THE MORNING- OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1900.
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TODAY'S 'WEATHER. Generally fair, ex
cept possibly showers or thunder storms; vari
able winds.
PORTLAND, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 10O0
WORDS FROM THE SOUTH".
Nothing: is more apparent and certain
than the fact that the Democratic
"".party, on its present platform and un
'der Its present leadership, has very
slight hold on the vast body of citi
zenship that feels its responsibility for
the economic welfare of the country
including- the conditions that are neces
sary to peace, order and continued
prosperity. The business people of the
country are not with the Democratic
party. This Is pre-eminently true In
our Northern States, as every one sees.
In the South It is true also in large
degree though the negro problem
prevents it from having full play there.
.Nevertheless, Southern people who are
Interested in business and industry, and
in the general movement and progress
'of affairs, are against the socialistic,
Bryanlzed Democracy. "With scarcely
an exception, the Democratic press of
the South we speak now of the princi
pal newspapers, not of the country
weeklies, most of which are separated
very far from the currents of business
and of Intelligent interest In affairs
the Democratic press of the South, we
say, is not favorable to the present po
sition of the party, but positively hos
tile to It. Here is the Montgomery
(Ala.) Advertiser. It asserts that the
delegation from Alabama to the con
vention at Kansas City, In spite of a
quasi declaration for Bryan by the
state convention, "Is free to act accord
ing to Its best judgment, In the light of
the counsel of the party's representa
tives from all the other states." And
by way of further monition the Adver
tiser adds: "It -would be folly to try to
unite the National party on the plat
form of '96, and It would be reckless
to try to win under the banner of that
year in a campaign under the vastly
changed conditions and new-made is
sues of 1900."
There is probably little reason to sup
pose that exhortations like this will
liave much deterrent force, for error
h has a most rigoous logic which
carries it through to its end in utter
and final failure. When Ephralm Is
joined to his Idols there Is but one way
let him alone. But It is interesting
to note -what this Southern protest Is.
The Alabama paper says further:
Every cent added to the price of cotton is a
nail in the coffin of the lC-to-1 issue. Every
crowded granary Is part of its funeral oration.
Every walng field 5miles n farewell to its departing-
ghoftt Eery foundry and mill and
.factory In the land rattles and clatters Its de
light at Its departure. Every train load of coal
merrily rolls aaj from the ill-flavored cadav
er. Farm and Held, and mill and factory, and
mine and fetockard strike hands and rejoice
that the danger is past, the dragon slain and
the fetish of 10 to 1 laid to rest. Alabama is
first on the list of states; it Is fast leaping to
the head of the prosperity column, and It
bhould be first to cut loose from the dead past
and to don Its armor of proof as the fearless
and unbound champion of the Democracy
which made glad the hearts of the fathers,
nerved the arms of the sons and waits to
bless the efforts of posterity.
Mighty good stuff, this Is; and so is
the following, from another article on
the great prosperity of the country and
especially of the South, viz:
How ridiculous It seems, under these cir
cumstances, for the leader of the great, ag
ETesrite party of Jefferson and Jackson to go
before tho countr howling "calamity,". "pros
tration of industry," "Impoverishment of the
people," "prosperity locked in the paralysis of
hard times," while Mr. McKlnley, his oppo
nent, will be following him and pointing to the
entire country abounding in prosperity, and
telling tne people that all of it is tho result of
his wonderful administration.
Why should the Democratic party not let the
Ucwl past bury its dead? "Why should the
.solidarity of the party be Imperiled by thrust
ing into the campaign disturbing Issues which
are out of joint w 1th the facts of the situation
and which have heretofore brought defeat to
the party?
The pity of It is that such pleas are
vain. The Democratic party, since
Populism took control of It, has ceased
to appeal to the hope, the Intelligence,
the energy, the spirit of the country.
It banks on discontent; it endeavors to
persuade all those who lack the quali
ties necessary to helpfulness and thrift
that they are victims of oppression; it
claims for inefficiency, and even for
idleness, the rewards that justly belong
only to active Intelligence and self
denyirg Industry, and Its tones vibrate
between notes of calamity and notes of
fury, anarchy and revenge. It is not
igreeable subject for contemplation.
:pper sxake's possibilities.
fhe recent failure of the steamer
Pokane to ascend Snake River any
Prther than "Wild Goose rapids Is a
latter of regret, not only to the set
tlers who have cast their lot along that
LBtream above the rapids, but to the
Ibuslness men of the Northwest, who
ire ever seeking opportunities to ex-
Itend their field of operations. A con
siderable number of miners, stockmen
and farmers have with great difficulty
entered that region, and sought to cre
ate homes and wealth from the virgin
resources -with which nature has not
been sparing.
The, testimony of experienced river
men is to the effect that beyond "Wild
Goose rapids there is a splendid stretch
of over fifty miles of river which can
be easily navigated for the greater part
of the year. Despite the rather forbid-
ii?ip1 annmrnnrp nf iVm pnnntrv n
.c j , . ...,
viencu ilUlil LUC illCl, lUCIC Jb IX lUSl
Amount of good grazing and some good
farming land along this fine stretch of
navigable water. There are also quite
m. number of excellent mining prospects.
some of which, in fact, have developed
beyond the "prospect" stage, and
which would now be large producers of
moderately rich ore if it were possible
to get it out where it could be treated.
The trip of the Spokane demonstrated
that, owing to swift water, it will al
ways be a difficult and perhaps impos
sible feat to climb "Wild Goose rapids
by follovlng the main channel of the
river. At the same time, the steamer's
experience in trying to get above the
falls by going through what is known
as the slough was quite encouraging.
The presence of a number of large,
round granite bowlders in the bed of
this channel were the only obstructions
to the easy passage of the boat to the
good water above the falls. As this
part of the river is practically dry for
a short time in the low-water season,
it would not be a very expensive task
to blast or roll these bowlders out of
the way.
Men who have sufficient courago and
pluck to go into a country like that
along the Upper Snake are certainly
entitled to assistance in developing
their new field. "When they can prove,
as they have in the present case, that
their Isolated territory Is productive of
great wealth, their fight for better
transportation to markets should be
come the fight of the business men who
will share in the benefits arising frqm
their efforts. The river and harbor bill
appropriations will be missed in more
than one locality this year, but if the
Government will not come to the relief
of the hardy settlers of the Upper
Snake, the demands may not be be
yond the limit of private aid. Appar
ently a very few thousand dollars will
enable boats to get past Wild Goose
rapids, and incidentally make valuable
a number of mines and ranches which.
In their present condition, without
transportation facilities, are practically
worthless.
The natural waterways of the Pa
cific Northwest have made Portland
great, and every dollar spent in im
proving them has made returns that
have proved satisfactory in the ex
treme. The addition of another sixty
mile division to the already extensive
water transportation system of the
Northwest cannot be otherwise than
profitable from a trade standpoint, and
no effort should be spared to secure the
money needed for opening the Upper
Snake River.
ALASKA UNDER THE FLAG.
Alaska is finally to have an individ
uality of Its own, and civil government
and statutory laws. The Carter bill
has passed the Senate, and will un
doubtedly receive the sanction of the
House without material amendment.
The proposed act contains an elaborate
code of civil procedure, provides a cer
tain form of organized government, and
reposes large administrative as well as
Judicial power In the courts. From an
inchoate and neglected dependency,
working clumsily and helplessly under
borrowed ordinances, the rich northern
land Is transformed into a real terri
torial entity, with efficient machinery
of government and adequate power to
operate it. Alaska has now ceased to
be terra incognita. It is to be In fact as
well as in name a real part of the
United States.
A complete summary of the new code
Is to be found In this issue of The Ore
gonlan. It gives evidence of painstak
ing care and Judicious thought, and It
was framed with intelligent considera
tion for the unique northern conditions.
It Is not at all probable that it will suit
all the residents of the new territory;
nor is it likely that, of the several
pressing questions it settles. It settles
all aright. Violence is done the ancient
and beautiful town of Sitka, for ex
ample. In the removal of the cap
ital to Juneau; but convenience of the
great majority has nevertheless been
consulted. Three Judicial districts and
three courts are not too many, consid
ering the vast extent of territory, and
the growing number and importance oi
the problems now pressing for Judicial
determination. Salaries are moderate.
In view of the heavy expense of living
in the district; and fees of minor offi
cials are limited to reasonable amounts.
The present license law is the bane of
Alaska, Just as the criminal enforce
ment or want of enforcement of Its
customs laws was its curse. All busi
ness establishments and Industrial en
terprises have been heavily taxed,
which was proper enough, although
there were numerous inequities In the
system; but the entire proceeds were
turned Into the Federal Treasury.
There was no adequate reciprocal ap
propriation for the benefit of the terri
tory. Here was taxation without rem
edy of any kind, more severe and
wicked than the petty impositions
which drove our forefathers to oppose
and throw off the mother country's
yoke. There were only meager appro
priations for schools, and these were
largely for the Indians. Now radical
amendment of this unjust policy Is pro
posed. Court expenses are to be paid
directly from the license revenues, and
furthermore, one-half the Income in
Incorporated towns is to be devoted to
the public schools. Alaska's chief bur
den Is thus alleviated with a large
measure of completeness. It is to be
observed, too, that organization of mu
nicipalities is authorized, and land
titles are settled the first placing resi
dents on their proper plane as Ameri
can cltlzens,and not public wards, and
the second clearing up a most con
fused and vexatious situation.
It Is not certain that the Senate has
disposed of the unprecedented placer
mining problems at Cape Nome in the
most equitable manner. It would prob
ably have been better to make the
whole beach free mining ground. But
it Is free below mean high tide, and un
der the unexplored waters of the con
tiguous Arctic, and that opens to the
prospector a vast extent of territory in
all likelihood most valuable. The ques
tion as to alien ownership of placer
mining ground Is distinctly left alone.
This means that the locators of claims,
whoever they are and whatever their
birth, will be able to hold them for the
present as against all the world, except
the Government; and the latter will not
attempt to disturb them. The Iniquity
of permitting locations of mines by
power of attorney Is not corrected; and
colossal abuses under that mistaken
system will continue.
The official graft is not broken or im
paired, but is, on the contrary, much
strengthened. The Federal patronage
Is greatly Increased, and doubtless we
shall find among the new appointees
many proteges of tho bill's supporters.
But this Is an evil we have long en
dured, and may yet stand with some
approach at equanimity. It is enough
for the present that substantial Justice
is at last about to be done Alaska.
The Constitution has been extended to
the north.
A great many persons in Multnomah
County, during ten years past, have
endeavored to avoid payment of taxes.
Their success in staving off payment
has made a most serious problem for
the county. The tax-shirkers have
taken a test case to the highest court
of the state. It is probably the most
Important case that was ever before
the court. It is an amazing doctrine
that taxpaying is or should be volun
tary merely,' not compulsory. There
was Indulgence to many, in matter of
time, which they have taken advantage
of; and the consequences of this Indul
gence are pleaded against the rights of
the county. This long-continued at
tempt to shirk payment is, moreover, a
most serious Infringement of the rights
of those who pay. There is but one
question, namely. Has the county a
right to collect taxes? If It have such
right. It should collect from all alike,
and effort by non-payers to defeat such
collection Is an offense against the
rights of organized society.
SOCTAIj PROGRESS IX THE UNITED
s STATES.
Lord Macaulay was the first to point
out that the great historians of an
tiquity, despite their literary excellence,
gave small Information concerning the
social life of the people. What we know
concerning the social life of ancient
Greece and Rome we obtain from the
comic dramatists, the poets, the sat
irists, and something from anecdotal
biographies like Suetonius' lives of the
Caesars. Modern historians, like
Hume and Robertson, were defective In
this respect, and Macaulay In his his
tory of England was the first great his
torian of modern times to consider the
social history of the people of as much
consequence as their political, saying
that the personal quality of great war
riors and statesmen, the details of bat
tles and sieges, was of less permanent
value to the world than a full record
of the social life of a great people. Ma
caulay conceded that Thucydldes was
the greatest historian that ever lived,
measured by the limitations of his
theme, but pointed out that to the
modern world a full history of the so
cial life of the Greek people of his time
would be of far more worth and Inter
est than his story of battles and sieges;
his personal pictures of warriors and
statesmen; his description of Greek
battle tactics, of the composition of
their armies and the organization of
their heavy and light-armed troops.
The Impulse given to this new view
of the most Important part of history
did not die with Macaulay, but was
further exhibited In the historians who
succeeded him. The charm of Green's
"History of England," of Froude, and
even of Freeman, lies largely In the
fact that their great powers were en
gaged In delineating not only the polit
ical growth, but the social life of the
times whose history they have written.
For this reason McMaster's "History of
the People of the United States" Is a
more valuable book than the great
work of Bancroft, because, while polit
ical movements and personalities are
not neglected, It Is a social rather than
a political history, a book of absorbing
Interest to men of the Franklin type of
mind; men of utilitarian philosophy
and practical philanthropy rather than
political doctrinaires and closet states
men. To Illustrate: In his latest vol
ume, McMaster, while he discusses with
thorough knowledge and exceptional
accuracy the Oregon boundary question
in its earlier stages, the evolution of
the Monroe Doctrine, the antl-Masonlc
movement, the Introduction of canals,
the beginning of the agitation against
slavery, the rise of the common school
system, the repudiation of the mode of
making Presidential nominations by a
caucus of Congress, the supersession of
property qualifications by manhood
suffrage, the early settlements in Texas
by Austin and other Americans, never
theless these are not the features
which give to this great work Its pe
culiar and singular value. The chap
ters of greatest interest and value are
those which describe the growth of tho
country. Its economic conditions In
1825, the extent of its literary activity
and the view taken of our civilization
at the period by English travelers.
In 1820 our Union of twenty-four
states, with six millions of people, had
but four cities New York, Philadel
phia, Boston and Baltimore which
boasted of more than 40,000 Inhabitants,
and the two former had each more than
100,000. Life along the seaboard had
become easier; much of the hardship
of earlier times was gone. Manufac
tures had grown up since 1807, and
given employment to a thousand mills
and factories in the Eastern and Mid
dle States. There were steamboats on
lake and river. Canals united great
waterways and turnpikes radiated In
every direction from the leading com
mercial cities. Boston was but two
days Journey from New York; New
York but eleven hours from Philadel
phia; Philadelphia but fifteen hours
from Washington and five days from
Pittsburg. Freights could be moved
from New York to Buffalo through the
Erie Canal for 4 cents a ton per mile,
tolls Included. Under these new condi
tions thousands of men, who, under
the old conditions, would have obtained
a bare living by farming or by cobbling
or in the ranks of unskilled labor, be
came mill hands and operatives; ma
chinists and mechanics, engineers and
firemen on the steamboats, clerks and
bookkeepers In banks and Insurance
companies, freight-handlers, turnpike
keepers, or bridge-tenders on the ca
nals, or they drove horses on the canals
or found employment in some of the
older Industries, which had been greatly
expanded since the war of 1S12, viz.,
tailoring, printing, shoemaklng, stage
driving, hatmaklng and carpentry.
This rise of new industries and the
development of old brought up ques
tions of economic reform, and in 1825
the labor movement began with a de
mand for fewer hours of labor, higher
wages and payment in honest money
Instead of depreciated paper. There
had been futile strikes since 1791, but
not until 1825 did worklngmen begin to
organize In earnest for the improve
ment of their condition. At that time
an unskilled laborer In the cities was
fortunate if he received 75 cents a day
for twelve hours of work, and if he
found employment for 300 days In the
year. Hundreds were glad to work for
37 cents, and even 25 cents a day In
Winter. On the canals and turnpikes
"$15 a month and found" was consid
ered good pay, and one-third that sum
in Winter. It was not uncommon dur
ing the Winter for men to work for
their board. The earnings of women
were lower yet. At shlrtmaklng the
most expert needlewomen could not
earn more than from 72 to 90 cents a
week, and to get this price she must
make nine shirts. Intemperance, beg
ging, thieving and lives of shame
among women resulted from thr des
perate poverty produced by their mis
erable wages. This was the social situ
ation of the, laboring classes in great
cities before 1825, when, through the
creation of new industrial conditions
and the rapid growth of National pros
perity, an era of Improvement began
which has been steadily maintained
and increased without any permanent
halt or retrogression to the present
date.
These Interesting social and indus
trial facts illustrate the unique quality
and merit of the best history of the
United States. It Is the best because
it deals with the social life and growth
of this country, a subject that Is of far
deeper Interest to a thoughtful man
than the shifting phases of transient
politics.
Lighthouses and fog-signal stations
In Alaskan waters are a vital need, and
It Is high time that the Government
provides them, as it now seems to in
tend doing. The inside up-coast pas
sage is. filled with rocks and hidden
reefs, and impressive difficulties of all
sorts. Many vessels have been their
victims. Only a sublime faith in his
own good luck enables the bold navi
gator now to undertake the passage.
He knows for the most part where dan
ger Is not, and he finds where it is
usually only by smashing Into It. How
any pilot Is able to make the intricate
passages at night in safety, without
the smallest beacon on light, or artifi
cial mark, and without channel buoys,
except through Wrangel Narrows, must
ever remain a mystery to those who
have not the same extraordinary trust
In their own instincts and a guiding
providence that mark the Alaskan mar
iner. It Is becoming difficult for a discrim
inating public to understand how a
County Treasurer can be cashier of a
prominent bank and do his full duty as
a public officer. Is the treasurershlp
a lucrative sinecure, to be disposed of
for the advancement of either an In
dividual's or a banking concern's pe
cuniary interests? Or Is It an import
ant and responsible trust, to which
should be devoted the exclusive atten
tion of a capable and Intelligent offi
cer, without compromising business re
lations, working solely in behalf of the
county? The Oregonlan does not at all
desire to asperse Mr. Hoyt, or to ques
tion his integrity, but it thinks it high
time to put an end to his very anoma
lous relationship to the public treasury
and a private banking corporation.
Reports of local fusion conventions
throughout the state show that the
Populists generally have received but
scant courtesy from their political as
sociates. This Is but natural. The
Populist party has 'practically disap
peared in Oregon, and has scarcely
been able to preserve its name, of
which now the consistent few who
have continuously opposed this Demo
cratic absorption are the residuary
legatees. Two jears hence there will
not be enough still clinging to the
name to enact the farce of a concur
rent convention, and If they undertook
It they would be met with a cold dis
dain that would make the present
scant courtesy seem cordiality personi
fied. Pierce Mays, a satellite of McBrlde,
and a protege of Mitchell, Is paying his
debts by accepting a candidacy on the
Adullamlte Legislative ticket. Mays
was United States Attorney. Mitchell
made him so. His brother Is now Dep
uty United States Attorney. McBrlde
made him so. The Mays candidacy is
an advertisement of the McBride
Mltchell policy, a conspicuous and un
derstandable proclamation of the de
votion of those statesmen to Republi
can principles and their maintenance.
Attention Is called to the synopsis of
the Alaska act, printed elsewhere. It
Is made up from the latest mall text of
the bill, with amendments Incorporated
from special telegraphic reports ob
tained from Washington. The article
should be preserved by all Interested
In the matter, as the House Is expected
to pass the bill without amendment.
This is probably its final form.
Nothing Hepburn could say would be
too severe to characterize the base
treachery of those professed friends of
the Nicaragua Canal who, like Cannon,
deny themselves no weapon that may
compass Its defeat. It is subject for
rejoicing that at last a man has risen
In Congress to denounce these pretend
ers to their face.
Jones of Arkansas casts Bryan's
horoscope, and says that he Is certain
to win. This is the same Chairman
Jones that in 1896 industriously main
tained for a week after election that
McKlnley was beaten. Jones' faith In
himself Is great enough to move the
mountains of his own insufficiency.
If there is any truth in the purpose of
the Boers to migrate to America, it will
be a hard Jolt for the amis. Is It pos
sible the burghers are ignorant what a
bloodthirsty crowd of conquerors and
tyrants we are In this country? At
kinson and Winslow have been neglect
ing their duty.
All might be made lovely for the as
piring Newlands If Nevada had three
Senators. Its right to three Is as un
impeachable as its right to two.
PROHIBITION IN MAINE.
Impossibility of Enforcement Con
sequent Corruption. '
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
A brief but pointed statement presented
by the Portland Press indicates once
again that prohibition in Moino does not
prohibit.
Tho people of Portland, that newspaper
says, "are beginning to get very tired of
paying the bills of the farcical process
known as suppressing tho liquor traffic,"
and the cause of their weariness Is the
discovery that, for certain reasons, the
suppression of the traffic Is not at all
desirable from the viewpoint of the offi
cers of the law. The people have been
long-suffering, continues the Press. "Year
after year they have contributed large
sums to the Sheriff's office for tho pur
pose of shutting up the rum shops, and
the rum shops are as numerous and wide
open today as ever. Two men are con
stantly employed at a liberal per diem
and fees, whoso rsole duty it Is to shut up
tho rum shops; yet, unless appearances
are misleading, the rum shops Increase
rather than diminish In numbers. As the
law Is now, it offers a constant and pow
erful temptation to keep the rum shops
open."
It appears that the Maine liquor law Is
so framed that every rum shop shut up
means a loss of opportunity for fees, for
no seizures can be made In closed shops,
and every new rum shop opened means a
gain of opportunity for fees. Tho fees are
Just as large for seizing a "sprinkler" of
beer and a bottle of whisky as for seiz
ing a-hogshead of liquor, and It Involves
much less trouble to carry off the sprink
ler than the hogshead, besides having
less tendency to, afrjlt -UP tfcc 2ho, acd
thereby put an end to an opportunity for
future fees. 'If the lawmakers," adds the
Press, "had set to work to devise a
scheme for encouraging the officers of the
law to keep the rum shops open, they
could not have' concocted a better one
than the so-called Sheriff enforcement
act."
Here we have the latest chapter of an
old a very old story. The liquor traffic
In Maine has not been suppressed; It has
simply taken on a succession of new
forms. It has created no deep-rooted
temperance sentiment. It has brought the
temperance cause arid the temperance
people Into ridicule. It has closed some
saloons, but It has encouraged the estab
lishment of secret resorts, backroom barrel-houses,
whisky clubs, beer cellars,
"blind pigs" and the like, demoralized
the drug stores, and created the hip
pocket habit a more pernicious evil than
any from which its people have escaped.
AN END OF QUAY
And the Difference Between Ills
Claim and Mr. Corbett'a.
Springfield Republican.
The Pennsylvania boss falls in his at
tempt to break Into the United States
Senate, by the slender margin of a single
vote. This Is so far satisfactory. It saves
a well established and wholesome Senato
rial precedent. It keeps out a man who
was never a credit to that body, and It
spares the country the spectacle of Its
highest legislative body casting aside set
tled constitutional considerations. In or
der to confer a personal favor upon such
a man as Quay. It means the end of the
boss as a factor In American politics.
Nevertheless the vote is far from cred
itable to the Senate. During tho last Con
gress, when the Senate was composed
much as It Is now, ex-Senator Henry W.
Corbett of Oregon, was refused a seat on
the governor's appointment after a fail
ure of the Legislature to elect, by a vote
of 50 to 19. Essentially the same constitu
tional question was Involved In that case
aa In this. In both cases the Legislature
had confronted a vacancy In the state's
representation, and through factional
strife had been thrown Into a deadlock
which prevented the filling of the va
cancy. Thereupon the Governor of the
state In each case had proceeded to fill
the vacancy. But In the Quay case the
Governor was required by the state con
stitution to call the Legislature together
again to elect a senator. The Governor,
evidently a tool of the boss, refused to
do this, and made an appointment of his
own. The only other difference between
the two cases worth noting is that Mr.
Corbett was a man of high character and
ability, while Mr. Quay Is a man known
the country over as a corruptlonlst, who
in public office has employed public funds
In private speculations, and whose whole
public career reeks with the scandals of
a party service debauched to forward
personal ends.
But Corbett was refused a seat by an
overwhelming majority. Quay Is refused
a seat by one majority. It appears that
most of the new senators, who were not
on record In the Corbett case, voted for
Quay. But a number who recorded them
selves against Corbett repudiated tnelr
views of the Constitution as proclaimed at
that time, turned about and gave a help
ing hand to the boss. These men. to whom
the ambition of a disreputable boss Is of
more consequence than the Constitution
and tho laws deserve to be mentioned
apart from the others. They were:
Senators who voted against Corbett and tot
Quay:
Carter of Montana. Nelson of Minnesota.
Cullom of Illinois. Penrose of Penn.
Dai is of Minnesota. Shoup of Idaho.
Deboe of Kentucky. Warren of "Wyomlnjr.
Jones of Nevada.
These men present as bad a case of self
stultlncatlon as can be found in the rec
ords of the Nation.
The Quay case represents high-water
mark In the movement to save the present
method of electing United States sena
tors from break-down by bringing In the
Governor to fill vacancies which legisla
tive intrigue and discord have left open
and often purposely to force Into the Sen
ate men who are not wanted there by
the majority of the Legislature. It is
well that this is so. If the states In tho
constitutional way cannot keep their rep
resentation in the Senate full, let them
be compelled to put up with partial rep
representatlon or none at all, or com
pel a change to election by popular vote.
The warning Is a wholesome one.
MORE GOOD APPOINTMENTS.
The President Seems to Be Profit
ing by III Early MlKtalces.
Chicago Tribune.
The President has made two apparently
commendable appointments for tho new
civil government in Porto Rico. Professor
J. H. Hollander, of Johns Hopkln3 Uni
versity, has been named for Treasurer of
the island and John R. Garrison, an of
ficial connected In different responsible
capacities with the Treasury Department
for nearly 20 years, has been made Aud
itor. These gentlemen, together with a
Secretary, an Attorney-General, a Com
missioner of the Interior and a Commis
sioner of Education, will constituto the
heads of the six departments of the gov
ernment, and will be members ex-officlo
of tho Executive Council or upper cham
ber of the Legislature,
Both these appointees have already had
some experience in the Island. Mr. Garri
son has performed certain services there
In connection with the administration of
customs, and, on request of General Davis,
Professor Hollander went to Porto Rico
several weeks ago to study the subject of
taxation and to recommend needed changes
In that Important branch of tho govern
ment. He published about a year ago an
exhaustive historical study of the finances
of Baltimore, and his appointment Is a
recognition of the value of expert knowl
edge and studious habits in an administra
tive officer.
Of tho four department heads still to be
named by the President, none Is of more
Importance than that of Commissioner of,
Education. The Island has as yet made
little substantial progress toward con
structing an educational system. Out of a
population of nearly 1000.000 only 30,000
are even claimed to be in the public
schools, and the private schools are unim
portant. Proper school furniture Is almost
totally lacking, tho supply of text-books
Is insufficient, and, most serious of all,
there Is on absence both of competent
teachers and of any proper educational
tradition. Indeed, the field Is almost un
worked, and what has been done educa
tionally In the past Involves embarrass
ments as well as advantages. The poverty
of the people and tho dearth of roads In
the interior ,4jtill further complicate the
problem and 'mark It as one calling for
an unusual order of ability In the Com
miseloncr who Is to deal with It.
Under tho energetic and enthusiastic
headship of Superintendent Frye the pub
lic school system of Cuba to having a
rapid eonstructivo development. Involving
not oiriy new supples, but also ambitious
schemes for bringing 1000 or 1500 of the
teachers to Harvard thlo Summer for a
normal course and then taking them for
a tour of observationi through this coun
try. Porto Rico may not demand pre
cisely such dramatic expedients as these
last proposed events promise to be. but
Its need for a man of superior qualifica
tions to build up its educational life Is
only too painfully evident. If President
McKlnley shall succeed in finding a man
equal to the demand he will not thereby
reflect more credit upon himself than he
will confer permanent blessings upon tho
island.
Queered Himself.
Chicago Tribune.
Populist Politician We came mighty'
near nominating Thiggins for Governor
at our convention the other day. Ha
wanted the nomination, too.
Sympathizer What knocked him out?
Populist Politician Somebody showed a
letter he had written to a friend, in which
ho said In olosing: "We are all well and
prospering, and hope you are the same."
We couldn't put up a man who would
talk like thflk jou know. In. a Presiden
tial year,
GOSSIP OF THE NATIONAL CAPTIAL
WASHINGTON, May 2. Senator Simon
said today that no matter what course
the "steering committee" or any other
Senators might take he would vote to take
up the Nicaragua Canal bill when the
opportunity is offered. Ho thinks it is
very important that the legislation should
pass, and will not consent to any further
delays. It Is understood that an effort
will be made to prevent consideration of
the Nicaragua bllL
Oregon Items la Saadrr Civil Bill.
The sundry civil bill contains the follow
ing items, of interest to Oregon in addi
tion to those already sent:
Salem Postofflce $25,000
Tender for 13th lighthouse district.. 90,000
Light and fog signals. Brown's Point,
Washington 6,000
Storehouses. Tongue Point, Oregon 5,000
Election, of Senators.
Tho proposition has been made that a
people's convention should be called for
tho purpose of amending the Federal Con
stitution so as to provide for the election
of Senators 'by the direct vote of the peo
ple. The change in the Constitution is
demanded by 3-1 of the 45 states, but so
far the Senato has never been willing to
submit the question to the people, and.
In order to make tho Senate act upon the
subject, a great convention has been sug
gested. Of course, if such a Constitutional
convention Is held, It will be a representa
tive body, and Senator Depew points out
that in that event the larger states will
go farther and demand that the amend
ment for the election of Senators by direct
vote of the people hall be coupled with
an amendment providing that the repre
sentation of the states In the Senate shall
be according to the population. Instead of
allowing two Senators to every state.
Much has been said about the inequality
of the representation, and oftentimes it
has been pointed out that Nevada, with
45,000 people. Is equal to New York, with
over 6.000.000 people. This phase of the
case may not have occurred to those who
would have a representative body model
this portion of the Constitution. Of course
If the two propositions were dependent up
on each other, It Is evident that they
-would not be adopted, as small states
would be able to defeat the amendment.
It requires a vote of three-fourths of the
states to amend the Constitution, and It
is plain to see that more than one-fourth
of the states would be vitally affected by
enlarging the representation of the larger
states, and possibly reducing the reprsen
tation of tho smaller states.
Careless Congressmen.
If the character of members of Congress
Is Indicated by the bills they Introduce,
there are some very slovenly Individuals
occupying seats in the National Legisla
ture, although to some Instances clerks
are responsible, although the members get
the credit for It. Possibly 30 per cent ot
the bills that are introduced In Congress
are neatly and properly prepared. An
other 30 per cent may be typographically
correct, as printer's copy runs, but they
are slouchy and slovenly in appearance,
and do not show any care in their prepar
ation, and tne remaining 40 per cent are
slapped together In any shape, and the
members or Senators trust to the Judgment
of the printer to get out a bill that con
veys the Ideas they had In mind when they
offered the bill. Some times old bills from
past Congresso are reintroduced, and in
most such cases the original bill is pasted
down on the blank form and submitted.
Commending Tongne's Speeches.
Representative Tongue feels quite proud
of the speech he delivered, early In the
session on the financial question, espe
cially in face of several -compliments he
has received on it of late. First, a-llberal
extract was made from the speech and
printed with extracts of other speeches on
the same subject, and distributed by the
National committee for campaign pur
poses throughout the United States. Then,
too, "the papers in various parts of the
country have taken up the speech and
given It favorable Indorsement from time
to time. Recently Mr. Tongue had a let
ter from a Government official down in
Indian Territory, saying It was the best
financial speech he ever read, and ask
ing for a large quantity, to circulate
among the people down there, who were
Inclined to the sliver belief. Mr. Tongue
has also received many letters commend
ing his speech on the Second Oregon Regi
ment, both from members of the regiment
and from friends of the men of the Sec
ond. All In all, he feels that he has
been quite successful with the speeches
he has made at this session.
General Funston'g Methods.
Julian F. Trask, of New Hampshire,
who is In the Government employ in the
Philippine Islands, has recently written
a letter to a friend at home, which the
Portsmouth Chronicle publishes. Incident
ally, he says: "I am not so hopeful as I
was two months ago that this war Is to
cease, although at present the ladrones
and robbers aro about all our boys come
across In this section 'of Luzon. These
fellows have been fighting for a hundred
years, and they will not lie down quietly,
and the sooner the Government stops
fighting on Its high ground of civilization
and shoots the Insurgents when found
with bolos the better we will be o'ff. Gen.
era! Funston seem; to be doing good
work, and a friend of mine, who has been
with him away over near Baler, tells ma
of his method of warfare, and I like it,
and wish we had -more of it. We are
losing more singly or In pairs of our boys
by the bolo than, we have had killed In
battle, and it is time an example was
made."
Confession of Jndgmcnt on the Goe
be! Ln.Tr.
Louisvnio Courier-Journal, April 27.
All our present evils have sprung- direct
ly from the partisan election law enacted
amid the angry passions of a period of
great excitement. It was Intended to make
Democratic victories certain. Republican
victories impossible. ... It should be
repealed and a perfectly fair, nonpartisan
law enacted In Its place. But. outside of
mere party considerations, there are the
strongest reasons of morality for rescind
ing It It should never have been enacted
In the first place. It would never have
been i enacted except by a Legislature
given over to political revenges and blind
to consequences.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
Tho Reason for It. "That's a queer name
you'vo chosen for your horse. Bad Egg. "
"It's a bully name. A bad egg can't be beat"
Harlem Life.
The Root She Oh, no. They're not In trade.
They have a family tree, I'd have you know.
He Yes, but it grew from a small manufac
turing plant back la the early 203. Philadel
phia Press.
"Some men," said Uncle Eben. "prides
delrse'f on bein" honest simply because dey's
done 'ranged delr businesses so dat dey has
agents hired to do ail de curious transactions
foh 'em." "Washington Star.
Almost the Same. McJIgger Tou say he lost
all the money he had. How? Thingumbob
By his speculations. McJigger So? "Well, in
the first place, how did he get any money to
loe that way? Thingumbob By his pecula
tions. Philadelphia Press.
"Frank, what Is a heliograph?" asked Mrs.
Bloomneld. She had been reading the South
African war news, you will have observed.
"It's an instrument to throw light on a dis
tant situation." replied Mr. Bloomneld. Pitts
burg Chronicle-Telegraph.
In Our Climate. Maud So you're going to
be Queen of the May tomorrow? Have you
your costume ready? Pauline Yes, Papa
bought me an extra heavy pair of gum boots,
a double-thick waterproof, a pair of mittens,
a pair of three-ply woolen stockings, a pair
of ear-muffs, and a new umbrella. Harlem
Life.
The Powers Occupied. "Allah be praised!"
fervently exclaimed the Grand Vizier, who had
been absorbing war news for three hours; "we
should be thankful we are at peace with the
world!" "I don't know about that" remarked
the Sultan; "there's nothing like showing the
people you are i, progressive nation. I was
Just thinking this would be a good time to put
my hand to tho plow and again spread civiliza
tion among- the Armenians t" Puck.
NOTE AND COMMENT -
When in doubt, the Boers set andbelt
a few traps.
A man Is known by the company he
keeps. So Is a theatrical manager.
Let Chicago howl itself hoarse. May is
Dewey's month. So- is not November.
The promoters of the ess trust might
have expected that It would be easily
smashed.
Depew What is a Nemesis, Teddy?
Roosevelt That's easj . It's a Vice-Presidential
nomination.
Hanna declares that "Indications point
to a sweeping Republican victory." With
Banna as tho roan behind tbo broom?
They are going to have a big crop of.
hemp In Kentucky this year. They will
prdbably need all of it right inUhe state-
How doth the patriotic boy
Sac up his cash to buy
A cannon that will ope tho sates
Of heaven next July.
Since Bryan ha3 learned that cornet
players understand triple toagulng he is
regretting that his musical education has
been neglected.
It is not always necessary for a mil
lionaire who wants to die poor to get into
the Senate. He can spend a few days at
tho Paris exposition.
It is now rumored that Lord Kltcnener
Is about to be married. He is certainly
undergoing a course of preparation for
some kind of a strenuous life.
Quite a novel method of carrying on tho
extensive ess trade between France and
England Is rapidly growing up. The new
system involves the breaking of the ess
shell and packing the whites and yolks
In air-tight vessels or drume, each con
taining tho contents of about 1000 eggs. It
Is not expected that the ordinary house
holder will become a customer for egss
so imported, but among pastry cooks and
large restaurant proprietors a largo sale
is developing. This desecrated ess stuff
will fill a long-felt want In restaurants
that have customers who are full of con
fidence and willing to be full of scrambled
and omeleted eggs without a look at the
unmixed yolk and white as it comes from
the shell to bo poached or fried. When
an ess Is bad It cannot bo scrambled into
a stowpaa too soon.
Under tho spreading chestnut tree
The village Jawsmlth stands;
The smith & windy man Is he.
"Who waves around his hands.
And limitless as faro is
Tho language he commands.
"Week In, week out. from mornto night.
You can hear this fellow bio;, r
You can hear him tell In many words
Tho things he doesn't know:
Like a woman Jaws her Iiusoand when
The coal is running low.
And children coming hoji trcna school
Look into his open face
And think how grandly he couldicoaci
A batter on third base.
Or call, "Bring up your horses," &t
The country trotting race.
Thanks, thanks, to thee, my wordy'frlesd.
For the lesson thou hast taught,
On how the use of many word3
Need not result from thought.
And how a fellow's tongue can was
"Whose mind is filled with naught
Professor Perslfer Frazer, a hand
writing expert was to have been the prin
cipal witness in Philadelphia, Pa., in the
case of the alleged forgery of the win of
the late Charles H. Mason, but when he
said he would rather affirm than swear,
ex-DIstrlct Attorney George S. Graham
interrupted him and asked him If he be
lieved in God.
Professor Frazer replied: "I neither be
lieve nor disbelieve, I do not know."
"Bo you believe In future rewards and
punishments?"
"I neither believe nor disbelieve. I do
not know," was again his answer.
Thereupon Mr. Graham asked that Pro
fessor Frazer be debarred from testify
ing on the ground that his word was not
worthy of credence. The request was
granted. There Is a law In Pennsylvania
making a belief in a Supreme Being ft
necessary qualification In a witness.
Philadelphia Is on the eve of a great
Improvement namely, the widening of
Fifteenth street so as to relieve the pres
ent congested condition of one of the chief
approaches to the Broad-street railway
station. The plan Is to remove the buIldV
ing on one side of the street from Market
to South Penn Square to a width of 13
feet and on the. north side of the square
to clear a space of 12 feet The driveway
of tho street will then, In each case, be
widened to the present house line, mak
ing a clear width of 38 feet The space
occupied by the buudlngstobe iora down
will be used for new sidewalks, the own
ers of the property to have the privilege
of buIWIng over them; In other words, to
create around this center of Philadelphia
an arcade like that of the Rue Rivoll and
tho Palais Royale, in Paris. Great sky
scraplnff buildings will be erected, the
first stories of which, on the outer lines,
will be given over as an arcade sidewalk,
as perfect though not of so great length,
as tho famous ones of Paris. In addi
tion, a beautiful bridge Is to be thrown
across the thoroughfare at Fifteenth and
Market streets, approach to which will be
by commodious stairways that will not
encroach on the new arcaded sidewalks.
The improvement promises to be as pict
uresque and beautiful as it Is useful.
Nine From Eight.
Sidney Lanier.
I was drivln my two-mule waggln,
"With a lot o truck for sale.
Towards Macon, to git somo baggln'
(Which niy cotton was ready to bale).
And I come to a place on the side o' the plio
Whar a peert little winter branch Jest ha4
throwed
The sand in a. kind of a sand bar like,
And I seed, a leetle way3 up the road.
A man squattin down, like a big bull toad.
On the ground, a-figgerin thar in the sand
"With his finger, and motlonln with his hand,
And he looked like Elllck Garry.
And as I driv up, I heerd him bleat
To hlsself. like a lamb: "Huah! nine from
eight
Leaves nothin' and none to carry?
"Them Aggers Is got me under the hack.
I can't,see how to git oufn the muss.
Except to Jestnafally fall and bus'!
My crap-leen call3 for nine hundred and mora,
My counts o sales is eight hundred and four.
And thar It "la down all squar and straight
But I can't make it g!, fur nine from eight
Leaves nothin' and none to carry."
Then I says: "Hello, here. Garry,
However you 8181 and frown.
There's somethln' fur you to carry.
Fur you've worked It upside down!"
Then he rlr and "walked to his little bjll-cart
And made like he neither had seen nor heerd
Nor knowed that I knowed of his raskllly part.
And he tried to look as if he wa'nt feared.
And gathered his lines like he never keorcd.
And he driv down the road 'bout a quarter o?
so.
And then looked around, and I hollered;
"Hello,
Look here. Mister Elllck Garry!
You may git up soon and lie down late.
But you'll always find that nine from eight
Leaves nothin' and none to carry."
i'
I