gelical questions, but as to that particu lar "tea," I did not know of it for several days after. You report that I would not join the ministers' meeting because Dr. Elliot was a member; that story has one weak point, inasmuch as the doctor was never, to my knowledge, a member at all. Though he and I differ very radically, we had a good Thanksgiving service together. Shall be glad to have you invite the doc tor and myself to dine any time and see whether we come. I overcome my inclina tions to not notice these things, that the ministry be not unduly blamed, and the world too much comforted. And now, as you have written up the supposed bad thing, why will you not write up the two meetings at my church of about 60 ministers, who spent the whole day in prayer together, waiting for the Holy Spirit It was a wonderful service. There 'was the sweetest '"friendship One could meet; hearts were so blended in Christian unity that they unanimously voted to come again, and did so for an other six hours; and the last meeting was better than the first. ROLAND D. GRANT. ONE AVHO BEGS TO DIFFER. PORTLAND. Or., Feb. 22. (To the Edi tor.) I beg to differ with your remarks in Tuesday's Issue, on the sermon preached by Rev. John N. Denison, on "Crime and Its Penalty." Instead of his being on the high road to progress as you state, I believe he Is on the high road to oblivion. Assuming that your re marks were correct, no man, especially a minister of the gospel, should uphold or denounce publicly his fellowman before he has had a fair and impartial trial be fore the proper court Can this be said of Dr. Denison in his remarks on Dr. Gaff and Rev. Mr. Read lately? It seems to me that a certain class of ministers of the present day are preach ing thl3 kind of sermons for the salvation sake of notoriety than for the salvation of souls. Rev. Roland D. Grant and Rev. Mr. Wallace are undoubtedly of this kind. I admire, however, the former, for his courageous defense of principles, while the latter I denounce for his effrontery in indulging in personalities from the pulpit. After all, I believe that the unassuming, unsensational churches are the only true houses of God. In conclusion, J would say that if Dr. Wallace had followed the principles of the Bible Instead of call ing his brother "ungentlemanly," or "un christian," he would have turned away wrath by a soft answer. WILLIAM WILSON. 542 Clay street. Veto the Jobs. PORTLAND, Feb. 22. (To the Editor.) -The general appropriation bill has, as is usual, been delayed until the last days of the session of the legislature, and now all sorts of jobs can be Inserted in it. High schools, reform schools, normal schools, the state university job, refuge homes, magdalen homes, and all kinds of jobs will be inserted, which would have no chance in separate bills. If Governor Lord has the strength of spinal column which is attributed to him, and will veto this general steal called "the general appropriation bill," and call the legislature together and compel them to pass a bill in the interest of the people, he will be sustained. Governor Lord would have done this before he got a craze In his head to be elected senator. It Is uncertain what he will do now. He, however, knows what his duty as governor should be, and the people will sustain him i na ringing veto of the bill. TAXPAYER. Shamelexs- FaupcrN, Walla Walla Statesman. Last week during the cold snap the edi tor of the Statesman Interested himself in getting up a collection of provisions for the Monroe family, consisting of a woman and three little children. Since then the family has received the addition of two other members, for on Tuesday afternoon two men called at the Statesman office and very coolly, and in a very peremptory manner, told us "You had better send us some more grub, for the other's all gone." We have great fears they will never call on us again, for they were told in very vigorous Saxon English more forcible than polite that they had better get to work and earn what they ate. Their hon est (?) way of making a living by pass ing counterfeit coin has been stopped, and now the dread alternative of work stares them In the face. Tacit Approval of Hoodlumlsm. Dallas Transcript Last Thursday afternoon two boys were standing on the sidewalk, conversing, when along came a Chinaman. One of the boys called him a "monkey." He got mad and called the boys some pretty strong-sounding names. Of course,, this made the boys mad, and one of them slapped him. He tried to retaliate, but could not make It One of the boys took him down, and then proceeded to mop the walk with him. 2JEAVS OF THE NORTHWEST. Ore son. Baker City'IS to be asnted with-5 ama teur "lady minstrels." Rev. George H. White died at Grant Sunday morning, aged 69 years. The Grant Gazette Is to be revived by, W. A. Maxwell and W. F. Byars. W. S. Fink, a respected resident of Dal las, died in that city Saturday last The Rlckreall mills began running again Monday. M. M. Ellis is superin tendent The Welch residents of Beaver Creek will hold an Eisteddfod on St David's day, March L There is talk among somq of the Astoria property-owners of sending out a lot of boom literature. J. E. Swanson died at Carlton Wednes day, and was buried at North Yamhill by, the A. O. U. W. Last Friday a shed containing 80 tons of hay, belonging to Frank Fulton, was burned at Wasco. John A. Spauldlng. a sheep man, who resided near Condon 17 years, died at his ranch last Friday. Lacy district, Clackamas county, has a new schoolhouse, built by the contribu tions of material and labor by the people of the district Walter Landers, a Gervals youth of IS years, lost two fingera of his left hand while hedping a younger brother cut down a tree. He pushed whUe his brother chopped. The Hopgrowers Association of Brooks has been reorganized for the coming sea son, and will hold regular meetings at 2 P. M., on the first Saturday of each month during the spring and summer. Judge Fullerton has decided that the $1000 Yoncalla school bonds are Illegally Issued. They were sold to Spokane par ties, and resold to New York owners, and the first interest Installment has been paid. An attempt was made at Glencoe this week to start a creamery on the co-operative plan, but failed. The farmers would not pledge milk enough to make the ven ture profitable. In this the farme-3 err, which fact they will see later. Washington. The bonus and easements for the Med ical Lake sanitarium have all been se cured. John Krlb's butcher shop at Sprague was partially destroyed by fire Tuesday morning. The Great Northern has assured the Shippers Association of Seattle, that suit able terminals will be constructed Imme diately, A young rancher won $640 at craps in Spokane Tuesday night, and had to get police protection to get to a hotel In safe ty. This Is the city that has just had a moral spasm. Peter Joyce, superintendent of the West em Iron & Steel Company's rolling mill plant at Lakevlew, returned from Youngs town, O.. Monday. He says that the big plant will start up in about two weeks. Sunday night a plumber and his girl quarreled at Colfax, and the girl cast a cuspidor at him, cutting hl3 head badly any laying him out temporarily. Fearing she had killsd him, she attempted suicide with morphine. The same doctor straight ened them both out and when they re cover they can straighten themselves out The board of curators of the Wasning ton State Historical Society is composed of Elwood Evans, Tacoma, president: Henry Boeder. Whatcom county, vice president; General L. P. Bradley, Pierce county, chairman; B. F. Barge, Kittitas county; A A Denny, King county: Sen ator .F. G. Deckebach, Chehalis; J. H. Long, Lewis county; Miles C. Moore, Walla Walla; W. F. Prosser, Yakima; Allen Wier, Olympian Charles W. Hobarfr, Tacoma, At a meeting held in Olympla a few days ago, Ezra Meeker, of Puyal lup, was elected a member of the board to succeed the late J. P. Stewart, of Puy allup. PARAGRAPHERS' PLEASANTRIES. Mother Your penwiper has never been used at all. Little Johnny. Don't need It My new pants is black. Street : Smith's Good News. Parker Is there any life at all In your office boy? Barker Any life? He's only resting for a spurt. Wait 10 minutes and you'll see him close the office. Life. "What Interesting stories of travel Du flix tells. He must have roved a great deal." "N-o he's always been here. But his mind wanders." Pall Mall Gazette. Traveler (inquiring at famous castle) Can I see the antiquities today? Ser vantI am afraid not, sir. My lady and daughter have gone to town. Household Words. "The gre't trubble thot Ol folnd wid sthroikes," remarked Mrs. Dolan, "is thot they're Invariably so much betther to look forward to than they are to look back on." Washington Star. "You have let me hope for months now, and tonight you reject roe." "I didn't know you were hoping; quite the con trary, I have regarded you as hopeless from the start" Harper's Bazar. Little visitor Why does your mother put such a little bit of a picture on that big easel? Little hostess I don't know; but that easel cost $50, and I guess mam-. ma doesn't want to cover It up. Street & Smith's Good News. Medical Examiner Suppose you should have a patient with some disease which you knew nothing about What would you do? Student Charge him $5 for the examination and then send him to you. New York Weekly. Scribbler (In stationery and book store) Have you the book, "One Thousand Jokes of the Ancients?" Clerk No. Scrib blerThen why do you keep that sign: "Dealer In writers' Supplies," In the win dow. Brooklyn Life. Tom Tramper Times an't wat they used to be. Pete Plodder You're right there. Things has got so now thet yeh can't git a night's lodgln in a comfertible jail on less yeh rob a house, an that's too much like work. New York Weekly. Winks Did McKIck havemuch to say on the subject of railroad monopoly while you were there? Minks Well, no. You see, just after I called, a cartman drove up with a box for him. The railroad freight on it for 100 miles was a quarter; the cartman's charges for hauling it six blocks was 50 cents. New York Weekly. Jinks From what you told me of your mother-in-law, I should think you'd have heard enough from her in person, without having cared to induce her to talk Into your phonograph. Filkins Oh, you can't Imagine the pleasure It gives me to start the machine going, and then shut it off right In the midst of a sentence! Puck. "I guess my hat's my own! I paid for it," snapped the young woman at the matinee, turning round and addressing the two men who were making audible remarks about her towering head-dress; "and I paid for my seat, too." "But you didn't pay for all the space between your seat and the celling, my dear young lady," mildly observed the elder of the two men, Chicago Tribune. Our Silver Monometalllats. Chicago Herald. The leaders of our own silver party have no faith In the success of an International bimetallic union. The mining-camp lead ers know that silver miners would be ben efited by it, because the co-operation of the leading nations would undoubtedly advance the price of sliver temporarily, and enrich the owners of silver mines. But they have no expectation that Euro pean natlcns will enter Into any bimetal lic agreement and therefore they are do ing their utmost to make this country -silver monometallic, and they will not bo diverted from their purpose by any ln- 1 ternatlonal conference.