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.