THE 3I0RXIXG OREGONIAX, SATURDAY, JANUARY 1G, 1909.
POKTLAM), OREGOX.
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PORTLAXD, MTTKBAV. JAN. 18, 1908.
SENATE AI PRESH1EST.
In making his fatuous attack upon
the President Senator Culberson, of
Texas, hoped to kill two birds witn
one stone. The attack charged jir,
Koosevelt -with malfeasance in permit
ting; the steel trust to acquire the Ten
nessee Coal & Iron Company a little
T.ni- than "a vear acr. Texas U a
Rtata where trusts of all sorts are ex
tremely malodorous and any assault
upon them, whether feigned or genu
ine, la likely to be highly popular.
Hence by the mere act of accusing
the President in the pr.-nilses the wily
Senator from Texas foresees that he
will heap up treasures at home In tho
comfortable form of votes. nut ne
discerns another advantage. The time
h crrrwl-4 in wrangling with .Mr.
Koosevelt Is just so' much deducted
from the time that can be spent in
considering legislation. The motto of
the Senate is 'Anything under heaven
to avoid meeting face to- face the
remedial bills which the President has
nro-nrl titinn Consrress." If the bills
once come up for real debate some
thing must be done -with them.-Sena
tors must either openly opposo them
and confront a storm of public: wrath
or agree to them and offend those
dear interests which they are appoint
ed to serve.
Hence these petty quarrels with the
President which accomplish nothing
but a waste of time. The hullaballoo
over the Tennessee Coal & Iron trans
fer is perhaps the pettiest and most
contemptible of them all. Certain
magnates who had been requested to
take over the securities of that mori
bund corporation went to AVashlng
ton and inquired of the Government's
law officers if it could bo done legally.
They said it could, and upon learning
their opinion Mr. Roosevelt urged the
magnates to complete the transaction
since It would save certain banks from
failure and lessen tho pressure of the
panic. This happened more than a
year ago, as a writer in the Chicago
Tribune pertinently states in discuss
ing the subject, and Mr. Culberson
has known all about it ever since;
but he has not made the slightest ob
jection until now, when ho can uso the
trivial affair as an excuse for holding
up the public, business. He and his
fellow servants of Wall street. If they
would speak their real minds, blame
the President for doing his constitu
tional duty, not for neglecting it. If
he had been willing to pass the term
of his office In ineffectual forgetful
nees of his obligations to the people
Mr. Culberson would not have made
the slightest objection. Mr. Roosevelt
might have broken his oath of office
a thousand times over without re
proach from the Senate, If he had
only broken it for the behoof of the
trreedy Interests.
The natural tendency of the Senate
Is to assume that It is the "whole of
the Government and usurp the powers
both of the House of Representatives
and the President. With the former
body it has succeeded better than it
could have expected at the outset. The
Lower House, properly so called. Is
no longer a factor of first Importance
In the Government. In trying to
take over the constitutional power of
the President the all-engrossing Sen
ate has found a more difficult task.
In some administrations, when the
Executive was weak or complacent, it
has absorbed everything and estab
lished complete harmony such as
reigns between the lion and the lamb
when the latter is Inside; but with a
President like Mr. Roosevelt, who has
Ideas of his own and a determined will
to back them, the Senate does not find
It so easy to pilfer his prerogatives.
Then a howl rises. Whatever the
President does is an usurpation of
some Senatorial power. Kvery one of
tils acts infringes on the Senatorial
dignity. If he makes a treaty as the
Constitution command.-, the Senate
rejects It because Its members were
not Invited to have a finger in the pie.
If he takes tho advice of his law offi
cers the Senate threatens him with
impeachment. The truth is that a
President who does his duty as the
Chief Executive of the Xatlon must
almost by necessity quarrel with the
Senate, for that body will never be
satisfied with the power that Justly
belongs to it. It wants the President's
also and Is always ready to fight to
get It.
To this statement one exception
ought to be made. Eager as the Sen
ate has airways been and still Is to
engross the power both of the Lower
House and of the President. It sub- ,
mlts to the Supreme Court with ex
emplary meekness. This Is all the
stranger because tho Supreme Court
Is the only department which has ever
really encroached upon Congress, So
far as the Constitution goes. Congress
has Just as much authority to annul
a court decision as the court has to
annul a law of Congress; but this has
been forgotten and the sublime Sen
ate sits by In all humility and sees the
Judiciary veto Its acts one after an
other without a word of protest. Very
likely this docility under discipline Is
accounted for by the fact that, when
Congress acts at all. It acts under the
goad of public opinion and is glad
rather than sorry to see Its laws
annulled. But the time may come
when It will wish Its laws to stand.
Then possibly we shall behold a
shindy between the Senate and the
Supreme Court that will make its
present difficulties with the President
look trivial.
She chlnooks. And when she
chlnooks there Is universal Joy. Slush,
Indeed, for a day or two; and then
the normal condition. But suppose
the temperature should fall suddenly,
at this ataca of the thaw and slush, as
In 1862, and then more snow; and so
on for six weeks more? Well, we'll all
take the risk, because we don't con
trol the operations of nature "under
that inverted bowl we call the sky."
"FOREIGN IIOMHXGH."
Perhaps Judge Lowell, of Pendle
ton, who complains that foreigners
have the right to hold real estate and
other property in the United States,
and who expresses the hope that the
Legislature of Oregon will, "in its
wisdom," devise some way to abate the
evil in our state may have some idea
j how -this can be done, and perhaps he
will sond a memorial to tne legisla
ture on the subject.
Foreigners undoubtedly own a lot
of property in Oregon. By foreigners
Just now we mean aliens, not citizens
of other states. But we think It
always has been the policy of the Uni
ted States, and of other civilized na
tions, to protect the property of
aliens, and their right to hold prop
erty, within their territories. The
courts of the United States recognize
this right and the principle that sus
tains It. Both are recognized in the
Constitution of the United States.
Foreigners aliens doubtless do
own much land in Oregon. We could
wish they owned less. But their prop
erty must be treated precisely as that
of our own citizens. Oregon a long
time ago passed an act tnat pro
hibited Chinese from owning any
mining rround in the state. The law
was worthless. Bonds of ' various
kinds, amounting to untold millions
on property In the United States, or
on . the faith of . municipal, state or
National Government, are held In
foreign countries, or by aliens In our
own. It may be supposed tho Legis
lature of Oregon will not attempt to
dtsnosscss the owners of these "for
eign holdings" though the Legisla
ture of Oregon is almost a world's
wonder.
TIl.IaMAjrS FRFMCAMENT.
Senator Tillman prolongs his yawp.
But Senator Tillman now is nothing.
It's a plain story. The law gave the
citizen the right to enter land at $2.50
an acre, which he might hope to sell
soon or at once at $50 an acre more
or less. The obscure citizen might do
It, without much criticism, but the
United States Senator could not. For
in fact It was opportunity for robbery
of the public domain, which obscure
men could take advantage of, and
Immense numbers did. If they kept
within the terms of the law they "got
away with It." It was condoned.
But since It was robbery. It didn't
become Senators of the United States
to engage in It. Still less did it be
come them to prevaricate and to be
"disingenuous" about it; and these
things are wliat Senator Tillman ad
mits he Is guilty of.
There is a morality always above
and beyond tho law. "Law honesty"
never satisfies high ethical principle.
Obscure Individuals may find shelter
under It. They may pass without
scath or hurt. But a United States
Senator must. In the first place, hold
himself above the defendant's plea,
that all that he has done has been
strictly within the law; and in the
next place ho must not try to cover
and defend his action by false, repre
sentation and excuse.
Senator Tillman is in the position
of a Senator who does such things.
Yet ho continues his excuses for him
self; and ho continues his attacks on
orhers, for his own exculpation, day
after day. He counts that day lost
which does not afford him opportunity
for a fresh diatribe. But all his pro
tests do not change the state of the
case In the least.
He had no right to be trying to
make profit by obtaining from the
United States land for less than It
was worth. True, no one else had
the right; but Tillman was not
in the class of humble and ob
scure men. In whom it might
be overlooked. Then his denial
that he had "undertaken" to get
land shows that he feared public
criticism; and moreover, the denial
was not true. Other Senators have
mafle denials, against the truth and
the proofs; and it always has gone
hard with them. It always will, and
It always ought. Truth must be re
quired In high places else It never
can be expected and enforced among
people of humble condition.
AX IMPERTINENT DEMAND.
There Is a member of the Legisla
ture of California who, upon the mis
taken premise that all children who
are born are blessings to the state.
has introduced a bill providing that
any man who is the father of twelve
children shall receive a pension of $2 5
per month. Stupidity and assumption
could hardly go farther than this.
Why should the state pay for what
It already has in over abundance
children who come into life at the
behest of a selfish animal instinct
merely? Why put a premium upon
Irresponsible parentage, itself the root
of two-thirds of the social and eco
nomic evils of the time? Look at the
Children's Home3 and Boys' and Girls'
Aid Societies, and Baby Homes and
the records of Juvenile Courts,
through all of which parental Irre
sponsibility stalks in moral naked
ness, unashamed, and then talk of
placing a premium upon fatherhood
that does not recognize the duty of
caring for Its own! The egotism of
such a proposition, coming from a
man who had already in his own esti
mation reached the paternal distinc
tion (numerically considered) that en
titled him to a pension, is disgusting.
It mocks at the finer sensibilities that
find expression in parental responsi
bility and honest, self-respecting
pride of posterity, contributes to the
pauper spirit already rampant, and
seeks to make merchandise of an in
stinct that If not sacred. Is gross to
the last degree.
The father of a numerous progeny
can only be Just to himself, his chil
dren and the state by bringing his
family up to be self-respecting, self
supporting members of society, with
an educational equipment that . will
fit them to discharge the duties of
life, as these come to them according
to their station in the Industrial and
professional world. The man who
brings up his children, whether two
or twelve, on these lines, may well be
accounted a good, reputable and use
ful citizen. Such a father does not
ask a pension or any special commen
dation, being satisfied with the simple
fact of duty honorably performed to
ward his own and to the state. As
to the others the Irresponsible class
it Is enough and more than enough
that the state Is compelled to care
for their overplus of neglected chil
dren In ways shown by the records of
philanthropic, reformatory and punl
Uv institutions without levying- a
further tax upon itself to provide a
pension for this chief of sinners
against it the self-complacent pro
genitor of more children than he can
bring up to lives of usefulness, In
cluding their ability to support him
when he is old, without appeal to
public charity.
FAIIXKE OF DIRECT rKIMARY LAW.
(From an editorial in Chicago Inter
Ocean. January 11. 1909.)
Governor Hughes has asked the
New York Legislature to pass a direct
primary law. He uses the familiar
arguments: It will strengthen and
dignify party leadership. It will se
cure a more active participation of
voters in party management. It will
guarantee a respect for their senti
ments. It will Increase the official
sense of responsibility to the people.
It will banish corruption.
A dream that experience shatters!
In what Northern state do we see
the direct primary law ushering In
this golden age--ushering in anything
save a reign of confusion hurtrul to
the Republican party, injurious to the
public Interest, and advantageous only
to self-seeking politicians? Not in
Illinois, most assuredly. Not In
Oregon, where the spectacle of the en
forced election of a Democratic Sena
tor by a Republican Legislature is
soon to bear witness to Its mlschlev-
ousness. Not In Wisconsin, where the
Republican party has resolved Itself
Into the mere partisans and opponents
of one man.
The only states In which the direct
primary has not had such disastrous
results are certain Southern states.
Why? Because the direct primary
gives them what it takes away from
Northern states two parties. Only
by means of a 'direct primary could
the Democrats of Mississippi, for
instance, constituting the entire elec
torate of the state, be split Into oppos
ing factions functioning practically as
independent parties, and thus giving
it the benefit of bi-party government.
But where a state already has a bi-
party form of government, where
there are two parties, well defined and
girded up for tho Important public
service which devolves on them under
our svstem of government, state and
National, what Insanity to adopt a
method sure to promote factionalism,
inefficiency and confusion, and to
break down the barriers between the
parties while widening the internal
breaches!
There are certain ideas which are
fundamental premises of sound
political thought in America. One,
and a most Important one. Is the ne
cessity of government by two strong
parties. There Is no plan for change
that should not be submitted to that
touchstone. If its plain result is to
break down that system where It ex
ists, that fact stamps It as unwise and
un-American.
The direct primary does this in
every state of the Union where there
are two real parties. It substitutes
chaos for an orderly system, confusion
for definite party programmes, noise
for performance. No amendment can
make It do otherwise. These evils
Inhere In It.
Let us look the facts in the face
and find in them a newer reason for
reaffirming our faith In the sufficiency
of American representative govern
ment. HANGING FOR TRAIN ROBBERY.
It la reported that an effort will be
made to pass a bill at this session of
the Oregon Legislature making train
robbery, with display of firearms, a
capital offense. While hanging would
not be an inappropriate punishment,
such a law would be unwise for the
reason that the severity of the pen
alty might make convictions difficult.
As It Is now, the fact that hanging Is
the only penalty for murder causes
Juries often to acquit or disagree when
they would convict if there w-ro also
a penalty of life Imprisonment. Of
course the number of instances in
which this Is true is relatively small,
but In the case of train robbery, where
no killing occurs, It would be very
difficult to get a Jury to convict If
hanging were the penalty.
Train robbery, or robbery of any
kind, is a crime for which there can
be no possible excuse. It is an of
fense which cannot be excused upon
the plea that It was done under the
Influence of anger, Jealousy or other
passion. It Is always a deliberate act.
The penalty should be severe and
when' once Imposed it should not be
lightened by the granting of a pardon.
Certainty of punishment is as much
of a restraining Influence as severity
of punishment. If hanging were the
penalty prescribed, there would be no
certainty of conviction.
PORTLAND'S HOLDING RECORD.
Portland's building operations for
the month of December and for the
entire year 1908 make a remarkably
favorable showing In comparison with
other cities, especially the cities which
in volume of building operations
nearest approached Portland. For the
month of December there were but
seven cities in the United States that
showed greater building returns than
Portland, and of these Denver, with
a gain of 401 per cent, and St. Louis,
with a gain of 245 per cent, were the
only ones which made a more favor
able showing of gain than the 193 per
cent credited to this city. Los Ange
les, with permits nearly $300,000 less
than those of Portland, gained 65 per
cent, and Seattle's gain, was but 25
per cent, the average gain for forty
of the principal cities of the country
being 92 per.cent.
These figures are taken from the
compilations of the American Con
tractor. Bradstreet's figures for the
entire twelve months of 1908 make a
still more favorable showing. In a
list of seventy-two of the principal
cities of the United States, Portland
stands eighth in volume of permits,
Detroit and Kansas City capturing
sixth and seventh places with permits
at $250,000 and $40,000, respectively.
In excess of those of Portland. In
percentage of gain for the twelve
months, Kansas City, with 9.7 per
cent, and Chicago, with 16.8 per cent
gain over 1907, were the only cities
which exceeded Portland's 9.3 per
cent gain. For the year the Portland
permits were greater than those of
Los Angeles. Denver, Cleveland, Mil
waukee, Minneapolis, St. Paul, New
Orelans, Buffalo, Omaha and many
other cities much more pretentious
than the Oregon metropolis.
The decrease for the seventy-two
cities was 6 per cent, and the value
of the Portland permits was one-twenty-fifth
of all Issued In the sev
enty cities exclusive of Chicago and
New York. The record, in Bpite of
the unfavorable circumstances which
were In evidence at the opening of
the year. Is a very high tribute to the
prominence of Portland throughout I
the country, and in view of the large
amount of work planned for the pres
ent year. it. will undoubtedly be
eclipsed by a heavy percentage of
gain when 1909 returns are all in.
Perhaps the best feature of this big
building movement In Portland lies in
the fact that there Is an Immediate
and pressing demand for all of the
structures built, and quarters are al
ready engaged in many others for
which contracts or permits have not
yet been issued.
Eastern papers are commenting ex
tensively on rumors that the proposed
duty of 5 cents per pound on coffee is
part of a gigantic piece of high
finance In which the Brazilian coffee
surplus, which was recently, "valor
ized" with a loan of $75,000,000, fig
ures extensively. According to rumors
In circulation, levying of a duty of 5
cents per pound on coffee would be
followed by the speedy transfer of the
immense Brazilian surplus to this
country, where it could be landed be
fore the new duty became effective.
As the surplus available for shipment
amounts to nearly 12,000,000 bags,
and tho duty at 5 cents per pound
would bo about $6.60 per bag. It Is
plain that there are practically unlim
ited opportunities for the speculators
who are In on the deal. The most
suspicious part of the transaction lias
in the fact that as yet Brazil has en
tered no protest against the proposed
duty, thus giving the Impression that
there is collusion between the valor
ization promoters and the men who
are working the American end of the
game.
The Washington beach north of the
Columbia River has claimed another
fine ship, the French bark Alice, from
London for Portland, going ashore
Thursday night. In the absence of
official statements from the officers of
the vessel, blame for the disaster can
not be fixed; but it is hardly probable
that it can be classed among the un
avoidable accidents. The bottom of
the sea as the Columbia River Is ap
proached offers better soundings than
can be secured at any other point
along the coast, and the careful mas
ter who keeps his lead going should
have no difficulty in locating himself
several miles offshore. In thick
weather there 1s, of course, always
danger If a vessel approaches too
close, but the prudent master keeps
far enough offshore in such weather
to avoid being placed In danger by a
sudden shift of wind. Unlike the La
morna. King David and Pass of Mel7
fort, recently wrecked while endeav
oring to enter Puget Sound, there was
no loss of life from the Alice disas
ter. The long-expected and much-advertised
flood of wheat from the Argen
tine and Australia has at last put in
an appearance, and this, week's re
ceipts from these countries totaled
3,368,000 bushels, of which the South
American country contri: uted 1,320,
000 bushels. This is a heavy increase
over last year for Australia, but dur
ing the corresponding week in 1908
the Argentine shipped 2,008,000 bush
els. Before tho'bears become too en
ergetic in their campaign to force
prices down on the strength of these
shipments, it might bo well for them
to remember that a rapid movement
or an early movement of the crop can
do nothing toward increasing its di
mensions. The Argentine and the
Australian crops are both as large as
they will ever be this year, and the
dimensions of the weekly shipments
now will not change final results.
The snow storm began a week ago
Tuesday. Snow has been lying on the
streets without disturbance except by
the elements for more than ten days.
The City Council has a session after
the first week, and at the suggestion
of a private citizen passes a bill ap
propriating $3000 for cartage of snow
from the streets, and the Mayor
our great business Mayor delays
signing for two days, until the Chinook
makes its appearance and nils the
streets with slush and brings about a
condition which proper and sensible
administration of affairs would have
avoided. It is a reproach to Port
land that the snow should have cum
bered the streets all this time, thus
contributing greatly to paralysis of
business and the discomfort of the
public. "Reform" la a wonderful
thing.
Dr. Bigger, family physician for
John D. Rockefeller, announces that
the oil king will live to be 100 years
old. If the shade of old Croesu3
keeps In touch with earthly things,
this ought to make him shiver, for
John D. Rockefeller at the age of 100
will have money enough to pay $29,
000,000 lines and endow oily universi
ties every few days without impair
ing his principal.
Cranks are trying to get Oregon's
Statement One into the primary law
of California. You Just watch how
they will be turned down. A Legisla
ture in Oregon, five-sixths of whose
members are Republicans, electing a
Democratic Senator, through this fool
scheme, will be enough for California,
and for all the rest. No other state
will be anxious to Join "the fool of
the family."
Mr. Harrlman has let the contract
for the tunnel by which the Union
Pacific will enter Tacoma. The con
tract for the line by which Central
Oregon will be given transportation
facilities has not yet been awarded.
It may be suspected that those Cali
fornia floods will not occupy any
prominent headlines In the immigra
tion literature of the land of sunshine.
However, those who live in glass
houses shouldn't throw snowballs.
New York (Manhattan) hist year
erected buildings of the value of
$104,602,710. . For Chicago the figures
were $62,927,220. Only great and
permanent buildings, not cheap sub
urban structures. Included.
Senator Tillman recognizes the need
of a new and elaborate vindication of
himself every day. Real news nowa
days is a little dull and slow, and the
press reports are indulgent to Till
man. Some criminal out on 36 th street
teas arrested for failing to clear his
Bldewalk of snow. Served him right.
He was the only man in Portland who
let the enow remain on his walk.
Hall the Chinook! Oregon Is her
self again. But don't chlnook .too
fast and too much.
What will be the name of the Mor
ris Haas of the Calhoun tx "
FOR BENEFIT OP THE FEW
Proposition of This Character Before
the Legislature.
Santiam News.
There aro several matters that will
affect taxation materially, which will
call for legislative action at this time. A
scalp bounty bill will be proposed which,
should it become a law on the lines now
set forth, would call for very large ap
propriations from the. state treasury.
Large appropriations for our state col
leges will be asked for. So far as we can
learn, the appropriations which will bo
asked for for the next two years for the
state colleges, will be not less than a
round million of dollars. This amount
will Increase from year to year, if tho
ratio of increase of the past is a criterion,
until the state colleges will become an
unbearable burden. When wo consider
that the state colleges are now costing
the taxpayers from ?200, to $4W per stu
dent (counting the cost of buildings and
maintenance.) for each year, it would
seem that the present is a most auspi
cious moment to call a halt. Compare
the average cost pr college student, say
$S0O, with what the state pays for the
public school pupil, an amount less than
$10? This Is a matter that should be
seriously considered by our legislators.
Our public school Is a necessity: the col
lege a luxury. Can wo afford to ray
doubla for the luxury what we pay for
the necessity? .The Legislature, will, also,
be asked to provide 'for the building of
an automobile highway across the state
from north to south. Of course- the pro
motors of this across-state highway do
not call the proposed road an 'automobile
highway;" yet the scheme is an emenation
from the brain of the automobile devotee
pure and simple.
These are three features which. If given
full swing, would bankrupt the state
treasury. In each instance, the benefit
to accrue, and each measure is meritous
to some extent, will bo enjoyed by but a
small fraction of tho people. A safe, rule
for the legislator to adnpt is, to vote for
no appropriation of public money to pur
poses which are not general in their char
acter. The people will willingly tax themselves
for purposes that can be enjoyed or Is of
benefit to the gTent mass of people. But
when their money Is appropriated for
purposes which benefit but a compara
tively few persons,, they pay such a tax
grudgingly.
NEWS FROM TACOMA.
Snlllncr Vessels Unable to
Enter
the
Straits of Fuca.
Tacoma Ledger, January 12.
A Portland dispatch to the Ledger,
dated January 10. reads: "The Colum
bia River is entirely closed to naviga
tion by ice jams stretching from shore
to shore. The steamship Alliance, which
sailed from Portland for Coos Bay this
morning, is fast In the Ice between the
mouth of the Willamette River and St.
Helens."
In the local columns of the Ledger on
the day of the publication of the Port
land dispatch appeared the following:
"To load general freight for the Ha
waiian Islands, tho American-Hawaiian
Steamship Company's liner. Mexican,
arrived In port Saturday evening from
down Pound. She will take 150.000 feet
of lumber and about 1500 tons of general
freight."
There is frequently a marked differ
ence between a deep and safe salt water
port and a port dependent upon the
varying moods and depths of a river.
That Terrible North Const.
Tacoina Ledger, January 13.
Port Townsend, Jan. IS. (special Dis
patch to the Ledger.) More than ordinary
Interest Is attached to ine coming of the
schooner Commerce, which Is reported in
the Strait tonight, for tho reason that
she Is the first sailing vessel to make port
in the past nine aays from outside the
Strait. The Commerce In en route here
from San Pedro, and will probably bring
a story of severe weather off the coast.
The Commerce Is the second sailing
vessel to make the Strait from off Flat
tery since January 1, the schooner Spo
kane, which recently arrived, being the
first. Almost every day since the first
of the year such strong winds have pre
vailed off Flattery that sailing vessels
have found It impossible to enter. On
occasions the wind has reached a veloc
ity of 76 miles an hour. It Is likely that
a large fleet of sailing vessels will make
the Strait now that the wind has sub
sided. There Is frequently a marked differ
ence between a port that Is accessible at
all times and one that Is storm-embargoed
for nine days at a time. The
Alliance was detained by the Ice less
than 24 hours, and three sailing vessels
arrived at Portland from sea between
January 1 and January 10.
Lni Wait or More Taxes.
Pittsburg Post
People speaking the English tongue' will
readily admit that the two countries of
the world which have made the greatest
advance in the art of governing them
selves are the United States and Great
Britain. It is profoundly significant that
in each of these countries at the present
time the problem of Increasing publio
revenues, or, to put it better, of bridging
the growing gap between Income and out
lay Is pressing. The average American
will admit with a sort of proud pessimism
that we have more graft to the square
inch than any civilized country in the
world. There may be less corruption In
administration in England, perhaps, but
any saving here is more than eaten up In
the enormous tribute In pensions paid to
caste and privilege.
Either the English, and the Americans,
too, will have to pay heavier taxes than
ever, or some cutting down of expenses
will have to be accomplished. It is ru
mored, for example, that our coffee will
have to pay duty, while in England, and
even in Germany, other sources of reve
nue even more burdensome, are Vdng sug
gested. Those woolly-minded folks "who
take no interest In politics" cannot make
sheep of themselves and hope to live In
comfort from wolves. It Is fight or got
eaten alive. Not much of an alternative,
but worse things are in store for those
who fall to take the best of these quickly.
Translation Time at the Restaurant.
Tit-Bits.
First Customer (after looking at bill
of fare) I'll have roast sucking pig,
mashed potatoes, and cauliflower.
Second Customer Give me toad-in-the-hole,
scarlet runners, and turnips.
Third Customer Cold beet without
horseradish, cabbage and a glass of
porter. t
Walter Yesslr.
Glides to the speaking tube and yells,
breathlessly; "One pig mashed colly
toad scarlet turnips cold beef (without
horse) cab and . porter."
Fourth Customer (facetiously)
Walter, bring me a dor biscuit and a
bit of celery.
Fifth Customer- Calf's head without
brain sauce.
Walter Yesslr.
Shouts down speaking tube: "Bis
cuit for puppy with small salary and
calf's head without brains."
Strathcona, Canaan' Grand Old Man.
London Telegraph.
Lord Strathcona, aged 88. known as
"The Grand Old Man of Canada," de
nies the report that he will resign the
position of Canadian High Commission
er. He says he desires to "die in har
ness." No Publicity to These Contribution.
New York Evening Hall.
If Santa Claus Is a Democrat, as the
Allentown Call would have us believe,
how about publicity of Christmas con
tributions t
LOCAL OPTION GROWTH IN OHIO
Politics Seem to Have Cat No Figure
Whatever In the Result.
New York Evening Post.
Nearly sixty counties of Ohio have
voted out the saloons, by an average ma
jority of close to 1000. Nine counties
have voted "wet," mostly by very small
majorities. The campaign has demon
strated that the exponents of prohlbitioVi
have no class of voters outside those di
rectly concerned In the traffic upon which
they can absolutely depend. The mining
districts In counties like Perry, Hocking
and Athens were considered doubtful, but
the ministers themselves furnished a
heavy "dry" vote, as did also the labor
ers in many of the smaller manufacturing
centers.
It was supposed tnat the farmers of the
state could be heavily influenced by the
fear of increased taxes if the $1000 sa
loon license should be given up, but the
farmer vote invariably goes heavily
against the saloon. The rapid spread of
the trolley has made the farmer's boy
more than ever a frequenter of the town,
whilo tho increased tax has driven the
saloons in tho smaller places to a more
vigorous quest than ever for profitable
trade. The connection of the saloon with
gambling and with immoral women, as
prolitable adjuncts, has made the danger
to the unwary boy from the farm much
greater than was encountered in the
average drinking shop of a generation
ago. It was supposed that the largo
German element In the rural population
of certain counties would oppose pro
hibition, but only in a few localities has
this been the case.
Nor has the temperance wave been
broken in those sections which habitually
give Democratic majorities. Tho "dry"
list now contains something like half the
counties which gave majorities to Judgo
Harmon a month ago. Including Monroe,
which has never given a Republican mn
Jority in Its history and yet went "dry"
by llearly 1300. In the Seventeenth Con
gressional District, which gave a Dcmo
cratic majority of over 7000, every county
but one has voted "dry" by good majori
ties, and that one is almost Wholly "dry"
already under former township option
law. Tho river towns were to be ad
verse, but twelve of the fourteen counties
touching the 'Ohio have already voted
"dry." Tho relation of tho liquor ques
tion to Judge Harmon's candidacy was
peculiar. There was absolutely nothing
in his career to mark him out as an ac
ceptablo candidate for the liquor interests,
yet they opposed the re-election of Gov
ernor Harris, who had signed tho local
option bill. Various liquor organizations
officially or unofficially declared for Har
mon, though he emphatically denied that
he had asked for this support or given
any pledge whatever, direct dr indirect.
It Is a striking tribute to his reputation
for veracity that, under such circum
stances, tho temperance Democrats of
tho rural districts stood by him and mado
his election possible. The Anti-Saloon
League officials who opposed him, now
admit that they know of no reason to an
ticipate any unfavorable action by him.
It is now freely predicted that the next
Legislature will submit a state-wide pro
hibition measure to popular vote.
TAX ON INTANGIBLE PROPERTY
New York Gathers a Large Revenue
From Indirect Tribute.
Indianapolis Star.
The State of New York received from
all sources In Its hurt fiscal year the sum
of nearly tf.2.000,000; but of this some $1S.
000,000 arose from the sale of Erlo Canal
bonds and kindred sources. Tho amounts
derived from taxation of various sorts
present an impressive showing and are 'as
follows:
Special tax for iudeea. ten-
ogruphers, etc
Tax on corporation
Tax on organization of cor
porations S0S.nf8.3t
207.535. 9
e.f.05,891.46
3. S07.373. 3S
9.3r.!.SlS.63
1. Grit). 527.51
217.-143.31
Tax on transfers of decedent
estates
Tax on transfers of ntock
Tax on trAt'llckinsr in liquors.
Tax on mortgages
Tax on racing assnclationl. . .
Tax on land of non-resident
owners
17,225. BS
Total ' $31,317,052 81
What was aimed to bfe proved in a re
cent articlo wa-s that a scientific applica
tion of modern revenue-raising methods
might reduce direct taxation upon our
homes, factories, stores and other tan
gible property that cannot escape the tax
gatherer, and substitute revenues from
indirect tribute levied upon the earnings
of great corporations which often do a
tremendous 'business and pile up enor
mous profits with very little property in
tangible form.
The figures given by Governor Hughes
aro very Instructive along this line, and
may serve to show us what prolific
sources of revenue aro Ignored by the
Indiana state and municipal practice
while tangible property of every kind Is
groaning under the burden of direct tax
ation. Hnsband Saved; Wife Give. .
Atchison (ICan.) Globe.
You doubtless remember that Russell
Sage, when alive, had a reputation for
stinginess, and believe that he didn't have
much fun In life. Eating an apple for
lunch, wearing a straw hat two seasons,
and a suit of clothes until it wore out.
doesn't appeal to many people, with or
without money, as a part of a good time.
But when you remember how many defi
nitions there are for a good time. It seems
possible that Russell Sage's life was one
continual round of pleasure.
What appeals to you may not suit your
friend. The man who admires grand
opera may scorn the enthusiasm of the
football fan. Russell Sage, perhaps, had
no hobby but making money. If this be
true, it was, doubtless, because he en
joyed making money and saving It. Life
to him was ono long-drawn-out spree of
getting rich, and there never was a morn-lng-aiter
headache; ha never lost money.
This contrast in human nature has a
striking example right In the Sago fam
ily. The wealth Russell worked so hard
to accumulate affords pleasure to his wife
only as she gives It away, as she Is doing
with a lavishness never equaled by any
other woman, and only surpassed by
few men of greater wealth.
Coffee Tax Not Favored.
Omaha Bee.
There will be no popular approval of
the proposition now being considered by
the Ways and Means Committee at Wash
ington to lmpoe a tax of five cents a
pound on coffee-, as one of the features of
the new tariff bill. The argument in sup
port of the proposition is that thiB tax
would yield a revenue of about $15,000,000
a year and would thus offset the loss that
would result from lowering the duties on
sugar, tobacco, hides, iron, steel and
wood. So far as the consumer Is con
cerned, this argument is of a piece with
the street vendor's statement that what
he made on peanuts he lost on bananas.
This shifting of the tariff duties would
simply cause the consumer to uso the
savings In one pocket to pay the losses
In tho other.
Clvfllzlngr Eastern Kentucky.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
A note of encouragement for Eastern
Kentucky is discernible in the call for a
great mass meeting of delegates from 42
counties to consider the redemption and
purification of that feud-swept, gun
oarrying. whisky-drinking section. There
are people left who feel their responsi
bilities to preserve a decent measure of
civilization. And they deserve to be
helped, as much as the Chinese, the Hin
dus or the Basutos.
Two Easentlnls.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
The MTkado assures Japan In Iris ad
dress to Parliament of two things peace
and economy of government. As the
United States has been assured of the
first, notwithstanding the labors of the
war-scare bureaus, It might be a fine ex
periment for our statesmen to add th
second.
QUEER DRESS OF ENGLISH W031EX.
Sweeping Criticism of Isconcra'.'
or Seen In the Street of London.
Borlbner's Magazine.
The first days In the streets of Lon
don bring so many Impressions that it
Is as confusing to remember them r-s
to recall, in their proper order, th.
changes of a kaleidoscope. It Is ap
parent that the men arc heavier h-ve
than with us; apparent, too, that tills
is a land of men, ruled by men, obe
dient to the ways and comforts nnI
prejudices of men. not women. Ili-re
the male bird has tho brilliant plumage.
The best of them, as ono sees theui in
Piccadilly, In Bond street, In St. Jame'
street. In the curbs. In the park of a
Sunday after church, are f Hi o-look in;.;
fellows, well set up and Fcrupuluusiy
well-groomed an 1 turned out. Hut th -women!
What hats, what clothes, what
shoes, what colors, what amorphous
figuresl Ono hears of English econo
mics; evidently they beKiu with the
dressmaker's bill. Who permits that
nice-looking girl to wear a white flan
nel skirt, a purple Jacket, and a inv
hat with a bun--li of small foathei s
sticking out of it at right angle;".'
Here is another with an enibroid-r -i
linen coat, and a bit of ermine fur, ni:-!
a straw hat with flowers in It! The
grotesque costumes of the women
would make one stop to stare were it
not that they aro so common one ceai 3
at last to notice them. Uut their taste
In dress Is nothing new. When Queen
Victoria came to tho throne their tat-t.'-less
vagaries of custom were not Iceabl v
A well-dressed lady la described as
wearing in those days, "a blue satin
robe, a black violet mantlet lined with
blue satin, and trimmed with black,
lace, and an emerald green hat trimmed
with blonde and rosea, as well as rib
bon and feathers!"
The complexions of tho English hsve
often been exploited for our benefit.
The damp climate and tho rxerHso
out-of-doors produce tho red, they say.
But on examination It proves t j be not
tho red of tho rose, but the red of raw
beef, and often streaky and fibrous at
that. The features are lar?e and tho
face high-colored, but It is not a d"M
eato, pink, it Is a coarse red. At a dis
tance, tho effect Is charming, bright,
refreshing, but closi to, often rat her
unpleasant. Here tho features of tho
women, even tho features of the beau
tiful women, aro mo'nle.1; while tho
features of our beautiful American
women are chiseled.
JOAN OF ARO TO It 13 CA.VOX17KU.
Moat Romantic Figure In History Will
lie Saint Jonn.
Now York World.
On April 18 next Joan of Aro will
be canonized by tho Uomui Catholic
Church, thus fulfilling after nearly
five centuries tho prophecy of tlio
English soldier who when Jonn was
burned at Rouen cried out: 'We are
lost; we have burned a saint!"
All said, the Hinld of Orleans Is thn
most romantic figure in history. It
Is probable that more books have been
mado about her than about Mary Queen
of Scots. The publication within a
year of lives of tho Maid by Anatoln
Franco and Andrew Lang testifies to
her abiding Interest for the historian.
Of her standing In popular fame an
idea may be gained from the discip
lining of a school Instructor In Franco
for "speaking unbecomingly" of Joan
in a criticism of a schoolboy compo
sition. Controversy over Joan has mgoa
through the centuries. She has been
alternately calumniated and defiled,
denounced as a sorceress nnd acclaimed
a saint. Voltaire heaped ridicule on
her MIchelet idealized her. .Schiller
glorified her. The embers of tho struo
hc.o been stirred anew by M. l;rai',
and Mr. Lang. How a modern alien t
would regard her visions, what verdict
he would render on the "voices which
inspired and guided ner, n. i
sary to say. . 1
But for the girl of 17 in white armor
who sacrificed herself on the altar of
patriotism, the brave-hearted peasant
lass whose high courage and strong
spirit saved France from her foes and
gave the Dauphin a crown, tho world
at heart must always cherish a chival
rous affection. To tho historian John,
Richard Green. Joan was the one
pure figure which rises out of th.
greed, the lust, the th
unbelief of the time." And this il t h
judgment which dlscrlmlnatng rao.l.ti
opinion, irrespective of church honors.
Is disposed to pass on her.
SPORTSMEy'S LAWS n.VRR VRIO.
Episcopal Bllup Holds Some Forceful
Opinions on Killing Deer.
Milwaukee Free Tress.
Bishop G. Mott Williams, head of tho
Protestant Episcopal dioceso of M.u
quette. which embraces tho entire up
per peninsula of Michigan, holds sotno
forceful opinions with respect to cur
tailing the annual slaughter of detr.
"Since I badly wounded a d-er wltaout
killing It. I have not fired at one. U-)
savs T do not need the deer. It w.u.
beautiful and free and I was cruel
and a slave to the fashion of killing
at a set season.
"The whole season of a game law b
preserve game for sport Is barbaric.
It lV. port enough to ran;;e the woods
without becoming a 's,;n'''' .. 'J
death. Deer ought not to be kl d
except whm needed for food, nnd u
servation ought to bo with regard to
thVh?pr"S'r.iyKame laws help nobody
but tho railroads. To plunge hundreni.
It reckless hunters Into the woo. s m
a short season, many of wuoi.i Kno
nothing about firearms, or who
careless. Is a premium. on Uorni
n-e ought to be able to keep an no i
resides of the state out of our woo ,
And It ought to be Imp for t y
ono to buy or borrow a gun i u 1 .c ...
showing that ho has J .
?an'dsP We have had rd-nty of exper
ience right here In thi s town.
"The open season for d'.er f-no.u
still further shortened, and It should
fe a crime to shoot a Vunt?rsweie
During the season -S hunUrs
killed and 53 Injured.
Dullness Boom.
Philadelphia Ledger.
to skate on now.
A FEW HQCI1SS.
,. t ,mrtersland you to sny that nil
ri 'U Sty
pBtlb5ia."-Ml.do:phla -.
Wook Blfrt-Me doesn't bellevo In lr '.m
would be dark.-1'alluielnhia lu.orj.
Klfd Lady But that fen't the mme s".v
da odnar one. Chicago ua-is .'"--
7im irpirardlr-e damage done to church by
f,3 -GooTjo. ft wasn't a factory. BUI. ttl.i
You'm , rit-ht. maw. Only one man t;ut
out ol : work, snd be draws l.U money!-
Punch.
Prore9or Stone To the preoloalrt t-.-r.n
d ytax-T or eo are not counted n any In-e
at all. Man In the Audlenc.--t.rea. ,.;;
And, to think I mad a tenu-ornry lan . . -to
a man who bold suoh v!o s! l'lil..uiul
phla Inquirer.
Nrs-BU (literary editor) Borus. whl-h mm
of tho magazine Is foinff to pub, that
i. .hnrt rtt.irv or v-oura? Boms tnnn--gmg
authort All I can tell you about it
now Vaults lo that twn of the mneiwlneit
ara not goiixt to publish It. Clilca- Tribune.