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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 9, 1906)
i VOL. XLVI.-XO. 14,107. PORTLAND, OREGOy, SATURDAY. JUXE 9, 1006. ' Fit ICE FIVE CENTS. . . . 4 fl I 001 BRYAN CATCHES CHICAGO IIIinoisLeadersQuicklv Quit Hearst. CONSERVATIVES ALL LINED UP Ownership Man Breaks Out in Frenzy of Wrath. DENOUNCES PARTY CHIEFS Force, of Tidal Wave at First Took His Breath, but Now He Battles Willi It Dunne Known as Hearst Man. CHICAGO. June 8. (Special.) The Bryan boom struck Chicago today. '-William Jen nings Bryan for President in 190S" was the theme wherever Democratic politi cians gathered, and Republican leaders paid the movement that has been making itself felt throughout the country for sev eral weeks means that the Republicans will have a real battle on their hands in the next National contest. Members of the executive committee of the Iroquois Club met during the forenoon and decided that a banquet and reception will be ten dered the Nehraskan upon his return from abroad. A meeting of the committee to take definite steps toward arranging the affair will be called within a few days. Will Swing Illinois Into Line. Democrats throughout the state who supported W. I Hearst for President In 1904 have been sounded by state organi zation leaders, and it was learned today that the verdict of the country districts Is for Bryan for President in 1908. In .addi tion to the former Hearst following. It is now practically certain that Bryan will have the cemontin,? power of the Hopkins. 9ullivan state organization and the com pact and militant Harrison machine In Chicago also behind him. It is the talk on all sides of the political ramparts that Bryan resolutions will be presented to the Peoria state convention of the party Au gust 21 and carried with a demonstration that will make "good reading" throughout the country. Growth of Tidal Wave. The recent rush to the Bryan standard, in which Missouri, Arkansas, South Da kota and Indiana have participated, la compared by the political captains to a tidal wave. On June 1 dispatches from Indianapolis heralded the fact that the Hoosier State convention would indorse the Nebraskan. A day later Tammany chieftains sent out word that the New York City organization would be with Bryan. On June 5 the Missouri state con vention went for Bryan. Governor Folk, who had been mentioned throughout the country as eligible for Presidential hon ors, was among the foremost leaders to declare ' for the leader of 1896 and 1900. David R. Francis, ex-Governor of Mis souri, epoke of Bryan as "the world's greatest private citizen." Arkansas and South Dakota fell into line June 6. The Arkansas resolutions were sprung as a surprise. A speech was made lauding the orator and the resolutions were passed without a dissenting voice! The South Dakota convention cheered every mention of the Nebraskan's name, and passed ius resolutions amid "a storm of applause." The Democrats who assembled at In dianapolis yesterday declared that Bryan's policies had been adopted by Roosevelt and bound the Democracy to him for the next Presidential con vention Insofar as resolutions can bind a party. The friends of Chairman Thomas Taggart, of the Democratic Na tional committee, and the conservatives are declared to have rivaled old-time Bryan men In the applause. Hearst at First Bewildered. Observers see the unfolding of a drama In the rise of Bryan and the de cline of Hearst. Hearst is believed by the politicians to have been prepared to attack any other formidable candi date whom the conservatives might bring forward and was at a loss tosee his way clear to strike at Bryan, whom he has supported in two campaigns. The Hearst men are known to have boomed weak candidates, that the forces so accumulated could be welded into a cohesive body and united for Hearst. A few weeks ago there was a meeting of prominent conservative Democrats in New YorK. Among the conferees was Roger C. Sullivan, of Chicago. It is sus pected that the conservative leaders then and there decided to support Bryan. Fours Wrath on Conservatives. Appointment of a conservative advis ory committee for the National Con gressional committee, which Is a Hearst body, aroused the full torrent of Hearst wrath and on May 31 Hearst formally broke with the conservative Democrats and began a series of at tacks upon them, denouncing Taggart, Sulilvan, Guffy, of Pennsylvania; Mc Graw, of West Virginia; Woodson, of Kentucky, and others as tools of the big corporations. If these men had any doubt up to that time as to whether they would be for Hearst or Bryan, the Hearst onslaught Is said to have de cided their course. The Bryan boom now in full swing Is receiving any sup port It majr cued from, the drilled and j trained forces .of the conservative Democracy that nominated Parker in 1D0-I. When Mayor Dunne was asked his opinion of W. J. Bryan today, he said: "Mr. Bryan Is a great man and ehould be go considered by all peoples Irrespective of rarty or anything else." The Mayor declined to talk about Bryan as a candidate. It is known that Hearst expects Dunne to support him for the Presidency, if he decided to do battle with Bryan. WHYTE TO SUCCEED GORMAN Governor Appoints Ei-Governor und Ex-Senator to Senate. BALTIMORE. Md., June 8. Governor Edwin Warfield has just announced the appointment by him of ex-Governor William Pinkney Whyte, of this city, to succeed the late United States Sena tor Arthur Pue Gorman. Ex-Governor and ex-Senator Whyte will enter the Senate for the third time and f-r the second time by appoint ment to till an unexpired term. In 1871 he was elected Governor of Maryland and In l!4 United States Senator. He declined re-election as Senator in 1880 and was elected Mayor of -Baltimore the following year. Folk Will Welcome Bryan.' JEFFERSON" CITY, Mo., June 8- Governor Folk tonight telegraphed ac ceptance of the invitation extended by Harvey Walker, of New York, to pre side over the meeting which will wel come W. J. Bryan, when he returns from his. trip around the world. FIRE DESTROYS FOUNDRY Hcacocli & Lawrence Iron Works Burned Loss About $15,000. Fire, originating from overheated cast ings, destroyed the Heacoek & Lawrence Iron Works, at East Seventh and Bel mont streets, at 1:45 o'clock this morning, burning property valued at $15,000. The blaze was not discovered until some time after the plant was on Are, and by the time the department arrived the en tire structure was in flames. Houses which surround the iron works were endangered, but the fire was not allowed to spread. The machinery in the rear of the works was completely de stroyed, and the castings which had been recently molded were rendered useless. The. company values its holdings at $15, 000. and was only partially insured. Two alarms were turned in for the same fire, the first from East Morrison and Grand avenue and the second from East Twelfth and Ankeny. Kef uses to Quush Indictments. NEW YORK, June 8. Recorder Goff today refused, a motion to dismiss the Indictments for alleged grand larceny and forgery found against Frederick A. Burnham, president; George Burn ham, Jr., vice-president and general counsel, and George Eldridge, vice president pf the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance Company. The motion was made on the ground that Illegal and incompetent evidence was submitted to the grand jury. Broken Drum Causes Death. . , OGDEN. Utah, June 8. (Special.) Her bert H. Holbrook a drummer in the Nichols Band, met death today as the re sult of a broken drum. Some person had stepped through the drum, and when Holbrook attempted to get on a street car later the broken head of the drum caught on a brake lever, throwing hln under the wheels, where he was killed Instantly. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER t The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 67 dt-fE. : minimum, 62 dee. TODAY'S ijhowera; winds mostly southerly. .Foreign. Czar summons ministers and change seems impending. Page 5. Radicals causing split among Russian Demo crats. Page 5. Greece and Roumania sever diplomatic re lations. Page 4. Great naval review planned In England Page 4. National. President llkley to win meat Inspection fight, though opposition is strong. Page 1 Another committee indorses Nelll-Reynolds report. Page 1. President insists on radical reform at pack eries. Page 4. Crumpaeker denies authority of Congress to require meat Inspection. Page 3. Hitchcock again wants Sheldon Jackson's scalp. Page 4. Politics. General stampede of Democrats to Bryan continues and enrages Hearst. Page 1 Successor to Senator Gorman appointed. Page 1. Gearin says Legislature must elect Bourne, Page 5. Domestic. San Francisco unites to bring Insurance . companies to terms. Page 1. Another high official of Pennsylvania rail road implicated In coal charges. Page 4 Hurricane does great damage in Southern Ontario. Page 1. Rival claimants for lost boy at Boonvllle. page z. Man who began as .telegraph operator re tires a multl-mllllonalre. Page 5. Feud In Polish church causes murder. . Page 5. Sport. Portland wins from Los Angeles In five- Inning ball game. Page 7. Pacific Coast. "Washington State Bar Association to meet at Everett, July 12-14. Page 11. A. A. Armstrong hanged at "Walla Walla for murder of Robert Patton at Aberdeen. Page 9. Burglars loot five stores in Clarkston, Idaho; three suspects arrested Page 0. Seattle manufacturers plan invasion of Ore gon markets. Page t$. Thirty guests of fashionable Seattle board ing-house poisoned by raspberry tarts. Page 6. Commercial and Marine. Foreign hop crops are backward. Page 15. Chicago wheat market makes further ad vance. Page 15. No outside interest in stock speculation. Page 15. Commodity prices highest In 20 years. Page 15. Stowaway on steamer Dulwich 1b allowed to ship for home. Page 14. American-Hawaiian steamships may call at Portland. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Woman suffragists declare that their en franchisement is not beaten, but merely postponed, and that they will try again. Page 16. Corporations are squirming under tax laws just enacted at the polls. Page 1. Democrats of the Coast are boosting Cham berlain for the nomination for the Presi dency. Page 10. Puter will soon be sentenced. Page 16. Surveyors in the field for the Harrlman line to Puget Sound. Page 13. Court asked to give divorce decrees where marriages have proved failures. Page 10. Fire on East Side early this morning. Pa A. ... L BEAT BEEF TRUST Though House Com mittee Opposes. . PUBLIC OPINION BEHIND HIM Will Secure Inspection of Meat-Packing Houses. ANOTHER ADVERSE REPORT Agricultural Department Indorses Main Charges of Neill and Reyn olds in Exhaustive State ment of Conditions! OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, June 8. In spite of the power ful influence being brought to bear directly and indirectly by the beef trust. President Roosevelt will in all probability be able to secure the flnal enactment of the Beveridge meat in spection amendment to the agricultu ral bill or some legislation equally ef fective. The current hearings have shown that a majority of the House committee is opposed to radical legis lation and, unless there shall be a change of sentiment, the committee will report a substitute amendment that will not be satisfactory or ac ceptable to the President. However, public sentiment on this, as on the rate question, is behind Mr. Roosevelt, and on a great issue of this character that affects every American family, the House of Representatives will naturally legislate to meet the demands of the general public. Willing Servants of Trust. Chairman Wadsworth and Represen tatlve Lorimer, of Chicago, have shown themselves to be willing servants of the beef trust and throughout the In vestigation have used every opportu nity to discredit witnesses who have advocated stringent Government in spection of meat. Mr. Wadsworth's po sition Is not generally understood, but grows out of the fact that he himself is a large stockralser and has been in close touch with the trust. Mr. Lorimer, while a member of the agriculture committee, never attended Its meetings until the beef investigation came up since when he has been on hand every day; has been active in the attempt to discredit the Nelll-Reynolds report and has shown up in his true light as a direct representative of the Chicago packers, who apparently control him completely. The facts that these two friends of the beef trust are leading the fight against the President has a ten dency to weaken the opposition. Protests From Stockmen. The beef trust has cleverly worked up sentiment among the stockgrowers of the West antagonistic to the Beve ridge amendment, making it appear that this legislation would injure the stock industry. Hundreds of protests against the amendment have been re ceived by Western men from stock- growers of their states, but these tel egrams have comparatively little ef feet, for many Western Congressmen do not believe the Beveridge amendment will work any great injury to the stock industry. Moreover, they take the position that the health of the en tire American people is to be considered above the interests of the stockgrow ers. Cannon Against Roosevelt. In this fight Speaker Cannon and practically the entire Illinois delega tion have lined up against the presi dent and ordinarily the Speaker could control the House, but the opinion pre vails today that Mr. Cannon will be overturned unless he changes his at tltude and supports legislation accept able to the President. The House in vestigatton has been conducted in a high-handed manner by Mr. Wadsworth and Mr. Lorimer and the Government representatives have been treated most unfairly, while every consideration has been shown the representatives of the packers. This is proving another im portant factor In forcing through stringent legislation. ANOTHER OFFICIAL REPORT Agricultural Department Partly In dorses Neill and Reynolds. WASHINGTON, June 8. What is known as the Department of Agriculture report on packing-house conditions was sent by the President to the House today. A part of this report is a letter "dated April 5, 1906. from A. D. Melvin, Chief of the Bu reau of Animal Industry,, in which he says, commenting on the sanitary condi tions: 'From personal observation I know that sanitary conditions at abattoirs where this bureau maintains inspectors, while not always satisfactory, are much superior to those at the average establish ment without such inspection." Further he says he knows that many diseased animals are not shipped to mar ket centers where inspection is main tained. He advises the most rapid ex tension of the Inspection possible, and says the demand for inspection is much greater than can be supplied. "It might be well to state," he says. "that in any slaughter-house, no matter how sanitary conditions may be, there is much that ia revolting to one not accus PRESIDENT WL tomed to such eights, and one who visits them must expect to witness scenes of. blood and offal and to have his nostrils offended by disagreeable odors, as well as to see finely dressed beef and mutton and tempting (lams and bacon. ' Will Improve Inspection. -He says the report of the committee of three officials of the department is fully approved by the Bureau of Ani mal -Industry, and that wherever weakness In the system of inspection has been indicated steps will at once be taken to remedy the conditions. He says he will obey the order of the Sec- rretary that when proprietors refuse to place their premises in a sanitary con dition he will withdraw ths Inspec tion. The report of the committee of three, dated April 3, and signed by Joan L. Mohler, Chief of the Patholog ical- Division; R. P. Steddom, Chief of the Inspection Division, Bureau of An imal Industry, and George P. McCabe, Solicitor of the Department of Agrl tulture, accompanied the report. The report consists of 143 typewritten pages. The committee began its work in Chicago March 12 and concluded March 22. All abattoirs in Chicago having Govern ment Inspection and two others were in spected. System of Inspection. The report deals' with eight subjects: The ante-mortem meat Inspection service; the Federal post-mortem inspection, in cluding microscopic Inspection; the meat inspection service maintained at Chicago; the meat Inspection maintained by the City of (Jhlcago; the Government supervis ion of canned products; the sanitary con dition of each establishment; the legal phase of the question, and the conclusions and recommendations of the committee. The report begins with the Union Stock yards, at Chicago, 500 acres, all but 50 acres of which is paved. "The drainage te good," the report says, "and the pens are kept as clean as the character of their use will permit." The ante-mortem in spection is commended, and the statement says rejected animals are required to be removed by their owners from the pens and are disposed of under the law at an official abattoir, under the supervision of Federal, state and city officials. In 22 es tablishments in 6hcago meat products are inspected. The committee entered every room in the institutions visited in making its in quiry regarding sanitation. The report says : The sanitary condition in some of the abat toirs ia good; In some it Is fair and In others It is bad. Rats Gnaw One Carcass. The dans-er of misstating an episode for a nraettce is illustrated by an Incident whloh the committee learned March 24 at abattoir No. 1. In the cooler of thla plant two rats were observed consuming the meat or a con demned hog carcass. In no other abattoir were any rats or rat excrement seen, although the committee visited every room and cellar of each abattoir. In many cases cats were maintained in the abattoirs to exterminate rata and other means of preventing th$ depr-jda- tions of rats were also Observed. The report stste-s that it Is impossible to make a general Investigation of sani tary conditions, and, continuing the com ment on this same abattoir, says: Cleaning Up Killing-Room. The wall and woodwork of the killing-room are painted the height of ten feet and pre sented a clean appearance. Above the paint the woodwork ui whitewashed, but not re cently. The timbers were wet, probably the result of steam. There was dirt on overhead rafters and beams. The windows of this room were dirty. The natural light and ven Illation were good. The visit of the committee was unannounced and it was observed that workmen were engaged in cleaning tne floors. benches and variu portions of the machin ery- The odor of chloride of lime was no ticed. At the close of the day's work the killing floor was washed with equal parts of caustic soda and nine tar. -Hollowed by an application of "hot. steaming water." Hot water was also applied to the floor or the cutting-room. The order of the superintendent, as report ed by one workman, was, "No saving of soda; make it clean. Bad Steam Readies Meats The water-closets for the workmen all open Into a common shaft terminating In a trough, through which a constant stream of -water was flowing. In one of these closets a jet of live steam was playing on the excrement and the vapor was rising and being disseminated across the rail, on which some carcasses were being carried to the cooler. The floors in some of the lower places were an Inch deep In brine. Salt pork was In j.iles on the floor without racks, except an order from the "War Department, which was on racks and cleared the floor by six inches. The beefhouae was next Inspected from a sanitary point. The coolers were in good con dltlon. The retainlng-room was almost filled with meat, part condemned by Federal in spectors and the other part by city inspectors. The Government room had good natural light, but windows were dirty; the room had a good brick floor. Tripe-Room Is Filthy. ' The tripe-room was In a filthy condition and full of steam. The fat and bone room has little natural light: otherwise it was In good condition. The sausage cooling-room was commended. In the sweet pickle cellars water was drip Ding from the ceilings continuously, and in t mall trimming-room adjoining water was dripping on tables where women were trim ming meat. On the sheep-kllllng floor the general con ditions were good. The water-closet opened directly from the Rilling noor, and the parti tlon did not reach to the celling. One em ploye was observed urinating In the gutter of the killing floor. Where Conditions Are Good. The smoke-room conditions were said to be very good; also the dressing-room of the beef-killing gang. The water closet is located in a corner of the killing- bediJ. The sausage-plant department and smoked-beel department were commend ed. In the main tank-room a water-closet is located which Is apparently not flushed, and was found In an unsanitary condition. Another canning-room was clean, light and dry. In the chipped-beef department the floors were old and wooden, but clean. Tliere was some evidence of whitewash on the walls and ceilings, and the lower woodwork was painted. The water-closet ' for men in the can ning-room is separated and well flushed. though poorly lighted. Floor Crusted With Dirt. The beef-extract department has cement floors and clean windows, is nicely white washed and painted, and ia generally san itary. In the beef-cutting and trimming room "the floor was crusted with dirt. Artiflcial light." Abattoir No. 2 was gone through with the same detail, and the condition report ed better In many -respects than in No. 1. The cooking, stuffing and soldering room in No. 2 was given this description: Where Canned Goods Are Cooked This room contains a -processing machine in which the canned product is cooked In oil, and the room is ventilated over this machine, Concluded on Page 3. A EXASPERATE CITY BY LONG DELAYS Insurance Men Defer Paying Losses. SAN FRANCISCO HAS UNITED Sufferers by Fire Present Solid Front to Them. MILLIONS IDLE IN BANKS All Manner of Devices to Avoid Pay ment or Reduce Amounts Di rectors May Be Sued Black list of Procrastlnators. BT P. A. SINSHEIMER. SAN FRANCISCO, June 8. (Special cor respondence.) Interest here has centered in the Insurance situation. Business con ditions remain uncertain and wait upon the settlement of losses. The time has come when the insurance companies must positively declare themselves. The policies held by San Franciscans call for the pay ment of about $200,000,000. So far. but little more than $3,000,000 has been paid, and al most all of this was In small amounts. The $200,000,000 Is needed to enable the peo ple of the city to resume business. How badly the money is needed may be gath ered from the clearing-house figures. In May. 1905. the clearances in San Fran cisco amounted to $147,000,000. For May, 11)06, the clearances amounted to $50,000,000. In other words, one-third, as much busi ness was done last month as in the cor responding month a year ago. People Wait, Millions Idle. The policyholders have become weary of the dilatory tactics of the insurance com panies. They have refrained from erlti clKtn for six weeks, but now are Insisting that their -claims be paid without further delay. The policyholders of each com pany have banded together for protection. They have the support of the newspapers, the commercial bodies and the Industrial and commercial organizations of every city on the Coast. They no longer deal as single individuals with the Insurance companies, but present a solid front which is not to be repulsed. This organization will save them in the end. It is known that millions of dollars are lying dormant in the banks of this city and Oakland to the credit of the insurance companies. The question naturally sug gests Itself: Why do not the insurance companies pay? The answer is that they are trying to drive the best bargain they can, hoping to bring'about a compromise in the end. These are not pretty tactics, but nevertheless they are used. - ... Rich Men Dodge Liability. Of course, some companies cannot pay In full. These concerns will be allowed to settle on the best terms they can. How ever, the companies which are irritating the local policyholders are those controlled by wealthy men, who are able as indi viduals to settle in full, but who are seek ing to wreck their concerns and hold on to their millions, which represent the pre miums paid by the people. One' company has already gone into the hands of a receiver, 32 other American companies have been forced to take some special action owing to their losses, five companies have reinsured In other corpo rations, eight companies have announced an increase in capital stock, 18 concerns have taken steps to provide special funds, either by stock assessment or otherwise, and one company has suspended business In California. Several foreign' companies have also been forced "to take special ac tion as a result of their losses. One hun dred and seven" companies suffered losses in the disaster, and from the foregoing it will be observed that few of them will weather the storm without some mighty clever maneuvering. Must Pay Dynamite Losses. The companies, at a recent meeting in New Tork, decided not to pay the losses due to the earthquake, but left the ques tion as to the dynamited buildings in an uncertain condition. Indications are that the companies will not be able to escape payment for the structures blown up to stay the progress of the flames. The best legal opinion is on'fhe side of the owners. It has been contended by the insurance companies that the" delay In payment was occasioned by the necessity of adjusting In cases where the companies had rein sured. A sort of insurance clearing-house was established to deal with this phase of the situation. All went well until the announcement was made this week that the decision of the insurance clearing house was not binding. In other words, if the loss is apportioned, those companies which are pleased with the apportion ment will pay, but those not pleased, will not pay, and the policy-holder can whistle for his money. It is positively known that 781 large claims) have already been adjusted in this manner, but there have been no payments as yet. Obstruct Removal of Debris. Another source of trouble is the lack of harmony among the insurance companies In regard to the removal of the debris. Some companies will allow it, and others will not. Most of the large buildings were Insured in more than one company. Therefore. If some small company shows an Inclination to be fuasy (as most of them, jiave), the. debris must remain and building operations cannot be begun. These tactics stand in the way of prog ress. . The companies must show their hands in no uncertain manner this week. The loss of the California Wine Association has been brought to a head. It repre sents about $1,000,000. and several compa nies are Interested. This adjustment will be watched with keen Interest, as It is the first of the big losses to approach a settlement. If the settlement is not prompt, affairs between the policy-holders and the companies will begin to buzz. Hot on Trail of Traders. The means employed to force compro mises of losses are interesting. The Traders" Company, of Chicago, for in stance, sent an attorney, Thomas Bates, to the Coast to confer with the policy holders. The Traders has done a big business in this city, and the claims against it .aggregate $5,000,000: This is the company, by the way, which has passed Into the hands of a receiver. Bates met the policy-holders in this city during the week, gave them a long talk about the "square thing," told them that the directors had left nothing undone which could be done for the policy-holders, and ended by offering to square all acounts at 60 cents on the dollar. The policy-holders adjourned to take the matter under con sideration. Then they placed themselves In touch with Chicago, where the com pany has Its main office. They learned that the Traders company was controlled by a group of men at the head of which are: John J. Mitchell, T. J. Lefens, Clarence Buckingham, B. A. Hamill and Charles L. Hutchinson. The Individual fortunes of these men will reach $50,000,000. Lefens is the wealthiest German in Chicago, and the other men are bank, presidents or vice-presidents. The organization of the Traders was also Inquired into. It had a capital of $300,000 and a surplus . of $1,300,000, and had writ ten, policies throughout the world to the amount of $160,000,000, and yet, when It was hit to the tune of $5,000,000 in San Francisco, It threw up its hands and de cided to let the policy-holders go hang. However, there is a little law on the -statute books of San Francisco which has been there so many years and so lit tle used that people had forgotten about it. It provides that the policy-holders may hold the Individual directors of a fire insurance company responsible for claims against the company. When this was brought to the notice of. the million aire directors In Chicago and suit threat ened, they called for their attorney to come home, and announced that they would make another effort to satisfy the policy-holders. The case was aggravated by the action of the company in refusing to agree to a proposed assessment of $300 a share to meet the San Francisco obligations. The assessment was favored by some honest men In the directorate, but others' refused to contribute from their private fortunes to fulfill their obligations, and the plan fell through. This is but a. sample of the methods at tempted. It must be said that the local agents are fighting bitterly against these tactics. They feel that they have betrayed their friends, whom they have induced to insure. The resident agent of one of the largest companies in the United States resigned in disgust last week because his company insisted upon shaving all claims against it. How the Shy locks Work. A typical case is the following. A lady called upon her agent to collect $500, the loss sustained through the destruction of her piano. The agent made a deep study of his papers. "I should like to collect the money as soon as possible," said the lady, "for I fear we shall need It very soon." "Oh," replied the agent, "why, it will take a long time to adjust this." "How long?" inquired the woman. "Oh, about a year I should say." "As long as that?" "Yes, that is if it goes through the reg ular channels. . However, if you wish to expedite it, we may be able to make some other arrangement." "What would you suggest?" "Well, we can pay you $300 at once If you are willing to take It in full settlement.- Personally, I should advise you to do that. We have any number of big claims to settle, and it is a question if we will be able to pay any of the small claims when we get through with those." The woman In most cases would accept the $300, but this one did not. This same method Is pursued with the larger claims, but the Incident cited came under the observation oT the writer and is given as a sample. Will Blacklist Crooked Ones. Some unexpected factors have appeared this week to improve the general outlook for the policyholder. The Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will pub lish a list of ah the companies which deal unfairly with the policyholders, and it has received the assurance of the leading com mercial organizations in the largest cities of America that they will see that the list circulates through their districts. The Credit Men's Association, which has branches in every city of any size in the United States, has resolved upon similar action. The State Legislature has determined upon a statute extending the time to file proofs of losses and another requiring every Insurance company to file with the State Insurance Commissioner a list of its policyholders In California, with the amounts. This last is a very important measure, as hundreds of persons had lost their policies and could not remember for what amount or in what company they were insured. Play for Time to Compromise. In general, it is the plan of the recalci trant companies to tire the policyholders until in desperation they will be willing to accept a compromise. Day after day they play for time, making appointments to adjust claims, then throwing a maze of technicalities in the way. It must be said, however. In justice to some of the larger concerns that they are showing a disposi tion to be just, but are hampered by the other concerns, whose only hope is in de lay and compromise. SQUARE COMPANIES WILL PAY They Cut Loose From Those Which Play for Delay. OAKLAND, Cal., June 8. The Board of Underwriters at a meeting held here to day adopted sweeping change's in Its pol icy toward loss adjustments with the passage of the following rule: Beginning with next week, the sub-committees' reports on losses will b filed with Concluded on Page. 2 GORPDRAT IONS M. SQUIRMING Are Looking Around for . Escape Holes. WILL FIGHT THE TAX LAWS Could Not Beat Them at the Polls. USE TECHNICALITIES NOW Not Disposed to Pay Their Share) Towards Maintenance of the State Government, They Will Employ Lawyers. Squirming under the gross-earnings tax. enacted at Monday's polls, attorneys for the corporations involved are searching for escape-holes. One law puts a 3 per cent state toll on the receipts of express companies and a 2 per cent toll on the re ceipts of telephone and telegraph com panies; another imposes a 3 per cent charge on the gross earnings of oil com panies and sleeping-car and refrigerator car companies. These two laws were enacted under the) initiative last Monday by majorities esti mated at between 25,000 and 30.000. Seeing the futility of fighting them, the corpora tions put forth no effort to beat them, because, as several of the corporation at torneys said yesterday, "It was no use.'" Trying to Pick Flaws. But. now that the acts have been or dained by the people, the attorneys will doubtless endeavor to pick flaws in them. The 2 and 3 per cent tax, they say. is excessive, and beyond the power of the companies to pay. The attorney for an express company said yesterday that the toll would consume one-third of the earn ings of his company in Oregon. The-man-ager of a telegraph company said It was foolish to think of paying the charge. Asked how he expected to get out of pay ing, he responded: "I guess there are enough corporation lawyers to find a way." Speakjng for the Standard Oil Com pany, an attorney remarked: "The Standard Oil is not a public-service) corporation in the sense that telephone, telegraph and express companies are such. That is, it Is not a common car rlr; it has not the power of eminent do main and enjoys no special franchise, no corporate privileges from the public. It sells Its product In Oregon as many other companies sell their commodities, or as you or I would do." All Squirm at Tax. In similar vein spoke the representative of an express company. In his view, his kind of companies should be exempt, or should have a lighter tax, because they had no power of eminent domain nor any franchises. On the other hand, the tele phone' and telegraph companies say that they pay so many other kinds of charges franchise tax, corporation tax and occupa- tion tax, in addition to the regular prop erty tax that tliey ought not to be sub jected to an earnings tax. "If these companies had only submit ted to a light earnings tax in the Legis lature of 19u5." said a prominent corpora- tion attorney yesterday, who was en gaged with them in their opposition to it at Salem at that time, "they would not . now be subjected to this extortionate charge of 2 and 3 per cent. I advised thenr to accept a bill for 1 per cent, but they would not. and now they've got something very much worse." Call the Laws Fierce. That the two laws are very "fierce" is the common assertion in the ranks of corporations concerned. Their representa tives assert that they will give Oregon a black eye before the investment world, of capital, and that many dollars which otherwise would seek Oregon for invest ment will now dodge this state. The corporations made no effort to beat the bills at the polls. Public opinion, they saw, could not be thwarted In Its demand for such legislatlorl. Before the election, conferences were held by their representatives, to consider what was the advisable course to pursue. It was then decided that powder fired would be wasted and that the safe and sane method was to take to the cellar until after the cyclone had swept by and then to see if the courts would not help make re pairs. Go Into Erfect In July. The two tax laws, together with the six other acts passed at the polls, are to go into effect next month, after the offi cial canvass of the county returns shall have been made by the Secretary of State and they shall have been proclaimed by the Sectetary of State. "It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State," runs the law regulating the enactment of initiated measures, "in the presence of the Governor, to proceed within 30 days after the election, and sooner if the returns be all received, to canvass the votes given for each meas ure, and the Governor shall forthwith is sue his proclamation, which shall be published in like manner as other publi cations herein provided for, giving the whole number of votes cast in the state) for and against each measure and ques tion, and declaring such measures as are approved by a majority of those voting , Concluded, ou Page U . , ' I ) , . .., , . L-