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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1906)
8 THE MORXCCG OKEGOyyAX, TUlSfrAY. XPBIL 10, lfpe. (tepian Eaterea at the .Postofflca at Portland, On, a Eeeonfi-Class Matter. SUBSCRIPTION KATES. tT INVAKIABLT IN. AD VAN CJC "CI (By Mall or Expreit) DAIL.T. SUNDAY INCLUDED. S"wlv month 98.80 Six monthi ust Three aonthi 2.35 One jnemtfa .78 Delivered by carrier, per year S.eo DeMrered by carrier, per month....... .75 time, per week. .29 Sunday, one year 2.50 weekly, one year denied Thareday)... Sonday ard Wekly. one year a&9 HOW TO REMZTT-eead postofflca mosey rder, express order or jeroaal check on Tour local back. Stamps, coin or currency e at the sender's risk, EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE. The 8. C. Becktrith Special Aseaer New Tcrk, room 43-&0, Tribune bulldlag. Chi cago, rooms B10-51J Tribune bulldlar. KEPT OK SAXJC Ckkaro Auditorium Annex. Poitofllce iewa Co., 1T6 Dearborn street. 8t. 1's.ul, Ml as. N. fit. Uarle Commercial station. Dcsrrer Hamilton A Xendriek. W6-913 Seventeenth street; Pratt Book Store, 1214 FIXteenth street; I. Welnttcls. Geldfleld, Ner. Guy Marsh. Kansas City. Mo, IUckecker Cliar Co Mntb and Walnut. Minneapolis M. j. Kavanscih. 60 South Third. , ClerelaaC 0 James Pushaw, W7 Bu jxrlor street. Xew York City L. Jones b. Co., Astor House. Oakland, Cal w. H. Johnston, Four teenth and Franklin streets, Os;de D. I Boyle. Omaha Barkalow Bros.. 1612 Farnara: reath Stationery Co.. 1S0S Car nam: 246 South Fourteenth Sacramento, CX Sacramento News Co.. K street. Sett Lake Salt Lake News Co.. 7T "West second street South; Miss U Levin. 24 Church street. Los Anceles B. E. Amos, manager seven treet warons; Berl News Co.. 326 South Broadway. San DIero B. E. Amos. fast Barbara, Cal. B. E. Amos. Pasadena, CaL Berl News Co. 8n Francisco J. JC Cooper & Co.. 74 Market street: Goldsmith Bros.. 236 Butter ad Hotel EL Francis News Stand; L. E. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand; Frank Scott. SO Ellis: N. Wheatler Movable News Stand, corner Market and Kearney streets; Foster wear. .Ferry Stwi stand. WasMnrtoB, t. a Ebbltt House, Penn' Tlvanla avenue. PORTLAND. TUESDAY. ATRIL 10, 1806. THE XEAV YORK GAS LAW. Governor 'Higglns has signed an S0 cent gas bill for New York City. This bill is a distinct assertion of the right or a state Legislature to regulate the charges of gas companies, and Is worthy precedent to study, and, as far as conditions permit, to follow. Gov ernor Higglns gives an interesting statement of his reasons for signing the bill. Distrust of democratic institutions prevail, he says, -where wealth rather than manhood determines who shall enjoy tne choicest privileges In the community, where public-service cor porations flourish while consumers suf fer. vm- jnigm imagine tnat ne was speaking of conditions in Portland in stead of New York, and his reasons for regulating corporate greed are Just as valid here as there. The utility compa Tiles should be restricted, he argues, to a fair return on their investment not their aqueous but their cash invest inent; and the state has the power to hold their charges down to an equlta ble rate. This Is a legislative function purely, and the courts will not Interfere with its exercise except where a price for gas is established which Is "clearly and beyond all doubt" confiscatory: where, in fact, the court Is compelled to say that private property haB been taken for public use without compensa tion. "The power and duty of the Leg islature to fix an equitable price for gas Is clear," continues Governor Hig glns, and "the example of prompt and vigorous action should be a restraint on extortion and greed" and an evi dence of the readiness of public ser vants to do their duty. Such evidence has been a little tardy in some parts of the country; public servants have often been more, deeply Impressed with their obligations to the privileged Interests than with their duty to the community. But the times are full of change. Legislators have experienced a very gratifying change of heart, and it is fairly certain that whatever in reason the people insist ently demand in the way of regulation of publlc-eervlce corporations they will get. Let the demand be made clear and unmistakable and it will be granted. CAN RATES BE REGULATED? Senator Fulton, according to The Ore gonlan's Washington correspondent, threw some light in a recent interview upon the rather perplexing question of the significance of the White House amendment to the Hepburn bill. The hill, as It went to the Senate, con tained ncf provision for a court review of the findings of the Interstate Com merce Commission. Its friends sup posed, as Mr. Fulton states, that review by the courts would prevail as a mat ter of common right In cases where the Commission had exceeded the scope of Its authority or had made rates alleged iu db connscatory; out others hole, il seems, that this Is not the case. In their opinion the silence of the bill upon the matter would amount to a denial of court review in all cases; and since the railroads are clearly entitled to their day In court, in the cases speci fied, the bill would be unconstitutional without an express provision for re view. This may be so, but it presupposes an astonishing eagerness in he courts to invalidate an act of Congress. The Hepburn bill is silent upon the right of court review. This silence may possi bly be interpreted, to deprive the rail roads of that right, and if It -does It is unconstitutional. But it may also be interpreted as not meaning to stultify Itself by trying to forbid by Implication what it could not forbid openly, and In that case It would be constitutional. Why should w,e suppose that- the courts are so eager to nullify the bill that they would adopt the former construction? Their rule is to construe a law so as to avoid conflict with the Constitution, If that te possible: still, in this case, tho rn lght see some reason for making an exception. The White House amendment accepts the theory that the courts are eager to nullify the, rate bill, and therefore it makes express provision for review of the Commission's findings ia all cases where they are confiscatory or beyond the scope of its' authority. Since the railroads can. allege that every rate fixe by the Commission is confiscatory And that every one of its acts is beyond its authority, this, of course, amounts to permitting a court review of all its findings, and pending such review the order may be suspended by Injunction. Mr. Knox remarked long ago that the power of the courts to suspend the or ders of the Cammfssloa by Injunction pending the decision of constitutional points could not be takes away by leg islation; and. Mr. Fulton, now says that there are few who dissent from this opinion. It seems. Indeed, extremely reasonable. -Moreover, It rests with the courts in the last resort to decide whether their inhibitory authority can be clipped or not, and what reason is there to expect that they will decide against themselves? So there you are. A Tate bill which does not provide for court review is unconstitutional. One which does provide for court review necessarily destroys the efficiency of the Interstate Commerce Commission and subjects rate regulation to all the uncertainty and procrastination of Judi cial proceedings, since every order of tne Commission may be suspended by injunction. To limit court review to constitutional questions Is mere inepti tude, for it is a dull lawyer who cannot raise a constitutional question In every case whatever. The Constitution and the courts oc cupj' today somewhat the same oh structlve position against rate regula tion as they held llfty years ago against the restriction of slavery. The outcome of that obstruction was bad for slavery. It is safe to prophesy that any power within this country which succeeds In convincing the people that it is beyond the control of the law will ultimately oe annihilated. The Nation will perma nently tolerate no anarchistic element. Just now the railroads and other bene ficlaries of special privilege are in i state of anarchy, using the law for their own benefit, but seldom obeying It, and stubbornly resisting every effort to bring them Into equitable subjection The debates upon the Hepburn bill and the decision of Judge Humphreys in the packers trial seem to Indicate that. with the Constitution as It stands, their resistance may be successful; but, of course, such -temporary success will only force the people to resort to meas ures more radical than those which have failed. If the Government cannot regulate the railroads, it must own them. The continued existence in this country of a power absolved from the authority of the law is unthinkable. INSURANCE IX OREGON. The annual report of State Insurance Commissioner Dunbar for the year 103. Just made public, shows a heavier fire loss than in any previous year except 1903. The Oregon losses reported by the insurance companies are approximately i-w.wu greater than In the previous year, and the net premiums are corre spondingly less. The amount of busi ness transacted by fire insurance com panles remained practically unchanced. the policies written in 1904 amounting to $110,557,192.36, and In 1905 aggregating j iv, 6483,34. The fire losses reported by the insurance companies amounted to J775.S6i.88 in 1904, and i968.S39.7S in l05. The losses In 1903 were 51.314. 660.29. The net premium in l0i were 51.227,20.63, and In 1905 they were $1,009,629.53. But thte showing is not bad lor the Insurance companies, not withstanding a decrease In their net In come. They received from the people of the state nearly $2,600,000. paid back aoout $620,000 as premiums returned. and $968,000 on account of losses, leav ing them a million dollars as compensa tion for the service to the people. In other words, the people paid out for fire Insurance a million dollars more than they got back. Life insurance companies fared bet ter. for their reports show an increase of over $260,000 in net premiums, as compared with the previous year. They wrote risks amounting to almost $15.- 000,000. making a total of over $61,000. 000 of life insurance policies In force. They collected during the year premi ums aggregating $2,097,011.28, paid losses to the amount of $i08,601.i9. and returned premiums to the amount of $139,079.14, leaving them net premiums of $1,572,157.15. The people of Oregon paid out for life insurance in the one year a million and a half dollars more than they got back. Comment upon the McCalls and McCurdys and Depews might be appropriate, but will be left to the reader. The disclosure of crookedness in the management of life insurance compa nies seems to have Injured the business somewhat in 1905, though all the lead ing companies show an increase in both the number and the amount of policies outstanding, and a similar showing is made In the aggregate. The total num ber of life Insurance policies in force at the end of 190i was 32.906, amounting to $5i,3il,i66. Durlne the vear 12.071 losses to the amount of $i08,601.49, and to $5i.3iM66.'Durlng the year 12.074 poli cies aggregating $14,959,691 were Issued and 7174 policies amounting to $8,176,231 ceased, leaving in force at the end of 1903 a total of 37,605 policies amounting to $61,124,926. Of the total of over $8,000.- year. only $408,000 was due to losses paid. The assurance that even the companies that were Involved in the most corruption were absolutelv sound accounts for the continued increase In policies written. TREE PLANTING. Arbor day is Just at hand In many states or tne .Northwest and Tiocky -liouniam .sections. Tree planting means more to some other states than it docs to Oregon, or more especially to Western Oregon; but at the rate at which our timber lands are being de nuded for lumber both o meet local demand and for the export trade, the trees that are or may be planted now will be in active demand for lumber by the time they attain sufficient ske to make them suitable for this purpose. Indeed a forest area of many square miles planted yearly and protected from vandalism will scarcely suffice to make good to posterity the enormous drain, upon our forest wealth that is now go ing on for commercial purposes. In thellanguage of the regulation Arbor-day proclamation, "He who plants a tree plants shade, rest, love, hope and peace for those who will come his way when he is gone." In the plain lan guage of practical life, "He who plants trees plants fuel, shelter, homes and wealth for a future generation." Arbor day will be observed in this city chiefly by exercises in the schools that will Inculcate in children a love of trees that may be depended apon to keep them from uselessly destroying or wantonly mutilating not only trees but all useful, growing things. In the rural districts of the treeless sections of the state It may be hoped that the day will be observed in a practical way. It is well enough -to make the day one of frolic for the children; but, if meful remits follow its observance, the spade must be used with the strength of a man's arms In tree-tanting. It i well to remember that enthusiasm of a day will net suffice to make tress grow, even though Nature is ktod in the Mat. 'ter of soil, -nftoteture and location. Care- i ful selection of the trees. Intelligent labor In planting, and rach protection as transplanted plant life needs to make It take root ia new environment are necessary elements to the develop ment, in a aseful sense, or the Arbor day idea. Unlass these can be given. It will be well f.o make this day a chil dren's picnic occasion merely, with a programme that will Inculcate a love of trees and an Interest In all grow ing things. SOME FIGURES THAT LIE. The Department of Commerce and Labor, In response to the protest from Portland against th omission of Im portant trade statistics, makes the weak excuse that "Portland has not furnished the department with the data, hence the department has been unable to make a showing on any but foreign trade." Senator Fulton is Informed that the department Is "willing and anxious to give Portland due credit, but Is compelled to depend upon Informa tion from the commercial organisations of the city or other private sources of information for its data." The Bureau of Statistics attached to the Depart' ment of Commerce and Labor has an annual appropriation of a vast sum of money. Thousands of dollars are spent in salaries for Individuals who are car ried on the payroll as "jta Us tl clans." The uninitiated have always believed that the work of a statistician was to gather statistics. These "statisticians make frequent pleasure Jaunts around the country for that alleged purpose, and even the "stay-at-homes" who sign vouchers as statisticians are generally supposed to perform statistical work. It is apparent, however, from the ex planation offered Senator Fulton that, while the department Is "willing and anxious to give Portland due credit," nothing that involves work on the part of the Government employes must be expected. Instead, the statistics must be complied and sent forward ready to print. We have high-priced consular agents in all parts of the world, pre sumably looking after our trade Inter csts. The Department or Commerce and Labor at great expense Issues dally pamphlets containing reports from these agents. Within the past fort night these reports have noted a dc mand for American lumber in three for elgn countries which have not as yet Dcen purchasers of American lumber to anj great extent. These consular agents, by reference to the ofilcial re ports of the department under which they labor, will learn from the Seattle and Tacoma harbormaster; that th two Puget Sound ports ship large quan titles of lumber. Microscopic examlna tion of the report, however, would fall to reveal any mention of lumber ship- menu rrom Portland, although this city saws arm ships more lumber than Ta coma and Seattle combined, being the largest lumber port In the known world. Service which cosU nothing Is cener- ally worth Just about what It costs no more, no less and for that reason most of the unofficial reports which are cad aea out oy our enterprising friends on Puget Sound and given ofilcial sane tion by the Department of Commerce and Labor are worth what ther cost- In the February report of the Seattle harbormaster we find the bulk of the imports and exports coastwise consisted oi mercnanaise." There were 13.570 tons, valued at $1,155,603. from Pacific Const ports; 3479 tonf. va'ued at $312,126. from Alaskan ports, and 6S79 tons, val ued at $668,693, from local ports. The bulk of the "merchandise" imported by caiue consists or lime and oats. These commodities are worth $12 and $27 per ion. respectively, and yet they figure In the harbormaster's report at a valua tion of more than $90 per ton. ine duik or the merchandise from coastwise ports J fruit and rarden truck from California, averaginr in value possibly $20 per ton. The valua tion placed on it by the harbormaster is $S2 per ton. Exports coastwise an- pear with 9814 tons of "merchandise" valued at $991.i,S, or something over tiw per ton. although nearly all of these exports consisted of wheat, oats, flour and mlllfeed, ranging in value from $20 to 540 per ton. Hawaii was also a Rood purcnaser or "merchandise," taking 962 tons valued at $86,633. or something more than $90 per ton. although the manifests of the vessels clearlnc- for onoiuiu show but few commodities except flour, feed and lime. These fig ures are xair samples of the entire re port, and show quite plainly the kind of service the Government Is sanctioning oy giving it space in an official publl cation. There are a good manr barna cles attached to the hull of the Gov ernment ship, but among them all none are quite so useless as the statisticians who allot the compilation of statistics to town-booming Jugglers of figures. It is to oe hoped that'the Department of Commerce and Labor will be "readv and wining" to correct this abuse and compile its figures from official sources. WHO TATS THE TAX? The receipts from the license tax on insurance companies in the State of Oregon for the year 1905 amounted to $60,8510. or an increase of about $1600 over the previous year. This money goes Into the slate treasury, and is applicable to payment of general state expenses. It is a common as sumption that, because this money is paid to the State Treasurer by the In surance companies, the burden of tax ation upon property-owners of the state has been lightened to that ex tent. A moment's thought will dispel the illusion. The insurance companies fix the rates of Insurance which they charge the people for protecting them from loss by fire. Aside from that com petition which arises from the opera tions of a purely mutual insurance as sociation, the insurance companies are absolute in their power to raise or lower rates for insurance. The pr- .erty-owner has no voice In the matter. By virtue of an agreement aanong themselves, the companies all charge the same rate, and the insured can get no reduction unless some agent violates the rule which forbids him to divide his commlMtea in order to get the busi ness. How, then, can It be reasoned that the Insurance ampanles pay the tax? If the State of Oregon should raise the gross earnings tax from 2 per cent te S per cent, when the Leris- lature meets next Winter, weals' not the insurance companies raise their rates to cover this expense? The gross earnings tax Is merely an indirect method of taxation, and makes but Uttie change In ptecing the bvrde. Land. f cerasse. is not teetered, so the owner e real estate upon which there are no tHStkHngs bears no part mC the Insurance tax. Bt a Terr conaiirah.W part of the vahwMe real jtreeerty of, the stave hs tasUdtn neon JL and wery owner of a. bailding who carries i insurance helps pay the tax. Every merchant who preteot himself from 1 by the burning M his stock r goods, and every householder who has a policy upon his furniture, pays his bre of the Insurance tax. He pays his portion of the tax in the form of a mall percentage of his premium, and Ptrhaps does not know at the time that a part of his money Is going into the atate treasury; but the fact remains the same. The tax is easier to pay, possibly, and causes less irritation, be cause somehow or other the tax fea ture is concealed and forgotten. And the same is true of nearly every form of Indirect taxation. Was It the express company that paid the stamp tax during the Spanish-American War? Net at alL Every man who shipped a package was charged for the stamp that went on the receipt Did the tele graph companies pay any portion of the war tax? Let any man answer who was called upon to pay for the revenue stamp that was pasted upon his message. This is not offered as an argument against the plan of Indirect taxation, but merely as a denial of the assump tion that the corporation pays the tax. Indirect taxation has as much to com mend It as the practice of putting up bitter medicine in sugar-coated pellets. And yet there? may be Instances In which the tax would fall upon the cor poration. This would be true In the case of corporations which have a charge that could not be raised to meet the small amount of the tax. Take, for example, a street railway company which charges a five-cent fare. If a law should be enacted requiring pay ment or a 2 per cent gross earnings tax, this would mean one-tenth of a cent on each fare. The company could not raise the fare to six cents, so it is evident that, unless some change could be made In the rules regarding trans fers, the tax would fall upon the cor poration. From this it imwt be plain that., In order to impose and collect a tax upon a public-service corporation, the pub lic must have and exercise not only the power to establish the tax. but also the power to regulate the rates to be charged the public for service. What would be gained by Imposing a gross earnings tax on a gas or electric com pany, if there ahould-be no limitation upon the power of the company to fix the charges, the quality of the service, or the accuracy of. meter readings? The people, or such portion of them as deal with public-service corporations, have a right to a voice in the fixing of charges which they must pay, and, un til this right has been recognized and enforced by effective laws, the dis tribution of the tax burden cannot be equitably adjusted. The American wheat market seems to oe quite puzzling In Its antics this season. The decrease in the visible yes- leruay was the smallest for the past four years, and the total was 15.000.000 bushels greater than one year ago. World's shipments were nearly 3.0G0.C00 bushels greater than a year ago, and quantities on passage were 5OV) ooo bushels greater than on the same date last year. Despite this array of bearish ngures, the market showed a substan tlal gain In Chicago, and even the Eu ropean market was a shade firmer. The Argentine again demonstrated Its prom inence as a factor In the world's mar kcts by showing up with shipments for last week of 4.032.000 bushels, or nearly one-nair of the total amount hlpped from all countries. Russia, with ship ments of 1.944.009 bushels. Is clearly still a iacior to oe reckoned with In spite or ner troubles and famines at home. Even the small boy is not the only one attracted by the Wild West show. uiuiiaiurc reoeinon is in progress among the Apaches at Fort Sill because permission to Join-a show has been re fused a number of the young bucks. An exception had been made In the case of Geronlmo. who was permitted to join the show on account of his nrc vious good behavior, and this action has aroused the feelings of those who ore forced to stay at home. There was a time when a threatened Apache out break was viewed with alarm, but they are so rew in number and broken In spirit that their "outbreak." even If It should become a reality, would not ex cue mucn more fear or cause much more trouble than one of the kind In which they indulge as part of the per rormance in the show. The accident or occurrence bv which the little son of Henry B. Mayble. of this city, lost his life a few days ago is moat distressing. When two little boys contend for the possession of a loaded guiL a serious result is likely to follow. Xo one is censurable in this Instance. the father not knowing the gun was loaded or within reach of the boys. The wonder Is. not that a distressing accl dent like this occasionally occurs, bu that so many boys1 escape the conse quences of a restless. Inoulrlnsr. miw dlesome spirit In chlidnood. and reach manhood without loss of some of their members. Given a clean young man. Inexperi enced In practical politics, who thinks well of himself, has courage and Is a good "mixer." you have the type of man that the proletariat will trust, "Sher- ble" Becker. Milwaukee's new Mayor. shows the trend or American politics. "ir thou art our King, order the vol cano to stop,' exclaimed & trustful sub ject of the King of Italy, who Is visit ing the stricken district. As the vol cano has not stopped, it Is apparent that there are still limitations to the power of Kings. If the meeting is In keeping with the tone of the messages that burnt up the wires between Zlen City and Mexico. Chicago will have Naples and her belching veleaae clear oat of ihe run ning as a "hot stuff" sensation. Apostle Dewie Is now In the same class with certain ex-presidests of life insurance companies, and fer the same cause. Neither policy-holders sor re ligious zealots forgive treason in finan cial matters. A thousand deUara per asre was paid yesterday for land near the fair ground that was unsalable at $3W per acre a year age. Thus do we witness the stomp "after the Fair." Dowie ought te have no trouble In establiekmg the title of Zlen as the real church m hit ant. Thte XataWe WerM. PKtttatrz Fmc Sfe H4 a4 Imt Mttt ka4. Bet Msct I efNj, Met; A yr ifcej-Te mw km aiitM. a4 He nk sr fcr ta -intnl THE SILVER LINING. Bs- A. L BaHarC A sprightly and good-natured cerre spoBdent evidently thtaks that I have given brute man too large a shewing, and' hastens te offer the following daliss of the ornamental sex to verstScatien'a feas ors. I hasten to print It. Heret A Few "Worsen. Many a woman's a Christian. Only a few are had; Many a woman Is ready To tackle any eld fad. Many a woman Is naughty. Many a woman is good. Many a. woman stands ready To try a new breakfast food. Many a woman Is giddy. Many a woman Is gay. Many a woman Is willing To give her man away. Many a woman is short. Many a woman Is long. Many a woman so cheap You can buy her for a song. Many a woman lacks money And never has enough. It isn't very funny Always to lack the stuff. ilany a woman Is taken. Many a woman is left. Many a woman is happy After she Is bereft. Many a woman is quiet. Many a woman's a tease. Many a woman In Summer Is horribly tortured with fleas. Many a woman's true-blue. Many a woman's a fake. Many a woman will marry Any wealthy old rake. Many a woman's a ninny And deadly afraid of a goat. But when It comes to a show-down They are nervy enough to vote. Many a woman Is healthy. Many a woman Is sick. But If they are young and wealthy They can always have their pick Many a woman Is willing Willing to save a dime: Many a woman Is happy When 'working overtime. Many a woman ls sour. Many more are sweet. Many a woman gets weary Trying to cover her feet. Many a woman Is waiting And ready to come to the fore. If you dare to doubt us We'll have to write some more. FINALE. I'm nat a goose, but a mallard. Making a fight for fame. Trying to make 'a h Ballard Hide his head in shame. RHYMING SUSAN. When each duty comes up. say. "Now or never for speed." Remember, facility counts. There is an essentially correct reason for a man feeling superior to his fellow men when he rises early In the morning and knows that many of his confreres are still asleep. Keep on doing this and youH win out nobly. The world Is whirl ing around at rather a lively gait, and the fellow who works while the other fellow sleeps stands a good show. AH the world's a stage, and every moth er's son of us wants to be the property man. - A bachelor can sew on buttons better than he can mend his ways. The. odds are against people who marry to get even. He remarked that theatrical life was expensive, for It took quite a figure to go on the 'stage. Getting your own consent to crawl out of a warm bed on a cold morning is the hardest problem of existence. r Definitions. (Tips on the Race of Life. IDLE GOSSIP-Gosslp is never idle It la the most industrious thing on earth. COUNT When used as a noun It means the number of times you have made a fool of yourself; when applied as a. pre fix to a man's name It means that he Is no account. SLIPPER When It's on It's an Inspira tion of the devil; when It's off It's a re membrance of heaven. THROUGH When a horse wins a race be comes "through"; when your elrl smiles and doesn't stop to speak, she's tnrougn ; when you spend your last quarter for beef and beans, you're "through": when election day coism mo.it of the candidates are "through"; Dowie is "inrougb Just at present: so ! th P ttl nhBSh"; Mayor Lane Is "near- lit. c gamoiers are not turouxn : a woman 1 nr.vnr thn.n.h- untll she Joins hands In the unholy mix- tutc ui ncuiocK ana aivorce. Need or More Had Icy 5. Dea Moines fla.1 Herbert 'S. Hadley. the vouthftit tt-- ncy-Gencral of Missouri, who has forced mc aianaara Ull Uomranr tn It vn.M modestly pays of his victory: "I have a wajpunjM no more man any lawyer of ordinary Intelligence and could have done. I was simply trying a lawsuit In a lawyer-like way. I was not tiKvuunK me standard oil Company, but only trying to punish It for failure mi comorzn to tne laws of Missouri." in omcr woras tals Toosr lairr- M umnc ma QUIT. He ns 'nat gages in a reform crusade. He was only up " his responsieuHy, He was not trying to raaCe law simply to enforce IU He was the roan behind the law. We need that sort of law officer. May his tnoe increase! The law la th i-rLw-. of the moral sense of the people. The war to enforce the moral eae of th people is to enforce the law. It N av for the Herbert Hadleys te win wrr. -mi taey need to do te te do their datv without fear or favor. That simple path leads straight te the reirard and rrjRuwf w. pwfiic tvnat we need today in ear country is net more law, but more .naaKys. The Jag Indicator. New York Press. A pretty little device of the wicked which Is attracting- a good deal ef at tention In restaurants, cabarets. - sadas. cafes and hospices these ears la called the "Jag indteater." It was invented for the beaeat of geed fel low who de net know when they have bad enough te drink. It is a greea freg with pink specks anon its body, and is abent three-auarters at an inch long. The customer receives one from the bartender, which he is ask to put m Ms pocket and ta place sjpett the bar before each sh een. drink After a drink Mister. Crapand is returned to the pocket. As as the easterner sees upon the bar mere than one free; or thinks he sees the frer move, he Js esneeted y. rewtlred to eK. drfcakSa' for the day- IN THE. OREGON COUNTRY. Te the Woods! PxiaevHle Ttevicw. Invisible skirts are to be worn by the fair sex this coming Summer. The lum ber camps for the bashful man! Ha! Roseburg Review. That Chicago story about Elijah Bow ie's harem would indicate that the prophet had designs about a seat In the United States Senate. Wonld Be Johnny on the Spot. Drain NonpareiL We don't like to publish a birth after the child is weaned, a marriage after the honeymoon is over, nor a death after the widow is married again, i Answer All Letters. Hoed River News-Letter. We have a good country with many ex ceptional advantages, and every loyal citizen should feel that he is a committee of one to let the world know thereof. Write your friends. Buy Dirt. Baker Democrat. He who Invests his money in commer cial real estate, protects himself against the dangers of mortgage foreclosure In hard times, cannot possibly fall, invest his money wherever ho may. From the 3Hnority Standpoint. Baker Democrat. Whenever a man organizes a political machine be spreads corruption. The trus citizen will fight the machines In hit county and precinct, wipe them out and restore clean, honest politics. m Prlnevllle Point or A'Icw. Review. Puter. the Irrepressible, was taken and allowed to disappear again. For the good of the State of Oregon and Its landed In habitants. Mr. Bums, for God's sake don't bring him back. We don't want him here. The Love or Country. Gresharo Record. The foundation of democracy is the small farm. Give a man a home. If only an acre of ground, that he may calk his own. and his love for It will endear him to the Nation thus making a patriot of him. Washington Giant. , Yakima Republic Jim Fitzgerald Is a resident of Wapato. and Jim Is probably the biggest man In the state. He stands 6 feet and 7 Inche.j In his stocking feet, weighs about 25) pounds, and has a reach from tip to tip which measures seven feet. Opportunity's Last Knock. Drain Nonpareil. Good timber claims are becoming scarce, and soon all of the vacant ones will be gobbled up. There Is no safer or better Investment In the world. A claim, which will cost $160 now. will be worth that many thousands within a short time. Nature's Evcncr. Albany Democrat. Experience has shown that prospects don't amount to much until the weather is established for the year. Our farming interests have become sufficiently divers! fled so that a shortage In one direction Is generally followed by a surplus In soma otner. ' Oregon and the Hate. Bill. Klamath Republican. It Is up to the people of Oregon to-show the best friend of their rights that has ever been In the "White House that they approve of his course, that they are ready to support him and that they take the only means of publicly showing their gratitude by voting solidly for the straight Republican ticket. Washington Trapper's Prowess. Zach Turner Is a mighty hunter and trapper near Palmer Junction. Wash. Re cently he took to the King County Aud itor one cougar and la wildcat scalps, re celving $12.30 bounty. As a cat will eat a bird a day. experts estimate Mr. Turner has saved for the sportsmen of his region 50.CAQ game birds. The estimate Includes the young that would die If the cats made them orphans. Amende Honorable. Philomath "Review. In our last week's issue the Item In the Alsea column that Elzy Banton got 131 chickens from 111 eggs is a mistake. We make the correction before "poultry sharps" get hold of it and write it up for tne farm paper. Alsea Is a very product ive valley, but the hens haven't yet got round to the habit of having twins. The item should have read 81. Oregon Topnotchers. J. D. OlwelU in Medford Tribune. As long as the orchardists of this valley pey strict attention to quality, the ques tion of overproduction will never bother them. In New York City, which is the creat market for fine fruits. I found that Rogue River Spltzenbergs and Newtown ppins are the topnotchers. Of course. Hood River apples of the same varieties are quite equal to our. but together they noia tne paim. Sounds Like a Personal Appeal. Hood River News-Letter. v ny not establish a chair In O. A. C. to classify the grunts of our Wlllamtte pigs? No one cares a "beaver dam" what the monkey says. We are not rasing monkeys, that Is. of tho Simian variety, but If our pigs could tell us when their livers are getting out of order, so that we could shovel In a little stone coal, brick bats, or other tonic, before the pig shows ms aliment by nis anoearance. then he wne brings tma to pass will be a bene factor. The Pie Belt. Lewlston (Maine) Journal. The town of Shawraut. Mei. shipped i.eoe.GCO pleplates in one day last week. Of these. 2.G0G.0CO went to Providence. R. I., and ZWe.CCO to Baltimore. Now pie has long been held by philosophers to be the real brain feed ef Maine and certain other New England States. Especially has pie been the substratum of the Na tional eminence of Maine men. On pie they have reared the fabric of their greatness mince pie for endurance, custard pie for sympathetic tender nc. apple pie for philosophy, blue berry pie for rhythm, squash pie for eloquence and flow of worse, pumpkin pie fer old-fashioned common sense and strawberry pie fer polish and the graces ef society. All of these come from pie. Baltimore and Providence have evidently discovered the fact, and emuloas ef our greatness, have de cided to build en pie and wrest the supremacy ef Intellect, statesmanship and artaway from Maine, But they will never do it- Per here we build net only the pfe, hut also the moth er who make them. No pie factory can eempete; n treat-made goods ean approach these made here in the hm of the feUc- Smawmnt nwy sell platen er nie. bat Mntee baiters to t weman with the-apron who melds and Mens wx.a mmstte nicety that tktt tne sedn passed dewrcr from Oirmpas. and ftntteaed ta Its fatt m4 pies- , . . CONTROL 0FGAS RAJES. New York Tribune, April 4, Expressly denying the "confiscation argument on which the gas companies based their case, Governor Higglns signed today the Page-Agnew Se-cent gas bllL This bill, he explained, was merely another part of the recommen dations of the Stevens committee which the Legislature did not heed when It passed the bill creating the gas com mission and despite the declarations that by It the Legislature was usurp ing tho powers of its commission, the duty of all good public servants was clear. The enacting of this law. the Govern or holds is a distinct rebuke to the grasping corporations. Governor Higglns, in approving the bill, set forth his reasons at length. In his memorandum he said: The corporate interests affected by this legislation contend that, inasmuch as the Legislature of 1905 created a gas commission with power to regulate the price of gas after Investigation. It is Inconsistent now to fix such price by law. A brief reference to the history of gas legislation refutes this plea. The Joint committee of the Senate and As sembly was appointed to investigate the lighting question only' so far as concerned the City of New York. After taking much testimony on cost of pro duction, value of plant and possible In come of the gas companies, the com mittee reported a number of bills. In cluding an S0-cent gas bill for New York City, and also a state gas com mission bill, the latter for the purpose of dealing with the question generally, with special reference to other mu nicipalities where no legislative In vestigation had been had to guide the action of the Legislature. Its findings sustain this bill and jus tify the conclusion that present rates are excessive. Had all its bills become law, no action by the gas commission would have been necessary for New York City, and no such action was originally contemplated. The Legisla ture Is now only carrying Into effect the original recommendations or its committee. The 80-cent bill having been defeated last Winter. It became necessary to resort to the commission to obtain the desired relief which the committee sought to give forthwith. But the Consolidated Gas Company not only questions the constitutional power or the Legislature to delegate to a com mission the authority to regulate rates, but challenges In the courts the fair ness of the $9-cent rate already estab lished by the state commission for the Borough of Manhattan. It la therefore entirely consistent and proper for the Legislature te deal with the matter di rectly and a effectively aa possible, rather than to abandon the orig inal scheme of legislation recommend ed by the committee. Distrust of democratic institutions prevails where the self-interest of the few' is potent and the self-interest of the many i3 powerless; where wealth rather than manhood determines who shall enjoy the choicest privileges in the community, and where public serv ice corporations flourish while consum ers suffer. Distrust of democracy like wise prevails where wealth is con stantly threatened with confiscation by unjust and unequal laws. The hope of democracy lies not wholly In municipal ownership, where, the fair incentive of personal gain being with drawn, public utilities may perhaps be operated in a shiftless manner and at a loss, so that taxation of property must be resorted to In order that such utilities may be enjoyed at less than cost. It lies rather In the careful re striction of companies to a. fair return on the value of their Investment. Con fiscation. If permitted by political ex pediency, which looks no further thdn the next campaign for the rule of right to govern Its action, is prohibited by the constitution of state and Nation. When one devotes his property to a public use he grants the public an in terest In that use. and must submit to be controlled by the public for the com mon good. The state haa the power to make reasonable rejrulntlea of the chance for tervlcea rendered by cor porations eagaged In the hUMlneaa of BtanttfactarlBBr and gelling IlIumlaatlBK gas. To what extent may this regula tion go? The authorities must fix upon a price which is reasonable. The power to regulate Is not a power to destroy. The property of a corporation cannot he wrested from It for the benefit of the public Its stockholders should re ceive some compensation for the use of the money they have Invested. Yet the courts have held that judicial Interfer ence should not occur unless the cast; presents clearly and beyond all doubt such a flagrant attack upon the rights of property under the guise of regu lation as to compel the court to say that the rates prescribed will neces sarily have the effect to deny Just com pensation for private property taken for publift use. AH laws regulating rates are subject to judicial review. Judicial inqulry may best determine where rcsrulatlon ends and confiscation begins, but tho power and the duty of the Legislature In this case seem clear, and the exam ple of prompt and vigorous action should bo a restraint on extortion and greed, and welcome evidence of the loyalty of public servants to the in terests of the people. Various Brands of Headache. New York Press. There are more than 30 kinds of head ache." said a physician, "and sufferers from the more common forms may cure themselves by locating the cause and treating themselves accordingly. The more frequent forms arc a dull pain across the forehead, due to dyspepsia: a pain In the back of the head, due to the liver; a bursting pain in both temples, duo to malnutrition; an ache on the top of the head, as though a weight pressed on the skull, due to overwork: an ache between the brows, just above the base of the nose, due to eye strain." Wifely Forethought. Boston Globe. Wife It's all right If you have -failed. I have $600 saved up from money that you've given me from time to time. Husband That will be a big help. Wife Help? I guess it will. Why. that will just buy my Winter outfit. One Valuable Asset. Slmplicisstmua. What's the matter with the man in the second story of this house? The doctor's been coming regularly for the past three months: "Oh. He's the doctor s best patient. He doesn't get well, and he doesn't die!" Oh! Cleveland Leader. Miss Elder I believe people are be ginning to call me an old maid. Miss Younger O, no, dear Miss Elder Thank you. dear I Miss Younger They began that years ago. Brought It on Himself. Washington Star. "You say that Faro Jim came to his end through contributory negligence?" "Yes." answered Broncho Bill. "Ke showed down fear aces in a poker name. an two or 'em was the ace of 'diamonds." The Professor's Towns; "Wife. , - Tepeka Capital. There is at least this te say of Pro fessor Harvey Worrell's young, and ateed looking wife:. She is .keeping the professor .oC the atrsets." . X