&gyr?x
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1901
END OF BUSY YEAR
Chamber of Commerce Work
in Behalf of Portland.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT PRESSED
Co-Operatlon "Willi Other Town to
Promote the General Interests of
the Coast Middle West-Aff-
srresslons Opposed.
With the annual meeting, -which will be
held at 2-46 Washington street, at 3:30 P.
M., Wednesday, the Chamber of Com
merce will close the busiest year of its
existence. A great amount of good has
been accomDllshed In a auiet way by the
board of trustees, the governing body of
the chamber, which Is composed of nine
prominent business men. These are:
George Taylor, Jr., Henry Hahn, J. P.
Batchelder, A. L. Mills, E. T. Williams,
B. M. Hears, R. Livingstone, L N. Fleisch
ner and Edward Ehrman. Each trustee
.has shouldered his share of the burden,
doing all committee work assigned to
him and attending the weekly meetings
wiui regularity. President Taylor has
been an especially tireless worker. Ills
colleagues on the board know that he has
neglected his private business more than
once to do a rood turn for Portland.
The policy of the board has been one of
advancement of Portland and co-operation
with other commercial bodies to for
ward the general and special Interests of
the Pacific Coast. In this way Port
land has gained the good will of cham
bers of commerce, commercial clubs, push
clubs and boards of trade in Seattle. Ta
coma, Spokane, San Francisco, Los An
geles, San Diego and throughout the Co
lumbia and Willamette Valleys. One of
the nrst acts of the hoard last January
was to vote to co-operate with all cham
"bers of commerce in Oregon on all ques
tions of general public interest. Hearing
of this action, the San Francisco Cham
ber of Commerce adopted resolutions urg
ing Pacific Coast commercial organiza
tions to take more Interest In National
questions, to the end that the Coast shall
receive recognition from the executive
and legislative departments of the Gov
ernment. Portland indorsed the San
Francisco position. Vancouver was made
happy by the tremendous pressure
brought to bear upon Congress In behalf
of the proposed permanent general hos
pital. Seattle was brought Into friendly
relations by a vote favoring It as the
landing place for the Pacific cable. In
the Spring President Taylor attended the
farmers' congress at Salem and made
friends for Portland. In the Fall excur
sions of Portland business men, which
had been arranged by the Chamber, at
tended harvest carnivals, street and fruit
fairs at Pendleton, Walla Walla and
Hood River, and brought the commercial
Interests of the metropolis Into contact
with the Interior merchants and pro
ducers. The Lewlston fair would have
been visited, but for the long distance to
travel, and the near approach of the
holiday trade.
The chief work of the trustees has been
in behalf of the Columbia River, and the
year closes with bright prospects for a
deep channel at the mouth, deep water be
tween Portland and the sea, and an open
river to Lewlston. In the latter part
of April Charles F. Adams, of Boston,
and E. H. Libby. of Lewlston, addressed
the trustees. Mr. Adams urged Immedi
ate action to make the Columbia and Its
tributaries navigable from Lewlston to
Portland. A committee appointed by the
trustees reported a few days later that
the importance of this undertaking could
not bo overestimated, and that it was "es
pecially incumbent on Portland, as the
chief city of the Columbia Basin, bott
to take the lead In urging this under
taking and to use all possible influences
to hold the subject up to the attention
of the Pacific Northwest, to Legislatures,
to Congress, and to commercial bodies."
Portland took the Initiative and has been
cordially supported by commercial bodies
in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The
trustees demanded that Congress appro
priate J2.531.000. the amount estimated by
the Chief of Engineers, for the comple
tion of the deep-water project at the
mouth of the river. The river and har
bor bill does not carry quite this amount,
but ample provision is made for the con
tinuance of the Improvements. Captain
Harts, United States Engineers, has rec
ommended a canal and locks between The
Dalles and Celilo. so the work of opening
the rivers to Lewlston is making satis
factory progress. The Chamber of Com
merce is entitled to a great deal of credit
for what it has done for river improve
ments. The contract system for the
mouth of the river, which has been adopt
ed by Congress, was suggested by the
Chamber.
The aggressions of the Middle West Job
bers west of the Rocky Mountains has
driven all Pacific Coast commercial bodies
into a close alliance, besides resulting in
the organization of the Pacific Coast Man
ufacturers and Jobbers' Association. This
latter body was called into existence to
oppose the demand for graded rates and
abolition of differentials and terminals.
The Chamber of Commerce indorsed the
position of the Manufacturers' and Job
bers' Association and declared in resolu
tions that the demands of the Middle
West were excessave, and If granted
would "injure and retard the natural
growth and development of trade on the
Pacific Coast." The ocean was declared
to be a "National highway from all parts
of the world, and has been and is to be
used by the Coast as a factor In its trade
deeloptnent." The Middle West has an
other sly scheme in the parcels post bill
now pending in the United States Senate.
It will also be condemned as a measure
dangerous to the trade interests of the
coast.
A detailed statement of the work of the
Chamber of Commerce during the year
would take up a great amount of space.
Following is a summary of indorsements
and disapprovals of leading subjects:
Indorsed.
Increase ef artillery force of the Army for
coast defeases.
Assay office at Portland.
Proposed Department of Commerce, with a
Secretary who shall be a member of the Cab
inet Enlargement of Portland Postofflce.
Steamship Use to Manila.
Reform In the consular service.
Appointment of a commission to study com
mercial conditions In China and Japan.
Senator Simon's position on the Porto Rico
tariff bill
Pacific-Atlantic canal.
Application of navigation laws to HairalL
The Newberr beet-sugar factory.
Raised money for the Galveston sufferers.
Co-operated with the Taxpayers League for
clean streets.
Landing of returning volunteers at Portland.
Disapproved.
Proposal to make Nome a sub-port of entry
for the benefit of Canadian shipowners.
Leasing of United States public lands west
of the 08th meridian, as being "directly con
trary to the interests and development of the
West."
To Bay Die Lot of Railroad Supplies.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6. Among the pas
sengers who arrived here today on the
steamer Cymric was H. F. Parshall, who
according to rumor will be the represent
ative of Mr. Yerkes In London, and man
ager of the Charing Cross underground
railroad. Mr. Parshall, when asked
about his management, said that he only
knew of It through the newspapers. He
said:
"The relations between myself and Mr.
Lauterbach, and Mr. Yerkes representa
tive, have been under way for some time.
I made him a proposition, and I may re
ceive a favorable reply. That is as near
as I come to being Mr. Yerkes' London
manager. At present I come here in the
interests of the Central London Railroad
and the Glasgow Corporation Tramway
to place .a large order for railroad sup
plies." The nature of the supplies, and
the amount, Mr. Parshall would not say.
He will return to England January 30.
ARMY OF PHILIPPINES.
Steps Taken to Organize a Branch, In
This State.
Spanish-American War veterans have
been working for some time to establish
in Oregon a branch of the National
Society of the Army of the Philippines,
recently organized at Denver, Col., of
which General Greene was elected presi
dent, and General Snmmers second 'vice
president. So many Oregon boys have
served with distinction to themselves and
glory to their country in the Spanish War,
"IRREVOCABLE CONDITIONS" TO WHICH CHINA HAS AGREED.
A The dispatch to Berlin of an extraordinary mission headed by an Imperial Prince
in order to express the regrets of His Majesty, the Emperor of China, and of the Chi
nese Government for the assassination of His Excellency, the late Baron von Ketteler,
Minister of Germany.
B. The erection on the spot of the assassination of a commemorative monument, be
fitting the rank of the accessed, bearing an Inscription in the Latin, German and Chi
nese languages expressing the regrets of the Emperor of China for the murder.
IL
A The severest punishment for the persons designated in the imperial decree of
September 23, 1000, and for those whom the representatives of the powers shall subse
quently designate.
B. The suspension for five years of all official examinations In the cities where for
eigners have been massacred or have been subjected to cruel treatment. ,
III.
Honorable reparation to be made by the Chinese Government to the Japanese Gov
ernment for the murder of Mr. Sujyama.
rv. '
An expiatory monument to be erected by the Imperial Chinese Government In every
foreign or International cemetery which has been desecrated or in which the graves have
been destroyed. ,
V.
The maintenance, under conditions to be determined by the powers, of the interdic
tion against the Importation of arms, as well as of material employed exclusively for
the manufacture of arms and ammunition.
VI.
Equitable indemnities for governments, societies, companies and individuals, as well
as for Chinese who. during the late occurrences, havo suffered In person or in property
In consequence of their being In the service of foreigners. China to adopt financial
measures acceptable to the powers for the purpose of guaranteeing the payment of said
indemnities and the interest and amortization of the loans.
nr.
The right for each power to maintain a permanent guard for its legation and to put
that It was felt such a society would be
the means of keeping them more closely
together, and cementing friendships
formed on many a hard-fought field.
The project received its initiative Sat
urday night, at a meeting held in the
office of Adjutant-General Gantenbein, the
presiding officer being General Summers.
It was decided that the annual conven
tion of the Spanish-American War "Vet
erans shall be held in Portland on Feb
ruary 22, at 10 o'clock A. M., when the
question of consolidating the various
camps will come up for settlement. It is
also expected when this convention meets
that a ladles' auxiliary corps will
perfect state organization. Another
meeting will be held in the near
future, at which it Is hoped all
members eligible will be present
and help to form the organization of a
National Filipino Army Association. It
was pointed out that there was no disposi
tion on the part of the newly-formed organ
ization to disorganize the state association,
and that the Army of the Philippines
takes the same position to the general
organization as do the Army of the Poto
mac, Tennessee and similar bodies, to the
Grand Army of the Republic.
The' general scope of the Army of the
Philippines is thus set forth in the con
stitution: This society shall Include every officer
and enlisted man, with honorable dis
charge, who has served at any time or
may hereafter serve honorably In the
Army of the Philippine Islands, either
In the volunteers or regular establish
ment, and shall have given his tssent to
the constitution and by-laws of this so
ciety. It shall also Include all United
States officers and enlisted men who at
the time served on vessels which, during
the Spanish-American War, co-operated
with the troops in the Philippine Islands,
or have served since then in the waters
of the Philippine Archipelago and shall
have given assent to the constitution and
by-laws of this society.
Membership in this society shall be open
to the sons of members and to the sons
of those who are, or would have been
entitled to membership In this association,
thereby perpetuating membership by In
heritance: but for all of these, election
by a majority vote, by ballot, upon ap
plication at any annual meeting, shall be
necessary, and those Joining under this
section shall pay the same dues as other
members.
Honorary members may be elected by
a majority vote of the members present
at any annual meeting.
Every officer and enlisted man desiring
to become a member of this rociety shall
sign the constitutlcn and by-laws and pay
to the treasurer the sum of one dollar as
annual dues, said dues to be paid at the
treasurer's office in advance: provided
said member does not belong to a state
or territorial society, and such societies
shall pay into the treasury of this so
cietv the sum of twenty cents (20c) an
nually for each of its members, provided
such society Is acting under a charter
furnished by the national ''society, for
which charter such society shall pay to
the national society the sum of two dol
lars ($2).
The payment of six dollars ($C) at one
time shall entitle the member to life
membership without payment of annual
dues.
Plenty of Money.
Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune.
Mr. M. L. Huhleman. of the United
States Treasury, states that this coun
try's total stock of money has increased
since 1S92 from $2,357,000,000 to J3.053.000 O0C,
and the per capita circulation from $23 SS
to $27 55. A vast amount of gold has been
added to our stock since 1S9G. In four
years the addition of gold has been $118,
000,000, of which the Treasury reserve
gained $105 000.000. The money in circula
tion increased from $1,586,000,000 In 1832
to $2,113,000,000 in 1900, three-fifths of the
Increase being gold coin and gold cer
tificates. Some $80,000,000 of the Sherman,
silver notes have been canceled. Out
side the comforting features of Its plentl
fulness and reassuring increase, it is in
teresting to note that a ready disposition
toward an adaptation to general conveni
ence of handling is made manifest in the
growing proportion of paper money in
small notes from ones to tens. Notes of
$20 and under and silver dollars and sub
sidiary silver coin have increased from
$915,000,000 In 1892 to $1,217,000,000 in 1SO0, an
Increase of $3 per capita in the kinds of
money the people use most. There has
been also a greatly increased use of
checks, which has not been materially
affected by the duty stamp. The use of
negotiable notes is not given consider
ation. It probably, however, has not be
come obsolete.
BUSINESS ITEMS.
If Baby Is Cutting Teeth,
Be sure and use that old and well-tried remedy,
Mrs. Wlnslow's Soothing Syrup, for children
teething. It soothes the child, softens the gums.
allays all pain, cures wind colic and diarrhoea.
MAY BE BIO ENTERPRISE
UNKNOWN COMPANY WORKING IN
EASTERN PART OF COUNTY.
Snsrfifestlon of Electric, Plant andva
New Town Land Near Greahnm
to-Be Tested for Oil.
Residents of the eastern-portion -of-the
county are endeavoring to fathom the
purpose of a company which is promoting
what appears to be a large enterprise.
Last Summer surveys were made along
Gordon, Trout and Hurlburt Creeks, pre
sumably to determine the volume of
water available for generating purposes.
The promoters of the enterprise have ten
men at work making a road to an 80
acre tract on Trout Creek, and are en
deavoring to let the contract for havingjt
cleared. A small bridge has been built
across Trout Creek and orders for large
quantities of lumber have been given
to Bramhall's mill. Some say a large elec
trical power-house will be built on the
tract. The site is about two miles south-
east of County Surveyor Hurlburt's place,
and about 25 miles from Portland. It is
asserted by some that a new county road
will be laid out from the scene of opera
tions to a point near Mr. Hurlburt's farm
and that a townslte will be surveyed and
several substantial buildings put up.
Looking- for Oil.
An agent for an oil syndicate has been
at Gresham for a week, endeavoring to
secure options on several farms for the
purpose of boring for oil. He asks the
privilege of holding the options for 15
years and reserves the right to move
buildings and tear down fences, If neces
sary, while conducting operations. The
owners of the land may still live upon U
and continue their farming, but they will
be required to relinquish all title If the
company decides to close the deal within
the prescribed time. The agent says
there is oil near Gresham and that his
company means to And it So far as
known, only two farmers have given the
option asked by the company.
Parsonage at Rockwood.
The Methodist church at Rockwood will
have, a new parsonage before long. The
people of that place met Tuesday even
ing to raise a fund for the building. Rev.
Howard Osborne, pastor of the church,
presided. Presiding Elder Rockwell has
promised to make several changes in the
circuit If a parsonage is built, and the
people have adopted plans for a five
room house. Dr. Osborne will begin a re
vival tomorrow evening.
DlffKlnp; Up His -Orchard.
Captain J. A. Brown has made up his
mind to root out his trees on Melville
farm and use the ground for something
else. The trees were planted years ago
by a former owner and have always given
a good yield, but Captain Brown has
more faith in potatoes than in fruit.
New School for Gresham.
The special school meeting held at
Gresham resulted in a tax of 20 mills be
ing levied, which will be added to the
50 mills raised last year for the con
struction of a new schoolhouse.
Supreme Court Problem.
LINN COUNTY, Oregon, Jan. 4. (To
the Editor.) The voters' emphatic rejec
tion of the constitutional amendment pro
viding for more Supreme Court Judges
pointed directly to the cutting off of mi
nor litigation in that court. In the dis
cussion of the question, pending .the elec
tion. The Oregonian stoutly counseled the
TT-ltV. iAmtnfx ? ma .a . I . n4 ..i..t-.l '
as the proper remedy. And the popular
denial of more Judges voiced the repeal
of the provision which made more nec
esearj. The lawyers with one voice Ig
nore that message and fall back upon
the creation of a board of Supreme Court
commissioners. That would be followed
dv their permanent retention, for if need
ed to bring up the accumulated business
of the court, it would be equally needed
to prevent future accumulation. If the
Legislature is a representative body it
will apply the remedy plainly intended
by the people. The concern of the pro
fession for the poor man is touching. But
it should be remembered that appeals are
not seldom taken by the richer for the
purpose of oppressing the less able, who
cannot well follow the Judgment obtained
in the district to the Supreme Court on
account of inability to pay lawyers; and
If he does so, Is apt to find his judgment
swallowed up by the added fee of his at
torney leaving him to reflection upon the
vanity of lawsuits.
Judge Lord had long and honorable
service upon the Supreme Bench, and no
man is better qualified to judge of the
remedy for the congestion there. He said:
"Enact a law that shall limit appeals In
civil cases to the Supreme Court to those
involving title to real estate or matters
affecting the 'public revenue, the constitu
tion Of the state or of the United States, or
where the question of franchise is raised,
or where the arrtount of the judgment ex
ceeds $500." That with giving the court
discretion in the matter of writing opin
ions. He adds that "the records of the
court show that ibout 30 per cent of the
cases appealed are under $500, varying
from that sum to less than $50." Also
cases are appealed to "cause vexation and
expense. Judge Lord further added;
"That chronic argument that -every citi
zen should have the right to appeal, no
matter how small the sum. Is entitled to
little consideration. The community
should not be taxed several hundred dol
lars to gratify two obstinate men In
bandying some trivial matter through the
courts when Its merits can be fully de
cided In the circuit court as the court
of last resort." Governor Lord recom
mended that the judicial districts of the,,
state be reorganized and three of them
dispensed with. In addition, It Is qulta
commonly understood that there would
stijl be one or two superfluous circuit
judges. All our legislation relating to
the 'courts, including excess of districts
and. multiplicity of Judges, has proceed
ed' Irom lawyers, and we will presume
with tiever an eye to "business." Will
not "some one of them prepare bills cover
ing Governor Lord's recommendations,
and will not lawyers in the Legislature
and out of it permit them to become laws?
' ' RETRENCH.
STING OF THE TARANTULA
It la Not Necessarily Fatal, and Can
Be Quickly Cured.
New York World.
Dr. Seth B. Sprague, of 283 Grove street,
Jersey rClty, was surprised to learn yes
terday that he had successfully treated
a patient who had been bitten by a tar
antula'. Charles W. Melgel, of 21 Mercer
street, employed in a Jersey City box
factory, called on Dr. Sprague last Satur
day. His right hand and arm were swollen
and Inflamed. He told the physician he
had been bitten by some Insect.
Although he knew he had been bitten
by a tarantula, Meigel purposely wtth
held the Information from Dn Sprague.
the diplomatic quarter In a defensible condition, the Chinese having no right to -reside
inthat quarter.
VEX
The-destruction of the forts which might obstruct free communication between "Po
kln and the sea,
IX.
The right to the military occupation of certalnrpolnts, to.be determined by an un
derstanding among the powers. In order to
votiiM oiiu fruv avs
X.
The Chinese Government to cause to be published during two years in all the sub
prefectures an Imperial decree (a) embodying a perpetual prohibition, under penalty
of death, of membership In any anti-foreign society; (b) enumerating the punishments
that shall have been Inflicted on the guilty, together with the suspension of all official
examinations in the cities where foreigners have been murdered or have been subjected
to cruel treatment, and (c), furthermore, an imperial decree to be 'Issued and published
throughout the empire ordering that the Governors-General (Viceroys) and all provin
cial or local officials shall be held responsible for the maintenance of order within
their respective jurisdictions, and that In the event of renewed anti-foreign disturb
ances pr any other Infractions of treaty occurring' and which shall not forthwith be sup
pressed and the guilty persons punished, they, the said officials, shall be Immediately
removed and forever disqualified from holding any office or 'honors.
XI.
The Chinese Government to undertake to negotiate amendments to the treaties of
commerce and navigation considered useful by the, foreign powers, and upon other mat
ters' pertaining to their commercial relations, with the object of facilitating them.
XII.
The. Chinese Government to determine In what manner to reform the department of
foreign affairs and to modify the court ceremonials concerning the reception of foreign
represtntatles in the manner to be indicated by the powers. '
Until the Chinese Government has complied with the above conditions to the satis,
faction of the powers, the undersigned can hold out no expectation that the occupation
of Pekln and the provinces of China by the general forces can be brought to a" conclusion.
He had been turned away by two phy
sicians on whom he had called for treat
ment. They told him nothing could be
done for him. In despair he went to Dr.
Sprague. He was inclined at first to tell
him the truth, hut remembering his pre
vious experience and fearing similar
treatment, he simply said the Injury had
been caused by an Insect.
Dr. Sprague examined the wound, which
was on the middle finger of the right
hand, and declared It serious. He resorted
to a treatment usual in cases of poisonous
stinging. This was to soak the finger
In a solution of bicarbonate of soda as hot
as the patient could stand It, and keep
the member there from six to eight hours
at a time. He also prescribed twenty
drops of tincture of muriate of Iron, taken
Internally every three hours.
Melgel faithfully followed the doctor's
Instructions, and Sunday when the pa
tient made a second call on the doctor
the finger had become softened and the
swelling was greatly decreased. Dr.
Sprague applied the lance, and a hard
core half an Inch long was taken from
the linger. After that Meigel was relieved
fro.n pain. The swelling, disappeared al
tegfther, and Meigel left the physician
fully convinced his life had been saved.
A day or two later, Meigel, having fully
recovered, called at the physician's house
to thalk him for his treatment and to
arologhe foi having deceived him. Dr.
Sprague was not at home, and Meigel, af
ter telling Mrs. Sprague, the doctor's
wife, that he had been bitten by a taran
tula, asked her to give his compliments
to the physician.
"I would like to see him personally,"
taid the grateful man, "and thank him,
but I must go at once to Arizona, where
my mother is on her deathbed."
Melgel told Mrs. Sprague that he cap
tured the tarantula In a load of lumber
that he had been handling. He took it
home and put it In a bottle. While In
specting it the tarantula escaped from
the bottle and bit him on the finger.
Life a Century Ago.
Memphis Commercial Appeal.
One 'hundred years ago a man could
not take a ride on a steamboat.
He -cbuld not go from Washington to
New York in a few hours.
He had never seen an electric light or
dreamed of an electric car.
He could not send a telegram.
He couldn't talk through a telephone,
and he had never heard of the hello girl.
He could not ride a bicycle.
He could not call in a stenographer and
dictate a letter.
He had never received a typewritten
communication.
He had never heard of the germ theory
or worried over baoilll and bacteria.
He never looked pleasant before a pho
tographer or had his picture taken.
He never heard a phonogrash talk or
saw a klnetoscope turn out a prizefight.
Ho never saw through a Webster's Un
abridged Dictionary with the aid of a
Roentgen ray.
He had never taken a ride in an ele
vator. He had never imagined such a thing as
a typesetting machine or a typewriter.
He had never used anything but a
wooden plow.
He had never seen his wife using a
sewing-machine.
He had never struck a match on his
pants or anything else.
He couldn't take an anaesthetic and
have his leg cut off without feeling it.
He had never purchased a 10-cent maga
zine, which would have been regarded as
a miracle of art.
He could not buy a paper and learn
everything that had happened the day be
fore all over the world.
He had never seen a MoCormlck reaper
or a self-binding harvester.
He had never crossed an iron bridge.
In short, there were several things that
he could not do, and several things he
did not know.
Nearly Starred at tbe Lelter Ball.
Washington letter.
An echo of Wednesday night's much
advertised reception at the Jelter resi
dence was heard Thursday when the ex
perience of Postmaster-General Charles
Emory Smith was related to friends. The
Postmaster-General and Mrs. Smith went
to the Lelter mansion on time according
to the card invitation. It was announced
that refreshments would be served at 10:30.
As a matter of fact they were not served
until nearly 1 In the morning, and the
Postmaster became so faint that he went
home at midnight and permitted Mrs.
Smith to make him a pot of tea and some
toast.
Frjday morning Philip Brady fell down
Np.4 shaft in the Republic mine and died
shortly afterward without regaining consciousness-
REGULATION OFCOMMERCE
SYNOPSIS OF ANNUAL REPORT OF
INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
Knowledge, of, Present Conditions
and Tendencies Increases Neces
sity, fpr Legislative "Action.
I
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5. The; subject of
further legislation amending the aqt to
regulate commerce has been fully dis
cussed in previous reports to Con
gress, and recommendations both-general
and specific lav.e been repeatedly made.
The reasons for urging these amendments
have "been carefully explained .and repeti
tion of the argument at this time can
hardly be expected. While the attitude of
the commission has been misunderstood by
some and misrepresented by others, the
views heretofore officially expressed are
believed to be Justified alike by experi
ence .and' reflection. They are confirmed
toy later and current observa
tion. Knowledge of present conditions
and tendencies increases rather than les-
maintain" open communication between the T
sens the necessity for legislative action
upon the lints already indicated, and in
such other dire'etions as will furnish an
adequate and workable statue for the
regulation of commerce "among the sev
eral states."
One aspect of the situation, however,
is specially referred to. The commis
sion pays it must be apparent to the
thoughtful mind that equal charges for
equal service cannot be secured without
some restraint upon th competitive ac
tion of independent lines, and refers to
classification, Interchange of cars, switch
ing service, storage and terminal charges,
demurrage, car service rules, and other
similar matters as having been looked
upon with favor as operating to public
advantage. Uniform classification, for ex
ample, Is regarded so desirable that the
commission has recommended and urged
Us adoption by voluntary action, or, that
failing, by compulsory legislation. The
act to regulate commerce seems to favor
associated action by competing roads for
purposes of this kind. True, it prohibits
pooling that is, the actual division of
competitive traffic or the earnings derived
therefrom and even this provision is be
lieved by many to be practically incon.
sistent with uniform charges to all ship
pers and the fair adjustment of rates be
tween different communities and differ
ent articles of traffic.
Whatever view may be held as to the
degree of incompatibility between the pro
hibition of pooling and the other pro
visions of the act, it was generally under
stood, after the act was passed, that
mutual agreements respecting the matters
above mentioned, not Involving the divi
sion of tonnage or revenue, were in
no respect made unlawful by the act, but
were regarded rather as aids to Its proper
observance. Accordingly, numerous as
sociations were formed and many features
of the railroad service more or less sub
jected to common control by carriers
otherwise In actual competition. The
tendency and Intended results of these
arrangements were to remove the prac
tices and charges Included in their terms
from the field of competition.
These conditions are said to be (materi
ally changed, in their legal aspects at
least, by the passage of the anti-trust
law and the interpretation which that
law has received. The prohibition against
railway association Is no longer limited
to pooling of competitive traffic or the
revenue therefrom, but extends to every
form of combination, which directly re
strains competitive freedom. While this
does not mean" that every such agreement
violates -the anti-trust law. It does mean
that all such engagements as actually re
strict competition are void from their in
ception and subject those who make them,
or who connive in efforts to continue
themi to tho hazard of criminal prosecu
tion. It Is evident that railroad managers
generally have made no attempt to con
form their practices to the spirit of this
law. They may keep within its letter and
succeed in avoiding Its penalties, but they
claim that they are virtually compelled
to. counteract its aim and evade Its ob
servance. Thus it happens that some of
the most important and useful Incidents
of railway service are maintained by
methods which are believed to be inhar
monlpus with, if not in actual violation
of, a Federal statute. This Is more than
the question, of pooling contracts between
rival carriers it is the question of such
agreements as relate to classification,
terminal charges, and the like concerning
which uniformity, certainty and stabil
ity are of manifest benefit and conveni
ence to the public.
Under the conditions now existing It is
Inevitable that frequent discriminations
should occur and endless acts of injus
tice be committed. Theoretically it is
possible for each road to observe Its pub
lished schedules In every particular, but
this in many cases must be done, if done
at all, only at the loss of needed traffic,
unless all rival roads with equal strict
ness and honesty conform In like manner
to their published rates. The Idea of pub
lic regulation implies certain standards
of correct conduct to which all carriers
shall conform. It also implies some
measure of supervision and control over
those subject to its requirements, to the
end that these standards may be ob
served and practices made to conform
thereto. This, without doubt, is incon
sistent, to some degree at least, with
actual and constant competition as that
, term Is commonly understood.
If, as Is alleged, that competition is
compelled in all thlnrs by "one law which
Is binding upon the? carriers, it can hard
ly be supposed that another law of 'more
or less diverse and opposing tendency
will at the same time bo obeyed. It Is
universal experience that capital takes
advantage of competition. If public trans
portation can be bought and sold like a
commodity,- the ""largest purchaser will,
some of, the time, If not all of the time.
get the best terms. It is Idle to suppose
tha't railroads ' will actually and all the
while r compete with each other as to
every Item of, service or facility and at
the same time expect that all their
patrons, small and large, will be treated
exactly alike. Such a result has never
yet been, realized, -and practically will not
be realzed. The policy now pursued can
not and will not prevent an outcome of
.vicious discrimination. And what Is
most unfortunate of all, those discrimina
tions favor the few and place the many
at disadvantage. They aid the strong,
who have no need of assistance, and
handicap the weak with burdens which by
comparison are always unjust and often
destructive.
The present state of the law and the
facts here referred to have undoubtedly
furnished a great incentive to the con
solidation or unification of rival linos,
which Is at once the most conspicuous
and" the most significant result of current
railroad financiering.
i One of the striking features of recent
times in the industrial world has been
the tendency to combine for the purpose
of limiting or eliminating competition. In
no branch of industry, probably, is the
Inducement to form combinations of this
sort greater, nor the advantages to be
hoped fpr from them when formed more
certain, than in railway operations.
First No competition is so destructive
as that between railways. In most kinds
of business competition stops with the
bankruptcy of one or more of the com
petitors, but here the weak, roundabout,
bankrupt line can often Inflict as serious
damage as could a prosperous rival.
Second The nature of the business ren
ders possible large profits from such com
binations without attracting undue atten
tion. Transportation is analogous to a
tax Imposed in varying degrees upon al
most all commodities. With Important
exceptions moderate advances in rates. If
equally distributed, would not be espe
cially noticed by the public as a whole.
But every such advance adds to the net
revenues of the railway, and a very slight
Increase In all rates, If It should be per
manently maintained, would enhance
enormously tho value of railway securi
ties. Third No kind of property lends Itself
so readily to the permanent formation
of such combinations as railroad property.
He who combines all the factories in the
United States of a certain kind may lose
In a short time the benefit of that mon
opoly by the erection of other factories
of the same kind, but a monopoly cre
ated by the combination of all the rail
ways now controlling any considerable
area of tho United States Is reasonably
certain to continue for years to come.
Fourth In addition to these induce
ments, the statutes of the land operate to
produce the same result. Many years ago
the railway managers found it necessary,
in what they .believed to be legitimate
self-protection, to form pooling contracts.
They still believe that the right to make
and enforce such contracts is a proper
and essential one, but the Interstate com
merce act renders the formation of these
contracts not only Illegal but criminal.
That act also provides that carriers shall
publish their rates and adhere to them,
but the anti-trust act, as Interpreted by
the courts, renders any agreement with
reference to. the making or maintaining
of lntereatate rates a crime. If carriers
are to make public their rates and to
charge all shippers the same rate, they
must, as a practical matter, agree to
some extent with respect to these rates.
When railway managers believe that the
law fcblds in one act what they deem
necessary to the observance of another,
the obvious tendency of the enforcement
bf such a law is to lead to the discovery,
if possible, of some way in which it can
be avoided. So if there can be no agree
ment in the operation of independent rail
ways, It seems Inevitable that there will
be unity or agreement In their owner
ship. No one at all acquainted with what
Is transpiring can doubt that combina
tions have been formed and are certain
to be formed among railroads which will
be more extensive, more permanent, and
more far-reaching In their ultimate re
sults than those of any other department
of industry. The experience of 13 years
shows that there is no serious difficulty
in securing, upon the part of competitive
lines, the adoption and publication of
rates satisfactory to the carriers, but
hitherto it has been found Impossible to
secure the actual observance of rates on
competitive traffic when adopted. A rail
way will seldom reduce the open rate un
less to meet some actual or supposed de
parture from that rate by a rival line,
for it Is well understood that such a
reduction by one moans simply a corre
sponding reduction by others. To prevent
rate competition, therefore, it is only
necessary to secure compliance with the
open tariff. In order to do this it is only
necessary that a competing line should
own or control, or that some person in Its
Interest should own or control, enough
of the stock of its competltorto Influence
the election of a board of directors, and
this seems to have been the method re
cently adopted in many Instances.
The commission has no official knowl
edge of the extent of recent railway com
binations, but It has Informed itself as
well as possible from unofficial sources.
Disregarding mere rumors, but taking ac
count of well-authenticated statements,
there were absorbed in various ways
between July 1, 1899, and November 1, 1900,
25,311 miles of railroad. There are in the
whole United States something less than
200,000 miles of railroad: and more than
one-eighth of this entire mileage was,
within tho above period, brought, in one
way and another, under the control of
other lines. The scope and effect of these
operations is illustrated by some exam
ples given in the report. The commission
goes on to say that when we consider
what has actually been done, what is un
doubtedly in contemplation, the entire fea
sibility of these schemes, the very great
advantage which would result to the own
ers of the properties involved, and tho
fact that a step once taken In that di
rection is seldom retraced, it becomes
evident that in the immediate future the
main transportation lines of this country
will be thrown Into great groups, con
trolling their own territory, and not sub
ject, with rpspect to most of their traf
fic, to serious competition.
Such a condition Is not without its
benefits. The evils which competition be
gets will largely disappear with that com
petition, and many of the worst forms
of discrimination will cease. Owing to
wasteful competition transportation by
rail actually costs more than it ought.
To eliminate that competition will bp to
work an actual saving in the cost of the
service, and this should redound to the
benefit of both the carrier and the ship
per. The danger lies In the fact that the only
check upon the rate is thereby removed.
Hitherto competition between carriers has
kept down the price of carriage. If that
is taken away nothing remains except the
force of popular opinion, and the feeble
restraints of the present law, which are
of little effect when directed against slight
and gradual advances. It will He within
the power of two or three men, or at
most a small group on men, to say what
tax shall be imposed upon the vast traffic
moving between the East and West. The
nature of the service apd the conditions
under which this species of property is
operated may be such that it cannot be,
and perhaps ought not to be, brought un
der the controlling force of competition,
but those very conditions make It impera
tively necessary that some other control
should be substituted for competition.
It is idle to say that freight rates cannot
be advanced. During the past year they
have been, by concerted action upon a
vast volume of traffic, advanced in every
part of this country. It Is equally idle to
say that they will not be advanced. It Is
both human nature and the lesson of his
tory that unlimited power induces misuse
of that power. Railways are not com
bining for the purpose of "extortion and
abuse," but none the less should the peo
ple provide- some protection against that
possible result of the combination.
The Behlmer case, otherwise known as
the Summervllle, S. C, long and short
haul case, was decided by the United
States Supremo Court in favor of the rail
road companies on 'January 8 last. In
deciding tho case the court referred to
its former decisions construing the long
and short haul clause of the law and de
fined somewhat more fully Its view con
cerning the effect of competloin In cases)
brought under that provision of the stat
ute. The Supreme Court decided that the)
construction given in this cause by tho
commission and the Circuit Court of Ap
peals to the fourth section of the act was
erroneous, and hence that both the com
mission and the Circuit Court of appeals
mistakenly considered, as a matter of law,
that competition, however material, aris
ing from carriers who were subject to tho
act to regulate commerce could not bo
taken Into consideration, and likewise
that all competition, however substantial,
not originating at the initial point of tho
traffic, was equally, as a matter of law,
excluded from view. No decision was
rendered by the court upon the facts In
this case.
In a proceeding known as the Colorado
Fuel & Iron case the Circuit Court of Ap
peals reversed the decree of the Circuit
Court and directed dismissal of the com
plaint. This case was based upon an
order of the commission, holding that tho
rate on iron and steel articles from Pu
eblo, Colo., to San Francisco. Cal.,
amounting to $1 60 per 100 pounds, was
unlawful under tha act, and that tho
rates charged on such articles from Pu
eblo to San Francisco should not be moro
than 75 per cent of tho rates contem
poraneously charged on like traffic from
Chicago to San Francisco, nor more than
45 cents per 100 pounds on steel rails and
fastenings, and 37& cents per 100 pounds
on bar iron and other enumerated iron
articles. The Circuit Court upheld tho
decision of the commission, but tho Cir
cuit Court of Appeals, following later de
cisions of the Supreme Court, held that
the commission was without authority
under the act to regulate commerce to
prescribe rates for future observance by
the carriers, and that this applied as well
to an order of the commission determin
ing the relation of rates between localities
as to an order prescribing maximum rates.
The court further said that determining
the relation of rates involved the exercisa
of legislative functions to tho same extent
as fixing the rate on an Independent con
sideration of what would be a reasonable
compensation for the service. The com
mission points out in this report a dis
tinction apparently madebetween prescrib
ing maximum rates and determining tho
relation of rates by the Supreme Court
in the maximum-rate case, in which tho
commission's power to prescribe maximum
reasonable rates was denied. In review
ing the decision of the Court of Appeals
tho commission takes occasion to state tha
necessity for authority to regulate rates
for the future, and demonstrates that &
suit at law for damages cannot, in tha
very nature of thinsrs, be an effectual or
appropriate remedy. As a rule, saya
the commission, the persons actually in
jured cannot obtain redress In suits for
damages, and In those cases whero tha
real sufferer can sue and recover the ex
cess above unreasonable or unjust charges
the aggrieved shipper cannot afford to
bring and maintain an expensive suit
every time an unreasonable or unjust rata
Is charged, nor to do business in reliance
jpon a possible recovery In tho law courts
of sums unlawfully exacted for transTior
tatlon during any given period.
Other court decisions noted in tha re
port are: The decision of the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals in tho
livestock terminal charge case originating
at Chicago In a sulttto enforce the or
der of the commission; the suspension of
decree pending appeal by the defendant
carriers In the La Grange, Ga., long and
short, haul case, which was decided by tho
United States Circuit Court in Alabama
in favor of the commission; a case involv
ing the legal obligations of belt railroad
companies engaged in interstate com
merce, and one involving the question, of
removal of persons indicted under the act
to regulate commerce to other Judicial
districts for trial. Another case men
tioned is one Involving the constitution
ality of the Kentucky railroad commission
law. .
USES WOODEN BULLETS.
Negro Has His .Own Ideas for Stop
pi is "Bad Nlssers."
Louisville Courier Journal.
Dum-dum and soft-nosed bullets have
been much In prominence since the com
mencement of the Boer war. Their flat
tening or spreadlng-out proclivities ara
marked in the production of mortality.
These bullets are made of lead, as might
be supposed, but they are not always
made of lead, as the following shows:
A negro was recently arrested for soma
misdemeanor, and in being searched at
the police station was found to have a
pistol. It was loaded, and before being
ticketed it was broke and the cartridges
thrown out. Tho apperance of the balls
and their lightness attracted attention,
and on examination disclosed the fact
that they were of wood.
"Where did you get these?" was asked
the negro.
"What?"
"These cartridges."
"I bought tho cartridges from a store.'
"Did they have this kind of ball In
them?"
"No, Indeed. They had a regular lead
ball.
"Where did you get theso wood balls
from?"
"I made them."
"What for?"
"Well, you .see, I often fools along with
some mighty mean niggers who Is awful
handy with a knife. I ain't had no luck
with a knife in fights, and when I has
hit niggers with a lead bullet it ain't
never stopped them. They kept on com
ing. So, I gets to thinking about it, and
I reads In the papers about how force
ful spreading bullet Is In stopping peo
ple. Right then and there I gits the idea.
Nothing spreads more and splinters mora
than wood, and I gits me them cartridges,
takes out the lead bullets and puts wood
bullets In their places. Thay's, of course,
for close fighting, and. Captain, you ain't
got no idea how quickly they stop a man
when you turns one loose real close to
him. The way they scarify your person
is real ugly, and If you don't stop In
your tracks you keep going backward.
They's the finest spread bullets there Is."
Exit Trainboy.
Chicago Record.
The action of some of the railway com
panies in deciding to remove the trainboy
from their service apparently marks an
Inevitable step In evolution. In the days
when travel was much slower and dining"
cars were rare, the trainboy was almost
a necessity, and he certainly did much to
ameliorate the hardships of travel. His
regular visits through the car were a di
version; the bananas and candles and
cigars which he dispensed for a considera
tion afforded refreshment to the physical
man. and the varied collection of paper
back, novels, which he distributed with a
discerning eye to the probable tastes of
each traveler helped to while the time
away. Now these comforts are mora
easily accessible. Most travelers lay In a
supply of literature before they start, and
if they do not patronize the dining car or
carry their own luxuries they can general
ly get a meal of some kind at the railway
stations. Thus has the trainboy's occupa
tion gone. No more win the passengers
be importuned to buy literature from his
weird collection of Action; no more will
the car floors be littered with the unsani
tary debris of banana peels, peanut shells
and asale cores. On the whole, the
change seems to be only a natural and
proper result of Improved conditions of
transportation.
The Seattle Board of Public Works
awarded contracts for nearly $45,000 lrt
public improvements Saturday. The Im
provements include grading and planking
streets, construction of sewer and water
mains and cement sidewalks.
Van Camp's Soups, 10c.
rtl rfjijf jLjBHfMtiTirtfta-tm,th-aVfaa-miMi& '
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