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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1905)
THE UORjnNff OREGONIAW. HONDAT, "JUNE : 5, i905. Entered at the PostoMee at Portland. Or at second-class matter. SUBSCRIPTION KATES. INVARIXBLT IN ADVANCE. (By Mall or Exprti.) Dally and Sunday, per year. ........... $9-00 Sally and Sunday, six months......... 3.00 Daily and Sunday, three month!. ...... 2.55 Dally and Sunday, per month. ......... .85 Dally without Sunday, per year ...... 7.C0 Dally -without Sunday, six months..... 3.90 Dally -without Sunday, three months... 1.05 Dally without Sunday, per month...... .63 Sunday, per year ........... ...... 2.00 Sunday, six months... 1-M Sunday, three months... -CO BV CARRIER. Dally without Sunday, per week .13 Daily, per week. Sunday Included .20 THE WEEKLY OREO ONI AN. ' (Issued Every Thursday.) Weekly, per year 1.S0 Weekly, six-months .75 Weekly, three months .SO HOW TO REMIT Send postotfice money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency ere at the sender's risk. EASTERN BUSINESS OKFIOE. The S. C Beckwitli Special Agency New York; rooms 43-50 Tribune bulldlne. Chi cago, rooms 510-512 Tribune building. KEPT ON BALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex, Poitolnce News Co., 178 Dearborn street. Dallas, Tex Globe News Depot, 260 Main EtreeC Denver Julius Black, Hamilton & Kead rlck, 905-912 Seventeenth street; Harry D. Ott, 1563 Broadway.. Colorado Spring, Colo. Howard H. BelL De Homes, Za-Moses Jacobs, 309 Filth street. Duluth, la. G. Blackburn. 215 West Su perior street. Golds eld, Ner. C Malone. Kmmi City, Mo Rlcksecker Cigar Co, Ninth and Walnut. Jjo Angeles Harry Drapkln; B. E. Amos, fcl4 West Seventh street. Minneapolis U. J. Kavanaugh. 50 South Third; E. Regelsburger, 217 First avenue Eouth. Cleveland, O. James Pushaw. S07 Superior street. New York, City L. Jones & Co., Astor House. Oakland, CaL W. H. Johnston. Four teenth -and Franklin streets. Ogden F. R Godard and Meyers & Har top. D. L. Boyle. Omaha Barkalow Bros., 1612 Farnam; Mageath Stationery Co., 1308 Farnam: Mc Laughlin Bros.. 240 South 14th; McLaughlin Holtz. 1515 Farnam. Sacramento, CaL Sacramento News Co, 420 K street. Salt Xake Salt Lake News Co, "7 West Serond street South. Yellowstone Tark, Wyo. Canyon Hotel. Lake Hotel. Yellowstone Park Assn. Long Beach B. E. Amos. San Francisco J. K. Cooper & Co., 745 Market street; Goldsmith Bros, 236 Sutter: L. E. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand; FV W. Pitts. 100S Market: Frank Scott. SO Ellis; N. Wheatley Movable News Stand, corner Mar ket and Kearney streets; Hotel St. Francis News Stand; Foster & Orear, Ferry News Stand. St. Louis,-Mo. R. T. Jett Book & News Company. $06 OHve street. Washington, D. C P. D. Morrison, 2132 Pennsylvania avenue. PORTLAND, MONDAY", JUNE 5. 1905. PARTISAN INSINCERITY. Among the most intense partisans In Oregon are the Democratic politicians who are saying there can be no party issue in the election of a Mayor of Portland. They say this only because they know their own party Is a minor ity party here and can't elect a Mayor except on false pretense. Their can didate, Dr. Lane, nevertheless, is a Democrat, was nominated as a Demo crat, and "will be a Democratic Mayor If elected. Just as George Chamberlain, elected under similar pretense of non partisanship, is a Democratic Governor, from sHIn to bone, and from bone back to skin again. The allegations against the adminis tration of Mayor Williams are mostly of a trifling nature. Such as are seri ous, as alleged by the grand jury in its published report, In no way or degree affect him. It is admitted on all sides that in character and conduct he is above reproach. His honesty and his full devotion to his sense of public duty no one has ever questioned or now questions. His character has stood out these flfty years as one of the grandest in Oregon, and his services and his fame are among the perma nent heritages of the state. But fault-finding is an easy expedient of a combination in local politics, which has an intense Democratic partisanship for one of Its factors though disclaim ing it and an envious, malicious and carping spirit on the part of a group of disgruntled Republicans for another. "Who are the people of this combina tion, that they should lay claim to be "the best citizens' moved by higher desire for good and efficient government than could actuate others? In every municipal government there will be something that criticism can attack. In most cases, as in the pres ent one, the main motive of such at tacks is the desire to "get in." It is proverbial. The basis of the present effort to defeat Mayor Williams is the partisan desire of the Democratic man agers of the city and state to win a further advantage for their party. The greater portion of the strength of this undertaking, then, lies in the Democ ratic vote. Question is, and the only question, whether Republicans enough will fall into the combination to give the Democratic candidates a majority. Should It be so, Portland would have a Democratic municipal government, which would lend, powerful aid to the effort to carry the state for that party next year. At least it could hope to re-elect Chamberlain over any compet itor, and perhaps might even be able to control the Legislature. If it is not worth while to elect a Re publican Mayor of Portland now, what Is to be said next year for election of a Republican Governor, or members of Congress? The most Important politi cal office in the state is the office of Mayor of Portland; and none know it better than those -who are trying to get it through disclaimers of partisanship. TAXATION OF TUBLIC FRANCHISES. The Legislature of Oregon will not adjourn its .next session, without hav ing passed an- act to impose special taxes on public franchises in the state, rated already at millions of value, but paying nothing. At present the only payment the owners of th'ese franchises make is on small valuations of the physical property which is their out ward manifestation. The vastly more valuable, for which in most cases, per haps in all cases In our state, nothing has been paid, is left untaxed. It was due to Theodore Roosevelt, who as Governor of New York, urged the Legislature of that state to act. and who by his persistence carried his rec ommendations through that body, that this important subject has been ad vanced to the status it now occupies. The corporations stubbornly fought It through the higher courts of that state; then took it up to the Supreme Court of the United States. Unpaid taxes, with Interest and penalties, which now muet be paid, exceed 326,000,000. The list. Is of enormous length. The Man hattan Railway Company alone mutt be S4.S21.951.32. and the Consolidated I Gas Company 31.4S9.996.55. I We have In Oregon many of these franchises, most of -which are contin ually growing more valuable. They of fer a means of raising revenue which will tend to equalization of taxes, give relief to real estate and cause rich peo ple who have been concealing their wealth and constantly rolling It up, while paying little or nothing for sup port of the operations of government, to bear their fair chare of the public obligations. Our Legislature at the recent session passed an act for creation of a State Tax Commission, which Is to consider the whole subject of taxation In this state and submit its report to the Leg islature at the session that of 1907. Un doubtedly this commission will go Into consideration of this subject of taxing public franchises, since now there is no doubt of the validity of It. . THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS. The newspaper that is backed up by banks is a mistake, and the banks that back a newspaper make a mistake. No newspaper yet ever was established with money, and banks and corpora tions that attempt to carry their pur poses by publishing newspapers, always miss their object and suffer, themselves, In consequence. A newspaper must exlBt for its own sake, or it is nothing. Banks and corporations have their legit imate field, but the newspaper is alien to it. Blight strikes every newspaper that has other purposes behind It than those of its own proper work and ex istence. The St. Paul Globe, J. J. Hill's paper, that succumbed recently; after publication during twenty-four years. Is a type or example of all the class. The newspaper that the people trust must be devoted to the purposes of Journal- Ism, not to those of plutocratic and monopolistic endeavor. And here let it be said that The Ore- gonian is not "squealing because it is hurt." It is isn't hurt at all. Its busi ness, both In subscriptions and adver tisements. Is greater, far greater, than at any former period of its history. It is so, likewise, -with the Evening Tele gram. The columns of both papers show what they are doing. Yesterday The (Sunday) Oregonlan printed 39,000 copies, and they were exhausted before 9 o'clock. It will print more on future Sundays. Today The Oregonlan prints and will sell not less than 32,000 copies. The Evening Telegram printed and sold last Saturday, and will print and sell today, more than 25,000 copies. It is not necessary to go Into details as to the advertising columns of the two newspapers. Every one can see for himself. The Oregonlan and the Evening Tele gram are wholly devoted to journalism. It is the one business of the lives of their proprietors. They are pushing no corporate or plutocratic schemes. They understand the relations of the news paper business to the public, or think they do; and they have no complaint to make of any lack of appreciation or support by the public. And they understand that fidelity to the public is the one condition and requirement of continuing suocess; and they will leave to those who wish to publish newspapers, as adjuncts of banking corporate and plutocratic interests. whatever reward may come from that species of endeavor. They who do not know that the newspaper business must be pursued for its own sake, and for nothing else. will, if they undertake the business, have that lesson to learn. A GOOD BEGINNING. The portage railroad which was opened at Celilo Saturday will stand as an Impregnable breastwork for the pro tection of industrial development in the Interior. Immediate returns commen surate with the expectations of some of the most optimistic promoters of the great work may not be realized, but a beginning which may some day lead to greater things has been made. As the switchback precedes the tunnel in fa cilitating the movement of traffic from one side of a mountain to the other. so the portage railroad precedes the canal In assisting traffic around the ob structions which Nature has placed in our waterways. ' But the temporary switchback is at the best only a make shift. As an Instrument for handling traffic where facilities have been miss lng. it is an important link in the chain pending completion of the permanent line through the tunnel. The portage road is not a permanent part of our interior transportation sys tem, but it is a most Important feature of the preliminaries, and, so long as it exists, we can enjoy a feeling of com mercial safety which might be threat ened were the transportation lines be tween the producing districts of the In land Empire and the sea in the hands of a monopoly. The historic trip of the Mountain Gem has demonstrated to a large number of people who have come Into the three states since the old era ; of steamboatlngon the upper river, that the upper reaches of these streams are navigable. For long distances they pre sent to the stcamboatmen an unob structed channel, which can be navi gated at all seasons of the year. The comparatively few obstructions which lie between these stretches of "open river" are not insurmountable or enor mously expensive to remove, and, with the awakening of interest in. an open river, an effort will undoubtedly be made to Interest the Government in the undertaking. The Government, is already commit ted to construction of a canal between Celilo and The Dalles, and, while this great work is under way, and the por tage road is assisting in winning back some of the traffic that went to the railroad, with the abandonment of the old steamboat lines, there should be no relaxation in efforts to secure the mod erate appropriations needed to place the upper river in good shape for the traffic expected to move seaward by water from points far inland. A river where navigation at certain seasons of the year is impeded or rendered ex tremely hazardous, or where freight is subject to portage before it can reach its destination, can never so effectually curb the rapacity of the railroads as It could if It were an "open river" in the strictest sense of the term. .That Is the reason why efforts of the people who have fought so valiantly to secure that which has now been accomplished should not be abandoned at this time. Nothing could be farther from the spirit or hostility than the treatment that has been extended by the O. B, & N. Co., and, without their friendliness in the matter, the construction of the portage road would have been a much more serious matter than it proved to be. But there is a constant Bhlfting In the management of the O. R. fc N., and every turn of the wheel abows increas ing consolidation and increasing cen- trail ration of power. The successors of the present management may. be leas broad-minded In their views regarding an open river, and we must be protect ed against a changing policy which might prove disastrous to our Internal development It may be many years before the density of the traffic Is such as to enable us to utilize to the best ad vantage this great water highway, but no time should be lost In placing It in Che best possible condition for use whenever a threatened restriction in our transportation facilities demands Its employment. WHERE IS THE POLICY-HOLDER AT? There are no doubt not many Jimmy Hydes in the life Insurance business; but the activities and influence of that gifted young person have been observed with grave and- growing concern by every policy-holder in every company and association of whatsoever descrip tion. There are said to be 25,000.000 life insurance policies In force In the United States, so that almost all citizens have an immediate Interest in safeguarding in all possible ways the whole system. whether mutual, beneficiary, fraternal. or what not. The unseemly row in the Equitable has served to bring back to the public the startling fact that as. a whole it knows almost nothing about the insurance business and that it has left to strangers, supposedly expert in their calling and honest in their char acter, the custody and disposition of the Immense stores of wealth which the policy-holders were accumulating nom inally for their own benefit, but actually for whose benefit? For their own, ulti mately, to be sure, but in the meantime who Is handling these funds? The Ore gonlan does sot mean to say, or to in timate, that insurance funds as a whole are devoted to any dishonest or Improper purpose; but it points out sim ply that policy-holders as a class are Ignorant as to what is done with them. In the case of the Equitable, it seems quite clear that the public was pur posely kept in the dark. Few people have even a faint notion of the stupendous growth of the life insurance business during the past quarter of a century. The Wall-Street Journal has recently printed a series of articles on the subject. The gross In come of life insurance companies In the United States in 1904 aggregated the immense sum of J 500,000,000. In the last fiscal year the total income of the United States Government was 3554.- 000,000. so that the financial power of the Insurance companies Is practically equal to that of the Federal Govern ment. But the signs are that at the present rate of growth the insurance companies will soon be the prevailing force In the business of the country. The Journal shows by a table how rap idly the life Insurance assets have In creased in the United States. In five- year periods they are: 1905, 32,500,000, 000; 1900, 31,742,000.000; 1895. 31.159,000,000; 1S90. 3770.000,000; 1SS5. 3551,000.000; 1SS0, 3452.000.000. It is interesting to note that the aggregate wealth of the Na tlon has grown from 342,000,000,000 in 1SS0 to 3103,000,000,000 in 1905, or an In crease of 145 per cent; while the In crease of life insurance assets has been 454 per cent in the same period. Of the present desire and purpose of the public to know more about their Insurance Investments, and the details of management, the Journal says: The awaKened Interest In lift Insurance therefore is reasonable and It la timely. It. Is not an Interest which Is unfriendly to the Insurance companies. It aims not at destruc tion. The people Kmplr want to know what life insurance Is, what Its lull meaning Is, what are the ethical and economic principles underlying It, and what are its methods. Tbey want to know, alo. more coacerslnx tbo financial operations of thete companies, in vestment of their aieeU, the dlspovtUoa of their Income and the percentage of their operating expense. There Is precisely the whole point. Every investor In insurance is Ira pressed by some gentlemanly solicitor with the great desire and purpose of some company to act as the custodian of his little savings and the almoner of his financial interests through a series of years. If you die you'll get your money back, or your heirs will. If you don't die, you'll get it back anyway. with Interest. What the policy-holder would like to know, and would perhaps find out if he took the trouble to in quire. Is, how much is annually paid out to the policy-holders, and how much is annually paid in? BED TATE AT A DISCOUNT. Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton has resigned to become president of the New York subway at a salary equal to that of the President of the United States. The Secretary has many prece dents to Justify his action, nnd, at the time that Mr. Morton is leaving the Government service the President finds it necessary to go outside of his offi cial family and secure, at greatly In creased salaries, men to carry on the Panama Canal work. It would seem from these constantly recurring changes that the salaries paid by the Govern ment are in many cases Insufficient to secure the best talent, which is quickly snapped up by private institutions at greater" salaries than the Government will pay. Under such circumstances the Government Is not infrequently obliged to get along with men of only moderate ability, who are incapable of drawing any higher salaries in other lines. With cheap men good results are of course impossible, and this fact alone would seem to prove that there is lack of economy In the present system of low salaries. The Government In many respects does not differ from a vast business Institution, and it ac cordingly becomes necessary to conduct many of its functions on strictly busi ness principles. Herein Is where the hlgb-ealarled man shines in com pari son with the one of -mediocre talents who has usually drifted into the Gov ernment service after making a failure In private business. President Roosevelt seems to have a pretty keen reallza tion of the necessity that applicants for Government positions should hare some other qualifications than a polltl cal pull, and he has placed In the serv ice a number of men who have made successes in other callings before the Government secured them. There are Instances without number which go to prove that there is no economy in maintaining in positions of some degree of Importance such a large force of Incompetents. Lacking in prac tlcal business experience, whenever these individuals get away from the colls of red tape, they are practically helpless, and a too rigid adherence to red-tape methods is not infrequently very expensive. Portland has recently suffered quite a loss by reason of this application of unbusinesslike "method to a business transaction. The super fluity of red tape protected the Govern mzzxl employe who advertised far lure her bids la San Francisco, which has no lumber to sell, aad ignored Portland, the greatest lumber port on earth. Such a glaring and l&excasable error' on the part of a man engaged In conducting private "business for an employer would have been followed by quick dismissal. but. If the Government were to dis cbarge of all the Incompetents guilty of similar blunders, the task of filling their places with good men would be stag gering in its immensity. The President is making progress, however, and there is yet a possibility that, before the Panama Canal is completed, the work of ordering supplies, as well as using them, will be in the hands of men who find common sense a much more val uable commodity than red tape. M. J. Buckley, the new general super intendent of the Harriman lines in the Pacific Northwest, drifted into Oregon shortly after the collapsing boom of the early eighties left most of our indus tries wallowing in the doldrums for a brief period. Then, as now, there were plenty of croakers who asserted that Oregon no longer held opportunities for a poor man. But Buckley struck a job as brakeman on a gravel train, and a good brakeman he was. He was also good train conductor shortly after wards, and. as he moved up, his record as train-dispatcher and as division su perintendent met with the approval of his superiors. The position he now holds, next to that of General Manager O'Brien, is the most Important one in the Harriman system in this territory. The people of this big Northwest have good many .grievances against the Harriman system, but there is nothing but admiration for the high-class grad uates of the Harriman school who have grown up in our midst, and demon strated most effectually that merit. In dustry and strict attention to business will still work wonders for the penni less brakeman, as well as the pampered son of a millionaire. A main element in the contest today is the fight of the common people against plutocracy, against canting moralists, against holier-than-thou re formers. We have here also a small re siduum of the Puritanism of 250 years ago. It Is yoked up with plutocracy not that plutocracy cares for It, but it is willing to enlist any sort and every sort of soldiery for Its purposes. Though the modern world has outrun old Puritan- Ism and self-righteousness, still the dregs of both remain, here and there. At present In Portland there Is a union of the whole with plutocracy. Every body sees it and knows it, and under stands it. Pretense of self-righteous ness, against the morality of the plain common people though backed by mo nopolists who have taken in everything In sight, and have their drag-nets out for more, is not convincing. Deliver us all from this rancid holier-than-thou pretension, with its everlasting greed and monopolistic background! In nearly every one of the proposed amendments to the charter of the city there is a scheme or game. Somo spe cial Interest Is behind each. The "Joker" Is there. Take the proposal for the ad ditlon of 15 per cent penalty to all as sessments for Improvements, which are not paid within 90 days. There Is no occasion for the voters of Portland to make such gift to the contractors for street and other improvements. Hith erto the charter never has had such provision, and severe penalties now are provided for failure to pay assessments This proposed amendment has been carefully drawn by the contractors. with the intent that they may get the 15 per cent penalty. The property-own er may be wholly willing to pay, but under the system may not have notice. You may depend that they who devise these amendments have some Job in them. A correspondent of The Oregonlan, noting what has been said about the necessity of legislation for the taxa lion of franchises In this state, writes: The statute of this stat now make fran chises taxable the same as other property aad every County Assessor ahould consider It as much his duty to assess that class of prop erty as any other. Unless exempted by law. any species of property, tangible- or Intan gible, which can be the object of purchase and sale, should be assessed and taxed. Every owner of real estate, which never escapes taxauon, has a right to expect and to de mand that franchises b taxed the same as other property. The assessor who omits any property or lists It at an unreasonably low valuation, thereby places an unjust propor tion of tho tax burden upon the property that Is properly assessed. Yet probably a direct act of the Leg islature will be necessary, so there may be x;o question about it. The purpose of the amendment to permit the Consolidated Railway Com pany to occupy additional streets of the city has been explained fully by The Oregonlan heretofore, together with the effect or consequences, should the amendment be adopted. It would ex tend the franchises of the monopoly and add value to the millions already "absorbed." It is not surprising that the so-called taxpayers league, which is but part of the combination, should recommend this proposition to the vot ers. Property to the extent of how many millions more are to be given to this corporation? Let us add that there are taxpayers in Portland who are not members of this small but select league. Russia, the power which Napoleon could not destroy or overcome, by direct attack, in the early part of the last century, is now humiliated and com pletely "overcome by Japan, which i century ago was not thought of as & power. There is a difference between conditions when a nation fights in the heart of her territory and when she fights on a remote -frontier. Napoleon in 1612 had to go too far from home. Russia, In 1905, goes too far from home. Only to an extent, and within limits. can man, or can a nation, triumph over physical obstacles or conditions. One amendment to the charter that, for special reasons, ought to carry that -which proposes decrease of the amount aad therefore of the cost of city advertising. On this amendment every elector, as it seems to The Oregonlan, ought to vote "yes." A pack of wolves may pull down horse, or other noble animal. It often has been dose. Turning a metaphor. will that happen today? We think not. Yet the fury has been equal to that of a pack of wolves. Russia, says she is going to build a great aad mighty fleet. What for? For Japan to destroy? The fleet on paper, or ob water, that can't Agar, to itoth log. It war drewa kelplesc sailers. OREGON OZONE When red-head matches formed a trust That people couldnXbuck, The public heard it with disgust. And all the matches struck; Now glass-head pins combine enough To make a patriot'slck! For though this trust we kick and cuff. The pins are sure, to stick. James Russell Lowell once said that the essentials of an after-dinner speech are the quotation, the platitude and the joke. He forgot the Jag. Truly the Lord is on the side of the bravest battalions and the boldest squad rons. Japan has wiped up the earth with Russia and scattered the remains in the sea, and now the sea has given up a new Island to add to Japanese territory. volcanic Isle, described as being S40 feet high and three miles in- circumfer ence, has reared itself in Japanese wat ers; It is not so very big. but It will do as a site for a jubilation bonfire, and as It happens to be among the Volcano Isl ands, it may provide its own pyrotechnics. One should not consider himself a com petent linguist until he Is able to pro nounce "Eisteddfod" No doubt President Loubet Is glad to get King Alfonso out of his hands, but there are others In Paris who sometimes find a hand containing three or four kings a desirable holding. The secretary of the Paine Memorial Association forgot to provide the annual wreath for the gravestone of Thomas Paine on Memorial day, but the American people who know history as It should be written have not forgotten to honor Thomas Paine as a mighty factor in the achievement of independence. If Paine had had a few flowers before his death, it is just possible that his immortal wraith would be able to endure more patiently the execrations of the unknowing. Mr. Bobbins, of Old Town. Me., who made a strenuous fight In the East against the payment of preposterous . gas bills, has instructed his attorney to open a similar campaign In tho interest of the people of Seattle. Most of us have sup posed that Seattle folks use only hot air. Down In Tennessee a man has been fined 320 for snoring in church. This Is right and proper. A church Is not a lodging- house. When a man accepts a free pew he has no right to mistake the cushions for a mattress. Churches are intended as places for spiritual awakening, not as Inns of physical relaxation. Furthermore, it is positively ungentlemanly for a person to snore in a church, even though ha goes to sleep without malice aforethought. A man who snores should be careful In selecting his sleeping places. He should engage apartments in a sawmill or menagerie. But the best advice one can offer on this point is that the sleeper confine his mouth exclusively to the pur pose of mastication and conversation, using his nose for inhalation and exhala tion. A Head for Bargains. A Portland woman bought one of those 31.9S rocking-chairs. It was a banraln. marked down from 31.99. When'she rocked in it she felt so happy over her bargain that she just let herself loose. The cor ner of a bureau caught her head as she was falling, after both the rockers split off. The doctor charged 35 for sewing up her head cut rate. Her husband hurried home from the office, summoned by telephone, and looked at the patient's head; then he looked at the wrecked rocking-chair. 'It's a great head for bargains you've got," he remarked. In Memory Land. I wander far, I wander free, Down winding ways of. Used-to-Be; With lovely phantoms hand in hand I rove the meads of Memory Land; My reverent footsteps softly tread The grasses waving o'er the dead. And they are with me once again. Living and loving me as then. In Memory Land my soul somehow Forsakes the unromantlc Now, t To walk again in the'halcyon ways Of unforgotten yesterdays, To tread the paths of fragrant hopes, The velvet green of sunny slopes. And climb the unfatigulng heights To Gardens of the Lost Delights. Oh, far and fair as radiant dreams I sense the silver shine of streams That flow through flowery ways afar. Where Youth and Faith and Fortune are; And fair and far as mountains kissed With rosy Hps of morning mist, The kindly wraiths of comrades stana Above the plains of Memory Land. Oh. far and faint as music stirred From gleaming throats of Naiads, heard In Arcady, or lilting rhymes From out enchanted ancient times, I hear delicious voices hum The songs of days that were as dumb. Enraptured, eager, awed, I stand Tiptoe, entranced in Memory Land. ROBERTUS LOVE. Roosevelt Still a Possibility. Augusta (Go.) Herald. If Theodore Roosevelt persists in his resent course; if he continues to wage war against official corruption: if he continues to fight corporate greed; If he persists in being the President of the people, it is highly probable that he may not be a candidate of any party lor the Presidency of the United States four years hence, but how about the people? They may Insist that Theodore Roosevelt be their candidate for the Presidency and In such an event Theodore Roosevelt could not decline. Just at present Tbeodoro Roosevelt is neither a Republican nor Democratic President, measured by party standards. He is, however, progressing along lines that will win lor mm tne admiration and commendation of the people, which, if organized behind a man of Roosevelt's individuality, brain and courage, would be Irresistible In American politics. Southern Pacific Men Here. James F. Fee. passenger traffic manager of the Southern Pacific from San Fran dsco. accompanied by 14 of his assistants and district passenger agents from Call fornla reached Portland last night 4from Tacoma and will be in the city for several days to attend the Exposition and look over the town. Mr. Fee and his party left San Fran dsco several days ago and have been on an extended trip through the Northwest. They have visited Seattle, Tacoma and other Washington cities and will make long visit in Portland before returning to their homes in California. Mr. Fee Is taking his agents on the trip in order to acquaint them with the conditions of the Northwest, that they will be able to do better work in booming the Expo sition during the rest of the Suaiaer. New York Lawmakers Rest. ALBANY. N. Y. June 4. The lawmak ing business of New York State for the regular session of IMS caaae to an end tonight with 7 new laws aods. to the statute books as against 75 added last year. Among tha bills of special Ira octanes signed U that nakuc appro priation far the state's rcntatk at CHEERED AT LA GRANDE Tlce-3Pre94lHt Speaks to Proralaeat CiUaens. LA GRANDE. Or., June 4. (Special.) Vice-President Fairbanks and his party passed here today on the de layed eastbound train and were met at the station by President William" Mil ler, of the Commercial Club, and a number of citizens. Had it been gen erally known that the distinguished party was on the train, a much larger number of persons would have been at the station to receive It. Mr. Fairbanks was given a general introduction to those present by Mr. Miller, and shook hands with many. but owing to the brief time the train remained at the station, did not have time to greet all. The Vice-President expressed him self as being much pleased with Ore gon, and said he thought it was a great country. He made a brief speech from the rear-end of his car in which he asked a number of questions regarding this city and the products of the val ley, when J. W. Knowles. who was among the ndmber present, answered the products of this valley are prin cipally Republicans." Mr. Fairbanks replied: 'That is good, and the next best thing to oro- duco is a good Democrat, but the best or ail is a good American citizen." After a few more pleasant remarks. the train pulled out. followed by heartv cheers from the crowd. ENGINEERS ACTIVE ON SNAKE O. R- N. Co. Has Two Parties Above RJparla. LEWISTON, Idaho, June 4. (Special.) Parties arriving here tonight on the steamer Spokane report that O. R. & N. engineers are active along Snake River. Two parties came up from Rlparla, one of 11 men under Engineer Kettenrlng. and one or 13 men under Engineer KlIppeL The former outfit was landed at Diamond Crossing, with a large amount of sup plies, and will work both ways along the river from that point. Engineer Kllppel and party are at Almota and will also divide and work both ways. It is re ported that material will be landed at Rlparla within a day or two which will be used In putting In switches and tem porary track to carry supplies to points along the proposed extension. This fea ture lends assurance that the company does not Intend to lose any time in push ing the work of construction. DROWNS WHILE BATHING. Joseph Patino, Steamboat Fireman, Meets Death at Marshflcld. MARS HFI ELD. Or., June 4. (Spe cial.) Joseph Patino, a fireman on the steamer Breakwater, was drowned here last night. The Breakwater arrived here yesterday from San Francisco and went to the Spreckels coal bunkers, where steam was blown down and tubes cleaned, the work being finished about 11 P. M. Patino. being warm and dirty, decided to take a swim. He went over the side of the ship, and in a minute or two he was Heard to yell and splash in the water, and then went down, never to rise. It is supposed he was taken with a cramp, workmen have been dragging for his body, but up to this afternoon have been unsuc cessful. Roberts Commands tho Perry. TACOMA, Wash.. June 4. (Special.) . Captain W. H. Roberts, who until recently was assistant Inspector of life-saving sta tions for the 13th district, has been a signed by the Treasury Department to the command of the United States rev enue cutter Commodore Perry. He left Tacoma this afternoon for Seattle, where the Perry is now lying, .and will assume Immediate command of the vessel. Ac cording to instructions received he will sail for Alaska Wednesday, where the revenue cutter Is being sent in the in terests of the revenue service of the Gov ernment. The notice of Captain Roberts appoint ment was received last week shortly after his return from a tour of s Inspection of the life-saving stations along the Oregon coast, and since then he has been busy getting ready for bis departure. Continued Rain Helps Crops. LA GRANDE. Or., June 4. (Special.) The continued rains of the past week have been of great benefit to growing crops and grain and grasses have never been better than at the present time. Farmers are jubilant over tho pros pects of abundant crops and fruit growers are also rejoicing at the im proved condition of their orchards, as the damage by late frosts is not nearly as bad as at first reported. The sugar-beet crop was never bet ter. and the yield of beets will far ex ceed any previous year. Pioneer Passes Away. COQUILIiE, Or., June 4. (Special.) J. Henry Schroeder, a pioneer and one of the most prominent citizens of Coos County, passed away at his home here on Tuesday. Mr. Schroeder wa3 born in 1840, and came to Coos County in 1S59. He developed one of the best farms in the county and put in opera tion a very successful creamery. He was one of the first to Introduce lm proved brick-making machinery to this part of the state. LINCOLN DECLINES OFFER. Will Not Be Chairman of the EquI table Directors. CHICAGO. June 4. Robert T. Lincoln, of this city, was asked tonight if he would accept the office of chairman of the board of directors of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, should the posi tion be offered to him. In reply Mr. Lincoln said that under no circumstances would he accept the office. Solution Seems at Rand. NEW YORK, June 4. Samuel Un- termeyer, counsel for Vice-President Hyde, of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, made a statement tonight, In which he declared that a solution of the troubles In the society seemed near. The statement followa: "At no time since the trouble began has the prospect for a peaceful and permanent solution satisfactory to all Interests been so promising as at the present! The next few days are likely to see important developments in that direction- Every- energy Is being di rected to that end and we are most sanguine of results. I am not at liberty to say more at this time. It la to be hoped that the directors will meantime assist the situation. "Acting on legal advice. Mr. Hyde will shortly begin proceedings to de termine the 'question of the syndicate profits that were criticised in the Frick report, and most unjustly so as we claim. When the subject is fully understood I am sure every right-minded person will agree that he was morally as well as legally entitled to the profits and that the society had nothing to 'Jo with it. Whatever else may happen Mr. Hyde will not hesitate to secure a public refutation of these baseless charges which are so little understood' aad which have, created such x usrM. ttonlng prejudice in th public aslad.' NEW HOME FOR UAUDEYILLE Ex-Seaator Tarec Is to Build, at Spokane. SPOKANE. Wash.. June 4.-SpeciaJ.) Senator George Turner has completed the details tor a new block which he intends building on the corner of Howard street and First avenue. The structure will cost 31W.O30. The south half, fronting on Howard streets, TOxlOO. will be built for a theater, and the remainder for store and offices. It is expected that the new building will be completed by November 1. A lease of the theater will be made to the Columbia Theater Company, which was organized Saturday, with Mose Op penhelmer, George M. Decher and John Consldine as Incorporators. The new play house will be constructed along most mod ern lines, and vaudeville will be given. Frances Nelsonls, manager of the Edison Theater, which is also a Considlne house, will be manager of the new house, which will probably be called the Grand, the generic name of Mr. Consldlne's theaters in San Francisco, Portland. Seattle and other Coast cities. The Grand in this city will be affiliated for booking purposes with the circuit with which Mr. Considlne and Hon. "Tim" Sullivan are now asso ciated, embracing San Francisco, Oak land. San Jose, Portland, Astoria, Ta coma, Seattle, Belllngham. Vancouver. Victoria. Butte. Helena and other cities where similar theaters are projected. The new theater will have a capacity of 1500. Big Raft From the Columbia. SAN FRANCISCO. June 4. The steamer Rainier, arriving today from the North, reported having passed the steamer Fran cis H. Leggett towing a big log raft ten miles northwest of Cape Mendlclno. The raft is expected to arrive here tomorrow. It Is one of the largest ever brought from the Columbia, containing about 8,069,003 feet of lumber, board measurement. THREE FOUND DEAD IN ROOM Bodies of Youth and Two Girls Found in Farmhouse. HILLS BORO, O.. June 4. Three young persons. Madge Dines, aged 14; Nettie Hart, aged 1$, and George Baldwin, aged 18. were found shot to death in an tipper room In the home of Ed Dines, a farmer, and father of Madge, three mur out of tne city late tonight. The girls were killed with a revolver. The man's brains were blown out with a shotgun. The latter weapon was found in the room in which the bodies lay. The theory that the young man mur dered the two cirLs and then committed suicide Is net entertained, though certain circumstances point to that conclusion. A fourth person Is suspected, but the identity of the alleged murderer and his motives are withheld. The shocking discovery was made by Mr. and Mrs. Dines on returning from Hlllsboro, where they had attended the baccalaureate sermon of the graduating exercises of the high school. Details Of the relationship of the young people have not been learned by the police beyond that George Baldwin is a neighbor, the son of a farmer and a friend. He visited the Dines home tonight ostensibly to pro tect the girls In the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Dines. Nettle Hart Is said to have been employed as a domestic Lynching of a Negro. LOUISVILLE. Miss., June 4. Essie Bos- tic, a negro, has been hanged in the woods near here by a band of 40 masked and armed men. The negro, in the custody of a number of officers, was being taken to Jackson for safe keeping. The lynchers appeared and demanded the prisoner and Bostlo was turned over. to the band. Bostlc was charged with having attempt ed to enter the room of Mrs. Sarah Gor don, a widow, early Saturday morning. Double Tragedy at a Dance. ORAN. Mo., June 4. Harry Burton, 25 years of age, shot and killed his sister- in-law. Miss Frankle Clark, aged 17, at a dance last night, ten miles north of here, at Rockvlew, and then committed suicide by shooting. The girl's refusal to dance with him prompted the tragedy. PASSPORTS FOR THE HEBREWS State Department Informed of Pro posed Rnsslan Law. WASHINGTON, June 4. Acting Secre tary Loomis. of the State Department, has been officially Informed by Ambassador Meyer at St. Petersburg of the provisions of the proposed new law In Russia under which all American passports, including those for citizens of the Hebrew faith, will be recognized there. This Inormatloa is confirmatory of the press dispatches Of a week ago. which announced the approval by the Council of the Empire of the rec ommendations of the passport commission which Included universal recognition of foreign passports. Mr. Loomis has communicated the con tents of Ambassador Meyer's dispatch to Simon Wolf, of this city, chairman of the civil and religious rights section of the Union of American Hebrew Congrega tions. This congregation, Mr. Wolf said tonight, had been working for 23 years to secure the full recognition of pass ports granted to Hebrews who desired to travel in Russia and the final triumph of the efforts of those who have labored to this end, he said, Is a source of satis faction to his countrymen in the United States. THE DAY'S DEATH RECORD. Peter L. Kimberley. CHICAGO, June 4. Peter L. Klmberfy. prominent throughout the United States and Canada in mining circles, died here today of apoplexy. Mr. Klmberly, whose wealth is esti mated at 310.000,000, was an, authority on mining. He has been in many mines throughout the West, and was a pioneer to copper mining in the Lake Superior regions Much of his time was spent in traveling, but he maintained offices in Chicago, Salt Lake City and in Saa Fran cisco. When not attending to his mining interests he lived at Sharon; Fa., where he was born, 59 years ago. William J. Ewing. VTNCENNES, Ind, June 4. William L. Ewing, ex-Mayor of St. Louis, died at his home here today. Bodies Remain in Cave-in. MONTROSE, Colo., June 4. Although it is certain that dead bodies are still burled beneath the debris of the cave-in at the Gunnison Irrigation tunnel, which gave way last Tuesday, the work of clear ing away the wreckage has been practi cally abandoned until something can be done to prevent further slides. Th. ground has loosened and the dirt falls into the tunnel as fast as the bottom of the- pile is taken, away. The odor of decaying flesh fills the tun nel, waking it almost Impossible for the men to work. Hohots Retiring- American Minister. COPENHAGEN, June 4. Crown Prince Frederick has honored L. F. Swesaon, the retirutg American Minister, and Mrs. Sweasea with a long visit, as they will leave for the United States before his royal highness returns frera h4a Buaraer vacation. Ex-Finance Minister Page has returned from his trip to the United States, aad te-Mffidy eatfcusiastlc over what her ealls the "ixtmaaiom eaergy at the American Nation."