TIIE MORNING OREGONIAX. BIONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1909
- - 11
MS
COMPANY
TO
DISGORGE PROFIT
New York Concern Must Pay
Back Twenty Cents From
Every Dollar.
EFFECT OF COURT RULING
Having Decided That 80 Cent Is
Legal Gas Hat, Supreme Court
Has Ordered Refund of Extra
Money to Consumers.
BT LLOYD F. LOXERGa:.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17. (Special.) How
would you like it If y6u had paid a bl
gas bill every month for 22 month T
And onoe a month had fought with the
collector and told him he was a robber?
And then had found that out of every
dollar you had paid the company was
compiled to pay you back 20 cents (four
bwr). wouldn't It Jar you?
The above accurately describes the
position of the average New York house
holder. On May 1. 1S06. the law provid
ing that gaa should only cost SO cents
per thousand cubic feet went Into effect.
Before residents realised what It meant,
the (u company went to court and se
cured an Injunction. The effect of this
was that everybody paid SI per thousand
Jtt as before, but cents out of 'each
dollar was turned over to United States
Commissioner Shields who was ordered
to hold it until' the litigation1 was over.
Tlkoupht Money Gone.
' And the average New Yorker figured
that he would never, see that 30 cents
again. Every month he received a re
ceipt with a warning In red Ink to the
effect that if the new law was upheld
he woulii be entitled to draw down 20
rents on a dollar. But the average man
figured that that 20 cents would never
come his way. and rally threw away his
receipts as fast as he received them.
As the months have rolled along, the
amount of money In the hands of United
States Commissioner Shields has natural
ly Increased. At present he has a lit
tle over fc'.oTi.OO In his possession and
he Is anxiously awaiting an order of the
court for its disposition.
The average gas bill for a small family
in a flat is 14 a month. The excess charge
has run along for 32 months. This means
that the householder has expended tUS
and is entitled to a rebate of 125.60. - a
nice little present to come in right after
tne New Year's.
Although the ways and means for dis
tributing this J9.50O.nrm has not been
thoroughly mapped out there is authority
for saying that the plan to be followed
will be like this:
In the first place the distribution of
the money will be left entirely to the
gas companies. Commissioner Shields
m-ill not attempt to pay out the enormous
sum to the hundreds of thousands of
claimants.
Must Provide Bonds.
The gas companies will be forced by the
court to furnisli big bonds, completely
covering not only the amount of rebates
due but contingent payments. These
bonds will be filed, subject to the orders
of some sort to be mutually decided
upon by the gas companies and the city.
Then the money in the hands of Com
missioner Shields will be returned to the
gas companies. All this will take time
and it may be 30 days before the details
of the plan can be worked out.
When the gas companies have filed
their bonds and have been handed their
rebate money. It Is up to them to make
an equitable and fair distribution. They
are In possession of every payment made
since the 80-cent gas bill went Into ef
fect. Their collectors know personally
or by sight either every patron or some
member, of every patron's family. When
It comes down to close figuring the re
lations between the as company and Its
patrons are really quite Intimate.
It is not likely that the gas company
can insist upon patrons producing their
receipted bills. All those who can pro
duce such bille will be repaid first. The
others will come later. Each case will
have to be investigated. It Is safe to
say that every consumer holding a
valid claim will be paid In full.
Tens of thousands of steady consumers
will simply have their rebates credited
to their running accounts, and the gas
company will keep the money. Tens of
thousands who have used gas and paid
tl per thousand feet when the rate was
only JO cents will never appear to col
lect the rebate. Probably from 20 to 25
per cent of the money held by the gas
companies as overcharge will remain- In
their possession.
All Scalpers Barred.
Enterprising scalpers who contemplate
buying up receipted gas bills at a dis
count had best go cautiously. There Is
no likelihood that the gas companies
will pay anybody who Is not the actual
owner of the receipted gas bills presented
for redemption, undoubtedly a test case,
covering this point, will be brought up as
soon as the plan for redistribution Is
agreed upon.
Out of the Supreme Court decision the
gas monopoly can take considerable com
fort, despite the fact that It received a
serious sethsck. For Instance, the court
has said that 6 per cent Is a reasonable
return upon the Investment In a gas
plant. This gives the corporation a min
imum percentage to figure on. There are
other advantages, all of which were made
plain when the full text of the court
was transmitted to the United States
Circuit Court of this city.
"It seems to me." said one of the men
who has been closely allied with the fight
for !0-ccnt gas. "tliat the chance. oens
right now for the Consolidated Gas Com
pany to gain the good will of the people
of New York City and hold it.
"The monopoly Is beaten. IV It accepts
defeat gracefully, tries to return the 20
per cent of overcharge to every con
sumer entitled to It. and shows a dispo
sition to be fair and above board. It
will have the good will of the community,
and It will be a long time before another
attack Is made upon It.'
But naturally the Gas Trust Is anxious
to hold onto that 19.0 0,0 O. and nobody
. would be surprised to see some new kind
of dilatory legislation Instituted.
Personally, the Gas Trust owes me
tr$ h but I hardly expect to see the real
money before Fall.
TO DIVERT NATIONAL FUND
Move to Pnt Congress in Control of
Reclamation 'Work.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, -Washington.
Jan. 17. Once more the attempt
In being made to take the control of
the National reclamation fund from the
Secretary of the Interior and place it in
the hands of Congress: and once more
will the effort fail, so say those who
know.
Tills time the movement Is started by
n ..!... CSiMlhHirht of Cali-
fornla. The California Congressman has
Introduced a bill virtually robbing the
Secretary of the Interior of the power
bestowed upon him by the reclamation
act. The bill stipulated that after July
1, B10. no money shall be expended from
the reclamation fund without the spe
cific authority of Congress; no contract
for the construction of any Irrigation
project shall be made without the au
thority of Congress; and no new work,
either on old or new projects, shall be
carried forward without specific au
thority from Congress.
If the Engelbrlght bill should he en
acted Into law Congress would have it
in Us power to stop work on projects
In states that are weakly represented In
the Senate and House, and could divert
money needed to complete those projects
to the construction of new works in
states with the biggest pull.
The Engelbrlght bill can not pass this
session, for It would meet with de
termined opposition on the part of a
number of Western as well as Eastern
men. and general legislation that Is
seriously antagonized, can not pass in
NEW ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OK THE NAVY.
If
:
V
17
f h
'A
. J
Itmtm
Herbert I.ivloa-mtoa gatterlee.
NEW YORK. Jan. 17. (Special.)
Herbert Livingston Batteries,
the New York lawyer, naval of
ficer and authpr who succeeded
Mr. Newberry as Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy, was born In
New York City In 1863. and
married. In 1900, Miss Louisa
I'ierpont Morgan, daughter of J.
P. Morgan. He has always been
Interested In naval affairs. He
helped organize the Naval Re
serve Association, of which he
has always been president. He is
also general counsel of the Naval
League.
a short session. It is probable, however,
that this bill will reappear In the next
Congress. .
MORE TC01TI1Y
PRESIDENT WANTS COUNCIL- OP
' FIXE ARTS ESTABLISHED.
Body to Advise on All Work9 and
Monuments "Where Design Is
. Integral Part. '
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17. Quick to ap
preciate the plea that the fine arts have
been denied that Governmental consid
eration so universally accorded by other
nations, as suggested by the American
Institute of Architects, President Roose
velt has taken the first steps looking to
their recognition by this Government.
The President announces In correspond
ence made public today that he has
asked the Institute to designate 30 men,
representing all parts of the country, to
compose a Council of Fine Arts.
The object of the council, which Is to
consist of architects, painters, sculptors,
landscape architects and laymen, with
the Supervising Architect -of the Treas
ury as the executive head. Is to advise
upon the character and design of all
public works of architecture, paintings,
sculpture, all monuments, parks, bridges
and other works of which the art of
design forms an Integral part; and to
make suggestions and recommendations
for the conservation of all historical
monuments.
President Roosevelt cordially Invites
the recommendations of the architects.
He says he will direct members of his
Cabinet to refer to the proposed coun
cil all matters in their charge embrac
ing architecture, selection of sites and
landscape work, sculpture and paint-
'""Moreover." declared the President In
his letter to the architects. "I shell re
quest the council to watch legislation
and on its own initiative to make rec
ommendations to the txecuuve auu
Congress." .
n-,. . T.ur,t nrin tmmrdlatelv call
upon the council for a report as to the
character ana locmioa oi i
memorial.
MAROONED MEN RESCUED
Schooner Picks Vp Three Japanese
Left on Island Six Month.
HONOLULU. Jan. 17. The Commercial
Pacific Club Company's schooner Florence
Ward arrived here today from the Mid
way Islands with the three plumage
hunters of the Japanese schooner Klcho
of Shinagawa. Toklo, who were rescued
by the Florence Ward on Lee Harmes
Island last December.
The Kicho put four Japanese ashore
on Lee Harmes Island. 80 miles south
east of Midway, on July 7 last and was
to have returned for them. Shortly
afterward, however, a terrific storm
broke. The hunters lived on fish and
seabirds. One of the men died. The
Klcho Is supposed to have foundered..
MAIL PATRONS COMPLAIN
Ilawley Takes Vp Matter of Delayed
Service to Marshfteld.
aotwwvi v XCTl'S TtmRATT. "Wash
VJIVJJIV.'.'"' -' " . --
Ington. Jan. 17. Special.) Representa-
ti..i.. aniBnul ftnmnlnmt with
the Postofftce Department about the slow
service along the route from Roseburg
to Marshneld. Residents of Marshfleld
and Intermediate territory assert that the
i rontA in not delivering
mall according to schedule, and has be
come altogether too careless. j.ne
. v. nmmliied to make an In
purimciik ... y
vestlgation, and take steps to compel
the carrier to ooserve nis scneauio.
CUBA AGAIN TO
GOVERN HERSELF
Gomez to Be Inaugurated Jan
uary 28, and Americans
Wili Withdraw.
AFFAIRS NOW SET RIGHT
Threatened Revolution Averted and
Liberal Party Wins Vnanimous
Victory Cuban Congress
Wants More Money.
HAVANA. Jan. 17. On January 28 at
noon the Cuban people will come into
their own for the second time at the
hands of the American Government. It
was on May 20. 1902, that the American
flag, hoisted after the war with Spain,
was hauled down In favor of the blue
striped, slngle-Btarred ensign of Cuba
Then, In September, 1906, a company of
marines landed at the palace from the
United States cruiser Denver, and halted
a victorious revolutionary army on the
outskirts of Havana, and American Inter
vention, which first came against a for
eign power, was once more a reality, this
time to set things right among the Cu
bans themselves.
Cuban Congress Indifferent.
The members of the Cuban Congress
had become .Indifferent and for months
prior to the? revolution it had been Im
possible to secure the ' attendance of a
quorum. This necessitated government by
Presidential decree, and It was quickly
followed by the cry that President Palma
was assuming the role of dictator. The
American Provisional Governor, Charles
E. Magoon, has done all that It was pos
sible for him to do to prevent a recur
rence of this state of affair by decree
ing that Congressmen who do not attend
the sessions shall not receive pay. These
rules, however, have already been de
clared dictatorial by the Congressmen,
and an attempt undoubtedly soon will be
made to repeal or amend them.
Now Want Salary Raise.
The Congressmen also are even now
discussing an increase in their salaries
from 300 to J100 a month, although the
Cuban constitution, like that of the Uni
ted States, declares that an Increase of
salary shall be effective only in succeed
ing Congresses to that amending the law.
The Liberal party, which claims to ne
the party of the common people, went
Into power as the result of an almost
unanimous ballot.
Major-General Jose Miguel Gomes, the
new President, has magnanimously de
creed that although the Conservative
party vote in the recent election was al
most nothing, that party shall have 30
per cent of the appointive offices.
The Inauguration of Gomez on January
28 will take place at the palace at noon.
Several American warships will fire a
national salute, but neither United States
sailors nor soldiers remaining on the
islands will participate in the Inaugural
parade, as their presence might detract
from the pride of the people In the re
turn of native sovereignty.
KING DINES NAVY OFFICERS
Commanders of Missouri and Ohio
Entertained at Athens.
ATHENS. Greece. Jan. 17. Klngr
George gave a dinner at the palace to
day to the superior officers of the
American warships Missouri and Ohio.
The American ships .will depart tomorrow.
Bloodshed In Socialist Riot.
DRESDEN. Jan. 17. A Socialist
demonstration today In behalf of elec
toral reform led to a serious riot in
which 20 persons were seriously and
at least 100 slightly lnjurea.
Attend Rosenthal's great shoe sale.
YANKTON" JOINS SQUADRON
Connecticut Expected to Reach Vll-
lefranche Today.
VILLEFRANCHE, Jan. 17. The United
States naval tender Yankton Joined the
squadron now here today.. It Is ex
pected that the battleship Connecticut
will arrive tomorrow. The French Medi
terranean squadron will reach Ville
franche, January 26, Just prior to the de
parture of the American warships, but
It Is hoped some Inter-fleet festivities will
be possible.
A number of the ofrlcers end men or
the Minnesota, Vermont and Kansas saw
the grand prlx at the Nice track today.
The value of the stake Is J2o,000. The
race ended In a dead heat between
Chanolne and Wild ABtor.
ILLINOIS ARRIVES AT MALTA
British Admiral Congratulates Fleet
on Appearance.
MALTA, Jan. 17. The United States
battleship Illinois arrived here this morn
ing from Messina, where she was en
gaged for a brief period- In relief work
among the .earthquake sufferers. f
Rear-Admiral Potter, commander of the
squadron. Captain Beatly, of the Wis
consin and Captain .Hutchinson, of the
Kearsarge, dined last night with Curzon
Howe, the commander-in-chief of the
British Mediterranean fleet. The British
Admiral congratulated Rear-Admiral Pot
ter on the fine appearance of the Amer
ican ships after so slpendidly achieving
their remarkable voyage around the
world.
OFFICERS ARE ENTERTAINED
Special Excursion Takes Men to See
Ancient Cities In Asia Minor.
PMTRSA, Jan. 17. A party composed
largely of officers of the American bat
tleships Louisiana and Virginia was con
veyed today by a special train provided
by the American residents, to Ephesus, a
famous ancient city of Asia Minor, the
ruins of which stand on the banks of the
Cayster. Another party visited the great
lake.
American Consul-General Harris has
Issued invitations for a reception tomor
row at the consulate.
TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD ON
Twenty-four Passengers Injured,
but Only Two Seriously.
COFFETVILLQ Kan., Jan. 17. M
southbound passenger train on the Mis
souri Paciflo Railroad, from Kansas City,
collided head on with a northbound
freight train, two miles west of this city
this morning. Twenty-four passengers
were hurt, but only two. Mr. and Mrs.
P. S. Powell, of Mowata, Okla., are in
a serious condition.
The members of the engine crews
Jumped and saved themselves. The en
gines were demolished.
g sG
real
Olds Wortman&Kin
January Clearance Sale Is On
sundries) QaranceSaleClever Coats
I.. ti :
15e can Royal
Tooth Powder, spe
cial Monday.,. 5
Ingram's Milkweed
Cream, 50c jar,'
special 30t
Solid Back Hair
Brushes, pure bris
tles, special lot of
Boc values, Mon
day . . 49?
Large Size Bath
Sponges, worth 35c
each, 6peeial..20
50c box Tine Cloth
Finish Paper, with
envelopes to match
embossed " Port
land, Oregon, "on
sale now af . .23
85c jar Library
Paste, spl . .49?
Bankers' Note
Tablets, fine ruled
bond paper, 10c
value, sp'l at..5
All Wood to Burn,
clearance, 'x off
Cash or Bond
Boxes, with lock
and key, worth
75c, special. .55
Lace Paper Doi
lies, for tables,
lunches, etc., worth
10c doz., sp'1..5
Portland
Agents for The
Ladies'
Home Journal
1-4 Less Regular Values
One of the styles in this
lot is just exactly like
the illustration on right.
The picture was drawn
from the Coats in stock.
The materials are broad
cloths in black and the
very best shades, fin
ished with velvet on col
lar and down the front
as shown here. Then
the re are plentyof other
models, so the choosing
is a pleasure. There
are long Empire mod
els, strictly tailored
styles
or
semi - fitted
effects. The regular
values run from $15.00
to $45.00 and are
now being reduced
One-Quarter
ml m
MM
Women's Gowns and
Dresses Unusually at
tractive styles for house
and smart afternoon
wear. Materials are
messalines, broadcloths,
marquisette voile, chiff
on voile, etc. Some
very handsome models
and exclusive styles.
Values from $18.50 to
$60.00, sale tjlf
price justJL JLCZLI
Women's Suits Plain
colored materials or
fancy suitings and plain
tailored or very cleverly
decorated models. De
cidedly smart street
wear or dressy enough
for afternoon functions.
All the best shades and
weaves concerned. Reg.
vals. at
$48.50
$18.75
Notions
100 Best Jet or
Blue-Headed Pins,
on sheet, 10c value,
special at 5
5c Paper Pins. 3
White Basting
Cotton, 500-yard
spool, worth 5c,
special, 3 for X0J
Skirt Markers, for
marking bottom of
skirt, worth 75c,
special at . . .49
Folding Wire Coat
Hangers, loo val
ue, special . .10
Bone Hair Pins,
shell or amber, 1
dozen, assorted
shapes, 20c card,
special at . . .XO
Shell or Amber
Side Combs, worth
35c the pair.25
Silk Finished
Thread, 100-yard
spools, letter A,
black and colors,
5o value, sp1..3
Cloth Brushes, 35c
values, sp'1..19
Talcum Powder,
oval can, fine qual
ity, 15o value,. 5
Exclusive
Portland Ag'ts
for Royal
Worcester
Corsets
Terse Tales of Other Tremendous Clearance Sale Bargains
GREAT SALE OP BLACK SILKS.
GREAT SALE OF DRESS GOODS.
CLEARANCE PRICE ON LINENS.
A SALE OF LACE CURTAINS.
A CLEARANCE IN THE SHOES.
GOOD SAVINGS ON BLANKETS.
CHINAWARE IN THE CLEARANCE.
SAVE ON KITCHEN NEEDS, TOO.
Gloves at $1.19
Monarch Suede Gloves, two
clasp style, in mode, white,
gray or black; all sizes; regu
lar $2 values. Clear- OI 1 Q
ance sale price 0 '
Women's 16-Button Gloves, in
assorted shades and sizes; reg
ular values up to iH(M AO
price, only w'"
FANCY SILKS AT 59 THE YARD.
3 SPECIALS IN EMBROIDERIES.
3 BARGAINS IN THE HOSIERY.
3 GOOD MUSLINWEAR VALUES.
A BARGAIN IN VEILS, $4.69.
OSTRICH BOAS AT i4 LESS.
PATTERN HATS NOW AT $5 EACH.
THREE SPECIALS IN UNDERWEAR
J '
L . a- -r
1 z 1
FLOOD IS RECEDING
Sacramento Valley Still With-
out Rail Traffic.
WHEAT LAND OVERFLOWED
this city said It Is probable that more
went down in tne contusion.
fcAAYMAKERS ARK DELAYED
High Water May Iieave California
Jjegislatnre Without Quorum.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Jan. 17. (Spe
cial.) with a single line of treacherous
track connecting Sacramento with the
outside world, it looks tonight as If
Speaker Phil Stanton and George M.
Ferine, Speaker pro tern., may not
reach here In time to call the Assem-
bly to order tomorrow afternoon at 1
o'clock.
The breaking of the levee on the
Tolo side of the Sacramento River
loosened a torrent of water which
swept away the tracks of the South
ern Pacific Company between here and
Davis, effectually blocking traffic from
San Frantisco.
A large number of the members of
both houses will endeavor to return
here by tomorrow. If the track should
go out, they, too, will be compelled to
remain In the vicinity of Stockton until
traffic is revived. The point was raised
tonight that It may be Impossible to
get a quorum In the Assembly tomor
row, as two-lnirus oi me meinuera
must be present before .business can
be begun. If Stanton falls to reach
here and Terine Is successful, the
Speaker pro tern, will officiate. If.
however, he is delayed by the floods, It
will be necessary to- elect a temporary
Speaker.
General George von Schnlk.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17. General Geor
von Schlak. II. S. A., retired, died sud
denly at his home hero today. He was
83 yfars old.
Situation Believed to Have Passed
Worst stage Railroad Trains
From Portland Are Rout
ed Via Stockton.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. W.-WIth rail
.i .till In a badly demoralized
state owing to the breaking of the levees
between Webster and Mxodo, i
. c....mntn nd the washing out
west . 1 11
of two miles of track; but with all rivers
in the flooded section of tne steie iu.i.s
rapidly and the foothill country for the
present swept bare of snow, the general
n !,,, irn iii more promising tonight.
Many thousands, of acres of grain have
been inundated In eacramann,
counties and the newly-sown crop de
stroyed, but no further damage Is anti
cipated except In the event of a cold
snap end more snow In the hills.
Warm showers prevail throughout the
central part of the state tonight, but the
rainfall Is not enough to effect the flood
situation. . T
Between Faeramento and Rosevllle Junc
tion the Southern Pacific is working night
and day to connect its tracks withthe
bridge of the Northern Electric Com
pany the only railroad crossing still
sending over the American River. This
work is-not complete and ove Hand traffic
1q H11 belnc routed from Salt mice
south via Mojave and Daggett. Trains
tor Portland and the North ere being
diverted by way of Stockton. '
The Yuba and Feather rivers are both
reported to be receding, al"1u
breaking of the levees on the Butter
County side has done great damage to
crops and completely demoralized the
local train service and wire communica
tion In that section of the state.
TWO LABORERS IXSE LIVES
Swept to Death hy Destruction of
Trestle in Yolo County.
SACRAMENTO. Cal., Jan. 17. In mak
ing frantic efforts to escape from a sec
tion of the long trestle near Webster Sta
tion Yolo County, two and one hall
miles from this city, two section laborers
were drowned by Jumping into the deep
overflow water that was fast atlng
away the foundations of the trestle. A
girtig of laborers. 25 in number, was en
gaged in piling rocks and other ballast
on the trestle when the foreman dis
covered that the section on which the
men were working was about to be
swept away. .
It is known that two were drowned
and the survivors who were brought to
of Purity
Icdcfor flvfo Seal