THE MORNING OKEGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1901. t&kw rggomcm. Enterefl aWbr Postoffice at Portland, Oreroa, as second-claw matter. KEViSED SUBSCRIPTION KATES. By Mai! (postage prepaid). In Advance Dally, with Sunday, per month 85 Dally, Sunday excepted, per year , 1 SO Dally, with Sunday, per year 0 00 Sunday, per year 2 00 The Weekly, per year... 1 50 The 'Weekly. 3 month. 60 To City Subscribers Daily, per week, delivered. Sundays exceptd,15e Dally, per week, delivered. Sundays lnclufled.20c POSTAGE RATES. United States Canada anQ Mexico: 10 to 14-page paper le 1 to 2S-pase paper ..,,.,............20 Forclcn. rates double. JTewo nr discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should be addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Orescnlan." not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to adver tising subscription or to any business matter should be addressed elmply "The Oreconlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscript sent to It without solici tation. 2Co clamps should te Inclosed for this purpose. Eastern Business Office. S.'u. , 47. 48. 43 Tribune bulldlnc. New Turk City: 4C0 "The Rookery." Chicago: the 3. C. Beckwith special agency. Eastern representative. For sale In San Francisco brLE. Lee. Pal ace Hotel news stand: Goldsmith Bros.. 230 Sutter street; F. AT. Pitts. 1008 Market street; J. K. Cooper Co., 740 Market street, near the Palace Hotel; Foster & Orcar. Ferry news etand. For rale In Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner. 259 So. Spring 6treet. and Oliver & Haines. 100 So. Sjr!nr street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Go.. 217 Dearborn street. For sale in Omaha by Barkalow Bros., 1015 Farnarn street. For sale In Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co., 7" W .Second South street. For sale in Ogden by W. C Kind. 204 Twenty-fifth street, and liy C H. Myers. On file In the Oregon exhibit at the exposi tion. Charleston, S C. For sale In "Washington, D. C., by the Ebbett Home news stand. For ealo In Denver. Colo, by Hamilton & Kendrlck. 000-D12 Seventeenth ctreet. TESTERDAVS 'WEATHER-Maxlmum tem perature, 34.; minimum temperature. 28; pre cipitation, 0.01 inch. TODAY'S -WEATJTER Snow, probably part rain; routhcrly winds. PORTLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 14. THE FILIPINOS' CHRISTMAS GIFT. It is given out at "Washington that the reason why the Treasury Depart ment hesitates to extend the coasting regulations to the Philippine Islands Is that the Pacific Mail, and possibly other maritime corporations, -would "in this way be hard hit. The Pacific Mail steamships come here from Hong Kong, but the goods they bring from the Phil ippines have first been carried to Hong Kong In foreign vessels. Extension of the coasting regulations, therefore, would interfere with the Pacific Mail's business, and hence we have the tele graphic instructions to San Francisco and Portland Collectors, ordering them to clear American cargoes for the Phil ippines in British ships. This illustrates the highly moral and edifying character of our tariff and maritime regulations. Nobody cares anything about the trade of the Philip pines, or -whether or not they have any trade, but the Faciflc Mail, or any other big corporation with a strong pull, must be taken care of. Of course, If the Pacific Mail were plying directly between here and Manila, the Treasury Department would look at the matter differently. Then the American line would have to be protected from Brit ish gold and the pauper labor of Europe, regardless of the industrial, agricultural or commercial needs of the islands. Then, if there happened to be no Amer ican vessel in port at Manila when car goes were needing to be shipped, the cargoes might rot on the wharves at their leisure. Oregon lumbermen may continue to dispose of the product of their labor to the Philippines so long as the Interests of the Pacific Mail are con served by that ruling. But little con sideration will they get so soon as the Pacific Mail or some equally strong corporation puts itself in position to monopolize the trade between the Islands and the United States. The Incident is illustrative of the dis regard felt at "Washington for consum ers, whether here or in our new islands. The few who produce sugar must be supported at the expense of the many who consume sugar. The Dlngley rates will be clapped on to Philippine -products. They are domestic territory, thanks to the Supreme Qourt, until Con gress declares them foreign. This will not be long. Closure will be Tesorted to in the House to make the islands a holiday present of the cold outside. Christmas is certainly an appropriate season to show the Fillplnos.hbw gener ous Uncle Sam can be when he really tries. OUR ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES. The regular Army has obtained a good many recruits of excellent quality irom Oregon and "Washington, and to a young fellow who is desirous of seeing something of the world beyond the con fines of his boyhood. Army service in the Philippines at present furnishes an opportunity not to be despised. The enlisted men of the United States Army are better paid and better provided for than American farm laborers, coal and iron miners, ordinary railroad employes, motormen and conductors on street rail ways, millhands or laboring men in the various other lines of employment. The pay and allowance of the American sol dier throughout the year amount in the aggregate to more than the average earnings of the clerks in country stores. Statistics show that at least three-fifths of all the wage-earners in the country receive less returns for their services than the enlisted men of the United States Army. The original pay of the recruit is only $13 a month for the first two years of service, or $156. But the scale of pay is so arranged by law that at the end of five years' service he is receiving $16 a month, or $192 a year. The pay proper is not large, but the soldier is not obliged to pay out of It one cent for maintenance; he is fed, clothed and housed at Gov ernment cost. He pays nothing for travel; for medical attendance, hospital service or medicines, and-when siok is relieved from duty, and while sick his pay, clothing and subsistence allow ances go right on from the day of en listment to his discharge from service. He can save every cent of his earnings if he chooses to do so. The situation of the soldierjs quite favorable compared with that of a civilian wageworker, who has to pay his board bill, his clothing account, possible medical charges, out of a salary of say $3 a day for the 23 working days of the month. If the sol dier becomes a non-commissioned offi cer, he gets an Increase of pay; the pay of a Corporal is $15 a month; of a Sergeant, $18, and of a First Sergeant $25 a month. The Government accepts none but the very best men who seek to enlist. Noting, culminating to the assassination men of intemperate habits can possi bly pas the surreon: no man of in- fferior intellect or gross illiteracy. At Army posts there are always Army schools or opportunities for instruction for those who seek to add to their scholastic knowledge or their tactical education. Army life Is a good experi ence for any young man who cares to make the most of an excellent opportu nity to develop his outdoor brains and essential manhood. The report of Gen eral MacArthur from October 1. 1900, to July 1, 1901, bears eloquent testimony to the splendid quality of young men that compose our Army in the Philip pines. The subdivision of the Army into an infinite number of small posts, from which small detachments have issued ceaselessly against insurgent guerillas increased Individual responsi bility. Of the conduct, of these non commissioned officers and soldiers un der very trying circumstances, General MacArthur says: Incessantly trained by these means, tho sol diers of this army have acquired In an unusual desree tho true spirit ot discipline and adven ture, and at tha same time have developed a high sense of fortitude, patient endurance, self reliance and personal responsibility, and so have attained the very best characteristics of the military profession. Recruited from a hardy and valiant race, largely representing: the self respecting, robust and Trell-reijulated youns manhood of America, every demand upon their endurance and courase has been responded to with patrlotlo fidelity. They are a credit to the Nation, and deserve the affectionate grati tude of the people of tho Republic MANILA AND SANTIAGO! The country will indorse Admiral Dewey's professional estimate of the technical points at Issue in the Schley case, and will heartily ratify his tribute to Admiral Schley's gallant conduct off Santiago and glorious leadership in the great victory of July 3. It Is enough for the public to know that Dewey does not follow the conclusions of Bcnham and Ramsay in several counts, and that he has sense and spirit enough to rise above hair-splitting to the level of net achievement. The essential thing In mattors of this kind is not, as certain naval authorities seem to think or perhaps to pretend, a minute and slavish subservience to the text of orders, but It is first the right purpose, and, second, results. Suppose Schley thought he ought to go to Key "West and coal, and suppose he was wrong is he to be censured be cause he didn't go counter to his best Judgment? Perhaps so. In some nar row, technical sense, but not in any large sense Involving the conduct of actual war. A man often has to dis obey orders military and naval annals are full of such violations, which time has abundantly approved. Besides this popular rough sense of the requirements of public policy, there is widespread resentment at the re markable display of injustice to which the Navy Department has been acces sory. They told Schley that Cervera was at Cienfuegos why has nobody been questioned as to this? They told him that Cervera was positively not at Santiago is no blame to be assigned for this? SIgsbee gave erroneous in formation and Sampson issued wrong orders; but the only activity displayed by them has been in derogation of the man who won a victory in spite of them. Congress should probe this antl Schley conspiracy to the bottom. Mean while, what is more fitting than that the two men who fought and won the war with Spain should be found stand ing together? Your Uncle George is all right INTERNATIONAL CONTROL OF AN ARCHISTS. The debate in the Senate over the en actment of legislation against anarch ists shows very clearly that Senators Burrows, "Vest and Hoar have not thought much to the purpose. Senator Burrows proposed that the persons of alien anarchists be examined for marks which would identify them as anarch ists. Senator Burrows seems to have forgotten that there were no "marks" on the assassin of McKIcley; he seems to have forgotten that anarchists who desire to enter this country will not be likely to have any "marks" to aid the process of identification. Senator Hoar exceeded Senator Burrows in ab surdity in his .advocacy of an Island to which the anarchists of all nations should be deported where they could "fight like devils for conciliation and hate each other for the love of God." The New York Evening Post reaches the rrerve of the whole matter when it says that "men who try to overthrow all governments are really either luna tics or criminals, and should be treated as such." Anarchy island is an ab surdity. The anarchists who commit crimes would promptly be disposed of by the existing laws for the punishment of assassins, and all other anarchists would take good care not to say or do anything that would render them liable to exile. Nobody can tell by looking at a man whether" or no he is an anarchist, a presumptive-assassin or incendiary the moment he obtains a worthy opportu nity for action. You could not prove that a suspect was a proper subject for deportation unless he confessed, which he certainly would not do, or unless you deported him upon "information and belief," a process that would not com mend itself to public favor. The trou ble with all these schemes is that dan gerous anarchists are never legally de tected until by their deeds they disclose upon themselves, and when that is the case "Anarchy island" becomes an In ternational luxury. It Is like an opera house without an audience; like a Sum mer hotel without boarders; like a jail without any prisoners. The appoint ment of an international commission to decide upon the most effective method of dealing with anarchists probably would not do any narm, but It is not likely that any more effective means for hunting them down could be de vised than those adopted and put in force by Russia, Italy, Austria, Spain and France. The Spanish Minister to the United States bears testimony in the current number of the North Amer ican Review that Spain has found it Impossible to devise any scheme or law that will prevent assassination or se cure immunity from individual homi cidal anarchists. After the Barcelona outrages Spain adopted the most dras tic measures in the hope that assas sination could be stamped out. Any man responsible for bomb-throwing was executed or sent to prison for life; anarchist societies were declared illegal and the government empowered to dissolve them when found. Newspa per editors were severely punished who advocated or condoned bomb-throwing. Trial of anarchists was made by court martial, but all these measures had no effect, for almost on top of them came repeated new attempts at bomb-throw- of Caoovas in 1897. The Spanish Minis ter says that the penalty of death for an attempt on a rulers life makes ab solutely no difference to these deluded creatures who are bent on assassina tion and perfectly -willing to die for what they term their "cause." In Feb ruary, 1892, three bomb-throwing an archists were convicted and executed at Xeres. In June, 1893, two bombs were exploded under the horse of General Martinez Campos, at a military review. The General was severely wounded. The thrower of these bombs, a cigar-maker, made no attempt to escape, but stood his ground and gloried in his crime. He was tried by court-martial and shot October 6, 18?3, but within a month, on November 7, came the massacre in the theater at Barcelona, when thirty peo ple, all innocent spectators, were killed by bombs. Another bomb was exploded November 15, and another explosion of dynamite took place at the barracks a few days afterward at "Vlllaneuva. Hundreds of anarchists were arrested and tried by court-martial. There were hut few executions for lack of evi dence, but hundreds among the extreme anarchists were transported. At this time, December, 1S93, the Spanish Gov ernment asked the governments of the world for international action. Eng land, the most prolific breeding-ground of anarchists, was not represented at the conference which followed at Rome. She declined any concerted action on the ground that a course might easily grow out of such an action that would abridge the personal and political lib erty she had always maintained. In 1S94 the anarchists attempted the life of the Governor of Barcelona. Six of them were shot by court-martial. Jn 1S3 President Carnot of France was murdered In the midst of a cavalry regiment; In June, 1S96, a bomb "was ex ploded under the horse of General Des pujols. at Barcelona, and eight persons were killed. Three hundred and eighty anarchists were arrested and eight were executed by court-martial. The assas sination of Canovas followed In Au gust, 1897. International action has ac complished nothing in Europe, for the anarchist assassins of the Empress of Austria, the President of France, Min ister .Canovas, King Humbert, like the murderer of President McKinley, had never been heard of before they com mitted their infamous crimes. SHALL POLITICS AT "WILSONVlLLE. It has always been sdmethlng of a mystery why a number of newspapers of the Inland Empire should simul taneously have indulged, as they re cently did indulge, in an outbreak against the Oregon delegation in Con gress, charging It with being the cause of the Government's failure hitherto to open the Columbia River between The Dalles and Celllo. But an explanation of the mystery is afforded in a circular sent out to the newspapers of the In land Empire, consisting of an attack on the Columbia River, with Incidental whacks at Portland and the Oregon delegation in -Congress, and also of a brief, introduction, reading thus: Make appropriate comment alone line ot this P.-L editorial QUICK, If you think advisable, and send marked copies of your paper with same to following: POST-INTELLIGENCER, SEATTLE. SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. SPOKANE. COMMERCIAL CLUB, LEWISTON. A few papers fell Into the trap, whose object was the injury of the Columbia River and the political rehabilitation of John L. "Wilson In Eastern "Washington. The editorial in question has "been ex posed In these columns heretofore, and need not be reprinted now. That part of it which deprecated all improvement In the Lower Columbia as "not of the slightest benefit or advantage to a sin gle producer in the entire valley of the Columbia," was, of course, in the Inter est of Puget Sound as against the Co lumbia River and every producer in Its basin in Oregon, "Washington or Idaho. The solicitude expressed for the produc ers of the Upper Columbia and the pro fessions in favor of an open river were, as has been said, political In their aim. Everything that can be done is being done to augment the serviceability of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as the in strument of ex-Senator "Wilson's polit ical ambition. The fact about the improvement of the Upper Columbia was recorded in The Oregonlan's "Washington advices of yesterday morning, to-wit: There is a much more marked sentiment among the Washington delegation this year than ever before in favor of overcoming; the ob structions in the Columbia River between The Dalles and Celllo. It will be recalled that heretofore all of tho effort for obtaining- appro priations for this work has been on the part of tho Oregon delegation. This year some con siderable assistance Is expected, not only from Washington, but from Idaho. It would seem, from talks with members ot the Washington delegation, that they have heard during tho post recent from their constituents In the east ern part of the state, particularly those Inter ested In securing the benefit of a -cheap water rate from the. Inland Empire, or that portion of It In Washington, to the sea, by way of tho Columbia. Rtver. In. fact, it is presumed that this influence has, for the first time, assumed greater proportions than tho influence from Pa get Sound, which has operated against this project. How earnestly and assiduously Port land and the Oregon delegation in Con gress have worked for the improvement of the Upper Columbia has been set out In these columns pretty fully the past few weeks, and is generally understood now In the three stated interested, so much so tfiat the newspapers that fell Into the Wilson trap are ashamed of their error, and some of them even go so far as to deny having made it. BOY SOLDIERS. The communication published yester day from David Vickers, a veteran of the Civil War, and Inspector-General at Southern camps in the Spanish War, contains statements in regard to the en listment of boys for military service that are well worthy of consideration. When he says it Is the "extreme of folly to put men under 21 years of age in the field," he makes an assertion that his subsequent statements in regard to the early disablement of hoys under that age for service, either in camp or field, have abundantly proved. Boys from 17 to 20 years, of age are not lacking In patriotism, In enthusiasm or In courage. But they do lack Judgment In the sim ple but all-important matter of taking care of their bodies. This is a fact known of all men, and especially all military men. Plainly stated by this correspondent, "they have not learned "by worldly wisdom and experience to take care of their appetites," and this lesson learned in camp, with Its lewd followers, or in the field with its hard ships of marching, exhaustion and un accustomed rations, speedily throws a very large percentage of boy soldiers into hospitals, from which many of them emerge physical wrecks and many not at al. Parents of the watchful class know how very prone to the bumptiousness and self-sufficiency, of incipient man- hood even the most tractable boys are during these pivotal years. It requires no argument to convince such fathers a.nd mothers-r-especlaHy the former, who .were once boys themselves that It is folly that may easily prove ruin ous in both a moral and, physical sense to enlist boys darlngr these peculiarly susceptible and self-conscious years in the Army. It may be hoped! that the knowledge of this fact will cause the rejection of all boys under 21 who ap ply "for enlistment in the National Guard and the weeding out of the ranks of the already enlisted before the state troops become an "emer gency force" auxiliary to the regular Army. - The eager desire of the boy to be a man without waiting the maturing pro cesses of the years, and his consequent misinterpretation of manly character istics; is noted in the declaration of young "Wade that he "does not want anybody to be sorry for him." He has evidently made a great point of his ability to stand alone to take care of himself and choose his own associates. The mess he has made ot it is not on the whole tq be wondered at. though it certainly is to be deplored, since it has cost at least two Uvea The Commissioner of Pensions, in his late report, alis attention to the fact that seven years after the close of the Civil "War but 6 per cent of the soldiers of the Union Army had filed claims for pensions, while at the present time, three years after the close of the war with Spain, about 20 per cent of the men who enlisted in that war have claimed pensions. This may readily be explained. The pernicious activity of pension agents, as disseminators of pen sion fever germs. Is a matter of record in every community. It is impossible not to feel a sensa tion of pity for the boy. Wade, who approaches "his 21st birthday under the awful doom of the murderer. The youth scarcely older than himself, how ever, James Morrow, who waa the vic tim of Wade and his seemingly more hardened but also youthful confederate, Is the real object of pity, and the thought of his tragic fate is sufficient to stifle any desire that leniency be ex ercised toward those who conspired to rob and ended by killing him. Snow gives a pledge of an abundant harvest-in Eastern Oregon, Just as rain gives a similar .pledge to the husband man of the Willamette Valley. For this reason the snowfall of the present week over large areas of wheat land and paBturage In the Eastern section was welcomed, even as the rain, that has fallen at Intervals throughout the west ern section of the state has been wel comed by sensible people for a month or more. Is there any reason why the 'Multno mah County Court does not offer a sub stantial special reward for the appre hension of the ubiquitous Fulton high wayman? Since the authorities seem able to do nothing, perhaps private en terprise, stimulated by a moderately fat purse, will take the gentleman in hand. Similar action by the court in the Morrow case brought speedy and satisfactory results. And now the wonder is that George W. Davis did not steal twice $20,000 while Clerk of the State School Land Board. Why, since he was without scruples of honor, he should have stayed his hand at this sum, when he could easily have doubled it and got away with the booty, is Inexplicable. The rest of the transaction, by the light thrown on it by the tardy Investigation, is easily understood. Colonel Russell B. Harrison is strenu ously opposing the petition of his cousin-stepmother, the young widow of the late ex-President Harrison, for a pension of $5000 a year. For once, Rus Bell is on the right side of a question, though, as a matter of taste, he might well refrain from voicing his senti ments in this matter. , It is expected that the great Northern Manchurlan Railway will be dpened to traffic In the early Spring. When this is accomplished, the only break in the Journey from Moscow to Vladivostock by rail will be Lake Baikal. US AMPLE HISTORICAL BASIS. Minneapolis Tribune. No American exposition since the Co lumbian has had a more romantic histori cal basis than that which Is to be held in Portland In 1305 to commemorate tho centennial of the Lewis and Cark expe dition from th.o Missouri River to the Pa cific Coast. The purchase of Louisiana was an act of statecraft; the explora tion of the new and mysterious addition that doubled tho area of the infant Re public was a deed of adventure. That was an important event In the history of the country; this Is an interesting event, and human sympathy never fails to dis criminate in favor of the latter. Though the place chosen for the expo sition lies outside of the Louisiana Pur chase, it has been wisely selected. The Oregon Country was the goal of the ex pedition, and this was tho first of a series of westward adventures, Government and private, that finally knitted the early American discoveries on the Pacific Coast, together with the Louisiana Purchase it self, into organic oneness with the ma tured Republic It was 40 years before the political Union was completed, and nearly 40 moro before quick commercial communication was established. Portland was not dreamed of by Lewis and Clark; but for near half of the 80 years it stood a lonely outpost of American civilization on the North Pacific Coast, awaiting 'the inevitable. It is distinctly the place for the Centennial Exposition. Interest in this event will be most keen and Immediate In the old Oregon Country west of the Louisiana Purchase, which now Includes two great states and part of two more; but the trans-Missouri region still retains the common Interest with this which the Lewis and Clark expedi tion gave It. The region over which these bold adventurers marched should welcome the opportunity to Join with that In which they rested, in commemorating the first real event in the history of either as American territory. Broke His "Circuit. Michigan Lyra. The shades of the goose and the turkey were discussing the circumstances which had attended their respective takings off. "Did you offer any objections when first the cruel farmer laid hands on you?" sympathetically inquired the gobbler. "Yes," replied his gooseship, "I cried out, 'Hello, what's this?' " "What did you say next?' Inquired the now thoroughly interested fowl. "Oh," the goose replied, "I did not say anything more; just then-1 was wrung off,"' SLOW, BUT IN LINE AT LAST. San Francisco Chronicle. Trade between all parts ot the United States and territory subject to its Juris diction should be free. This proposition Is now " universally recognized In this country, except that some arc determined to make commerce with the Philippine Archipelago the one solitary exception. It seems impossible that any American statesman should be so blind. It seems Impossible that they should be so un- j.Just as to propose to sacrifice a country which we have seized by conquest and are holding by military power, for the benefit of a foreign country like Cuba, for which we have already done more than enough. We should like to have any one point out a single object which we could have had in conquering the Philippines except the benefit f trade with their Inhab itants. We should like to hear what pos sible advantage we can ever hope to de rive from that - acquisition except that trade. Then why not get it? We arc not getting it now. In the nature of things, with so many Americans In the islands demanding v American commodities, we must send there more than we used to send, and we do. We sold. In fact, last year 72.4 per cent more than we sold the year before, but the total was only $2,S55,CS5,- as against J27.423.721 Imported from other countries. We do not even equal tho percentage of increase gained by other countries, for Great Britain's gain for the same perlcd was 76.3 per cent, and Germany's gain 75.5 per cent, while France, with almost no trade un der Spanish rule, sold goods to the islands valued at $1.6S3,923-a gain ot 24G.7 per cent In the matter of imparts from the islands, our trade actually decreased by 27 per cent, while that of other nations in creased in proportion. Is not that utter nonsense, when the .remedy is in our own hands, and will benefit the Filipinos as much as ourselves? 'Is it not just that the islanders should trade with their own countrymen and pay thcln share, as Boon as able, of the enormous cost of the "good government" which we promised and are giving them? Trade Is the essence of modern civiliza tion. "Where trade goes there is peace and friendship. Nothing maintains the United States as one Nation buf'free trade be tween the states. Nothing but that will ever make loyal Americans of the Fili pinos. President Roosevelt said in his message that there was no longer a Porto Rican question. Doe3 he not see that what put an end to the troubles In Porto Rico would as quickly put an end to the troubles in the Philippines? And yet there are Americans who suppose them selves to be statesmen who are deter mined to snatch from the unfortunate Filipinos the blessing of free trade with us one way which a beneficent decision of the Supreme Court has given them. THE ARGUMENT FOR PANAMA. New York Evening Post. The Panama route in the better. It is shorter, safer, cheaper. It has natural harbors at either terminus, while an en trance to a Nicaragua Canal can be kept open only by continuous dredging, All these facts are brought out clearly In tHe report of our commissioners. One of them, Mr. George S. Morrison whose name, wc may say without disrespect to his associates, carried tho greatest weight among engineers squarely declares for the Panama Canal, even if the cost of buying it as It stands be $109,000,000. His colleagues think this price prohibitory, and turn to the Nicaragua plan only bo cause, as they say, the "terms offered by the new Panama Canal Company" were unsatisfactory. At a satisfactory figure say $3Q,000,000-lt Is clear that they would all agree with -Mr. Morrison, and recom mend the Panama route. The Panama route may yet be adopted. There have been important happehlngs since the report of our commissioners was drawn up. M. Hutin, president of tho Panama Company, has denied that he in tended f to fix $109,000,000 as the sum his corporation would demand for the trans fer of all of its rights and titles. He ap pears to have mentioned some such amour L merely as a basis for chaffering. This was was a great mistake, as he him self later perceived, since he called upon the President on Tuesday to make a for mal offer of the Panama property to this Government. The price was presumably much lower than that reported by our commissioners at any rate, it should have been. M Hutin must see that it is, with Ids company, a case of reasonable sale or absolute ruin. President Roosevelt, It is certain, has not shut the door upon an advantageous offer. His message speaks only of an "isthmian canal." There is no official commitment to tho Nicaragua route. Surely, tho facts being as they are, it ought not to be impossible for French lucidity and American "horse cense" to get together to prevent the squandering of millions, and the choice of an inferior canal. A Harvard Maa'i Glory. Chicago Record-Herald. The value ot the higher education has again been demonstrated, this time by W. S. Merrill, of the Harvard class of '04. Mr. Merrill won a bet of $3 one night last week by eating three steaks and two mutton chops with peas, and drinking two pints of apollinaris water and two cup9 of coffee at a sitting. Tha conditions of tho wager were set forth in the following notice posted in Memorial Hall" before the performance took place: The human ostrich, the wonderful acrobatic eater, .the Rockland wonder, W. S. Merrill, 'Ot, will eat $3 worth of extra orders tonight at table 31. Doors open at S. An eye-witness describes the .great soph omore's achievement thus: According to the terms of tho wager, he could order anything on the Memorial bill of fare, so his first choice was a fat. Juicy steak valued at 70 cents. This ono was easy. The next steak was moro difficult. When Merrill had finished It he was decidedly logy, and table members were betting & to 1 that he would never pull through. But ho was not that sort still a third steak fell under his eager fork.and knife, and when he had finished these substan tial be turned to the mora dainty and tempt ing viands mutton chops. Two of these were devoured by tho ambitious youngster: Peas wero tho side dish which cams with the chops. These were comparatively easy, for they wero washed down with a Quart of apollinaris water. Then. Just to show that a little thing Uko that didn't "phas" him. Merrill completed his per formance by washing his throat with two cups of strong, black coffee. Whether this gifted young man shall manage to graduate with or without hon ors can make little difference after what he has done. Such a performance as. his, if it were pulled off by an Illiterate stock yards hand, might be regarded as glutton ish, but when done by a college man and a Harvard man at that we can regard It only as a triumph of artistic endeavor. Mr. Merrill might almost be Justified in lecturing about it Axent Teeth. Salt Lake Herald. "I notice In tho morning paper." re marked Newton Benedict at the breakfast table, "that there has been found the skeleton of a mastodon which had teeth weighing nearly 10 pounds each. I can't see what the beast would want with such large food-grinders." "Why not?" queried Mrs. B. "I under stand it was a large animal." "Yes," answered Newton, looking mood ily at a plate of home-made biscuits, "but you must remember It lived many thou sand years before cooking schools were even thought of." ' AMUSEMENTS. "H. M. S. Pinafore" was the bill pre sented by the Wllbur-NIrwin Opera Com pany at tho Baker Theater last night, and one of the test houses of the week enjoyed the old familiar airs, which many knew by heart, but r.ad never heard sung on the stage before, so long has it been since this tuneful skit has been given in Port land. Forest KufT in the role of Captain Corcoran added to tho laurels he alreaay has won, W. H. Kohnlc made a good D ck Deadeye, although he had the smallest opportunity which has yet been given hl.n, J. F. Abbot sang the songs allotted to Jack Rackstraw acceptably, and Miss Kir win was Josephine. The play was taste fully costumed, the natty uniforms of the sailors making a pleasing appearance, and the mounting was all that could be de sired. It will be repeated tonight and this afternoon. COMING ATTRACTIONS. "Old Jed Proaty" at Coruray's. No actor has made a greater reputation as a dlllncator of quaint character than Richard Golden, and no play takes high er rank as a rural drama than "Old Jed Prouty," which Mr. Golden will pre sent for a week at Cordray's Theater, beginning Sunday night. The company now supporting Mr. Golden has been es pecially engaged for the production and the members are said to be fully up to the demands ot the play, which are great. Mr. Golden has received complimentary notices wherever he has been seen, and his Western tour has been fully as suc cessful as his long engagements in the East. Last Week of Opera. With the matinee Sunday will begin the last week of the engagement of the Wil-bcr-KIrwIn Opera Company at the Baker Theater. The usual attractive specialty features will be given with each perform ance. Following is the repertoire for the week: Sunday mntlnee,. Sunday and Mondny nlghts "Grand Duchess." Tuesday night and Wednesday matinee "Bohemian Girl." Wednesday and Thursday nights "Chimes of Normandy." Friday night "Carmen." Saturday matinee and night "Merry War." - Grants Opera Company. Theater-goers will have next Thursday, December 19, at the Marquam Grand, an opportunity of seeing the young comedian, Mr. Ed Eagelton, of Grau's Opera Com pany, in "EL Capitan," which Is one of tho best theatrical properties In America. Mr. Grau will also present, Friday, "Dor othy"; Saturday matinee. "Wang"; Sat urday night, first time in Portland, "Rip Van Winkle." NEED OF WATER-DRINKING. People With Unhealthy Nerves Shonld Consume Large Quantities. Youth's Companion. A wH-known nerve specialist has said that "all neurasthenics that is, people with unhealthy nerves have desiccated nerves and suffer from an Insufficiency of fluid in the tissues of tho body." It is probable that we all, in more or les3 de gree, even when not conscious of any defi nite symptoms, are suffering in some part of our system for the lack of enough fluid. We know that so nicely 13 the human body adjusted and adapted to its uses that one part cannot suffer without all suffer ing. lf the nerves are desiccated, or dried through lack of fluid, then it'is certain that other tissues are also suffering from the same lac!;, and tbat the wheels of the wonderful machinery are being clogged by reason of waste matter which Is not washed away. We see by this that water floes for us a three-fold service. It feeds, washes and it carries away the cinders of the body furnace; and through the want of it we aro exposed to many of the great dangers. The tissues become too dry, the blood Is thick and its flow sluggish, and the retained waste of tho body sets up a condition which the doctors call "autoin toxication," or self-poisoning. This con dition may give rise to almost any known symptoms, from a pimple to heart fail ure, and Is really responsible for most of the semi-invalids with whom the world is largely peopled. To obtain the best results from, water drinking, certain rules should be observed. People do not all need the same amount, and It may take a little experimenting to find out just how much should be taken in individual cases. It has been stated by some physicians that five or six pints should be taken during the 21 hours. Of this only a moderate quan tity should be taken with the meals. It is a mistake to take no water with a meal, but it is perhaps a greater mis take to wash food down with water, es pecially ice-water. The best time for water-drinking Is at night and early in the morning. It is well to form a habit of slowly sipping, dur ing the bath and while dressing, two or three glasses of cool not ice cold water. Two or three more may be sipped at bed time, "and again two or three glasses an hour or two before luncheon and before dinner. In a very short time the value of this .habit will become apparent in the resul tant general improvement In digestion, temper and appearance. Misplaced Philanthropy. Milwaukee Sentinel. A kind-hearted East Side young woman who ha3 soma rather Quixotic notions had an experience the other evening that her intimate friends are still smiling about. One of her pet theories Is that It is a young woman's duty to give up her seat in a street-car to any elderly man who appears to be fatigued, particularly if he is a workingman. About 6 o'clock one evening last week she boarded an Oakland-nvenuo car after a hard afternoon's shopping, and had hardly gotten comfortably seated in the last vacant seat when an old, slovenly looking chap' with Hibernian earmarks shambled aboard. His appearance was so unprepossessing that the young woman had about decided to abstain from putting her pet theory Into practice when she no ticed that he carried a tin dinner pall. With a mental sigh she spurred herself on to do "her duty, and, rising, offered the ancient Individual her scat, smiling be nignantly as she did so. He seemed un able to comprehend her meaning at first, but finally settled into the seat which she had abandoned with a puzzled expression on his weather-beaten countenance, while she hung on a strap. When she went out on to the car plat form to get off at Belleview Place the old codger, whom she had noticed eyeing her in a queer way during the trip, remarked to the conductor, with evident satisfac tion, and in a distinctly audible tone: "Arrah, me boy, the ould man ain't cut of the "running yet. Did you see the mash I made on the purty little gal?" Since then the young woman has been les3. demonstrative than usual In her ex pressions of sympathy for the oppressed laboring man. Ills Private Opinion. London Spare Moments. Some months ago the father of a young man who bad recently entered the married state had occasion to dispatch his faith ful, but somewhat outspoken old servant to his son's residence. When he returned, eager to learn the old man's opinion of the lady, he asked: "Well, you saw the bride, Thomas?" "Yigh. Aw seed her." "She's a very rich lady, Thomas." "Yigh, so she is, Aw've yerd." "Well, then, what's your own private opinion, Thomas, eh?" "Aw thing she's a reyt bonny wench to tawk to, as weel as beln' rich and cllver; but, malster, lv beauty's a sin, she waln't ha that to onswer fur!" NOTE AND COMMENT. If thi is a sample of Winter, we sh' not place any large orders. It siem fiat Suta Clr.ua wi'.l, be uvl to come In a sligh this stteson. Let Win who has been praying Tor s"ow come forward and own his guilt. The weather is not so much, but wh-t would conversation Be without It? We have got the message about hilf read through. How far along are yo.:? Queen Wllholmina made a love match, and she Is now willing to admit that love Is blind. Will the Mongolian pheasants have to own laundries in order to stay in this country?' It is too late to avoid the rush, but there are still a few Christmas presents on sale. Aguinaldo says he wants something to do. lie might find work an interesting and novel employment. When the exclusion law is re-enacted, couldn't the courts be given power to de clare all anarchists Chinese? Blanche Bates has recovered, and her press agent has given up desk-room in the hospital where she was ill. Fcurth-of-Juiy firecrackers look liko Bcbcock extinguishers when compared with Sunday school Christmas trees. The Sultan has Just celebrated his birth day. Some of the powers ought to have brought proceedings to attach the cake. "When the snow is driftln' downward In great downy, fleecy nakos, Then we know it's time for sausage. Not to mention buckwheat cake3. Mrs. Roosevelt Is going to entertain at the White House today. Will Mrs. B. T. Washington, of Tuskegce, Ala., be among those present? The Government is going to sell its old monitors. Why not keep them anl save the paint on the new warships in tho event of another war with Spain? A small boy who has been reading tho Illustrated London News says he woul I like a coronet for Christmas. His father has written to King Edward for one. Now that whisky is to be made from watermelons, the W. C. T. .U. ought to enjoin Congressmen from distributing watermelon seed among their constitu ents. The "handmaiden of protection" haa already made her debut in Washington, and as she will be ardently courted by many members of Congress, she Is no doubt looking forward to a most enjoy able season. London, Dec. 4. Editor Note and Com ment: I have this day shipped you C O D. one poem entitled "Beautiful Snow." which should be due in your city cbout December 23. If you find the same satis factory, please advise me by wire. If not available, please forward it to the War Cry. Yours trustfully. RUDYARD AUSTIN. Once upon a Time there was a .Man who had very Little to Do. and so rG put in a couple of Days thinking. ire third Day ho said: "I notice that no cn2 I know ha3 ever had any New Year's Resolutions that will keep. I believe I could invent some such Resolutions." S he spent a few years operating his Mln 1 and finally devised an indestructible New Year's Resolution. "Now," he saiJ, ' I shall get Rich, for I have something everybody will want." And he went In'o the market place and cried his wares. At first he attracted a large crowd, ana everyone who passed that Way wanted to look at his Resolutions. But after each person had satisfied himself that the Reso lutions really would keep, hu laid It gent ly back on the Tray where it was on Exhibition and went on his Way. And when the night fell, the Inventor had not disposed of one single Resolution. Moral: You may think people want to reform, but they don't. A correspondent of Law Notes senls It the following unique petition: "Thfs is to certify to the Honorable Supreme Court of Mississippi, at Jackson, Miss.. Greet ing. I pray sead Honorable Court on Ex amination of an applicantion for aJmls- slon to the Bar at , Miss., on October 2Sth, 1D01 to please excuse my bad work for I was sick all the time while I wear thear at work with a fever. I also father pray sead Honorable Supreme Court that thay may recamend that I be licened to practises Law in the State of Mississippi as the Lav.; directs, thear wear one other person examined at the same time. 2Iy work incorporated the questions in tlio examination like th!3 X 0) What is Ralo property. Rale property Is any property lhat Is permanent fixed and immovablo and cannot be carried out of Its place. I father remain yours truely frlnd, J. D." A new small boy has just been intro duced to the Portland school system, and this is what he says happened: Being sent to the blackboard, the teacher called out rapidly: "Put down thlrtyfivetwentyfoureighteen-thirtythreet.ventytwoscventeenthlrtythree-fourtecntakeawayseven." The teacher's rapid-flro methods naturally greatly con fused the little fellow, and he failed. What lightning calculator could ha-e told without previous careful coaching what tho "problem was, anyway? Was it meant to add all these numbers together and subtract seven from the total, or was it desired to take away seven from each of these numbers? An'd if she meant either, or both, or neither, why didn't she say so? It may be chronicled as remarkable testimonial to the aptness and Intelli gence of the class as a whole that they had somehow mastered the Intricacies of their Instructor's system and wrote down answers that satisfied her. Soon a reading class was called. The teacher read: "The boy gave his apples to his brother and to his sister." The class repeated the sentence after her. "The boy gave apples to his brother." said the teacher, "and to who?" "To his sister," responded the class. "Correct. Now. altogether, to who?" No wonder the young American idea sometimes has diffi culty In learning how to shoot along gram matical lines. The other day the youth's Instructor called a spelling class. She gave out ont. word twice, and he faithfully wrote It twice, each time correctly. The teacher rigorously marked him down, despite tho fact that all other words were accurately written and spelled. Now, the parents ot this youth are anxious to have their son grow up with complete respect for tho -great American school system, but they have to confess that they arc en countering obstacles. The youth's version, by the way, has been largely verified from other sources.