Tu. vaEisj
THE MORNING - OREGONIAtf, THURSDAY, iOCTOBEB- , 1900.
MUST HAVE MONEY
Police Commissioners Write
the Council a Letter
SAY SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
Threaten, to Dlscliai'ee All But
Doren MenBis; Day's Grist of .
' Routine Business.
At yesterday's meeting of the .City
Council & loan was made from the general
tfund to meet the September expenses of
the police department, the possibility of
continuing1 the department was discussed,
n. street-car license ordinance was passed,
cad much routine business was transact
ed. To have a police department, or not to
have one, le the question confronting the
city officials. According to Mayor Bowe
and the members of the Police Commis
sion, the answer, depends on the decision'
to be rendered in the vehicle license case
coming up today in Judge Cleland's court,
-and the action of the Supreme Court
thereon. The Mayor says that the court
-will be asked to decide whether funds can
ie used in any of the departments of the
city government beyond the amount
raised by the tax fixed in the charter.
The vehicle license ordinance is in,tended
to raise a fund for street repair, in addi
tion to the one-eighth of a mill provided
5by charter.
"When the court passes on the power of
the Council to do this, as well as the
power to Impose the license, the case will
"be accepted as applying to the police de
partment. If It is illegal to use more
than, one-eighth of a mill for street re
pair, it is Illegal to use more than 1
mills for maintaining the police depart
ment. Mayor Howe and the Commission
ers say they will cut the department down
to a naif dozen or dozen men immediately
after learning that the Supreme Court
holds no other fund is available for the
police department. All the police fund
ior the year has been used, and yester
day the Council paid September expenses
by loaning the required smount on the
eecurity of delinquent taxes due the fund.
The charter provides for a 1 mill tax
9 to replenish the police fund. With the
sweeping reduction made by the Assessor
in property valuations, receipts from this
source were cut down heavily, and al
ready the fund lor the year Is exhausted.
The Commissioners feel that If an appro
priation cannot be made from the gen
eral fund to establish a police fund they
would be laying themselves responsible
Individually for all debts contracted by
continuing business. In a communication
'to the Council they announced that they
'would not do this, but would discharge
(the members of the department when it
appeared that no further funds were
available. Their communication was as
follows:
"Portland, Oct. 2. To the -Honorable
Mayor and Common Council of the City
of Portland, Gentlemen: The Board of
3?ollce Commissioners beg leave to pre
sent to your honorable body a matter of
crave import to the city, and to request
your Immediate and earnest attention
thereto.
"The financial condition of the police de
partment is known to you, as well as is
ihe economy which has marked its con
duct, and the efficiency of a small force,
covering a very large territory, being now
less in number than was the force upon
the west side of the river before consoli
dation and the extension of the city lim
its. When. we say this force as a wb.de
is superior in its general personnel, wc
"but justly compliment an excellent body
of men.
"The funds of the department are ex
hausted. Under the regulations of the
charter there will be no more money due
the department from the tax levy until
3Iarch or April of next year. The City
Auditor, we understand, holds the view
"which we consider well founded, .that he
cannot legally draw warrants upon the
iunds of 1901 to pay expenses incurred by
'us for;the year 1900. "We are likewise of
the opinion that the Commissioners may
possibly oe held personally liable for any
-contraots made by them under present
conditions. Be this as it may, however,
we cannot keep in employment a body
of men with no certainty as to where
their remuneration is to come from, nei
ther can we provide for thet expenses of
the Police Court, which, with the excep
tion of the salaries of the Judge and
Clerk, wo have been doing heretofore.
""Unless your honorable body can devise
means for paying the force, we do not
.see clearly how we can continue Its serv
ices to the city. If we are rightly in
formed, the city's legal adviser has al
ready expressed his opinion favoring your
right to take care of the department from
the general fund, or to divert lor its main
tenance the funds collected through the
Police Court, which are ample for the
purpose. As to this, we have no course to
suggest or urge upon you. We deem It
proper, however, to thus notify you that
we cannot be the medium of supplying to
the city a service for which it does not
provide means. We are convinced that
you will do all that you consistently can,
rather than force the only alternative
of a general discharge. As our action in
the matter must be immediate upon yours,
we trust that you will decide as to your
power at this session. Respectfully yours.
"THE BOARD OP POLICE COMMIS
SIONERS, by Louis Rau, Secretary."
Loan From General Fnnd.
An ordinance was passed transferring
55195 9S the amount of September ex
penses In the police department to the
police fund. This Is not an absolute trans
fer, but a loan made from the general
fund, on the security of delinquent taxes
due the police fund. After passing the
ordinance. Councilman Masters, chairman
of the judiciary and elections committee,
introduced the following resolution, which
was adopted by the Council "by unanimous
vote:
""Whereas, upon the transfer to the po
lice fund of sufficient money to meet duIs
for the current month, said fund will have
been loaned a sufficient amount to prac
tically exceed the security formed by the
delinquent taxes due said fund, and there
will be no security for the repayment or
any further loans, and the right of the
Common Council to levy a license tax Is
being contested in the courts; therefore,
"Resolved, That the Common Council
will not loan, or advance any further sum
to the police fund after the payment of
the September bills, until the determina
tion by the courts of the validity of the
license ordinance recently passed by the
Council."
There Is a difference of opinion among
the officials over the right to. make such
an appropriation outright from the gen
eral fund. The fire department also has
exhausted its fund. The Council voted to
give the fire fund all taxes In arrears be
yond a certain date, whlchhave been the
means of keeping the department abreast
of expenses. Some say that if this di
version could be made to the Are depart
ment, which Is provided lor by a fixed
mill tax In the charter, a similar or other
appropriation could be made for the police
fund. Since the new policy was adopted
enough money is being collected In fines
by the Municipal Court to maintain the
police department. Why should not this
3e devoted to the department? is the ques
tion asked by some CouncilmenT The
case in court is Intended to decide the
question for all time, and wi)l be pushed
through as speedily as possible.
General Business.
Several ordinances fixing the time and
manner of street improvements and sewer
construction, and determining the prob
able cost of improvements, were passed.
The Surveyor's report on straightening
Seventh street, at the intersection of
Ankeny, was adopted by ordinance,' and
at the next meeting of the Council it will
be in order to appoint viewers to assess
the damage done property dedicated.
Quarterly reports of the City Treasurer
and Auditor were received. An ordinance
was passed amending the blanket license
ordinance by classifying mercantile agen
cies. The amendment provides that those
charging their patrons $66 per annum
shall be known as flrst-class and pay a
license of $25 per quarter; and those,
charging patrons less than that shall
constitute the second class, and pay a;
quarterly license of $10. Section 7 of the
blanket license ordinance was also
amended by striking out paragraphs 34
and 35 and altering 53 so as to leave
hawkers paying the same license paid be
fore the enactment of the blanket license
ordinance. Authority was given Auditor
Devlin to issue about $19,000 street Im
provement and sewer construction bonds.
These are included In the. 125,000. lot .con
tracted for a short time ago, .and repre
sent such work- as- Is completed to date.
The ordinance regulating and classifying
street-cars, which is intended to Increase
the revenue derived from this source, wa3
unanimously passed.
Books Audited.
Mayor Rowe appointed Councilman W.
T. Branch some time ago to expert the
books of the City Auditor's and Treasur
er's, offices for the terms preceding the
present administration. The Mayor's ap
pointment of an auditor was under Sec 87
of the charter. In transmitting the Audi
tor's report lie said: "I respectfully rec
ommend, that the report be embodied in
the minutes of the Council meeting, and
placed on file with the Auditor." Mr.
Branch's report is as follows:
"Portland, Or., Sept 29. Hon. H. B.
Rowe, Mayor of the City of Portland
Dear Sir: In accordance with the au
thorization contained in your favor of
July 11, 1900, I have examined the books
and accounts of the Auditor and Treas
urer oTt the City of Portlandnfor the period
of time within the dates of January-1,
1893, and June 30, 1900, inclusive. This
period covers the administration of A N.
Gambell as Audtior, and that portion of
the administration of Frank Hacheney as
stated above.
On January 1, 1893, there was
in the treasury tlie sum of .$ 165,334 10
Receipts from January 1, 1893
to June 30, 1900 6,695.320 57"
Total $5,831,654 67
Total amount distursements.$6,579,939 61
Balance on hand July 1, 1900.? 251,7i5 06
"On the morning of July 5, 1900, I veri
fied the account of the Treasurer, as to
the amount of money on hand, deposited
in banks, or evidenced by coupons and
warrants paid, and found the same to be
correct. I have the honor' to report that
every dollar received and every dollar
disbursed has been correctly and properly
accounted for, and the vouchers for all
disbursements are filed in the office of
the Auditor of this city. The system of
accounting adopted in the Auditor's office
I do not think can be improved upon. It
is a complete check upon all the business
of the city, and the frequent comparison
of -balances between the Auditor and
Treasurer serves to have the accounts
correct. The quarterly, semiannual and
annual reports of both offices I find to bo
correct. I wish to compliment S. Grutze,
Chief Deputy Auditor, who has kept the
books of the Auditor's office over 10 years,
upon having the Cleanest, neatest set of
books I ever saw, free" from any evi
dences of corrections or mistakes.
"Thanking you for your kind consider
ation in appointing me to this service, I"
am, respectfully yours,
"W. T. BRANCH."
Streets and Se-we'rs. " "
The communication from, the Taxpayers' '
League regarding the ' cleanliness of
streets was referred, on motion of Coun
cilman Bronaugh, to ' tlie committee on
health and police for careful considera
tion. A petition for Increase" of the li
cense on candy peddlers to $5 a quarter
was referred to the license committee;
City Engineer Chase communicated 'that
as Winter was approaching, there was
urgent need of repairs to large sewers
and other parts of the drainage system,
and asked for an appropriation of $416 to
hire help. He has dispensed with the
services of one draughtsman for three
months, which gives him $225 more than
he would otherwise have had to apply to
labof.
The following recommendations from
the committee on streets were actedupon:-
Petltlon for improvement of Second
street between Morrison and Madison;
granted.
Improvement of East Eleventh between
Belmont and East Gllsan; granted.
Improvement of north halt of East Oak
between East Fifteenth and East Six
teenth streets; granted.
Improvement of Tillamook street;
granted.
Petition of Ona'Watson Sloane for dam
ages on account of extension of Sixteenth
street; placed on file.
Improvement of" ' East Twenty-sixth
street; remonstrance granted.
"Improvement of East Thlrty-nrst be
tween Belmont and East Salmon;
granted.
Improvement of East. Twelfth between
Clinton and Hawthorne; remonstrance
granted.
Improvement of East Tenth street be
tween Division and Hawthorne avenue;
remonstrance granted.
Improvement of East Oak street be
tween East Twelfth and East Fifteenth;
granted.
Report of the viewers for the opening,"
laying out and establishing of Twentieth,
Vaughn and Upshur streets, at and in
the vicinity of the intersection; adopted.
Improvement of East Thirty-fifth be
tween Hawthorne avenue and East Stark,
streets; grantd. k
The following recommendations from
the committee on sewers and drainage
were acted upon:
From Health Commissioner Menefee,
for construction of sewer on Bancroft
street; adopted.
Application for construction of sewer on
East Yamhill and other streets: remon
strance granted. v
Application for construction of seweron
Kerby street, between Knott and Russell;
granted. ,
Construction- of sewer on Schuyler
street; petition placed on file.
Construction of a sewer on East Alder
street, between East Thirty-third and
East Thirty-fourth; granted.
Ordinances were passed declaring the
time and manner of improving East
Twenty-ninth street, between Belmont
and .East Salmon; East Eighth street, be
tween Tillamook and Thompson; East
Tenth street, between 'Tillamook and
Thompson; East Ninth street, between
Tillamook and Thompson; East -Seventh
street, between Tillamook and Thompson:
south half of Thompson street, between
East Seventh and East Eleventh; East
Fourteenth street, between Belmont and
East Davis; East Irving, between East
Twenty-third and East Twenty-fourth.
Ordinances were also passed declaring
the probable cost of improving Failing
street, "between Williams and Union ave
nues; Tillamook street, between Rodney
and Union avenues; Eugene street, be
tween Union avenue and East Seventh
street; Eugene street, between Williams
and Union avenues; Sacramento street,
between Willams and Union avenues: and
for the construction of sewers on Water
street, between Porter street and the
sewer on Wood street, and from Aber
nethy to the Thomas-Creek sewer, be
tween Grant and Pennoyer-streets. .
City Attorney Long's opinion on the
Second-street franchise problem was
read, after which Councilman Mulkey
move.d that the judiciary .committee "Be
instructed to prepare an ordinance com
pelling the railroad company to pay for
its proportionate share of the improve
ment. TO LICENSE STREET-CARS.
Snbstance of TVevr Ordinance Passed
lr Council. .
The street-car license ordinance enacted
yesterday Tjy the Common Council, seeks
to procure a larger revenue from this
source by stricter enforcement of - the
licenses provided in the franchise and the
re-arrangement of all cars into classes,
based on present standards,' rather than
those prevailing when horse-cas were in
vogue. The Increase of revenue to the city
is not estimated, and cannot, be known,
until the ordinance is in operation. A sec-
' tlon also regulates the use of flat-cars for
hauling gravel, etc.
Section 1 of the ordinance provides , that
"It shall bo unlawful for any person, firm,
corporation or joint stock company to op
erate street-cars by" electricity or any oth
er motive power, through or upon any
street or streets ' of the City of Portland,
without first obtaining a license so to do."
Any company desiring to operate cars is
required to file with the City Auditor a
correct statement of the number of tars
owned, leased' or to ' Ve operatd by such
company, and the number In each of the
classes hereinafter defined, and .to pay to
the City Treasurer the correct amount of
license designated in the ordinance or or
dinances granting the right and privilege
of operating cars. If an error shall occur
in arriving,, at the amount to be paid it
shall not prevent collection of the correct'
amoun.t when it shall, have been -ascertained,
i
All cars used for conveying passengers,
or goods, wares or merchandise, common
ly known as street-railway cars, as dis
tinguished from cars operated by steam,
shall be. classified as follows: Class A, IS
feet or under, In length of body; class B,
over, 18, and not over 30 feet; class C,
over 30 feet In length. . In previous ordi
nances where "one-horse" and "two
horse" cars are Indicated, one-horse shall
be Interpreted to mean cars 18 feet long
or under, and two-horse over 18 and un
der 30 feet in length.
Licenses are payable quarterly. If any
company desires "to Increase the number
of cars used for the accommodation of
the public on special occasions, it may be
done by making application, to the City
Auditor, stating the number in the re
spective classes to be used, the time th'ey
are to be used, and by payment to the
City Treasurer a proportionate sum of the
license for the operation of the cars. Com
panies, when taking advantage of this
privilege are required to note carefully
the time cars are taken from the barn and
when returned. Regarding the platform
cars, the ordinance provides as follows:
"It shall be unlawful to operate any
I platform. cars upon the .street or streets
or tne t;ity or .rortianu ior tno transpor
tation of earth, sand, gravel, stone, rock,
rails or ties, or wood, without having
suitable protection, both at the sides, and
the ends, so as effectually" to prevent the.
spilling or depositing of such material
upon the streets-through. wh,ich said cars
may be operated."
Street-car "companies have paid hereto
fore according to their own estimates, and
no especial effort has been made to ascer
tain If more cars were being used than
were licensed, or If cars used did not
properly belong to the classes in "which
they were placed.
The sums paid for the last quarter were
as follows: East Side Railway Company,
$75 for passenger cars and $5 for freight'
cars; City & Suburban, $346 25 for all;
Portland Railway Company, $225; Mer
chants' Express, $5. The payment of the
Portland Railway includes the cars of
the Portland Traction Company, as the
license became due after consolidation of
their Interests. The only company for
-which entry is made of the amount per
car, and the number of cars is the 'City
& Suburban, In its statement, the total
of $346 25 Is apportioned as follows: Four
cars' on the West Side, at $6 25 a car; 3
on the West Side; at $12 50 a car; 12- on
the East Side, at $7 50 a car, and eight in
Alblna, at $6 25 a car.
The great difficulty that will result in
fixing standards for the different compa
nies will be appreciated when. It is con
sidered that the present systems are op
erating under franchises granted by three
separate and distinct cities Portland,
"East Portland and Alblna When the fran
chises were granted, the rates of llcenre
wer' fixed. Sometimes the same city'
would give a different rate to accompany"
than that which had been granted to ons
holding an. earlier franchise. -Then there
were six or eight-systems. Now systems
have been consolidated until only two re
main, excluding the -East Side - Railway,
which operates to Oregon City and Mount
Scott. These two large systems operate
under all the various franchises-originally
granted. Where a car once confined its
travel to Alblna, or East Portland, it now
starts at a remote suburb, paslng perhaps
over three or four of the old systems be
fore It reaches the end of the line. Sup
pose a franchise had been granted in Al
'bina, allowing cars to operate on a $6 50.
license. Suppose the Third-street line of
the City & Suburban In getting its fran
chise had been taxed $12 a car. Suppose
still another rate had been charged to the
grantees -of the .Morrison-street franchise
and another to Gllsan-street line. One car
traverses the entire distance. Which fran
chise is to regulate the license? If the
company Is -to determine, naturally the
lowest rate will be 'favored, if possible.
Councllmen' think this has been the rule
In the past with the companies. No one
seems to understand the exact effect of
th'e ordinance passed, whether or not the
difficulty will be lessened. ,- By enacting
It and Inaugurating stricter measures, its
authors expect good resultB:
"QUO VADIS ? TONIGHT.
Will Be the Attraction at the Mar-qnam-'-Wang"
by Boston. Lyrics.
One of the season's most important
first appearances here will be that of the
original "Quo Vadls?" at the Marquam
tonight, Friday night and Saturday mat
inee, October 4, 5 and 6. Money has
been spent lavishly in getting the play
ready for the stage, and much is ex
pected of it. Music, which is to be a
feature of the production, has had great
attention. Julian Edwards, composer" of
a number of successful operas, wrote the
music " which Includes -hymns for 'the
pagans, the vestal virgins and the Christ
ians, the wild, maddening dances of the
KCorybantes, the lament of the Emperor
Nero over his dead child, the "bacchan
alian chants, Wng by the revelers at
Nero's banquet, and thematic muslo
throughout the play. To interpret this
music, a chorus Is employed. The cos
tumes, made from designs of R. Seidel,
were manufactured by the great costum
ing firm of Baruch, in Berlin, Germany,
and are copies of the rbes -depicted in
works of art, ancient and modern.
Mr. Stange has stuck close to Slenkle
wlcz' story In making his play. The re
ligious side of the book has been accent
uated, the third act in particular show
ing the struggles of the early Christians
and their supreme devotion.
The scenery, which was painted in New
York by Frank E. Dodge, shows eight
Bets the peristyle of Petronlus' house,
the gardens at the home of Aulus Plau
tlus, the gardens and palace of Nero's
palace. -Petronlus' villa at Antlum, the
garden at Linus' house with a panoramic
view of the burning of Rome, another
view of Nero's palace, the -Interior of the
Mamertine prison, and the exterior of the
circus, showing the arena and. podium.
x Two Superb Effects.
The big banjo -scene in '"Wang" will
prove a -sensation when tho opera isr pre
sented at Cordray's next Sunday for four
nights and Saturday matinee by the Bos
ton Lyric Opera Company. This Is one of
the greatest scenes in the' opera, and it
has always been received with unbound
ed enthusiasm. This scene has been done
before only by De Wolf Hopper; otner
companies cutting it out entirely, on ac
count of the, expense to-produce it, and
also to have the people, taught how to
play the Instrument? Another very -'attractive
feature that Is always, cut by
traveling, companies Is the gavotte. There
is an assurance, however, that none of
these features will be cut when "Wang"
is presented here, as., the opera will be
presented with every detail as originally
done in New York City. The" "Boston
Lyric production of "Wang" is positively
the only authorized version of -the-opera
played' under 'special contract.
TO KEEP STREETS CLEAN
TAXPAYERS' LEAGUE URGES EN
FORCEMENT ' OF LAWS1..
Amendments to Secare Economy in
County Affairs Adopted, and Bills
t , to Be Prepared.
Tho Taxpayers League held Its first
meeting since the Summer vacation, yes
terday. -There was a large attendance,
and much Interest was manifested. The
question of clean streets was the first or
der -of business. The league had sent a
letter to the Board of Police Commission
ers, the Board of Public Works arid the
Mayor, calling attention to the fact that
the ordinance providing penalties to pun
ish persons throwing garbage in the
streets are being violated, and suggest
ing that they be rigidly enforced.
,i Reply of Commissioners.
The Board of Police' Commissioners has
replied to the effect that so far as the
limited force at its disposal will permit
they will scomply with tlie league's re
quest. The members'"-of the league, in
discussing the answer, held that "the Com
missioners had overlooked one important
point, and-that inthis case it is-not num
bers that count, but efficiency. The vio
lators of these ordinances live here; they
are not "strays" or hobos; they cannot
get away. The men that burn sidewalks
and throw trash Into the streets are citi
zens of Portland, and would report to.the
Police Station If 'requested to do so, as
they would know that if they did not, an
officer would call for them.
Who Gave Permission t
In addition, it was -stated that either
the Fire Commissioners or Chief of the
Fire Department had given? these con
tractors permission to burn sidewalks and
rubbish in the streets. The league will
take this matter up, ascertain whether
this is a fact, and if so, endeavor to have
the practice stopped. At any rate, the
league proposes to have the matter agi
tated until the city officials take a stand,
as In other well-regulated cities, against
the streets becoming the depository of all
sorts of rubbish. '
Amendments ns to Streets.
The report of the committee on streets
recently published In The Oregonlan was
submitted o the meeting. After a' lengthy
discussion, all of the recommendations of
the committee, which are as follows,
were adopted, and the legislative commit
tee directed to prepare an amendment to
the charter In 'accordance therewith:
"First Allow the adjacent property to
petition for-a street. Improvement, as at
present, but give to the Council or Board
of Public Works the- power to decide on
the manner and kind of street to be laid.
"Second Provide that the city keep
the street in repair for a certain length
of time after an "improvement is accept
ed, eayfor the life of the pavement the
life of ,the pavement to be considered to
bo as long as the annual cost of repair
does not exceed the interest on the cost
of a new street.
"Third Provide a fund for repairs suf
ficient to do the ( work properly -by a di
rect levy of 1 mill on all the property
in the city,, aided by a tax on vehicles
when necessary. . ,- ,
"Fourth Require a good concrete foun
dation to be laid under all brick, asphalt,
wooden or Belgian block pavements.
''Fifth-The city to pay for the Im
provement and maintenance of street in
tersections." General Legislation Desired.
The following amendments reported by
the committee on legislation were agreed
to:
. Schools: l v i -
. "Amend the law "relating to "tHe pay
ment of school moneys by the County
Treasurer so it" shall be payable monthly
Instead of quarterly. This change will
result in a large saving In interest every
year; will avoid having the school fund
temporarily embarrassed between pay
ments, and do away with the necessity of
making temporary -loans.
"If legislation is necessary to effect it,
a law should be passed directing the levy
of a special tax eaoh year to meet tho
bonded ' Indebtedness - of the district,
amounting to $100,000, accruing In 1913, ana
providing for the deposit of the moneys
so Taised in the "bank paying the largest
amount of Interest therefor, such deposit
to be properly secured.
County Affairs.
"Amend the law relating to the collec
tion of taxes by repealing that part of It
relating to advertising delinquents, and
make the tax a direct lien; provide for
semiannual payments, and a heavy pen
alty for failure to pay when due; provide
for the issuance of certificates against the
property if the owner will not pay the
taxes, and parties other than the owner
will, with the right to have a deed Issued
under proper conditions and restrictions,
if not redeemed within a certain period.
In general, the plan adopted in the State
ofi Washington was favored, with amend
ments to suit our own conditions. The
County Treasurer should collect the taxes,
and there Is no occasion for the creation
of any new .office for this purpose, or any
additional expense:, on the contrary, the
result should be a lessening of the ex
pense, even for clerk hire, for, if the
County Treasurer were made collector of
taxes and required to keep the books
open constantly, a limited amount of
clerk hire would "be sufficient to carry 6n
the office, and there Is no occasion for
creating another department for this pur
pose. "Repeal the law creating the office of
County Commissioner, and re-enact the
former law, with such amendments as ex
perience has demonstrated to be benefi
cial, paying the County Commissioners a
per diem for their services when actually
'engaged on county business.
"If possible, enact a law, with proper
penalties, making It imperative for all
officers, such as Clerks of Courts, Sher
iffs, Recorders, etc., to give their entire
time to the" business of their respective
offices during legal office hours.
"It constitutional, provide for funding
the present county debt in non-assessable
bonds bearing 3 per" cent Interest and
running for different -periods of time, and
'provide a sinking fund for their payment.
i "Abolish one' justice court and confer
civil jurisdiction on the Municipal Court.
'Prepare constitutional amendment to
submit to the Legislature, granting to
cities of over 5000 inhabitants the right to
adopt their own charters.
"A law to abolish tho present County
Board of Equalization and- creating a new
one, consisting of throe taxpayers, none
of whom shall be the' Assessor.
' Public Moneys.
"A law requiring all public moneys to
be deposited In Institutions designated by
law, under proper bonds and safeguards,
and in some such manner as- is provided
by 'Congress creating depositories for the
public funds of the "United States.
"Amend the law relating to receiving in
terest on public funds' so a? to make it a
penal offense to pay, "as well as to re
ceive, Interest on public moneys, except
where Interest Is provided by law.
" County Clerk.
"Amend .the law relative to the office of
County Clerk, particularly in relation to
the work of copying the assessment rolls
and other documents, of like nature, by
which repeated copies are. made, which
adds expense without any benefit what
ever. sThe law relating to fees to'be paid by
-estates should also be changed, and while
an arbitrary fee .of $5 and. $10 should, be
charged, lrraddltion thereto, there should
be charged or, exacted ,a fee for each
.paper filed thereafter,' andfor all work in
connection- therewith
County Auditor..
"The law relating to this office should
be amended so as to have the County
Auditor elected by the people, and for a
term of four year; 'req.ulr bonds from
him, and make it his duty to pass upon
all accounts, with mandatory directions
kto reject'all not In accordance with law;
and 'with power, to administer oaths. In
addition to the present reports and ex
hibits made by the -Auditor, his reports
should also show all contracts entered
Into by the "county for the time covered,
by such report, the name of. the contrac
tor, the work contracted for, .the amount
of the same, and whether bonds were" re
quired, and the amount, if any, and
whether let privately or by public bidding.
County Surveyor nd Coroner.
"The law relating to' the payment of
County Surveyor and Coroner should be
so changed as to -provide -for the pay
ment of salaries to these officers, and all
fees should go to the ceunty.
"Amend the law relating to the compen
sation of the Sheriff, so there can be no
question that all fees collected by him
should be paid to the county.
- , Assessor's Office.
"The law now In force. in relation to the
manner of making assessments should be
amended so that the cost of the same
shall be reduced.
Contracts.
"A law should be enacted providing that
no contracts of any kind or character
shall be let except to the lowest bidder
and after due advertising."
County Record's Office.
Other suggestions made will be consid
ered at the next meeting of the league.
The .last report of the County Recorder's
office, showing receipts of that office to be
$3,70S. 80 and expenses $4,531 50, with a de
ficit of $S22 70, was discussed. As in the
opinion of the members this officer should
be not only self-sustaining, but income
bearing, It was decided to have the
league's committee investigate the matter
with a view to ascertaining whether the
copying could not be done on the folio
basis, rather than by salaried clerks.
The league will have bills prepared em
bodying the suggestions adopted and a
conference arranged with the Multnomah
members of tho Legislature, so that an
agreement may be reached on as many
points as possible before, the session
opens. The committee at work on the
matter of assessments did not report, but
at the next meeting the league will begin
Its discussion.
BAND OF WILD HORSES.
At Large in Aldrlch Mountains, and
Cannot Be Captured.
A band of wild horses that has thus
far defeated all attempts at capture
ranges on the summit of Aldrlch Moun
tain, In Grant County, according to the
Rowe Bros., stockmen of Dayville, now
at" the Perkins. Many attempts have
been made to surround the wily animals
of late years, but they spring from Wuff
to bluff where no horseman would dare
to venture, and so the pursuit has al
ways been abandoned.
In speaking of these wild horses, one
'of the Rowe brothers said yesterday:'
"There are probably 25 head In the
band, and when closely pressed they will
scatter, each one for hlmself4 rolling
down steep precipices, like so, many
bears, and climbing the jagged sides of
the next rimrock like, goats. They never
come down from the high fastnesses of
the Blue Mountains, no matter how deep
the snow gets, and they subsist on ju
niper and chevlsse, while the rest of tho
stock are hunting the sheltered canyons
that border "the John Day Valley, low
down, where haystacks are convenient.
i '"When a' gentle horse gets Into this
wild herdjie Is very hard to recapture,
and soon learns to throw himself around
as recklessly as the others when the
horsemen-try to round him up.
"Quite a bunch of wild cattle, also made
their headquarters about the summit of
Aldrlch Mountain, for many years, and
-they defied all efforts of capture. Tho
brutes' In their wild condition grew to
head and mane altogether, and the few
shot yielded very little beef. The hard
Winter of "1889-90 got away with them,
however, and those which surviyed the
deep snows were rendered so weak that
they could be easily approached within
rifle . distance. They were thus exter
minated, as they were of no use to any
body and could never be tamed."
The Rowe brothers will make one more
effort to capture the wild horse herd In
the next round-up, which occurs about
the middle of this month. The firm has
a contract to deliver a lot of horses at
Ontario to a St. -Louis horsedealer, and
desperate efforts will be made to bring
the mustangs along with a crowd of gen
tler animals., There Is a good demand
now for even the once worthless Indian
ooyuse,- and as some of these wild horses
are of goodly size, they are worth striv
ing for. The trip to St. Louis in box
cars will render anything gentle, and so,
If ' the equlnes of the Aldrlch rlmrocks
can be brought to Ontario they may yet
be hauling vehicles through the asphalt
paved streets of the Missouri metropolis,
their driver little realizing the former
history of his team.
NOW SUES FOR DAMAGES.
John Grant After Captain Hearn on
Another Tack.
The case against Captain Hearn, of the
British ship Genista, for criminal libel,
"having failed, John Grarit has filed a civil
action for damages in the sum of. $10,030.
This is based upon the same report that
the criminal information was based on,
the authorized interview published in The
Sunday Oregonlan, September 16. wherein
Hearn quoted Grant as having said to
him: "If we can't get these Judges to do
as we want, we will have Judges that
will."
It is understood that service of com
plaint In this action has not yet been
made; that the officers have been unable
to find Captain Hearn for the purpose of
serving the papers and arresting him, as
the law permits when a man owes another
and is about to leave the state. The
Genista is still lying at the mouth of the
river.
The Orealla is also still at Astoria, grad
ually getting a crew together without the
payment of "blood money." It is not sup
'posed that she will soon sail, as her cap
tain and some of her sailors are needed
here as witnesses In cases in the courts.
In. addition to the standing register at
the British Consulate here for sailors who
wish to ship without patronizing the
boarding-masters, Balfour, Guthrie & Co.
advertise for sailors for the United King
dom to apply at the Portland office of the
company or to P. L. Cherry, the British
representative at Astoria. The desire is
to give every opportunity to men who
wish to ship without going through the
boarding-house mill.
Funeral of Earl C. Ordway.
The funeral of EarLC. Ordway, only son
of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Ordway, who died
in the St. Vincent's Hospital Sunday after
a brief illness, took place yesterday after
noon from the home of his parents, Mc
Millan and Crosby streets, . There was an
outpouring of the friend3 of the family
and the schoolmates of the young man.
The rooms of the large house Jn which
the services were held were filled, to over
flowing. From the room in the Holladay
scboolhouse, which Earl had attended be
fore going to the High School, the pupils
and teacher marched to the house, bear
ing beautiful floral pieces to decorate the
casket containing the' remains of their
schoolmate. Dr. T. L. Eliot, who many
years ago performed the marriage cere
mony of Mr. and Mrs. Ordway and .offi
ciated -at the funeral of their son, Eliot
W. Ordway, who died while coming home
from Manila, conducted the services yes
terday. , Rev. William R. Lord was pres
ent and assisted. 'The pall-bearers were:
William Sheahy, F. W. Poorman, C. R.
. Spencer, C. B. Harding, J. Gates 'and
'Ronald Johnson At the close of the ser
vices at the house the remains" were taken
to Lone Fir cemetery.
a - ,
Tho '"Stock" pionoWiley-B. Allen Co.
FOR FREE LIBRARIES
ENTHUSIASM, RUNS HIGH FOR, THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
Conference Between Clubwomen and
- Portland Business Men at
Hotel Portland.
At the invitation of the State Federa
tion of Women's Clubs, a number of
Portland business men and public-spirited
citizens conferred with a group of
free-library advocates last night in the
parlors of the Hotel Portland, for the
purpose. of discussing the proposed library
bill that Oregon women Intend bringing
before the Legislature this Winter. Al
though enthusiasm ran high, the talk
was of a thoroughly practical nature, al
ways logical and to the point, showing
that the ground had been carefully pre
pared, and no necessary detail In the corn-
Ing campaign was to be negleoted. Mrs.
Sarah A Evans, chairman, opened the
meeting, explaining that since Oregon
women are hot voters, but merely tax
payers, they desired the co-operation and
advice of Oregon men on the Important
project they have in hand the framing
of the bill and its presentation to the
Legislature. Mrs. C. B. Wade, president
of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs, who had dome to Portland from
Pendleton: for the express purpose of call
ing this meeting, then explained that
every club in the federation had a com
mittee actively engaged In working for
the cause of free libraries, and that to
her personal knowledge there was- intenso
interest in the subject in the little ham
lets scattered throughout the state.
Mrs. Evans then further explained the
study that had been given tho subject
by the clubwomen during the past two
years, dwelling upon the different kinds
of library laws existing In various part3
of the United States: First, the manda
tory law, such as had been made In New
Hamphslre, compelling every town to tax
itself for the creation of a free library;
second, the permissive bill, that left tha
question to be settled by the voters; and.
third, the permissive bill that relegated
the subject to the City Council. The
Portland Woman's Club, which originated
this movement (afterward indorsed unan
imously by the State Federation) favors
a compulsory bill. At the same time it
Is willing to yield tho point. If It can be
proved that a permissive bill Is better.
Mrs. Evans believed that of the two kinds
of permissive bills, that one leaving the
matter to the Council was to be pre
ferred. William L. Brewster, a trustee of
the Free Library, dwelt upon the ad
visability of framing a bill that would
be supported by public opinion, advocat
ing a permissive bill. No other could by
any chance succeed here in Oregon. The
option of the Legislative grants In the
proposed bill should be left to the Council
rather than to the people, since local con
ditions favored the procedure. He also re
ferred to the method according to which
on petition of 25 or 50 taxpayers the Coun
cil must consider the question, and in
some states must make an appropriation
for a free library. As to the amount, al
though, the common way was to set a
maximum limit on taxable property, this
he believed to be unnecessary1 in this case.
If any limit weje placed, it should be
a minimum. He touched upon the brief
text of the Massachusetts library bill,
six lines containing all that was of vital
importance. As we move westward, he
said, we find library laws growing more
intricate. We must not expect this bill
to stimulate public Interest, but for this
rely only upon the work of the Wom
an's Club and, existing libraries.
Rev. A W. Ackermaa. inquired why it
-would not be feasible to obtain a permis
sive law first, and afterward follow it up
with a compulsory law. Ho expressed
himself as greatly troubled by the lack
of a public library in Portland, as he was
totally unaccustomed to such a stato of
affairs.
Charles J. Schnabel then read a bill
which had been prepared by the Port
land club women, and Judge Thayer's
'opinion was quoted, that if this bill could
be passed. It would be constitutional. The
bill authorizes a tax of one-fifth of a mill
on, the dollar for all taxable property In
a municipality containing 2000 inhabitants,
and the selection of a committee to ex
pend the same, this committee serving
without salary.
Mrs. Wade was in favor of changing this
so as to include small towns under 2000,
emphasizing the fact that there is a
strong sentiment in the little hamlets of
the stato, favoring free libraries. Mrs.
A. S. Duniway, who has recently visited
many out-of-the-way corners of Oregon,
agreed with her, and suggested tho elimi
nation of "towns of 2000 population," and
the substitution of "Incorporated towns."
She believed in bringing the matter to an
Issue at once. Instead of waiting for a
clamorous appeal from the people. In
terest the solons and their constituents
will do the rest.
v Judge Alfred F. Sears &poke of the
change he had observed in public senti
ment on the free-library question In the
last 10 years, his argument being that
the pushers of the bill should keep on
Introducing it till at last they should
succeed in passing it.
Rabbi Wise believed that a strong pub
11c . sentiment for free books would surely
be aroused In so enlightened a state as
Oregon. Ho spoke depricatlngly of the
plan of leaving the option to the Council,
since It has less understanding of the
moral needs of the people than the Leg
islature has.
Dr. T. L. Eliot advocated making the
bill an enabling act, and advised concen
tration of energy upon details. If suf
ficient study and care was given these,
the bill could eventually be passed.
Mrs. Cleveland Rockwell argued for a
permissive bill, and Mrs. Evans followed
with some stirring words of enlighten
ment regarding the intensity of public In
terest throughout Oregon, the feeling in
favor of free libraries being decidedly
stronger outside than In Portland.
Dr. Edgar P. Hill also spoke encourag
ingly of the great change taking place
locally in favor of public libraries, and
expressed his confidence In the women of
Oregon being able to carry the matter
through successfully.
The meeting closed with some convinc
ing arguments by W. L. Brewster, in fa
vor of the movement, and in proof of the
strong current of opinion he had observed
among the people of Portland toward free
libraries." Mrs. Pratt, superintendent of
the public library, also brought forward
valuable testimony to the same effect, the
drift of all the discussions being that free
libraries were as necessary to the people
as free schools.
LEASED A QUARTER BLOCK,
J. Landucci Embarks on a. Business
Venture.
J. Landucci, a Washington-street boot
black, yesterday leased the quarter block
northeast corner of Sixth and Washing
ton streets for a period of five years, at
$SO0 a month, from Mrs. Louisa P. VlaU
This looks like a pretty stiff figure for
a two-story brick "building, but Landucci
is known as a shrewd speculator, and he
.has evidently figured himself out ahead
on the deal.
On the Washington-street side there Is
a" restaurant, a grocery, a cigar stand and
a saloon, while on Sixth street there are
two bicycle stores, and the second story
of the building is used aa a lodging
house. Landucci pays $400 a month to Mrs.
Gearin for half a quarter block on Wash
ington street near Fourth, and by sub
letting he makes a good clean-up every
time the book3 are balanced. Although
still in the bootblack business, he is
worth between $20,000 and $30,000 In Port
land real estate, and is considered the
wealthiest of Portland's ltauan citizens
H la Quito a politician, too, and la flup:
REPUBLICAN
CAMPAIGN
IN BEHALF OF
IKiiilef and Roosevelt
Ths Republican Stats Central Committee of
Oregon announces the folio-wins: assignments
of speakers for the Presidential campaign otv
1900:
JUDGE GEO. H. WILLIAMS.
Astoria Thursday, October 4
HON. THOMAS H. TOJfGUE.
McMInutills ......Monday, Oct. 8
Independence .................Tuesday, Oct.
Dallas ..........'Wednesday, Oct. 10
Marlon County ...Oct. 11 and 13
Oregon City Saturday. Oct. 13
Albany Thursday, Oct. 18
Lebanon .........Friday. Oct. 10
Corvallla Saturday, Oct. 20
Bugone 2 P. M.. Monday. Oct. 22
Cottage Grove 2 P. M.. Tuesday, Oct. 23
Douglas County..... ......."Wednesday, Oct. 2-4
Grant's Pass ...2 P. M., Thursday. Oct. 25
Jacksonville ............Saturday, Oct. 27
Klamath Falls ................Tuesday. Oct. 30
HiUsboro Monday, Nov. a
HON. TILMON FORD.
Salem ........... ..............Saturday, Oct. 0
Newport ........................Monday, Oct. S
Toledo .......... .. ........... Tuesday. Oot. 0
Dusty ...Wednesday, Oct. 10
Junction City .....Evening:, Thursday, Oct. 11
Canyonvllle 1:30 P. M.. Friday, Oct. 12
Grant's Pass .....Saturday. Oot. 13
Jackson County Oct. 15 and 18
Drain .Wednesday, Oct. 17
Eugeno Thursday Oct. 18
North Yamhill Friday, Oct. 10-
Forest Grove ..........Saturday, Oct. 20
Eastern Oregon .Alter Oct. 23
SENATOR. C. W. FULTON.
Sumpter . 5..Monday. Oct. IS
Baker City .'. Tuesday, Oct. 13
Wallowa County .......... .Wednesday Oct. 17
La Grande ..Thursday, Oct. 18
"Weston Friday. Oct. 19
Pendleton Saturday. Oct. 20
Moro ....Monday, Oct. 22
Antelope ....Tuesday, Oct. 23
Prlnevllle .Wednesday, Oct. 21
"Western and Southern Oregon..... After Oct. 23
HON. BIXGER. HERMANN.
La Grand ....Monday, Oct. 9
Pendleton ....Tuesday, Oct. 0i
Eugeno Friday, Oct. 13
SENATOR GEO. C. BROWNELL.
Toledo .....Thursday, Oct. 19
McMlnnville 1:30 P. M., Saturday, Oct. 20
Albany .....Thursday, Oct. 25
Salem Friday, Oct. 23
Corvallls ..Saturday, Oct. 27
Eugene ........Saturday, Nov. 3
Oregon City ...Monday, Nov. 5
COLONEL J. B. EDDY.
Mitchell ..........Tuesday, Oct. 0
Dayville ......Wednesday, Oct. 10
Prairie Qlty .Thursday, Oct 11
Long Creek ...Friday, Oct. 13
Canyon City ............Saturday, Oct. 13
Burns ....................Monday, Oct. 13
Drewsey Tuesday,. Oct. 13
Westrall .Wednesday, Oot Xt
Vale Thursday, Oct. 18
Ontario ...Friday. Oct 10
COLONEL S. C. SPENCER.
Ashland - ..Saturday, Oct. 3-
Tillamook ...Tuesday, Oot. O
Glencoo ...Saturday,. Oot. 13
Scholl'3 Ferry ...Saturday, Oct, 20
Garden Home Saturday, Oct. 27
HON. WALLACE MCAMANT.
Condon Tuesday, Oct. 80
Fossil .Wednesday, Oct. 81
ROBERT F. BELL, ESQ.
West Portland ...Saturday. Oct. 0
A. E. GEBHARDT, ESQ.
West Portland Saturday, Oct. 3
Further assignments of speakers win bo
made from day to day.
GEO. A. STEEL. Chairman.
WILLIS S. DUNIWAY, Secretary
posed to be able to swing .a good propot
tlbn of , the Italian yote his way in times
of close elections. In these periods he is
outspoken while brushing away on his
patrons' shoes, and If they object and
threaten to go somewhere else to have
their shoes shined, he quickly retorts,
"You can go; I'm worth, more money
than you are."
DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.
PORTLAND, Oct. 3.-8 P. M. Maximum
temperature,. B9; minimum temperature, 41 1
river readlne at 11 A. M.. 2.2 feet; cbango In
tho past 24 hours, 0.3 foot; total precipita
tion, 5 P. M. to 3 P. M.. trace; total precipita
tion since Sept. 1. 1900, 1.03 Inches; normal
precipitation since Sept. 1, 1000, 2.05 inchest
deficiency. 0.12 Inch; total sunshine Oct. 2,
1:00; possible sunshine Oct. 2. 11:30.
Faolflo Coast Wesrtlier.
Wind.
STATIONS.
Astoria
Baker City ...
Bismarck .....
Boise ... .....
Eureka .......
Helena
Kamloops. B. '
Neah Bay ....,
Pocatello
Portland .....
Red Bluff
Roseburg
Sacramento ..
Salt Lake
San Francisco
Spokane ......
Seattle
"Walla Walla
0.02
USE
Cloudy
Rain
Rain
Cloudy
Pt. cloudy
0.10!
3
5410.01
oaio.ir
020.18 ItN
ltlSW
ItiW
lt,W
0,E
0.08
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
ft. ciouay
Cloudy
Pt. cloudy
Rain
Cloudy
Cloudy
Clear
Cloudy
Rain
20W
12 S
S
8SW
8SW
0.01
0.04
0.00
S
0.00
SW
N
10.12
w.uo
WW
Pt. otoudy
Rain
0.14
")SW
WEATHER CONDITIONS.,
The area of low pressure central yesterday
evening over Southwestern Oregon has ad
vanced slowly northward during tho last 2i
hours, and now appears aa a trough of low
pressure, extending from Northwestern Wash
ington southward to Northern Oregon. Th
pressure Is rlslnz over California and along
the "Washington and Oregon coasts.' Light to
moderately heavy rains. hav& occurred In East
ern Washington. Eastern Oregon, Southern
Idaho, Montana and Northern California, and
rain is still falllnx at all Btations east of the.
Cascades. Nearly normal temperatures pre
vail this evening In all districts. The indi
cations are for continued unsettled weather
and occasional rain In this district Thursday.
WEATHER FORECASTS.
Forecasts made at Portland for the 28 hours
ending at midnight Thursday. October 4:
Oregon Occasional rain; warmer In east por
tion; fresh to brisk southerly winds.
Washington Occasional rain; warmer in tho
east portion; fresh to brisk southerly winds.
Idaho-Occasional rain; warmer la the north
portion; fresh south to west wind.
Portland and vicinity Occasional rain; fresh
to brisk southerly winds.
WRAPPED IN KERNELS
Blesainss Bound Up in the Littlo
Particles of Grape-Nirta.
An employe in the Pension Office, at
Washington, J. R- Weathers, says, re
garding food: "For 30 years I have been
a brain-worker. Originally I Inherited a
good physical organism, and this reserve
of life force carried me through up
wards of 20 years of ambitious work as
a professional teacher.
"Ten years ago I turned from that vo
cation to the present occupation; hero
again was mental work and sedentary
habits, which, coupled with poorly select
ed food, finally set up Indigestion, con
stipation, liver trouble, brain fag and loss
of mental power. Nervousness marked
me for torture, and for yeara the afflic
tions Increased. I spent hundreds of
dollars in vain efforts to find a cure.
"Finally I quit all drugs and took up
Grape-Nuts, which I had heard of as a
food for the brain and nerve centers.
After giving the food a fair trial, I found
it was not necessary to give up my occu
pation, but I have been able to keep
right along and do more work, while tho
result has been marvelous. My anxiety
is gone, work is a pleasure, and I am a
new man throughout. The wondorful
blessings wrapped up in the toothsomo
little kernels of Grape-Nuts can be ex-
ratnA Yiv n.nv on -who TirlshBa to reuair
jhe waste and wear at brain and ncrTa."