the aroRsriKG- obego:sjia2T; jioivDay; febbtjabt 25. 1895
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Entered at lie Postofflce at Portland, Oregon.
ts second-class matter.
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Xews or discussion intended far paWlcatten
la The Oregonian should be addressed Invariably
"Editor The Oreronlan." not to the name of
any Individual. Letters relating to advertising,
subscriptions or to any bosiaesa matter should
be addressed simply "The Oregonian."
The Oregonian does sot buy poems or etorles
Jrom individuals, and cannot undertake to re
turn any manuscripts sent to it wltaeut solicita
tion. Ho stamps should be Ineiobed for this pur
pose. DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.
PORTLAND, Feb. 24. .S V. M. Maximum
temperature, 52; minimum temperature. 45;
height of river at if A. II.. 4.0; change in the
past 24 hour. .; total precipitation today. .US.
total precipitation from September 1. 1891 (wet
season), to dale, 20..".S; average. .Tn.SS; de
ficiency. 13.00; hours of sunshine, 2:19; possible
number, 10:48.
WEATHEK SYNOPSIS.
From readings of the barometer on the im
mediate coait it is apparent that a storm Is ap
proaching the 'Washington coast. There was a
rise -of the barometer oo the California coast
and a. fall on the iRinvdlaf "Washington coast,
which is a good indication for rain. Xo pre
cipitation occurred during the past 12 hours,
except at Taeoto island, the weather remain
ing fair in other 0ecttoni, with moderate tem
peratures. WEATHER rOP.KCASTS.
Forecasts raae at Portland for the 21 hours
ending at midnight. February 2.1:
Ir Washington and "Western Oregon Rain
:uid warmer, wirh fresii southerly winds, and
gales on the coast.
Tor Eastern Oregon and Idaho Fair weather,
with nearly stationary temperature, and fresh
southerly winds.
For Portland Rain and warmer, with fresh
boutherly winds.
B. S. HAGUE. Local Forecast Official.
1QRTLAXD. MOXDAV. FEllRUARY 25.
FAILURE OP REFORM LEGISLATION.
The deplorable result of the recent
session was the failure to do anything
for relief of the taxpayers of the state.
It Is useless to repeat or review the
causes of this failure. Every one
knows that they lay In the factional
contest for election of a senator, and
interested persons took advantage of
the situation to "work" their schemes.
So we get no reduction of fees, sal
aries and emoluments, as promised; no
change of the system that makes un
necessary and enormous expenses in
state, county and municipal affairs.
All the work done by the people in prep
aration of these needed reforms has
been effort wasted. State ofiicials,
county officials and city officials.
In these times of general depres
sion and public distress, are still
favored with the emoluments of
prodigal times. And there is no rem
edy. Nor is this all. The general appro
priation bill is as bad as that of two
years ago; and that of two yeais ago,
enacted before the panic and hard times
set In, was universally condemned as
profligate, burdensome and oppressive,
even for these times. An exact or final
statement of the items of the present
bill we have not; but it is known that
with the exception of the jute mill ap
propriation of 1893 (which was not ex
pended), the present bill foots up a
larger sum than its predecessor. The
governor, being a candidate for the sen
ate, was in no position to use his proper
influence as a check upon this prodigal
ity. There was no positive check any
where. One party was combining every
thing in reach the demands of locali
ties for appropriations, the efforts of
otlicials to prevent reduction of fees
and salaries, schemes of salmon legis
lation, county divisions and normal
schools upon an effort to hold votes
away from Dolph; while the supporters
of Dolph, fearing loss of numbers,
were deprived of the resources of vig
orous resistance, or acquiesced in de
mands which they felt powerless to op
pose. Yet the question as to senator,
the source of all this mischief, was of
but small importance In proportion to
those things that were gathered around
it and subordinated to it. It will
be said, of course, that the effort
to elect Dolph ought to have been
abandoned week?; ago. But those who
were supporting him could not feel In
the ciroumstances that they ought to do
so. It "was the general expectation
and intention when the legislature was
elected that Mr. Dolph would be re
turned to the senate. He received the
nomination by a fair majority in a
caucus in which every republican
member voluntarily participated, and
his supporters could not feel that
the opposition to him was fair
or reasonable. Hence, till the la3t mo
ment, they could not recede, nor then,
unless the man to take his place should
be named by themselves.
The play, after the caucus had been
held, and the effort to break it began,
had for its real object the election of
Governor Lord. AVhat was stated on
this subject by The Oregonian imme
diately after the contest began was true
to letter, and remained true through
out. In the result, so far as the elec
tion ot senator is concerned, there is
no party discontent. But for the re
sult, in the total loss of the opportunity
for economic legislation, there is the
deepest cause of regret and dissatis
faction. The state has been betrayed.
The people have been foully dealt with.
There has been flagrant perfidy and de
linquency. It would not be hazardous
to attempt a prediction of the conse
quences upon the fortunes of individ
uals and parties in the state.
The president is criticised for selling
bonds to a syndicate of bankers at a
price which enabled them to realize
SlO.OfrO.OOe profit by selling them again
almost immediately in open market.
This is bad financiering, but the blame
rests upon congress, not upon the presi
dent. It is said that he might have of
fered the bonds for sale in open market
and realized a price 510,000,000 greater
for the government. This is evident
now, but the demand for the bonds
could be determined only by trial and
the government was reduced to such
straits by the neglect of congress to au
thorize bonds that it could not afford
to risk failure. At the time the bonds
were sold the treasury was trembling
upon the very verge of suspension of
gold payments. The secretary was
obliged to make a certain sale and at
once. He could not risk making an
offer which might not result In a sale,
thus leaving the treasury destitute of
means to meet its gold obligations. It
probably is true that the banks did
all they could to create tb,e distrust that
made a popular bond sale uncertain.
It is their trade to speculate upon the
distresses of the government, but the
conditions that enabled them so to
speculate were created by neglect of
congress. Doubt was thrown upon au
thority to sell bonds, which could have
been removed by action of congress.
This action congress refused to take.
The speculators made the most of this
to increase the distrust and force the
government to make terms with them.
It is no time for a popular loan when
the government is at the end of its re
sources and must have money at once.
If congress is able to learn anything
from this costly lesson, it will give the
secretary full power to sell bonds direct
to the people before the next emergency
shall arise.
THE SILVER MOVEMENT IX EUROPE
The silver movement in Germany
grows out of precisely the same causes
that have Intensified it of late years in
the United States agricultural depres
sion and low prices for farm products,
due to very large crops produced in the
United States, Russia and Argentina,
and to the commercial treaties with
Germany's eastern and southern neigh
bors which have admitted their cereals
at reduced rates of duty. The German
silver commission of last year was ap
pointed at the demand of the same
agrarian party, led by the great Prus
sian landholders, which has been fight
ing the commercial treaties, demanding
exclusion of American grain and cattle
and agitating generally for higher pro
tection for food products.
The government needs the support of
this party for army bills and anti-socialist
legislation, and consented to the
silver commission to quiet it and to
maintain a working majority in the
reichstag. The socialists, the Catholics
and the small remnant of the German
liberals oppose the movement because
they consider it insincere and purpose
less, but the union of the government
party and the agrarians gives it an
effective majority. Precisely the same
influences which brought about the sil
ver commission last year, whose result
was not satisfactory to the agrarians,
have combined to produce the present
vote in favor of an International con
ference. This will be the first international
conference on the subject of silver ever
called at the instance of an European
nation. The first was called at the in
stance of the United States, and met
at Paris August 16, 1878. All the great
powers of Europe except Germany, and
most of the lesser ones, took part in it.
The conference remained in session
till August 29. On the day before the
adjournment the European delegates,
except those of Italy, joined in a col
lective answer to the propositions of
the United States, saying in effect that
each nation ought to settle for itself the
use and relation of its coinage metals,
and that "differences of opinion which
have appeared exclude the discussion
of the adoption of a common ratio be
tween the two metals." The represent
atives of the United States dissented
from these conclusions.
No other conference reached even so
definite a conclusion as this. The sec
ond was held at the instance of France
and the United States in Paris, April 19,
1SS1. In this conference Germany and
British Indiaparticlpated, in addition to
the countries represented in that of 1878.
It remained in session till July 8, hav
ing taken one intermission from May
19 to June 30. No conclusion was
reached and no vote was taken on the
main question. The conference ad
journed to April 12, 18S2, but never re
assembled. The third conference as
sembled at the instance of the presi
dent of the United States, at the city of
Brussels, November 22, 1S92. The same
powers were represented as before, with
Turkey, Roumania and Mexico added.
It remained in session till December 17,
when It adjourned, without taking any
action, to May 30, 1893, but did not re
assemble at that date or at any other
time. It is doubtful whether changes
of public opinion in Europe have been
great enough to lead to any different
result now.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME DISGRACE.
It will not be strange if even patriot
ism, the most tolerant of all emotions,
receives a shock temporarily paralyzing
from the expose made by the legislative
committee of the gross mismanagement
and flagrant dishonesty to which the
affairs of the Soldiers Home at Rose
burg were subjected in the first two
years of the existence of that institu
tion. As an eleemosynary institution, based
upon a people's gratitude and the ne
cessities of a class of citizens consid
ered to be entitled to it, the Soldiers'
Home should be above the peculations
of rapacious contractors and self-seeking
"trustees." That it has been in the
two years of its existence a prey
to these conscienceless elements is
only too well proved by the findings of
this committee.
From presuming upon the generosity
of the Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, in the name of patriotism and
economy, for transportation to Califor
nia in the alleged Interest of the old
soldiers, and afterward charging the
traveling expenses incident to the
junket up against the appropriation
fund, to exacting, in the interest of one
of their number who owned and oper
ated a printing office, an excess of r0
per cent over the legitimate charges
of the business elsewhere for the print
ing done for the home, these "trustees"
bled the appropriation fund of two
years ago for the Soldiers' Home in
their own Interests, not deftly and with
a show of honesty, but clumsily and
shamelessly.
The Oregonian has a profound respect
for old soldiers, who as young soldiers
fought the battles of the nation when
treason threatened its life. It believes
that every one of these who was dis
abled in the country's service should
be protected against want by the gov
ernment, through adequate pension
promptly and regularly paid. It sub
mits, however, that, as a generation
has passed away since the last shot
in the civil war was fired, the im
pecunlosity of many old soldiers Is due
to habits of thriftlessness and dissipa
tion, in no sense the result of a few
months' service In the army in their
early manhood. To the extent that the
people are called upon to pay the way
of this class on account of disability in
curred in the service of the country, the
requirement is a just one; to the ex
tent that destitution in age has resulted
from indolence, thriftlessness and the
dissipation of their substance through
the productive years of life, the de
mand is an unjust tax upon the thrift
that accumulated while their waste
scattered.
Since sentiment has obscured this
view, however, or made It subservient
to a theory, and the institution of a.
Soldiers' Home in this state has re
sulted, it is the duty of the state au
thorities to see to it that the jackals
of the battlefield are not reproduced
In human form, given the name of
"trustees" and allowed to gorge upon
the disabled soldiers fund. The thing
is more than a scandal; it is a disgrace,
and its promoters should be held up to
the scorn of all decent, .patriotic citizens.
THE CIGAR-SHAPED RAFT.
It is reported that preparations are
being made at Stella, the point on the
Columbia river where the great log raft
that went to pieces last fall was con
structed, to build another raft to be
towed to San Francisco, if it does not
meet the same fate as its predecessor.
Sufficient concession is made to the diffi
culties of such ocean navigation to an
nounce that no effort will be made to
convey the clumsy craft to San Fran
cisco until summer weather has set in.
By such delay the chances of a suc
cessful voyage would be much in
creased, but safe arrival at its destina
tion would by no means be assured.
The last cigar-shaped raft was
broken up off the Columbia and the logs
were scattered by the waves and
currents for many miles along the
coast of Oregon, Washington and Brit
ish Columbia. Since that time there
has been the greatest number of mys
terious disappearances of vessels that
has ever been known in the history
of Pacific coast commerce. The ship
Ivanhoe, the steamers Montserrat and
Keweenaw, and more than half a dozen
coasting vessels, have sailed from one
port and never reached another. There
have been severe storms, and it is pos
sible all these vessels succumbed to the
attack of the elements, but it is also
possible that some of them came into
disastrous collision with a huge log
from this dissipated raft, or, perhaps,
a bunch of them, still held together by
the iron chains with which it was
bound.
It may be that the persons interested
in this venture are willing to risk an
other $30,000, but it is very questionable
whether the marine interests of the
Pacific coast can afford to have more
logs scattered in the track of vessels,
to become possible battering-rams to
send them to the bottom of the sea.
The claim that a floating log is not dan
gerous and is easily pushed aside when
struck by the bow of a vessel may be
warranted by experience In encounter
ing such objects in a smooth sea, but it
may well be imagined with what terrific
force one of the huge logs cut from the
giant trees of the Pacific coast forests
would be hurled against a vessel during
such storms as were encountered by
the ships that have been lost since the
raft scattered its thousands of logs in
their path. The possible profit to be
made by towing logs to San Francisco
and converting them into lumber there,
as compared with transporting the
sawed lumber, may justify this venture,
but the profit of a few individuals
ought not to be sufficient warrant for
creating such a menace to navigation.
They who defeated the pooling bill in
the senate supposed that they were in
juring the railroads. In reality they
were injuring the business and labor of
the country. This bill legalized pools
made under the supervision and by au
thority of the interstate commerce com
mission. It was intended to put an end
to destructive railroad wars, by which
the business of the country is-demoral-ized
and the railroads so crippled as to
impair their wage-paying capacity.
Commerce prospers better under steady
and certain rates than under a system
which recoups for low rates at one time
by high rates at another, and leaves
shippers always in doubt as to which
will prevail when their goods go upon
the market. Labor suffers most ex
treme distress under a system which
obliges railroad companies to recover
losses of destructive competition by
economy in operating expenses. It is
notorious that every great railroad war
is followed by a cut in wages of em
ployes. It has been demonstrated by
experience that the best, if not the only,
preventive of railroad wars is properly
regulated pooling.
Manchester's great ship canal is a
financial failure. The London Statist
says the company is hopelessly bank
rupt, and $20,000,000 of its common stock
has been utterly wiped out. The canal
was cut from Liverpool to Manchester
to allow ocean ships to come direct to
the latter city and avoid the excessive
dock rates at Liverpool and heavy
freight charges by the railroads. The
canal, which was opened two years ago,
was built at enormous cost, nearly
$100,000,000, but for some reason the
Manchester merchants and manufac
turers do not patronize it, and it is not
earning enough to meet expenses. One
cause seems to be that as soon as the
canal was opened the Liverpool dock
men and the railroads reduced their
rates in order to meet the competition,
and so retained much of their old traf
fic. Another explanation is that the
English are slow in taking to new meth
ods, and hence are backward in avail
ing themselves of the canal advantages.
"When the appropriation bill came up
in the senate on Saturday, King of Ba
ker moved to strike out appropriations
for various private institutions amount
ing to $8000, on the ground that these
sums were for institutions under the
management of the Catholic church.
McGinn proposed an amendment strik
ing out the whole lot of appropriations
for private institutions, amounting to
$33,000. Woodard strongly supported
the amendment, but it failed, and all
the appropriations were voted. The
statement In The Oregonian's report
yesterday that Senator Woodard moved
tp strike out only the appropriation
for the Magdalen Home (one of the
Catholic institutions) was incorrect. He
believed that it was no part of the duty
of the state to support private benevo
lent or philanthropic institutions, and
Insisted therefore on striking them all
out. But the motion failed, and the
whole sum stands.
Now it is said that insurance compa
nies doing business in Oregon will raise
their rates because the valued-policy
law was not repealed. Probably they
will raise the rates still higher when
the law taxing insurance companies
shall go into effect. It may be set
down as an axiom that every attempt
to tax business will recoil upon the part
of the public by which that business is
sustained.
In a tirade against the purchase of
the Morrison-street bridge, a measure
essential to justice for the central and
largest taxpaying portion of the city,
one of the mendacious sheets printed at
Portland says: "The Oregonian is a
heavy debtor to the First National
bank." This pusillanimous and con
temptible way of discussing public
questions is quite the vogue with a
class of blatant and irresponsible per
sons in Portland. In fact. The Oregon
ian does not owe n. dollar to the First
National bank, nor does H. L. Pittock
or H. W. Scott. There are very great
numbers of people "who would much
rather hear that these brazen brayers
were doing something towards paying
their own debts than troubling them
selves about those of The Oregonian,
which never owes a dollar that is not
paid on demand.
If ever a paper made a complete fool
of itself, it was the Salem Statesman,
in its flop to Governor Lord. "Without
the populists and democrats, the Lord
Kincaid conspiracy never had the
slightest chance of success. The States
man showed its own weakness and vac
illation to no purpose. If Mr. Lord and
Mr. Kincald were not to be satisfied
with the offices that were given them
last year, they ought not to have asked
for them. It was their doings, in large
degree, that demoralized the legislature.
A pretty figure the republican party
will make before the people in 1896,
with a promise to reduce fees, salaries
and emoluments and to give the people
more economical government! The
pledges will be believed, of course.
No one has need to fear that Senator
McBride will not support all measures
necessary for maintenance of the par
ity of all forms of money and substi
tutes for money with gold.
Since our office-holders rule the law,
they ought to be able to take what sal
aries they want. Perhaps they will be
surprised at their own moderation.
If Oregon shall ever vote for free
coinage of silver and for base money,
she will do it through the populist, not
through the republican, party.
"Who is to apologize in the next can
vass for the delinquencies of this legis
lature? SOME PLAIX OPIXIOXS.
"What State Papers Have to Sny of
the Legislature.
Pendleton East Oregonian.
The republican party made many
pledges in the campaign, but the republi
can legislature has redeemed none of
them.
Pendleton Tribune.
The legislature will adjourn today. In
the hope of receiving the condonation of
their constituency the members decided
to give the people of Oregon the benefit
of their services for one day without pay.
Reckoned according to their actual serv
ice, the gift will be inconsiderable.
The Dalles Chronicle.
"While the bitter senatorial contest has
tended to interfere with the regular bus
iness of the legislature, yet considerable
work has been done. Just what bene
ficial legislation has been had. It is im
possible to say until the legislature ad
journs and the list can be examined.
Eugene Register.
It cost the state, about $120 for a clerk
to determine the per diem and mileage
of the members of the house. Any bus
iness man would have figured that up for
$3. and made big' wages at it. "What will
the legislative cferka do between now
and the session two' years hence? The
legislature has failed to provide a berth
for them whereby they can have a living
at the expense of the state in the Interim.
Dallas Itemizer.
That the present legislature will go
down to history as a comparative fail
ure is a certainty. The republicans be
ing In complete control will be blamed
for It, and stand before the eyes and
prejudices of the state in the same light
that the now expiring democratic congress
does. "We pronounce it nonsense in each
case so to conclude. Be the facts as they
may, the populists and democrats will
find many a textfrom it upon which to
harp during the next election canvass.
Independence Enterprise.
The present legislature has been dis
appointing in many particulars. Its mem
bers were elected' upon a platform that
sounded the slogan of reform and re
trenchment in state and municipal gov
ernment. If these men were sincere and
honest when appealing to the suffrage of
the people, and we do not question their
good intentions, the fierce senatorial
brawl into which they have been pre
cipitated has caused them to lose sight
of the real issues upon which they were
elected. Only a few useful laws have
been enacted, and hardly a single obnox
ious law repealed.
Lebanon Express.
The silver question is an important one,
but It does not justify the consuming of
the entire time of the legislature. There
are other interests to be looked after.
These interests have been shamefully
neglected in the one absorbing topic the
election of a senator. The party in
.power will have to answer to the people
at the next election. The blame can rest
only upon the republicans. They had and
still have the power, and it was their
duty to elect a senator. They have failed,
and the state hao'been loser. They will
be held to a strict account. This repub
lican dilemma is the populists' opportun
ity, and the populists will make the most
of it.
Jacksonville Times.
The republican party, notwithstanding
its large majority, has failed to redeem
one of the pledges made at the June
election. Instead, It has frittered the
time away in a factional fight on the
election of a senator, and its leaders have
allowed their "private ambitions to over
ride their patriotism in prolonging the
contest. One good result of this has been
the comparatively few vicious laws which
have been enacted, for which the people
may congratulate themselves. The usual
number of bills have been introduced and
died a natural death, but not one of the
burdens which the people are laboring
under and from which they were promised
relief during the campaign have been re
moved. The burdensome features of the
present assessment lav.- are still in force,
useless commissions have not been abol
ished, and not a single one of the recom
mendations made In the inaugural address
of the governor has been acted on.
Truly, the republicans have no reason to
be proud of the record of this legislature,
and they can blame no one but them
selves for the result. The record of the
assembly of 1893 will be a stumbling
block in the way of the party for years in
this state.
-V CHICAGO OPIXIOX.
Other Cities Also Believe Salaries
Should Be Lott.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Members of the city council should
think twice before voting upon the prop
osition to restore the rates of pay for
clerks, policemen and others in the civic
service to those which obtained prior to
the winter of 1S91. Except for service re
quiring special skill the rates of com
pensation have been reduced in all grades
of employment. The city is crowded with
capable clerks, bookkeepers and artisans
who have been tin-own out of work by the
long-continued stagnation of trade. The
rule in city affairs, should be to pay cur
rent wages; no irore. no less. A clerk in
the water department, in the special
assessment department, or in any other
branch of the civil service, should be paid
at exactly the same rate that is paid for
work of corresponding character in a
real estate office or a great dry goods
store. A bridgetender should be paid at
the rate of a skilled mechanic. A police
man, considering the certainty of a pen
sion for long service and good conduct, is
well paid at current rates.
There are times of enforced economy on
the part of employers and employed. It
neither is wise nor just to pay more for
work done for the city than is paid for
work done for private citizens. At the
same time, if there be any class of pub
lic servants that is paid at a lower rate
than rules In private offices for like work,
let the pay be raised to tne current level.
We do not, however, believe that there Is
any clerical or mechanical branch of the
city service that, even now, is not paid
far more liberally, hours of work and
number of holidays being taken into ac
count, than service rendered to trading
firms and corporations.
OREGON'S MIXER AL PRODUCTION.
Raker City the Greatest Mining: Center-
of tlie State.
The stream of visitors arriving in Baker
City to inspect our gold mines is steadily
increasing, and in order to give them
some Idea of the product of this region
we have had the following statistics com
piled from the reports of the United
States assay office at Washington, D. C,
says the Democrat.
In 1894 the total production of Oregon
wa3 $1,690,950 in gold and $13,557 in silver.
Of this amount there was produced by the
mines in Baker, Grant and Union coun
ties, within a radius of 50 miles around
Baker City, $1,347,833. In other words, the
mining camps tributary to this city pro
duced all but $343,114 of the gold, and all
but $57 of the silver; the production
around this one center being over four
times as much in gold as all of the rest of
the state put together, and all of the sil
ver except the paltry sum of $37.
The government report well says:
"Baker City is the central mining point
of the county and state."
The Oregon production during the last
fourteen years is as follows:
Gold Silver
$1,097,701 $ 27.793
1,100,000 50.000
830,000 35,000
660,000 20.000
660,000 20.000
800.000 10.000
990,000 5,000
000,000 10,000
825,000 35.000
1,200,000 38,787
1,100,000 96,969
1.040.000 297.374
1,400.000 54,200
1,645,300 15,257
1,690,950 13,557
1SS0
1SS1
1882
1SS3
1SSJ
18S3
18S6
1SS7
188S
18S9
1890
1891
1S92
1893
1894
$1,125,494
1,1)0,000
863,000
6SO.O0O
6S0.000
S10.000
995,000
910,000
810.000
1,238,787
1,196.969
1,937,374
1,470.077
1,659.537
1.704.507
Since 1SS6 Oregon has ranked from the
ninth to the sixth rank among the 16
gold-producing states and terrltorias. The
region within 50 miles around Baker City
produces as much annually as all of
Arizona, New Mexico and even great
Alaska, There is no doubt that the
production of 1895 will place the state in
the fifth place among the gold producers
of the Union. It is time that these facts
should be widely advertised so that East
ern Oregon may be recognized as a great
mining country as well as a great cattle,
lumber and agricultural country.
THE CORX CROP.
The Lovr Price Brought in Free
Trade Times.
American Economist.
Having already shown the American
farmers that they received only 51 cents
on the dollar for their dollar wheat dur
ing the two years that the free-traders
have allowed them to sell their crops in
"the countries of the world that stand
readv to take jour entire surplus of prod
ucts," as the democratic platform of 1S92
told them, let us now see what they got
for their corn crops during the three years
of McKlnley protection, and also during
the two subsequent years under the free
traders. Here are the figures:
Average Average Value
Period. Crop Value Bushel. Per Acre
1890-92 $744,339,770 $0,433 $10.18
1893-94 573,172,415 .411 8.84
We find that the average value of the
corn crop was $171,167,335 more during
each of the three years of McICinley pro
tection than under the present adminis
tration of the free-traders. The average
price was over two cents a bushel more
on the farm and the harvest from each
acre was worth $1 34 more to the farmer
under protection.
The farmers, no doubt, would be glad
to have that extra $171,000,000 a year, or
$342,000,000 that they have lost during the
two years that the free-traders enabled
them to sell their corn In "the countries
of the world that stand ready to take our
entire surplus of .products." Let us see
if we can ascertain why they lost It.
During the three years of protection the
corn crop averaged 1,726,196,000 bushels a
year. This was 310,000,000 bushels more
each year than the average crop in our
free-trade times. The average yield per
acre was more, being 23.6 bushels under
protection and only 20.9 bushels to the
acre when "the countries of the world"
stood "ready to take our entire surplus
of products."
Evidently the price should have been
higher these two latest years, our crops
being short and "the countries of the
world" waiting for it. We are very much
afraid that when the free-trade platform
of 1S92 told our farmers that they would
be able to sell their corn in "the countries
of the world that stand ready to take
our entire surplus of products," the free
traders forgot to add that "the countries
of the world" would take it at their
price, not at our price.
PERSONS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT.
Cardinal Vaughan is making arrange
ments for an exhibition of Christian art
in London this season.
An excellent bust of the late Henry W.
Grady, of Georgia, has just been cast in
bronze by the Mullers, of New York. It
is the work of Orion Frazie, one of
Mr. Grady's warmest personal friends.
When Casimir-Perier resigned France
might have had the novelty of a revolu
tion by telephone. The Duke of Orleans,
who was in readiness at Dover, hired the
exclusive use of the telephone between
England and Paris for 24 hours.
The Rev. John Hazen White, of Fari
bault, Minn., who has Just been elected
bishop of the Episcopal diocese of In
diana, has had a varied experience, having
been for 16 years a rector, and for many
years connected with the Seabury Dlvlnlty
school, in the diocese of Minnesota. He is
about 50 years of age, a man of strong
physique, and distinguished for his energy
and capacity for affairs.
Herbert Putnam's election as librarian
of the Boston public library is regarded
as an ideal appointment by the press of
Boston. It is said that his name was first
suggested last month by Mr. Tillinghast,
the stat librarian. He has been declared
by President Eliot, of Harvard, to be one
of the three best librarians in the United
States. Mr. Putnam is a son of the late
G. P. Putnam, the publisher.
Dr. Goodwin, the eminent antiquary and
expert in heraldy and genealogy, who
died recently in Edinburgh, passed a life
of extraordinary adventure. He had ac
companied exploring expeditions into tne
Arctic regions, the Australian wilds, the
South Pacific islands and Siberia. He re
turned to Edinburgh 10 years ago, and
has since lived a. very quiet life among
a small circle of friends.
Canrobert's first meeting with his wife
was interesting It was at a ball in the
Tulleries, where the lady, seeing the
marshal enter,, went up to him and play
fully asked him to consider her a Russian
and take her out for the first dance.
Though fond of ladies, Canrobert did not
dance, and he answered: "Impossible,
mademoiselle! I do not dance, and we
are at peace with the Russians now."
Then, turning to a lieutenant of the
guards, he said: "Here, young man, take
mademoiselle for your partner, and re
member that a marshal of France has
this night envied the good fortune of a
sublieutenant." A few months later the
marshal and the lady. Flora de McDon
ald, were married.
There is much comment in England over
the fact that Lord Rosebery complains
that he Is overworked as prime minister.
It Is recalled that William E. Gladstone,
a man many years older than Lord Rose
bery, never grumbled about his burden
during the many years of his premiership.
In fact, Gladstone works about as hard
now as he ever did, and chops down a few
trees now and then to work off his sur
plus vitality.
There Is a curious dining club in the sen
ate. It consists of Sherman. Chandler
and Peffer. The three senators generally
try to get together in Page's restaurant
at about the same time every neon, and
they discuss all sorts of bizarre questions
over their lunch. The Ohio millionaire
is as economical at the table as the Kan
sas populist, and Chandler's mind is so
constantly active that he gives scarcely a
thojght to his palate. It is a strange
group, composed of as widely different
members as could be picked up at the
capltol.
'INTENSIVE" FARMING.
A. Now System, of Agriculture in. the
South.
Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.
It Is reported from the South that farm
ers In that section are adopting what is
termed the "Intensive" system of agri
culture. They arc devoting themselves to
the principle of getting all that Is possible
to make the land produce, and at the
same time keeping the land up to a high
standard of productiveness by returning
to the soil the elements which are drawn
from it by successive crops. This method
of farming is the method of the future.
As the population increases the farms
will decnease In size and "intensive"
farming will be the rule ii stead of ex
tensive farming.
Thousands of farmers even in sections
not far remote from great centers of
population are mistaklngly dividing their
energy In the management of extensive
farms, who if they would intensify their
interest in the care of a smaller number
of acres would achieve far better financial
results. There has been a craze for ex
tensive farming that has involved and
ruined many men who would have
achieved success had they devoted their
attention to the thorough cultivation of
small farms.
"Intensive farming," so-called, should
supplement diversification of crops. The
crop produced should have a closer re
lation to the demands of consumers, and
the care that is devoted to cultivated land
should have a closer relation to the max
imum possibility with the climate and
with the soil. In other words, farming
must be more thoroughly practical. The
stress of the times is compelling farmers
to be more practical and the new method
of farming reported from the South is
simply an illustration of what -is to be
the farming of the future.
The Hnnic of England.
Boston Transcript.
It Is not a government, but a private,
bank, all Its directors being elected by
the stockholders.
The gold in the bank is not a war chest;
it belongs to the noteholders, for whom
the bank keeps it in trust, but payable
on demand.
The "reserve" of the bank is not a re
serve against its notes, but against its de
posits. In fact, the "reserve" consists
almost entirely of bank notes.
Not one of its notes is uncovered; each
is fully covered by gold or by securities
in its own possession, but specially held
for the protection of the noteholder; so
that the payment of the notes Involves
no possible increase of the public debt cr
of taxation.
Its bank notes are invariably canceled
when redeemed: not one is reissued after
being paid in gold.
Its notes are legal tender for any sum
above 3 except by the bank Itself. (3 and
4. William IV, chapter 98, section 6.) That
Is, they are legal tender for payments to
the bank, but not for payments by the
bank.
The undoubted goodness of the Bank of
England note is entirely independent of
fluctuations in the revenue of the govern
ment. Farmers Should Snpport Creameries.
Dallas Itemizer.
Yesterday a Dallas merchant remarked
to us that every day country people
brought In butter which the stores had
to refuse because it was not marketable.
If the article is fresh, sweet, firm, of good
color, and evidently clean and full weight,
there is always a market for it and gen
erally at a fair price, but such stuff as
some people bring in and call butter is
unfit for any table or any stomach. The
merchant is blameless In refusing to buy
what he cannot sell, but that does not pre
vent the makers of the vile and worthless
stuff from complaining to their neigh
bors about the stores rejecting produce.
Most people want good butter or none;
and how often have you heard merchants
say they had some butter, but could not
recommend it. Again we say that all the
butter properly made and put up in an at
tractive shape can be sold to the home
merchants for shipment, but they can find
no profitable market for the whitish,
sloppy, rancid kind that some people offer
in exchange for goods. If you cannot
make a good article, you had better feed
your surplus milk to the pigs, instead of
trying to force an inferior article on the
butter-buying public.
The Country Is Solvent.
Minneapolis Journal.
This country does not propose to be
brought anywhere nearer the danger of
bankruptcy by the activity of financial
faddists. The country is in good shape.
The national debt is only about $15 a
head, as compared with the enormous
burden of the other nations of from $60 to
$100 a head. There is abundance of money
for business. The money is as good as
gold, and the business of the country de
mands that it shall be kept so, and the
business element is bound to triumph
over all financial tinkers. The assets of
this country are vast. They have in
creased 400 per cent in the last three de
cades, and the debts have decreased 96
per cent. There would be no halting ot
business today if this tinkering and pro
crastinating and trifling congress was out
of the way.
Oregon's First Governors.
MYRTLE POINT, Or.. Feb. 23. (To the
Editor.) I am informed that it was de
cided at the examination of teachers at
Coquille City recently that George L.
Curry was the first governor of Oregon.
Will the Morning Oregonian give the
teachers of Coos county the facts as to
who was the flr3t governor of Oregon
and who were the first territorial and
state governors? INQUIRER.
The first governor and only governor of
the provisional government was George
Abernethy, 1S43 to 1849. The first terri
torial governor was General Joseph Lane,
appointed by President Polk, and assumed
office March 3, 1S49. The first state gov
ernor was John Whiteaker, 1839. George
L. Curry was appointed governor in 1833.
Good Advice.
Dallas Itemizer.
Idleness is proving the ruin of some
young men among us. They seem to have
no ambition for either an education or
for financial prosperity. Their habits and
their associations are daily sinking them
lower in the scale of humanity. Such be
ginnings have led multiplied thousands
to become tramps and outcasts. Parents,
if there is nothing for your boys to do in
town, send them to the country to work at
even half wages.
NEWS OF THE NORTHWEST..
OrctconJ ?
The Halsey News suspended jublication
last week.
Charles Smith, aged 33, died near Hal
sey Wednesday last.
County Commissioner FitzMgh, of
Curry county, has resigned.
Mrs. Reuben Hastings died Tuesday
last at her home near Pee Dee.
A movement is on foot at Dayton to
have a flouring mill built at that place.
The Newberg Milling Company wUl re
build its saw mill, with a capacity of
13.000 feet.
Mrs. Job Connor, ot Ballston. was se
verely injured about the head by the
overturning of a hack last week.
John Shepherd, at Fossil, was kicked
by a horse last Tuesday, and had his
thigh opened to the bone by the sharp
shoe.
The last issue of the Tillamook Head
light was the "firemen's edition." It
does not appear to bo more incendiary;
than usual.
A hunter accidentally shot a steer near
Union last week. It is not known
whether he mistook it for a deer or a
prairie chicken.
Six weeks ago Joe Ramsey, of Fossil,
fell from a wason and broke his leg.
While confined to the house he caught
cold, and Monday last died of pneumonia.
A man at The Dalles has imported two
Irish singing thrushes, but, instead ot
liberating them to help stock the state
with sOng birds, he keeps them in a cage
in a saloon.
The bonus for a beet-sugar factory In
Grand Ronde valley has not been com
pleted, and notice has been served that
the factory will not come unless the full
amount is raised.
The ladies of the M. E. church at La
Grande fed the members on chicken last
week to induce them to pay a portion of
the pastor's salary. If the chickens hold
out he may get his money.
Joseph Sawyer, better known at
Brownsville as "Red-headed Joe," has de
parted from that place suddenly, and his
creditors mourn. His hop crop did not
sell for enough to pay his debts, and so
he cashed his hop check at Albany and
departed.
The promoter of a telephone line
through Grant county is anxiously In
quired for by a number of residents of
that section. They will let him oft on
building the line if he will return sundry
sums of borrowed money, and pay divers
bills contracted.
Friday night the Moore residence at
Baker City, occupied by William Riley,
was destroyed by fire. Negligence In re
placing a rotten rope attached to the
alarm bell delayed the getting out of the
fire department, and again illustrated
that delays are dangerous and costly.
Boys in Pendleton are playing poker for
money in a room in the rear of a justice's
office. This makes it convenient in case
the justice should conclude to enforce the
law against gambling. A short time ago
a number of men were fined there for
gambling, but the boys probably have not
yet learned the game well enough to bo
Interfered with; After they have becomo
confirmed gamblers they should be ar
rested and fined a few dollars.
R. L. Maloney's little 4-year-old boy at
Athena was severely bitten by a large
dog Tuesday afternoon, which set its
teeth in the right cheek, penetrating the
flesh and making a frightful wound.
While the doctor was dressing the wound,
some one remarked that the dog was
about to be killed, when the boy said he
wanted "to see 'em kill dat dog." He
went to the window, witnessed the dog's
demise, and returned and the doctor pro
ceeded with his work.
Washington.
Lambert Brothers, from Illinois, are
putting In a brick plant at Cosmopolis.
The sheriffOf Uncon-'countj'-has --ordered
all Saloons in Sprague.to close on
Sunday.
A committee has been appointed at El
ma to solicit stock subscriptions for a
creamery.
The Bumplepuffy Whist Club of Monte
sano will play a series of matches with
clubs at Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
St. John's chuich, at Snohomish, just
completed at a cost of $2300, has paid the
balance due on its construction by bor
rowing $600 from a church loan society.
A cheese factory has been added to the
other Industries at the thriving town of
Frances. It is operated by the Behleman
Bros., who are experts in the business,
and will undoubtedly make it a success.
Mrs. W. A. Cannon, at Spokane, has
been appointed by the national board ot
management of the Daughters of the
American Revolution as chapter regent,
for the purpose of organizing a chapter
of that society at Spokane.
For some years the Port Discovery mill
has stood idle, the mill and machinery de
caying. It is now reported that the own
ers will expend about $100,000 In repairs
and will put the mill in operation at its
full capacity, 300,000 feet per day.
An exchange says that at Kelso Charles
England has a log chute on a mountain
side just one mile long, and that a log
slides from top to bottom into deep water
in Olequa creek, in just 14 seconds. As
a falling body consumes 18 seconds in
falling one mile perpendicularly, this log
chute must possess peculiar and marvel-
ous properties.
FAHAGRAFHER&' PLEASANTRIES.
The literary chump You never read my
volume of poems, did you? His victim
No; but once I was sick in bed for eight
days. Chicago Record.
"I saw De Castro, the magician, make a
$20 gold piece disappear in three minutes.
"That's nothing. You ought to see my
wife with a $20 bill at a church bazar."
Atlanta Journal.
"I can't help my dislike for it." said Me
andering Mike. "I onct seen a sign in the"
suburbs that said: 'Water works," an I
never could have no respect for it bence."1
Washington Star.
Christmas is only a little more than
10 months away. It is time now for the
little girl who is going to hem a hand
kerchief for her grandmother to begin.
Somerville Journal.
George Inness, the painter, sometimes
put in 15 hours a day with his brush.
You couldn't get a colored Florida white
washer to work that long at one time.
Florida Times-Union.
Mrs. Ashpen I found it almost impos
sible this morning to get a man to shovel
snow. Mrs. Dustbin Poor fellows. I sup
pose they're all too busy looking for
work. Roxbury Gazette.
"Has Bilkcn's sight been completely re
stored?" "The doctor thought so until
he presented his bill, when he couldn't
make Bilkens see that it was worth
$200." Chicago Inter Ocean.
"Are you doing anything for that cold?"
asked Raynor. And Shyne handed him a
card inscribed as follows: "I'm taking the
advice ot every blamed fool that comes
along with a remedy. What's yours?"
Young Lady If you will let me have
those roses I will give you a kiss for
each ot them but why do you run away,
cousin? How rude of you. Cousin One
moment; I am going for some more roses.
Dorfbarbler.
Servant (delivering message) Mr. Trir
lett, next door, sends his compliments to
Mr. Gazzam, with the request that he
will shoot his dog, which is a nuisance
in the neighborhood. Gazzam Give Mr.
Gazzam's compliments to Mr. Triplett,
and ask him kindly to poison his daughter
or burn up her piano. Comic Cuts.
When yon write a merry jest,
Cut It short;
It will be too long at best
Cut It short.
Life is brief and full of care;
Editors don't like to swear;
Treat j-our poem like your hair
Cut it short-
Truth.