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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1905)
THE MORifING OEBGONIAN, TUESDAY, FEBROAKY 21, ,3.905. Entored at the Postoffice at Portland. Or., as second-class matter. SUBSCRIPTION BATES. INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. fBy Mall or Express.) Dally end Sunday, per year, ;...$9.00 Dally and Sunday, six months. . ... 5.00 Dally and Sunday, three months 2.55 Dally and Sunday, per month- 83 Dally without Sunday..per year 7.50 Dally without Sunday, nix month 3.90 Dally without Sunday, 'three months .... 1.93 DaMy without Sunday; per month ...... .03 Sunday, pec year . 2.00 Sunday, six month t 1.00 Sunday, three months - .60 "; '. BI CARRIER. Dally without Sunday, prr wek..f 15 Dally per week, Sunday. included. .20 ' THE WEEKLY ORKCONIAN. ' (Issued Everj" Thursday.) "Weekly, per year.-.. 4 1.50 Weekly, lx months "5 "Weekly, three months .50 HOW TO REMIT Send poslofflc'e -money order, express order or personal check on yor; local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are it the sender's risk. EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE. The S. C. Bcckwlth Special Agency New York: Rooms 43-50 Tribune building. Chi cago: Rooms 510-312 Tribune building:. The Orcgonlan does not buy poems or Morles from Individuals and cannot under take to return any manuscript' sent to It "without solicitation. No ejamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. KEPT ON SALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex; Postoffice News Co , ITS Dearborn street. Denver Julius Black, Hamilton Vfc Kend rlck. 900-912 Seventeenth street and Frue- nuft Bros., COS Sixteenth strcet Kaunas City, Mo. RlckseckerClEar Co., Ninth and Walnut. Los Angeles Harry Drapkln; 33 E. Amos, 614 West Seventh street; Oliver & Haines. Oakland, Cal. W. H. Johnston. Four teenth and Franklin streets. Minneapolis M. J. KavanauRh. 50 South Third; L. Regelsburger, 217 First avenue Eoutn. New York City L. Jones & Co.. Astor House. Ogden F. R. Godard and Meyers & Har rop: D. L. Boyle. Omaha Barkalow Bros., 1612 Farnham; Mageath Stationery Co., 130S Farnham. Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co., 77 West Second street South. San Francisco J, K? Cooper & Co.. 746 Market street; Foster & Crear. Ferry News Stand; Goldsmith Bros., 23C Sutter: L. E. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand; F. W. Pitts. 100S Market; Frank Seott. SO Ellis; N. Wheatloy, 8S Stevenson; Hotel St. Francis News Stand. Washington, D. C. Ebblt House News Stand. Des Moines, la. Moses Jacobs. 309 Fifth treet, St. Louis. Mo. E. T. Jett Book &. News Company. S06. Olive street. Dallas, Tex. Globe News Depot. 260 Main etreet. Sacramento, Cal. Sacramento News Co., 42l K street. Phoenix. Ariz. The Berryhlll News Co. Santa Barbara, Cal. S. Smith. San Diego. Cal. J. Dlllard. PORTLAND, TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 1905. - LIMITS OF MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE. To the municipality the state has de puted certain powers relating: to the health, comfort, good order, decency and general "welfare of the body of citi zens grouped within city boundaries. These are called police powers. The duty of preservation Involves also the right to repress and punish violations of ordinances and laws regarding them. In the list of ownerships or control vested in the municipality and depend ent on the police powers are the care of roads, bridges, sidewalks, sewers, fer ries, markets, wharves, schools, poor houses, jails, cemeteries, fire apparatus, the lighting of the city by gas or elec tricity, and the supply of water. Many other conveniences and comforts of civ ilized life fall v.-ithin the definition of 'public purposes and ownership," and may be legitimately undertaken by a municipality, either on its own motion or under the sanction of a popular vote. Such are libraries, museums, parks, hospitals, telephones, street-car lines, public warehouses, public docks. The catalogue does not end here, but enough has been said to justify the dividing line between what has been devolved by the state on the city for the sake of the necessities of life for the citizen and those matteVs which the citizens intrust to the elected municipality on their behalf and for their benefit. Such of he necessities of life as light and water are provided by municipalities either by direct ownership or by the granting of franchises to private per sons or to corporations. There has been great difference of opinion as to whether public or private ownership was best for the city in point of excellence in service, and for the private citizen in point of both ser vice and cost As to water "works, there has been progress at an ever-increasing ratio in the number of water works owned by the cities, in a recent report, 3179 different city water works wore reported on, of which 1690 were in public and 14S9 in private hands. And public management has been shown to be as economical and as intelligent in other cities as it has proved in Port land. The provision of light is next in importance to the city to that of water. Here also the progress to municipal ownership is very marked. It is found that improved service, diffusion of use and stimulation of industry surely fol low. The actual cost of installation of electrical lighting by a city Is very close to, if not less than, the cost to the private company. Marked saving to the consumer everywhere follows the change. In Manchester. England, the charges were reduced 51 per cent in four years. Lansing. Mich., bought out the private plant and reduced the rates to the consumer in the proportion of 20 to 18 and then to 12 in two years. Pri vate rates range from 50 to 100 per cent dearer to the consumer on .averaging those of over 300 towns and cities. Pri vate corporations, besides providing for dividends on stock, are .compelled to make larger provision for depreciation of plant, for competitive improvements, and for replacements. The City of De troit has saved $41,000 a year to its tax payers, by the substitution of -municipal ownership of electric" lighting, and makes a reasonable allowance for inter est on its purchase and for deprecia tion. There is perhaps no logical rea son against the telephone service being Included among publicly-owned enter prises, if the citizens so determine. But, however desirable it may be to se cure the reduction of rates that would follow, it must be remembered that neither telephone nor street-car service can be placed among the undertakings to which the police powers of the city apply. These havd no necessary con nection with the public health or well being. In each case It must be borne in mind also that a purchase of an exist ing franchise, with its equipment and plant, will have to be made. The price to the city will not depend alone on the past outlay, but the value of the enter prise will also -be claimed. The actual measure of that value will be deter mined by the process of capitalizing the .difference between the actual -cost -of theservlce, phis "the investment already made, and the amounts of return from the receipts from working at the time tne purchase by the city is made. And the difference will be very strongly marked between the cost of establish ing and that -ot purchasing a monoDolv of a means of transportation a lesson late learned. There is no "eminent do 'main" here. For some years past there nas Deen almost a craze in favor of mu nicipal ownership in manv directions. and the borrowing powers of cities have been strained. But a reaction has set in and the tide is running towards tne abandonment of miscellaneous en terprises at heavy loss to the cities con cerned. TILE MAYOR OF A DREAM. Portland wants a Mayor, but is not exigent in her requirements. Almost any citizen can fill the office acceptably if he possesses the ordinary qualifica tions of an office-holder. The voters will unanimously applaud a Mayor who is somewhat puritanical in character, and with strong leanings toward an "open town"; prominent in church work and favorably known among -saloon men; economical, even niggardly, in the expenditure of public funds, and lavish in . laying out "money on im provements; determined in cleaning up the streets and an advocate of allow ing merchants to use the sidewalks as an annex to their stores; nonpartisan in politics, and a believer in giving all the city jobs to men of his own party; a Bryan Republican and a Roosevelt Democrat; in short, a man with wings sprouting from his shoulders and horns from his forehead. Life for such a Mayor would be one long, glad series of plaudits. Deputa tions from the Civic Improvement League would jostle in his office with deputations from the Taxpayers' League, both anxious to express their commendation. Engrossed copies of laudatory resolutions from the Anti Saloon League would mingle in the mail with similar documentary pats on the back from the Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association. The Faro-Dealers' Club would vie in eulogy with the Ministerial Association, and the Chi nese tongs would join in the concert with the Sheriff's hammerers. The prospect of such general adulation should bring into the field every citi zen with the requisite qualifications, and there must be many such among the various civic organizations, for have there not been scores of men bus led these past two years in telling Mayor Williams exactly how he should administer the city? In this multitude of advisers "there must be many men qualified to fill the office in a manner pleasing to all the cliques in the city. . In the few months that remain be fore the election there is much to be done. Out of all the legionry of suita ble men must be chosen the most suit able, a task that must necessarily be tedious in view of the conspicuous mer its possessed' by so many. A candidate must be chosen who is all things to all men. for the Mayor Portland demands must be more invulnerable than Achil les. Should he be unacceptable, say, to the Mazamas, his official career will be ruined. His efforts to please will then bring him into the position of Esop's old man, who was pinched by the Hu mane Society when he rode his ass. and was run off to the Salem of the times when he carried the brute. The next Mayor must satisfy every one or he will find, as so many have done before, the office but a lychgate to the polit ical graveyard. ' - CHARITY AND HIGH SALARIES. The severe criticisms called out by publication of tne annual report of the City Board of Charities seem to be jus tified in the remarkable inequality be tween the amount of funds applied to the relief of the destitute and that which has been absorbed in the salaries of the chief dispenser and his aids. The story revealed by this report Is not unfamiliar to those who have watched the disbursement of the alms of benev olence in 'other places; but it is rela tively new here and arouses public In dignation and protest. As indicated by this report, official ism has crept in and absorbed In sal aries the bounty bestowed for the relief of the poor, the sick and the desti tute, with the result that-the clerks of the City Board of Charities, instead of the needj have been the beneficiaries of the charity fund. This is a condition of affairs that should be fully and fairly set out by Secretary Walpole and his salaried ac countants. If, from lack of a full ac counting, the public has been led to wrong conclusions, it should be set right by proper and specific present ment of figures. It Is no time to ml no words or run lightly over figures when a charge is made, by implication at least, that the "officials of the City Board of Charities, and not the poor and needy, are the recipients of the moneys subscribed for its maintenance. The statement that of the sum of $6424.75 disbursed by the board in the year covered by the report $4895.10 was expended in running the machine, leav ing but $1529.65 to be applied to the re lief of the poor, is one before which, unless refuted, .the disbursing power stands condemned for gross misman agement and self-seeking. It is a show ing that cannot be answered by digni fied silence on the part of the disburs ing power. It must be met by open and satisfactory explanation. Otherwise it is but reasonable and Just to expect that support will be withdrawn from an organization that makes but a pre tense of charity for private gain. In any event it is clear that the time is ripe for a change in the management of the City Board of Charities. Experi ence has shown that, when the man agers of any. charitable organization, through long tenure of office and in trenchmenfin public confidence, have come to consider themselves the organ ization itself, rather than its servants, a change is not only desirable, but necessary. Such a change is often de manded, not only in the interest of hon esty and economy, but of humanity as well. The charitable organization is wise that recognizes this fact and or ders a strict accounting from Its finan cial officers at least twice a year. Perhaps it is human nature, and we should not quarrel with the fact. But it is true that constant touch with the poor and the destitute not Infrequently causes a person to' become insensible to the miseries and the needs of such per sons. The sensibilities seem to become calloused by tales of want and suffer ing hammered on the ear the fountain of sympathy runs dry and the milk of human kindness, so to speak, turns to curd. 9 Taking Secretary Walpole for an. ex ample (if half that is said of him fn his manner of catechising those who apply for assistance to the City Board of Charities Is true), this estimate may be considered uroven. and it would be well to abolish the Institution of which he has long been secretary and .turn its work and subscription over to the Sal vation Army, or cast about for a dis bursing officer whose sympathies have not been atrophied by long familiarity with human misery, and who would proceed to earn the salary which his time and endeavor justified him in de manding, not as a figurehead with a title.- but as a clerk competent and will ing to give his work for the remunera tion agreed upon. HIGH-PRICED WHEAT. Wheat slipped off another cent in the Chicago market yesterday, and even the possibilities of what John W. Gates might do when his plans are perfected failed to frighten the short-sellers. Nat ural conditions may seem strangely out of place in such a hysterical market as Chicago, where manipulation expands or contracts the supply of wheat In defiance of all legitimate commercial laws, but on occasions they are recog nized and respected. The prediction that Mr. Gates will force wheat to $2 per bushel may be realized, but if he succeeds in- lifting it to that figure it will not be reached by a strict obedi ence of the laws of supply and demand. The American visible yesterday showed a decrease of but 640,000 bush els compared with a decrease of 1,371,000 bushels on the same date last year. It now stands at 37,458,000 bushels, com pared with 36,847,000 bushels for the same date last year, and 35,438,000 bush els on a corresponding date in 189S, when Joseph Lelter was making such strenuous efforts to inflate prices. World's shipments last week were nearly 3.500,000 bushels greater than for the previous week, and "quantities on passage" Increased nearly 3,500,000 bushels. About the only crumb of com fort which fell to the leaders of the bull movement yesterday was unfavorable news from .India, which caused a frac tional gain in the foreign markets. The difficulty of forcing wheat to an extrav agant figure at this time can be better understood by comparing prices today with those of one year ago. The Win ter wheat damage rumors, which after wards developed into facts, were in full circulation one year ago, and May wheat in the Chicago market was sell ing at $1.0514; but on May 1, 1904, in spite of fairly definite knowledge of a prospective short crop and attendant demand for wheat, the price was down to 8S. A similar decline this year from yes terday's prices would leave the cereal at $1 per bushel in May, instead of the predicted $2 per bushel. The close In Chicago yesterday was $1.18 per bushel for the May option, a decline of more than 3 cents since last week. The price, however, is still 132 cents per bushel higher than it was on the same date last year. The utter indifference of the foreign market to the strenuous advances on this side of the Atlantic has frequently been commented on, and Is particularly noticeable at this time, when the quotation on Walla Walla cargoes in Liverpool yesterday was 33 shillings compared with 32 shillings 6 pence one year ago. In other words, while Chicago is 13 cents per bushel higher than it was last year, Liverpool is but 1 cents per bushel higher, and is now receiving the first cargoes of the largest wheat crop ever grown in the Argentine. The January and February "fleet, loaded, loading or chartered to load at Argentine ports, includes 170 vessels with a carrying capacity of more than 20.000,000 bushels of wheat. This is nearly double the number under char ter one year ago, and if the Chicago market shows a sensational advance It Is a certainty that one-half of this fleet could be diverted to American ports without causing much of an advance in Liverpool. There Is nothing in the sit uation in other parts of the world that warrants much higher prices for wheat than are now being paid, and any fur ther advances of consequence will re sult In the Importation of large quanti ties of cheap foreign wheat, on which the American consumers must nay a 25 per cent ad valorem duty. LICENSES FOR HUNTERS. In enacting the hunters'- license law, requiring the payment of a fee of $1 a year for each gun, the Legislature made an exception in the case of farm ers and. members of their families who hunt on their own land. This was a wise provision, and shoivs that the Leg islature is recognizing an important factor in the regulation of the killing of game. Game birds live upon the farms, eat the farmers grain and build nests in the shelter of his trees and fences. Whatever view the city sportsman may take of the right of the people to pro tect game birds from extermination, the farmer feels, and will always feel, that he has some preferential right In the shooting of birds for his own table. No law which falls to Tecognlze this right can have the respect of the rural residents, and if it has not their sup port It can be but poorly enforced. There is a disposition among city sportsmen to look upon the farmer as a persistent violator of the game laws, and undoubtedly there are agricultur ists vho kill birds out of season. It is also true, however, that farmers in general observe the spirit of the laws and do what they can to prevent ex termination of the birds. If It can be said on the one band that they take a bird out of season occasionally for a Sunday dinner, it can also be said that they never kill wantonly, or for the vain purpose of having their pictures taken showing the result of their sport. When a law is so drawn that it ap pears to be chiefly in the Interest of the city sportsman. It will not have the moral or legal support of the farmers. If the laws be fair toward the men on whose lands the birds are hatched and reared and fattened, the farmers, as a rule, will be as faithful In the observ ance of. the regulations as any city sportsman has a right to expect. AT THE PARADE. All signs point to a "gentle and joy ous" entertainment for the thousands who will pour Into Washington to wit ness the Inaugural parade next month. Those participating in the procession will not all be blase regulars or dull-as-ditchwater civilians, but on the con trary many of them will come from the country whore men have not had all their corners rubbed off by the grind of society. The parade, in fact, bids fair to qualify as the greatest show on earth, and especially as the greatest Wild West show. Regular soldiers, cadets, and such staple Ingredients In the parades may be ignored, for none will have eves for them when the fiery Rough Riders heave in sight- These will serve as a preparation for the be-feathered In dians, the Filipinos aid the Porto Rl cans. ' And ' after all-- these the public will be ready for the great spectacular feature of the parade, the cowpunchers, who will buck along the line to the wonder of the burned-out East. It will be a great show, and the expectation of the Washington committees that 200.000 visitors will be in town for the occasion should be fulfilled. As the people will be worn out after the excitement of witnessing such a parade, it is entirely proper that the inaugural ball should be chopped off short at midnight. An exhausting day, followed by an all-night dance, would leave Washington's citizens in no con dition for church-going the next day March 4 falls on a Saturday this year. But what is the most dazzling ball to the spectacle of the afternoon! Danc ing, even in a crowd of enthusiastic and awkward couples, is a tame exer cise after cowpunchers and broncho busters have fired the imagination. It is even possible that the glory which will shine upon the Western contin gent will lead staid citizens of Wash ington to let tneir drawing-room ac complishments rust while they, like the small boy after the circus, strive to emulate the feats of the plainsmen. Apart -from all this., the variety of the contingents that will be marching under the Stars and Stripes shows how "(he long and broad flag" has grown of late. Not only is there a diversity In. the de tachments from the various states, but the presence of men from overseas Is a concrete Instance of. how America Is becoming a factor In the affairs of all the world. It Is matter of regret that the space available for the Washington exhibit at the Lewis and Clark Fair Is not as large as the present commission would like to have it. The Seattle Times has a long article complaining of the" cramped quarters which the Evergreen State must occupy if she makes an exhibit. In all of the comment that has appeared regarding the matter, the blame for Washington's unfortunate predicament has not yet been placed where it prop erly belongs. If ex-Governor McBride had refused to carry his political preju dices to the point or vetoing the Lewis and Clark appropriation two years ago. our neighboring state would have been in on the ground floor with practically unlimited space and a choice of loca tions. As the Times applauded every move of the Governor at that time, it has no reason for feeling disappointed over one of the results of the McBrlde-Preston-Ankeny tow. Even with the automobile factories working overtime, the horseless age Is not yet in hailing distance. Represent atives of Japan, Russia, England and the United States have visited the Pa cific Northwest within the past six months In quest of horses for cavalry purposes. The horse-breeding Industry has passed through some very unprofit able eras In the past, but the outlook for an unlimited demand and high prices for an indefinite period was never brighter than at present. The automobile has come to stay, and it plays a very important part in modern transportation and pleasure travel, but there are places where the equine will always be as valuable and indispensa ble as he was when Richard was offer ing a kingdom for him. The experience of the blockade-runners which have thus far been dis patched for the Far East with supplies for the beleaguered Russians has been 30 unsatisfactory that owners are now canceling charters and unloading car goes which have already been placed aboard vessels. High premiums paid on this class of marine risks for a time proved quite attractive business for the underwriters, but they are now "hedg ing" with a "vengeance, and. If any more of this business is handled, It will probably be at the risk of the owners. This will force the Russians to pur chase outright steamers which sixty days ago were easily available for char ter at moderate rates. H. Rider Haggard is coming to the United States to Inquire into the condi tions and" character of the agricultural settlements organized In America by the Salvation Army. He is also said to be in quest of material for a new ro mance. Judging from the kind of ro mances which have emanated from the "agricultural settlements" in the fa mous "seven-eleven," the distinguished author of "She." "King Solomon's Mines" and other similar tales, will make a mistake if he falls to have S. A. D. Puter or some of the rest of the "agriculturists" take him up in that in spiring environment, where the small est possible Investment of fact will pro duce such wholesale returns of fiction. At last there seems a prospect that Gugllelmo, the murderer of Freda Guarascia, will receive the punishment due his cowardly and desperate deed. The technicality that has delayed his execution for half a year was disal lowed by the Supreme Court. It is dis tinctly to the discredit of attorneys of a certain class that their efforts to con tort proceedings and delay justice are often put forth in behalf of criminals notoriously desperate and unde'nlably guilty of the crimes charged. It is a credit, however, to the courts that such efforts are usually in the end futile. Land-fraud Investigations are becom ing so common on- this side of the boundary line that British Columbia has caught the infection, and is pre paring for a crusade 'against the men who are alleged to have swindled the province out of large tracts of land. The methods employed do not differ materially from those that have been practiced in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A land thief seems to be pretty much the same kind of a creature, re gardless of the flag he Is operating under. We hear periodically a great deal about Jeffersonian simplicity In state craft In like manner simplicity and a return to first principles in "religion are frequently or periodically urged. In each case, however, the protest dies away with the special' occasion and things resume the even tenor of their way without marked results. "The old order changoth, giving place, unto the new." Beyond this statement no argu ment is urged in support of a proposed return to primitive conditions. Representative Baker (Dem.), of New1 York, is out of place in Congress. He belongs In an insane asylum. The movement for state oil refineries is spreading. Luckily the Oregon Leg islature has adjourned. It looks as if the agitation to beau tify the city had taken a new lease of life. . X0TE AND COMMENT. Kansas had better begin taking jlu jltsu lessons. The Moro Observer makes the observa tion that many men might woll learn from the lower animals. The trouble now is that too many men pattern-after animals. The hog is an exemplar to many and so Is the cur. but perhaps some of the other domestic animals were referred" to. FOR SALE A fine specimen of California Senator, thoroughly trained and docile. For cash, $350. The wages of ht is the only kind the boss never wants to cut. Some shakw-im'td persons ltve an idea that tlio duty of a Clt. Bwrd of Charities is to dispense the charitable offerings of the people. Such a conception Is entirely out of keeping with' xdvanced modern methods. Under the old regime some undeserving poor were aided, along with the. genuine unfortunates. The qual ity of mercy was not strained. Now adays great. efforts arc made to prevent the deserving poor from being aided in an unscientific and Indiscriminate manner. Mercy must be strained through the meshes of red tape, as befits an organized administration. Charity no longer means love, but business. The Monkland correspondent of the Moro Observer says that "Dad Jones Is getting tired hugging the stove those cold uas, anu would nrefer some rich tsiHnn- Dad should beware; aftor he gets the widow ne won't be able to spend his time nuggmg even the stove. She will send him out to chop the wood. More and more men annoar tn h ting the Idea that the right thing to do Tun a woman who will not annf rmo-o oner of marriage is to kill her. Seattle uuers wio latest instance. Thl3 time the murderer committed suicide, immediately after his crime. If th men of thin r1oo? could only be Induced to kill themselves iirat mere woum he very little opposition to their wishes. In a local divorce case the husband alleges that his wife hugged another man In his presence and that when he re monstrated she flourished a large knife, telling him that if he didn't "like nar style" he could get out. Such a situation Is delicate. The occasion appears to de mand a remonstrance and the knue to discourage It. In the circumstances per haps the. best thing to do is to get out and stay out. The Russian censor has killed Our Life and darkened Our Days. A prophetic New Yorker is alarming a number o( his townsmen by predicting that the world -Rill end In three years. That limit gives the prophet ample time In which to exhaust the credulity and funds of his disciples. Kansas thinks it has boon bled enough. Russian students devote so much time to politics that they cannot excel in the serious business of athletics. Portland. Feb. 20. (To Note and Com ment.) In your column of the Issue of to day you give a problem about a man hav ins a $2 bill, getting It pawned for $1.30. celling tho pawn ticket for another $1.50. and buying his ticket, and who was out the $1. I have thought out every way pos sible but am still as far from the answer as when I started. Please tell -me. as I would like to fee how this works out. Also, where did that expression. "I'm from Mis souri" originate and what's its logic sense. In answering tho two above you will greatly oblige . A READER. The problem, as given by the Kansas City Star, was as follows: "A man wanted ta ticket to Olathe and only had a $2 bill. It required $3 to got the ticket. .He took the $2 bill to a pawnshop and pawned it for $1.50. On his way back to the depot he met a friend to whom he sold the pawn ticket for $1.50. That gave him $3. Now, who's out that dollar?" It doesn't take a great deal of calculation to discover tthat the Innocent bystander got It In the neck, as usual; in other words, the friend found himself up against it when tho pawnbroker asked him for another $1.50 plus a little commission. As to the expression. "I'm from Missouri," any one using it shouldn't need to be shown. Greasy, dirty anQ unsanitary paper money constitutes one of the disagreeable features of the American currency sys tem, says the Philadelphia Lodger. Think of calling money a disagreeable feature of anything. Whitman College has been holding a popular voting contest to decide the ques tion of tho most beautiful girl in the school. We note that the winner is "a tall and stately brunotte of tho Southern type of beauty," and that she received more than four times as many votes as .her nearost competitor. Tho most hand some young man was also tho most popu lar, but these honors among the co-eds woro divided, as plight Indeed'have been expected. WEX. J. EXPAND THE COTTON MARKET President Urged to Send National Commission to China. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. President Roosevelt today received a committee ap pointed by the recent Southern Interstate Cotton Convention at New Orleans to .urge the creation of a commission to ex tend the foreign markets for cotton prod ucts. The delegation consisted of about a dozen members, headed by former Sen ator McLaurin. of South Carolina. The committee urges Immediate steps looking to Congressional action for this purposo in behalf of thq cotton interests. The President discussed the question with the delegation and stated that he would take It up with the men who rep resent the cotton belt In Congress.' He as sured the committee that ho would do all he could to facilitate the movement. Sen ator McLaurin introduced the committee, speaking at some length. He said the re cent meeting at New Orleans did not rep-' resent cotton-growers alone, but mer chants, bankers and mill men to an equal extent. As an example of the possibili ties of a wider market for cotton, the Senator pointed to the export trade to one section of North China, which, with com paratively little effort, he said, had been Increased to moro than $20,000,000 in a few years. The committee appointed by the New Orleans convention to wait upon the President and urge him to use the power of his great office to the end desired. Senator McLaurin said, had agreed upon and committed its requests to writing. These requests, in tho form of an address. Senator McLauren then submitted to the President The address calls attention to the need of an enlarged market for cotton prod ucts, the small proportion of cotton im ports to China which comes from the United States, and the vast possibilities for extension of that trade. It urges the sending of a National Commission to study conditions in China, and concludes by showing that the value of cotton prod ucts has grown from $128,769 In 1S50 to $721.;M9.000 In 1S00. The committee later conferred with Sqc retary of Agriculture Wilson. HE TOOK THE FEES AFTER ALL. Grunsky Relented of Self-Denial Pacific Mali's Panama Business. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. Testimony be fore the House committee on Interstate and foreign commerce investigating the affairs of the Panama Railroad today showed that, notwithstanding the letter of Commissioner Grunsky to Chairman Hepburn, read to the committee Satur day, In which it was -stated that Grunsky hnd returned "unopened" his first fee envelope as a director of the road, he had afterward taken this same fee and all others accruing, amounting In all to $260. This statement was made by Vice President Drak. of the road. After stating In his letter that he had returned the first fee because lie con sidered It was compensation in violation of the President's instruction. Mr. Grunsky quotes the minutes of the Canal Commission meeting held just after ho had returned the fee nd which contain the statement of Admiral Walker that the President did not consider the fee "additional compensation." and that it was not In violation of his own order. Mr. Grunsky, however, did not explain in the letter that afterward he had taken the few. Mann asked if it was not the opinion of the witness that the Pacific Mall Steam ship Company, controlled by the Union and Southern Pacific Railways, .was in terested In keeping up the steamship rate between New York and San Fran cisco. Mr. Drake said that It was not until thp Panama Railway Company had threatened to, break with the Pacltic Mall Steamship Company that it delivered any considerable amount of through freight. Thirty-six thousand tons" a year was wanted, and but 12,000 tons were forth coming. The result of a demand for more had brought the tonnage up to CO.000 tons last year. Through rates from New xork to San Francisco via the Isthmus, he said, averaged $12 a ton, and from San Francisco $3.75 a ton. The difference In prlco was due to the difference in the class of goods shipped. The rate, he said, was based on the transcontinental railroad rate and. was 30 per cent less on each carload lot. and 25 per cent less on less than carload lots. He maintained that the property would not, be valuable to near the extend it was at present should the steamship line to Colon be discontinued. A statement showing fees paid to mem bers of the Canal Commission for serv ices as directors of the Panama Railroad was filed. The statement also shows dividends on stock of tho road held by the commissioners. Commissioner W. S. Burr received $230 for ten board meetings and a $5 dividend on one share of the stock; C. E. Grunsky received $250 for meetings and a $5 div idend; W. B. Parsons. $305 for meetings and a $5 dividend; B. M. Harrod received $125 for meetings and a $5 dividend. "Vice-President Drake took up the question of discontinuance of the steam ship lino in connection with the. road. He also spoke against moving the ofllces from New York to Colon. As an argu ment against surrendering the traffic agreement with the Pacific Mail Steam ship Company, Mr. Drake said the busi ness of the railroad In 1904 aggregated $10S,!51 on west-bound business and $37,000 on east-bound business as the result of this contract. More than one-half of the road's earnings, he said, were derived from this source. To withdraw from the tariff agreement with the Pacific Mall, Mr. Drake maintained, would subject the whole Pacific Coast to the control of the transcontinental railways. Mr. Drake sug gested that, when all the stock of the road shall be owned by the Government it will not be necessary to maintain a board of directors, as the entire management can be accomplished by a chief execu tive. Mr. Drake filed with tho committee a copy of a letter dated January 12 lost, giving notice to tho Pacific Mail Steam ship Company that the traffic agreement between that company and the railroad company would terminate July 12 next. Mr. Drake said that twice this agree ment hod been out of force- for certain periods. On one occasion the railroad had put its own steamers Into tho Pacific trade and had operated them at a loss- During the last period of six months that this agreement had not been In force, the Pacific Mall Company had lost $375,000. The officers of the company, he said, had then stated that, should the agreement be terminated again, the Pacific Mail would cease to take Panama business. The action in giving notice of the term ination of tho contract was taken by the board of directors of the road January 12 last pursuant to a supplemental agree ment between tho road and the steamship line, allowing cither party to terminate the contract on six months notice, if the stock of the road should be purchased by tho United States. This, the letter stated. Is the grounds for the termination of tho agreement There are two South American lines which would be put into this trado In tho event tho Pacific Mall abandons it, in the opinion of Mr. Drake. Mr. Stephens, of the committee, re ferred to tho letter of Commissioner Grunsky received by Chairman Hepburn Saturday, In which the information was contained that Mr. Grunsky had returned tho cnvelopo containing his fee for the first meeting of the board of directors of the railroad, and asked Mr. Drake If Mr. Grunsky had subsequently taken his fee. The answer was that he had; that the fco he returned was nfterwards given him again. . In .answer to Mr. Townsend, Mr. Drake said that ex-Commissioner Hecker never had attended a meeting of the board and had received no fees. STRUGGLE ON STATEHOOD BILL Friends and Opponents of New Mex ico Want to 'Name Conferees. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. Whether tho Senate conferees on the statehood bill shall represent tho party that defeated Joint statehood for Arizona and New Mexico or the party that fought for the retention of that provision was debated at length in the Senate today, but no de cision was reached. Tho usual manner was to name as conferees the two rank ing majority members and the ranking minority member of the committee hav ing the bill in charge. Tn the present case Jt was contended by Gorman and Teller that the conferees, if so named, would not represent the sentiment of the bill as passed by the Senate. Tho arguments were Interrupted by the convening of the Senate as a court to hear the Swayne Im peachment charges, but will be continued tomorrow. The House managers In the Swayne trial rested their case today and the defense opened. A bill was passed authorizing the award of bronze medals of heroes to persons dis playing conspicuous bravery In saving lives in railroad wrecks, which moasure had passed the House. A substitute for a House bill relating to the construction of a dam and reser voir for irrigation purposes on the Rio Grande, in New Mexico, was passed. The motion for a conference on the statehood bill was then considered. Gor man, Teller and Foraker maintained that the conferees should represent the senti ment of the Senate as shown by th bill which finally passed that body and which provides for the admission of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as one state and New Mexico as another, leaving Arizona as a territory. The Swayne trial was taken up at 2 o'clock and after two witnesses had been examined. Manager Olmstead caused to be read the provisions of the Florida statutes relating to suits of ejectment or disqualification of Judges. Olmstead then announced that the case of the House managers was concluded. Ex-Senator An thony Hlgglns of Delaware made the pre liminary statement for Judge Swayne and was still speaking when, at 5:0S P. M., the court adjourned for the day. The,. Senate- went Into executive session and -at 6:f6 P. M. adjourned. EXTRA SESSION , OX RATE LAW Will Be Called in October, Earlier Action Being Impossible. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. President Roosevelt, who for weeks has been hopeful that some definite action might be taken at the present" session of Congress on tho railroad rate question, practically has re linquished the idea af securing legislation on the subject this Winter. It is reason ably certain that he will not call an ex traordinary session of Congress to meet in the Spring, but unless he changes his mind, he will call Congress together, probHuly next October. Representative? Esch and Townsend. joint authors of the rate bill which passed the House, had a talk with the President today. TUey outline! the rate situation and conditions as they found it. They agreed with him that the prospect for the enactment of rate legislation at this ses sion was remote. They Indicated that If no action was taken at this session, tho subject would be considered thoroughly durinsr the coming Summer with the idea of presenting a measure at the next ses sion which, very likely, would contain some additional features. As they left the White House both Messrs. Esch and Townsend expressed conviction that an extra session would be called for next Autumn to deal with the rate question. FAVOR COAST SHIPYARDS. Humphrey Pleads for Differential on Naval Contracts. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. An earnest ef fort Is being made by Congressmen from the Pacific Coast to have inserted in tho naval appropriation bill a provision for a 4 per cent differential in favor of ship yards on the West Coast in the contract price for warships constructed in these yards. Representative Humphrey, oQ Washington, today strongly urged the President to advocate such" a differential. If adopted, the differential would increase the cost to the Government of a battle ship constructed on the Pacific Coast about $150,000. This sum. Humphrey ex plained, would not be in the form of ad ditional profit to the constructing com pany, as the shipment from the East of necessary material entering into tho ves sel would amount to about $163,000. Humphrey expressed the fear that un less such a differential should bo given, eventually the West Coast shipping con cerns would have to go out of business. If this should happen, there would be left on "that Coast no private shipyards where a battleship could be docked and repaired. Humphrey expressed hope of action by the next Congress. Naval Engineer Gets His Pay. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. Justice White today delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of United States vs. Albert C. Engard. chief engineer of the United States Navy, involving the question as to whether the Naval officer can collect sea pay for shore duty. In this case the Auditor for the Navy Department re fused to allow traveling expenses on an official trip to Ohio and return. This decision was overruled by the court, which held that "where the as signment of an officer to duty by tho Navy Department expressly imposed upon him the continued discharge of his sea duties and qualified the shore duty as merely temporary to the reg ular sea duty, the presumption is that the shore duty was temporary and did not operate to interfere with or dis charge the officer from the responsibil ities of his sea duty to which he was regularly assigned." Will Issue Philippine Bonds. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. After consul tation by cable with Governor-General Wright at Manila. Secretary Taft has decided to avail himself -immediately of the provision of the Cooper bill authoriz ing tho Issue of bonds to defray the cost of public works in the Phllllpines. It Is the purpose to Issue $2,500,000 of these bonds bearing four percent interest and they are to run for 30 years with the option of redemption by the Phillipine government at the end of ten yars. The new bonds probably will be given the same privileges as to use by national banks in the United States as are enjoyed by the. outstanding bonds. Three million dollars worth of outstanding bonds fall duo May 1 next, and It Is tho present intention ' of the authorities to pay them off in cash. Why Contracts Were Cancelled. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. Secretary Morton, explaining to the House the can cellation of the armor contract with the Midvale Steel Company of December 15, . 1S03, and the rejection of the bid of that company February 7, 3905. states that the Navy Department would have become liable to ship contractors for claims for delay If the action had not been taken. Tho Midvale people were consulted and "expressed a willingness to accede to the bureau's tentative suggestion," and there upon tho proper steps were taken relin quishing the contract and to provide for the construction of the armor by the Bethlehem Company. Northern Pacific Loses Suit. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. Chief Jus tice Fuller handed down the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States today in the case of the North ern Pacific Railroad Company vs. Ely, reversing the decision of the Supreme Court of the State of Washington. Tho proceeding was ono of many instituted by the railroad company to quiet title to its right of way. The decision was favorable to Ely. Portugal Favors Chinese Entity. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. Secretary Hay yaatvtA tnrinv from the Portucese Gov ernment a cordial acceptance and firm approval of the Secretary s note inviting the adherence of the powers to the prin ciple of the Integrity of China. All of tvi unwprs addressed bv the Secretary havo cow signified their assent to the general principle ot tne lnvioiaouny ol fhlne?c territory, no matter what may be the outcome of the war. Can't Compel Judge to Act. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. The casft of the Caledonian Coal Company vs. Ben jamin F. Baker. Judge of the Supremo Court of New Mexico, to compel him to take cognizance of an action against the Atchison, Topcka & Santa Fe Rail road was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States today against the company. Cortelyou Home From Europe. NEW YORK. Feb. 20. George B. Cortelyou, ex-Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and his wife, were passen gers on the steamer Republic, which arrived today from Naples. Discussing Dominican Treaty. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. Tho Senate committee on foreign relations today dis cussed, but reached no conclusion on, the Santo Domingo treaty. Stratton Company Lo3es Suit. ST. LOUIS. Feb. 20. Judge Adams, sit ting in the United- States Court of Ap peals, today handed down a decision in favor of tho defendant in the case of the Stratton Independence Company, limited, of London, England, against the estate of William S. Stratton to recover $5,000,000. which the plaintiff appealed from the United States Circuit Court of Colorado. It was charged by the English company that during his life Stratton had made fraudulent representations and had been guilty of fraudulent practices In the sale of a mine to the plaintiff. 1