t.t
VOL. XLL NO. 12,815.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1902.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
HHbHh JAo. E
1 -gas sgli! E
This Is Robertine Weather
Robertine is a positive proof against irritated skin and chapped
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Blumauer Frank Drug
u
"STRONGEST IN
Assets $304,598,063.49 Surplus $66,137, 170.01
I Samuel. Manager. SOC Oregonlan Build ing. Portland. Or.
PHIIi METSCHAX, Pre. O. W. KXOWLES, Mr.
SEYENTI MO WASHWOTM STREETS. PORTUWD,.0REQ11
CHANGE OP MANAGEMENT.
European Plan:
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is applied to ever ne million buildings throughout
the United States. Made fn forty different factories.
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THE
Pfconc North 2091.
THE PORTLAND
'jy"'"
PORTLAND.
W
AMERICAN PLAN
a
S?
COST ONE MILLION DOLLARS
HEADQUARTERS FOR TOURISTS AND COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS
Special rates made to families and ainjcle gentlemen. The manage
ment -will be pleased at nil times to Khovv rooms and slve prices. A mod
ern Turkish hath establishment in the hotel. H. C BOWERS. Manager.
Library Association of Portland &
Hur hroM 9A. M. to 9 P. M., except Sunday and o!i:ljrt.
29,000 lOUL77V2IE3 250 PEHIODICKL3
$5.00 7 YB7CR $1.50 TZ QUKHTBR
SPECIAL RATES TO LTDDEJtTS. Sl.OO A TEAK
No Room on His Yacht
It gives me great pleasure to recommend most highly your Aeolian. Although
I can play no musical instrument, this I find a constant source of amusement to
my friends and myself. As you know, I first had one of your small instruments;
then a Grand, and afterward two Orchestrelles; and it Is only want of room that
prevents me from having another Orchestrelle on my yacht. Tours truly,
GEORGE W. C. DREXEL-.
THE AEOLIAN COMPANY
31. P. WELLS, Sole Northwest Agent, Aeolian Hall, 353-355 Washington St.
CHILEANS MAY WITHDRAW
Threaten to Leave the Pnn-Amcrican
Conference.
JlEXICO CITY, Jan. 7. The arbitration
situation has reached a crisis. Today the
Central and South Americans' opposed to
the Chileans held frequent meetings to de
cide on the form of procedure under
which they will Introduce the arbitration
plan Into the conference. If they cannot
find a form acceptable to the other dele
gations, they will probably withdraw.
The Chileans have presented to the ottl
clals of the conference a memorandum
stating that in whatever form the com
pulsory plan Is presented to the confer
ence they will withdraw. In making this
statement the delegates of Chile recall the
conditions under which Chile accepted the
invitation to the conference, namely, that
if any attempt was made to Introduce Into
the conference vexatious questions for the
purpose of covertly or openly antagoniz
ing Chile, the delegates of that country
would be withdrawn. The object that the
Mexican delegation, and W. L Buchanan,
the American member of the arbitration
committee, have been pursuing during the
recent negotiations has been to find a
method by which the compulsory plan
might be Introduced In sucn a manner as
to satisfy Its advocates and at the fame
time to avoid the separation of the Chil
eans. Now that the latter say that in
w hatever form the plan Is introduced they
will withdraw, the friends of the com
pulsory plan are allthe more Insistent to
have their convention Introduced into the
conference concurrently and on exactly
the same footing as the project by which
all agree to adhere to The Hague conven
tion. If they have their way and the
Chileans carry out their .threat, the con
ference will have to finish Its labors with
out the Chileans.
Western Oil Association.
DENVER, Jan. 7. The directors of the
Western Oil Association met here today
and elected officers. George W. Allen, of
Denver, was elected president.
PEPPER
Has Been the Leading
"Whisky in America
Since 1780. ... Its
Purity is Unquestioned.
ROTHCHILD BROS., Agents
Co.
Wholesale and Importing
Druggists
TO
a wil
THE WORLD"
. $1.00, $1.50, $2.00 per Day
The Perfection
of Wall Plaster
ADAMANT CO.
Foot of 14th Street, PORTLAND, OR.
- -
OREGON
53.00 PER DAY
'and upward.
SEVENTH AN
STARK STREETS
DEFENSE OF PANAMA.
Government Troops Being Sent to
the Isthmian City.
COLON, Colombia, Jan. 7. Information
as to the conditions existing at Panama
characterizes them as- very unsettled.
Ships belonging to the revolutionary forces
-were seen last Sunday 50 or CO miles from
Panama. The Colombian Government gun
boat Boyaca, with troops from Chepo, is
expected to reach Panama today. Gov
ernment troops from Chorrera reached
Panama yesterday after a march over
land. Other government troops, It Is also
expected, will reach Panama shortly.
There Is now a total of between GOO and
S00 government troops at Panama, and
much excitement prevails there, owing to
the movements of the soldiers up and
down the city.
The latest reports from the Colombian
General Castro locate him at Peso, while
the revolutionary forces are at Las Tab
las (southwest of Panama on the Azuero
Peninsula). The captain of a sailing ves
sel which has Just arrived at Panama re
ports that when he left Agua Dulce fight
ing was going on at Los Santos, near
Pese.
The United States cruiser Philadelphia
arrived at Panama yesterday. General A"
ban has asked that the Philadelphia pro
ceed to Las Tablas, conveying certain
revolutionary prisoners who are to be ex
changed for government officials captured
by the Liberals at Tumacao. American
Consul-General Gudger. at Panama, has
sent a cablegram to Washington, asking
for approval of the request.
General Ignaclo Andrade, ex-President
of Venezuela, today had a long interview
with General Carlos Alban, the military
commander of this district, and later in
the day left for Willemstad. The visit of
General Andrade to the Isthmus doubtless
has an important political significance.
Kaiser at King's Coronation.
LONDON, Jan. a The Standard hears
that Emperor William will attend the
coronation of King Edward.
MAY BE TOO DRASTIC
Many Congressmen Objectto
Chinese Exclusion Bill.
THEY WILL FIGHT AGAINST IT
Mitchell's Amendments to the Philip.
pine Tariff Bill Probably
Doomed Schley's Appeal
to the President.
WASHINGTON., Jan
There is going
to be a vigorous
which the Pacific
gainst the bill
members have
prepared for the
Many Congressme
n of Chinese.
is altogether
too drastic, and
deal of hardshl
i,work a great
en who arc
now legitimate!
untry. The
Pacific Coast bill'
posed by those
who favor simply
re-enactment of
the Geary law.
adlan Pacific
Railroad and some
lp companies
are going to oppose any drastic Legisla
tion, especially that which makes trans
portation companies responsible for the
introduction of Chinese "who are not en
titled to come Into the United States un
der the law.
Under the provisions of tho new Chinese
exclusion bill, prepared by the Pacific
Coast Senators and Representatives, no
Chinese person lawfully residing in Ha
waii, the Philippines or Porto Rico, or
any other Insular possession of the United
States, shall be entitled to enter or re
main in the United States, or any of the
territory of the United States other than
that in which he was in the first in-v
stance permitted to enter or remain. Chi
nese of the exempt classes, however,
namely, officials of the Chinese Govern
ment, teachers, students, merchants,
travelers, or returning laborers now in the
Islands, have the same privilege of entry
as if they were in a foreign country. The
bill excludes Chinese from the Islands on
the same terms as from the United States.
Mitchell's Philippine Amendment.
Senator Mitchell has had his amend
ments to the Philippine tariff bill referred,
to the Philippine committee In the House,
that they may receive favorable consid
eration, although he knows now that the
prospects of any such action by the com
mittee are extremely remote, as the Re
publican members have already expressed
their intention of reporting the Payn bill
as it came from the House, in so far as
Its tariff features are concerned. It will
be several weeks before any vote will be
'taken upon the MltcheU amendments , in
the Senate; and in the' meantime it Is the
Snator's intention to ascertain what pros
pects there are for securJg their adoption
and whether a vigorous fight will lead
to success. He Is In earnest In trying to
get the amendments adopted, but wheth
er the Senate will Implicitly follow the
House is yet to be determined. The fact
that the Administration seems to favor
the full DIngley rates hampers any Re
publican In trying to secure a reduction.
This, in the face of the recommendations
of the Philippine Commission, is hard to
explain, but the attitude of the President
and the Secretary of War does much to
sustain the Republican Senators who are
determined to treat the Philippines as
foreign territory in tariff legislation.
Admiral Schley's Appeal.
In appealing to the President, Admiral
Schley Is simply paving the way to being
again humiliated, as it is weil known that
Roosevelt Is in harmony with the Navy
Department and believes that Sampson
has been badly treated by the general
public and the press of the country, and
that Schley did not do his whole duty
previous to the battle of Santiago. It is
possible that the President may modify
some of the harsher criticisms In the ver
dict of the court, but aside from that It Is
believed he will stand by the Navy De
partment. It Is argued that If he so de
cided he could have brought about such
changes in the department as would have
placed Schley on a better footing. As It
Is, Long remains Secretary and Crownln
shleld, who is beyond all question the
chief persecutor of Schley and the man
who was his enemy from the beginning,
will have the best command In the Navy
as soon as he becomes a Rear-Admiral.
Schley's friends say if the harsh treat
ment he has received In the department is
continued by the President after he ex
amines the case, it will simply make him
more friends throughout the country.
Xevr Market tor Oar Fir.
As a result of elaborate experiments In
the, Philippines to discover some inexpen
sive timber that is Immune from attacks
of the native ants, the Quartermaster's
Department has concluded that Pacific
Coast fir is the only wood that absolutely
answers their requirements.
Senator Foster has been advised that as
a result of this examination the War De
partment will begin at once extensive
purchase of this lumber for shipment to
the islands, for use In the construction of
Government buildings and other public
works. Pacific Coast cedar also stood the
test, but is too expensive for general use.
None of the cheap native woods are im
mune from the ant pest.
At the request of Representative Jones
the steamship Manila will be ordered to
the Puget Sound navy-yard, for a thor
ough overhauling.
At the President's Reception.
Representative Moody returned to
Washington today, accompanied by his
sister, Mrs. E. P. McCorraack, and her
husband, of Salem. All three attended
the President's reception this evening.
Representative Tongue and daughter
Representative and Mrs. Jones and Repre
sentative and Mrs. Cushman, Senator
Foster and Mrs. George Brown, of Ta
coma, also attended.
Jar-vis May SHecced Ivey.
It can be stated on the very highest
authority that Lieutenant David H. Jar
vis, of the revenue cutter service, is very
soon to be appointed Collector of Cus
toms for Alaska, to succeed Ivey, re
signed. Jarvis has seen many years'
service In Alaska, and is supposed to be
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the choice of Secretary Gage for this po
sition. He was originally appointed from
Pennslyvania.
Marshal for "Washington.
The appointment at a United States
Marshal for Washington will be made
within a few days, and there Is a very
strong probability- that Mr. Ide will be his
own successor. No protests whatever
have. been filed against him In the De
partment of Justice; in fact. Senator Fos
ter is the only person opposing his reap
pointment, as both Representatives Cush
man and Jones have strongly indorsed
Ide. The President ha3 not yet decided
this case, but it Is known that Attorney
General Knor Is anxious to have Ide
reappointed, solely on his excellent record
and general high standing.
Case of Judge ojck.
Although the Attorney-General has not
yet, taken up the case of Judge Arthur H.
Noycs, it can be popltlvely stated that
Judge Noyes will be let down and out.
If, on review, it its found that the evi
dence sustains the recent action of the
courts, his dismissal will follow. If
there should be some doubt as to his
guilt, or the testimony is incomplete, he
may be given the option of resigning. In
any case his usefulness as a Government
official has been destroyed, the people
having lost confidence In him. It Is not
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The Illinois Congressional delegation has united to preys the claims of the
state for a Cabinet position. The man that the Illinois politicians would JIke to
honor Is Congressman George Edmund Foss. Kepubllcan. of Chicago, whom -they
are urging for Secretary Long's position. Congressman Fois Is considered one of
the ablest men In the House, and holds the chairmanship of the' committee on
naval affairs. Mr. Foss Is a Harvard graduate of 1SS5. He studied law at Co
lumbia and Union College, Chicago, and began practice In 1SS0. He never held
political office until he was elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress. He ha3 been
re-elected to each following Congress by large pluralities.
'
probable that impeachment proceedings
will be Instituted, as a summary dismis
sal Is considered equally, If not more, ef
fective. Some of Perrnnlt's "Work.
The Court of Claims today decided that
Paul C. Lellman, formerly draftsman in
the Surveyor-General's office at Boise,
Idaho, who was summarily suspended by
Perrault without cause, is entitled to pay
for the full period of his suspension. Lell
man, with others under the civil service,
was suspended when Perrault took the
office. In order to make room for his per
sonal friends, who were temporarily ap
pointed to the vacancies. Commissioner
Hermann In time ordered the restoration
of these clerks to the rolls, they having
been displaced Illegally, but upon false
charges (afterward refuted), all were
eventually dismissed. On the precedent
established in this case, all other sus
pended clerks will be able to recover their
salaries. This decision has been brought
to the attention of Secretary Hitchcock
in the hope of hastening Perrault's dis
missal. Committed to the Asylum.
Mrs. Lucy B. Newell, divorced wife of
Charles R. Newell, of Oregon, formerly
clerk In the United States Senate, was
today committed 'to St. Elizabeth's In
sane Asylum, having been adjudged vio
lently Insane. This is Mrs. Newell's sec
ond committment.
FAVOR XEW EXCLUSION ACT.
Officer of Federated Trades Council
Express Approval.
Several of the officers of the Federated
Trades Council were seen yesterday In re
gard to the new Chinese exclusion act
framed by the Pacific Coast Representa
tives In Congress. All those seen ex
pressed themselves as heartily approving
of the act as stated In the brief tele
graphic dispatches.
It seems that Senator Mitchell had
given the Impression that the Japanese
were to be Included In the act. But the
present bill makes no provision for the
exclusion of the Japanese.
In speaking of the bill one of the ottl
cers said: "As I understand the case It
will prohibit the Chinese from entering
the United States from the Philippines
and Hawaii. In that case I think the
bill will suit the tradesmen. But If they
are allowed to enter this country from
the insular possession I can see no Im
provement; In fact, I do not think It as
good as the present law. If they are
forced to remain In the different territories
in which they are registered the law Is
a good one. I also think that the Japs
should be treated In. the same maner."
Thanks of Congress to Schley.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. Representative
Hooker, of Mississippi, today Introduced
a joint resolution reciting that Commo
dore Schley was the senior officer in com
mand at the battle of Santiago; that he
was In absolute command at that battle,
and is "entitled to the credit due to such
commanding officer for the glorious victo
ry which resulted In the total destruction
of the Spanish ships." The resolution
provides for the thanks of Congress to
Admiral Schley and the officers and men
under his command.
DELAY AT RIVER BAR
Where Portland's Grain Fleet
Has Trouble.
MORE TUGS AN0 PILOTS NEEDED
Little or Xo Difficulty Between Here
and Astoria Bnt There the
Only Real Obstacle Are
Encountered.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 7. Tho experience
of the past few months has done more to
knock a number of harmful delusions out
of the heads of quite a few Astorians
and a considerable number of Portland
ers than could be accomplished by all of
the unsupported arguments and theories
that could be set forth In a decade. To a
certain point there Is no harm done by
the credulous Astorians in indulging in
LONG'S SUCCESSOR.
k. pass, or Illinois.
- q
the fond belief that the lodge of old Con
comly was located at tho head of navi
gation on the Columbia River. The
newspapers can even figure out that $2 50
per ton can be saved by loading wheat at
Astoria Instead of at Portland. They
have a bogle man known as the "wheat
pool" (pronounced In a deep, guttural
tone, accompanied by a mysterious air).
They have explained to this wheat pool
Individually and collectively that wheat
could be moved from Portland to Astoria
at a cost of 50 cents a ton, thus leaving
a profit of J2 per ton, but with a Coal-OU-Johnny
recklessness regarding the value
of money the pool continues to do busi
ness at Portland. It would be an insult
to the Intelligence of a largo number of
Astorians to Intimate that they ever seri
ously regarded such wild statements as
have been made by some of their citizens
regarding the advantages or disadvan
tages of either or both cities from a ship
ping standpoint. At the same time these
vagaries find credence among certain peo
ple In both cities, and It Is this class that
has been benefited by the developments
of the past few months.
The movements of the Portland grain
fleet since October 15 (the date when the
free movement of ships began) have
shown less delay between Portland and
Astoria, and more delay between Astoria
and the sea, than In any previous season
for more than 10 years. In spite of the
bickerings, inactivity, and, so far as re
sults are concerned, general uselessness of
the Port of Portland Commission, the
river channel to Astoria has remained In
such shape that the delays and attend
ant expense of getting ships up and down
the river have been infinitesimal In com
parison with the delays between Astoria
and the sea. These delays have become
too plain to be overlooked. When the
average time of a fleet of 40 or 50 ships
Is less than two days between Portland
and Astoria, and more than two weeks
between Astoria and the sea. It cases
to become a difficult matter to locate the
exact locality In the river where reforms
are needed.
Portland, located, nearly 1C0 miles from
the scene of the trouble which so vitally
affects her business Interests, has been
unable easily to apportion the blame for
the delays at the mouth of the river. The
bar at the mouth has undoubtedly filled
up quite materially, and the channel has
changed so that It Is a difficult matter
to work a ship out through the winding
route that must be followed In order to
find the best water. Tnls Is the para
mount trouble, but there are others. With
a greater number of ships coming to the
port than ever before, there are fewer
bar pilots In actual service than there
has been at any time In the past six
years. Even those who are In the serv
ice are not kept outside on the schooner
looking after the ships approaching the
river, but Instead spend the greater part
of the time running back and forth on
the tugboats. When a ship comes up in
side the pilot grounds in speaking distance
of the lightship 11 times, as was the case
of the William Mitchell, and Is unable to
secure a pilot, there Is certainly room for
Improvement. Another case of neglect
was that of the regular Oriental liner
Knight Companion. This steamer was
running on a regular schedule, and the
date of her arrival wijs almost a cer
tainty, and yet no pilot was available to
bring her over the bar, and her master
was forced to feel his way in by the
lead, without a pilot. The tugboat serv
ice has also been very poor, especially so
when It is compared with the fine service
on the river. The tugboatmen are some
what Inclined to blame the pilots, and
the latter reciprocate, and apparently not
without cause. In discussing their aver
sion to boarding a ship when they knew
there was no immediate show for getting
her In with an Inefficient tug which re
turned to the city every night, one of the
pilots said:
"In the old days, when the Relief was
on the bar. a pilot could bring a ship up
to the bar with the fullest confidence
that he would be taken care of If there
was the slightest danger of his getting
away, and on at least two occasions I
have had the Relief hang on to my ship
all night and keep her up to the bar
ready to cross In In the morning. Near
ly every other pilot had a similar experi
ence, but If the tug Wallula ever did any
such work as this. It has escaped my no
tice. Of course, an extra charge was
made then for off-shore towage, but the
ships would pay that extra charge very
cheerfully today in preference to being
blown out to sea or up to the northward
after getting close In to the bar."
Condition of the Bar.
As stated beforu, the condition of the
bar Is the greatest obstacle -to a good
service at the mouth of the river. The
old north channel, or rather the main
channel, which led out to the north after
the completion of the jetty, has narrowed
and filled in to such an extent that it
now carries a depth of but 20 feet at low
tide. The difficulty of getting In and out
through this channel Is Intensified by a
sharp turn that must be made as it
rounds Peacock Spit. With that obstruc
tion on one side, and a shoal patch of
sand close up on the south side. It Is a
very difficult matter to prevent vessels
sheering out of the channel and striking.
On the ebb tide the water bolls out
through this narrow- opening so fast that
It kicks up a swell and makes a "rough"
bar, even though all other conditions are
favorable for smooth water.
The difficulty in getting In and out of
this channel has caused many of the pilots
to abandon It for the south channel,
where there Is about a foot less water,
but much more room for maneuvering a
To which the evidont replies are:
vessel. This channel Is so wide that it is
carrying seaward an Immense volume of
water, which, of course, Is drawn from
the stream that formerly went out to sea
by the single channel which scoured out
when the jetty was completed. The new
south channel has never been buoyed, and
for this reason it can only be used In
broad daylight. An effort has been made
to have the Government buoy it, but
thus far nothing has been done. At the
shoalest place In this new channel the
pilots have found but 19 feet of water,
but this depth Is carried for such a short
distance that It Is believed that it will
very soon be scoured out to a greater
depth. The fact that there Is deep water
and considerable current on both sides
of this narrow shoal place would indi
cate that the water that has suddenly
vanished has wandered off In another di
rection, and may break back Into the new
channel at any moment and swell the
volume of water Into a depth equal to
that which prevailed soon after the com
pletion of the Jetty. One thing is cer
tainthe volume of water 13 there, but
It has broken out of Its bounds, and until
It can be again confined there will be a
shifting channel, which will cause con
siderable trouble.
More Tngs Xccded.
With the decreasing depth of water on
the bar, pilots are obliged to wait for
nearly high tide If there Is any swell at
alTVir Iho 'oar. Then, hef ore th& trojtiir
get back from sea for a second ship, the
tide has fallen so far that It Is unsafe to
try to take another one out, and business
for the day Is over. While it would be
impossible to keep a sufficient number of
tugs in service to clean up In a single
day such good-sized fleets as have ac
cumulated below Astoria sei'eral times
this season, at the same time a third tug
would be a big Improvement to the serv
ice. In the old days of tho Flavel regime
three and sometimes four tugs- were kept
in service through the Winter months, and
whenever the weather permitted ships
were rushed out with all possible speed.
The tugs now carry bar pilots, the lat
ter paying a percentage of their gross
earnings to the O. R. & N. Co. for tak
ing them back and forth. Some seafar
ing men in a position to know state that
this practice does not produce the best re
sults, and that this is the only port in
the world where It Is done. By this
method the pilots control to a certain ex
tent the movements of the tugs, and are
at the same time independent of control
of the tugs or their owners. The pilots,
however, state that It would be impos
sible for them to maintain as good a serv
ice as they now have without the tugs
to place them on vessels which could not
be reached from the pilot schooner.
The Pilots Explanation.
The pilots explain the delays to the
William Mitchell and the Inability of the
Plnmore and Ernest Reyer to secure pi
lots to the fact that they came In too far
to the north. They state that It Is a very
unwise practice to run to the north with
the schooner In the Winter time, as,
owing to the set of the current and the
prevailing winds. It Is generally Impossi
ble to work back down again, and ns
nearly all of tho vessels bound for the
river come In from the southward, the
river would be left without pilots some
times for days at a time until the schoon
er cfuld be worked back down again.
May Appoint More Pilots.
The Pilot Commissioners, who are sup
posed to have control of the bar pilots,
are guided to a considerable extent by
the wishes of the pilots themselves, and
one oi the principal reasons given for
the failure to appoint pilots to fill the
vacancies existing Is the fact that the
only applicant is unsatisfactory to the
pilots. They admit that the number of
pilots on the bar Is smaller than It was
a year ago, and that there has been a
large Increase In the number of ships
coming here. This, however, does not
seem to warrant them In doing anything
to Increase the number. One Astoria
member of the board stated that he was
In readiness to make one or two more
pilots whenever he was called on to do
so by parties directly Interested In ship
ping. The other Astoria member stated
that he was opposed to creating any
more pilots at the present time, but was
willing that the Washington Pilot Com
missioners should appoint as many pilots
as they cared to. The Portland member
of the commission Is willing to appoint
pilots whenever his Astoria colleagues see
fit to join with him.
The Damaged Fleet.
The French bark Henrlette Is still rest
ing In the mud In front of the Booth can
nery, and Is gradually sinking deeper,
no portion of her decks showing above
water at high tide. This strengthens the
belief that the vessel sat down on her
anchor, as It is thought that If she had
struck a rock she would have remained
stationary. The Pembrokeshire, which
was also damaged In Astoria harbor a
short distance above the Henrlette, Is
lying at Kinney's cannery, discharging
some of her cargo so that the extent
of her damages can be determined, and
the work of repair carried on. Captain
Kennedy is confident that he can put
the steamer In a seaworthy condition
again, and he as well as his officers have
been working very hard with the vessel
since the accident happened.
Tobacco Factory Bnrned.
RICHMOND, Va., Jn. 7. The tobacco
factory of Cameron & Cameron was prac
tically destroyed by fire tonight. Loss
tiao.coo.
THE PANAMA OFFE!
Debate on the Canal Bill
Opened in the House.
HEPBURN STATED THE CASE
Xevr Proposal of the French Com
pany,' He Said, Was Part of the
Plan of Delay Suspicious
Clrcnmstunces.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. The debate on
tho Nicaragua bill In the House was
opened today by Hepburn (Rep., la.),
chairman of the Interstate and foreign
commerce committee, which reported the
bill. For two hours he held the floor,
replying to a volley of questions concern
ing the recent offer of the Panama Canal
Company to sell Its property and fran
chises to the United States for ?4O.0CO,00O.
The Interest in the debate centered al
most entirely In this new phase of tho
subject. Hepburn maintained that the al
leged new offer of the Panama Canal
Company was part of the plan of delay.
All his utterances along that line were
liberally applauded. He pointed out what
he claimed was the suspicious circum
stances that the Panama Company held
out for $109,000,000 until It was decided be-,
fore the holiday recess to consider the
Nicaragua bill and then suddenly dropped
tho price to $40,000,000. Morris (Rep.,
Minn.) gave notice that at the proper
time he would offer an amendment to
authorize the President, If he could pro
cure the property and rights of the Pan
ama Company for 540,000,000. if concessions
could be procured from Colombia, and If
the Walker Commission so recommended,
to purchase and proceed to complete the
Panama Canal. The other speakers to
day were Davis (Dem.. Fla.), Richardson
(Dem., Ala.). Mann (Rep., 111.) and Ad
ams (Rep., Pa.) By the terms of the or
der the bill will continue before the House
until disposed of.
Opened by Hepburn.
Without preliminary business the House
went into committee of the whole (Gros
venor of Ohio In the chair), for the consid
eration of the bill, and Hepburn took tho
floor to open the debate. He said tho
subject of a waterway across the Isthmus,
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, had been In the minds of the
people of the world for more than 4t0
years. In the United States. 37 states had
Instructed their Congressional delegations
to support a bill for an Interoceanlc
waterway; all political parties had al
llgned themselves In favor of It; the sub
ject had been discussed In Congress, sci
entific societies, the newspapers, and on
the hustings, until there was now a vol
ume of literature on. the subject never be
fore devoted to a single project.
Hepburn said the report of the Walker
Commission gave careful consideration to
every feature of te work. The bid sub
mitted by his committee proposed to con
centrate all authority in the hands of the
President. It opened no opportunity for
defunct statesmen or for the pensioning
of persons who had been passed In th3
race of life. It gave the United States the
authority to protect, defend and operate
the canal. In view of all the reports sub
mitted, Hepburn said there could now bo
no question In the mind of any well-informed
man of the feasibility and practi
cability of an Interoceanlc canaL
There was not an atom of work In gen
eral engineering, he said, yet to be done.
In favor of the feasibility and practica
bility no enterprise that had ever received
the attention of man had been so con
clusively proved. If tho pending bill be
came a law the work could begin at once
and should be completed in eight years.
As n Commercial Venture.
Hepburn said that as a commercial ven
ture the commission's figures of 7.0G0.0W)
tons could be safely taken. At the lat
ter figure the total revenue at tho Suez
rate would be $14,000,000. enough to meet
the cost of maintenance ($3,500,000) and
leave over $10,000,000 to meet Interest
charges. If there were such.
Referring to the efforts of the Panama
Canal Company to build a canal by pri
vate enterprise, he summed up their ef
forts as follows:
"The company raised $256,000,000 by tho
sale of $435,000,000 of bonds, and, after eight
years, the managers of the company
found themselves with the work less than
(Concluded on Third Page.)
SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S NEWS
Congres."
Hepburn opened the 'debate on the canal bill
In the House. Page 1.
There will be a strong fight against the new
Chinese Exclusion bill. Page 1.
Senator Morgan calls for an Inquiry Into tha
relations of railroad companies and Pan
ama Canal. Page 2.
Foreign.
The Chinese court returned to Pekln. Page 2.
The Boer losses up to date have been twica
as heavy as the British. Paze 2.
An Oscar Wilde play was produced In Lon
don. Page 2.
Domestic.
The population of the entire United States '13
84,233,000. Page 2.
Papers were filed In the Supreme Court in
the cae of Minnesota against the rail
road trust. Page 3.
The Interstate Commerce Commission will
prosecute packers. Page 3.
Lessler was elected over Belmont In the Sev
enth New Tork 'Congressional District.
Page 5.
Pacific Coast.
J. N. Williamson announces himself as a
candidate for Congresman Mocdj's place.
Page 4.
Wanhlngton man fired through a door and
wounded a girl who spurned hj3 improper
request. Page 4.
Oregon Farmers Congress speakers DIscus3
eery phae of the dairy Industry. Page 4.
Fine body of cinnabar discovered in Josephine
County. Page 5.
Marine.
December statement of Portland Custom-House
shows large value of exports. Page 3.
Navigation on Yamhill Itlver closed at La
Fajette. Page 5.
Steamship Columbia arrived from San Fran
cisco after a rough vojage. Page 5.
Contracts for 400O tons of forage will be let
today. Page 5.
Portland and Vicinity.
Committee of 15 citizens appointed to tako
charge of volunteer monument project
Page 8.
Questions of teachers' salaries may cause a
lively annual meeting of taxpajers. Page 12.
Clarence .Clark, lS-year-old boy, attempted
suicide. Page 12.
Ellis G. Hughes writes on his stand In Port
of Portland matters. Page 12.
Lively registration of voters at County Clerk's
office. Page 7.
New text-book law now In successful opera
tion. Page 10.
T