o.Tr.w,
1"?
UBRARY
Portland,
rmmun
VOL, XL. NO. 12,499.
'PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1901.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Any Size
Any Quantity
MACKINTOSHES, RUBBER AND OIL-CLOTHING
Rubber Boots and Shoes, BeitlnQ, Packing and Hose.
Largest and most complete assortment o f all kinds of Rubber Goods.
Goodyear Rubber Company
B. H. PEASE. President.
T. M. BHEPARD, JR., Treasurer.
J. A. SHEPARD. BecreUry.
FOR THE HOLIDAY TRADE-
LA LIT
BOUQUET EXTRA
Best of Clear
Havana Cigars.
BLUMAUER- FRANK DjRUQ CO
144-146 FOURTH STREET, PORTLAND, OREGON.
Shaw's Pure Malt
The Condensed Strength and Nutriment of
Barley and Rye
BlUmaiier & KOCh, I0S and HO Fourth Street
Sole Distributers for Oregon
HOTEL PERKINS
Fifth and Washington Sts. . . . PORTLAND, OREGON
EUROPEAN PLAN
Booms Single 75c to $1.50 per day
First-Class Check Restaurant Rooms Double $1.00 to $2.00 per day
Connected "With Hotel. Rooms Family $1.60 to $3.00 par day
J. F. DA VIES, Pres.
St. Charles Hotel
CO. (INCORPORATED).
FRONT AND MORRISON STREETS
PORTLAND,
American and European Plan.
1.
00
3sflHLassw04f
riMiniiiT
amm fsmj? i w
Takes- in the Whole Family
, The Pianolanot only, enables you to play any piece
ever written for the piano but it extends this pleasure
' to every member of the family.
- M.g B. WELLS, Northwest Agent for the Aeolian Company
' , Aeolian Hall, 353-355 Washington Street, cor. Park, Portland, Or.
HVb an Bole Arents for the Pianola; also for th Btelniray, tha Chass and tba Emerson
Pianos.
UNFORTUNATE VENEZUELA.
One Revolution Ends and Trro More
Break, 'Out.
CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 2 (via Hay
tlen cable). The revolution has ended,
but ex-Secretary-General Peraza Is said
to be, with about 60.-followers, in the
mountain districts.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Jan. 2.
Passengers who have arrived here on the
Red D line steamer Philadelphia, from
La Guayra, December 30, say a serious
revolution has broken out In the Mara
caibo district of Venezuela. They add
that the government troops have defeated
the rebels and arrested 20 of the leaders.
Another rising Is reported to have oc
curred In the viclntly of the Orinoco. The
United States auxiliary cruiser Scorpion
left hero yesterday to join the Hartford
at La Guayra.
Asphalt Dispute Settled.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. Minister -Loo-ralfl,
at Caracas, has advised the State De
partment that the Impending trouble over
the conflicting asphalt concessions has
been averted for the present. There are
no details in the Minister's dispatch, but
It Is gathered that he has induced the
Venezuelan authorities to suspend arbi
trary action looking towards the eject
ment of some of the concessionaires un
til there can be had a calm. Judicial de
termination of the merits of the conflict
ing claims. It is probable that the Scor
pion, at La Guayra, has been a potent 'in
fluence in bringing about the present stay
of proceedings.
Events In N'icarasua.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua. Jan. 2. The
Government Is having a three days' cele
bration In honor of the birth pi the new
century
The sale of the National railways and
Lake steamers Is still in abeyance.
The budget for the revenues of 1901 is
$3,760 921 silver, and for expenditures,
J5 75S.933 sliver.
There has been much progress on the
Central division of the Nicaragua Rail
way. The Central division goes 37 miles
Inland, to La Paz, to connect with the
Western division, and thereby avoid Lake
Managua.
Arjrentlnc-Chilean Agreement.
BUENvS AYRES. Jan. 2. The new Ar-gentlne-Chlnean
agreement, in regard to
the frontier settlement, (has been signed
and the Presidents of Argentina and Chile
have exchanged friendly telegrams of con
gratulation. Amphlon at Panama.
COLON, Colombia, Jan. 2 (via Galves
ton. The British second-class cruiser
Amphlon arrived at Panama Tuesday. The
British gunboat Pheasant -has left Paua
S for Buena Ventura,
Any Style
73-75 FIRST ST.
PORTLAND, OR.
.&
Packed Twenty
Five In a Box.
C T. BELCHER, Sec. and Trcas.
OREGON
American plan ...... "1.25, ?1.E0, 1.75
European plan 50c, 70o, $1.00
Where to Find
1 ,,A'comp!ete stock of hleh-erade eas and
-electric chandeliers, electric an da as no- I
... ..;- ," r' . .." '.1-r -1
rpiincc3,vyesoacn ourners ana renewals,
racKara incandescent lamps, can Dells,
batteries and battery renewals. See
M. J. WALSH
SUCCESSOR TO FRANK: HOLCOMB & CO.
245 Washington Street
For work on all the above, ring up on either
Telephone.
TOBACCO STEMMERS' STRIKE
Effort to
Patoh Up the
Lonlsvllle,
Tremble at
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 2. The com
mltteo representing the 1200 or 1400 strik
ing stemmers at the Continental Tobacco
Company called at the factory office to
day and lodged a formal complaint with
General Manager R. K. Smith, who Is In
charge of the trust factories In Louisville.
The strikers demand 2 cents per pound
for all stemmed tobacco; one-half hour
for dinner, with the privilege of leaving
the factory; the abolition of the docking
system and the abolition of picking stems
from rubbish. Also, that the company
again employ all strikers, without excep
tion. General Manager Smith said that
the complaints are against conditions es
tablished by the regime before he took
charge. After the conference, Manager
Smith stated that he told the strikers he
could not consider the matter of wages
at all, but was willing to mat 0 ieasonabu
concessions as to hours, docking and oth
er objectionable rules. The committee
told Mr. Smith that the demand for $2 23
per 100 for stemming would be made In
all the tobacco factories In Louisville and
other cities. Manager Smith said he would
give tho committee an answer tomorrow.
Later it was announced that the strikers
would receive their answer as to an In
crease in wages tomorrow. The minor de
mands were granted.
Northern Pacific Telegraphers.
ST. PAUL. Minn., Jan. 2. The griev
ance committee of the Northern Pacific
telegraphers Is still In St. Paul, but most
of the members will probably leave at
the end of the week. It was stated un
officially today that the telegraphers have
for the present laid aside their request
for new rules and are now conoentratlng
their attention on Inducing the company
to Increase the present scale of wages.
The committee Is asking for an increase
equal to about 10 Ter cent. A report was
current In railway circles to the effect
that the Nprthern Pacific officials had
stated definitely ""that they would grant
no Increase and that all conferences
were practically at an end.
Steelvrorlcers Sfsn a Scale.
PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 2. The workers
at tho plant of the National Steel Com
j?any at Sharon, today signed the new
scale for 1901, which provides for a reduc
tion of 10 per cent. Abbut 400 men are
affected. It Is said that new scales Xor
all the non-union mills are now belngi
prepared.
Plttsbnrs Iron Worfcers Strike.
PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 2. One thou
sand structural Ironworkers struck today
for an advance of 6 cents per hour in
wages and a nice-hour day. Not a sin
gle man Is working, and a number of Im
portant contracts are tied up.
UPRISING OF DUTCH
Situation in Cape Colony
'Takes a Serious Turn.
BOERS HALF WAY TO THE CAPE
Battleship Monarch Will Land Gnni
at Cape Town Today Extension
of. Martial La-tv Colonists
, Aid Invaders.
CAPE TOWN, Jan. 2. The British bat-
tle-shlp Monarch -will land guns tomorrow
as a precautionary measure. The -situa
tion is serious. It Is true that the Dutch
have not joined the invaders in any con
siderable numbers, but a lack of arms is
believed to be the true reason for absten
tion. In many places horses are freely
offered and information readily supplied
to the Boers.
The early proclamation of martial law
In the Cape Town division Is expected.
The division does not Include Capo Town
itself.
The latest reports show the situation to
be generally as follows:
Kuruman, if still uninvested, probably
soon will he.
Griqualand "West is filled with small
parties of Boers, who are working: south
toward Prieska for the purpose of co-op
erating: with or supporting: Commandant
Hertzdg, whose advance parties are In
the neighborhood oi Frazerburg.
The Boers are close to Graaf Relnet,
where of late the Dutch have given many
demonstrations of extreme sympathy.
In the eastern part of the colony the ad
vance guard of the Boers is close to
Marlesburg, about 25 miles northwest of
Cradock.
The general opinion here is that the po
sition is not properly appreciated In Eng
land. The Worcester conference excited
the Dutch throughout the colony. Many
old residents, who are by no means
alarmists, regard a general uprising of
the Dutch as quite likely.
MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED.
Enlistment of Volunteers In. the
Colony Proceeding.
LONDON, Jan. 3. "Martial law has
been proclaimed in the Worcestershire,
Corse, Prince Albert, Frazerburg and
Sutherland divisions," say the Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Mall, wiring
yesterday. "The enlistment of volunteers
Is going on, and the best authorities
anticipate favorable developments short
ly. The great trouble is the scarcity of
horses. Seven hupdred Boers have broken
through the cordon at Zuuburg, and ara
now advancing upon Richmond. Jhfi
magistrate there reports that they are
"burningand footing a- few miles from the
.town.
"Lord Mtethuen is concentrating a foroa
at Vryburg, whither 1000 troops have been
sent from Kimberley and others from
more northern towns, to deal with a com
mando that Is raiding around Kuruman.
"The Boers have reoccupled Jagersfon
teln, which, together with Fauersmlth",
the British evacuated Christmas day, the
convoy of retiring inhabitants, with hun
dreds of wagons, extending for seven
miles. It was a mournful spectacle.
Camp was pitched at Edenburg. I gath
ered that the reason for the evacuation
was the difficulty of maintaining food
supplies so far from the railway.'7
The Standard, commenting on the Inva
sion of Cape Colony, says:
"Tho American Civil War provides a
useful parallel. The Confederate raids
failed to achieve anything serious."
Marchlnsr on Frasterburg.
CARNARVON, Jan. 2. The Boers, com
manded by Hertzog, Wessels, Pretorlus
and Nleuwenhaut, aro continuing their
march on Frazerburg. It Is reported that
they have arrived at Steynburg. Looting
continues. The Boers' horses are foot
sore and there is great want of fodder,
as the country Is barren. Communication
with Frazerburg is suspended, and It Is
doubtful when this will be restored, in
asmuch as the Boers are traveling along
the line. General Thornycroft and Colonel
De Lisle are continuing the chase, but
their horses and mules are very tired.
Many Dutch residents attended the
funeral of a Boer killed in action, and
placed wreaths upon his coffin. The Boers
captured and destroyed the malls due De
cember 30.
Pllcber Headed Off Dcvret
LONDON, Jan. 2. The War Office has
received the following dispatch from Lord
Kitchener:
"Dswet tried to move toward Bethle
hem, but he was headed off by Pllcher
and retreated toward LIndley. One hun
dred and thirty Boer horses have been
captured near Thaba N'Chu. The railway
has been damaged south of Sarfonteln.
Williams engaged the Boers southeast of
MIddelburg, Cape Colony, and the British
now occupy Graaf Relnet." 1 ,
Movlne on Grnof Relnet.
CRADOCK, Cape Colony,' Jan. -2. A
detachment of Boers enterejl Roode
hooghte, eastward of MIddelburg, Janu
ary 1. It is believed thqt this force Is
going to Graaf Relnet. The telegraph
lines are cut between Carnarvon and
Somerset West, and Steynburg and Ma
ralsburg. Large reinforcements have
reached MIddelburg.
Kitchener's Future Post.
LONDON, Jan. 3. It Is understood that
at the conclusion of operations in South
Africa Lord Kitchener will become commander-in-chief
in India.
NO RECEIVER ALLOWED.
DccisioE. in
the Linseed
Case.
Oil Trust
CHICAGO, Jan. 2. The United States
Court of Appeals today handed down a
decision affirming the action of the lower
court In denying a petition for a re
ceiver for tne National Linseed Oil Com
pany, known as the Linseed Oil trust.
The suit was brought in 1S93 by James
Clark, "and others," owners of 4600
shares out of a total of 180,000 shares of
stock. The petftlon for a receivership
alleged negligence and bad management
on the part of the directors and officers
of the company, by which the assets of
the company, consisting of over 40 mills
In various parts of the country, valued
at $7,000,000, were dissipltated. Judge
Grosscup, in rendering the decision af
firming the action of the lower court,
said it was apparently the -plain purpose
of those bringing tho suit to get con
trol through a receivership of the com
pany's right of action against the direc
tors, so that the suit could be prose
cuted in the name of the company and
at its expense. No proof, according to
4, Judge Grosscup, was shown of bad man-
MEMBERS OF
agement on the part of 'the officials of
the company, nor was it"., shown with
certainty that the directors' and officials
had speculated. !
TO ELIMINATE MIDDLEMEN
National Shoe Company to Distribute
to Retailers.
CHICAGO, Jan. 2. The Record tomor
row will say:
"Shoe manufacturers are planning the
establishment of a National shoe , com
pany to dominate the distribution of
shoes to the retailers and eliminate the
middlemen's profits. R. F. Wolfe, -of Co
lumbus, O., Is sponsor for the new pro
ject, and he has interested 12 of the
largest manufacturers of the Ea,st. The
company Is to consist of not more than
12 houses manufacturing similar lines of
shoes, with a capital stock of $3,500,000.
Depots will be established in every lead
ing city in the United States."
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT NEWS.
Federal Government.
Congress will reassemble today. Page L
Briefs were filed In the Supreme Court In
two Porto Rico cases. Page 3.
The public debt decreased nearly $2,000,000
In December. Page 3.
Forelgrn.
Naval guns will bo landed at Cape Town
toaay. I'age u
The Boer Invaders ore half way to tho
Cape. Page 1.
Lord Roberts was recelved-by the -Queen
at Osborne. Page 2.
China.
A Russo-Chlnese agreement gives Russia
protection of one Manchurian province.
Page 2.
Russia, it is said, Inspired the charges of
barbarity against German troops.
Page 2.
The envoys were surprised by the prompt
acceptance of the note. Page 2.
Domestic.
Legislatures are in session in voioruuu,
Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and
NeorasKa. .rage a.
Kaser leads In the elx-day race. Page 2.
Cudahy receives a bogus letter demand-inn-
withdrawal of the reward. Page 5.
I Great changes are said to be planned f or
tne VJ., M. OS ou Jr. xwuiwttjr. a&a u.
Pacific Coast.
Governor Geer announces the appoint
ment of Oregon's Text-Book Commis
sion. Page L
The semi-annual statement .of Oregon's
State Treasurer shows nearly JI.ICO.OOO
cash on hand. Page 4.
Population, of Idaho by minor civic di
visions. Page 5.
A bill will be introduced at the coming
Oregon Legislature making life impris
onment the penalty for kidnaping.
Page 4.
The worst snow storm in JO years pre
vails throughout Southern Oregon and
Northern California. Page 4.
Variety of European prunes which ripens
two weeks earlier than present crop 1b
to be Introduced In Oregon. Page 6.
Commercial and Marine.
Big day's trading in Chicago wheat.
PagelL
Record-breaklng bank clearings in tho
East. Page 11.
Anxiely for the overdue bark Andrada.
Page 5.
Steamship Milos due today. Page 5.
Stowaways carried away on the Thyra.
Page 5.
August ships arriving out. Page 6.
Portland and Vicinity.
Mayor Rowe in his annual message says
the city must have more money than
taxes will produce. Page 8.
Half of the children of Central School
stay away on account of diphtheria
scare. Page 8.
Rev. A. S. Starr's case to be tried on ap
peal at Tacoma. Page 12.
Afro-American council celebrate Emancl-
patlon day. Pago 8.
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OREGON'S thEXT BOOK-
PLANS ARE NOT SETTLED
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAMME
SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
IS
Reapportionment or River and Har
bor Bill May Come Before
Lower House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. ThoTIouse will
probably dispose of the reapportionment
bill this week, although Chairman Burton,
of the rive and harbor committee. Is in
clined to contest the right of way of the
census committee. The reapportionment
bill,, carrying out. as It croes, a Constitu
tional requirement, Is a matter of hlghei
privilege than an appropriation bill, and
If Chairman Hopkins insists, it probably
will be given priority. Mr. Hopkins,
however, may yield If he finds that any
large proportion of the members will not
return from their holiday vacation In time
to vote upon tho measure this week. A
determined fight will be made against his
bill by members from states that would
lose representatives under It, and Mr.
Hopkins deslre3 a full house when the
vote Is taken. He is confident that his
measure will carry with a full attendance,
in any event, neither Mr. Hopkins nor
Mr. Burton desires to proceed tomorrow,
so that the session tomorrow probably
will be brief and unimportant.
Friday either the river and harbor bill
or the reapportionment bill will be taken
up. If it should be the latter, the expec
tation is that its consideration will be
completed Saturday. If tne former, the
length of time to be consumed Is prob
lematical. The river and harbor committee of the
House today completed the final draft of
the river and-harbor bill. The appropri
ations and contracts provided for In the
measure were siven out Just before the
holiday recess, but the preliminary sur
veys provided were not completed until
today. Among them is an appropriation
for Tillamook Bay, with a view of secur
ing 15 and 20 feet depth of water across
the outer bar.
In the Senate.
The general expectation among Senators
is that the first few days of the time of
tho Senate after reconvening tomorrow
will be devoted to consideration of the
Army reorganization bill, but there Is
some disposition to make an arrangement
for a division of time that will permit of
the continued presentation of the ship
subsidy bill during a part of each day.
When the committee on order of busi
ness representing the Republican, side of
the Senate made the subsidy bill the reg
ular order of business at the beginning of
the present session, there was an under
standing that when the Army bill should
be presented for consideration, the other
measures should be laid aside temporarily.
If considered necessary, In order to se
cure the prompt passage of the Army bilL
There Is apparently a disposition on the
part of some Senators partially to disre
gard this agreement, and the friends of
the subsidy bill, most of whom are also
supporters of the Army bill, are trying
to secure an understanding for confine
ment of the discussion of the Army bill
to the morning hour of the Senate's dally
proceedings, giving the time each day
after 2 o'clock to the subsidy bill.
A meeting of the committee on military
affairs has been called for tomorrow, when
the matter of procedure probably will be
discussed and a decision reached as to
whether the committee shall ask for all
the time of the Senate until its bill Is
dlsDOsed of or for only part of it. Some
members of the committee aro disposed
to divide time with the subsidy bill for
the otresent. but all Senators, regardless
WtS nBB 1
S& 3 '
T
M1 v4Plil Jbrm. u ml
COMMISSION.
STEPHEN A. LOWEIiL.
of politics, consider the Army bill of press
ing importance', because of the fact that
tho time forjVhlch the volunteer soldiers
In the Philippines were enlisted has al
most expired. Hence, It Is probable that
some arrangement will be reached guard
ing against any protracted delay on the
military measure. While comparatively
few of the opposition Senators will vote
for the bill, none of them appear willing
to make any objection to its early consid
eration. There has been a generaf surmise that
Senator Cockrell would offer a substitute
for the Army bill, but he stated today
that he had no such Intention, at the same
time expressing his conviction that the bill
should be pressed to early disposition, be
cause of the condition In the Philippines.
Mr. Cockrell expressed the opinion that
the Army bllL would not be debated at
great length unless there should be at the
same time an attempt to carry the sub
sidy bill along with it. In that event, ho
thought It might be difficult to get the
Army bill through promptly. The oppo
sition Senators generally will content
themselves with an explanation of their
views on tho Army bill, and will make no
opposition to its becoming a law. There
are still several speeches to be made on
the subsidy bill, but apparently none of
the promised speeeches have been pre-'
pared, so that Senator Hawley may be
able to go on uninterruptedly for soma
time with the Army bill,-regardless of any
arrangements concerning tho subsidy bill.
SUPPORT OF SUBSIDY BILL.
President of Manufacturers' Associa
tion, Calls for United Effort.
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 2. Theodore
Search, president of the National As
sociation of Manufacturers, has sent a
circular to the members of the order urg
ing a united effort to help the subsidy
bill now pending In the United States Sen
ate. Th circular says in part:
"The attacks upon this measure, which
seem to derive their main support from
persons interested in the operation of
sfilps under foreign flags, are In the main
uncandld, misleading, and, In many in
stancesr absolutely unfounded. Upon
demonstrated facts, tha proposition to buy
ships In the cheapest market would be
a deathblow to our shipbuilding Indus
tries. To undertake by discriminating
duties to build up American Import trade
would be equally fatal, as these bounties
would only apply to imports. A bounty
upon exports Is now admitted by Its
former most earnest advocates to be a
delusion and a snare, which would simply
result in adding profits to the middle
men, to foreign carriers or to foreign con
sumers, without possible benefit to the
manufacturer or the owner. Hence, bellv
lng that the measure In question repre
sents the best results of careful labor by
conscientious and careful men, both in
and out of Congress. I feel firmly con
vinced that whatever power and Influence
our association may have In shaping the
legislation of this country should now bo
brought into requisition."
' Short-Lived Havana Strike.
HAVANA, Jan. 2. Two thousand steve
dores struck here this morning on ac
count of the employment of nonunion
men. Governor-General Wood notified the
leaders that the police would preserve
the peace, protect nonunion men and also
bring the ships to the wharves, to offset
the strike of the lightermen. This
brought the strikers to terms promptly
and the strike was declared off during
the af ternosn. The strike of sugar steve
dores at Cardlnas is still on.
Canadian Furniture Trust.
TORONTO. Jan. 2. The Toronto Manu
facturers, Ltd., with a capital stock of
$3,000,000, has been formed by the amalga
mation of the Toronto furniture dealers,
controlling about 75 per cent of tho furnl-
1 turo trade of Canada,
NAMED BY GOVERNOR
Appointments on Oregon
Text Book Commission.
ALL ARE WELL-KNOWN CITIZENS
Trro Are Educators, Three Profes
slonal and Business Men Will Se
lect State's Book for Next
Six Years.
SALEM, Or., Jan. 2. Governor Geer to
day announced the appointment of H. W.
Scott, of Portland; P. L. Campbell, ol
Monmouth; Stephen A. Lowell, of Pen
dleton; W. M. Ladd, of Portland, and W.
M. Colvlg, of Jacksonville, to composa
the Oregon textbook commission. The
announcement has been awaited with in
tense interest here, and apparently by tho
entire state. The appointments were
much as have been expected by those who
have closely followed the discussion con
cerning the commission, though the men
appointed have not been often mentioned
by the press In that connection.
From the first, Governor Geer has de
clared his Intention not to appoint men
who have their reputations to make. This
shut out the possibility of considering
many men of ability, but who are yet un
tried. It was expected, and was taken for
granted, that two members of the com
mission would be "school men." Though
It appears at first that the commission
contains but one educator Professor
Campbell the other Is supplied In W. il.
Colvig, who served two terms as County
Superintendent of Jackson County.
In announcing the appointments this
evening, Governor Geer said:
"I have given a great deal of thought
to this question, and have selected five
men well known to the people of Oregon,
whose characters are already well estao
llshed, and all of whom, I believe, aro
college graduates. I have 'selected men
who will give character to the commis
sion, Instead of depending on the commis
sion to give character to the men. No
man stands higher In the teaching pro
fession than one of them; another is an
ex-County School Superintendent, and tho
others are also men of culture who aro
well qualified for the work before them.
It is a mixed commission of business,
professional and school men, but all of
them have been actively Interested In our
public schoolB for many years, Such a
commission will consult freely the best
educators of the state. If thought neces
sary, and will, perhaps, request the ad
vice of .more pf them than would ono
'composed entirely of those who are strict
ly called 'fichool men. It is a-'mlstako
to jav that no experience or advice In
fnTar matter will be available except that
of, th'e men composing, thq commission. No
man's experience or Knowledge will bo
shut out simply because he Is not a mem
ber. Since the basis of the complaint that
led up to enactment of the Daly law was
the present cost of the books more than
their character. It Is, at least, as much a
business proposition as any other, though
neither the quality nor the cost should bo
lost sight of. I have sought to select a
commission that, while qualified for Its
work In other respects Is and will remain
Independent. I have had no consultation
with either of them, even Indirectly, but
I believe they are unprejudiced either for
oragalnst any book company, as, I be
lieve, they should be. I have done tho
best I could In the performance of a very
trying and delicate duty, and'submlt this
result of It to the. people of Oregon, with
the belief that the Interests of the school
children vand taxpayers of the state will
be tully subserved."
Commenting upon the appointments
made, the Salem Statesman tomorrow will
say:
"Governor Geer has announced "his ap
pointments to constitute the textbook
commission, and the Statesman was not
mistaken when It expressed the belief
yesterday morning that they would bo
well and carefully selected. They are fivo
good men and true, the only question be
ing whether or not they will serve. They
are all men of sterling character, thor
ough education, unswerving Integrity and
Independence, and we believe the entire
state will await with confidence the result
of their deliberations."
Colonel E. Hofer, editor of the Capital
Journal, which paper has taken a leading
part In the discussion of the textbook
commission appointments, said this even
ing that he regards the commission a
very strong one and eminently satisfac
tory. Comment fy business men and edu
cators Is, without exception. In commen
dation of the appointments. The hope la
expressed that all the appointees will ac
cept. This board of five commissioners takes
the place of the State Board of Educa
tion and all the County Superintendents
in selecting text-books for use In the pub
lic schools of the state. The law under
whloh the appointment Is made was en
acted In 1889. It provided that in Janu
ary, 1001, and every four years thereafter,
the Governor shall appoint five text-book
commissioners, who shall hold their f
flces "until their successors aro elected
and qualified." In February, 1S01, and
every six years thereafter, the State Su
perintendent la required to Issue a cir
cular, and send it to leading book pub
lishers of the United States, giving no
tice that a selection of text-books Is
about to be made, and giving -rtlnent
Information on the subject, with the nams
and postoffice address of each text-book
commissioner. The commission shall
meet at the State Capitol on the second
Monday In July, 1531, and the second Mon
day of July every six years thereafter,
and continue In session not more than 15
days, In that time selecting by majority
vote from proposals submitted In writ
ing by publishers the books to be used
In the public schools of the state for a
period of six years. This commission
shall report Its selections and the terms
and prices to the State Board of Educa
tion (Governor, Secretary of State and
State Superintendent of Schools), which
ahall enter Into contract with the publish
ers, 'exacting bonds, etc.. as specified In
the law. Each commissioner shall x
celve $100 for the meeting and 10 cents per
mile traveled. .
The old method was for tha County
School Superintendents and the State
Board to select the text-books tor tho
public schools. This was susceptible of
considerable abuse, and It became tho ob
ject of much suspicion, at least, which
brought about the change In the method
of selection as provided In the present
law. The commissioners are appointed
for a term of four years, while the selec
tions of books are for six years. Thus It
will come to pass. If the law remain un
disturbed, that every third set of commis
sioners will have no duty to perform
save those pertaining to filling vacancies
1 by reason o nQU-tulfliinwnt; Qt contract.