PORTLAND. OREGON. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1908.
-PRICE FIYE CENTS.
THE RIOTERS
J
a to Battle With Men
Tearing Down Wires.
LIVELY SCENES ALL NIGHT
Thousands Gather on Streets and At
tempt to Stop Progress ot Cars.
Attacks Made on Employes as
Each Car I.paves the Barn.
CLEVELAND. O., May 17. (Special.)
Two cars were attacked with dynamite
tonight by strike sympathizers and dyna
mite and other explosives were found on
the car tracks In different parts of the
city.
All night the policemen were busy
charging mobs which stoned streetcars,
attacked the crews and cut trolley wires.
The police fired on a mob that was tear
ing down wires, but no one was Injured.
Police Battle With Mob.
The first dynamite was used under a
Broadway car at East Fifty-fifth street
early In the evening. The explosion
knocked the front trucks off the track
and started a riot. In which the police
were forced to battle with a mob of 1000
people.
The second explosion occurred at Pran
ces avenue and East Fifty-fifth street A
railroad torpedo and a stick of dynamite
were placed on the track and were ex
ploded when a car struck them. No one
was injured, but the body of the car was
set afire.
Stone Cars at the Barns.
A short Cms later police found more
dynamite in this vicinity and a box filled
with enough explosive to demolish, a
streetcar was found on St. Clalr-avenue
line. '
Fully 2000 people in all were gathered
in crowds along the East Flfty-flfth-street
cross-town line at the intersection of the
other carllnes, and riots were of fre
quent occurrence. Cars were stoned and
big mobs at the carbarns attacked each
car as it left the barns.
CONDUCTOR FORCED TO SHOOT
Opens Fire on Mob That Hurla
. Stones at Streetcars.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 17. A con
ductor on a Miles-avenue car today
was forced to discharge his revolver
at a crowd of men and boys who.
sought to attack the crew. After
Jeers and hisses at the motorman and
conductor, the mob hurled a volley of
missiles at the car. Some of the mis
siles found their mark, and the con
ductor drew his pistol, the police say,
firing only one shot. No one was hit.
Aside from a few other minor dis
turbances, the streetcar strike situa
tion today was quiet, while the service
given by. the Municipal Traction Com
pany was greatly improved. A police
officer rode upon each car and screens
of heavy wire were provided for the
motormen's vestibules.
Operating; Many Linos.
On many of the lines the company
inaugurated the usual full quota of
runs that are In effect on Sundays. In
the business section quiet prevailed
and no crowds gathered.
At the barns In the outlying sections
there were gatherings of men and boys,1
who Jeered the carmen as they came in
or departed.
Vice-President Behner, of the Rail
way Men's Union, visited nearly every
carbarn today to note the situation.
He reported everything quiet.
Hopeful of Arbitration.
International President Mahon, of the
Amalgamated Association of Streetcar
and Electric Railway Employes, ar
rived today from Chicago. He at once
went Into conference with Vice-President
Behner and members of 'the local
executive committee.
The state arbitrators are still en
deavoring to have the union and Presi
dent DuPont. of the Municipal Trac
tion Company, to come to some under
standing. Mahon called upon the arbitrators
twice today.
TRICK-DRIVERS WILL STRIKE
Five Thousand I'nlon 'Men in Chi
cago Denied Increase in Wages.
CHICAGO. May IT. A strike of 6000
truckdrlvers was authorised at a meet
ing of the union today, because of the
refusal of the teamowners to grant an
.Increase of $1.50 a wwk. A commit
tee was instructed to make another ef
fort to Induce the owners to grant an
Increase before the strike order be
comes effective.
Fourth Bad Fire at Hope.
HOPE. Idaho. May K.-(Speclal.-Flre
originating in HenVy Horton's house at
I A. M. spread and in a few minutes six
houses were in flames. Wright Simpson
blew up two houses with dynamite, which
saved the town. Buckets were the only
means of quenching the flames. Every
one was asleep until awakened by the
whistling of a locomotive and the dyna
mite blasts. The total ioss is about
no.OCtX This is the fourth fire since 1904.
WOULD WED
IS BOYHOOD LOVE
IANCEL . DISRUPTS ALLIANCE
OF STATE.
Forms Attachment for Daughter of
Lady in Waiting and Refuses
to Break It Off.
LISBON. May 17. The Mundo prints
a story about King Manuel's attach
ment tor the young daughter of a lady-in-waiting
to Queen Amelie which
threatens to disrupt the' matrimonial
plans which are being made for him.
King Carlos and Queen Amelie were
fully aware of the fondness of Manuel,
when a prince, for the girl, who is con
nected with the highest Portuguese
nobility, but they considered it simply
a childish fancy.
Since Prince Manuel's unexpected ac
cession to the throne a suitable alliance
with a European royal house is re
garded as a necessity of state. Queen
Amelie and the Duke of Oporto have
been casting about to find an available
Princess, but favoring one of British ex
traction because of the close relations
between the countries.
A few days ago they, were openly
canvassing the matter in the King's pres
ence when to their great surprise he
suddenly announced his unalterable
choice for his early love, and proclaimed
his determination either to marry her or
nobody.
Remonstrances on the ground of reasons
of state were without effect and as a con
sequence the lady in waiting, and her
daughter will be asked to go abroad in
the hope that a long separation will
cure the King of his boyhood love.
READY FOR THE ASSEMBLY
Presbyterian Church to Convene and
Elect Moderator.-
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 17. Every
thing la in readiness for the 120th gen
eral assembly of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States of America, which
will convene In Convention Hall, In this
city, next Thursday, and remain in ses
sion until Saturday, May 90.
Dr. William Henry Roberts, of Phila
delphia, the present moderator of the
church, will arrive next Tuesday and
will -spend the intervening time until the
opening session of the general assembly
in making preparations to expedite the
Important business to be transacted. At
the first session,- which will be opened
by Rev. Roberts and at which he will
deliver his farewell sermon as moder
ator, a new moderator will be elected.
Several noted leaders of the church
have been mentioned for this honor, con
spicuous among them being Dr. B. P.
Fullerton, of St. Louis, and Dr. Mark
A. Matthews, of Seattle. There will be
840 commissioners from all .parts of the
United States in attendance at the meet
ings. Of these numbers one-half will be
ministers and the other half laymen.
SPOKANE FACES STRIKE
Members of Carmen's Union May
Walk Out Today.
SPOKANE. May 17. Members of the
carmen's union In the employ of the Spo
kane Traction Company will probably
be ordered out tomorrow by President
Richard Cornelius, who is here from San
Francisco, on account of the refusal of
the company to abandon its open-shop
policy and to recognize the union. The
union men will hold meetings tomorrow
afternoon and night. ' State Organizer
Young, of Seattle, arrived here today.
The streetcar company has flatly refused
to treat with the union and has been
putting on new men in expectation of
trouble. A strike will affect about 160
men.
MERCURY CURE A SUCCESS
"aval Surgeons Make Important Dis
covery In Treating Tuberculosis.
WASHINGTON, May 17. Recent ad
vices from the new naval hospital at
Fort Lyon, Colorado, confirm the prom
ising report made by Surgeon B. L.
Wright, on duty at that sanitarium,
regarding the results of treating tu
berculosis by the use of mercury.
Naval surgeons at the hospital have
been closely observant in the 30 cases
subjected to the treatment, and prog
ress, it is said, has been such as to
lead to the conviction that they havo
made an important discovery.
DINES IN SHIBA PALACE
Rear-Admiral Humphill Entertained
by Japanese Royalty.
TOKIO, May 17. Rear-Admiral Joseph
N. HemphilL commanding the American
squadron now visiting Yokohama, was re
ceived in audience by the Emperor this
morning. Afterward he took luncheon at
the Shiba Palace.
Among those present at the luncheon
were Princesses Arisuguwa and Fushimi,
Admiral Togo and Minister of Marine
Baron Saito.
A British squadron Is also visiting Yo
kohama, HIT BY TRAIN; THREE DEAD
Carriage and Occupants Hurled Into
Air at Railway Crossing..
FLORA. Ind., May 17. Three persona
met death and another was fatally in
jured in a crossing accident one mile
north of here tonipht, when a Pennsyl
vania Railroad passenger train struck a
carriage, hurling the occupants into the
air. The vehicle contained the family of
Township Trustee James I. Cripes, who
met inst-ant death: Mrs. Cripes, his wife,
and 2-year-old daughter Ruth were also
killed and another child waa fatally hurt.
g
A
M
BARES BREAST TO
FATHER'S KNIFE
Boy Victim !of Parent's
Despondency.
BEGS NOT TO BE LEFT ALONE
Two Outcasts Talk It All Over
Together.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT FAILURE
After Killing Son, Father Stabs Him
self Twice, but Still LivesPitl
ful Death Pact Entered Into by
Two Who Are Iieft Alone.
CHICAGO, May 17. (Special.)
Harassed to the point of despera
tion by financial and family trou
bles, Henry Rudolph Amann, aged
43, last night murdered his 12-year-old
son, Walter, and made two vain attempts
to nd hla own life by stabbing. He is
now in the hospital at .Fort Sheridan
and may not recover.
Prior to killing his boy, Amann tried
for two days to lose the lad by leav
ing htm at points in Lake Forest and
Fort Sheridan, but the boy, suspecting
some such Intention, foiled the scheme.
Finally the father told the boy that he
meant to commit suicide, and the lad,
who loved him dearly pleaded not to
be left alone in the world, and asked
his fatber to kill him first.
Talk It All Over.
They sat down on the lake front and
talked it all over and finally signed
an agreement to die together. They
first conceived the plan of walking sud
denly in front of the targets where the
Fort Sheridan soldiers were firing, and
thus meet death, but were driven away
by the guards. Then the father pur
chased a small bottle of laudanum, In
tending to stupefy the lad , first and
kill him when asleep. But the boy
agreed to die without the drug.
"Here is where my heart beats, papa;
I'm ready to die, and- your boy. Is not
afraid. Don't you be afraid to stab
me. Just make it easy, and don't hurt
me any more than you can help. I want
to die with you, for I love you so."
Boy Bares His Breast-
With eager, trembling hands Walter
unbuttoned his shirt and bared his 12-year-oid
bosom ready for the death
thrust of the cruel, long-bladed knife.
He did not have long to wait, for in
the next moment the knife had sought Its
mark. . As his life's blood streamed
forth he reached up and kissed the band
of his murderer murmuring:
"W will be together."
Then the father sent the blade twice
toward his own heart, but did not strike
it.
The , father lay unconscious from 2
o'clock Saturday afternoon until 2 o'clock
this morning, when he crawled to Forf
Sheridan and told what he had done.
Amann was formerly wealthy, but lost
his money in speculation and -in bad fac
tory investments.
"I Want to Die," Wrott the Boy.
A letter was found in Amann's pocket,
which he declared the boy had written
and which tended to prove that the latter
knew what his fate was to be and wel
comed it. The letter reads:
"Please bury, us together in one grave.
Everything was against us. I do not
want to live without my father. I . go
of my own free wiU."
The letter was signed "Walter" and
was in a child's handwriting. Another
letter written by Amann read:
"Please get niy boy, 200 yard northeast
of Fort Sheridan."
Smiled When Knife Was Raised.
All day Amann lay on a cot at the fort
and raved about the deed. "I have
killed my own son," he muttered over
and oyer., "He knew that I intended to
die and he did not want to be separated
from me. He smiled when I raised the
knife. He was a brave little fellow and
not afraid as I to die."
From Mrs. Rnobel. mother of the child,
it was learned that Amann had repeat
edly asked her to marry him during the
past eight years since the death of her
husband, and she had refused. Ha also
made demands upon her ; for money and
had threatened to kill the boy if she did
not give it to him. Great affection, she
said, had existed between the child and
Amann. .
FIERCE FIGHT WITH ARABS
French "Forces Disperse 6000 Tribes
' men and Capture Large Stores.
PARIS. May 17. Official dispatches
from General Vigy. commander of the
French forces in Algeria, who engaged
in a fierce fight with Arabs on Thurs
day, state that- he occupied Boudenlb.
the stronghold of Mulai Hasan, after
vigorously shelling the tribesmen, who
number 6000. The enemy dispersed in
all directions, abandoning their camp
and large quantities of stores and am
munition. They suffered severe losses
owing to admirable handling of the ar
tillery by the French. The latter lost
three killed and nine wounded. Ac
cording to the dispatches. -the occupa
tion has had a widespread effect
throughout the region, a number of
submissions already having resulted.
EVENTS OF COMING WEEK
-. Five State Conventions.
Conventions and conferences, pollt-
ical. Industrial and religious, will
have a considerable share In the
news report of the week. Demo
cratic state conventions will he held
In California. Washington, , Pennsyl
vania, Missouri and Michigan.
Lat Week of Congress, Maybe.
Both Houses f Congress wHl beg-in
business Monday with the Idea
that this will be the last week of
the session, but opinions vary as to -the
time of adjournment.
Presbyterians at Kansas City.
The 120th general assembly of
the Presbyterian Church of the
United States will convene at Kan
sas City on Thursday and continue
until June 1.
Flee Bails for Puget Sound.
The Atlantic -battleship fleet will
leave San Francisco Monday for
Puget Sound, where It is due to ar
rive Thursday.
LOOTED BANK SUSPENDS
ALLEGHENY NATIONAL DECIDES
TO CLOSE ITS DOORS.
Peculations or Cashier Montgomery,
Charged With Taking $584,000,
Makes the Action Necessary. -
PITTSBURG, May 17. It is officially
announced tonight that the Allegheny
National Bank, whose former cashier.
William Montgomery, is in jail specifi
cally charged with misappropriation of
$594,000, while officers of the bank and of
the Treasury Department, are trying to
fathom still larger apparent discrepan
cies in the bank's funds, will not re-open
for business tomorrow. Instead, a notice
on the door will announce that the
Controller .of the Currency has taken,
charge and will close up the affairs of
the bank. .
Until" late today it had been expected
by Examiner Folds, who discovered the
alleged peculations and made the charges
against Montgomery, and by the officers
and directors of the bank, thathe in
stitution "would weather the storm and
be able to continue the business. To this
end a number of strong financial insti
tutions and prominent capitalists of the
city offered assistance and provided $250,
000 cash, while the directors provided a
like amount to meet immediate needs or
provide for possible emergencies. At
the same time a complete reorganization
was decided upon and a ne cashier and
other officers were practically agreed
tupun. A hitch occurred In these plans
yesterday and all of "today was spent in
conferences attended by Examiner Folds,
representing the Treasury Department,
the bank's directors and the financiers
who had proffered aid.
After a careful review of the situa
tion, suspension of the bank was decided
upon as the only logical course, but this
decision was scarcely announced when
a new ray of hope appeared. The an
nouncemenfwas withdrawn and the con
ference reconvened to discuss the new
suggestion for continuing business.
Finally, however, it was agreed to stand
by the earlier decision and to liquidate.
The suspension of the bank. It is be
lieved; will have practically, no effect
upon commercial or financial institutions
of the' city. Is has been largely dis
counted by the events of the past week,
and besides, the private and commercial
deposits of the bank are very small,
amounting to not over $300,000.
TRIES TO PULL BULLET OUT
Ben Castello Victim of Fatal Acci
dent While Hunting.
ABERDEEN, Wash., May 17. (Special.)
Ben Castello, agred 17, was accidentally
shot and killed with a rtfle today while
liuntlng. With several companions he
went to the woods and when one ot the
guns did not work, Castello grasped the
barrel and began to force the bullet out.
The gun was discharged in some manner
unexplained when several ot the boys
were holding it. The bullet entered Cas
tello's heart. .
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
Tbe Weather-
Yesterday's Maximum temperature, 57 de-
grees; maximum, 44 decrees.
Today's Showers; southerly winds.
Foreign.
Prince Itodetermined to Improve conditions
in Corea. Page 3.
King Manuel loves lady-in-waiting and re
fuses to marry woman of nobility.
Page l.
National.
Senate and House -conferees to tackle cur
rency bill. Page 3.
v Political.
Manufacturers' Association to make war on
labor leaders. Page 1.
Organized labor to enter politics. Page 6
Nebraska delegates will try to break two
thirds rule. Page 1.
IemocratIc factional fights promise spec
tacutar convention at Spokane today.
Page- 3. .
DomestU,
Cleveland mob attacks trolley car with dy
namite. Page 1.
Financial conditions improve la, Wall street!1
Page 9-
Defalcations of Pittsburg cashier force bank
to suspend. Page 1. ,
Son begs father to kill him before commit
ting suicide, and the two die together.
. Page 1.
Sports.
Boxing and wrestling classes at Multnomah
to disband for season. Page
Portland wins third straight game from Los
Ange'ied, 3 to 0. Page 12.
Pacific Coast.
Oregonlan readers In Galley towns rejoiced
t get daily paper before breakfast.
Page 4.
Atlantic fleet starts today for Puget Sound.
. Page 3.
State Grange opposed to single tax amend
ment. Page 1.
Portland and Vicinity.
H. M. Cake reaffirms his allegiance t
Statement No. 1. Page 3.
Dissension in ranks of Iemocratic County
Committee. Page 14.
Pastor delivers sermon In favor of armory
appropriation. Page 8- -
Activitv in - real - estate - and building.
Page 13.
Desertion of Hindu sailors delays sailing of
steamer Stratbgyle. Page 9. j.
EMPLOYERS BET
AFTER GOMPERS
Capital to Take Active
Hand in Campaign.
VAN CLEAVE HURLS GAUNTLET
Head of Manufacturers' Asso
ciation Fights Labor.
CHALLENGE JS TAKEN UrH
Chicago Federation Launches Polit
ical Campaign at Behest of Gom
pers Hailed as Only Remedy
for Adverse Court Decisions.
TITANIC COJfTEST OPENS.
President Van Clear, of the Man
ufacturers' Association, declares the
time has arrived when the Interests
he represents must take a hand In
politics. He plans to defeat every
candidate who has the backing of the
labor leaders. His heavy blows will
be directed at Gompers, and every
effort will be - made to elect can
didates whom the labor leaders seek
to defeat.
Gompers has accepted the' chal
lenge to enter politics, and at his
request the Chicago Federation yes
terday decided to take an active part
in . the election in. that city. The
labor element wtlV maKe use of the
new direct primary law In Illinois
to name candidates to the legis
lature and Congress.
BY LLOYD F. LONEROAN.
NEW YORK, May 17. (Special.) Impe
cunious politicians from all sections of
the country are gathering here to have
heart-to-heart talks with the ruling spirits
in the National Association of Manufac
turers, which will open its 13th annual
convention at 'the Waldorf-Astoria tomor
row '
The announcement by President James
W. Van Cleave that his organization is
going into politics has raised hopes that a
large barrel will be opened.
Mr. Van Cleave has certainly stirred up
things In New York. His declaration of
antagonism to the demands of union labor
has aroused Gompers and his associates,
a,nd the fur is bound to fly before long.
Van Cleave Anxious for the Fray.
The National Association of Manufac
turers has 3000 members, representing a
combined eapital of 15,000,000. Many of
the members are in town, now. but few of
them care to be quoted. The great ma
jority simply say that Mr. Van' Cleave
speaks by authority, and that they in
dorse the sentiments be expresses.
Still the association is not a unit on the
most important question that has come
before it in its IS years of existence. It
is known that a number of active manu
facturers believe that it Is bad policy to
throw down the gauntlet to organized
labor on the eve of a National election.
In their opinion it would be better to wait
a while.
But Mr. Van Cleave is earnest, emphatic
and aggressive.
"Conditions are such," he says, "that the
business men of the country are compelled
to take an interest in the political condi
tion, and such an interest as they have
never taken before.
"If in getting actively Mnto politics we
find ourselves coVnpelled, temporarily, to
oppose public men whom we favored un
der different conditions, and whom we
still respect, then so much the worse
for those men. .
Pnts Labor Vote at 500,000.
Owing to the fact that this year a Pres
ident and a Congress are to be elected,
there is a powerful incentive for dema
gogues, social disturbers and self-seekers
of all sorts to use threats to frighten the
party leaders and the party candidates
of each of the two great organizations
into doing their bidding.
"An unusually large number of Issues
touching the relations of labor and capital
and involving the welfare of all our in
dustries are before us. Attempts are be
ing made by some well-meaning but mis
guided persons in high places to push
legislation through ,at the present session
of Congress, which, . If enacted will raise
class distinctions and create a favored
order in this community.
"Employers must fight the class legis
lation, and fignt it now. They must fight
it, not because it grants special favor to
the labor trust, but because we are
against the granting of special favo'rs to
any particular interest or to any element
of the population.
"The voting strength of organized labor
is greatly exaggerated. It does not
amount to 500,000, and there is no man liv
ing, not even Gompers, who can control' It.
Tays Campaign for Congress.
"We realize that the labor trust is well
organized for this campaign, and has
large funds. To offset these forces and
to strengthen . the bands of honest and
courageous lawmakers, and to- see that
they are not slaughtered at the primaries
and at the poll" y the labor trust, it is
now necessary that the manufacturers of
the country 8 into politics: We will also
work to retire from Congress at the end
of this present term those tricksters and
cowards who have surrendered to the
labor trust. It Is up to us to see that
no new demogogues are nominated, and.
Concluded on Page 3.
SECRETARY TAFT,
TELLS OF PANAMA
SPENDS DAY AT ', CHARLESTON"
OX HIS WAV HOME.
Finds Conditions on Isthmus Much
, Improved Since Last Visit.
Says Nothing Politically.
CHARLESTON". S. C.,' May 17. Secre
tary of War William H. Taft arrived here
from Panama at noon today on board the
cruiser Prairie, "and, .after spending a few
hours in the city, .during which time he
was met and greeted by .a number of of
ficials and friends, left for Washington at
5:55 P. M via the Atlantic Coast line.
The Secretary .dined with Mayor Knott
and held an informal reception afterward
at the Charleston HoteL Secretary Taft
talked freely with regard to general con
ditions in Panama, but said that he did
not vish to -be quoted on Buch matters as
the relations of the United States and
Panama, which had been suggested as a
possible reason for his trip, and he would
not discuss the coming elections to be
held In Panama.'
"The Isthmus now presents," he said,
"an appearance not unlike a factory or
mill village, or some succession of villages
clear across, and the lights at night and
the noises, too, might keep one awake if
not tired enough to sleep well."
Secretary Taft was the guest of Colonel
Goethals, chairman of the commission, at
Culebra. and from his window, he said,
the scene was most interesting. The
health of the Canal Zone is now excellent.
The houses generaly are protected with
screens, and the people seem comforta
ble and happy. Labor conditions have
greatly Improved in all departments, and
the use of Spaniards as laborers seems to
have started a rivalry with those at work
previously that will be good for the ad
vancement of work.
AID FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
Fornes Promises to Introduce Reso
lution In the House. '
NEW YORK, May 17. Alexander Law,
who was delegated to convey to Washing
ton a resolution passed at the recent
convention for the unemployed held here,
reported to a gathering of unemployed
today in Manhattan Lyceum. .He said
that Congressman Fornes, of New York,
had promiaI to introduce In. the House
of Representatives the resolutions of the
convention calling for a " large' public
works to furnish employment for the Idle.
President Roosevelt, Mr. Law reported,
had been too busy with the conference of
Governors to grant him a hearing. Many
of the delegates to "the conference of Gov
ernors had promised assistance In the
meantime. . -
VENEZUELA PAYS .DEBTS
Plenty of Funds, Notwithstanding
Closing Port of La Guayra.
CARACAS, Venezuela, (Friday), May
15. The Venezuelan Government today
made its monthly payments on account
ft the foreign claims, despite the cur
tailment or revenue resulting irora tne
closing of the port of La Guayra.
There have been no new cases of bu
bonic plague for four days; should four
more days go by without a case, the
port will be reopened.-
PUERTO CABELLO, May 17. Presi
dent Castro left Caracas today to visit
Aragau and Carabobo. The customs
authorities .have decided not to clear
any vessels from this port for the
Island of Curacao.
MADE MEMBER OF THE DIET
Japanese, "Well Known in Seattle, Is
Elected to Office on Return.
SEATTLE! May 17. A. Hattori, one oft
the best-known Japanese In the North
west and formerly ' president of ' the
Japanese Association of Seattle, was
elceted to a seat in the Lower House
of the Imperial Japanese Diet in the
general elections Saturday, according to
news received in a cablegram. ' He has
been absent from Seattle for a year,
going to Japan to represent the North
west before the Tokio authorities when
discussion over the San Francisco school
incident was rife, and is sent to the
Diet from Okayama, district where he
was formerly a high school principal.
At the end of bis term he will return
to Seattle.
CHOLERA AMONG TROOPS
Serious Epidemic Feared Among the
English Forces In India.
SIMLA, May 17. An outbreak of cholera
has compelled the withdrawal of nearly
all the white troops with Major-General
Willcocks' frst column into the cholera
camp. The intense heat and the absence
of running water, necessitating dependr
ence upon the muddy village water tanks,
make the danger of a cholera epidemic
serious.
On approaching Khapak Pass today, the
pickets of Msjor-General Willcocks' force
had a desperate four hours' fight with
Mohmand troops during which the Brit
ish suffered a loss of ten men killed and
24 wounded. -
GO. SPARKS IS VERY, LOW
Condition. Precarious and He Is Not
Expected to Survive.
RENO, Nev. May 17. The condition of
Governor Sparks, of Nevada, is pro
nounced very precarious this evening and
It is not expected that he will survive.
E
TO SINGLE TAX
Too Radical, Declares
, -
State Convention.
STRONG REPORT IS ADOPTED
Fears Effect on Homes and
Business Interests.
FAITH IN PRESENT LAWS
Existing Inequality of Taxes Would
Be Eliminated,' It Is Held, if the
Statutes Were Properly En
. forced by the Officials.
STATE GRANGE ON TAX QUES-
TION.
The Oregon State Grange opposes f
the single tax amendment on the "
round ttiat It Is too radical and ex- f
treme and on the further ground that I
' the cltiiens of Oregon do not under- I
stand how this revolution In taxation f
will affect their homes and business I-
interest.
The Grange believes) that the prin-
dpi of single tax. If applied at all,
should be. applied only to future unearned-
social Increments as they ac
crue, v a
Favors constructive as opposed to
revolutionary tax reform in Oregon.
Suggests that any existing Inequal
ity of taxes will disappear with a
. proper enforcement of the present
statutes.
Advices taxpayers to keep in closer
touch with their Assessors and county-,
boards -of equalization, that corpora
tions and all classes of property A all
, be required to bear their Just pro-
portion of the burden of taxation, as
proposed In the present law, which re
. quires that all property be assessed
L at its true cash value. ' " '
EUGENE, Or., May .l7. (Special.)
Included in the report of the special
committee on assessment and taxation,
adopted by the Oregon State Grange
which, concluded its 35th annual ses
sion yesterday, are embodied several
recommendations on the subject of
taxation that are of general interest
to the people of the state.
The Grange unequivocally opposes
the proposed Single Tax amendment
as a revolutionary attempt to reform
the present system of assessment a: I
taxation. Desired changes along these
lines, suggests the Grange, can best be
accomplished by slightly amending the
present law which contemplates the
assessment of all. classes of property,
including that held by corporations, at
their actual cash value. The organiza
tion further, recommends that tax-9
payers in the different counties L'.ould
pay closer attention to the work of
their Assessors and County Boards of
Equalization and Insist that the assess
ment of- all property is such as to insure-a
contribution of their just pro
portion of taxes.
Methods -Are Not Uniform.
Before compiling its report, the com
mittee gathered such statistics from
the assessors of the State as could be '
obtained, particularly relating to the
assessment of the large corporations
and timber lands. From the reports
received it was learned that the as
sessment of the main lines of the O
R. A, N. and the Southern Pacific va
ried from 910.000 a mile in Umatilla
County to $30,000 a mile in Douglas
County, while the same diversity of
values was shown in the assessment of
branch lines. -
The Grange further approved and
recommended to its legislative commit
tee the amendment proposed by the
late Tax Commission, permitting prop
erty to be' classified and taxed at dif
ferent rates, always maintaining with
in each class a uniform rate. This
plan was recommended as the most ef
fective beneficial change in the pres
ent tax system.
Further Action Is Taken.
The Grange made further- recom
mendations as follows:
Taxation 6f money, notes and ac
counts at a low rate.
Taxation of bank deposits, if such a
law can be enacted to deal fairly and
effectively with all kinds of banking
institutions and avoid all danger of
double taxation.
An intelligent co-operation among
the people to demand the enforcement
of the law requiring certain corpora
tions to comply with the statutes and .
pay taxes on their gross earnings.
Further education of the members
of the Grange on state and local taxa
tion. Apportionment of state taxes among
the counties every year based on the
average of expenditures for the last
preceding five years, as a means of
keeping the voter informed as to the
degree ef economy exercised In the ad
ministration of his county affairs.
Separation of local and state rev
enues derived from taxation, that the
taxpayers may observe to what extent
economy is practiced by each depart
ment in the administration of its
affairs.
Amendment of the inheritance tax
law to include direct and indirect heirs
Concluded on Page a.
GRAN9
OPPOSED