12
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11. loa.
PALMEH
MIFFED
IS
AT PRESS STORIES
.Refuses to Deny Anything,
Then Suddenly Grows
Very Angry.
REPORTER ROUSES LAWYER
Ex-Jalge Itoofs Partner Very Sens
itive When Questioned Regarding
Report lie Had Been Oust
ed by" Law Firm.
SEATTLE. Wash.. Dec. 10. (Special.)
"I guess that when the Legislature
irets ready to oiwt me I will know It
a lot quicker than I will by reading
manufactured reports made against me
Just because, while I was chairman of
the Republican state central commit
tee. I turned down a bunch of news
papermen who persistently misquoted
me and to whom I declined to give
out further news.
"I have never denied anything that
has appeared in print, and I don't in
tend to begin now." .
Mr. Palmer was considerably peeved
when he was asked about his connec
tion with the Root investigation,
wherein he Is alleged to have been the
Influencing factor in court cases where
his law partner. ex-Justice Milo A.
Koot. wrote the decisions while a mem
ber of the Supreme Court of the State
of Washington.
Hardened Against .Notoriety.
"How about the Richardson case?"
was asked.
"There is nothing to it." exclaimed
tlr. Palmer, interjecting a few spec
tacular remarks for the occasion.
"There is Just as much to that as
there Is to the report that I attempted
to steal Soap Lake.' Just as much to
that as there is to the report printed
that I was tax agent for both the
Northern Pacific and the Great North
ern. "I don't suppose I could draw a
breath ' that some one wouldn't in
volve me In a scandal. For a long
time when I would go home I would
find my wife in tears, but even she has
gotten over that now and I don't care
what Is published. I'm not going to
deny anything."
Reporters Hit Vulnerable Spot.
"If there Is nothing to these stories
Mr. Palmer, why do they become so
persistent and so often?"
"For the reason I told you. Because
I made the newspapermen do business
outside In the hall and refused to be
quoted or misquoted further."
"Did the law firm you formerly were
with throw you out of the firm as re
ported?" Mr. Palmer leaned back in bis chair
and fairly yelled.
"Go ask them. I haven't got time to
talk further. There are a lot of peo
ple waiting for me, and while I don't
want to cut you off short, I'm not go
ing to deny anything."
MEIGS WILL BE SPEAKER
Yakima Man Has Promise of Sup
port From 4 9 House -Members.
SEATTLE, Wash.. Dee. 10. (Special.
. Forty-nine members of the Lower House
; of the next Legislature have either signed
; an agreement pledging themselves to vote
' for L. O. Mclgs. of North Takima. for
' Speaker, or written letters assuring Meigs
, that he would have their votes. Nine
! other members have made verbal pledsres
'. to Meigs and still another has offered his
vote on conditions that It may be pos-
unie to accept.
Of the 95 members of the House, Meters
Is assured of the support of 58 or 69. In
a Republican caucus It would require 45
, votes to nominate, as there are only six
Democrats In the House. In an election
;'frora the entire membership it would re
i quire 48. Derplte the fact that Meigs'
i election is assured, J. W. Slayden, of
Mlerce County, was indorsed for Speaker
ly an ot tne nine South wwtern Washing
fton Representatives at a caucus at Cen
! tralla yesterday, except two men who
: were pledged to Meigs. The southwestern
' delegation made the alliance with Slay-
I den solely to swing Pierce County to sup
; port an appropriation for the South
I western Fair It is proposed to hold next
'. year. Several fairs will come before the
t Legislature for appropriations, and the
, southwestern delegation feared that a
i Melss comes from North Yakima he
I would put th State Fair, held In that
city, above all else.
Commission to ascertain the value of
the railroad property in Washington.
Between the figures prepared by com
mission experts and the railroad ex
perts there is a great difference.
Northern Pacific witnesses, under oath,
testified it would cost to reproduce Its
property in this state now, exclusive
of equipment, $137,143,703, where the
commission found the cost would be
but 194.543.212. The O. R. & N. valued
its property In Washington at $35,
919.S81, while the commission valued
It at $17,000,000. The Great Northern
valued Its property at $96,637,888, while
the commission fixed the value of Its
lines at $59,577,212, a difference of
$37,060,676. In other words the three
roads operating in this state claim the
right to earn an annual return on
$98,581,048 more than the commission
allowed.
He eays there is lack of exchange of
proper confidence, and thinks this
should be mutual: and points out that
when the farmer and grain owner meet
the railroad men, the railroad men
know to an exact certainty the value
of land, the expense of cultivating and
harvesting, in other words exactly what
wheat will cost the farmer and what
freight it will pay to give the farmer
a fair margin of profit. But here the
interchange of confidence ceases. The
manager does not inform you of the
amount of his investment, his receipts
and operating expenses, so you can ap
ply the same general rules. He tells
you the business is of too complex and
complicated a character to demonstrate
or. explain what would be a reasonable
charge or rate from a consideration of
the facts affecting the revenue of the
road.
Railroad managers are human,
They have, in the past, operated their
properties answerable to none but their
directors and stockholders. They re
sent as an unwarrantable interference
with their affairs the efforts of th
people to obtain this information, which
will result in a mutual exchange of
confidence. I believe this sentiment
will rapidly change, and ,in my Judg
ment the day is fast approaching when
the representatives of the people and
the railroad officials will co-operate
In ascertaining and publishing all facts
necessary to a full and complete de
termination whether rates are or are
not reasonable. If rates are too high
they will be reduced; if too low, the
people will promptly acquiesce in an
advance that a reasonable return may
be secured.
BUTTER IMS
MEET IN SALEM
Demand Law Compelling
Farmers to Deliver
Clean Cream.
INSPECTORS TELL OF WORK
Startling Conditions Corrected by
Mrs. S. A. Yoakum In Coos Conn
ty Dr. Hutchinson's Ad
dress Starts Applause.
JOHNSON JIM IS CHOSEN
PERDl'E SLAYER MAKES SELF
DEFEXSE CLAIM.
Two Men Quarreled at Timber, in
Washington County, on Morning
When Victim Was Slain.
SALMON PACK IS LIGHT
'Less Than Half or 1907 Output, Ac
cording to Seattle Estimate.
SEATTLE). Wash.. Dec. 10. (Special.)
Estimates of the 1508 salmon park, an-
i nouncrd today by the Kelly-Clark Co..
the leading salmon brokers, give the total
(for the year, including the red Spring
:pack, at 3U9.Z77 cases, as compared with
7.153 cases last year. The total value of
the pack is given at $1,635,305.40. Of the
total Iti2.2x8 cases were sockeyes, 93.802
.cohoes and 51.16 chums.
Comparing corresponding years of the
four-year salmon cycle, the pack In 19i4
I was 2S6,630 cases and in lno, 4"2.iM8 cases.
Kext year Is due to be the big year of
tii cycle.
The Pacific American Fisheries Com
pany was the largest producer, as usual,
packing S8.025 cases. The Alaska Pack
ers" Association was next, with 45,530
cases.
PUBLIC SEEKS FOR FACTS
Publicity on Railroad Business Can
not Be Throttled.
PULLMAN, Wash.. Pec. 10. (Spe
cial. "Let the people have the facts"
is the keynote of the address deliv
ered this evening at the wheatgrowers'
convention, here, by Chairman Harry
Kalrchild. of the Washington Railroad
Commission. He took for his topic:
,-Is an Increase in Rates Necessary to
and Will It Restore Confidence in Rail
road Securities?"
He declares that the Investor In rail
road securities is not timid because of
' his earnings and shows the enormous
returns, for Instance, received by the
original Investors in Northern Pacific
bonds, which, beside Interest that has
been received right along and original
investment of $78.50, now have a mar
ket value of $202.05.
As a striking commentary upon the
different Ideas of value of railroad
property. Falrchild recites some of the
efforts of the Washington Railroad
HILLSBORO. Or., Dec. 10. (Special.)
The trial of Walter Johnson, charged
with the murder of Elmer Perdue, above
Timber, Washington County, early In
the morning of July 3, lauS, commenced
in the Circuit Court here this morning
with T. A. McBride on the bench. E. B.
Tongue, District Attorney, and T. H.
Tongue, his deputy, are prosecuting the
case, and Bagley & Hare are counsel for
the defense.
Xearly the entire day was consumed
In the selection of a Jury, and but two
witnesses were sworn. The following
12 men will try Johnson: Henry Kamma,
.Blooming; L. V . House. Hlllsboro: John
D. Mickle. Gales Creek; J. N. Grabel,
Hillsboro; Charles Johnson. Farmlngton;
j George Zimmerman, Glencoe; John
fc-cnaerrer. .Nortn MUlsooro; Andrew Jack,
South Hillsboro; J. A. Hobbs, Hillsboro
Adam Hergert, Blooming; Fred Hay
wood, Cornelius, and E. J. Johnson, 9outh
Tualatin.
These jurors were accepted after 35
men had been examined. Bryce Wilson,
of Timber, was the first witness sworn.
and he testified that on July 3, 19US, John
son and Perdue were at his house and
purchased provisions. Johnson intro
duced himself, and he heard the defend
ant call his companion "Elmer." This
was the last that he saw of either until
after the murder. He could not Identify
Perdue, except as to the clothes, when
the remains were found, as the man who
was with Johnson, as the body was too
badly decomposed.
Coroner Brown told about finding the
body and about taking off the alu
minum badges which served to Identify
Perdue. According to Johnson's confes
sion, given to Sheriff Hancock and the
Multnomah County officials, he and Per
due slept at the Burkhalter cabin on
the night of July 3. They arose the next
morning about 4 o'clock, and Johnson
contended that he and Perdue had words
about his not being located on timber
land, as agreed by Johnson, formerly and
prior to their leaving Portland. He killed
Perdue and then robbed his body of
about $140. He then draggea the remains
into a deep ravine or gulch below the
deserted cabin, covered the body with
old clapboards and brush and departed
for Buxton. He reached Portland that
evening, taking the dead man's money
with him.
Johnson's defense, as It appears to
the outsider, will be that he killed Perdue
in order to keep from being, killed him
self, as it is understood that he con
tends that Perdue started for his gun
during tills altercation, and that he shot
as the other was reaching for the
weapon. That he admits the killing,
claiming self-defense and that then in
las chaotic state of mind robbed him
and thought only of covering up the
deed, seems to be the real defense.
Johnson a few days before the mur
der tiled Perdue on a piece of timber
land a few miles from where the killing
took place, and tlie entry later was can
celed. Not a trace of Perdue's family
has ever been uncovered by the offi
cials. Johrson's wife la here for the trial,
and his mother Is also here conferring
with counsel for the defense. They say
there is .no bullet-hole in Perdue's skull.
and Johnson in the Hillsboro Jail con
tended he shot him in the head. The
trial will consume several days.
Fewer Licenses Issued in 1008.
M'MINNVILLE, Or.. Dec. 10. (Special.)
The number of hunters' licenses Issued
for ISflS will fall far short of the number
Issued in former years, which fact the
County Clerk attributes to the belief of
some, hunters that a licence can be used
for 13 months from the date of Its Issue,
and the laxity of the game wardens
not scrutinizing closely the dates of Is
suance of the papers. There were 94
lleenfi-s Issued In this county In 130".;
1107 In -1006. 1015 in 1907, and only 933
thus far in 1!K.
SALEM. Or., Deo. 10. (Special.) "Bet
ter cream" is the slogan of the annual
meeting of the Oregon Dairy Association,
which convened in this city today. It
was the prevailing sentiment in the d!s
cussions that there should be enacted
stringent and comprehensive law which
will compel or induce dairymen to keep
their cream clean and sweet until deliv
ered to tlie creamerymen. A committee
consisting of Dr. James Withycombe, of
Corvallis; William Schulmerick. of Hills
boro; J. w. Bailey, of Portland; C. H.
Fraer, of Oorvallis, and Harry West, of
Scappoose, has been appointed to outline
a bill which the Legislature will be asked
to enact.
About 250 dairymen are In attendance
and keen Interest is manifested in all
the proceedings. This evening the visit
ors were tendered a reception at the
Iillihee Club, where informal talks were
given and a lunch was served. Presi
dent J. H. Albert, of the Salem Board
of Trade, presided. Speeches were made
by Mrs. S. A. Yoakum, J. W. Bailey, W.
L. Crlssey, August Huckestein, Dr. James
Withycombe, H. D. Patton, H. B. Thiel
sen, George W. Weeks, Carle Abrams,
F. L. Kent and T. S. Townsend. Mrs.
Max Hofer sang.
At the opening of the exercises this
morning an address of welcome was de
livered by President Huckestein,. of the
Business Men's League.
Sunlight Kills Tubercular Germs.
Tills afternoon Dr. E. N-. Hutchinson
delivered an address upon the subject of
tuberculosis. He said, among oUier
things, that this disease Is contracted al
most entirely through the mouth, and not
by way of the nose and lungs, as many
people suppose. He asserted that the, dis
ease is transmitted chiefly by means of
manure. Sunlight is the greatest destroy
er of tugerculosis bacilli. Therefore, the
best way to keep cows In a healthy con
dition Is to keep the barns free from
manure and to let In plenty of light. He
declared that it is an erroneous belief
that milk, as it comes from the cow, con
tains tuberculosis germs.
'Keep the manure out of the milk pail
and you will have no germs In the milk."
said Dr. Hutchinson. The speaker aroused
hearty applause when he advised the
dairymen never to consent to the enact
ment of a state law for tuberculosis In
spection and treatment with a fee sytem
of compensating -the Inspectors. Thia sys
tem he characterized as vicious.
One of the big sensations of the meeting
today was the account given by Mrs. S.
A. Yoakum concerning the conditions she
found in some dairlee- when she assumed
the office of Deputy Inspector for Coos
County. Food and Dairy Commissioner
Bailey had spoken upon the subject" of
needed legislation and urged the enact
ment of a law which would regulate the
handling of dairy products from the cow
to the market.
Mrs. Yoakum Tells Thrilling Story.
A delegate had opposed this idea, saying
that farmers are already overburdened
with laws which authorize city people to
come around prying Into their affairs.
This aroused Mrs. Yoakum, and she in
sisted that the right way to "educate"
careless dairymen Is to enact and enforce
stringent regulations. She declared that
she haJ seen dairies where the cream
separators were kept in the cow barns,
and that In such cases chickens fre
quently roosted on the separators. The
climax was reached when she told of vis
iting one dairy without making herself
known. She watched the proprietor do
the milking and put the milk through the
separator. When he came to washing
the separator he had only cold water and
no washing cloth. Notwithstanding the
presence of a visitor, he eat down, pulled
off one sock anil used It for a washing
cloth.
Mrs. Yoakum said that the conditions
have changed In Coos County since then,
and that a good law will improve condi
tions still more.
Discussing the subject of better cream,
C. H. Fraer, of the Corvallis Creamery,
said that creamery men are powerless to
compel dairymen to deliver a clean prod
uct, and that there should be not less
than eight deputy Inspectors to look after
the dairymen.
at tide head of the river, which will aggre
gate 20.000 horsepower. They will . also
erect one big American dredge the com
ing Summer.
The other concern, also largely Amer
ican, the Yukon Basin Gold Dredging
Company. Ltd which is operating in
that district, will erect two of the larg
est dredgers In the world the coming
Summer. Contracts are let and arrange
ments made for bringing the great ma
chines over the passes.
FROZEN DEAD NEAR BAKER
Walter Pardee Loses Way in Moun
' tains and Perishes.
BAKER CITY, Or., Dec. 10. (Special.)
Walter Pardee, 20 years old, whose
home in Meriden, Conn., and who has
been in Eastern Oregon for a year trying
to regain his health, was found, frozen
to death In the Elk-Horn Mountains, west
of this city, today. He left Bourne yes
terday afternoon and evidently lost his
way.
CRACK SAFE, GET $1500
Robbers Make Rich Haul in Saloon
at Chinook.
ASTORIA, Or., Dec. 10. (Special
The safe In the Bureau saloon at Chi
nook, belonging to Larson & Tongue, was
robbed last night and about $1500 In cash
taken. It appears that the outside door
of the safe was left unlocked and the
Inner door was broken open with an axe
which was found lying on, the floor of
tne saloon, ivo trace of the robbers has
been found.
Patient Sues His Physician.
CHBHALIS. Wash., Dec. 10. Special.)
The damage suit of Marion Howell, of
Centralia, against Dr. J. H. Dumon, of
that city, still drags along in the Superior
Court. Howell alleges that at the Du
mon Hospital a leg, which was broken
was improperly set. the injury mending
in such a way as to leave him a cripple
for life. All the Chehalis and Centralia
physicians have been called Into the case
as well as some outsiders.
Move to Annul TownslUp Plan.
CHEHALIS, Wash., Dec. 10. Special.)
Reynolds & Stewart today filed an appll
cation for an Injunction on behalf of M
L. Yocum, of Independence, Wash., to
restrain c u. Young. H. H. Tilley and
Henry Jtayton, the board of County Com
missioners from putting into effect the
township organization plan carried at the
recent election. Judge Rice Issued a tem
porary restraining order. Argument on
the ease will likely be heard December
21.
Open Orting Line Today.
TACOMA, Dec. 10. The opening of the
new orting Branch of the Puget Sound
Electric Railway, making a short line of
nine miles between Tacoma and Puyallup,
will be celebrated tomorrow by a special
excursion of the officials of the two
cities over the line as guests of President
Furth, General Manager Dlmmock and
other officers of the company.
Cracksmen Active In Bellingham.
BELLINGHAM, Dec. 10. Postofflce
substation No. 5, at Elk and Chestnut
streets, was entered by burglars last night
and about $100 in stamps- and one book of
postofflce money-order blanks taken.
Three other places were burglarized, the
total value of the loot being less than
$600. The cracksmen were evidently ama
teurs.
TO DREDGE STEWART RIVER
La Grande Ranks Consolidate.
LA GRANDE, Or., Dec. 10. (Special.)
The Eastern Oregon Trust & , Savings
Bank, now a branch of the La Grande
National, will be taken over within the
next 60 days by the United States Na
tional Bank, a corporation that will be
doing business In this city in the near
future, according to announcement today
The new bank is incorporated for $10".0ik.
The Best Cough Cure
A half-ouncn of Virgin Oil of Pine, two
ounces of Glycerine and a half-pint of
Whisky, mixed, will cure any cough that is
curable and break a cold in 24 hours. Take
a teaspoonful every four hours. Ask your
drugKlst for the genuine Leach's VlrRln Oil
of Pine compound pure, prepared and guar
anteed by the ieach Chemical Co.. Cincin
nati. O.
Americans With $10,000,000 Capi
tal Will Sock Alaska Gold.
DAWSON. Y. T., Dec. 10. Offlcinl in
formation has been received here of the
registration at Ottawa. Canada, of a new
$10,000,000 American company to operate
hydraulics and dredges at the head of the
Stewart Rier.
The concern is the Stewart River Gold
Dredging Company, Ltd., and Is a prod
uct of Kansas City, Mo. American and
Canadian capital combined to har
ness one of the immense water sources
SEASON'S SECOND
PIANOLA RECITAL
FRIDAY EVE., DEC. 11
The' season's second Piano Recital
will be given at Filers Recital Hall this
evening at S:30 o'clock, with an un
usually attractive programme.
Miss Kathleen Lawler, soprano; Mr.
Charles E. Couture, tenor, and Mr.
Dom J. Zan, baritone, have each con
sented to render several selections.
Miss Lawler possesses a rich so
prano voice of great range, and Is al
ways enthusiastically received by Port
land audiences.
Air. Zan'H splendid 1 arltone has de-'
lighted many Portland people, and is
too well known to require further
mention here.
Mr. Couture has a tenor voice of un
usual brilliancy and. although a recent
arrival In Portland, has made a decided
hit whenever he has appeared.
A superb Steek Pianola Piano will bo
used for the occasion, and Mr. Louis P.
Bruce will act as accompanist, also
rendering several choice selections
during tlie evening.
These reeitals will be given eyery
Friday evening and all are cordially in
vited. To avoid overcrowding, how
ever, admission will be by reserved
seat ticket only.
By calling at our store, at any time
before Friday evening . two compli
mentary tickets, each good for one re
served seat, may be secured. Eilers
Piano House. 3o3 Washington street.
Will Create Port of Astoria.
ASTORIA. Dec; 10. (Special.) Complete
returns from all precincts did not change
the result of yesterday s city election
as already pubiisned. excepting that
George Kaboth and C. J. Curtis were
elected as Cotincllmen from the Sfecond
ward by a close vote. The charter
amendment to create a port of Astoria
was adopted, but the amendments pro
viding for the construction of a sea wall
and appropriating money for advertising
purposes were defeated-
Olympta Beer. "Irs the water." Brew
ery's own bottling. Phonec. Main 7L
a-tcj.
Only One "BKO.HO QVTSISE
That is LAXATIVE BKUMO yUlM.NE. Look
for the signature of E. W. GROVE. Used the
World over to Cure a Cold in One r&y.
-I ) v-V: V :: mm) stf to it m
II Sold by
Phillips Shoe Co.
109 Sixth Street
I Portland, Or.
ll Solafclwfwi 1879 U
351 W&eMimgltem Stareel
I ' , 10 : SUurtwaists I
' Formerly forwm $ .S3 to $ 12.53) '
TODAY I
, $4o0 f
V A PraxtEeaH Gifi If
. Nonas CHiargedl ft
v&xr4?r- i -trKvkH
lifiSA'Bi
and the Trust Bank at $fi0,000. The offi
cers of the new bank are X. K. West,
president; William Miller, vice-president:
T. J. Scroggin, cashier. The bank will
open January 1.
MATHEWS' DEATH MYSTERY
Coroner's Jury Fails to Account for
Sudden Demise.
EUGENE, Or., Dec. 10. (Special.) The
Coroner's Inquest today accomplished
nothing In clearing up the mystery of
the death of Jacob Mathews, who was
found dead Sunday In a cabin on the
Walker place, between Springfield and
Eug?ne. and who was thought to have
been murdered, inasmuch as his pockets
had been rifled and practically everything
of value taken from his person. The phy
sicians who carefully examined the con
tents of his stomach declare that there
was no trace of poisoning, and since there
were no wounds or bruises on the body,
tlie Jury was unable to account for Jacob
Ma-thews" death, and a verdict . was
rendered accordingly.
Pioneers' Ride on First Train.
UBWISTON. Idaho, Dec. 10. (Special.)
The first train from Grangevllle to Lew
iston over the new Prairie line of the
Northern Pacific arrived here at 11 :25
yesterday morning, bearing 83 excursion
ists from the Camas Prairie metropolis.
Thus Grangevllle loses the distinction,
which it has held for many years, of be
ing the largest city in the United States
without a railroad. General Agent W. J.
Jordan, of the Northern Pacific, had
DESKS STABLES
Just opened for your..:
inspection, our fifth car
load of Cutler Office
Desks this year.
The only solid oak
desk made, and lower in
price than veneered
desks.
Think of the number
of desks sold.
Think of the number
of men we have saved
money. Why can't we
do the same for 3-ou?
Come, in and see us
about it.
STATIONERY pfl
& PRINTING UU.
Eifth and Oak Streets
EVERYTHING FOR TIIE OFFICE
charge of the excursion, and among tho
passenger list were many Idaho County
pioneers who long awaited the coming
of the railroad.
Webfoot Oil Blacking Keeps reel dry.
Makes shoes last All dealers.
eson9s JBsurjgaliis
Friday and Saturday
YOUE PICK OF SOME 50 SUITS S.00
YOUR PICK OP 75 MORE SUITS $12.75
YOUR PICK OF 80 COATS AND JACKETS S 5.00
YOUR PICK OF 75 SKIRTS $ 3.S5
YOUR PICK OF $3.50 COATS AT ONE-HALF OFF
ELEGANT $15.00 SETS OF FURS 3 8.25
MILLINERY FINE HATS AT ONE-HALF OFF
Now, then, see here ! If you want the Fall-style Coats, look at the above. We
are selling them at half price, and there are 75 of them at lessi But if you want
THE ELEGANT NEW PRINCESS AND EMPRESS NIPPON COAT
: p: ' ;
- ; ' $15.oo
T FUR
, SETS
': ;C $8.25
7 7" 7
f'3 -7- $7.50
' AND
, ";.y ' :. . ,4 M
f PETTI-
' COATS
. We are the only store that has them. We surely put a kink in the coat business
this season. Don't fail to find our store. Look for the big red 148 Fifth street.
THEN YOU HAVE IT. "
Aciiesoos Cloak and Suit Co,
148 Fifth Street, Acheson Building