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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1909)
TIIE MORNING OREGONJAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 37, 1S09. fORILAM), OBECOX. Enurtit at Portland. Orecon. Poatnffloe aa econd-CUas Matter. SafcacrtpUoa galea Invariably la Adraneo, Br Mail) Diily, Sunday mclude.1. on year t::y. Sunday Included, aix rooDlhe... 1 T . . : - . . . Mi.n.iv nr a m nil 111 .... . .SO Weakly, on year '. i Sunday, on year r Sunday and Weekly, on year (By Carrlr.) Pallv, Sunday IncludW. on year...... lially, Sunday included, on month 4 How to Remit Send poetofflce tnony eriler. express order or pronal enec on our local bank. Stamp, coin cr currency ar at the Bender! risk- Glv postofnce ad dreaa In full, including county and etate. Poetara Katre 10 to 14 pas. 1 cent: 1 to 3i pca. i canta; u to paEea. I centa, 4 to i paces. centa, aure.jn post double ratea. Eastern Boalneaa OfOc Th 6. C. Baek wl:n Special Aaency Ne York, roomi -to Trtbun builuln. Chicago, room 610-4H Irlbune building-. PORTLAND. WXDXKSDAY, JAX. 7. 100. A CUXCK ON EXTRAVAGANCE. Assessment of the great City of Chi cago for purposes of taxation all property ror the year 1908, was J476.770.899. The tax levy for all purposes was J32.964.0S0. It Includes the levy for state, county, city, schools, sanitary, park and all other municipal purposes. The assessment is estimated at one fifth of the value of the property, but may be below that. The tax rate on this valuation is high between six and seven per cent. But It is much lower than that of Portland, with full valu ation and two per cent tax levy. Chi cago keeps the valuation down for the single purpose of preventing profligacy in administration. It is the same throughout Illinois. The total assess ment of the property of that great state in the year 1908 was 11.261,043. 437. This included real estate, per sonal property and railroad valuations. Oregon's assessment Is $398,133,963. It Is almost one-half that of Illinois. Forty per cent of Oregon's valuation is in Multnomah County. Partly under Impulse of tho boom Idea the values have been pushed up; and owners of property have winked at it because it has made them feel rich. The result was sure to appear In excessive taxa tion. In other counties it has been partly Imitated. Prodigality of expen diture, and even profligacy, could have been foretold, were foretold, as sure results. W"e would better pay a higher levy on a low valuation; for that is the best of all ways of keeping public ex penses down. Chicago's tax levy, for all purposes is J11.3S per capita. Portland's, even on a basis of 220.000 Inhabitants, will exceed J20 per capita. We believe the Legislature of Ore gon realizes the gravity of the present situation In our state, and that its sin cere purpose is to serve the people. Greatest possible economy of expendi ture, then, is the necessary thing, with rejection of new commissions, more of ficials and more salaries, and new schemes of public exploitation at the expense of the taxpayers of the state. LAST YEAR'S FOREIGN TRADE. Details of the foreign trade of the United States for the year 1908 throw some Interesting side lights on the re ' trenchment that was practiced in this country while we were recovering from the brief shock of the panic of 1907. A decline of more than $300, 000,000 In the value of Imports shows the extent to which we curtailed our purchases last year, while the $170. 000.000 decrease in exports quite nat urally Indicates that the -purchasing power of our foreign customers was somewhat affected by our own Inabil ity to take as many of their goods as we purchased In the preceding year. The business Reversal which caused the trouble In the Fall of 1907 was known as the rich man's panic. The appropriateness of that phrase can be understood when It is noted that dia monds and other precious stones led 11 other articles in the proportionate decrease In the first eleven months of 1908, as- compared with the corre sponding period In 1907. " Even our wealthy classes can gt along very well without diamonds, provided there Is an ample supply of bread and meat. In the eleven months ending December 1. 1908, the Imports of diamonds were but $12. 000,000. compared with J32.000.000 in the same period in 1907. and $39,000, 000 for the eleven months ending De cember 1, 1906. Imports of laces, edg ing and embroideries, which are also unfitted for eating purposes, or even hard wear, showed a decrease of i 12, 000,000. There was a loss of JI0. 000, 000 in the imports of manufactures of fibers, and JSjOOO.OOO In manufactures of woolen goods. Foodstuffs we were obliged to have, regardless of the strained financial situation, and the Imports of J269.000.000 for the eleven months are only J17.000.000 less than for the same period of the preceding year. A considerable portion of this difference, was due to the reduced val uation, the amount Imported being about the same as in 1907. There were, of course, some heavy decreases In other necessities which were imported, and this In the aggre gate ran into a large sum, but in no single Item approached the propor tionate decrease that was shown In the luxuries. Imports of hides and skins decreased J22.000.000. India rubber J1S.000.000. wool J18. 000. 000' and iron and steel and their products about J18.000.000. Crude materials for use In manufacturing declined from $436, 000,000 to J319.000.000, and there was a decline of J90.000.000 In the Imports of manufactures for further use In manufacturing, these two items re flecting the contraction in trada In this country- In the- exports, a short crop In wheat In other parts of the world resulted In an increase of J18.000.000 In the value of that cereal exported up to December 1, as compared with the same period In 1907. Breadstufts as a whole, however de creased $8,000,000. and meat and dairy products were J20.000.000 less than In 1907. Under ordinary circum stances the showing would be regard ed as highly vnfavorable, but in view of the remarkable conditions which prevailed at the beginning of the year, there Is nothing In the figures which reflects any permanent trouble. With average crops In this country this year the business for 1909 will undoubt edly make up for the shortage of 190S. Governor Magoon's recommendation that the wreck of the Maine be re moved from the harbor of Havana should b favorably acted upon. The Dally. Sunday Included. tnr momui. " , r D;.y. Sunday Included, on monlh.... . Dilly. wlmoul Sunday, on year La:iy. without Sunday. s:x monihi..... J blowing up of this battleship marked the beginning of a history-making epoch in this country; but there is nothing to be gained by keeping the old. battered hulk as a menace to navigation in Havana harbor. The lesson-taught by the events which fol lowed destruction of the Maino have sunk deep in the hearts of Americans, peace has been restored, and the Maine can no longer serve any good purpose by remaining as an eyesore to so many people who have always professed a skepticism regarding the causes leading up to her destruction. If the old hulk cannot be floated and brought to this country for restoration, she should be removed where she now lies. TO PACPEK1ZE EVERYBODY. Who are the paupers? Who are they who must be supported by the public? It is pitiful, every way. On the one hand are those who fall to the position of poor-house Inmates, to bo supported by the public; on the other hand the beggars, who go to the Legislature, and besiege the doors of the Common Council, clamorous for "more" who have no idea whatever of getting their livelihood in any other way than by preying on the public. Now also cornea a class between these, favored by such as ought to know better, that "where poverty ex ists in the home state aid should be given." This was the opinion deliv ered by representatives of charities, at the White House last Monday. It Is not recorded that President Roose velt fell In with It. There could be no way of pauper izing the majority now, and finally of pauperizing the whole people. eual to this. If, where poverty exists in the home, state aid Is to be given, we shall very soon irave a nation of paupers and none others. But, of course, if the state is to grant the petition of every office-holding and office-seeking gang, for new official places and for larger salaries, then we should do better to "go di rect to the people," and supply all de ficiencies, where "poverty exists in the home." This whole thing really is appalling. Seekers of official emoluments, who hold up their heads and make claim to respectability, as well as Inmates of the poor-houses, whd long ago lost all sense of dignity and all Incentive to effort, alike claim support from the industry of those who are willing to work, and who practice self-denial with their Industry; and then a mis taken philanthropy or benevolence comes along, with a proposition that whenever poverty exists in the home the state Bhall supply Its wants. The wheel has come full circle. The indus trious public Is preyed upon alike by Its official and by its pauper life. LIGHT ON DIVORCE. The discussion of the divorce ques tion seems to be passing from that primitive stage where texts from the Bible are supposed to settle every thing. Into a wider and probably high er domain. The scientific sociologists v,a-a tikn a rmnri in the matter and affirmed that the great number of di vorces which seems too many to De a startling evil. Is really the sign of a forward evolutionary process. It will lead, they say, to oetter relations oe tween the sexes than have ever before existed. The Indications are that the new relations will be much more free for both sexes. This opinion of the so ciologists, which Is quoted and some what elaborated In a late number of the Springfield Republican, may or may not be correct. Since everything human is in a process of unceasing change, whether we like It or not, it Is quite likely that the marriage relation of the future is destined to be some thing different from what we are ac customed to see. It may be better or it may be worse. Pretty certainly it will be different, and no doubt our multiplicity of divorces la leading us toward it. It is a serious error to look upon the divorce problem In the United States as something unique. The whole civilized world has It In one form or another. In all countries there are more divorces than former ly, and In all of them there is one party which regards the phenomenon as a menacing evil, while another thinks it Is a step upward to some thing better than marriage as we have It. Time will show which is In the right. But It will help us to think clearly on the subject. If we fix the fact in mind that, like most other modern social questions, the divorce problem is not local, but worldwide, and no solution can be found for one country which does not serve for all countries. We must also overcome the predisposition to think of divorce as an ecclesiastical or theological prob lem. Of course the churches are In terested in It. and some of them have pronounced vigorously against it; but after all, the settlement which finally comes, will be brought about, not by the decrees of synods or conferences of ministers, but through the opera tion of social and economic laws. If, in the long run, the present form of the family proves to be best for the race. It will persist, no matter who objects to it or who defends It; If something different is needed for ra cial ends, then the present form will be superseded. So much must be conceded. Evolu tion knows nothing of theology and It cares little for our sentiments. It pro ceeds upon Its course with a heedless ness which la often exasperating, but which must bo admitted as a funda mental fact In all out discussions if we wish those discussions to be of any value. We must also admit that the problem of divorce Is not a thing standing In Isolation. It Is intimate ly connected with many other prob lems, and until they are all solved it is likely enough that none of them can be adequately disposed of. For ex ample, divorce Is closely dependent upon employment. When work is steady and wages good, men Incline to be loyal to their marriage vows and the family flourishes. When" the bread winner loses his Job he often becomes restless under his obligations as a husband and father. He seeks relief by flight from a burden which seems too heavy for him and the deserted wife resorts to the divorce court. The number of divorces Increases largely with every panic. It rises and falls with the cost of living. It fluctuates with the price of wheat and varies with the operations of the Beef trust and the Standard Oil Company. A writer In the Independent has recent ly discoursed lucidly concerning the effects of the Dingley tariff upon mar riage and divorce. His words are wise and his reasoning shows how wide a subject the relation between the sexes Is. We cannot cut it off and deal wita It by Itself. We must find out how to prevent poverty and misfortune before J we can expect to make marriage en tiraiv ota Ki a Pvpn then we shall not be apt to succeed, because there Is a disquieting tendency of too many fat things to develop discontent. Divorces are as numerous among the Pittsburg millionaires as they are among work men out of a Job. But perhaps the principal cause for divorces Is the Indifferent care we take In arranging marriages. A good be ginning would, in this matter at least, make us much more secure of a happy ending. People who rush Into matri mony without either the physical or mental qualifications requisite for that desirable estate are not likely to abide contentedly within Its bonds. Some thing like an examination before mar riage Is permitted may perhaps be re quired of swains, and maidens, too, before a great while. Moral qualifi cations may also be looked after a lit tle, and a man may have to answer as to the diseases he hides in his body and how he came by them before he is allowed to wed. Those diseases have an unpleasant fashion of escaping from the parent to the offspring and com municating themselves to the wife. A little light on these dark corners of life might perhaps, help answer the ques tion why we have so many divorces. There Is a relation between the so called "purity" of our conversation and" literature and the ruin of the home. The "purity" seeks to conceal knowledge which every human being must acquire, either by good means or evlL It can close the good ways, but not the evil ones. Henoe disease, mis ery and divorce. THE COMING CHARTER. The new charter, under preparation for Portland, Is well advanced. It will follow, substantially, the system known or designated as the Des .Moines plan, but will differ to an ex tent in detail, and somewhat in extent and distribution of powers assigned to one executive department or another. Briefly stated, the plan, as proposed for Portland, will substitute for the present system a Mayor and six Coun cllmen, all elected "at large." Two candidates for Mayor and twelve or less for Councilmen are selected at primaries, and the candidates for Mayor and the six candidates for Councilmen receiving the highest num ber of votes at the election are to constitute "the government." Large salaries are to be proposed rsome thing like J4000 for each Councilman and J5000 or J6000 for the Mayor. It will require four affirmative votes to pass any measure. Executive and ad ministrative powers and duties are to be divided into seven departments the Mayor to be superintendent of public affairs, or "the department of state," In the government, and each of the six Councilmen to be superin tendents of one of the other depart ments the assignments being made by the Council itself, by a majority vote. All other officers of the city are to be elected by the Council, and all franchises for public utilities must be authorized or approved by a ref erendum vote at a general or, special election. They who are looking for concen tration In city government will find It here. Tha effort will be to make the system non-partisan, and this is what It will profess, to be. Candidates for office are not to be designated by any party name; but, of course, there will be no way to prevent the elector from voting for or against a candidate, on the ground or knowledge that the candidate is a Republican, a Demo crat, or what else. But the fact that there may be only two candidates for the Mayoralty and twelve for the Council seems almost a recognition of the existence of the two main parties and exclusion of others. This our So cialists and. Prohibitionists may not approve. It is believed that a provision lor "recall" of elective officers will be In serted, for thl3 is a feature of the Des Moines plan, and moreover la In con formity with the Incipient measure of the general law of Oregon. Proposed ordinances may be submitted to the Council' by petition, and If the peti tioners so request, shall be passed without alteration by the Council and submitted to the voters of the city at a special or general election, for adop tion. Such ordinances cannot be re pealed except by a vote of the people. It will be observed that active par ticipation of the electors In this sys tem of government Is Invited; yet probably, even certainly, no very great number of them will be able to participate Intelligently, In the multi tude of questions that must be treated, without more study and effort than most are likely to employ. Yet it may be feared, perhaps expected, that the chief occupation of our more ambi tious and contentious citizens, under the system, will be what Burke called a petty war of village vexation." We have that now, Indeed; but it Is lim ited to the Mayor and Councilmen. DR. WHEELER'S STATISTICS. Dr. Wheeler. ex-City Physician. Is a very nice gentleman, an export In his profession and a good citizen; but In the science of politics and the art of making ten or a dozen Jobs grow where only one has grown before, he is 'way behind the times. The health of the city under the regime of Dr. Wheeler was excellent, his salary was reasonable, the cost of his office to the taxpayers was light, the spread of con tagious diseases was promptly checked before they began to make an Impos ing showing In "statistics," and our schoolrooms were free from the J presence of amateur medicos who at J100 per month pawed over our off spring to see that their noses were clean. This non-political physician had a communication In yesterday's Orego nlan which requires very little expla nation. It was made up of official "statistics" showing the work of the health department under Dr. Wheeler and that of his successor. With his limited salary, small force and light expense account, the best that Dr. Wheeler could show during 1906, the last calendar year of his administra tion, was 198 cases of diphtheria, 68 cases of scarlet fever, 136 cases of typhoid fever and 83 cases of small pox. That, according to one of Dr. Wheeler's critics, was "all that the city paid for." Note the Improvement In business during the year 1908, when his successor was In charge. The policy of expansion to meet the demands of the higher salaries and In creased force, has apparently resulted In a corresponding increase In "pre ventable transmissible diseases," for the present health department, with all of Its increased facilities and ex pense, was unable to keep' diphtheria down to less than 412 cases, more than . double the number In the last year of Dr. Wheeler's administration. Of scarlet fever there were 118 cases. typhoid fever 247 cases, while small pox, which Dr. vvneeier neia aown ia S3 cases In 1906, got beyond control of the present administration to such an extent that 299 cases were reported. What more could the taxpayers ask for their money . Here we have in these four "preventable transmissible diseases" a total of 1076 cases last year, compared with but 424 cases In 1906. Of course some of the old fogies may contend that less disease and small cost for the health department are preferable to existing conditions. k,, fnnrpntion will never be sustained by the hungry salary-grab-h.m fnr vhnm tha taxpayers of the City of Portland are proving such good things. Todate the Seattle Times and the phUadelnhia Inauirer are the only two newspapers in the United States that have entered any objection to sending iha TJhertv Bell to Fortiana ana me Seattle Exposition. It is not difficult to find reasons why the Fhliaaeipma nnnnr should orefer having the relic remain in the Quaker City, where all nrhr. desired to see It WOUia De ODilgea to make a trip to its permanent resting place. It is puzzling, nowever, io ac count for the attitude of the Seattle paper, for if the Liberty Bell is sent to Seattle. It will be far and away ahead of any other attraction there, In exciting the Interest of the Pacific po.i nAonln. Fortunately for the great Northwest, which hopes to view this priceless relic, tne f miaaeipnia North American Is as strongly In fa vor of sending the bell out West as the Seattle Times and the Philadelphia In quirer are opposed to Its coming. In presenting to the Legislature a bill designed to save the state some-iiiino- lii-a tin (100 ner vear rather than to tap the hard-used public coffers of a large sum. the National uuara As sociation should be hailed as refresh ingly original, to say the least. This bill la. In effect, a revision of the mili tary code, it is pointed out, and its purpose Is to bring the state guard up to a regular Army basis in point of organization,. In order that Oregon may continue to draw the Federal ap propriation under the Dick bill. Its m,wr imnnrtant effect will be the re moval of the guard from the pale of politics, for, as 1s pointed out Dy tne association, politics killed more men In the Spanish-American War than did the Spanish and Filipinos. Professor Ferrero undoubtedly is right about Antony and Cleopatra Antony wanted money. He had dreams of vast political achievement, and expected to divide the Roman world with Octavianus, taking for himself the provinces south of the Mediterranean and those of the Far East, leaving to his rival those north of the Mediterranean. For this scheme he yoked with Cleopatra; whom he married, although he had left behind a lawful wife In Rome. And this wife was Octavia, sister of his great rival. Octavianus. Antony was a great scrub. To the whole world of English readers Shakespeare has given him by far too good a character. , . V If a new county is to be formed out of portions of Douglas and Lane, the reasonable method would be to unite the western portions of the two coun ties, making another coast county and filling up the tier of coast counties from Clatsop to Curry. It would be an awkward method of division to split lengthwise, for a new county, two counties already too long from east to west. Gralngrowers in the bunchgrass country are finding comfort In weather conditions, past and present. Owing to an unusually dry Fall few weed seeds sprouted. Now the soil Is thor oughly wet, they will be up In time to be killed when harrowing for Spring grain begins. There Is. a golden lin ing to every Oregon snow cloud. Not a week pasees that the Oregon newspapers do not record the sale of iwntv or thtrtv-acre farms in all sections of the state. These transfers mean purchase by new settlers, uut they make hardly an appreciable addi tion to the population and there Is room for a hundred thousand more. Tkoro la a. Democratic Senator be cause one faction of the Republican party. In order to get advantage over another, took Statement One not supposing it would lead to the pit. Yet hia eviction no mora believed in State ment One than the oher. It will be useless to set that trap again. t rcfnalTiir- to extradite Rudowlcz. Mr. Root has probably disappointed the Czars detectives, out ne nas mani toin.d tha rivtf American tradition and he has pleased everybody who be lieves that liberty Is worth fighting for. There was a time when every good American was a rebel. s- Representative Orton Is right in his .fniiTiH that all bills Introduced "by request" should carry on their face the name of the person or association making the request. In these duis there Is a Job, every one. Oregon's commissioners of the Se attle Fair make what they think a splendid showing for the money dinn nnoi nlaced fn their hands; but. like all others who handle public money, tney want more. The state capital would be of small value to Portland, or the State Fair, either. But to the vast majority of the people of Oregon It would be con venient to have, them in Portland. They are to do as they please about it. Why not get along for a couple of years .without any taxes? We com mend this solution of the muddle to all concerned as likely to please more people than any other. eAnaA. Rtflnhpnann. of Wisconsin, is UlUilblWl . I - . charged with having bought the pri mary nomination ior mure iiau S106.000." Shocking! But Isn't he the people's choice? A New Jersey preacher thinks the unllft movement shoflld be extended to "the kitchen girls." It Is, else where. They use the oilcan m tne morning. Congressman Ralney surpassed his namA in his attack on the President. He was worse than rainy; he was a regular wind storm. When Imprisonment for life means pardon In fifteen years, why let the gallows get rusty? V TO THE SCRAP HEAP WITH IT. VlROrooa Criticism of the Bill for. a Pure Milk Supply. WOODSTOCK. Or., Jan. 24. To the Edi tor.) Some days prior to- the meeting of the Legislature you had something to say about a. certain bill that was to be Introduced ostensibly for the purpose of giving Portland a cleaner milk and cream supply. There was also a rounding up at the Commercial Club of a few interested parties, notably creamerymen of Port land, to give the bill a sort of a sendoff. Since that time the bill in question has been duly introduced and probably com mitted; everything has also probably been duly placed in shape to have it passed in schedule order. I had hoped that some hardworking dairyman or farmer would have noted some sort of protest against this, one o"t the latest attempts to swell our taxes and to provide places to feed at the public crib. This, then, Is my excuse for writing. Now, I take it for granted that the bill, as printed in The Oregonlan, is in the shape as presented. It is so word ed that one might believe that it was to be of benefit to the farmer. This Is not so. The bill as brought In is only of benefit to the creamery man and the fellows who are to be provided with a Job. It provides that the Food Commis sioner is to have the appointing of three men at a salary of $12"00 a year each, with JsOO thrown In for expenses. They are to see that the farmer's or dairyman's good wife or someone else thoroughly washes the cream sepa rator, that the farmer cleans out his barn before 13 noon of every day. and also that he washes his cow's udder before milking. Three cow policemen could not keep track of this work in one county. How In the name of common sense can they take care of the whole state, if each one of these men had an automobile and one-third of the state assigned to him? He could not visit all the dairy men and farmers more than once a year, and what good would it do, even if he saw them twice? I know it to be a fact that Portland creameries draw cream, not only from all Oregon, but also from other states tributary to this city. Then, again, I should like to ask the sponsors of this bill how they would proceed; how they would like to go into a cowbarn at half past 8 on a frosty morning and wash cows' udders and then attempt to milk 25 or 30 cows with dry hands? The thing is impossible and the whole scheme Is absurd. There Is no .need for such tomfool nonsense. If they must have an alteration in the law, then let them do this: Make it a misdemeanor for any man who doe3 not stable hls'cows in such a manner that no filth can attach to the udders and that each, cow ha3 not less than 400 cubic feet of air space. Such a measure would do more to insure clean dairy products than a hundred inspect ors could furnish, and it would be less galling to a hard-working class of people. The whole bill Is a fraud on the farmer In the first place and a graft on every taxpayer. The bill should go to the scrap pile inBtanter. GEORGE POPE. USELESS PREMIUM ON SLAUGHTER Six. Beebe So Character-lies Effort to LciiKthett Dock-Shooting Seaaon. PORTLAND. Jan. 26. (To the Ed itor.) I Indorse fully the protest voiced by William L. Finley in yesterday's Oregonian against the bills introduced in the State Legislature providing for a lengthening of the open season for duck shooting. There can be no doubt of the truth of Mr. Finley's statements regarding the effect of such action, and the spirit of those so-called "sportsmen" who wish It. The writer has spent a num ber of weeks each Fall for the past ten years on Upper Klamath Lake, and lias also pr-ssed two Winters there. He Is therefore in a position to confirm, through personal and extended obser vation, Mr. Finley's statements: First That ducks breed in this section in large numbers (their mating beginning about March 1, or even earlier in an open Spring),-and. second, that the de crease In total number of ducks found here In the Fall has been large and continuous for the period named. Mr. Finley's statement that the pres ent open season should be shortened not lengthened is also absolutely cor rect. Many of the ducks bred In this section are unable to fly by September 1, the date now set by law for the open ing of the season in Klamath County. It Is possible to knock- over these rT.iniiTim xpith a. club In the marshes. and the writer Is personally cognizant of two Instances In which this "sport" has been practiced. The slaughter possible with a gun may be imagined. The season should open not earlier than K.ntnmhAr IS. AA Wfl9 til 9 law in this county previous to 1903, and should close not later tnan reDruary x, hjs i present. Tia n.Hter hoc to loin Mr. Flnlev in his requost to The Oregonian to use its powerful influence against tne enact ment of the meatttres now under con sideration in the State Legislature, vhlch measure can have no result other than to provide increased opportunity for slaughter by game hogs and to ao- i - , ii a .ilrpudv t.i nM disanDear- ance of one of the most beautiful and valuable of our wild birds. I FREVESTIKO CRUELTY TO HORSES. Yamhill's County Treturarer to Walk to Portland ia One Day. M'MINNVILLE, Or., Jan. 26. (To the Editor.) In last Friday's Oregonian I no tice that someone in Portland connected with the Humane Society is represented as criticising President Roosevelt for his 9S-mlle ride in one day, and is said to have averred that if the President had passed through Portland on such a trip he. the officer referred to, would have felt It his duty to have him arrested. Now as I remember the account of said ride, recently given in The Oregonian, the President had four relays of horses, which would make an average of only 24V& miles for each horse. A man who knows as much about horses as President Roose- i 0 ai.n nn urgent lover of horses. would be very likely to divide distances In accordance with tne time wnicn eacn horse would have to rest between the out ward and the return trips. The Presi dent's favorite horse, on which he left the White House, D. C. having the long M nrohablv be ridden about 16 miles out; then, after an all-day rest and the best of care, ridden the same dis tance back in the evening, making a total of 30 miles during tne aay. Before the advent of railroads, the i. n. rrAnncntlv to ride on horse back from McMlnnvllle to Portland. In fact, he has a good saddle animal stand ing in the stable doing nothing, and has been contemplating a ride to Portland on horseback. Just to revive tha recollec tion of olden times, but since reading the ebullitions of Portland's humanitarian, he has concluded to walk. Although 65 years pld. the writer can still walk from Mc Mlnnvllle to portiana. a OLsiance oi iv miles, in a day, without running the risk of being arrested for cruelty to animals. H. Z. FOSTER. Uvea In Two Towns at Once. Winsted (Conn.) Dispatch to the New York World. Burr Beecher pays one-half of the taxes on his house to this town and on the other half to the town of Norfolk, because his home stands In both. Ha eats in one town and sleeps In the other. His bed Is so situated In an upstairs chamber that oftentimes he goes to sleep in Norfolk and awakens In the morning In this town. CAHAEGIE HERO FUXD AWARDS. Twenty-Six Persons Recognised by Medals and Money for Llfesnvlng. Pittsburg Special to Chicago Tribune. The Carnegie hero commission today handed down 26 awards of money and medals for heros and heroines all over the country. perhaps the most unique awards made by the commission were those in con nection with two Indians who appear to have done some good lifesaving -work In the West. The Indians were Peter Dean and "Indian George." A year ago they were deck-hands on a steamer on the Colorado River, when a woman went overboard with her child. The Indians Jumped in after her. Dean was drowned and "Indian George" nearly drowned, hut the woman and child were saved. The young wife of Dean was given a medal and $25 a month for life. "Indian George" gets a medal and $1000. Sarah H. Klllikelly, of Pittsburg, who Is 70 years of age, received a silver medal and $75 per month for the rest of her life for saving the life of a neighbor's servant girl. Last Septem ber Miss Klllikelly was calling on a neighbor when the clotning oi tne ten ant took fire. Miss Killlkelly grasped the servant and threw her down on the floor, wrapped a rug over her, and holding her down called to her to keep her mouth closed so as not to inhale the flames. The aged woman Inhaled some of the flames herself and for some time was laid up, but she now has fully recovered. Abner L Kuykendall, of Beaumont, Tex was given a bronze medal for a peculiar feat of lifesaving. He risked his life to save that of a tramp at Beau mont on December 81, 1907. He threw the tramp from the rails and rolled over with him. The tramp fled and has never been seen since. John Bosko, Jr., aged 12, of Marble head, O., was awarded a bronze medal and $2000. Bosko on March 16, 1907, saved Michael Pldllla, aged 7, from be ing carried out into Lake Erie on a cake of ice on which the boy had been A silver medal and $50 a month for life with $5 a month additional ror ea.cn dependent child under 16 was awarded to Catherine Schwendlnger. widow of John Schwendlnger, of Dubuque, la., who was drowned September 6, 190S, In an attempt to save Louis J. Trout, 20 years old, who could not swim. The cash awards made by the com mission since its organization in May, 1905, including those made today, amount to $163,452.26, and the pension allowances $16,440 monthly. All the officers of the commission were re elected. NOTABLE CEXTEVNIALS IV 1909. Procrsxfon of Centenaries of World-Fa-mous Men That Marks the Year. New York World. Yesterday's attention to the Poe birthday marked the beginning of that procession of centenaries of famous men which makes notable the current year. The next hundred-year occasion will be on February 3, when the Men delssohn anniversary will be celebra ted. February 12 will be devoted Joint ly to Lincoln and Darwin. For the first four subjects of the year's me morial honors we have poet, musician, statesman and great naturalist, and this range of distinction is found to prevail strikingly among the names that follow on the list. Thus March 1 brings the centenary of Chopin, musician; March 31 that of Edward Fitzgerald, poet and transla tor of Omar Khayyam; June 19 that of Richard Monckton MUnes (Lord Hough ton), statesman and poet; August 6 that of Tennyson, poet laureate; Aug ust 29 that of Oliver Wendell Holmes, poet and essayist; December 29 that of Gladstone, statesman. Alexander Wiliiam Kinglake, whise hundreth an niversary occurs August 5, was a dis tinguished historian. A centenary Instance of minor note but curious interest is afforded by the fact that In New York, January 18, 1S09. Thomas Paine wrote his last will and testament. "I have lived an hon est and useful life to mankind," he de clared in closing; my time has been spent In doing good, and I die in per fect composure and resignation to the will of my creator God." He disposed among other things of his farm in New Rochclle, upon which he desired to be burled provided his body could not be admitted to the burying-ground of the Quakers. WISHES DEFEAT OF BEAIS BILL. -Writer Thinks Proposed Lejrlalatlon Bad for Slnarle Claim Owner. PORTLAND, Jan. 28. (To the Editor.) ti i -um nrnvidlnff for the cruising im ck-al jih, v - - of timber claims, and which passed the House, Is a severe blow to single-claim owners who are mostly working men, like myself, and are not prepared to meet the expense of having claims cruised as the Bcal bill calls for. should It pass the Senate. Taka for instance myaolf. I own a claim in the Blue Mountains, 64 miles from Heppner. It takes three days to make the round trip In favorable weather from Heppner to reach the claim. "The weather is so severe there now that the trip coudl not be undertaken. The claim has cost me $700, Including doubles taxes and expenses going back and forth. Now, if I have to pay a cruiser, .It would mean a sacrifice of my claim or a relinguish ment, and there are hundreds of others like myself in Oregon. I hope the bill re ferred to will be defeated, for the interest of the poor man. M. MORAN. , . An Extreme Aba-ardttr. Philadelphia Inquirer. Oregon, which is an overwhelmingly Re publican state with a Legislature which is very largely Republican in both branches, has Just elected a Democratic Senator much against the wishes of the majority, but in accordance with a state law that Is peculiar In the extreme. The situation , is unparalleled and is a concession to demagogy that Is un-American and In Its essence unconstitutional. It all comes out of a primary law that makes even the Oklahoma system appear crude. Members of the Legislature were nomi nated at the same time as the primary for Senator was held and candidates were at liberty to subscribe to the proposition that they would vote for the man for the Sjnatorshlp who had the most votes in the state, regardless of his political complexion. Enough Republicans did so to tie their hands, and, although they ex pected a Republican to win, they voted for the Democrat, who got the most votes. It la apparent that Mr. Chamberlain does not properly represent his state. Its Devotion Costa Dog Ita Life. New York World. Fifteen-year-old Arthur Morris, of Westfleld avenue, Elizabeth. N. J., is mourning an Irish setter that lost its life as a result of Its devotion to the lad. Young Morris went skating and re turned home at nightfall, leaving his muffler and mittens on the Ice. The dog found and lay down on tne mittens, ana was still guarding them when young Morris' father visited the pond to search for the setter four hours later. It had to be carried home, but it died of cold contracted In its long vigil. Wellesley Cook Finds $-100 Pearl. Wellesley (Mass.) Dispatch to New York Tribune. A pearl, which a Jeweler estimated to be worth $400, was found by Mrs. Mary Meehan. a cook at Wellesley College, vfhlle opening oysters. At first she be lieved It to be a pebble, but because it was exceptionally smooth and white she laid it aside. Later it was shown to some of the members of the faculty, on whose recommendation it was taken to a Jeweler. Life's Sunny Side J. Adam Bede, , of Minnesota, the humorist of the House while he was in it, and whoso humor still bubble., de spite the fact that he was elected to stay at home, tells the following on a friend of his who travels for a carpet firm: . "My friend," said Bode, "is of a sav ing turn of mind, and he recently had to make a longish Junket with two trunks. Arriving at the railroad sta tion, he approached a stranger stand ing on the platform and said: 'Are you going to Chicago on this train?' " 'I am.' " 'Have you any baggage?' " 'No.' " 'Well, friend, you can do me a favor, and It won't cost you a cent. I've got two good-elzed trunks here and they always make me pay excess for one. STou can get one checked on your ticket and save me some money.' " Yes, but I haven't any ticket.' '"But you Just said you were going on this train.' " "So I am. I'm the conductor.' " Exchange. a a Of a certain bishop, famous as being the plainest man In England, the fol lowing pleasing tale is told; One day as this homely parson sat In an omnibus he was amazed by tho persistent staring of a fellow passen ger, who presently unburdened himself as follows: "You'ro a parson, ain't you?" "Well, yes; that is so." "Look 'ere, parson, would you mind coihln' 'ome with me to, see my wifo?" Imagining the wife was sick and needed assistance, the clergyman, at great inconvenience to himself, went with the man. On arriving at tho house the man shouted to his wife to come down stairs, and when she did so he pointed to the astonished parson and said with a grin of delight: "Look 'e 'ere, Salrry. Yer Bald this mornin' as I wus the hugliest chap in England. Now, Just look at this bloke!" Cloveland Leader. a a Irascible Magistrate Officer, why did you bring this prisoner up before me? Can't you see he's as deaf as a doof nail? Policeman Oi . was told ye'd give him a hearing, sor. Judge. a a Maud Bolle doesn't wear French heels any more. Her husband won't let her. Ethel I said she would lower her self by marrying him. Boston Trans cript. a a "I want you," said Mr. Dustln Stax, "to show that this law Is unconstitu tional. Do you think you can man age It?" "Easily," answered the attorney. "Well, go ahead and get familiar with the case." "I'm already at home In it. I know my ground perfectly. It's tho same law you had me prove was constitu tional two years ago." Washington Star. . a a a "Is there any difference In the mean ing of the words 'nautical' and 'ma rine'?" SFked Mr. Malnprop. "Not much," replied Mrs. Malaprop. "One Is a cinnamon of the other." Chicago Record-Herald. a a a 'Td rather walt than eat," confided the Summer girl. "Then we'll have another dance in stead of going to that fashionable res taurant," remarked the thrifty swain. "And," he added mentally, "that's $6 saved." Kansas City Journal. a a Mrs. C. Good morning. Bridget I hope your master and mistress have not forgottn that they're coming to dine with me tonight. Cook Indade and they've not they've ordered a good hearty meal at home at 6 o'clock. Harper's Bazaar. 1 a a a "ICo," snapped the sharp - faced woman at the door. "I ain't got no food fur you, an' I ain't got no old clo'es. Now, git!" "Lady," replied Harvard Hasben. "I could repay you well. Give me a square meal and I'll give you a few lessons In grammar." Catholic Standard. , THE FARCE VS OREGON, Grotesque Oirtcome of Attempt to Abol lab. Representative Government. Chicago Inter-Ocean. The Oregon Legislature, overwhelm ingly Republican, on Tuesday re nounced its constitutional right to elect a United States Senator and Its party duty to elect a Republican Sen ator. As a direct consequence of this dou ble renunciation it elected to the Sen ate Governor Chamberlain, a Demo crat. Thus Oregon will be represented for six years in the Senate by a man whose political principles the people of Ore gon have disapproved, both in the state election last June, when ther elected a Republican majority to tne Legislature, and again in November, when thoy voted for Mr. Taft and against Mr. Bryan. This grotesque situation Is the result . ,k. An-t i nrpffnn to abolish rep- U l L u a i i . u i . - --i - - resentatlve government and circumvent the Constitution or mo uniie.i by means of a direct primary device. t.lv this mnlorltv was not left free to deal with the situation on its merits by electing some KfipuDncan acceptable to the party at large. Many Republican members of the Legislature had , been constrained by a furious agitation to bind themsolves specifically to abide by the result of the Senatorial primary under all cir cumstances. By this device the Sen atorial primary was made more than merely advisory, as it is in Illinois. Members of the Legislature were put in the dilemma of having either to deny a party duty and renounce a con stitutional right or violate a speclfio pledge. They choso to auuio us " pledge and kept their personal honor ri riirht nerhans. under the circumstances, but their doing pri vate right was made a public wrong by other circumstances. Very Maeh to the Purpoae. n, oiH friend. J. Hennessey Murphy. writes thus to The Oregonian : ... r.i.. .v.- nomine from Governor George L. Woods' message to the Legis lative Assembly w years usu. t mv ludirment but little K-Kislatim Is necesrary at thla eesrfon. A statuw book ovrburdenl with needlena nactment la a Dubllc nuleanc. Pome ltBht changes may r 4n tfvrrir to nerfect our system. P Htnitrar-at J but alterations should only be made wnera the necesMity la apparent, me r,., reaulreu that but few innovations be made vnthl,, Kn tends to the upon mo wittLu.w. - - security of personal rights a lawi tiled ar.l well defined, while consian. s "" the public mind and involve everything In uncertainty. Mr. Murphy adds this comment: "Wo ought to make known our gratitude to the Almighty for his goodness vouchsafed us favored ones, since these words wer written, and humbly to thank him for our wonderful progress In all things, lunacies and Jackassacalitles. since these old fo gies held undisturbed dominion over us." Grandson's Legacy to Keep Sober. Baltimore Nows. John R. Piatt, of New York, an octo genarian, willed to his grandson the Bum of $3000 on condition that he would not smoke or drink alcoholic . liquors until he reached his 21st year.