ROOT DENIES ILL
TO BAR MEIERS
Judge Is Asked Aboit Gordon
Letters by Invesigating
Committee.
GOT NO MONEY HE SAYS
Kxplains Tliat .MoiV Asked for Was
Volunteered by Spokane Con
tractors and to Iirected to
Whom It S'ould Be Sent.
8KATTXK. Vash.. Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) Judure Milo A. Hoot told the
state bar comiiittee today that he had
never receive one dollar from M. J.
Gordon, forrrer counsel for the Great
Js'oithern, or anybody else corruptly,
nd that he had never signed nor par
ticipated in a decision of the Supreme
"Court whlci he did not honestly believe
to be rign-
At the tcarinjc before the investiga
tion con-.nlttee Judge Root was ques
tioned o.icerninsr letters he had writ
ten to . J. Gordon and about the case
of llar-is vs. the Great Northern, in
-which Cordon suggested and secured a
Jiiodlf icatfon of a decision. AlthoiiKh
the cc.ninittee questioned Judge Hoot
upon a variety of things. It was upon
the .ndl-creet letters and upon the
Harris case that greatest stress was
laid. The committee adjourned until
lIo.iday at 2 o'clock, when Judge Root
will be heard further in his own be
half. Corporations Promised to Aid Him.
"I told the committee that I had
been an Intimate acquaintance of
Judge Gordon's for nearly 20 years."
said Judge Root tonight at his home
at Ross Station. "I told them that I
had always considered him to be thor
oughly reliable and a trusted friend. I
felt that while I had been indiscreet
and Imprudent In my friendship, yet
there was nothing wrong or in the
least corrupt or criminal in my deal
ings with him.
"I believe it was last June that
Judge Gordon told me that several
contractors and corporations had sub
scribed to a campaign fund which was
to be used In the Interests of candi
dates In Eastern Washington and for
candidates for the Supreme Court and
state offices. He said that of this fund
he wished to send $300 or $350 to help
me and others. I told him that I did
not wish to spend any money in the
campaign, but when he reiterated his
desire to send $300 I told him to send
it to E. B. I'almer, of Seattle.
I'romised Money Failed Him.
"Palmer subsequently Incurred an in
debtedness of $lo9 or $150 on the strength
of the information 1 had given him.
last July I asked Palmer if the money
had been sent, and he informed me
that it had not. I was annoyed because
Mr. Palmer had been put to considerable
expense upon the statement 1 had re
peated to him. and I wrote Judge Gor
don. Later when I saw Gordon, he in
formed nie that the man who had been
looking after the matter had gone Kast
without attending to it. and that the
money was not available. Not one dol
lar of the money was ever sent.
"Anoher leter of mine to Gordon, writ
ten under date of September 2K, rlated
to a tickt for my deaf brother at St.
J'aul. and as he was without means and
wished to come to Seattle. I requested
Gordon to furnish the transportation,
which he did. Last Spring I heard that
Judge Gordon purposed giving up his
position with the Great Northern and of
Wyoming a candidate for Supreme Court
Judge. I wrote him from Olympla under
date of April 24. WK asking to see hhu.
A few days later I learned that he wsjr to
be in Seattle and. having the sarre matter
tn mind. I wrote him again." .
Haris Cuse Not for Kailroad.
There has been a misunderstanding con
cerning the case of Harris vs. the Great
Kothern. in which it is said Judge Gordon
dictated or suggested modification of one
of the law points. The decision of the
Supreme Court was in favor of the
plaintiff and against the Great Northern
railroad, both times that it was heard
in the Supreme Court. Upon the rehear
ing of the case the court modified its
former decision upon one of the law
points, but held against the company
upon the merits of the case.
"When first passed upon by the court
the seven judges stood four to three in
favor of the plaintiff. I was one of the
four judges who held against the railroad
company, and I wrote the decision. The
other three Judges filed a dissenting opin
ion, holding that the case ought to have
been decided in favor of the railroad.
. "It will be seen that I had the deciding
vote and that had I been corrupt, or
the tool of Gordon or the railrpad com
pany, I could have decided the case in
favor of the company."
ROSEBURG WOMEN EASY
Picture Fakers Collect Much Money
and Skip Town.
ROSEBURG. Or.. Dec. 24. Speclal.)
An enlarged picture and a diamond
Ting or a rocker chair for good meas
ure, all for $2.98. were the Inducements
held forth by a trio of smooth-talking
fakers who Induced a large number of
Roseburg people, principally women, to
part with $2.98 each. After delivering
u. very poor piece of work and collect
ing the $2.98 the agents told their
customers to call at a local merchan
dise store to get the prizes. Calling at
this store the victims found they had
been duped ' and that the management
of the store knew nothing of the occur-,
rence. They also discovered that the
agents had left town, going north.
CRUELTY CAUSES INSANITY
Woman Abused by Drunken Hus
band Sent to Asylum.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) Mrs. Emll Niscooin was taken to
Jlontesano this afternoon to be examined
as to her sanity. Mrs. Niscoom's hus
band, who is a Russian Finn, during a
drunken snree several weeks ago, threw
a lighted lamp at his wife and baby after
terrifying her by breaking up all the fur
niture in the house. Her experience at
that time. It is thought, has afTected her
mind.
IDAHO TO AID OPEN RIVER
Legislature Asked to Give Sum for
Snake Itiver Improvement.
BOISE, Idaho. Dec. 24. (Speciat.)
tt is learned in political circles that
the State of Idaho, through the tenth
Legislature, will be asked to aid In the
proposed open-river work by making an
appropriation of $20,000 this Winter
for improvements on the Upper Snake
River above Lewlston.
It is confidently expected by North
ern statemen that this bill will be
passed and that the appropriation will
be available because of the attitude of
the sister states In making appropria
tions for this work. Besides these
facts both Senators of Idaho have pub
licly announced that they are In favor
of such an appropriation, while Governor-elect
James H. Brady has likewise
gone on record as heartily in .league
with the open-river question. He has
announced that he will make such a
recommendation in his first message to
the Legislature.
Two years ago Oregon appropriated
$75,000 for improvement work on the
Columbia River, and the Washington
Legislature went on record as willing
to assist in the work by appropriating
lffi.000 for work oi. the Snake River,
between Riparia and the mouth.
Th. r.'nho Legislature appropriated
$25,000 for improvement work on the
Upper Snake River at the last session,
but for some reason this money was
never available.
TO OEEPEH CHEHALIS RIVER
KXGIXKKRS RECOMMEND AP
PROPRIATION OF $50,000.
Large Amount of Commerce, Chiefly
Lumber, Makes Valuable Cargoes
for Coasting Vessels.
MONTESA.S'O, Wash., Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) The Vidette tomorrow will pub
lish a letter, with indorsement from
Major H. M. Chittenden, to the Chief of
Engineers of the United States Army,
concerning the survey of the Chehalls
River from the mouth to Montesano.
Tills survey was ordered by Congress in
1907. The letter sayB that 72.000 cubic
yards would have to be removed in order
to give a mean low water depth of 7
feet and ir.i at . high water, and estN
mates the cost at !6,000. This, together
with small amounts for contingencies,
would probably be increased to $50,000,
and "it Is recommended that an appro
priation of this amount be asked for."
The letter says, in part:. "Like Grays
Harbor Itself, the commercial Importance
of the Chehalls River pertains almost
exclusively to the lumber industry. There
are several mills at Montesano and others
are projected there and farther down
stream. Sailing vessels load at Monte
sano. and it is desired by the local In
terests that they be given practically
the same facilities in this respect that
are enjoyed by the towns on Grays Har
bor. "During the year 1907. the shipments
rrom Montesano. as reported by the local
interests, amounted to 19.500 tons, off
which amount about one-half consisted
of general commerce between Grays
Harbor and Montesano and about one
half cargo lumber shipments. In addi
tion to this, there was carried down the
river an Immense quantity of logs,
amounting to at least 50.000,000 feet,
valued at $.i0.000. and an Indeterminate
quantity of poles, piles, shingle bolts,
etc "
The letter is indorsed by S. W. Roess
ler Ueutenant-Colonel. Corps of Engi
neers of Portland, and by the Board
of Survey by D. W. Lock wood for the
board. .
During the year 1907. eight ocean steam
ers and 12 sailing vessels arrived and
, rrtni(tqnTin carrying 5,!w4,-
347 feet of lumber, valued at $S9,015.21.
REPORT ROAD TO EXTEND
Purchase of Land Near Salem Starts
Oregon "Electric Rumor.
SALEM. Or.. Dec. 24. (Special.)
The sale of 510 acres of agricultural
land south of this city a few days ago
to a prominent Portland business man
has created the Impression that the
extension of the Oregon Llectrio
southward is practically certain.
The sale was made to A. II. Birrell,
and though the consideration was
mentioned as only $10. it is understood
that the real consideration was in the
neighborhood of $22.0(H). The ranch
sold was the Sarah E. Kleppln place,
on what Is known as the Slough road.
It Is presumed by those who have dis
cussed the matter that Mr. Birrell had
studied the situation and- became con
vinced that the Oregon Electric will
be extended.
BUSINESS RECORD BROKEN
December ' Receipts at Vancouver
Postofflce Show Big Increase.
VANCOUVER, Wash.. Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) The business handled In the local
postoffice during the Christmas season
has been larger than ever before. An
extra clerk and an extra mailcarrier
were put on and still the force was not
able to take care of all packages and
parcels with as much speed as they
wished. Postmaster Crowley says that
the receipts for December will break all
previous records.
EWU ELKCTED MAYOR OF
MOHO.
Dr. O. J. Goffln.
MOHO. Or.. Dec 24. (Special.)
Dr. O. J. Goffin. who was re
cently elected Mayor of the City
of Moro, Is a graduate of the
medical department of the Uni
versity of Oregon. He has been
practicing medicine In- this city
about eight years, and. In addi
tion to professional duties, he has
always taken a great interest in
public affairs. He is an enthusi
astic believer in the possibilities
of Sherman County.
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A MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO ALL
7
FOR A GENEROUS PATRONAGE
throughout the year accept
my best thanks
BEN SELLING
Leading Clothier
PESTS TO BE
Marion County Fruitmen Plan
Clean-Up Campaign.
FINIS FOR OLD ORCHARDS
Insect - Ridden. Trees Must Be
Grubbed Out Special Inspectors
Will Be Put to Work in Wil
lamette Valley Fruit Sections.
BALEM, Or., Dec. 24. (Special.)
With the desire to make Marion Coun
ty one of the best counties In, the state
In the production of good fruit, a num
ber of fruitgrowers have been urging
that a vigorous cleanlng-up campaign
be conducted this Winter and that to
this end a sufficient number of special
inspectors be employed to Inspect every
orchard in the county before spraying
and pruning season is over.
The subject has been taken up with
Fruit Inspector E. C. Armstrong, and
will be placed before the County Court
and the Board of Horticulture. The
old orchards are the ones that cause
the trouble for there are many of them
and they produce so little commercial
fruit that their owners will not take
care of them. Nevertheless, they are a
constant menace to young commercial
orchards.
.Experience has shown that in order
to bring satisfactory results, a warfare
against diseased orchards must be con
ducted during the spraying season. If
notified at other times that their trees
are diseased, the owners either forget
about it before spraying season comes
or they put off the work of cleaning
up, thinking that the inspector will not
come again. Many1 of them cannot
recognize San Jose scale when they
see it. Then, too. one inspector cannot
visit the orchards and attend to his
work of inspecting nursery stock, mar
keted fruit, etc.
In order to make the work effective.
It is planned to employ two special In
spectors and have them make a syste
matic canvass of the entire county,
visiting every orchard, showing the
owners the evidence of the presence
of pests and serving them with legal
notice to clean up their orchards or
chop down the trees.
It Is belived that a thorough can
vass conducted In this manner would
not only result in. the cleaning up of
orchards for the present, but would
get the owners of old orchards into
the notion of keeping them clean in
future years. It is also believed that
the expense of the cleaning up cam
paign would be more than made up
bv the increased value of the fruit
crop In a single season. Owners of
young commercial orchards are deeply
Interested in the movement.
SHOPPING, J-OSES JEWELS
Montesano Young Woman Careless
When Visiting in Tacoma.
TACOMA. Wash., Dec. 24. (Special.)
Whether Miss Vida Lee, a young woman
of Montesano, was the victim of a clever
purse-snatcher or absentmlndedly left her
purse containing about 11000 worth of
valuable diamonds and other jewelry In
some store while shopping is a question
the police are trying to answer.
Miss Dee reported her loss to the po
lice this morning. She said she was In
several stores last evening. She had
bropght her Jewelry with her because she
expected to spend Christmas with friends
and was to attend several social func
tions. BARBER SUTTON ARRESTED
Accused While Drunk of Trying to
. Kill His Wife.
OREGON CITV, Or., Dec. 24. (Special.)
Charles S. Sutton, employed In Rogers'
barber shop at 26 Alder street, Port
laud, wa3 arrested tonight by Clacka
mas County officers at his home at Island
station, un a charge of attempting, while
drunk, to kill his wife. Sutton and his
wife were divorced two years ago. but
were remarried last March. Mrs. Sutton
filed the complaint.
MORO PAYS LIGHT DEBT
Citizens Ievy Tax to Take Up Per
sonal Xote Given by Couneilmen.
MORO. Or., Dec. 24. (Special.) The
city of Moro was successful in amending
its charter by a special election held
December 21. This amendment to the
SLAIN
charter enables the City Council to levy
a tax sufficient to pay for an electric
lighting plant, which was bought two
years ago, when the city was receiving
revenue from saloon licenses. Alter
local option took effect, city revenues
have been light.
Early last October, however, a citizens'
meeting was called, at which time Dr.
O. J. Goffln, who had Just been appointed
Mayor, together with, the members of the
City Council, D. Barnum. W. H. Rags
dale, W. C. Bryant, William Rudolf. O.
W. Axtell and George James, matured a
plan which became at once a financial
help to the city. A negotiable note of a
certain stipulated amount was .signed by
the Mayor, members of the City Council,
and also by the majority of the property
holders of Moro.
This note was then turned over in full
satisfaction of the bill against the city
for the lighting plant. The next step
was to relieve the signers of the note of
personal liability, and this was accom
plished by the election yesterday. Thus
the plant is paid for and Moro is assured
of being able to meet all its obligations
In the future.
TRAMP'S VICTIM SHOOTS
WOMAN WHO IS 1IEXD UP,
GIVES CHASE WITH BULLETS.
Plucky Mrs. Samara of Mount
Pleasant Sends Three Shots
After Fleeting Kobher.
. OREGON CITY. Or., Dec. 24. (Special.)
Mrs. J. Samared. of Mt. Pleasant, an
Oregon City suburb, was held up while
alone in her home this afternoon and
robbed of 5 cents. Mrs. Samared. had
just paid off a hired man, and It is pre
sumed the tramp knew there had been
money In the house. The woman's hus
bsnd was at work In a distant field at
the time.
Hardly had the tramp gotten outside
the house whei Mrs. Samared leveled an
old muzzle-loadlrg rifle through the win
dow and fired at him. The tramp made
haste for tho woods. Two other shots
were sent after his fleeting form from
a 22-caliber rifle, but it is not believed
anv of the bullets took effect.
Officers are searching the woods for
the tramp, who wore dark clothes and
had a gray mustache. He was of me
dium height.
MATTER ONE FOR COURTS
Procedure for Annexation of Oos
mopolis Muddled.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) To ascertain the proper method
of procedure to bring about a vote of
the people to determine their will as
respects annexation of Cosmopolls to
Aberdeen, City Attorney Hogan, in a
long opinion to the Council, advises
that the question be submitted to the
courts for decision. He expresses the
opinion that the proceedings heretofore
attempted to bring about a special
election have been irregular and not
according to law.
OIIEGO.V PIONEER WOMAN CELE
BRATES 81ST BIRTHDAY.
Mm. Sarah K. Martin.
Mrs. Sarah E. Martin, who celebrated
her 81st birthday Wednesday, was born
In Alabama In 1827, and crossed the
plains to Oregon in 1853. She settled
in Lane County and resided there until
the death of her husband. Lewis Mar
tin, in 1SS4. Mrs. Martin then removed
to Harney Valley, where she and her
sons were pioneer settlers. Her home
is in Ashland, but she is now visiting
at the home of her daughter. Mrs.
George McGowan, 709 Wasco street.
Mrs. Martin is In perfect health and in
full possession of all her faculties.
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Greeltisngs
Jjjji Season JJSllP
0L0 BOUT WRECKED
Schooner San Buenaventura
Reaches Port a Derelict.
VESSEL'S HULL IS RUINED
Battered by Heavy Winds, Masts and
Rigging Give Way Like Paper.
Schooner Towed Into Coos Bay
With All on Board Safe.
MARSHFIELD, Or., Dec. 24. (Spe
cial.) Stripped of entirely all her rig
ging and masts the old two-masted
schooner San Buenaventura, is anch
ored in Coos Bay and will never again
sail the seas. After active service for
40 years in the merchant marine of this
coast, the San Buenaventura met her
fate while at the very entrance of the
harbor for which she was bound on her
final trip.
On December 20 the schooner left San
Francisco, where she is owned. In tow
of the steam schooner Raymond. She
was bound for Bandon at the mouth of
the Coquille Eiver. The steamer could
not take her inside and she anchored off
the bar. At 3 o'clock yesterday morn
ing a strong wind came up. the boat
broke from her moorings and was en
tirely dismantled by the wind. It was
not so much the severety of the storm
Great Removal Sale
Chesterfield. Clothes-
Continues Through the Holidays
The greatest sale of high-grade clothes ever
held in Portland. Get your share of the
bargains while the selections are good.
Following are the great price reductions:
Chesterfield
Suits
Fancy Patterns
$20.00 Suits... '.$14.25
$22.50 Suits.
$25.00 Suits.
$30.00 Suits.
$35.00 Suits.
$40.00 Suits.
$45.00 Suits.
$15.50
$18.50,
.$22.50
.$25.50
.$29.50
$34.50
$50.00 Suits.... $39.50
Big Reductions on
269
that caused the accident ns it was the
condition of the boat. She was very
old and the masts were rotted and could
not withstand tho wind.
Captain Toney Ivergard. with five sea
men and a. cook, were aboard. The men
were asleep at the helm when the wind
camo up. No one was hurt. The boat
drifted up to Coos Bay and anchored off
the Bay last night, when she was spoken
by the gasoline schooner Withelmina.
The tug Columbia went out this? morn
ing and towed the boat in. The hull
was floating easily on the water and the
crew was not in any immediate danger.
It Is not likely that anything will he
done with the hull. The boat was built
at Fairhaven. 40 years ago, and during
her service has visited most of the ports
along tills coast, she was old and not
of great value, probably being worth only
a few thousand dollars. The wreck was
so complete the hull will not be worth
repairing.
Progressive Association Formed.
FIRWOOD, Or., Dec. 24. (Special.)
The progressive Association is the name
of an organization just formed in this
part of Clackamas County, with the fol
lowing officers: President. J. G. De
Shazer; vice-president, A. Malar; secre
tary, Harvey i-. Kehres; corresponding
secretary, A. L. Milliron: treasurer, E.
D. Hart; librarian, Mrs. IS. D. Hart. At
the meeting a letter was received from
the Oregon Agricultural College announc
ing that the institute scheduled for Fir
wood will be neld early in the Spring
there.
Bartender Is Arrested.
HOQUIAM, Wash., Dec. 24. (Special.)
A bartender named Joe Tray was in
carcerated this afternoon on a charge of
larceny from the person. It is alleged
that two witnesses will swear to having
seen the man taking money from the
person of an intoxicated logger named
Archie Purdy, who was in a somnolent
state from over-indulgence. The alleged
robbery occurred In a local saloon.
Chesterfield
Suits
Blacks and
Blues
$22.50 Suits.
$25.00 Suits.
$30.00 Suits.
$35.00 Suits.
$40:00 Suits.
$45.00 Suits.
$16.50
$19.00
.$23.50
.$26.50
.$29.50
. $34.50
Full Dress and Tuxedo
GRAY'S
ISP &Sk
- 271 Morrison Street
HOI WILL IS PROBATED
WIDOW AND NEPHEWS AND
MIXES GET PKOPEKTY.
Ileal Estate in San lYancisco-1 and
Valuable Personal Property
Given Mrs. Hume.
I
MARSHFIELD, Of.. Doc. 24. According
to the statement of J. S. Coke, attorney
for the adniinstrator, there will he no
contest in the settlement of the estata
of the late R. D. Hume, of Curry County.
The will has been admitted to probate
in Curry County and its provisions nave
just been made public. To the widow ia
left outright the testator's property on
Chestnut street in San Francisco, all
stocks and bonds, $20,000 in cash and
some personal property. The mansion
at Piedmont is owned by Mrs. Hume her
self. Four or five nieces and nephews are
bequeathed $."10110 each, and the remainder
of the 'estate is divided into 100 shares,
of which Mrs. Hume received IS shares
and the nieces and nephews some five
and some seven shares each. This part
of the estate includes the enormous land
holdings and canneries In Curry County
and will probably be incorporated.
Mrs. Hume is sole executrix of the
will, and she, together with Charles H.
Warner, is appointed to administer the
portion of the estate in California.
A par excellent table d'hote dinner
served at the Perkins Grill Christmas,
5 to 8:30. Reserve your tables.
Finest stock fitted cases and bags.
Harris Tiunk Co., 132 6th, opp. Ore
gonial:. Chesterfield
Overcoats and
Cravenettes
$20.00 Values. .$15.00
$25.00 Values. .$19.00
$30.C0 Values. .$23.50
$35.00 Values.
.$26.50
.$29.50
$34.50
$45.00
$40.00 Values.
$50.00 Values
$60.00 Values
Suits and Trousers
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