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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1900)
s THE MOBOTtfe . OKEGOKIAN, JFRITJAY, MARCH 301900. TO ABOLISH DUTIES Manila Chamber of Commerce Appeals to Congress. TARIFFS HARSH AND OPPRESSIVE American Merchants Can Do "So Busi ness Until the Old Spanish Customs Arc Repealed. The American Chamber of Commerce of Manila has added Its weight to the fight which Pacific Coast commercial bodies arc making for the abolition of the duties which are collected on American goods chipped to the Philippine Islands. One of the objects of the return of H. R. Lew is to Portland is to lay the matter before Congress, and Interest commercial organi sations throughout the country In the hope of securing relief. Mr. Lewis was former ly secretary of the Portland Chamber of Commerce. "Until January 1 he was pres ident of the Manila Chamber, and has the honor of being the first president of the first American commercial body to bo or ganized in the Orient. The American Chamber of Commerce of Manila counts among its members all the American merchants of the Philippine me tropolis, and the foreign merchants who handle American goods. At a meeting several weeks ago, a. memorial to Con gress was adopted. One copy was sent to the President of the Senate, and an other to the Speaker of the House." It Is probable that these copies have not yet reached Washington. Mr. Lewis, who will manage the fight In this" country, will send copies to President McKlnley, to Congress and to the leading Chambers of Commerce of the United States. The memorial, which has not heretofore been published in the Philippines or on this side of the Pacific, follows: Harsh and Oppressive Taxes. "To the Congress of the United States of America: The American Chamber of Commerce of Manila, P. L, respectfully represents to your honorable body: "That, although the United States Gov ernment has acquired sovereignty over the Philippine Islands, the duties now lev ied upon all goods Imported from the United States, by virtue of the laws now in force in these islands, are harsh and oppressive, and taxation upon commercial Interests and licenses for the privilege of doing business are excessive and unjust. "We therefore respectfully beg to repre sent: "That the laws governing the people re siding in these islands, are, with a few exceptions, an adoption of 'certain royal decrees' 'upon motion of the Minister of the Colonies, In a'ceord with the Ministe rial Council, In the name of My August Son, the King, Don Alfonso XIII, and as Queen Regent of the Kingdom," etc., and 'His Majesty, the King (whom God pro serve), and in the name of the Queen Re gent of the Kingdom, has been pleased to order, and thus has been established as the law of the land the most exact ing decrees of a most despotic monarchy. "Under these decrees most of the import duties on product and manufactures from Spain were originally subject only to a tax of 8 per cent ad valorem, and 10 per cent of the specific duty applying to for eign goods for harbor Improvements, while those from foreign ports were and are now subjected to a tax of from 90 per cent to 250 per cent. Meat, flour, butter, fruits and most of the necessities of life sustain an enormous tax, while items of luxury sustain little. "Formerly goods were admitted to the Philippines from Spain practically free, bearing .only a small harbor tax. This was gradually raised to provide funds fof the construction of a new harbor until there was exacted from articles of Span ish origin an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of the specific duties applying to the productions of other countries. At the same period, enormous Increases were made In specific duties with the result that Imports from Spain Increased very largely. To provide revenue for the sup pression of the insurrection, which had In consequence of the diversion of trade to Spain fallen off to a very heavy extent, an 8 per cent ad valorem tax was applied to all Spanish and foreign goods, and an ar bitrary table of valuations was prepared upon which this latter tax might be im posed. America Worse Than Spain. ""We regret that our Government has eeen fit to retain not only the excessive specific duties, but also the 10 per cent upon those duties for harbor construction, which, by the way, is not being construct ed; the 8 per cent on an arbitrary and ex cessive valuation, a corsumptlon tax on flour and many other articles, and sur taxes of varying degree, until the cost of Imported goods Is In many Instances en tirely beyond the means of any but the most prosperous people. "We unhesitatingly declare that Ameri can trade in the Philippines is almost im possible under the present regime, and that it will be utterly destroyed unless immediate relief ' is had. Many of the laws found too harsh for practical appli cation and winked at by the Spanish au thorities, are being enforced under Ameri can rule, with all the rigor of military exaction, thus- stifling the incentive to business by consuming the results of In dustry and economy. Spain ruled the Col onies of the Philippines for the evident advantage of the mother country, and with little seeming regard for the Inhabit ants here. We earnestly request that your honorable body enact such latvs as shall cause the burden of taxation to fall equal, ly upon all within the sovereign power of the United States. "The Internal Revenue Department Is but a pawnshop, where men put up their salaries and business- profi.s for the privi lege of laboring and using their capital, an importing house of the first class pay ing upwards of $100 per month license, and we trust your honorable body will cause the enactment of such laws as will relieve the people of the Philippine Islands from a. condition of taxation and oppression which stripped these islands of prosper ity, goaded the natives to Insurrection, and would p'ut to shame the gentleman that took an obligation from the Mer chant of Venice, and which dignifies the Stamp Act of 1765, rendering it a compli ment to the taxpajer and just and right eous in principle. Arbitrary Valuations. "We desire to call the particular atten tion of your honorable body to the Book of Arbitrary Valuations, copies of which have been filed with the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. Irr scarcely any particular does it corre spond to the true or approximate valua tion of the article In question, but It arbi trarily decides, for Instance, that a kilo (2 1-5 pounds) of alimentary conserves ia worth $1. and under this classification an 8 per cent ad valorem tax Is collected, as well as upon a kilo of canned tomatoes, worth about 12 cents as upon a kilo of mushrooms or pate de fole gras, worth $2. "It seems unnecessary td go Into great detail, but the entire Book of Valuations presents the same conditions upon all classes of articles, bearing most heavily uppn the necessities of life. The evident ,aim of the Span'sh legislator was to ex empt from taxation the luxuries and to make the most difficult the purchase of the cheap commodities of the world. "While the cost of living has trebled within the jurisdiction of the United States, when rice, the staple food prod uct of the Islands, is almost unobtainable by the people, wc are sustaining a tax upon flouf" of CO per cent, so that a bar rel of flour purchasable in the United States at less than $3 gold must be sold at 512 Mexican in Manila. "We most earnestly beg relief at your hands, an nothing but disaster can result to the mercantile interests of the Islands until these burdens are lifted. "H. R. LEWIS, President "E. E. WHEELOCK, Secretary." A Restraint of Trade. The letter of the Manila Chamber of Commerce, which will be sent with the memorial to the Chambers of Commerce of the United States, follows: "To the Chamber of Commerce We hand you herewith an appeal to the Con gress of the Untied States for the amelior ation of the exactions practised upon the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands by the government of the United States, since there is no reason whateverfor the perpetuation of the barbarous practices of the Spanish Government, after which wo are seemingly patterning our methods. "Under the present system, thousands of dollars' worth of American products have been abandoned in the Custom-house, ow ing to the excessive charges upon the same, and hundreds who have visited the lBlands with the intention of engaging In business .have left dismayed as- .soon as prevailing conditions were understood. "The Chamber of Commerce of Manila was formed for the purpose of protecting American commercial Interests In the isl ands, and we ask your co-operation and support in bringing this matter to the at tention of your special representatives' in Congress. "We shall be pleased to have a copy of any recommendations which you may mako on this subject, and we are at your service always for Information of this country, which presents the most inviting field for American enterprise when normal conditions shall prevail. "We-say without reservation that no richer spot naturally in eoll, climate and natural products exists upon the globe, and that It will not only not be a burden upon the -United States, but that under wise laws it will be more productive in agricultural wealth than any similar area in our own country." Last Fall the Portland Chamber of Commerce made a determined effort to have the Philippine duties abolished, but the best it -could do was to get a promise from the War Department that the mat. ter would be investigated. HONOLULU'S PUBLIC SPIRIT. i Colonel TV. A. Thompson Tells of Hi's Experience at Hawaiian Capital. "The people of Honolulu are the most open-hearted, the most kind, hospitable and generous of any I have ever met. and I have traveled a great deal," said Colo nel William A, Thompson, yesterday. Col onel Thompson spent eight weeks with his opera company in the Islands, and had abundant opportunity to know the people. "Not only are they kind to the strangers," he continued, "but they are warm-hearted and self-sacrificing, as was shown during the days of the plague, when Cabinet Min isters and men high In public life went right-down Into the Infected districts, helped to establish a guard, and during the fires that frequently raged In that part of town actually carried victims of the plague out on their backs. I saw Minister Young, of the Interior, do that very thing, and I have heard of others who did It. There was not a moment's hesitation In raising money when the plague broke out, to suppress It. When a case was reported In a building, that building was appraised, condemned and burned down. Ten thousand dollars was appropriated at first, and this not being sufficient, it was raised to 150,000 by a mere cabinet meeting. Every one has got money down there, and Is willing to spend it when the need arises. " "The Hawallans as a rule are looking forward eagerly to the time when they will uass under the regular form of gov ernment to be nrescribed by the United States. Even the extreme royalists were glad when the islands were taken under the flag, only the rather peremptory man ner of declaring the change being objected to. The citizens say the islands will en joy a prosperity never before known, that the danger of uprising or oppression will be done away with and that the march of progress will move as it has never moved before. There has been of late some dissatisfaction with President Dole, who. by the way, Is an able man, and his appointment as Governor will not be nerhars so well received as that of Minister Young, who is without doubt the most popular man on the Islands. The old radical royalists are not nearly so much In evidence as formerly, but there are enough of them left to make it worth while for this Government to appoint a man who will be satisfactory to them. They all feel that something ought to ba done for the Queen, and hope that Con gress will vote her an annuity. "They have harvested the biggest sugar crop this year they have ever known, and had It not been for the plague, they would: have had a year of unparalleled prosper ity. As It was, everybody made money, and when the plague is stamped out, as It will be very soon, I think, the Islands will begin an era of prosperity never be fore known In their history. When we left but one white person had died of the plague, that a woman, Mrs. Boardman, and the cases among the natives were on the decrease. White people are not likely to get the disease, as it is caught chiefly, It Is said, in the feet, the natives, who go unshod, being always exposed to It. Mrs. Boardman caught It from a rat which died in her house, and which she handled. "The Hawallans are a very musical peo ple, delighting to sing and play at all hours of the day ana night. They have a peculiar music of their own, which is in describably sweet. They have a pretty custom, when they receive visitors, of throwing wreaths of flowers, which they call Has, over the necks of their guests when the latter take their departure. The wreaths are thrown back as the guests go down the steps. ' "It Is a "wonderful sight in the auditori um of a theater to see the different races represented. A big flne-looklng Hawaiian with a brown bust, and a native costume will sit next to a white woman, elegantly dressed, and next to her will sit a Chinese or Japanese. All of them put on their best 'togs,' and they make a queerly cos mopolitan mixture In a theater. The na tives would not stand for the dialogue in an opera, but as long as music was on tapj they were perfectly happy." 4 0 NEWSBOYS AT METROPOLITAN They Will See "My PrecloHs Baby Free Tonight. This evening is gala night for the news boys at the Metropolitan Theater. All carriers and boys who sell The Oregonlan or Telegram on the streets have been is sued free tickets for "My Precious Baby." Kruger's military band of 14 men will serenade The Oregonlan building at 7:15 this evening, and after playing several concert numbers, will head the line of boys to the theater. The boys will be seated in the gallery, and while given the free use of their lungs, are expected to act as gentlemen. Several specialties have been added for the occasion. Miss Georgie Cooper, In ad dition to singing "I've Waited, Honey, Long for You," with which she has won tho plaudits of the audience this "week, will give "I'd Leave My Happy Home for You." Miss Abbott will respond to the chorus from the gallery. Eddie Holland, who portrays the part of tho hairdresser, will Introduce a clever Irish turn, which promises to win the greatest applauBe from the newsboys, a compliment which Mr. Holland says he will be gratified with. e- ' "The best pill I ever used." is the fre quent remark of purchasers of Carter's Little Liver Pills. When you try them you will say the same. b "Good luck grows not on bushes." but good health Is assured if you take Hood's Sarsaparllla. IN THE SEVERAL COURTS' ARE STORE FUTURES CONSIDERED PART OP A BUHiDESCJT Xerr Point iBrroWlxg the Mechanic's Iiles Law TJp for Adjadica- Hb Ceart Ifotes. "Do store fixtures constitute part of a building within the meaning: of the me chanics' lien statute?" was the question raised at the trial yesterday before Judgo Cleland. of the suit of C. C. Cllno & Co. against Herbert L. Phillips and George L. Vanderhoof. doing business as the Phillips ConstructlonCompany, and Meier & Frank Company. The Phillips Construction Company made the fixtures for the new store of the Meier & Frank Company, and some timo subsequently failed, owing Cllne & Co. a bill of ab out" $200 for paints, hardware, etc., used on the work. Cllne & Co. filed a Hen on the fixtures for the amount due, and the question now is whether the Meier & Frank Company can be held liable for the debt. Judge Stott apd E. E. Merges, attorneys for the plaintiff, argued that as a matter of law the fixtures were a part of the building, and as a question of fact, called witnesses to prove that the fixtures were constructed especially for the new store and were fitted to its various walls, col umns and so on, securely fastened, and were certainly a part of the building. On the other hand, R. G. Morrow, for the de fendants, elicited from witnesses on direct and cross-examination, that the fixtures could readily be removed, and could also be used in any other store or stores in this line, with slight alterations, in some instances. Ion Lewis, the architect, who prepared tho plans, testified that tho fix tures could be readily taken out and used elsewhere, and he did not consider fixtures a part of a building. Judge Stott broke in with the remark that that was a question of law. It was for the court to say. Mr. Morrow said It was both a question of law and of fact? Judge Stott seemed to think It made a difference where tho storekeeper owned the building, and also occupies it, or where tho tenant was a renter. The witness stated, however, that he considered It immaterial to the issue whether a renter or the owner of a build ing was the tenant. Willlanv M. Whldden, an architect, was also called as a witness, and Mr. A. S. Frank. The latter testified that the fix tures were carried as an asset separate from, the building, and fixtures were gen erally so considered by storekeepers. Mr. Stott next made a point that the bond given by the Phillips Construction Company tor the faithful performance of the work, also insures MeIor""& Frank Company against Hens, and asked why that provision was put in, if the company was not responslble-iinder the law. The architect explained that this was the usual form of bond used by him, and he did not bother about changing It. The court look the case under advisement. SUIT OVER A LOG RAFT. Contention That It Interfered With the Workinc: of a Dredge. A Jury of six citizens, has been empan eled to deliberate on a $250 damage case in Justice J&raemer's court, and a por tion of the evidence and arguments were heard yesterday afternoon. The plaintiff is the Northwestern Wrecking & Dredging Company, and the defendant the Albina Lumber Company. Plaintiffs allege that they were hindered in the work of dredg ing the river alongside Montgomery dock No. 2 last fall by the presence of a raft of logs moored on the spot by the de fendants. This raft was 400 feet long, and the dredging was suspended for a period of five days. Defendant's attor ney argues that the Albina Lumber Com pany was not at fault, but that the dam age was the result of an act of God, as the river rose suddenly, causing the raft to sag and Its timbers to get In the way of the dredge. Able attorneys are cross ing legal swords at every step, and the jury Is assisted In their Investigations by a water-color painting of Montgomery dock No. 2 hanging on the walls of the courtroom. This picture shows a big raft of logs, containing probably several mill ion feet of lumber, right square In tho way of the people who Intended to dredge the river at that point. There are many legal points Involved In the case, and the jury men are likely to know a good deal' more about marine law by the time they get through. alary Ahern's Will. The will of Mary Ahem, deceased, was admitted to probate by Judge Cake yes terday. Thomas B. McDevitt and James Muldoon were appointed executors, as provided In the instrument, without bonds. Tho estate comprises real property val ued at $17,500. and personal property con sisting of money and household goods ap praised at $3500. The beneficiary Is Cath erine Theresa Clarke, a niece of the deceased. The will provides that she Is to receive all of the real property which has not been previously deeded to her, and all moneys and notes, and the household goods In the residence at 695 Davis street To Thomas Clarke, a nephew. Is devised $5; to Edward Farley, a nephew residing at San Francisco, Cal., $5; to Margaret Farley, a niece residing in Nebraska, and Margaret Spain, a niece at Trenton, N. J., $5 each. Other relatives were not men tioned. All relatives of Michael Ahem, de ceased, who was the husband of the tes tator, are to be given $5 each. The will was executed April 22, 1S37, and was witnessed by T. B. McDevitt. Jr., and Margaret Muldoon. Dominick Cavanauch. M. Dougherty and T. B. McDevitt. Jr., were appointed appraisers. Mrs. Ahem, about the time she signed the will, deed ed a large amount of property to Cath erine T. Clarke. She was Ions: a resident of Portland, and accumulated a fortune by thrift and judicious Investments. Filed Amended Complaint. In the suit of Henry Gallet vs. Alns worth National Bank, to recover $2500, Henry E. McGinn, plaintiffs attorney, yesterday filed an amended complaint, which differs somewhat from the original complaint In that It specifically charged tho defendant with negligence. It seta forth that Gallet had eight rolls of $30J each In his safety deposit box on October 1, 1S99, and that it was the duty of the defendant securely to keep in the box all goods deposited therein, and that in allow ing the substitution of silver dollars to bo made for $20 sold pieces, the bank did not exercise the care and attention It contract ed to give plaintiff, and was guilty of carelessness and negligence. At the trial recently had negligence was eventually ruled by the court to be the point in the case, and the original complaint was-not explicit on that Issue. Probate Matters. f The final report of Wm. M. Gregory, administrator of the estate of John Mc Cleary, deceased, was filed. The, estate comprises real property, and there were no claims. D. J. Moore, administrator of the estae of H. B. Borthwick, deceased, was author ized to pay the claim of Aiken Copeland for $372 on a Government wood contract TJ. S. G. Marquam. for Katten Bros., was authorized to draw $23 deposited with" tho County Treasurer by the administrator of the estate of R. Gerdes, deceased. Petition for Habeas Corpus. A petition for a writ of habeas corpus jvas filed In the State Circuit Court yester day afternoon by Maggie -Riley, by her attorney, John Fs Logan. Mrs. Riley was adjudged guilty by Judge Hennessy of lar ceny by bailee of $5, and sentenced to one year in the County Jail. She was given 45 by a "man to purchase some drugs for him, and failed to do so. or to return the money. The petition recites that lar ceny by bailee is a felony over which the Municipal Court has no jurisdiction, save to hold a preliminary examination, and to hold tho defendant to "answer, or to discharge the defendant, and that the Circuit Court only has- authority to pro nounce sentence. Larceny Dy-oouee is a Penitentiary offense. The petition will be called up for hearing this mornlnff. TMrd Day of Muse Trial. It developed at the trial of James F. Muse, yesterday, that Muse used the $620 which he took from the Title Guarantee & Trust Company, March 1, 1S93, to em bark in a theatrical enterprise. The com pany traveled through Colorado and else where, but the public was not responsive nor appreciative of the abilities of Muse as a comedian or in "heavies," and the venture was a financial failure, so he had to send his note to the Title Guarantee & Trust Company In payment of what he chooses-to call a loan of the money. From tho evidence It was not shown that Muse's wife had a longing to shine behind the footlights, but it is otherwise stated that she was so Imbued, and made up one of the company. The case will bo sub mitted to the jury this morning. The trial has already been on threo days. Muse took the witness-stand and told his story of the taking of the money, which he considered an overdraft, and said other employes did the same thing, putting their tags In the drawer. The de fendant denied that any employe was al lowed to draw more than to the extent of his accrued wages. Muse said he ob tained 300 at one time, and owed the company 5130 of it still, besides the 5620. This wa3 loaned to him. Mr. Ross said, in a special emergency. Mr. Muse repre senting that his wife was 111 and in need of medical attendance. Mr. Ross testi fied that advances were occasionally made to employes, but neither Mr. Muse nor any one else had authority to mako over drafts. McDanlel Appeals. Henry St. Rayner, attorney for Frank E McDanlel, yesterday filed notice of ap peal to the Supreme Court. Briefly stated, McDanlel appeals to the Supreme Court from the order whereby the motion for a new trial was overruled, and from the order whereby tho supplemental motion for a new trial and affidavits in support of the motion were stricken from the files; also from the Judgment whereby Mc Danlel was sentenced to 15 years In the penitentiary, and that ho pay a fine of ?500. Conrt Notes. The final report of the referee In the case of Charles O. Jones et al. was con firmed by Judge Cleland yesterday. Judge Cleland yesterday rendered a de cree In favor of P. A. Lindstrom In his Buit against his former wife, Minnie Cas slday, and H. E. Cross, to recover 25 acres of land, and the defendants gave notice of an appeal to the Supreme Court Josephine Bousquet has sued Emlle BousquetIn the state circuit court for a divorce, and asks to be restored to her maiden name. De Mol. She avers that they were married In Portland; November, 1S94, and that he abandoned her In Jan uary, 1S97. He la now in the Hawaiian Islands. In the suit of the Esberg-Gunst Com pany vs. the City of Portland, the de fendant was allowed by Judge Sears yes terday until April 20 to prepare and serve a bill of exceptions on an appeal to the Supreme Court The plaintiffs sued for damages on account of Injury to their goods resulting from a burst water main. The case has already been to the Supreme Courts and has been tried several times. The city won last time. NEW CAPITAL AND ENERGY Willamette Iron Worlcs Incorporated Increased Facilities. Articles of Incorporation were filed In tho County Clerk's office yesterday of the Willamette Iron Works. The Incorpora tors are: H. W. Corbett, James Lotan and William H. Corbett; capital stock. $90,000. The objects announced are to manufacture engines, boilers, machinery and other metal work, and to operate a brass works, smelting and refining works, etc. The new Incorporation means the reor ganization of the company, the Introduc tion of new blood and capital Into the concern. William H. Corbett is a cousin of H. W. Corbett, a practical engineer and Ironworker, who received a thorough tech nical education for the business and Is up to date on everything connected with iron working. On rls associating himself with the Willamette Iron Works he at once saw that additions to the plant and build ing were necessary to bring the works up. to the most modern requirements. An extensive addition to tho work was com menced, the foundations for which are completed, and work on the superstructure will be commenced today. A number of machines, lathes, etc., have been ordered, and when these have arrived an&'are In stalled In the new building, the company will have one of the most modern and complete machine shops and foundries on the Coast. PERSONAL MENTION. L. A. Loomis, of Ilwaco, Is registered at fhe Perkins. . C. H. Poole, of Boston, Is registered at the Portland. Mrs. W. Stlne, of Astoria, is a guest of the Imperial. G. T. Fulton, of Astoria, Is registered at the Imperial. I. N. Peyton, of Spokane, is registered at the Portland. William Mackay, of Seattle, is registered at the "Imperial. A. E. Bowers, of Boston, is registered at the St. Charles. J. W. Rogers, of Salt Lake, is regis tered at the Portland. N. D. Fox. of Silver City, Idaho, Is registered at the Perkins, A. A. NIcol, of South" Bend, Wash.? is registered at the Perkins. P. J. McGowan, of Chinook, Wash., is registered at the Perkins. A. H. Beemer, of Lyons. Neb., Is reg istered at the St Charles. " W. F. Roardman, of San Francisco, la registered at the Imperial. G. R. Shaw, a well-known farmer of Cleone. Is registered at the St Charles. A. J. Mltchen and wife, of Harrington, Wash., are registered pt the St Charles. R. E. Nelson, of Cottage Grove, was a visitor at the MIneowner3 Club yester day. The Rev. C. H. Lake, "of St. Stephen's, Baker City, has accepted a call to be as sistant minister of Trinity Church. WASHINGTON, March 29.-J. C. Friend ly, of Portland, is visiting friends In Washington. T. Waterhouse, of Seattle, Is at the Arlington. ..NEW YORK. March 29.-J. L. Wood bridge, of Seattle, registered at the Grand Union today. ) a "A State of Insurrection." Wardner News. Governor Stuenenbcrs: hit the nail on the head when he stated before the In vestigation commltteee on last Thursday that the Cocur d'Alene country has been In a state of Insurrection since 1SS2. With the exception of Wardner, the mining caniDs In this region have been contin uously under tho control of the dynaT mlto element who "donned their masks and shouldered their guns" Csee official organ February 2S) In defiance of the law whenever they deemed It necessary. And the same authority states further that their "orders wero never disobeyed so greatly did the general public stand In awe of them. Docs not this constitute "a state of Insurrection?" TO CORE A COLD TN ONE DAY. Take Laxative Broino Quinine Tablets. All drug gists refund the money It it falls to cure. E. W. U rove' a signature is on each, box. 25c PREPAID ORDER AGENCIES RAXCiROADS WILL ABOLISH THEa XEXT XOSTH. All LlncJ Ax So Inatracted OTmc Card Meeting: at Salt Lake Railroad Jfotea. ' Another evidence f tho perfect sincer ity of the railroad presidents subscribing to the New York resolutions, relating to the abolition of commlsslonsr etc, has come to light The transcontinental lines here are in receipt of emphatic Instruc tions from their several headquarters to the effect that they are to discontinue ail prepaid order agencies in their territory, effective April 1. The Southern Pacific took similar action about a month ago. There have not been wanting some who prophesied that because many agreements had been made and broken in the past tho KiBr York nirreement would soon meet a similar fate. Whether such will be the case it is impossible to say at pres ent One thing is pretty evident, though, and that is that history shows that the agreements heretofore made and ' then shivered into fragments were the work ot general agents or traffic men. Presidents agreements havo generally remained in violate. Even to thi3, however, there la at4east one notable exception, well re memberedthe so-called "gentlemen's agreement" made eomo years ago by railroad presidents. Even the brand "gentlemen's" did not save it Heretofore it has been the custom to allow a commission to these prepald-ordor agents of $3 on each first-class through ticket say from some Interior point to Chicago via Portland. On second-clas3 tickets for such business the commission has been $2. It was an easy matter for such agents often to sell to a family or party of people traveling together, and net $10 to $23 in one day. All this will be abro gated on April L To those who' have had this emolument, the loss will prove con siderable. Travelers will in no wise be affected by the order. TESTIMONY IN REBUTTAL. Interstate Commerce Commission Concludes Hearing: in First Case. LOS ANGELES, March 29. The hear ing of evidence in this city by the In terstate Commerce Commission on the pe tition of the St Louis jobbers for the amendment of differentials on rates from the Middle West to the Pacific Coast was concluded today. Today's testimony was In rebuttal of that introduced by the coast jobbers. J. R. Newberry, a retail and jobbing grocer of Los Angeles, testified that the freight differentials have been disastrous to retailers. He stated that the differen tials have made possible a combine among the Jobbers In groceries, whereby they raised prices from 5 to 20 per cent above former prices. He conforms his jobbing rates to those set forth In the printed price list Issued by the jobbers, and Illus trated the effect of the combine by saying that he retailed canned corn at SO cents per dozen and Jobbed It at $1. The prices of many varieties of goods, he stated, are based by adding the differentials to the selling price of Eastern jobbers. He stat ed that when the present rates were es tablished in June, 1S9S. prices of groceries were advanced by the jobbers 5 to 20 per cent, and he was Informed by them that unless he conformed to the rates estab lished by them they would not sell to him. The witness agreed "to furnish the Com missioners with a copy of the printed price list issued by the Jobbers. C. C. Plxley, retail hardware man of Orange, testified against the differentials, which he claimed to be detrimental to general retail business on the Coast, re stricting the purchasing market. John McFadden. a hardware merchant of Santa Ana, testified that when the present rates were established Coast Job bers advanced prices, Eastern Jobbers granting allowances on freight to offset the differentials. Ira Hill, a dealer In hardware In the came town, testified to the same effect, adding that the differentials have caused a restriction of the purchasing market to such an extent that it is difficult to meet the requirements of his customers. The commission began a hearing In the case of the United Forwarding Company and the Southern California Fruit Ex change against the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe roads. Involving the routing of fruit shipments to the East Attorneys for Armour & Co. and Earle. owners of fruit-car lines, filed petitions In Interven tion, to which objection was raised by the complainants. The Commissioners ruled that the petitions should be granted. The commission adjourned for the day to give the attorneys time to examine the documents in the case. MOHAWK VALLEY ROAD. Traclclaylnpr Will Be Finished by the Middle of Jnne. John Bays, the well-known contractor, who has hcen superintending the construc tion of a railroad up the Mohawk Valley from Sprlngflild to the Boothe-Kelly mills, a distance of 16 miles. Is In the city on a short visit Mr. Bays has been on this work since last Farll, and he looks hearty as a buck, and Is as full of pluck and go as ever. His son has the contract for the road, and he s superintending the con struction. He has the track laid from Springfield to Smith's Bluff, a distance of five miles, two miles more graded, and In tends to have the road completed by the middle of June. In addition to this he has built a county road along the hill side to take the place of the one de stroyed by the construction of the rail road. The Mohawk Valley road Is to bo connected with the Southern Pacific at Hanson's Station, which will necessitate the building of a bridge across the Willam ette and some heavy rock cutting on one side and a big fill on the other. Tirae-Cnrd Meeting:. General Superintendent O'Brien, of the O. R. & N., attended a time-card meet ing yesterday at Salt Lake, made up of O. R. & N.. Union Pacific and Short Line officials. The meeting was held for the purpose of agreeing upon a time-card and train service for the special Chicago-Port-land train, shortly to be put In service. Railroad Notes. A. P. Stewart, of San Francisco, travel, ing passenger agent of the Chicago fit Alton, was here yesterday. Marcus Talbot of Anaconda, Mont, general agent of the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific, passed through Portland yester day on his way home from a vacation la Southern Callfornia. The Northern Pacific has finished track laying, on its Clearwater short-line branch to Stuart, Idaho, a distance of 53 miles. Stuart is 90 miles from Buffalo Hump and 18 miles from Grangerille. General Passenger and Freight Agent Markham, of the Southern Pacific, left last night for Newberg, accompanied by Dr. Wlthycombe, vice-director of the Ag ricultural College at CorvalUs. Mr. Mark ham will address the farmers and mer. chants at Newberg on the matter of a -creamery. At a meeting of passenger agents recently-held at Fort Wayne, Perry Griffin, In a humorous address, "dropped Into poetry." Portland railroad men will re member him as tho predecessor here of A. G. Barker, general agent of the Chi cago & Northwestern, and later on gen eral agent of the Union Pacific at Spo kane. Mr. Griffin Is now passenger agent of the Rock Island, at Pittsburg. Shipbuilding and Trusts. HOOD RIVER, Or., March 26. (To the Editor.) If the Republican party Is sin cere In its desire to build up the mer- 1 chant marine of tho United States, why does it not repeal the law that prohibits the registration of foreign bottoms In American ports, instead of granting sub sidies? The protection given. American iron- and steel is without doubt wholly re sponsible for the decline ia our shipbuild ing interests. From SO to SO per cent ot American freight to and from foreign ports is carried In foreign, bottoms, and Carnegie companiesr that can annually de clare millions of dollars In dividends, are the result Iron end steel made Into every conceivable article, from, a tack toabattle-shlp, are made here and shipped, away in foreign bottoms and sold In com petition with the markets of the world. The American citizen, however, when he buys, has a tariff to pay. A case In point will illustrate what a protective tar iff means. Some years ago L "with some others, contemplated building- a steamboat, and bids were solicited from various boat building concerns, and among others a certain well-known Ontario, Canada, firm sent a bid of $18,000 If built In Canadian or British Columbia 'waters, and $27,003 if built in American waters. American coasting trade certainly is car ried In home-made wooden hulls, ranging from a dugout to a four-masted schooner. Rorrv contrasts they are when compared with the magnificent steel-built foreigners that line our docks. This system ot rob bing Peter (the American cltizon) to pay Paul (the trusts) will come to ah end some day. Samson's DeUlah-cut hair Is grow ing agajn, and some day he will pull down the pillars that are holding up these great protected corporations. -j.no ui tentive listener, may even now, without the use of an ear trumpet, hear the blind giant's mutterlngs from tlmost any spot In our land. Let those that are in the' temple beware or they may hear some thing drop, ere tho year 3qNAUT PLAYED A THINKING PART. Comedian. Roland Reed. Tells About Seine: Carved br SurgeoBS. Roland Reed, the comedian, who is still at St Luke's Hospital, Now York, has written to the companion of his boyhood, D. Solis Cohen, asking to be remembered to various Portland friends and acquaint ances. He enclosed his own recital of his experience at the hands of the surgeons, published recently In the New York Jour nal. It follows: Reed's Own Story. I havo spent three months in St Luke's Hospital, have undergone two operations, been given up by the doctors for dead, and have read the notice of my death in tbe newspapers. , After passing through these three most critical months of my life, I feel that I am now on the high road to recovery. My fight for life was won by surgical skill on ono hand and a determination on my part that I would not die. But not for all tho money ever coined or all the glory ever en joyed by an actor would I voluntarily en dure again the pain of those three months or take a similar ohance for my life. You know that the surgeons, after they had performed the first operation on me, decided that I had just about 12 hours more of life. Well, I fooled them that time, and when, after the second opera tion, the odds against ma seemed almost as great, I fooled them once more. I am still weak. I feel like a man freed from a long imprisonment The relief at getting back to my family, of course, goes a long way toward compensating me for the -painful experience In St Luke's Hos pital, and the exhilarating feeling of free dom which I now enjoy makes the world look very bright after having been con strained by the strict regulations of the hospital. Were It not for the feeling of weakness, the prospect of even a season of the ordi narily despised "one night stands" would fill me with pleasure. As It is, I shall not play again this Spring, but will rest unjll I open my fourteenth annual season at the Boston Museum In the Fall. A new play Is" being prepared for me, which as yet I have not read. - Of my treatment In tho hospital, I can speak only with praise. I had a dismal time, to be sure, and do not quite under stand yet why I did not die. Fortunately, when I entered the ward my condition physically was excellent When It was found that it was no longer possible to avoid an operation, I was led into the operating-room. It is like a min iature theater, and I felt at home at once, but I must say that it was the smallest house I ever played to. The seats wore all empty, and not even an usher In sight Wo had the place to ourselves. I played a heavy thinking part that time. They put me on the operating table and administered an anesthetic. After that they had things all their own way. They cut me open most thoroughly and scien tifically, and now those surgeons know more about me than I do myself. They have what you might call an Interior knowledge. The operation was so danger- ous that they decided that It would be unwise to keep me longer under the In fluence of tho anesthetic, and so they sewed me up with an overhand stitch and sent me down stairs to die. Later, another operation was tried,Nthi3 time successfully. I did not have a cancer of the stomach or appendicitis, as report ed. I had something Intricate and with a medical name as long aa your arm, the matter with my Intestines. Much of the time In the hospital I was unconscious or bordering upon uncon sciousness, and so I was not worried with thought as to my chances, although as a matter of fact I decided when I went In that I would pull through. The papers were kept from me so that I would not read the reports of my death and like cheerful erroneous Information about me that was printed from time to time. When resting, the plays that I havo appeared In rose before my mental vision with remarkable vividness, and 1 wondered vaguely If I would again see the glare of the footlights. a. APRIL WEATHER. The foUowing data for April, coverlnc a period of 29 years, have been compiled from the Weather Buread records at Port land, Or.: Temperature Mean or normal tempera ture, 62 deg.; the warmest months were those of 1881 and 1S97, with an average of 55 deg.; the coldest month was that of 1S93, with an average of 46 deg.; the highest temperature was 89 deg.. on the 17th, 1897; tho lowest temperature was 28 deg., on th 7th, 1875; average date on which first "kill ing" frost occured In Autumn, November 26; average date on which last "killing" frost occurred in Spring, April 11. Precipitation (rain and melted snow) Average for the month, 3.S0 Inches: aver age number of days with .01 of an inch or more, 15; the greatest monthly precipi tation was 7.SS Inches, in 1S33; the least monthly precipitation was 1.12 Inches In iSS5; the greatest amount of precipitation recorded in any 24 consecutive hours was 1.84 Inches, on tho 2d, 1SS3; the greatest amount of snowfall recorded In any 24 consecutive hours (record extending to Winter of 1SS4-S5 only) was .1 inch, on the 4th, 1S95. Clouds and weather Average number of clear days, 6; partly cloudy days, 10; cloudy days, 14 Wind The prevailing winds have been from the south; the highest velocity of the wind .was 46 miles, from the southeast, on the 2d. 1S95. EDWARD A. BEALS, Forecast Official. A Gentle Rebuke. Argonaut When Otis Skinner, tho actor, played an engagement in Memphis recently, his matl neo performance of "TheLiarS" iras graced by tho patronage of a bevy of the season's most attractive debutantes. After the cur tain went down the manager escorted the debutantes back of the stage, where they met and conversed with the actor. "We enjoyod everything very much," said ont of them; "but. do you know, Mr. Skinner, we could scarcely hear a word you said?" "Now, that's certainly strange," replied tho actor; "I could hear everytbln you l;adie3 said." v SCHEME OF MIDDLE WEST LXTKUSTATE COMMERCE COMMIS SION TVORK Ef PORTLAND. Pacific CoaX Terminal Points TJnlteS in Defense of Their Commercial , Rigrhta. Owing -to uncertainty as to tho line of testimony to which the Interstate Com merce Commission will devote Itself when It visits Portland, April 9, George Tay lor, Jr., president of tho Chamber of Com merce, sent the following telegram to tho commission, at Los Angeles: "The Portland Chamber of Commerce re quests you to visit Portland, where you may receive additional information about local conditions deserving consideration in your transcontinental freight investiga tion." The following answer was received yesterday: "The commission will hear testimony in the case of the Business Men's League of St Louis, at the United States Court house, at Portland, April 9. "N. S. BECKER, "Assistant Seerfttnrv Mr.. Becker's telegram indicates that all the commission will do will be to take testimony relative to the natltion nt thn St Louis Business Men's League, which is commonly known as tho movement of Middle West jobbers to abolish the freight differentials created by ocean competition ana wmen nave existed since the trans continental railroads were built In fact thero are no local questions to present Henry Hahn, of Wadhams & Co.; E. J. DeHart, of Honeyman, DeHart & Co., and L. A. Lewis, of Allen & Lewis, who havo been active in defending: Portland's Jobbing 'interests, say the only Issue Is the St Louis petition. The demands which the St Louis Business Men's League, represpnting the Middle West job bera, has made upon tho Interstate Com merce Commission are: First That the railroads revise their tariffs so as practically to do away with tho differentials between carload and less than carload shipments. Second That the rates be graded from St Louis -and Chicago east Third That every point in California and on the Pacific Coast receive the soma or even a less terminal rats than San Francisco, Sacramento, Portlaild, Seattle, Tacoma. Los Ansreles. San Dletro and ntho terminal points do at present As has been said, favorable action by the commission upon Unes suggested by the Middle West would be denial of the commercial rights which belong to tha Pacific Coast by reason of its geographi cal position and consequent water com petition. On this basis, all the commer cial cltle3 of the Pacific Coast have or ganlzed to resist the demands of tha Middle We3t Dees Cano an Avalanche. Chicago News. A remarkable happening is that which is reported from one of tho Grampian peaks with an unpronounceable name, Craigmogachldt where a vast avalancho tore down from a height of 1500 feet, car rying with it all it met in its course. In cluding certain red deer. It descended with a momentum that took it a quarter "of a mile over the level ground at the mountain's foot Great herds of deer at tho head of tho peak are said to have looeened the snow, and so caused the ava lanche, which wa3 fatal to many of their kind. DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. PORTLAND, March 9. 8 P. M. Maximum temperature, K; minimum temperature, 45; rlrer reading at 11 A. M., 8.7 feet; change in tho last 24 hours, 0.3 foot; total precipitation, 6 P. M. to P. M., 0.03-Inch; total precipita tion from Sept. 1, 1S00, 31.83 Inches; normal precipitation from. Sept. 1. 1890, 37.8S Inches; deficiency, 0.CO Indies; total runshlne larch 3, 3-00; possible- sunahlne March, 28, 12:35. WEATHER STNOPSIS. Roln-nas occurred since the preceding1 report at all stations in Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho. The temperature has fallen east of the Cascades, and has risen west o them. At Portland t"oe rise was 8 deg.. and at Rosebarg 16 deg. At the former place th temperature is C3 deg., and at the latter 62 deg. Both are above, the normal for the oea ra. The barametrlo depression will move eastward, and there will be occasional rains Friday from the Cascades eastward. The pres sure Is rising on the Coast Indicating the ap proach of a high area, which will cause clear ing weather westf the Cascades Fridayci ter- coon. "WEATHER FORECASTS. Forecasts made at Portland for the 23" hours ending at midnight Friday, March 30c Western Oregon Rain, followed by fair in tho afternoon; westerly windst Eastern Oregon Occasional rain; warmer; south to west winds. Western Washington ccaeianat vain; west erly winds. Eastern Washington an5 Northern Idaho Occasional rain; south: to west winds. Southern Idaho Occasional rain, except fair in eastern portion; southwest winds. Portland and vicinity Itoln, followed- by fala la afternoon: westerly winds. G. N. SALISBURY. Section Director. NEW TODAT. Carpets, Curtains Gas range, etc.. for-sale, at rooms 33-10 Sell-ing-Hlrsch building. Mortgage Loans mwwww stn1 farm nromfftr. fc Itrrvm -.. - ma TbilMlncr lrwinft Tnf ailm I lOttilfc rtni. imi 'uu1h .-. a PARRISH & WATK1NS REAL ESTATE. LOAN AND INSURANCE AGENTS Have Moved to 250 ALDER STREET . HOMES ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN Ths undersigned ia prepared to build resl? dences In Irvlngton, the most popular suburb of Portland, and sell them at actual cost, with 6 per cent interest, on the Installment plan, whereby the put-chaser has to par but a slight advance above the usual amount of renta) charged for similar residences. C. H. PRESCOTT. 212-213 Chamber of Commerce. GILMAN Auction & Commission Company S. L N. GILMAN, Auctioneer Special Auction Sale Of household furniture. "We will sell by publh auction the neat furniture of cottage at 51, Marshall st, between 14th and loth. TOMOR ROW (SATURDAY). MARCH 31. at 10 o'clocl A. M. Sale at residence. 10 A. M., Saturday, ff. Ij. N. GTTMAy. Auctioneer. , 4 BY J. C. CURRIE TODAY CFRIDATI. MARCFT SO. T wltt cere -ineacesharp at 2 P. M. and sell the balance x iirs. wooieyB nice furniture, bedding, etc, a' vher residence. 821 "West Pork et.. cor. Clay. ' If you contemplate selling out. come to ma isalea and see the class of snrohasera that. .ti A'.tena'andi"BricsrrecclY& ' r