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PORTLAND. THURSDAY, MAY IS, 1905.
r. THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT..
Mayor Williams makes a strong
showing for his administration of city
"? affairs. There have been scandals, but
none have affected his immediate offi
- c'al family. He challenges his detract-
ors to point out one dishonest or incom-
g petent person among his appointees.
sr "ho are they? Where does all this
rJ hubbub about the Williams administra
, tion arise? How far must the Mayor
be held accountable for every trans-
gression, if there is any,, committed by
' any other public official elected by the
people?
Not long ago there were disclosures
about the Tanner-Creek sewer. It was
' the duty of the City Engineer to draw
the plans, to prepare ihe specifications,
1 to let the contract and to superintend
the construction of this Important pub
lie work. That he failed in it is a mat
ter of public knowledge. The Mayor
has done everything possible to repair a
very bad job. The sewer has been en
tirely rebuilt at the cost of the con
tractors bondsmen. The purpose of the
original contract has been filled, though
it must be admitted with infinite trou
ble and controversy: but the taxpayer
has lost nothing. On the contrary, he
has been fully protected, and protected,
too. by the Mayor.
2 The Morrison-street bridge has been
constructed according to contract; and
a very fine structure is the result. No
one has ever contended that the price
was unreasonable. Dispute has arisen
over the charge for extras which appar
ently the Executive hoard had no al
ternative but to allow. If the contract
ing company has been able to charge an
excessive price for these extras, it has
taken advantage of a system that has
been in vogue in Portland for years
No private concern undertaking a large I
public enterprise expects to escape !
without paying a reasonable and c.en
a generous price for work very well
done. It would seem that the public
has in the Morrison-street bridge a
monument to the efficiency of the engi
neers who have supervised its construc
tion. So far as. known, or believed,
there is no flaw in any part of It. So
much can scarcely be said for any other
public work.
This is an era of reform in all public
affairs' and of general improvement in
the public service. In the short time
wherein "Theodore Roosevelt has been
President of the United States a great
upheaval has occurred in Washington
officialdom. First, the Postoffice De
partment was shaken from top to bot
tom, and the leeches, thieves and job-
bers who through many, years in one
way or another had fastened them
selves on the Government service were
either kicked out or put in the Peni-
- ientlary. Now the Interior Department
Is undergoing a systematic renovation.
When that is completed we mas confi
dently expect that other branches of
Government will secure the earnest at
tention of the Administration's inquisi
tors. Theodore Roosevelt is President
of the United States at the time when
dishonesty in public contracts, the
" wholesale loot of the Nation's lands and
the .corruption of many Government of
ficials are being brought to light. No
body believes, of course, that the Pres
ident is in any way responsible for the
original deplorable condition. But all
know that he is prepared to support
with the jgreatest possible vigor and
determination all efforts to raise the of
ficial standard of honesty and efficiency.
In many cities throughout the United
States there has been a general demand
for a higher degree of decency and cora-
petency among public officers. It has
been so in Portland; yet no one has
ventured to insinuate through all this
clamor for a cleaner municipal admin
istration that-the honored Mayorof the
city was In any way a personal benefi
ciary of any questionable transaction
whatever on the part of any public ser
vant It, is known that Mayor Williams is a
perfectly honest roan. His motives are
. upright and his devotion to the public
" interest traditional. His industry is
both an inspiration and a lesson to all
younger men. He' makes the most
1 painstaking effert to inform himself
ftJbout the details of the city admintetra
tlon, and he gives his personal atten
tion to every matter that properly
comes before the executive for consid
eration. What, then, is the basis of the
opposition to the Mayor's re-eiection?
It is mainly, if not -wholly, that Mayor
Williams at one time stood sponsor for
what is commonly known as the "open
town." The truth about the matter Is
that this system of raising revenue "was
adopted by the Council and by the Ex
ecutive Board and -was sanctioned by
the Mayor as a temporary expedient.
They thus, raised revenue for the pur
pose of tiding over a serious crisis In
the city's affairs.
It appears to be forgotten now that
it. was entirely an emergency policy.
It "was never the purpose of the Mayor
and the Executive Board to make it a
permanent feature of the administra
tion. It vras defended by them only on
the grounds of absolute public neces
sity. The crisis has been passed, and
there is. so far as is observable at this
time, no likelihood that any license sys
tem will be re-established If it la not,
there Is no difference whatever In the pub
lic policies which the present administra
tion stands for and the opposition says
it stands for.
SEA-LEVEL CANAL WITHOUT DELAY.
A lock canal in four years or a sea-
level canal in twenty years are the
possibilities which M. Philippe Bunau-
Varilla, the French engineer, predicts
for the Panama Canal. In an interest
ing communication to the French Acad
emy of Science he explains in detail
how the canal could be so constructed
that it could be used as a lock canal at
the same time that work was being
carried on for a sea-leel canal. The
French engineer estimates that it will
require twenty years to construct a sea
level canal. This is from five to eight
years longer than the time estimated
by most of the American engineers who
have figured on the matter, but, even if
it should be completed in the shortest
period claimed by the most optimistic
of these experts, the difference in time
between the sea-level project and the
lock canal would be so great as to with
hold from the people for many years the
advantage of connection of the waters
of the Atlantic with those of the Pa
cific.
There seems to be a general senti
ment in favor of completion of the
canal in the shortest possible time, and
if the French engineer's plan for trans
formation of a lock canal Into a sea-
level canal without Interfering In any
way with the operation of the former is
practicable, it should be adopted. The
sea-level canal is generally favored for
many reasons which have been previ
ously set forth. The only point that
has been raised against It Is that the
length of time necessary for Jts com
pletion was so great that trade would
be seriously hampered in the meantime.
A plan which would admit of the op
eration of a Speedily built lock canal
while the sea-level canal was building
would relieve the latter of the principal
objection that has been raised against
it. J.ne prime object sought in building
an isthmian canal is to enable the
United States to reach new trade fields
and to facilitate the development of
those already reached. If there was
merit in the demand for this project, it
is also qf the utmost importance that
the end sought be reached in the brief
est time possible. No serious or perraa
nent shifting of the trade highways of
the world is probable In four years, but
In twenty years much can happen
It is preuicted that the opening of the
canal will cause a material reduction
in freight rates between the United
States and the Far East. If this should
prove true, and the business continues
to expand In its present ratio, the loss
through delay in waiting for a water
level canal would amount to more than
the cost of the canal. The plans of M.
Philippe Bunau-Varilla have been sub
mitted to the President, and if they
will bear the rigid Investigation to
which they will be submitted we shall
undoubtedly have a canal connection
between the two oceans In a much
shorter time than was expected when
the sea-revel project came into popular
favor.
AN ECCENTRIC WHEAT MARKET.
Pending the arrival of the chinch bug.
the Hessian fly. rust and other pests
which damage the wheat crop in the
minds of the speculators and occasion
ally In the fields, it is becoming a seri
ous tax on the energies of the bulls and
the bears to rake up wheat news of a
sensational order. On Monday John W.
Gates, with the usual blare of trumpets
and rattle of tom-toms, was pushed dnto
the limelight as the promoter of a deal
in July wheat such as would make the
May deal look insignificant in compari
son. The public had forgoten the time
a few weeks earlier when Gates started
out with a brass band and corps of
spielers to announce that he would
put May wheat up to $2 per 'bushel; so
it bought, and bought freely and quick
ly. for fear that the supply would be
exhausted before the money ran out.
Under stress of this buying, the mar
ket bounded up a couple of cents,
paused for breath, and then began to
slide backward. The union members of
the Gates brass band must have been
on a strike, for not a note came from
their direction, and for a brief period it
seemed that sentiment and stuff and
guff about what "Jawn" W. might do
was to give way to rational conditions.
Then came the news that a German
gunboat had anchored in an insignifi
cant harbor in Shantung, and that the
Japanese were making horrible faces at
the French. This news was fully as
bullish as vone of Uncle "Jeems" Wil
son6 bearish Government crop reports.
and the trade interpreted it in the same
way, and bought and bought, and then
bought some more, so that when the big
bell rang in the Chicago pit Tuesday,
July wheat had been forced above SS
cents.
Yesterday the market was so top-
heavy that it jettisoned nearly 2 cents
per bushel. There was uncertainty as
to whether it was kraut or conquest
which had drawn the Germans Into
Halchou Bay. The Japs had concluded
not to "rush In where angels fear to
tread," and if John W. Gates had any
opinion on the wheat market he kept it
to himself. Wheat closed weak around
the low mark of the day, and, unless
some new dream Is smoked up in the
"hop joints" of the city of strikes, there
will be a further decline today.
If the American farmer who Is en
gaged in the business of growing real
wheat Is under the impression that the
present high Tange of prices is adding
any water to his financial wheel, he
should immediately guess again. Wheat
in thi country Is far above an expert
basis and a new crop which promises
to be at least up to the average is , cow
inr along with" a rush. High price In
- I America "have force the forelxaecs Xa
buy wheat In India, the Argentine and
Russia, and the two latter countries are
breaking all previous records, the Rus
sian shipments last week amounting to
over 4,000,000 bushels, although this is
Hearing the fag end of the season In
that country. The American price has
caused an increased output from Rus
sia and the Argentine, but. if there Is
any surplus available from the 1905
crop, it will have to be sold at almost
any price the foreigners see fit to give
us. The foreigners have discovered a
new source of supply, while we were
forcing, the cereal up to its present
heights, and they are not In need of
American wheat unless It is for sale at
bargain prices.
BOYS. PARK BLOCKS ' AND BASEBALL.
If the members of the Park Board
refuse to grant the petition of two
score boys for the use of one of the
northern park blocks as a baseball
park, they will be doing violence to
their own best sentiment. Baseball Is
as necessary to the perfect development
of an American boy as light and air.
Opportunity to play the game, whether
you view It as physical culture, pure
and simple, or as the exercise of cease
less activity which Nature planted in
every healthy child, should on no ac
count be denied. The boy who doesn't
feel the need of baseball Isn't going to
be much of a man.
Of course there will be effeminate ob
jections, and these may come Before the
Park Board officially. It must be ad
mitted that the heart of a city Is not an
Ideal playground, and It may be the
boys will occasionally Interfere with
the rights of their neighbors; but in this
particular instance, the petitioners
pledge themselves to do their very best
in the way of deportment They desire
the chance to prove themselves worthy
of the boon they ask. Hedged in by the
self-imposed conditions, the Park
Board ought to give consent If, un
fortunately," the boys fall to observe due
decorum, the permit can be canceled
without notice.
In their eagerness to enjoy a vested
right, the boys, we fear, have promised
too much. Note their own words, which
have been placed on file: "Neither will
we tolerate bullying, quarreling or
fighting." Now, they've got to have an
umpire. This situation will probably
develop at least once In every game:
The batter and the fielded ball reach
first base at the same Instant umpire
calls "Out." Do these petitioners ex
pect Dr. Eliot or Colonel Hawkins to
believe that the nine at the bat will join
in hosannas to the umpire and sub
scribe to a loving cup? Situations
provocative of quarrel may be multi
plied Indefinitely. Mayor Williams
knows. He goes to the league games
every Saturday, But a boy who won't
quarrel and occasionally shoot out his
fist over injustice, real or imaginary. Is
a sissy. In all kindness, we suggest
that the boys ask permission to with
draw the word "quarrel." Even a Port
land boy Is only human.
If the action of these boys shall move
other boys In other neighborhoods to
ask for like privileges, a good purpose
win oe served. There ought to be a
public baseball field under police regu
lation in every square mile of Port
land's territory. We should like to see
some one. before It Is too late, win the
gratitude of future generations, by
dedicating one of the double blocks in
Couch or Goldsmith's Addition to the
National game. There is small prospect
for a park on level ground, part of
.which cculd be devoted to field sports,
as, for example. Golden Gate Park, in
San Francisco; therefore the more ne
ccssity here for plots such as the boys
have asked for at Couch and North
Park streets.
Let the members of the Park Board
deny the petition and they will be
branded' by the inhabitants of Boyvlllc
as men who do not love their kind; as
among those who have forgotten. The
lads will want the board to read the
concluding lines of James, Montague's
verses, published recently: " ,
Again run. shout, do ten men's work, until
the fading day
Strewed shadows on the springy grass so
thick you couldn't play.
Youth, life. hope, health and gentleness
- you must have passed them all
Upon the road, unless you thrill with those
Brave woras: Flay Ball!
OREGON LUMBER AND THE PANAMA
COMMISSION.
That the first effort of the new Canal
Commission to secure lumber at the
lowest obtainable prices should be a
failure even a fiasco Is to be much re
gretted. Whether the fault be due to
the ignorance of Major Galligher, the
purchasing agent of the Commission, as
to centers of production on the Pacific
Coast, or the omission of Portland as
a probable source of supply be due to
similar Ignorance In still higher quar
ters, there Is no means of determining.
This first quantity, of 25.000,000 feet is
only a circumstance to what will be re
quired by the Commission. Stllf it Is
most disappointing that all the adver
tising of Oregon that has been done for
the last year or two, and especially dur
ing this last year, should have failed
to reach its destination In the official
mind. To advertise twenty-three days
ago for tenders for lumber In the San
Francisco paper, ignoring Portland,
would be about as sensible as to adver
tise for a large supply of lemons in the
Portland paper and Ignore Los'Angeles.
Certainly some Oregon people may
and do read the papers of the California
metropolis, but it would be the merest
accident for the advertisement In ques
tion to catch an Oregon eye. The best
proof Is Jhat neither direct nor Indirect
notice of the chance to bid has reached
any of our official bodies, or any of the
lumber companies composed of alert
and enterprising men. The reason al
leged by Major Galligher for refusing
to extend the time for bids is curious
It may be "Inexpedient" so to do but
the word savors dangerously of red
tape. If a private firm came suddenly
to the knowledge that the largest and
cheapest source of supply of a most
necessary article was being closed to
them because -they had failed to insert
the opportunity to tender In the direct
and sensible center of publicity and
further .that a short time woiild insure
fresh tenders being put In and also
that there was no legal or business dif
ficulty In the way of time extension,
how quickly would the order be given!
The Commission may be reminded
that they arc now beginning to make
up their record; and that occurrences
like the present will tend to shake the
confidence of the public in the "square
deal" it -was confident of receiving.
Atlantic ports are not the only ones
that require watching- to keep the
maimed, the halt, the blind and the
poverty-stricken from landing from for
eign shores to become a burden upon
Ana eric s.n thrift. Within a few days
Hwral utterly, ennltaw children from
Australia have been refused landing.
and two' blind men. Dowieltes. have
been discovered among the passengers
from the same, place, seeking asylum
in this country. If we must give domi
cile to either class, which, of course,
should not be done, the infant class is
far preferable to the aged. Under
proper conditions children will. In a few
years, become self-supporting, with the
promise later on of becoming wealth
producers. The old people will, on the
contrary, become more helpless, if pos
sible, year by" year, and from first to
last will be a public charge or almoners
of private bounty. Pity for helpless
human creatures must necessarily stop
short of assuming the charge, even
upon Dowles guarantee, of the penni
less aged.
Every farmer in Oregon should send
to the Agricultural Experiment Station
at CorvalHs and secure a copy of a
pamphlet recently published on the sub
ject. "Poultry Under Confinement" As
said In the bulletin, which has been
published for free distribution, there
seems to be little danger from an over-
supply of poultry or eggs In the prin
cipal markets of this state. On the con
trary, the quantity of poultry and eggs
imported ach year shows that there
is an under supply, and that there Is
room for the expansion of the poultry-
raising Industry In Oregon. The pur
pose of the new bulletin Is to show the
financial returns from a small flock of
poultry kept under confinement the
percentage- of eggs hatched, chickens
grown to marketable age, and the pro
portion of the sexes. No attempt is
made to give full instructions concern
ing the care of poultry, but a brief
statement is made of the manner in
which a flock of thirty fowls was cared
for so that they made a net return of
nearly $1 per fowl per year.
The first drowning of the season
among the Astoria fishermen Is report
ed, the breakers on Peacock Spit claim
mg tor a victim oie strana, a young
Norwegian who was serving his first
season on the river. There Is something
In the angry roar and hiss of the break
ers which curl over the spits at the
mouth of the river that strikes terror to
the heart of the novice, but the danger
affects not the average bar fisherman,
and undoubtedly the tide following the
one which swept Strand Into eternity
found some other fearless fisherman
drifting right into the jaws of the same
death trap. They arc a hardy and fear
less race, those descendants of the Vi
kings, but the death that lurks in the
breakers is no respecter of bravery or
fearlessness; so these tragedies of the
sea will continue as long as the desire
for a big catch lures the fishermen too
close to the bar.
The fair land of Poland, immortalized
in Balfe's "Bohemian Girl," will no
longer be "torn by the hoof of the ruth
less invader," nor will the oppression of
the Czar make life burdensome to the
people. No more radical reform has
ever been Instituted in any of the
Czar's possessions than that which he
has just granted to Poland and the Bal
tic provinces. All the religious and
business privileges for which the Polish
people have been fighting for years are
granted, and this long step in the right
direction may be the forerunner of a
reform that will yet lift Russia out of
the rut in which an arrogantaris toe
racy has so long field her.
The Southern Pacific Js to put on a
train leaving Eugene In the morning
and returning from Portland in the af
ternoon. This Is a convenience which
has long been denied the. citizens of one
of the largest cities in the state, and It
will be appreciated and well patronized.
Another long-overdue improvement in
railway train service is the inaugura
tion of a fast service- between Portland
and Puget Sound. Had the Northern
Pacific put on a through train or re
duced the running time of other trains
many years ago, the electric road from
Pugct Sound to Portland would be
much farther from a reality than It
now Is.
A herd of range horses being driven
through the streets of New York were
stampeded at Sixtieth street and West
End avenue, creating great excitement
Mention Is made of the incident in order
that "Constant Reader." "Veritas" and
the other correspondents who have re
cently complained in these columns
about the provincialism of Portland in
permitting stock to be driven through
the streets of our city may learn that
"there are others." The practice is not
to be commended, but in this respect
Portland does not seem to be either
better or worse than other cities.
President Robblns, of the Armour
car line, denies that the Armours con
trol the transportation of packing
house products In private cars. It Js
merely impossible -for other firms to
ship such products In any other cars,
A temperance hotel is announced as
the latest of Portland's business activi
ties. The traveling public will be inter
csted to know whether the lessees will
practice temperance In the price of
meals and rooms.
By allowing bids upon canal supplies
to be made by all comers, the Commis
sioners have made themselves highly
unpopular with the firms that would
otherwise have had a cinch.
St Petersburg thinks that Rojestven
sky has made a "dash for the Pacific'
There Is no speed minimum for ;
"dash," but eight knots doesn't seem
quite high enough.
Schumann-Helnk. the singer, mother
of eight children and widow since last
November, is said to be married again,
Why not? No family is complete with
out a father.
The "decisive battle of the war has
been "imminent" in Manchuria for
more than a year, and the "great sea
fight" bids falr-to be "Imminent" as
long.
Hiram Crpnk, the last survivor of the
War of 1S12, will be buxieo. today. He
eaw the last invasion of American ter
ritory, and probably none alive now
will see another.
Don't- give alms to any ablebodied
beggar, male or female; so long as the
big crop of berries at Hood River Is
waiting to be picked.
Eleven yachts are off on their race
acroee the Atlantic May the beet one
Win, aad may that one be an American.
At this late date Russia admks th
lose of 0, -8MB at Muk.4x, ana yet
i bouts tl battle was ast a. dfa-t
NOTE ANDCOMMENT. '
Klaus J. Stelner, the young Pittsburg
raan whose love letters to the number of
500 were brought into court during a-
breacb-of-promlse action, was quite a de
voted lover. When the girl, who later hit
him for damages, promised to marry him,
Stelner "promised to quit smoking at
once In order to purify himself against
the time that he would kiss me." testified
the plaintiff. And such devotion was made
a mock In court!
Apropos of recent cyclones, the Hart
ford Times remarks: "Go West, young
man, and blow up with the country."
The Russians have now got around to
explaining their retirement from Mukden.
They say It wasn't really a Japanese vic
tory; at least it may have been a Japan
ese victory, but it wasn't a Russian de
feat. "The money's good, but not the giver."
say the' New Haven Congregational min
isters of Rockefeller's gifts. And thatsays
about all there is to be said.
Hood River is doing Its harc to bright
en the world and cheer the worldlings.
The strawberry is the greatest agent of
optimism, and If it only had mint's ca
pacity for combining with other drinks
than soda, it would be the chlefest prod
uct of the soil.
A young woman in the East has Just
recovered damages from an express com
pany which lost her suitcase. She estab
lished to the satisfaction of the court that
the following articles were packed in the
suitcase:
One foulard silk dress, one pongee shirt
watit suit, one silk gingham shirtwaist suit.
one brown lawn drew, two white Persian lawn
waists, one white mull eventnz dress, one
black silk coat, three -Quarter length; one
white silk knitted shawl, one -white lawn
dresa skirt, one fancy lawn apron, one white
dimity tea Jacket, one white raadras shirt
waist, one brown linen shirtwaist, one white
pique rhirtwatet. one madras Gibson shirt
waist, four white muslin petticoats, four cor
set coverSi three pairs muslin drawers, four
silk net Tests, three cotton net vests, one
lawa Empire wrapper, three muslin night
dresses, eight pair .black lisle thread hose.
one corset waist, one ebony mirror with sliver
trimmings, one gold hat brush, one stiver nail
brush, one silver tooth brush, two and
half yards black and blue satin ribbon, four
Inches wide; one dozen linen hand-made lace
trimmed handkerchiefs, three pairs kid glove?,
one pair long white silk mitt, one gold locket
and chain, one gold brooch tt with turquoise
and diamonds, one dozen fancy collars and
stocks, two point lace ties, one point lace
handkerchief. -
And man is proud when he gets more
than two shirts and a collar into a suit
case.
After reading a column editorial in the
Coos Bay Harbor, we confess to an al
most uncontrollable desire to make for
the Coos Bay country as fast as steam
and team can take us. "Let us set . a man
down on Coos Bay," says the Harbor,
with nothing else In the world but an
ax, a gun and lushing tackle. He can
build his own boat and log cabin. -He
will find employment enough in logging
camps or on dairy farms to get money
enough to buy powder, sugar, coffee and
such other luxuries as he may crave. Or
he can dig clams or net salmon and
sell them." Listen to the catalogue of
good things all free:
From the first of May there is a succession
of wild berries till the frost comes In De
cember. First come those luxurious yellow
salmon birries. Thert are dewberries, black
berries, raspberries, ' strawberries, thimble
berries, salalberries, blueberries and huckle
berries. Thrre la a cae of t man who lived
fcr years on nothing but huckleberries.
These berries all grow wild and are free
for the picking. But 'better still l to have
little plot of ground and cultivate them.
The logan berries can be added, and the
strawberries .Improve with care.
And on this plot of ground one can grow
almost every vegetable known to thi tem
perate zone. If one wishes to live luxuriously
and cheaply, too. this Is the. country.
There on the hlUsido a man can plant an
orchard where he can grow nearly every
fruit except peaches. If he. have a protected
nook whare tb sun eblnes In he can grow
melon! and grapes. There are a thousand of
these nooks along the coast and oft on the
Inlets and streams whera they are sheltered
by the forest and by the hills.
If a mas wishes to lead a hermit's life
here is the place. He can go off In the moun
tains and llvn on game. He will find elk.
deer, bear, ducks, geese and other game.
If he wishes sea food he has everything
except the Eastern oyster. There is nothing
finer than rock oysters or rock clams. The
clams, the crabs, the muwels, ths quohogs
are found In abundance. That royal fish.
the chlnook salmon. Is the finest food fish
in the world. Or the mountain trout may be
as tempting to our hermit
In addition to all this one has the most
equable climate in the world.
Here Is a garden of wild flowers, the most
beautiful that bloom. Here la aesthetic charm
and health awaiting the settler.
Happy Coos Bay! Bring out the. ax, the
gun and the fishing tackle; we are off to
Arcadia.
The New York Evening Post announces
an article on "Why Is Browning Popu
lar?" The answer to that question Is
easy: ho ain't
Dublin is to honor the memory ot
Thomas Moore by -removing the College
street statue of the poet The statue is
so inartistic that it is an offense to the
poet's admirers. This Is a refreshing
change from the usual course. When a
poor fellow dies, a subscription Is taken
up and some public place is disfigured
with a hideous statue. London is full of
such abominations, and from the rate at
which we are progressing American cities
will soon be In the same condition.
Chicago parents who tell their children
to "strike" at school evidently want to
perpetuate an honorable custom.
Governor Folk ays that each man
obeys only the laws he himself approves.
This course is fully In accord with
Hedonlc Americanism, to say nothing of
Individualism, which is so highly valued
by the majority of the Nation.
"No man need be unhappy, though
married," says the Coos Bay Harbor,
"who has woods full of rhododendrons."
A forest of rhododendrons would have
no Influence upon the man who had just
been presented with a milliner's bill.
Has a poet the right to .read his poems
to his wife? This Is a question of great
moment to all poets, and especially to
Spring poets, and It is satisfactory to learn
that the wife must submit to the read
ing, or at least is not Justified in assailing
her husband. A Chicago poet began.
reading some inspired verses to his wife
at the breakfast table, and she., instead
of murmuring. "Lovely, heavenly,'
jabbed the poet's arm with a fork.
fine of $10 was ira posed uon her by a poet
loving court WEX J.
Endless Expense.
4 Leuisvllle Courier-Journal.
"Nothla SB&kae a km it feel so down
hearted.4' abaerves the cigar stere phile-s
fiHer. "as to eorae home frsm pay$jz the
last ceal btti ot live winter and Sad Ms
srtfe laekiar aver a pile af femwif reaert
Uarattxa."
GREAT BENEFITS OF THE PARCELS PST
Why It Has Net Yet Been Made a Premlacat Featare of Oar, Test
oc Ser-rice Kxpress CemBaatesi Have Preveateet Mas IaaHRHratlea.
Elbert Hubbard, In May, Philistine.
One great economic betterment that
thinking people in America are asking
for is the parcel post.
What Is the parcel post?
I'll tell you. It is an extension , of
the business of the Postofflce Depart
ment so that all business now done
by express companies shall be done.
by the Postoffice Department.
Gradually the Postofflce Department
in all civilized- countries has grown
until it is now the best example we
can name of a socialistic betterment.
It works for all. and no matter how
rich or how influential you are you
cannot buy stamps at a discount
W Ith the express companies, how
ever. It Is different If you know how.
you can participate in the perquisites.
Express rates are arbitrary, changeable
and very often towns that. are on the
line of the American Express one day
awake the next morning to find them
selves sold out to the Wells-Fargo.
Places we once could send packages
to at a single rate now require a
double.
There Is not a civilized country on
earth that divides up its Postofflce
business with express companies as we
do.
Why we as a people pay tribute to the
express companies, I do not know.
There is not a single valid argument
that can be put forth for their exist
ence. The Postofflce Department De-
longs to the people to all the people.
We delegate carriers and agents to
transport our letters. But packages
above four pounds we piously give Into
the hands of private corporations who
have no direct Interest in the people
beyond the desire to exploit them. We
pay these corporations double for do
lng- the work that we could do for our
selves.
It Is as If my own boys could and
would spade my garden at ten cents
an hour, but Instead of letting them
do it I hire it done by a corporation
for twenty cents an hour.
No one thinks of asking for free
postage, but many of us use express
franks possibly this throws a little
light on our opposition to the parcel
post
Things seht by registered mail are
safer than If sent by express, because
the penalty for rifling mail is much
more severe than for appropriating ex
press matter. You can monkey with
Tom Piatt, but you cannot play the
same game with your Uncle Samuel.
We now have a postal treaty with
Belgium which allows that country to
mail packages to the United States at
a less rate than we can send packages
for at home. Moreover, the limit in
weight of the package Is 20 pounds.
not four. So you see we really have
the parcel post now, but to avail our
selves of it we have to go over to
Belgium to mall our packages.
When John Wanamaker, the man
who inaugurated the one-price system,
and the greatest merchant of his time.
was Postmaster-General of the United
States, he was asked his opinion of
the parcel post "Splendid," was his
reply, "splendid I wish we might have
it here!" "Well, llr. Wanamaker, why
cannot you inaugurate itr
"There are five insurmountable ob-
stcles." "Will you name them, please
"First, there is the American Ex
press "Company; second, the United
States Express Company; third, the
Adams Express Company; fourth, the
Wells Farsro Express Company: Attn
the Southern Express Company."
If wo ask for the parcel post, and
ask in faith, we will get it Work
and pray hustle and supplicate there
is nothing finer.
Farmers everywhere pray for the
rjareel nost Sixty-nine per cent ot
our rjonulatlon lives in cities of 10,000
and under. Sixty-nine per cent ot
our population is urban or suburban.
We want the parcel pose
Tom Piatt nlavs Mephisto and keeps
the stage waiting while ho stuffs hl3
weasel skin.
Soon Tom Piatt will be consigned to
Limbus ho blocks the gangway.
Express companies practically serve
only one-third of the people. The rest
of us they prey upon-
The rural free delivery has educatea
the party that inaugurated it Every
good thing begins as something else,
and no one seemed to anticipate tho
rural free delivery would be an object
lesson in applied Socialism.
Xo sooner had the rural carriers com
menced their tasks of carrying mall
than the people along their routes be
gan aSKlng mem 10 ao erranua.
Instead of 40 larrners going 10 town
to buy 40 spools of thread, one man,
the mall carrier, with his little wagon,
did tho business. This useful servant
of Uncle Sam besides carrying letters
and newspapers, carried telegrams.
thread, binder twine, sugar ana sacKs
of flour. In many Instances his Busi
ness Increased so that he drove two
horses Instead ot one. and had a wagon
that could carry a ton.
All he officially had to do was to
his route within a certain
tlmfi and deliver and gather his malt
Beyond this the department made no
restrictions.
But soon the express companies saw
what he was doing. Sears, .kocducjw
& Co. shipped him goods by freight
and he parceled them out along his
route.
Tho Axnress companies ancr tno iocai
merchants combined ana complaints
WORK ONJHE CANAL.
Engineer Wallace in Harper's
Chief
WeeKiy.
The work done on the Ishmus during
the past nine months is more significant
"in the fact that It is largely preparatory
to the work that Is to come.
Engineering parties are covering me
entire Isthmus. maKing surveys ana
checking the French data mapping and
surveying tho streams and tmaing out
the discharge of the various water
courses, in tne unagres iver pniivu-
larly; taking borings to aeterroine uiu
character of foundations available for
dams, and determining the geological for
mation ot the Istnmus along tne canai
line This work is being done to verify
the data which was found In the French
archives and to secure additional Infor
mation. In tho engineering and construction de
partment during the month of March
there were 5000 men employed. In this
force are 700 Americans civil engineers,
clerks, foremen and mechanics men of
the higher grades and directing opera
tions, Including steam-shovel men and
trainmen. There are 1100 native artisans
machinists, carpenters, bricklayers and
other skilled artisans composed of Ja
maica negroes, Spanish. Central-American
peons, all classes of labor other than
Americans.
Tn addition to this. In the sanitary de
partment draining swamps, clearing
jungle and work of that character, and
serving as. officials of the zone govern
ment, notice force, etc there aro prac
tically 2609 men. This force of 10OO men.
imilM- the ausolees of the Isthmian Canal
Commission, is Increasing daily. For in
stance, in tha Culebra excavation a new
steam-ahovel Is installed aoour. every two
weeks. This weans more cars, more en-
glnes, more craws.
The force engaged tn the canai requires
extensive housing. In the arcaitects' de
nartaient there are men engaged in
niaBnlfur. rebellalHg and rea&irtsg houses.
That werk is being, aesbect as fast as the
.joea oaa be epiove4 ta do it and as fast
as the Materials cwj be afetaine. frjMn tne
Halted State where rsoet ot te- n
i terial of all soru.oosaes from.
were lodged with the- f ostofflce Department.
tn .order was issued.! that carriers
should not carry packages that were
eligible to mail, unless such packages
were stamped.
This cut out all packages that
weighed four pounds or less all such
had to be . stamped. But the-carriers
still carried bugs- of flour, dogs, calves,
and occasionally led horses ;They also
carried telegrams, but cu each placed
2-cent stamp, making ita" letter;
But behold, on July 1. 1904." an order
went out that no carrier should carry
anything that was not strictly mall
matter.
Then the farmers howled, and they
will howl more. They will howl, until
they get their parcel post . '
Why shouldn't the carriers serve the
people by carrying anything the people
need or want? And nobpdy. .can tell
why excepting Tommy Mephfsto Piatt
and the local merchants. .
But many of the local merchants re
alize that the rural free delivery is a
good thing for them. The carrier used
to bring them many orders;'- and in
various ways served them by' deliver
ing goods to their customers. That
leaves Tom Piatt alone as a kicker
against the parcel post. . .
wnai gooa are me express com
panies?
None at all. Everything they do and
every service they render could be done
safer, 'better and one-halt cheaper by
the Postoffice Department.
We, the people, pay tribute to Piatt,
because 51 per cent of the men we
send to Congress to make our law3
are controlled by his lobby.
The Republican party can give us
the parcel post It must and will in
pure self-defense, If for no other rea
son. Political parties, like department
stores, carry goods the people want.
We want the parcel post and' want It
badly.
The trouble with Parker was that
everything In his shop was "ju3t as
good."
He had nothing that was genuine
only imitation labels and pinched
trade marks. He worked both ends
against the middle and was a friend
to everybody and therefore a friend
to nobody.
Had he come out good, stiff, strong
and definite on anything he might have
stood a chance of winning.
For instance, had he made "parcel
post" the Democratic battle" cry, and
put forth all of the invincible and un
answerable arguments that are in the
armory of truth for this particular bet
terment, he might have won' out
But now in spite of Pluto Piatt, who
Is a Republican (I trust this fact will
not be denied), the Republican party
will have the honor and the credit of
extending and enlarging the Postofflce
Department so as to give the people tha
parcel post
The people form the state. What
they want they will get. When the
people get wise enough to know what
they want and ask for it in faith,
hustling while they wait they will get
it Uncle Sam in time will answer all
of our prayers.
Benjamin Franklin was' the first
Postmaster-General in America, and (
when he was sent as Ambassador to
France, his son-in-law, Richard Bache.
was appointed, at Franklin's request,
to the place. In Franklin's time all
mall was carried on the star route plan,
that Is by contractors. This continued
long after railways were installed, and
one railroad bid against another just
as the coach owners had done. Until
1876 it took two days for a letter to
go from New York to Buffalo, owing
to the delays in sorting at Albany
and Syracuse. Up to that- time all mail
for Chicago and the West was -carted
to the Buffalo- PostofHco -ind ther
sorted and rcbugged and sent- on its
i tv-av. The railway mall service has
J changed all this. In 1789 there were
J but 75 authorized postofflccs in Amer
ica. Alt taverns naa ineir nine rows
of boxes, and the place where you got
your toddy, you received your mall. In
England the coffee-houses were really
private postofflces.
In 1S63, In America the rates of post
age were based upon tho distance tho
letters had to be carried. In that year
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this in
his journal:
"I have written several letters to our
dear Henry Thoreau, who is in New
York, and I am now on the lookout for
some one who is going there, as postal
rates are not for poor people." In 1360
the malls contained nothing but written
or printed matter all merchandise was
left to the express companies, and this
is why and how they have srown so
fat
In 1865 there were only 64 railway
postal clerks in America, now there
are over 7000.
The first free -delivery was inaugur
ated in 1863; and the money-order sys
tem one year later. In 1873 the frank
ing privilege was done away with ex
cepting for strictly Government busi
ness; before that Congressmen usetl
to send their laundry work home by
mail.
I have entered Into this detail for
the benefit of my orthodox friends and
neighbors who think that the postoffice
system alius wuz; who believe because
a thing is good it is good enough, and
who disclaim the- law of evolution, not
realizing that nothing is permanent
but change, and that the supreme mark
of wisdom is the willingness to replace
an excellent thing by a better one
RADIUM ASA REMEDY.
Chicago Record -Herald.
So many expermcnts with radium a3
a cure for cancer have recently 'been
made in this country ana in Europe
that hopes of what the remedy will
accomplish have suddenly become high.
In a Stuttgart hospital a number ot
cases of lupus have been cured by tha
use of a radium solution, with which
the diseased flesh has been coated, and
several Interesting experiments are
now being made in New York, a3 welt
as In other cities.
The X-ray was the predecessor of ra
dium in such experiments, and good
results seemed to be posslblo from it.
When radium was discovered and it
was learned that of the three kinds
of rays given off by the new metal
one was very closely akin to, if not
identical with, the X-rays', the use of
radium naturally suggested itself, es
pecially as It could be so "much more
readily handled.
At first tho radium was inclosed tn
a small glass tube, but it was found
that the glass cut oft some of the rays,
and so an aluminum or platinum tube
was used Instead. Of late a solution of
radium salt has been used to coat a
rod, disk, or open tube, and a coat
of collodion has been painted over It
to protect It The rod can be brought
into contact With cancerous growths,
as, for Instance, those in the throat,
with comparative ease. Surface growths
can be painted with the solution di
rectly. The suggestion was made several
years ago that radium might be useful
in the treatment of consumption for
the destruction of the bacilli- No good
experiments on this line have been re
ported, but Dr; Lieber, of N?w York
has prepared an apparatus by which
a current of air can be driven through
a tube coated with radium- and thancfe
Into the lungs. It is hoped that the
emanations of the radium wlM fce de
posited as tha diseased surface i such,
away that thalr; cratlv 0rfs. can
be t'eeted.