l
THE MORXING. OBEGONIA, WEDNESMY, MARCH 1, 1905.
Xatee at the FoetoEIce at Portland. Or.,
as Hcosd-elsM matter
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY. MARCH 1, 1905
TWO KINDS OF RIVER AND HARBOR
WORK.
To the careful student of economic
conditions which are now changing the
commercial map of the world end. enor
mously increasing the export trade of
the United States, it is matter of sur-
prisejthat anything like a niggardly
policy ehould be shown toward river
and harbor improvements In the ports
through which this swelling tide of
Commerce is flowing. The ships of
every nation on the globe come to our
porta to carry to the world's markets
3Ur great surplus of products. They
carry this freight at rates based in part
on the port expenses where they load.
There are many ports on both coasts of
the United States which are natural
markets for large areas of countryH
Some of these ports are not so well pro-
-vyided in the way of channels to the sea
as others, but the trafllo of the country
which they serve cannot stand the ex
pence of a land haul to more distant
ports, where the outlet to sea may be a
trifle better.
It is to facilitate the commerce of
these ports, and accordingly increase the
profits of the producers, who supply the
business, that Government aid was
originally invoked for river and harbor
"York, and, where the money has been
legitimately expended on improvements
st real merit, the returns have lnvaria
bly been highly, satisfactory. Corrob
orative and indisputable evidence of
this is shown in the history of Port-
'iand. Prior to commencement of Gov
eminent work on the Columbia River.
shipowners would send their vessels to
San ITrancisco at rates varying from
$20 per ton to $4 per ton less than
were charged for tho same service from
proceeded, this differential shrank to
3 per ton, then to 51 per ton, and at
3ast vanished completely, although a
remarkable congestion of shipping In
6an Francisco toward the close of last
year caused a temporarily weaker
freight market in San Francisco than
In Portland. All of the additional
freight demanded from the Oregon
wheatgrower as compared with that
collected from his California competi
tor was due to lack of a good channel
from Portland to the sea. All that is
- y now eaved by the grower is due to river
and harbor work carried out by the
Government and the Port of Portland
Commission. Similar conditions are
to be found in nearly all prominent
ports on both coasts.
The basic principle of river and bar
bor work unfortunately is not gener
-v ally understood very far inland from
the "Coast zone." For this reason, re
gardless of their location, every fight
that has been made by the coast ports
to secure actually needed approprla
tlons has been met with stubborn oppo
Bition from a class of alleged econo
mists. To these uninformed and un
BvllUng-to-be-infcrmed statesmen the
river and harbor bill has always been
regarded as a "graft" for" the benefit
of certain individuals Interested in dis
tributing Government funds among an
admiring constituency. Chairman Bur
ion, of the rivers and harbors commit
tee. Is in many respects a broad-gauge
man. and has generally shown keen
appreciation of the value of keeping
our ports easy of access for the world's
shipping. In the matter of environ
meat, however, he is unfortunate, as
Ohio has always dipped deep into the
"pork barrel," as the rivers and harbors
bill is dubbed, and the appropriations
- made' for her inland harbors have not
been for the purpose of facilitating our
commerce with the world.
"Within the past six years the "pork
barrer' has yielded up to the Ohio ports
I of Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky, Huron,
i Lorain, Falrport and Ashtabula appro-
I priatlons of 54.225,000, while there, is
pending for the same ports a total of
51,333,000. There is no "world's com
merce" flowing in and out of these Ohio
ports. The bulk of the business Is han
i died by the fleets of Rockefeller, which
dominate freights throughout the Lake
region. All of the appropriations that
can be dumped Into these Lake ports
cannot attract shipping or Awaken the
competition that "Kill always be possi
ble et tidewater, where the- fleets of
the world are scrambling- lor business.
It does, unfortunately, attract the at
tention of the men who have the Bal
ance of power in voting for or against
appropriations; and many a legitimate
Improvement suffers by assumption
that its merits are on a par with those
of the ftcheme with which they are more
familiar.
THE PUBLIC XAND XAWS.
The public domain for many years
past has been under one or other of the
laws dealt" with in the report of the
Public Lands Commission, Just issued
and sent to Congress by the President
with a strong message of indorsement.
A few words of explanation will serve
to inform, readers of The Oregonian on
a subject which touches citizens of this
state very closely. These laws are the
homestead law, which prescribes a resi
dence of five years on the luo acres, or
fractions of that area, and aemanos
building of a home and clearing and
cultivation of enough land to demon
strate the bona fides .of the taker as
previous conditions to securing a
United States patent. But a commuta
tion clause Is attached, reducing neces
sary residence to fourteen months on
payment by the settler to the united
States of the minimum price for the
land either 5LC0, or else $2.50 an acre
within limits of railroad grants, Is the
minimum. Under the timber and stone
act purchases of 'Government land to
the extent of 160 acres by one person
are authorized, at the price of 32.50 per
acre, when such lands are sworn by the
applicant to be more valuable for tim
ber or stone than for agricultural pur
poses. The lieu-land forest reserve act
is that under which land taken up
within the limits of a forest reserve and
required to be vacated by the settler
for the purposes of the reserve may be
exchanged for a similar area of any
other Government land open to entry.
The desert-land law applies orr'lts
face to dry, arid lands. Any one en
gaging to reclaim by Irrigation such
lands, within certain states, of which
Oregon is one, can pay 25 cents an acre
up to 320 acres, get possession, expend
on reclamation 51 an acre a year for
three years, and then by paying 51 more
to the Government secure title.
How simple it sounds! All for the
benefit and opportunity of the home-
seeker and builder. And yet this Com
mission confirms, what we in the "West
have seen and known and proclaimed
for years past, that speculators of all
sizes, classes and states have found
ways around every one of the safe
miards of the Nation's lands for the
homeseeker's benefit The climax comes
when W. A. Richards, Commissioner of
the General Land Office; Fred H. New
ell, chief engineer of the Reclamation
Service, and Glfford Pinchot, chief for
ester, a commission whose expert
knowledge and competency none ven
ture to dispute, propose to wipe the
slate clean and start fair .once more
from the beginning. The homestead
law? "It has resulted In the entering
of great areas of Government land for
the purpose of speculation. The tim
ber and stone acts? "The Government
has lost and is losing yearly vast sums
of money through the sale of valuable
timber lands to sneculators." The lieu-
land forest reserve law? "A scandal
ous act. Its Immediate repeal is rec
ommended." And all Oregon (except
the land sharks) cries, Amen! If only
the repeal could have retroactive opera
tlon. and oust the Northern Pacific, Its
classmates and followers from their
spoils! But the stable door may be
elaborately locked, though the steed is
stolen.
The desert-land law? "An instru
ment of speculation, fraud, and per
jury." Sham improvements, Imaginary
irrigation ditches and reservoirs, un
inhabited, unlrrigated, uncultivated.
imlmnroved lands, except a fence
surely, always a fence that tells the
tale. Now. taken separately, the Na
tion and Congress have heard most of
this before. Reforms have again and
aeain been urged. Postponement, fur
ther Inquiry, more evidence, have been
called for. with result of sickening
sameness. Now surely the axe Is laid
to the root of the tree. Continuance of
the evils can be ended by simple repeal
"Whether the Nation can be made a unit
in demand for so radical a Temedy is
doubtful. It is difficult to convince' of
need for a costly clearing without giv
ing some idea of the building to be
thereon erected. So many Interests
combine in holding these laws on the
tnntP-book that a heavy task Is
ahead of the reformers.
A STITCH OF THE TESTE.
It may be that the wild hustling of
this age is about to produce a reaction,
Already there are tugns that men are
experiencing a revulsion from the ever
lasting chase of money, and are longing
for an opportunity to Indulge In the
deeper needs and delights of the soul,
"What better recreation could a busy
man find than fancy needlework, which
employs the hands and leaves the brain
free to busy itself in reflection or philo
sophic speculation. Fancy needlework
Is the best answer to those who prate
of the Strenuous Life; it is the badge
of the man who cares more for things
of the soul than for things of the body.
Football is played by one class of men
dollies are -embroidered by another.
Portland has representatives of both
classes, as testimony in the lawsuit
over the Love will has revealed to the
public
Green C Love, according to the tes-
timonv of Mrs. Finck, is an adopt in
fancy needlework, a recreation to which
he devotes much of his time. It Is In
accordance with the connection . be
tween needlework and soul that Mr.
Love should be minister in a Spiritual
1st church, and this fact must prove
encouraging to the Pastor wagner cult
The brief testimony of the witness to
whom reference has been made gives
the public a charming glimpse of the
playful 6ide of needlework. Mr. Love
Is shown accusing Mrs. Finck of hiding
his thimble, a dainty little article that
Is associated with some of the merry
games of youth. It is not difficult to
Imagine the half -serious accusation, the
pouting denial and the subsequent
search for the missing thimble, which
Is probably discovered in the pocket
where it had been carelessly placed by
its owner. A picture of almost equal
beauty Is afforded by the ruler of a
German principality, which Is bigger
In name than area. The Prince is to
marry a dashing Princess in a few
weeks, and, being a great needleman,
he is working upon his trousseau, if it
may be so called. Sitting up in bed,
where he does roost of his stitching, the
Prince spends hours upon the embroid
ery v of beautiful frilly things that are
usually monopolized by the other sex.
Perhaps this noble embroiderer may be
, Induced to follow the example of a
Philadelphia bTide; who displayed the
frilly things of her trousseau among the
wedding presents of gems and spoons.
"When two men. so widely separated
in respect of country and of occupation.
are quietly purfllng scarfs, it is evident
that the needlework movement Is more
than a sporadic outbreak. The world Is
probably passing frpm the scrambling
age to the age of scalloping, and it may
yet be that women will take to the
sedative of knitting. It is not so long
ago that the only women's, clubs were
gatherings of two or three neighbors to
gossip mildly and to knit socks and
what f ocks they were! " "Who knows but
the times of simplicity may return?
Jiu-jitsu may be abandoned for knit?
ting and politics for fancy work of an
other kind.
REGULATE THIS NUISANCE.
The billboard nuisance has passed all
bounds. There is not an important
street where it does not abound, or a
landscape which it does not disfigure.
Passengers on all street-car lines have
their vision affronted by its hideous
ubiquity, and the pedestrian who goes
forth to enjoy the beauties of nature
returns with disgust because he finds
that nothing escapes the profaning
hands of the vandal billposter. No
doubt the. business is legitimate if prop
erly conducted; and no doubt the con
cerns which adopt this method of at
tracting public notice have for sale
meritorious and useful wares. But
there Is a much less offensive way of
emblazoning the virtues of cheap cigars
and cheaper gum. theatrical entertain
ments, cheap and dear, and there
should be law to require it to be adopt
ed. The blllpostlng license is now 500
per year. That is just sufficient to
drive out the little concerns, and to
throw the business in the hands -of one
company. The license 6bouid be neav
ily Increased, because the monopoly is
very profitable; but it should be fixed
on a graduated scale. Every billboard
should be taxed at a definite figure per
square foot or yard, and its location
should be controlled by the city au
thorities.
The City Council appears disposed to
regard seriously the general public pro
test against the billboard, and to Join In
the movement for a more beautiful city.
It may find here a fine chance to show
that it wants the billboard put where
it belongs and made to pay all it ought
to pay.
STREAMS AS LOG-CARRIERS.
In the interest of the great majority
of owners of small areas of our timber
lands, it is to be hoped that the decision
of Judge McBride in a Clatsop County
case, reported in yesterday's Oregonian,
may be confirmed on appeal to the Su
prme Court. The right of the tlmber-
,lajid owner on the upper reaches of the
stream In question to dam the water
back to some extent, so as to carry and
distribute his logs when the logs were
released from the dam, was questioned
by an owner of land on the river bank
below him. But the Judge seems to
have held that such a right should not
be denied so long as no special damage
resulted from the dam. to an extent
greater than might be expected from
any ordinary "Winter freshet. His ob
servation that owners and purchasers
of land through which a river finds its
course hold their land subject to the
risks- naturally Incident to the river and
the season, and, of course, to the
rights, of the public to use of the water
of the river, appeals, at anj rate, to
common sense, which Is supposed to di
rect the law.
The value of a quarter section of tim
ber land rests as much or more on the
possibility of getting the timber to
market than on the Intrinsic worth of
the timber. Much of the timber land
to which Judge McBride referred shows
from five to eight millions of feet of
lumber to the quarter section. They
are giants of the forest, straight, close-
grown, symmetrical. How the logs can
be taken to the mill is indeed a serious
question. To be shut oft the streams
and reduced to the chance of having
built lumber railroads Into the timber
to carry out the logs or lumber, would
be to the 6mall owner nothing short of
a calamity. To the whole of "Western
Oregon this is a burning question.
ATTITUDE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The Board of Directors of School Dls
trict No. 1 seems to have passed from
the stago of harmony and tranquillity
so highly desirable in a body to which
the people have delegated vital public
interests to that of a factional body, the
members of which preserve a semblance
of amity through a state of armed neu
trallty. As is usual in all factional dls
agreement and strife, the noisy element
has taken the whip hand, and Is, liter
ally speaking, driving things to suit
itself. The other faction, mindful of
the dignity that Is becoming to
position of public honor and trust.
holds aloof, so to speak, and lets things
take their course.
This inharmony of opinion' and pur
pose on the School Board is a matter.
of sincere regret. The public schools
He close to the hearts of the people
Anything that affects them adversely
touches the very life of the community
and causes it to wince uneasily and
with apprehension.
The question of increase in the pay of
teachers of the grammar and primary
schools lias not, perhaps, wrought this
inharmony in the School Board, but it
has certainly voiced it in no uncertain
tones. A simple question In itself, and
1 ono that could have been settled by a
readjustment of the salary schedule
that would have occupied but a few
hours, it has been complicated by the
attempted Introduction of a "merit sys
tem" whjch nobody understands and
which carries grave possibilities of fa
voritism and injustice on its very face.
Not only this, but salaries at the top of
an already lopheavy system have been
materially increased in a manner not
contemplated by the taxpayers who
voted an Increase in the levy for ealary
purposes, the raise to take effect imme
diately, while the plan of the merit sys
tem does not allow the Increase in pay
to take effect until next September.
To Justify this position it is said that
the teachers are under contract for the
present year at the present rate, and
that the Board cannot legally deviate
from the schedule. In response teach
ers have caused to be published a copy
of the contract, wherein It is distinctly
specified that the "Board reserves the
right to raise or lower the salary at
any time following a two weeks no
tice." Furthermore, it is pertinently
asked, "Is not Superintendent Rlgler
working under a yearly contract?"
It is to be regretted, as before said,
that this simple matter has been thus
complicated. Nothing could be plainer
than the Intent of the taxpayers to
raise, pro rata the pay of the grade
teachers by the funds ihit would ac-
,crue from the lncreaefr'!n the' tax levy.
If there are incompetent teachers on
the force young- women who, in the
words of & member of the School Board,
'do not earn the pay they are now
getting." the remedy lies with that
body at its annual election of teachers
a few months hence. Favoritism should
have uo place in the choice of a teacher
for any grade of the public school work.
If there- are Incompetent teachers on
the roll, they are clearly there through
pull." and they should be supplanted
as soon as possible by those who can
earn a living wage and to whom a liv
ing wage should be ungrudgingly paid.
It is very easy for members of the
High School "frats" to laugh at they
statements made by a High School stu
dent of nearly four years standing in
regard to the' way in which the frater
nities are managed and to call the stu
dent who makes them a "scrub." But
neither laugh nor taunt disproves the
assertion made, npr makes manly. In
telligent answer thereto, it wouia oe
much more to the purpose if specific
answer were given to the plain ques
tions asked about methods of class elec
tions, organization of athletic teams.
the manner in which weak students are
carried along In their Latin and mathe
matics by means of the notebooks of
the brighter students, and whether
their place of rendezvous has been
properly -designated, the time spent
there and the amusements there in
dulged have been truthfully designated.
These statements are either true or
they are not true. In neither case can
they be answered to the credit of the
fraternities by a bold 'laugh, a con
temptuous remark or a shallow taunt.
The announcement of the Illinois Cen
tral railroad, the heaviest loser by the
big fire in New Orleans, that it would
rebuild docks and grain elevators on a
larger scale than ever will not be com
fortlng news to the North Atlantic
port3, which have claimed that the big
business at New Orleans was an unnat
ural diversion of trade. "When Galves
ton emerged from the cataclysm which.
overwhelmed her a few years ago It
was predioted that all the prestige she
had gained in the export trade would
vanish. Instead the Increase since the
deluge has been" greater than -ever be
fore, and New Orleans, although an
older port, is showing corresponding
growth. The heavy traffic of the coun
try is now following the course of least
resistance to a greater extent than ever
before, and neither fire nor flood will
check that flow to the Southern ports
at the end of a downhill haul.
Japanese in Mongolia are reported to
be engaged in the -pastoral pursuit of
gathering grain, which they are send
ing south In large quantities. They are
also said to be organizing and training
bands of Mongols and Chinese bandits,
whom they expect to attack the rail
road near "Baikal. If the Mongolian
bandits are half as bad as they are
painted, the enterprising Japs may
learn that they are playing with flre.
There'll come a time, some day, when
the little brown men may wish to call
off their war dogs, and -unless this par
tlcular breed belie their reputation.
they will probably turn and rend their
keepers. The British in the early days
of warfare in America tried" the prac
tice of turning the Indians against the
whites, and before the experiment was
concluded there were about as many
British as there- were American scalps
In the red man's belt.
A London paper has figured outthat
the present war had cost Russia up to
the close of 1804 about 3300.000,000, ex
elusive of about 560,000,000 worth of -bat
tleships, cruisers and other floating
property that will float no more under
the Russian flag. Statisticians, or peo
ple with a penchant for gueBsing rid
dles, might take these figures and en
deavor to ascertain how much of this
5260,000,000 got beyond the reach of the
itching palms of the Czar's own. If the
crime of robbing the Government of
Russia were to be punished with the
same eagerness, that is shown towards
other forms of misdemeanors, there
would be insufficient room on Saghalien
Island for the high offenders, or at least
there would be an insufficient number
left In power to turn the key after the
jail doors closed on the guilty.
Perhaps it is only a coincidence, but
at the same time it is noteworthy that
through all the long years in which the
O. R. & N. Co-.'sTiouse flag flew over
the steamships Geo. "W. Elder and Ore
gon they never met with a serious acci
dent, while within the half year since
they have sailed under the new banner
of the Portland & San Francisco Steam
ship Company they have both come to
grief. Fortunately no lives were lost in
either of the disasters, and, so far as
known, none of the officers in charge
were in the slightest -degree to blame,
nor could they have averted the trouble.
Fate is .held responsible for a great
many mishaps, and those which befell
the Elder and the Oregon will have to
be charged up to that favorite account.
The cases mentioned in yesterday's
Oregonian affecting the assessment oY
timber lands in Clatsop County for pur
poses of taxation ehould bs carefully
watched by county officers generally.
The titles of these cases are: "Wheeler,
Rust, the rWhItney Company, the Bled
gett Company and John E. Du Bola
against Clatsop County and Sheriff
Linvllle. Proceedings are in active
progress, and the cases will Goon be
ripe for decision. The main question
Involved Is as to the value of timber
lands. A -uniform standard of valua
tion should be agreed on by County As
sessors, to tne vast -oeneni. or some
counties.
The death of "William Elliott, of
-Clackamas County, removes from the
scene of his long and: active endeavor
one of the most reliable citizens of early
Oregon. Mr. Elliott belonged distinct
ly to the agricultural class, and was
!n no sense a -coliticlan or -nlace-seeker.
His long and honorable life came to a
close, as provided by Nature. His las
hours were cheered by the love of chll
dren and children s children to -the
third generation. His body will be laid
to rest beside that of his wife in the
old cemetery at Oregon City that has
openedt6 bosom to receive the dust of
so many of the- pioaesrs of old Oregon.
The question "TOs -orated for tho
merit system?' on the School Board
seems likely to rival in distracting un
certainty the vital question that has
come down to us through the ages,
"Who killed Cock Robin?" Mr. "Wit
tenberg is th only nemfcer up to date
who", seem williax te Rf -to the
aiadRr
X0TE AND COMMENT.
The Constantinople Daily News.
News comes from Constantinople that the
Sultan, taking soUce that Tolstoi and Gorki,
itory-wrlters. have been active Influences
In stirring: up revolution In Russia, has for
bidden the Turkish editors to print any
more continued stories, tales, and anec
dotes In their Journals. As- the Turkish edi
tors lon ago lost the privilege of printing
the news, this new Interdiction leaves them
In hat our editors would call a. bad hole.
Harper Weeklr.
The weather on February 27, 1S04, w.as
ery delightful.
Considerable Interest was manifested
yesterday In the news we published con
cerning Romulus and Remus. With our
customary enterprise, the News scooped
every paper in Constantinople on the
story of the foundation of Rome.
Everything along the waterfront Is
quiet. Noah is expected to sail at an'
early date.
Our next installment of "The "Hlstory
of the Pyramids" will appear in the Sun
day Supplement.
The News Is an up-to-date paper. If you
don't read the News you don't get the
news, but If you don't get the News you
may burn it. Only ten piastres a month.
.
Hereafter classified advertisements can
not be published until a year after they
have been handed In at our business
office.
Attacks on passes repelled." reads a
Mukden dispatch. Same thing happened
in Kansas. '
Miss Ida Tarbell has gone to Kansas to
fret a line on the oil situation, and it
won't be a pipe line at that.
New Tork bricklayers are to have J57
a week. Must be gold-bricklayers.
A Peruvian In Dawson killed himself
because he was continually being mis
taken for a negro. Suicide was a simpler
method than killing all the negroes
would have been.
Portland "is preening herself. At pres
ent she resembles the beggar maid-
As shines the moon In clouded skies
She In her frou attire was seen.
Colombia is maklngup with America
again, and shows her readiness to play
in. our yard by sending a Minister to
"Washington. Uncle Sam is too import
ant a neighbor to be long at outs with.
Most people see the -system in the merit
system, but not so many see the merit.
Some politicians are not unlike March.
They come Into office like lions and go
out like lambs.
Tacoma thinks that Wright Park looks
emptier than ever.
A story has made it way from London
papers into American papers about an
Irishman who left his village for a visit
to Dublin, where the electric lights much
Impressed him. "It beats me, ne re
marked on his return, "how they make
the hairpin burn in the bottle."
In three weeks eight editors of the Na-
rodny List, a Belgrade newspaper, have
been arrested. It looks as if a cheaper
plan of running the paper would be to
move the plant into the Jail.
Trading stamps are now given by the
Rev. Oliver Horseman, of Morristown.
N. J., to women married in his church.
The books of stamps he gives the brides
can be exchanged for a chair and a stove
or for a washboiler and a sideboard, and
other articles of a like nature. With
New Jersey's liberal Interpretation of the
laws on divorce, a young woman In Mor
ristown should be able to acquire speed
Ily a complete set of furniture.
Indianapolis and Boston have bad million-dollar
Ores this week. Does the rule of
three applr to this sort of thing? Hart
ford Times.
And New Orleans camo along with the
answer.
Only, male stenographers are employed
by the Washington Legislature. Evident
ly no lobby Is maintained at Olympla by
the Chewing Gum Trust.
Most of the houses In suburban Portland
could truthfully advertise rooms and bill
board.
Bribes are accepted In any old way, the
New Tork Evening Post ha3 discovered
after some research. One California Sen
ator likes the roll palmed into his hand,
another likes to havo It dropped Into the
pocket of his overcoat, and a third takes
the wad in the back room of a saloon
In Indiana sealed envelopes appear to be
the fashion. The Post suggests that
rules should be formulated on this Im
port ant subject, but thero is no apparent
reason to hamper individual exertion in
swathes of etiquette. So long as the man
and the money come together, what does
it matter.
"Doubtless many proposals have been
made because at the time the man could
think of nothing else to say." So the
Morganfleld Sun believes, and reflection
will convince most people that the Ken
tucky editor has reason for what he says.
When two persons "stand and marry si
lent eyes," as Stevenson says, the silence
ha3 to be broken sooner or later, and
proposal seems the most fitting interrup
tlon. Remarks about tho loveliness of
the moon or speculations regarding the
morrow's weather are bathetic after one
of such soulful pauses. And next morn
ing the poor lad wakes up to find himself
engaged.
According to the Post, a member-elect
from a Western state has been in "Wash
Ington learning the ropes. "Writing home
to a friend, he. attempted to give an idea
of the hospitality shown him. "I assure
you." he wrote, "I have had a knife in
my mouth all the time."
Careful-observation convinces us that
the sun does continue to rise and set.
WEX. J.
Poor Shot.
Lewiston (Me.) Journal.
A little 5-year-old boy at Tork vil
lage aroused tho curiosity of the store
keeper tho other day, who nad observed
him every time he came into the store
go directly to an advertising placard
before which he would plant himself
and regard it for some time with every
evidence of great delight. The picture
showed a man with a gun at his shout
Jer in tho act ofshooting some kind of
bird. Finally the storekeeper asked
the child what was in the picture that
amused him so much. The little fel
low cocked his head on one side and
regarded it soberly for a second, and
tnea burst out in pleased laughter
"Gee I that man can t shoot wurf
cent Ho's- been twyin to" shoot 'at
bird a ysar n haint hit 'im yet!"
L Lewiston- (Ms.) Journal.
EYE-WITNESS TO MASSACRE.
B. J. Dillon, In Review of evlews for
March.
The fateful Sunday dawned bright
and frosty. From the outskirts of St.
Petersburg came the workingmen in
units, tens, hundreds, thousands, un
armed and-hopeful. But all the bridges
and other avenues to the city had been
occupied overnight by Cossacks,
guards, soldiers of the line, policemen.
Bivouac fires burned brightly in the
snow-covered streets, rifles were
stacked, troops were dancing, playing,
laughing. Artillery was ostentatiously
wheeled over to the Basil Island. "St.
Petersburg, in a word, wore the aspect
of a city taken by a foreign Invader.
But the workingmen had no misgiv
ings. God might still be in heaven,
but the Czar, to whom they had given
due notice of their peaceful intention,
was now no longer far away; he would
surely come from Tsarskoe-Selo to St.
Petersburg and hear the heart's desire
of these the least of his children! Had
he done so he would have succeeded in
accomplishing what neither Grand Duke
Vladimir, with his Antl-Nihllistlc League,
nor Grand Duke Sergius. with his
Loyal "Workmen's Democratic Associa
tion, had effected: he would have car
ried the lower classes with him almost
to a man and deprived the Llbetajs of
the support both of the peasantry and
of the workmen, without whom no rev
olution Is possible In Russia. It was a
rare opportunity, worthy of a great or
a good monarch. Many of tho extreme
revolutionists trembled lest the Czar
would go, as Nicholas had gone, to his
rebellious subjeots fearlessly and
bravely. But he stayed in the apart
ments of his palace Instead. He had
put the Grand Duke Vladimir In com
mand, and this personage is reported
to have exclaimed: "If I am not Nich
olas the Second, I shall be a second
Nicholas!" And he was. He gave or
ders to Prince Vassilchlkoff, who car
ried them out to the letter.
A general staff was got together; the
city of St. Petersburg was divided Into
sections, of which each one was as
signed to a body of the troops; officers
gathered around a green table on
which lay an outspread map; adjutants
came and went continually; In a word.
the game of war was being played
elaborately. Then the "Invading
army" was attacked in sections and
driven back with great slaughter In
divlduals of both sexes and all ages.
The man who carried the Czar's por
trait was shot dead; the likeness
pierced; the priest Gopon. arrayed In
his vestments, was borne down by his
falling comrades: men, women, chil
dren, were Bhot, not Ilka the Japanese,
who are made prisoners if unarmed, but
like wild beasts. Boys perched on tne
boughs of leafless .trees, women cling
ing to the iron railings of public gar
dens, babies In their mothers arms.
passers-by who ran into adjacent
houses for shelter, were slain deliberately.
mercilessly, gleefully. I saw Cossacks
grinning as they began their bloody
work; I saw others joke as the dead
were carried past them; and I heard of
others who boasted of inhuman deeds.
. . . God wa still in heaven, but
the Czar was far away. Aye, further
than he has ever been since Russia be
came an empire. An abyss now sep
arates him from his people. And If
the Grand Duke Vladimir wa3 not
Nicholas the Second, he was in many
respects a second Nicholas.
THE REVIVAL IN WALES.
Not Hysterical, but Soberly Sane and
Orderly.
W. T. Stead in Review of Reviews for
March.
The vast congregations were as so
berly sane, as orderly, and at least as
reverent as any congregation I ever
saw beneath the dome of St. Paul's.
But It was aflame with a passionate re
Ugious enthusiasm, the like of which
I have never seen in St. Paul's. Tier
above tier from the crowded aisles to
the loftiest gallery satfbr stood, as ne
cessity dictated, eager hundreds of
serious men and thoughtful women,
their eyes riveted upon the platform
or upon whatever other part of the
building was the storm -center of the
meeting.
There was absolutely nothing wild
violent, hysterical, unless it be hys
terical for the laboring breast to heave
with sobbing that cannot be repressed,
and tho throat to choke with emotion
as a sense of the awful horror and
shame of a wasted life suddenly bursts
upon the souL On all sides there was
the solemn gladness of men and women
upon whose eyes has dawned the splen
dor of a new day, the foretaste of whose
glories they are enjoying in the Quick
ened sense of human fellowship and a
keen, glad zest added to their own
lives.
Employers tell mo that the quality
of the work tho miners are putting in
has improved. Waste is less, men go
to thair daily toll with a new spirit of
gladness in their labor. In the long,
dim galleries of the mine, where once
the hauliers swore at their ponies in
welshlfled English terms of bias
phemy, there is now but to be heard
the haunting melody of tho revival
music. Tha pit ponies, like the Ameri
can mules, have been driven by oath
and curses since they first bore tha
yoke, are being retrained to do their
work without tha Incentive of profan
ity. There is less drinking, less Idle
ness. less gambling. Men record with
almost incredulous amazement how
one football player after another has
forsworn cards and drink and the- glad
latorlal games, and is living a sober
and godly life, putting his energy into
tho revival. More wonderful still, and
almost incredible to those who know
how journalism lives and thrives upon
gambling, and how Toryism is broad
based upon the drinking .habits of tho
people, the Tory dally paper of South
wales nas devoted its columns day af
tor day to reporting and defending tha
movement which declares war to tho
death against both gambling and drink.
Luxurious for Congressmen.
Washington Post.
The House is constantly outdoing .the
Senate in equipment and furnishings.
There has been a recent triumph on the
House side, which the Senate has not been
slow to discover.
It Is hardly a secret that nearly every
committee-room at the Capitol has Its
private cupboard for a private bottle and
private glasses. Over in the Senate com
mlttee-rooms there is often considerably
more tnan a Dottlo and glasses. Elabo
rata arrangements, permitting of drinks.
dellcioualy compounded, are in existence
for the favored friends of certain chair
men; iot long ago a certain House
chairman put In an ambitious supply, th
fame whereof has sped to the Senate.
Every day at somo Hour when friends
from a Beaboard state appear, the pil
grimage soutnward begins. Tha atten
dance on tha Senate la depleted to the
number of- one or more lovers of good
liquor wno tmnic tne travel worth the
while.
She Got Her Money From the Miser.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Syracuse. N. T. "Unique charity.
promise Maggie- Matlca J500O when I die
for all my trouble and all her kindness
to me. I also killed her canary bird to
day, for which she must have her pay.
for this account must be paid after my
death from my estate.
"GEORGE W. TODD, Peddler.
Upon the above note Mrs. Matlce has
been awarded a judgment of $3125 against
Todd's estate in the Supreme Court. Todd
was a -miser who traveled about the coun
try pushing a wheelbarrow.- - -
, FOR A FIGHTING NAVY.
W. a Austin in Chicago Record-Herald.
When our present construction pro
gramme is carried out the United States
will be the third naval power of the world
In tonnage of fighting ships, and. In the
opinion of competent authorities, wc shall
be second In point of efficiency. It is not
always the navy with the largest tonnage
that proves most effective In tno crucial
teat of war. as Is shown by the fact that
on paper the Japanese navy Is now car
ried as 220,600 tons, against a tonnage of
3S7.000 for Russia. Yet through the valor
and skill of the men behind the guns, on
the bridge and In the engine-room, the
Russian navy is now nearly all at the
bottom of the sea. while Japan Is In pos
session of the sea power of the Far East,
with very little danger of losing it.
According to the official statements used
In the debate on the naval bill, the rela
tive order of warship tonnago of the lead
ing nations of the world is as follows,
the first column representing the present
time and the second as would be the case
were all vessels now building completed:
Present. Future.
Great Britain .'..1,583,871 1.928.107
France 803.721 778.149
Germany . -M4.249 567,231
Russia 30kS0t$ 477.409
United States 318,523 643.833
Italy - 254.510 327.333
Japan 220.753 257.57T
It will be noticed that while the United
States now stands fifth, it will be third
when the present construction pro
grammes are completed. Russia is now
carried as fourth on paper, no allowance
having been made for the ships lost re
cently at Port Arthur. Actually Russia is
down in Italy's class, and probably below
Italy In effective fighting power.
To show how rapidly the united States
is coming to the front as a naval power,
some citations from official reports will
prove interesting. Taking only battleships
as representing the backbone of every
navy. Great Britain now has 51 and is
building eight, with a tonnage of 812,000;
France has 19 and Is building six, whlcli
will givo her a total tonnage of 300,000:
Germany has 16 and Is building six, mak
ing a future tonnage of 236,000. The United
States has land is building 12, with two
more authorized in the bill which passed
the House, which will make a total of 24,
with a tonnage of 218,000. Japan has only
four battleships (actually three) and is
building two. with a total prospective ton
nage of SO.00O. The United States "baa tha
advantage of all other nations, moreover,
in that our battleships average of later
date of construction and more modem
type and armament. Hence the judgment
of the experts that the American Navy 13
soon to be, if it is not already, actually
third in fighting power, and probably sec
ond in efficiency, all things considered.
Since the upbuilding of the American
Navy was begun 20 years ago, omctal
figures show that the enormous sum of
J277.000.000 has been spent upon It for new
vessels, their hull and machinery, armor
and armament and equipment, out no:
Including the cost of maintenance. This
fiscal year the cost of tho Increase of tha
Navy will be about $32,000,000. and tha
average for the last ten years has been
nearly $20,000,000 a year.
ODD BITS OF OREGON LIFE.
Spring Is Yn Our Midst.
Freewater Times,
robin and the wren are in out
It must be Spring Is coming soon.
Tha
midst.
Nothing the Matter of It.
Gopher Corr. McMInnvlIIe- Telephone-
Register.
Flowers are blooming, frogs are croak
ing. birds are singing. What's the matter
of having Spring?
Sick Quadruped With Only One Foot.
La Grande Observer.
Veterinary Surgeon Charlton, who har
been attending E. J. Conrad's fine regis
tered bull. Eclipse 85097. reports that tha
Injury, to his foot Is rapidly Improving.
This Cougar Too Fat to Run.
Crook Corr. Prinevllle Journal.
John Mllilorn and Fred Sheppherd las
soed a large cougar last week on tha
desert. Mr. Sheppherd said it was a fat
ono and measured eight feet from tip to
Up.
Good Shepherd, but Bad Hog Feeder
Glenarbor Corr. Florence West.
Evangelist Bowden, who has been stop
ping at Emil Robert's Isn't much of a
farmer. When Emll was away over night
and got him to do the chores he fed tha
hogs on hay and made several otner
changes in the routine.
Good Old Joke Reaches Corvallls,
Eugene Guard.
It Is said that a Corvallls lady- who at
tended the recent ohlcken show held there
had been given a fresh-Iald egg from ona
of tho prize hens and accidentally let it
fall from her hand to the floor. "Oh. I
dropped an egg." she exclaimed. What
shall I do?" "Cackle," retorted a small
boy behind her.
Not Lonesome.
Topeka Journal.
Seated on the grass in front of a sod
cabin in Oklahoma was a man cleaning a
double-barreled shotgun, and after we
had conversed for a few minutes I asked
him how far it was to the nearest neigh
bor's. "A trifle over two miles," ha replied.
"As far as that? You must find it rather
lonesome here."
"No, I can't say as I do."
"Perhaps you are not one of the lone
some kind."
"No, I'm not. But you see, I mortgaged
this claim for $100."
"Yes."
"And I couldn't pay and they fore
closed on me."
"I see."
"That was two years ago, and the
Sheriff has been trying to get possession
ever since. Ha comes twice a week and
we have a shot at each other, and at
least twice a week some durned fool
comes along and wants to know if X
ain't lonesome, and when you add tha
claim jumpers, tha rattlesnakes and tho
skunks this Ufa is about the, ezdtingast
thing I know of. There comes .the Sher-r
Iff now, and you had better get down be
hind that log and keep clear of his buck
shot." Language In the Making,
Baltimore Herald.
Beckwitb, npun. A dupe; a gullible per
son: ono who may easily be h,a
wlnked. Chadwick, verb. To outrageously bunco;
to flagrantly victimize. To chadwick
person Is to obtain property or credit on
the flimsiest security.
Chadwlcked. adjective. Buncoed; ex
tensively hoodwinked. Also, cleaned out,,
thoroughly mulcted. Used colloquially,
'Tve been chadwlcked," that 13, drained
of the last farthing.
Colorado. yerb. To constantly disturb;
to create endless confusion; to keep in a
turmoil. Used colloquially in a profana
sense, "We have a Colorado of a time."
Pennypacker, noun. A -vain, arrogant
fellow. An important person who pre
tends to autocratic powers. A la.ughinj("
stock. A male scold.
Onion Farmer's Profits.
Vinton Corr. Des Moines, Register.
' C. B. Zollinger, a resident of Vinton,
farmed 12 acres of onions last year anil
has realized an average of 400 bushels, to
the acre, which sold for 75 cents a bushel,
bringing him .$300 to tha acre, in all $Mt
off tha 13 acres.
Mr. Zollinger was careful in salacting
ground with few weeds in for bis pur
pose. He invented a plough for weeding
that greatly lessened the amount of labor
required in removing them. This Spring .
ha will plant and .raise about 40 acrsa
of onions,, which if as succegful as iMt
.year will bring "$12,0,