18
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECE3IBER 22, 1906.
IBM
REPLY BY
SHERIFF STEVENS
Makes a Spirited Statement
Regarding Relations With
the County Court.
PERSECUTED, HE DECLARES
HespouslbIo for Prisoners A'ot In
His Control "Seven-Cent Meals
and Nine DolIars-a-Day
County Court Sessions."
Sheriff Stevens, bracing himself for a
contest with the County Court tor
custody of county prisoners, most of
whom the court, at one time and another
takes from his control and places at the
Kelly Butte quarry and half of whom
are now at that place, yesterday made a
utatement, saying that although he Is ex
pected to assume all risk for safekeeping
the prisoners and Is under bond therefor,
""I am deprived of any voice In their con
trol, while nominally and legally they are
supposed to be In my charge."
Sheriff Stevens maintains that the
prisoners at the quarry should be In his
hands, instead of in the hands of "those
who are not under bonds for their keep
ing," meaning the appointees of the
County Court. He cites the fact that
owing to the enmity of the court toward
Jilm and its unwillingness to supply him
with needed deputies and jailers, the one
Jailer Is on duty the full 24 hours of each
day and while sleeping at night, must
leave the Jail without a watch, thus ex
posing the county to the danger of a
jailbreak.
As to the feeding of prisoners, which
the court has taken out of the hands of
the Sheriff, thereby saving the county,
as Its members say. $200 a month, Stevens
declares the food unfit to eat and pro
nounced unfit by the physician called to
attend the men who have been sickened
by it.
Stevens has taken his grievances be
fore the Legislators of Multnomah
County, several of whom are lending him
favorable ear, to the end that he shall
be restored to his control of the prison
ers, by legislation at Salem this Winter.
His statement is as follows:
Sheriff Stevens' Statement.
"I have thus far refrained from mak
ing any public protest against the perse
cutions to which I have been subjected
by the Multnomah County Commission
ers since I first took charge of my office;
but I am somewhat interested in the re
markable statements credited to Mr.
Barnes in this morning's Oregonian.
This thrifty guardian of the county funds
mates that the Commissioners are feed
ing the prisoners at Kelly's Butte at
less than 7 cents per meal.
"Now, any man possessed of ordinary
Intelligence knows that with food of all
kinds at present high prices It Is an
Impossibility to get the cost per meal
down to 7 cents, even by using stuff
which could not be sold to other custom
ers at the market. I will admit that by
omitting the daily stipend which he is
allowed by the county for this new cull
nary duty which he has assumed, or by
omitting all ther charges except the
bare cost of the uncooked food, Mr.
Barnes can make a very alluring show
ing from a financial standpoint. It still
remains a question in my mind, however,
whether the taxpayers as a whole pre
fer to pay three Commissioners J9 per
1ay to engage in mathematical calcula
tions by which moals actually costing the
county more than formerly, are made to
appear at T cents each, or whether they
(prefer to have the Sheriff attend to the
anatter In the manner intended by the
law.
"Commissioner Barnes lays particular
stress on an alleged saving of $200 per
Jnonth by feeding the prisoners on food
which would have no temptations for a
well-bred dog. He harshly alludes to
this alleged $200 per month saving as
"graft which th Sheriff used to put Into
Ms pockets.' Graft is a hard word. I
nm perhaps less familiar with Its mean
ing than Is the man who uses the word
In such a careless manner. I recall the
fact that, until a comparatively short
time ago, the County Commissioners met
only once a week, or fortnightly, and
their per diem ceased when they were
off trying law cases and attending to
private matters. Now It seems the neces
sity of keeping the cost of meals down
to 7 cents each makes It Imperative that
these $9-per-day sessions be held almost
daily.
This Cast Is Brand New.
"T will Incidentally mention that the
additional cost of these frequent sessions,
presumably held for the purpose of buy
ing a few potatoes or some stale bread
iur ine iveuy .Butte culinary department.
Is not 'money which formerly went Into
the pockets of the Sheriff as graft on
the county." It Is something brand new,
evolved on purpose to fit the opportunity.
Of course it is not 'graft.' or. if it is,
it is not graft that "formerly" existed.
It exists now. I presume this increased
cost of running the Commisioners' office
will be explained as duo to the increase
In population and business In the country.
This, however. Is one of those poor rules
that works only one way and does not
apply to the Sheriff's office. With 20.000
more people In the county and more than
one-third more work than when my pre
decessor took office. I have one addi
tional regular deputy who took the place
of an extra deputy last term. This ne
cessitates both myself and my deputies
working far into the night in order to
keep up with the work of the office.
"'Mr. Barnes knows perfectly well that
the prisoners were sickened by the rotten
food supplied by his 1114-cent contractor,
as he. In company with Commissioner
tUghtner, visited the Jail the morning, fol
lowing the trouble, when more of the unfit
stuff was served, and he then and there
announced that It was unfit to serve. The
TJeputy County Physician, Dr. McCormlck,
also pronounced It unfit for human beings
to eat. I have heard It said that any kind
of food is good enough for a jailbird, but
heaven forbid that I should ever be guilty
of feeding them food which I could not eat
myself without gagging. It should also be
remembered that there are in the jail a
number of insane people and innocent
men held as witnesses for lack of ball.
Among the unfortunate Insane who seem
to have lost friends as well as reason' I
frequently find some who are too delicate
to eat the HH-cent concoctions, humanely
supplied by the Commissioners, and I
have thus far been obliged to feed these
unfortunates at my own expense rather
than see them suffer. I make no special
pretensions to humanitarian proclivities,
but there are limits to the amount of suf
fering any man can behold and still re
main impassive.
Accountability of Sheriff.
"My objection to the prisoners being
taken out of my charge at Kelly's Butte
Is due to the accountability for their
keeping, to which I am still held. These
prisoners are out of my control, and yet,
when they break jail and escape from
those who are not under bonds for their
Steeping and scatter through the county, I
lwlU be expected to. recapture them. In
other words, I must assume all the risk
and all the responsibility for these prison
ers and at the same time be deprived of
any voice in their control, while nominally
and legally they are supposed to be in my
charge.
"The remarkable precautionary meas
ures regarded necessary by Mr. Barnes
in his administration of the sheriff's
office are quite clearly set forth in
his statement that 'a watchman in the
courthouse on the floor above the jail
Is on duty at night and the Jailer
George Mitchell sleeps in the jail all
night; therefore there Is no danger of
a Jail break." This discovery is worthy
ot a Sherlock Holmes; In fact it is
quite In keeping with the culinary ex
pert who can figure out seven-cent
meals, and make himself believe that
there are such things. For his infor
mation, I will state that the character
of the criminals with whom I have
come in contact Is such that they would
actually prefer having the Jailer asleep
instead of having one awake and on
watch.
"Mr. Barnes 5s correct in stating that
I was notified before election that the
commissioners would take the feeding
of the prisoners away from me. I was
urged to acquiesce in the programme,
and make it an issue In my campaign,
but refused, as I did not care if elected
to become an office boy in the county
commissioner's office. Since the $9 a
day commissioners ' began serving
seven-cent meals at Kelly Butte, I
have been Informed by some of their
Intimate friends, that I was a fool for
not 'making my peace' with them and
retaining the feeding of the prisoners
as well as 'assuring my re-election."
The concessions by which It was inti
mated that I could make that 'peace'
did not appeal to me. I am being ham
pered in my work and belittled by the
commissioners, but. until my present
term expires, I shall run the office In
accordance with the oath I took, and
will not be a party to any petty grafts
or political deals regardless of what
financial or political emoluments might
accrue through my agreeing to them."
AT THE THEATERS
What the Frees Areata Say.
TWO PERFORMANCES TODAY
Merry Musical Comedy, "The Yan
kee Consul," at Helllg Theater.
There will be two performances at the
Heilig Theater. Fourteenth and Washing
ton streets today. A special matinee at 2:13
o'clock and tonight at 8:15 when the tune
ful musical-comedy success "'The Yankee
Consul" will be the bill.
"A Bachelor's Romance" Today.
"A Bachelor's Romance" was made fam
ous by Sol Smith Russell, and In the hands
of the Baker Company It has again won
laurels. Mr. Hastings, Miss Seymour, Mr.
Oleason and Mr. Dills are giving perform
ances that cannot be excelled. Matinee to
day; concluding performance tonight.
Saturday Matinee at Empire.
The school children have been impatiently
awaiting the Saturday matinee at the Em
pire to see the great Western melodramatic
comedy "Out in Idaho," with its vivid pic
tures of frontier life. The story Is based
on those of Bret Marte and It is alive with
action from beginning to end.
Matinee Today at the Star.
There will be a matinee today of "The
Heritage of the Red" at the Star Theater.
The play was written especially for Miss
Verna Felton, the leading woman of the
Allen Stock Company, by Herbert Bash
ford, author of "The Hon. John North."
Do Not Miss "Faust" at the Iijrlc.
Whatever else you do, be sure and see
the Lyric's great spectacular production ot
Goethe's immortal mystery drama. "Faust,"
as it has been presented to crowded houses
during the past week. Warda Howard in
the role of Marguerite Is doing splendid
work.
COMING ATTRACTIONS.
"The Heir to the Hoorah" at Helllg
Theater Next Sunday.
"The Heir to the Hoorah" will begin an
engagement of four nights at the Helllg
Theater tomorrow, Sunday night. A matinee
will be given Christmas afternoon. This de
lightful comedy was the first play given at
the Helllg Theater after It was taken by
Calvin Helllg last April and made an in
stantaneous hit.
Rose Melville as "Sis Hopkins."
The funniest of all funny comediennes.
Rose Melville, will present her famous suc
cess," Sis Hopkins," at the Heillg Theater
next Thursday. Friday. Saturday nights,
December 27. 28. 2. with a special mat
inee Saturday. Seat sale will open next
Tuesday.
"Trilby" Opens Tomorrow at Baker.
Tomorrow afternoon the Baker Company
will give Its first performance of the great
Christmas week production, "Trilby," and
will also give a Christmas day matinee.
John Salnpolls will enact the difficult role
of Svengall, and Trilby will be played by
Miss Lawrence.
"Belle of Japan," Empire, Tomorrow
"The Belle of Japan," one of the bright
est, most up-to-date comedy-dramas of the
season, will appear at the Empire The
ater all of next week, beginning with to
morrow's matinee and? will give a special
Christmas day matinee.
Allen Stock Company in Two Plays.
Two plays will be given next week by the
Allen Stock Company at the Star. For the
dally matinees "Little Lord Fauntleroy"
will be offered with Master Harold Hoff.
the boy balladlst, in the title role. "A Sul
tan's Daughter" will be played at night.
"Arra-Na-Pogue" Monday at lyric.
The Christmas week attraction at the
Lyric, commencing Monday afternoon, will
be a grand revival of the famous Dion Bouc
clcault's immortal Irish comedy-drama,
"Arra-Na-Pogue."
AT THE VAUDEVILLE THEATERS
Splendid Comedy at the Grand.
Only a few more performances will be
given of the great vaudeville entertainment
at the Grand. There Is one act as good as
the ordinary three-act comedy. This is a
sketch written by Ezra Kendall for Mr. and'
Mrs. Perkins Fisher called "The Half-Way
House."
The Pantages'' Programme.
Packed houses nigh after night this week
attest to the good show at Pantagea this
week. Ask your friends who have been
there. Miss Laurelle's spectacular novelty
and the four Mangeans In the greatest of
acrobatic acts are the headllners. All the
others are up to the mark.
Christmas Week at Pantages'. '
The Christmas offering at the Pantages
Theater will be suitable to the occasion.
The very best acts are being booked for
the holidays. The feature will be Marron
and Marron In the latest comedy hit. "The
Caller and the Piper."
SOMETHING NEW.
The morning at 9 o'clock we place on
sale Spring, 1907, styles ladles' white Per
sian lawn shirtwaists and India - silk
waists. All samples, swell styles, secured
for 60 cents on the dollar. Correct for
presents. MeAllen & McDonnell, the
store noted for best goods at lowest
prices. .
FIGURES FOR 1906 ARE 3 9 PER
CENT ABOVE LAST YEAR'S.
Prospects for 190 7 Still Better, Says
Building Inspector Spencer
in Report.
According to the annual report of
Building Inspector Spencer submitted
yesterday to Mayor Lane, Portland's
building activities for 1906 exceed in value
those of 1905 by $1,634,196 or an increase
of 39 per cent. Last year 2318 permits
were issued, representing in value $4,
183.3S6. This year approximately 3129 per
mits will be issued valued at approxi
mately $6.K!7,564.
The number of permits issued the past
three months far exceeds that of any
other quarter during the year and is
thought to be due to the appointment of
a deputy building Inspector who has been
very active. The record of permits by
months Is as follows:
Month Permits. Valuation.
January 183 405.634.40
February 211 328.208.00
March 20T 432,383.00
April 255 871.808.00
May 244 1,008.605.00
June 2 407.307.00
July 269 740.621.00
August 2S0 718.091.00
September 226 409. 136.0(1
October 449 830.353.00
November 307 075.223.00
December? 208 300,000.00
Totals
1,129
$6,827,564.40
. Estimated.
In his report, Building Inspector Spen
cer says:
The total fees collected for permits amount
to $5500. The department is more than
self-supporting, having a balance in its
favor for 1906 of $3200.
Several changes have been made in the
building ordinance, and many more are
needed. Its weakest point is with regard
to elevator shafts and stairways. This in
time is sure to be a matter of life and
death, and Is the greatest danger in our
buildings today. Elevator shafts and stair
ways. In case of fire, act as great chimneys
and are usually the first means of egress
rendered useless, n
Two deputies are badly needed for the
ensuing year. This year has been the
greatest In the history as regards building,
and the year 1007 bids fair to eclipse the
present. Plans are now being prepared and
will soon be upon the market for upward of
75 stories of business .blocks. But few
houses are to rent, and so long as rents re
main at the present figures homes will be
built without number. The force is Inade
quate to care for and supervise the present
building operations. With the prospects of
Increased activity along business lines, we
snail be In greater need of assistance.
Approximately 3200 permits were issued
during the year, and .to properly inspect each
Job would require at least six visits, or &
total of 19,200 visits for the year. With but
two inspectors, who spend three-fourths of
their time in the field, this would require
a visit every ten minutes. The utter ab
surdity of such a proposition in a city of
this size and covering the territory that it
does, is readily seen. Therefore it is expe
dient that additional help be provided im
mediately. Other cities the slse of Portland
have from six to eight men in the building
department. Portland stands 40th In popu
lation and fourth In area of the cities in
the United States.
TRAINS DELAYED BY SLIDE
O. R. & N. Blockaded Near North
Fork in the Blue Mountains.
Trains Nos. 5 and 1, due here yesterday
over the O. R. & N., were delayed 12
hours by a landslide a short distance
from North Fork, in the Blue Mountains.
The continued rains of the week had
loosened the ground on a mountain side,
and It slid down, covering the track.
Train No. 6, leaving Portland Thursday
for the East, was also held up.
The warm rains of the past few days
are responsible for another rapid rise
in the Santiam River, and the Southern
Pacific bridge, on the Springfield branch,
spanning the south fork of the Santiam,
became unsafe yesterday and could not
be used. Trains on . that branch are
sent around by Albany.
Suit! for Sum Due for Services.
F. E. Pierce was made defendant in
an action brought by the Pacific Sani
tarium & Benevolent Association, in the
State Circuit Court yesterday to re
cover $652.75. alleged to be due for
medical services. The complaint a tat
that Pierce agreed to pay for medical
attention given to one E. P. Brown and
that only a portion of the amount has
been paid, leaving a balance due of
$625.75 on the cost of an operation per
formed by Dr. B. E. BUler, together
with hospital fees.
PERSONALMENTION.
Benjamin Ido Wheeler, president of the
University of California, arrived in Port
land last night from Seattle, where ho
has been spending the past week. He ar
rived too late to catch the night train for
Berkeley, and will leave this morning or
tonight. He is registered at the Hotel
Portland.
NEW YORK. Dec. 21. fSpecial.) The
following from the Pacific Northwest
registered at New York hotels today:
From Portland Mrs. Stetnbach, Miss
Steinbach at the Savoy; H. J. Cress, at
the Manhattan.
From La Grange. Or. W. B. Sargent
at the Grand Union.
From Tacoma Miss B. Baker at the
Netherland.
From Seattle H. Meenach, J. D. Meen
ach and wife at the Breslin; M. Lar and
wife at the Park Avenue.
CHICAGO, Dec. 21. (Special.) The fol
lowing from Portland, Or., registered at
Chicago hotels today:
W. McCurtiss, C. H. Web'ser and wife.
F. W. Murkle,'H. C. Corbet t, at the Au
ditorium. OVER A MILLION CIGARS TO
CH00SEFR0M.
We are sure to please you. Cigars
at all prices and sizes. Special holiday
packages. Slg Sichel & Co.. agents
Garcia, Mi Hogar and Lord Baltimore
cigars.
Red Eye and Eyelids, Weak Eyes
And Tired Eyes Need Murine Eye Tonic
Frank L. Smith Meat Co.
226-228 ALDER ST. BET.
"FIGHTING THE
Oregon's Finest, Choicest, Freshest Poultry
for Christmas
NOT A COLD STORAGE
Dressed Turkeys, per lb 25
Choice Fat Dressed Geese, per lb. 16
Fancy Dressed Chickens, per lb 16
We will cut up and serve to our customers Sat
urday and Monday our Christmas Beef, Lamb, Pork
and Veal. Prices the -same as usual.
Prime Rib Roast Beef, Rolled Roast Beef, Tender
loin Steak, Sirloin Steak, Veal Shoulder Roast,
Veal Shoulder Cutlets, Round Steak and Ham
burg Steak, and Shoulder
Roast Lamb
Porterhouse and "T"-Bone Steaks, Pork Shoulder
Roast and Chops, Leg of Pork, Leg of -Veal,
Rump Roast and Loin
Roast of
Veal
Leg of Spring Lamb, Loin and Rib Chops of Spring
Lamb, Pork Loin Roast and jJJ 15C P61 lb
Shoulder Roast of Spring Lamb, Breast of Veal, Pot
Roast and Rump Roast of jJJ pf J)
Beef for boiling and stewing, Spring Lamb C 1n
Stew, Liver and Hearts. All. ....... 1U.
Mm 11 ft" tL .
FOR JETTY
HOQUIAM COMMERCIAL) CLCB
TAKES ACTION.
Requests Congress to Improve Bar
as Originally Planned Channel
Needs Immediate Attention.
HOQUIAM, Wash., Dec. 21. (Special.)
The following resolution respecting
outer entrance harbor improvements was
passed at a meeting ot the Commercial
Club tonight. A copy will be mailed to
the Washington delegation 'in Congress:
Whereas. the entrance to Gray's
Harbor has developed a tendency to
divide, thus endangering Its present chan
nel, and,
Whereas, the commerce of this port has
expanded to National Importance, and.
Whereas, our district engineer has
recommended further improvement of our
entrance. In accordance with original
plans adopted by Congress and which, in
our Judgment will give the relief re
quired, and,
, Whereas, an emergency exists demand
ing immediate attention,.
Therefore be it resolved: That the
Hoquiam commercial Club urge upon its
congressional delegation the great and
immense necessity for an appropriation
by Congress of the amount recommended
by our district engineer, this amount to
be expended as recommended in con
struction of a. north side jetty, to the
end that we make permanent our channel
and increase the depth of water on our
outer bar. and be It further.
Resolved, that the president and sec
retary of this, association send copies
of these resolutions to each of- our con
FIRST AND SECOND
BEEF TRUST
BIRD IN OUR MARKET
All 10c per lb.
All lOlr fipr In
i-,v pui iv
gressional delegation and offer all assist
ance within our power In obtaining this
much needed government aid.
HOQUIAM COMMERCIAL CLUB.
By Alexander Poison, president; William
E. Campbell, secretary.
Bank Clearings Increase.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 21. According
to figures secured by the California Pro
motion Committee, the bank clearings
BRING THE CHILDREN
SPECIAL HOLIDAY REDUCTION ON ALL GARMENTS
We are making a little better Suit to measure
for $25 than usual. Better Trous
ers for $5.00 and $6.00
Mannish Coats for Women
w mm m -w m
CD,UJC9
SATURDAY SPECIAL SALE
On four desirable articles that will
boy and girl between the ages of 6
fast at these prices.
fp $50
CALIFORNIA COASTER
32-lnch California Coaster, size of wheels, 12 and 1 inches.
WABASH HANDCAR
Length 43 inches, rubber &A er.
tired wheels, 11 inches.... Vpt.OW
EXTRA SPECIAL GOOD GIFT FOR BOYS
A $1 Teddy's Pom-Pom Gun for
awe. MmreiiTtafi
A Toy Gun, shoot hollow rrtbber balls, perfectly hirmleim.
HONEYMAN HARDWARE COMPANY
"Where Quality Predominates More Than Price"
FOURTH AND ALDER STREETS . OPEN EVENINGS
for the week ending at noon. December
20, show that the clearings continue to
surpass the record made last year for
the same week. In San Francisco during
the past! week the clearings amounted to
$49,091,895, while for the same period in
1905 they were $39,805,691. This shows an
Increase of $9,286,203, or 23 1-3 per cent.
There's nothing like Hood's Sarsaparllla
for keeping blood pure and giving real
strength.
Columbia Theater IT'S FREE!
$20 to $40
suit the taste and needs of every
and 16. Come early; they'll sell
WABASH COASTER
length 34 inches, wheels C(
11 Inches
25