Morning Oregonian., February 13, 1907, Page 8, Image 8

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TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 190T.
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; PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13, 1907.
COURTS AND THE LAW.
A cynio haa 6ald that we misuse lan
guage when we call our legal tribunals
courts of Justice. We ought, he avers,
to call them courts of injustice. With
out accepting his opinion in Its some-
:what rash posltlvenese we may admit
that there are many facts which ex
cuse If they do not support it. There
Is no denying that sometimes the
courts lend themselves with singular
facility to the advancement of the
(predatory schemes of the trusts. The
' story of the relations between the Gas
Trust of New York and the Federal
(District Court which has become the
foster father of Its interests against
the people Is quite likely to remain
) classical as an Illustration of what the
i law can do to make plunder easy and
t Justice difficult. A committee of the
, New York Legislature, after painstak
ing Investigation and with every wish
;to be fair In the premises, found that
:the Gas Trust could make gas at 60
jce.nts a thousand. To allow the monop
!oly fair profit, the Legislature, acting
;on the facts found by the committee,
fixed the price at 80 cents a thousand.
:ThIs is a net profit of one-third, or
'S3 1-3 per cent.
A farmer who could make euoh a re
turn as this from his investment by
, dint of 16 hours' work a day and no
holidays or Sundays would dance with
Joy, but the Gas Trust called It confis-
' cation. Such are the different ideals
which those acquire who live respec
tively on their own work and on the
, work of others. Following the invari
able rule of all the big miscreants
when they get Into trouble, the Gas
Trust hied iusetf with a tale of woe to
;the Federal Court end there the Trust
found comfort and consolation. The
, court hastened to cast over the shiver
ing 6houlders 6f the monopoly an in
junction, that mantle which warms
and soothes so many bereft pirates and
shields so many predaceous million
aires from threatened punishment.
The injunction forbade the officers of
the State of New York to enforce the
legislative act which set the price of
gas at 80 cents and permitted the mon
opoly to charge its old price of $1.
The difference, however, was to be held
in trust to be restored to the consumer
when the court has made up its mind
whether the rate of 80 cents a thou
sand Is confiscatory or not, if it ever
does. The opposite question whether
the old rate of $1 confiscates the prop
erty of the consumer of course does
not disturb the Judicial serenity in the
least.
This case is of more than local inter
cut because It Illustrates clearly the
distinction between proper and im
proper nee 01 the Federal authority,
and the attitude of the trusts in each
instance. The iproper exercise of Fede
enal authority, that is in matters which
are beyond the adequate control of the
states. Is bitterly resisted by the trusts.
When it Is attempted they 6hTiek
usurpation and cry that the sacred
doctrine of state rights is lnfrlnged.
Thus the Federal authority to regulate
the railroads, to oversee the transpor
tation of food products and to check
the evil of child labor is denied by
every predatory corporation In the
country. While, on Che other hand, all
these Interests are a unit in asserting
that the Federal Courts have authority
to override state legislation In matters
purely local, though common sense de
clares that this ought to belong to the
states exclusively. Herein Is the
beauty of morjopolistlo consistency.
Where the Federal Government could
advance the public welfare It has no
authority; where ithe estates could act
in the Interest of the public they also
have no authority. Thus the monopo
lies, should the trust theory prevail.
are altogether without restraint and
may plunder with a free hand.
It Is this contemptuous nullification
of proper state legislation by the Fed
eral Courts which constitutes the real
danger to our institutions. The exer
cise by Congress and the President of
the authority to regulate matters of
national concern can never have such
an effect. Federal regulation of rates,
ijcoat Inspection and the like can not
hinder the states from making euch
rules as eeem proper within their own
boundaries. Such exercise of national
authority In no wise diminishes the
Just prerogatives of the states. But
when a Federal Judge with a stroke of
Ms pen annuls a duly enacted law of
a state Legislature then he not only
contemns the legitimate authority, or
right, of the state hut he contributes
to bring all law Into contempt. Who
will respect state laws when a single
judge, without the formality of Inves
tigation even, can annul or suspend
them as If In comparison with the
profits of a trust they were utterly
insignificant? When the Judges act as
if the state laws were trivial and pre
sumably null, what must we expect
from private citizens and corporations?
Who will respect the law if its ap
pointed administrators and guardians
treat It so flippantly.
The Federal Judge does not even
think it worth his while to Investigate
the constitutionality of the New York
statute himself. He has other duties
more Important. He suspends the law
as a matter of routine, at the instance
of the trust, and delegates the task of
investigation to a subordinate, a "mas
ter," so-called. -And this person ie to
decide whether the Legislature of the
first state In the Union was or was
not competent to do itSjduty. We have
seen no comment upon these phases of
the matter from those ardent cham
pions of state rights wlio ere so dis
turbed at the usurpations of the Presi
dent end Congress.
SOU DAYEY AND THE RAILROADS.
It was not good policy nor proper
courtesy nor the honest truth for the
Chapin bill lobbyists to characterize
the opponents of the appointive feature
as "railroad forces." If the bill shall
be defeated, it will be because of the
blundering tactics of Its friends. By
Its blundering frlendB we do not mean
Its supporters in tbe House or Senate,
nor the putative author of the meas
ure. We mean the noisy and aggres
sive lobby from Portland, led by Mr.
Teal. This lobby has cared a great
deal more, apparently, to turn the ma
chinery of the commission, over to the
Governor than It has to get an effective
measure on the statute books which
should be under direct control of the
people through an elective commission.
Speaker Davey, for example, is in
solently and falsely characterized by
Mr. Teal's Portland organ as the leader
of the railroad forces. No newspaper
that knows Mr. Davey and desires to
do him Justice would have been be
trayed in making. such a statement. It
is not true. He is an independent,
vigorous and honest man who is not to
be influenced by improper railroad (rep
resentations on the one hand, nor by
the malicious falsehoods of a lying
newspaper on the other. The repre
sentatives who stood with Mr. Davey
at Salem sought to amend the Chapln,
bill by making the commission elective.
beginning with 1908, the first election
following the present legislative ses
sion. Everybody at Salem now agrees
that a commission should be elected.
but the whole controversy has arisen,
as to whether Governor Chamberlain
shall or shall not have power to ap
point the temporary commissioners.
After Chamberlain all are willing that
the people are to elect. But why
Chamberlain? Because, of course, cer
tain interests desire that he shall con
trol this important patronage. There
is no other reason. If the Chapln com
mission bill or any commission bill shall
not be enacted, it will be because of
this strong effort to make a political
matter out of a measure that should
be entirely divorced from politics and
left absolutely to the people.
WALL STREETS AILMENT.
Wall street has for some time been
feeling a growing stringency in the
money market. This stringency came
at a bad time, for the railroad forces
in the "street" have been preparing to
finance some big loans for improve
ment and construction work. With the
country turning off the moct valuable
crop of agricultural products that we
have ever marketed, with every factory
in the land running full time and over
time, end with employment at good
wages of every man who cares to work.
it seems somewhat strange that there
should be a tight money market in the
financial headquarters of the country.
The existence of this stringency how
ever, has been seized by some of the
Wall street thimbleriggers and defend
ers of corporation abuses as an excuse
for belaboring the Government for en
deavoring to correct some of the
abuses and regulate the movements of
some of the big corporations.
If New York, as reported; is experi
encing difficulty in securing the money
needed for flotation of some of her
new schemes or for building of new
railroads, it is not the fault of the
men who are working earnestly for'
corporation reform. The blame reets
oolely with the mn who are now suf
fering. Despite the warnings that have
been so often sounded. Wall street has
never for a moment ceased the practice
of using -railroad properties and the
base of other securities as mere ma
chines for gambling purposes. It haB
reached a point where the men nearest
the stock-ticker were the only ones who
could make anything out of the securi
ties. As a result, the outside.. Investor
who originally put up his money for
the purpose of getting in return an In
come based on the actual earning
capacity of the road or the manufac
turing iplant has now .drawn out of the
game and left Wall street in the bands
of the speculators with whom it is a
case of "dog-eat-dog."
There is no noticeable money strin
gency outside of New York, and no one
outside of Wall street Is to blame for
the unpleasant condition of affairs
wlttiin that thoroughfare. It is not
alone in this country that the apolo
gists for Wall street will be unable to
convince the people that the scarcity
of funds is due to fright over the in
vestigations, but In Europe the situa
tion is equally well understood. The
London Economist, In a discussion of
the matter, says that "The most seri
ous question which confronts the very
able group of financiers who -practically
control the American railroad sys
tem Is the problem of how best to raise
the fresh capital required for new con
struction work, duplication of lines and
provision of additional equipment ren
dered necessary by the growth of traf
fic." That the cause of this difficulty
is fully understood in London is shown
by the following from the Economist:
The railroads are, in fact, faced with the
problem that, while the publlo Is urgently
demanding Increased facilities and accom
modation, it shows no great eagerness to
rjut up the money required for the work.
There 1 little doubt that this condition of
affairs has resulted very largely from the
dubious financial methods of the magnates
themselves, who have succeeded in thor
oughly disgusting both the American and
European investor, but that reflection does
not help matters. It is unfortunate, too. that
liWl SlMRjCloa la such, a, CUV IU4 Je.
rain, falls upon the Just and unjust alike.
so that companies which have always Been
conservatively managed suffer for the sins
of their weaker brethren.
Just how long it will take the fever
of financial stringency, which has fol
lowed the numerous speculative de
bauches of Wall street, to subside is
uncertain, but the situation at present
is so chaotic that it seems a certainty
that a good many of the profits of
previous "melon cuttings" will be ab
sorbed in tiding some of the schemes
over until the confidence of the public
is regained. There is nothing seriously
wrong with the country, but Wall
street is suffering from the too rapid
absorbtion of ill-gotten gains.
OBJECT LESSON IN SHIPPING.
The advertising columns of The Ore
gon lan contain a notice reading as fol
lows: FOR SALE THE CLIPPER IRON BARK
Melanope, partially dismasted, as she now
lies at Astoria, Or.; carries 2300 tons dead
weight of carso or 1.435.000 feet of lumber;
hull In perfect condition, eto.
Herein might be scented an oppor
tunity for some local capitalist to se
cure a bargain in shipping. The
Melanope, with slight repairs to her
rigging, can again be made a 100 Al
ship. She has in the past carried
numerous cargoes of Oregon wheat to
foreign markets, and has also carried
much lumber from Pacific Coast ports.
She is today one of the Bpeediest sail
ing ships afloat, and with minor re
pairs would be a credit to any flag
under which she will sail. And the
price at which this fast, staunch
freighter will be sold will not exceed
$15,000.
With such a rare bargain In shipping
property, it might be expected that our
Portland capitalists would all rush
down to Astoria when the ship is sold
Friday and bid on the craft. But they
will not do so. Our beneficent laws.
which prevent admission to American
registry of any vessel not built in thte
country, make this Melanope bargain
available to the British, Germans, Jap
anese and all other nations on earth,
but our own citizens are denied the
right to purchase cheap ships which
will admit of their successfully com
peting with other nations. In conse
quence the Melanope will be bid in, by
some one who will place a foreign flag
over her. We have under the Ameri
can flag a.few metal chips of similar
age, style and build to the Melanope.
These vessels were smuggled in
against violent protest when Hawaii
became an American dependency. They
are easily worth $60,000 to $76,000. Each,
in fact, would Bell, in the open market.
for that figure today, as they are pay
ing handsome profits on that valua
tion. Just at present they are molting
enormous profits in the coastwise
trade, but, as soon ae that slackens up
again, they will drift back into the
foreign trade in competition with the
cheap ships of other nations. We will
then find the $16,000 Melanope paying
good dividends on a freight rate which
would be ruinous for American vessels
representing a valuation from three to
five times as great.
The merchant paying $100 per month
rent for the same amount of space and
in the same line of trade as his neigh
bor who pays but $26 per month, will,
under the stress of sharp competition
be bested. If he followed! the policy of
the ship subsidy gratters he would im
mediately demand Government assiet
ance to make profitable his unprofit
able business. If he obeyed the die
tates of common sense, and displayed
American independence, he would at
once rent $25 quarters and be on even
terms with hl3 competitor. Some day
America will enter' the shipping busi
ness again, but not until we are af
forded the same opportunity for secur
ing ships as is granted our competitors.
A QUESTION' OF SIMPLE HONESTY.
The question of giving full weight
and measure in grocers' supplies is one
of simple honesty in business dealing,
It is discreditable to a civilized people
that a law compelling the observance
of this principle of equity between
seller and buyer ie necessary for the
protection of the latter. Why, in
deed, should a man who sells five
pounds of lard and receives pay there
fore at a stipulated price per pound.
furnish but four pounds, or even a
fraction less than five pounds? Why
should the purchaser of five pounds of
crackers pay for the cardboard box in
which they are put up at the same rate
per pound that la charged for the
crackers? And why should a law that
provides that the package, pail, can
or bottle In which grocers' goods are
sold shall contain full weight or meas
ure in the contents work, as it Is con
tended that it will, "a hardship" upon
the dealer?
Even granted that it would work a
hardship on the dealer, what Is to be
said about the hardship that short
weights end measures work upon the
purchaser? The rights in these prem
ises are surely not all on the side of
the purveyor of grocers' goods. The
head of a family who pays something
for nothing in short weight here, and
short measure there, day after day,
month In and month out, surely has a
grievance in the matter, and this griev
ance the Legislature now sitting at
Salem is asked to redress by a clause
in the pure food law that requires the
grocer to give full weight and full
measure in package supplies as he is
presumed to do -when selling in. bulk.
If the bill that provides for true net-
weight labeling of all trade packages
and bottled goods becomes a law a can
of sardines, for example, will have to
be labeled with the exact weight of the
sardines it contains. And why not?
Replying to this question a prominent
retail grocer of tills city says: "We
can't take time to label all the trade
packages and bottled goods that we
sell." . It may be submitted that the
honest man should be able to find time
to conduct his business in accordance
with the simplest precepts of honesty.
Selling goods short in weight and
measure is taking, under the cloak of.
business expediency, money from the
pockets of purchasers for which no re
turn is given. Such an act, when
practiced by the vagrant, is held to
be in direct violation of the eighth
commandment an Interdiction that is
reiterated in law and the violation of
wliich la followed by penalty in every.
civilized land under the sun.
The newspaper stories of our bar
pilot and tug service at the mouth of
the river for many months have indi
cated quite clearly that the port was
suffering a handicap which should be
remedied. There has been a shifting of
blame, and, with tug end pilot Interests
conflicting at times, It has been impos
sible to accomplish much in the way of
reform. The Port of Columbia bill
now before the Oregon Legislature was
drafted for the exclusive purpose o
Tnaintnininff a n offlclont Myinnmlol
tug and pilot service at the mouth of
the river, We. have reached a .point In
our maritime growth where It Is abso
lutely essential that port charges
should be no higher here than at the
ports whose competition we are begin-
lng to feel. It is impossible to reduce
our charges, under the existing order
of things, and, if the Port of Columbia
bill cannot be passed, we should at
once abolish all compulsory pilotage.
The service at the worst would not
bring the port into any greater dis
favor than that in which we now stand
with the foreign shipowner.
The bills of Senator Miller, of Linn-
Marlon, providing for the establish
ment of a state institution for the
feeble-minded and for its support for
the ensuing two years are measures
that commend themselves at once to
the humanitarian end the social and
political economist. In common hu
manity these creatures should not be
classed and domiciled with the Insane;
they should not be permitted to run at
large or ramain in their own homes,
ince they thereby become a menace to
the community through their liability
to propagate their kind and through
the burdens that they add to thrift by
their Inability to take care of them
selves and their witless progeny. It la
clearly the part of wisdom to segre
gate these people and place such re
strictions upon them as will prevent
their multiplication, and as clearly the
part of humanity to take care of them
and teach them such simple Industrial
arts as they may apply to their own
support.
The effort to secure the repeal of the
law prohibiting crimping should fail.
The sailor boarding-house business in
this port is now conducted In a more
satisfactory manner than ever before.
Mr. Stoddard, of San Francisco, and
Mr. Fursneth, of San Francisco, may
of course - have the interest of Port
land at heart in seeking repeal of the
law, but it will not redound to the
credit of our port if we open a way. by
which Bailors can be enticed from for
eign ships for the purpose of filling
berths on coasters. A repeal of the
existing laws would be a step back
wards to the days of Jim Turk, Bunco
Kelly et al. Mr. Stoddard, of San
Francisco, will meed to advance some
Btronger argument than that "corre
sponding Federal statutes have long
since been repealed" and that the pres
ent law is "useless." It has at least
had the effect of checking the whole
sale desertions which in the past have
placed a dark blot on our port. '
Sheepraieing is one of the most profit
able industries of this state. Why not
let the sheep barons take measures to
protect their flocks from the predaceous
coyote and the skulking mountain lion
and pay for such protection out of the
Jarge profits of their business? Why
should the people of the entire state, or
of any portion thereof, be taxed to pro
tect a single industry, and one that
turns out millionaires every year?
Why Should the pests of sheep, hus
bandry be exterminated or checked at
the public expense, and horticulturists
compelled to fight at their own expense
the pests of their orchards? Why
should the wheatgrower be left unaided
to guard against smut and weevil out
of the income from his crops and the
public be taxed to destroy the enemies
of the woolgrower?
The presage of damage by freezing
to the extent of 50 per cent of the hop
plants in some of the yards of the
Willamette Valley is, no doubt, pre
mature. It is difficult at this season
of the year to pass upon the vitality
of dormant roots well buried in the
soil. The probability of life in roots
thus protected far outweighs the possi
bility that they have been killed by
freezing. It is as yet too early to de
cide this question with any degree of
accuracy. This being true, and it be
ing also too early to plow up the hop-
yards and reset them or plant them to
some other crop, it is the part of wis
dom to withhold discouraging prog
nostications.
The escape of a number of "boys"
from the Reform School, the leaders
of whom were practically grown men,
with seemingly an uncontrollable ten
dency toward evil ways, suggests the
possibility that the quality of humanity
has been strained in dealing with these
truants. The Reform School is for
wayward boys, not for grown men
eager for a chance to commit crime.
An indignant Portland woman chased
her errant husband for eight hours and
caught him Just in time to prevent his
elopement and to slap the other
woman's face. It is understandable
why she might , want to have a little
interview with the other woman; but
what does she want with such a hus
band?
The loafers around that Woodburn
saloon who drove the Japanese section
hands out of town might poseibly have
got a little public sympathy if they had
wanted the Jobs themselves. But they
didn't. They simply wanted the Jap
anese not to have them.
We really wonder if Mr. Joey Teal
and his disinterested associates would
have been so powerfully insistent for
an appointive railroad commission If
Mr. Withycombe had been elected Gov
ernor, or Mr. Geer? We wonder.
The (President doesn't seem to under
stand that Mayor Schmitz and other
fellow patriots, indicted and unindlct
ed, are ambassadors extraordinary at
Washington from the sovereign state
of California.
It was persistently rumored on the
streets yesterday that Senator Hodson,
of Multnomah County, will be the
grand orator selected by the local Irish
to deliver the next St. Patrick's day
oration.
All the Democrats In the state Sen
ate think the Governor should appoint
the railroad commission. Sure; But
how did the Democratic party in the
House get away?
Mr. Teal, it, seems, wanted one rail
road commission- bill, and the Legisla
ture is disposed to enact another.
There are 90 mighty stubborn men in
Oregon.
Attorney Delmas continues to make
it clear that Thaw killed White be
cause he (Thaw) was insane, and also
because he (White) ought to have been
killed.
War with Japan would be tough
enough, but, then, California will not
have to fight it, or pay the ensuing
pensions.
I Just jrive Old Sol a little time and
I he'll solve all problems about coal and
wood shortage.
STAND BY THE BURNS BILL
Mr. Myers Snpporta Measure In Inter
est of Fair Deallnc
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Editor.)
Every just-minded person in Portland
ought to rally to the support of Burns'
honest food and trade bill, though I see
a few Interested parties are opposed to
it. But why should any honest dealer
apologize for the practice of defrauding
his customers by short weights and meas
ures? That practice Is robbery. Nothing
else can be made out of it, and it is
surprising that any one should attempt to
defend It.
One retailer of groceries is represented
as saying, in defense of the manufac
turers, that "There was no attempt on
the part of the manufacturers of those
goods to defraud or deceive the public."
He may believe that statement, but few
of his customers will. If the manufac
turers are Innocent, how Is It that their
weights and measures are always short
or light, and never too long or too
heavy. Do things "happen" in that way?
The argument is too thin. Does this
dealer think the people are "chumps," to
be Imposed upon forever? Luke the fox
in the fable who went to visit the sick
lion, he noticed that the tracks of all his
predecessors pointed inward and none
outward, and he very wisely concluded
that there was Intended mischief on the
Inside of the door.
Another apologist for rascality does not
think: the manufacturers will obey the
law or put on labeLs in accordance with
its provisions. Very well then, let them
stay out of this market. The people here
can live without them and their products.
No honest man thinks it troublesome to
obey the law, and robbers of whatever
grade or profession ought to be com
pelled to obey it. Still another apologist
for the prevailing practice of getting
something for nothing, in an important
line of trade, says "It will inconvenience
dealers." This is too bad! They have
had a Juggle for a number of years where
by they got other people's money for
nothing, and now, to disturb that very
pleasant and for them, profitable arrange
ment, is hardly to be thought of. No,
the people must "grin and bear it," as it
will be the making of the manufacturers,
at least, if not some of the apologist re
tailers, too.
livery person who believes in fair deal-
Jng should stand by the Burns measure
actively and positively.
L. W. MYERS.
BUSINESS OF CRIMPING SAILORS
British Consul Laldlnvr "Deprecates a
Chancre la Existing; Law,
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) My attention has been called to
the Introduction of a bill In the Legis
lature to repeal sections 2070 and 2071
of the Oreffon Code.
According to published statements of
the Seamen's Union and Shipowners'
Association these sections are "use
less." If there sections are useless,
why should an organized attempt be
made to repeal them? No provisions
of the law are useless which are in
tended to prevent as far as possible
the business of crimping sailors. And
the animus of this bill is apparent to
anyone who knows the circumstances
and is to render it easier to procure
sailors from foreign vessels in order
to place thnm upon coasting craft. The
foreign trade has already sufficient
difficulties to contend with in Pacific
Coast ports without discounting ex
isting precautions. If the Legislature
repealed the legalized notorious charge
of $30 per man for procuring a sailor
there would be less Incentive to en
ticing him from his employment. There
should be a limit to the charges for
this service, but it is difficult to under
stand why the employer of a sailor
should have to pay this outrageous
sum, when an employment agent would
not charge over $5 at the -outside for
procuring other laborers.
JAMES LAIDLAW,
H. B. Al. Consul.
Simplified Spelling Gets nil Inning.
Washington (D. C.) Dispatch.
There was an exhibit of simplified spell
ing in the House lately which greatly
amused those members interested in the
river and harbor bill. In order to illus
trate the arguments made in support of
a 14-foot channel from Chicago to the
Gulf, Representative Bartholdt displayed
before the House, and had placed upon
a large easel In front of the Speaker's
desk, a map of the Mississippi River
Valley, upon which the draughtsman had
Indicated the names of cities, rivers, and
lakes, spelled in a manner heretofore un
known even to the President, Brander
Matthews, or Josh Billings. The map
showed the following places: "Siox City,"
"Dubuqe," "Plttburg," "Louisvile," Mis
sour River." "MIslslpl River," "Soupier
Lake."
Members who examined the map care
fully and noted the orthography inquired
of Mr. Bartholdt whether this new style
was the President's reformed spelling idea,
or whether it was a Dutch method
School Girls Initiated With Add.
Indianapolis (Ind.) dispatch.
Miss Hazel Relsner, Miss Bertha
Hoffman and Miss Lillian Kern, High
School students, were initiated in the
Alpha Gamma Tau Society here a few
nights ago, and through the attendance
of physicians upon them the circum
stances of their initiation came out.
The young ladies extended their hands
and then the girls made a ring around
their wrists with a brush dipped in
acid. The acid was much stronger
than they supposed, and burned deeply
into the flesh, causing great pain and
marking Miss Reisner and Miss Kern
for life.
The girls suffered so much from the
burns and from the idea of being
marked for life, in that way, that the
physicians were called.
Light for Second Oregon Monument.
OREGON CITY, Or., Feb. 12. (To
the Editor.) I beg to call attention
to the manner in which the monument
to the Second Oregon Volunteers, in
the north Plaza block, is lighted at
night. There is one sputtering aro
lamp suspended by a swaying wire,
making a most inartistic effect, in fact
completely spoiling the beauty of the
magnificent statue which adorn the
block.
Would it not look better to strang
ers If the city would erect a circle of
artistic lamp-posts around this monu
ment? The project cannot surely en
tail a very great expense and I think
that it would give much pleasure to
the people and value to the city.
W. J. GARRETT.
Champ Clark Talks on Mad.
Washington (D. C.) Dispatch.
Champ Clark created indignation In
the New England House delegation in
general, and that of Massachusetts in
particular, by solemnly asseverating thus:
"Enough mud is carried from their
banks annually by the Missouri and Mis
sissippi Rivers to make a state of the
Union bigger than Massachusetts and
maybe a better one, too."
Schwab's Uoime Makes Him Unanimous
Ohio State Journal.
Steel plates in England, $27: in the
United States, $35; but Mr. Schwab says
that steel can be made in this country
cheaper than any place in the world. Fo
the trust is unanimous for stand-patism,
and Mr. Schwab objects to taking the
duty off till he gets his $5,000,000 house
finished.
Legislative Rods In Pickle.
Kansas City Times.
The son of one of the chief owners
of the Rock Island, who gave a $20,000
dinner to a party of actresses and
friends In New York a few nights ago,
doesn't seem to be in the least worried
as to what the Kansas and Missouri
J Legislatures may do.
BOUND FAST BY RED TAPE.
Down Timber Golnfc to Waste Became
Law Forbids Sale.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 6. There's money going to
waste in Klickitat County owing to de
partmental methods and red tape, "as well
as to the fact- of there being no law
under which action can be taken. Last
Spring a severe storip. passed through
this country, felling an immense number
of trees, practically all the timber In
two townships being razed. This timber
is on the ground, is rapidly bluing and
unless something Is done by. which it
can be utilized it soon will be worthless
ror lumber purposes. There is a a,e
for this timber, but the lumber com
panies are afraid to touch it, as the
homesteaders upon whose land it Is ly
ing have not In all cases commuted their
claims and if they should abandon them
after selling the down timber, the buyer
might be placed in a very embarrassing
position.
Congressman Jones took up the subject
with the General Land Office and urged
that something be done in order to pre
vent the waste of timber which would
ensue if permission could not be granted
to buy such as is worth the buying. Mr.
Jones was Informed by the Land Office
that Section 2461 of the Revised Statutes
contained a general prohibition against
cutting or removing timber from the
lands of the United States, and, while
other acts authorize residents within cer
tain states and territories to procure tim
ber from public land within these states
for certain purposes, there is no law
which authorized the Department to sell
timber from the publio land. Land cov
ered by a homestead entry continues to
be the property of the United States
until the issuance of patent, and an
entryman would be liable under Section
2461, If he should remove or cut timber
from his homestead claim for other pur
poses than for use In the construction
of improvements on his claim or for
clearing the land for cultivation. The
homesteader cannot sell the timber so
cut for money, except where an excess
remains after construction of the im
provements, in which event the surplus
timber remaining from tracts cleared for
cultivation may be disposed of if the
proceeds be devoted to improvement of
the land or to support of the entryman
and his family.
According to this view of the subject
the United States, being unable to sell
the timber, could not authorivj the sale
of it by homestead entrymen and the
Department is without authority to grant
the permission asked by the Congress
man.
So the timber is there, bound hard and
fast with red tape, unless the special
agent of the department, who has been
directed at the request of the Congress
man to examine the land in quest'on
and submit a full report, should recom
mend some method by which this timber
can be made available to those who can
make use of it.
Diary of a Iirlgbt 92-Year-Old.
Montreal Herald.
Mrs. Roffey, a widow, of Newdingate,
near Dorking, England, who, on her 92d
birthday was entertained to dinner and
sang "A-hunting We Will Go" and
"My Old Gray Mare," has kept a diary
which Is full of interesting figures.
She gives the cost of her maintenance
in the world to the date of her last
birthday as 1013 12s an average ex
penditure of Ss per week. She has
walked 221, 4S0 miles. She walked to
London and back 54 miles when she
was 17, to get married. The songs
mentioned she has sung 1106 times.
She has in her long life consumed
among other things, 134,320 cups of
tea, 67,160 glasses of milk, 11,960
loaves, 50,730 potatoes, and has worn
165 bonnets and hats, 80 shoes and
boots, 41 dresses, 'S3 aprons and 34
shawls and wraps.
Dubois'' Cook Wouldn't Phuze.
New York World.
Senator Dubois lias a new cook. People
keepirrg house in Washington, D. c
always have new cooks. This particular
Dubois cook asserted that she could do
anything, and Mrs. Dubois Intimated on
the first day that they would have some
macaroni for dinner. "What s that?
as ked the cook. Mrs. Dubois took her to
the pantry and showed her the macaroni.
"Do you mean to say you don't know
what this is?" Mrs. Dubois asked.
"Oh. yes. 'deed I do, missus," the cook
replied. "Only in the las' place I worked
they lighted the gas with them things.
Not Snld by Senator Foroker,
Washington (D. C) Herald.
"Everybody likes Judge Taft,
cause everybody who meets him
be
be
lieves in him." No, gentle reader. Sen
ator Koraker- didn't say that; it was
said by the Charleston News and Conr
ler, a wicked South Carolina paper.
The Frogs.
New York Globa.
(With apologies to Aristophanes.)
Within a quag- ther""dwelt a frog,
Pady-K'-drunk k'dunk!
With many others round the bog,
Tunk! Pady-g'drunk!
Incessantly both he and they
Would croak and grumble night and day.
When all they really had to say
Was Tunk! Dunk! Pady-g'drunkl
They argued round this -way and that,
Pady-g'drunkl k'dunkl
With disputations tit for tat,
Tunk! Pady-gdrunk!
"Kaddunk!" says one. "it seems to me"
"And I say Tunk! -why don't you see'1
"O Pady-g'drunk" says number three.
Tunk! Dunk! Pady-g'drunkl
Within our shallow social quaga
Pady-g'drunk! k'dunk!
We often meet with human frogs,
Tunkl Pady-g'drunk!
Who talk and argue night and day
With ceaseless gabble; in a way
As senseless as the frogs that say,
Tunkl Dunk! Pady-g'drunk!
TOO MUCH SHADE FOR A DELICATE PLANT
GOT HIS REVENGE AT LAST.
Senator Knnte Kelson Even Now With
Two Newspaper Men.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington. Feb. 11. A good story is being told
around Washington at the expense of
Indian Commissioner Leupp, and his
friend, Georgo William Hill, chief editor
of the Department of Agriculture. Some
years ago, when Mr. Leupp was a Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
Evening Post, he was exchanging mail
copy with another correspondent and in
this way got hold of a story ridiculing
Senator Nelson of Minnesota. The story
described Nelson as resembling "a ploua
old deacon who passes the plate In a
prosperous village church." and in a mild
way made fun of the personal appearance
of the only Norwegian in the Senate.
Leupp sent the story aionar without
giving it any thought whatever. It was
printed, and he forgot all about it. A
year later there Wits a vacancy in the
Civil Service Commission, and Mr. Hill
decided he would like the place. He
went to Leupp, who was a personal friend
ot the r-resldent. and solicited his sup
port. Leupp in turn saw the . President
Wind secured the President's promise to
make the appointment if the Senators
from Hill's state would endorse him.
Hill hailed from Minnesota. One day
Leupp and Hill called on Senator Nelson
to solicit his endorsement. They were
ushured into the presence of the rugged
old Senator, and invited to take seats.
"What is your name?" aked Senator
Nelson, turning to Leupp.
"Leupp. Francis E. Leupp," was the
response.
You are the correspondent of tha New
York Evening Post?"
"Yes."
'And you want me to endorse your
friend for Civil Service Commissioner?"
"Yes."
"Well, I want to tell you that I have
waited a long time to come across you,
Mr. Leupp, of the Evening Post. You
remember a story you sent your paper
about me about a year ago?"
"Leupp had forgotten all about it. and
could not recall It, even when the Senator
suggested It.
"Well," continued Nelson, warming up
as he progressed, "I remember it, if you
don't. I look like a deacon, do I? You
think it smart to make fun of my ap
pearance, do you? I will tell you, Mr.
Francis E. Leupp, that I have waited
long for the time when you would ask
some favor of me; waited for the time
when I could turn you down and tell you
to go to the devil. That time has come.
Good day."
George William Hill, of Minnesota, Is
still chief editor of the Department of
Agriculture.
MIXKEV'S FACE A FORTUNE.
New Oregon Representative Voted
Best-Looking Man In Senate.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 13- Senator Mulkey
of Oregon, is one of the most
conspicuous figures In the United
States Senate. There Is no mem
ber of that body who presents a better
appearance; none who looks the part
quite as much as the five weeks' Senator
from Oregon. Senator Mulkey, of large
physique, a fine face, good bearing, and
the proper amount of dignity, is about
as near the ideal of a United States Sen
ator as has ever been known in Wash
ington. He looks the part, and he dresses
for It. Senator Mulkey always wears a
frock coat, which many Senators, particu
larly those of the old school, believe is
essential and proper. Whether sitting at
his desk or moving about the chamber,
he never falls to attract attention, and
visitors In the galleries Ions since voted
him the best-looking man in the Sen
ate. In several respects Senator Mulkeys
career is unique. He Is the only Senator
without a committee assignment; the only
Republican Senator without a chairman
ship, and, so far as known, the only
Senator whose name and biography will
never appear in any edition of the Con
gressional Directory. There are two edi
tions of this book each session, and the
second edition for this session had gone
to press before Mr. Mulkey was elected.
While his election was a certainty, the
Senate could take no chances, so his
name was not used. There is a bare
possibility that Mr. Mulkey's name may
get into the next Directory, but, if so,
it will appear In the biography of his
successor. Senator Bourne, who, follow
ing custom, may mention the fact that
he was elected to succeed Senator Mul
key. Unless this is done, there will never
be a Congressional Directory containing
the name of Fred W. Mulkey, of Oregon.
Conveying; Kind Appreciation.
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Edi
tor). I wish to congratulate The Ore
gonlan on its eulogy of Lincoln in
last Sunday's Issue. I assert to have
some knowledge of literature and con
sider the editorial referred to a classic.
Don't know that I ever read a better
one of the martyr. ED D. CURTIS.
American Exodus to Canada.
Chicago Tribune.
The American exodus to the Canadian
Northwest goes on in increasing volume.
It is estimated that at least 75,000 aro
going this Spring, and it is stated that
Iowa alone has lost 30,000 farmers through
such emigration.
Bryan's "SSOO to 1" Lecture Field.
New York Mall.
Bryan has 86 engagements to lecture
next Summer at $500 a lecture. Wrong
as he was about money, there is no dis
puting the value of his quantitative
theory of talk.
Prom tha Minneapolis Tribune.
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a