TITE MORNING OREGONIAX, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1900.
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THE ROAD TO THE TIT.
It Is scarcely to be deemed prob
able, or even possible, that the peo
ple of Oregon will amend the consti
tution of the state with Intent and
purpose of putting the state Into the
business of construction and operation
of railroads. For the state, after It
had built the roads could not oper
ate them except at a steady loss, and
would be compelled besides to pay the
Interest on the bonds. Financial
ruin would be the sure consequence.
The best hope of protection the state
could have would be the refusal of
investors to buy the bonds of an
undertaking certainly doomed to dis
aster. The argument submitted as a pre
amble to the proposed amendment is
a childish performance. Xo railroad
is to be built, leased or operated,
"unless the state shall be compelled
to do so for good reasons, or unless
Justified in so doing by a superior
profit or result." How can sensible
men offer balderdash like that for a
place In the constitution of the state?
There would be "good reasons" for
roads in all directions, but "profits"
never would be possible. The locali
ties where roads are most needed are
the wide and thinly-peopled areas
where there would be little traffic
for many years, but where railroad
systems already established might
penetrate with their lines, making the
old divisions helpers to the new. Pri
vate enterprise in these matters can
always accomplish things which the
state cannot; it can command service
from employes which the state can
not; it can exercise a forecast which
the state cannot. James J. Hill can
beat all the states from the Pacific
Ocean to the Great Lakes as a finan
cier, builder and operator of rail
roads; for he knows the business,
and he has a compelling and decisive
superintending ' power. He says to
one. Go and he goeth; to another.
Come and he cometh; but the em
ployes of the state would argue it with
the state, and everything would have
to be submitted to the vote of the peo
ple. It amazes indeed to find that
any should suppose that a great busi
ness, like that of covering a Mate
with railroads or even a small busi
ness could be carried on in this
way.
But these railroads are always to be
"the people's railroads." "Xo rail
road owned by the state, or by any
county, municipality or railroad dis
trict shall ever be sold to a private
person, or corporation." Ah, indeed!
But the state will not own the roads;
the bondholders will own them; and
when the roads default, and the state
defaults with the roads which, be
yond any possible doubt will happen
how are our brave men. Teal. U'Ren,
Wood and the rest to prevent the
bondholders from selling the roads
and taking a deficiency Judgment
against all other property in the
state? Or. is all private property
within the state to be confiscated to
pay the holders of the bonds of our
state railroads, so as to prevent their
sale to "any private person or corpor
ation ?"
This scheme will call for a debt of
$50,000,000 to 1100,000,000 and more
than even the last-named sum, if all
sections and parts of the state are to
be supplied with railroads. And
assuredly It will not be right to ne
glect, omit or overlook any part. Per
fection of the system would require
purchase by the state, at their just
valuation, of the railroads now within
Its borders, or construction of lines
to parallel them. Oregon then will
be a railroad state, indeed! Its sys
tem of taxation for support of the
railroads will speedily devour all other
property and introduce In the guise of
railroad benefactions .that blessed
system of state socialism, with its de
lightful uniformity, which has been
the subject of so many rhapsodies,
during recent years.
We shall have the full fruition
when it shall become necessary, as it
gurely will, to meet by direct taxation,
from year to year, without end, the
payments of Interest on the sums thus
borrowed and expended; for there
will be no way of obtaining the
tnoney other than by direct taxation.
No man who has a farm or a few
acres of land, no man who owns a
factory or any kind of building ' or
business, no man who owns a town
lot or a flock of sheep, will be pleased
with this confiscatory tax; and labor.
In every form, will be compelled to
bear its share of the burden for the
gcheme will catch him also who pays
no direct taxes.
But there Is no intention, it will
be said, to go very far in this business.
The state will go to no excess in con
struction of railroads. But if it shall
begin the policy there can be no stop
ping place short of that to which the
logic will carry it. If the state is to
supply the people with railroads It
must render its service fully and Im
partially; and confiscation of prop
erty, earning bankruptcy with it. is
the Inevitable pit.
Oregon wants capital, and is seek
ing it; but if this system shall be at
tempted capital will take warning at
once and will avoid Oregon: and pres
ent owners, wishing to escape the
crash which all the prudent ones
would foresee, would dispose of their
property as fast as they could. For
the good of Oregon the Legislature
yhould decline even to consider this
amendment; for the mere suggestion
of It would be a serious injury. That
it would be rejected by the people
there can be no mannen of doubt; but
the mere proposition would bring the
state Into a most hurtful notoriety.
HOW NEVADA WAS LUGGED IX.
The Mate of Nevada. with about a third
of a man to the square mile. was admitted
to the Union In order that two new Repub
lican Senator might appear at Washington.
The transaction was a Job pure and simp:e.
and. like the pleasant vices of the poet, it
has come back to vex Its perpetrator. That
thia state, which has been aptly des;.-ived
as the one mistake made by the Naf.cn ;n
the organization of states In the Far West,
sl-culd have the power and the will to em
btoil the United States with a .'nend'.y
power: that It should, gratuitously and
quite uselessly, attempt to legislate away
the treaty rights of the subjects of a for
eign nation. Is not only an anomaly, but an
absurdity most nagrant. Louisville Courier
Journal. Nevada would not have been made
a state but for the Civil War and the
course of the anti-war party of the
North. The Democratic party, oppos
ing prosecution of the tvar, had won
victories in 1862 in many Northern
states and had elected many Sena
tors of the "Copperhead" type. It
was to hold a majority, if possible,
against these, that Nevada was ad
mitted. It was done with the ad
vice of Lincoln, who as President, ap
proved the enabling act, and later
(October 31. 1864) issued his procla
mation declaring that Nevada, hav
ing compiled with requirements, waa
admitted as a state of the Union. In
ordinary times it never could have
been done. Lincoln wanted the Sena
tors from Nevada to "stand off" such
men as Hendricks of Indiana and
Richardson of Illinois, so as to give
the war for the Union a chance of
success. It was a most unfortunate
state of things that made a reinforce
ment of the war element in the Sen
ate desirable, and apparently neces
sary. CONCEALS THE KEAX CAUSE.
Leslie M. Shaw, ex-Secretary of the
Treasury, has apparently resumed his
former position as one of the chief
"spielers" in favor of a ship subsidy.
He has recently made a number of
speeches replete with inaccuracies
and misrepresentation regarding tho
topic which he essays to discuss. The
California Japanese agitation was
seized on by Mr. Shaw as a pretext
for exposing our self-imposed weak
ness on this most Vulnerable point.
"The powers of the world." said Mr.
Shaw, "laughed at the spectacle of
our sixteen battleships starting
around the world, accompanied by
and depending for coal and supplies
on twenty-seven colliers and supply
vessels floating foreign flags, which
would have deserted them and left
them helpless at the first smell of
hostile powder."
Mr. Shaw is slightly in error as to
the real cause of this foreign mirth
over the idiotic and unnecessary per
formance mentioned. What th,e pow
ers of the world really laughed at
was the sublime stupidity of this
country In failing to do what the
powers of the world would do under
similar circumstances. Xo maritime
nation on earth except the United
States prohibits its people from buy
ing ships where they can be bought
the cheapest. Had this country been
at all anxious to avoid the spectacle
it made. It would have permitted
American shipowners to buy some of
this cheap tonnage and thus be in a
position to engage in the coal-carrying
trade.
Among the twenty-seven colliers
and supply vessels mentioned by Mr.
Shaw Is the British steamer Agapan
thus, a TOOO-ton carrier in Al condi
tion. The world-wide depression in
freights left the Agapanthus without
any employment after she arrived on
the Pacific Coast with supplies for
the fleet, and she has since been laid
up at Victoria. Last week she was
sold for the Insignificant sum of $4 5,
000 less than one-tenth the price
paid for the steamer Tremont, a
slightly larger and newer vessel flying
the American flag. If this country
should get Into a strained position
where it was necessary for it to have
a fieet of vessels flying the American
flag, a single call for offerings of ton
nage would bring colliers of all sizes
and descriptions not twenty-seven,
but twenty-seven times twenty-seven,
and then some. Why in the name of
the Star-Spangled Banner should the
British, the Germans, the Japanese,
the Norwegians and all other mari
timo people be privileged to buy such
steamers as the Agapanthus for $45.
000 while we are forced to pay $500,
000 for one merely because she al
ready flies the American flag? If the
Government had purchased, or per
mitted American citizens to purchase,
these twenty-seven colliers, they
would today be spending thousands
In our shipyards for repairs, supplies,
etc. If Mr. Shaw is sincere in his as
sertion, "I am for a merchant marine
at any cost, in any way. In every
way," he should promptly drop advo
cacy of the subsidy graft and demand
that our citizens be given the same
rights on the high seas that are en
Joyed by our trade competitors.
A smIttex trust.
The Supreme Court of the United
States has rendered a decision In the
case of Volgt & Sons against the Con
tinental Paper Company, which ought
to help materially In the solution of
tho trust problom. The Continental
Paper Company is a trust, including
some 30 factories, which had power
enough to force Volgt to buy his paper
of it at extortionate rates or else go
without. He bought the paper and
then refused to pay for it. Tho trust
sued him. The case has gone the reg
ular way from one tribunal to another,
and finally found its quietus in the
Supreme Court, which declares that it
will not help a trust collect its debts.'
The ground for the decision Is that a
combination In restraint of trade being
an illegal entity, has no standing in
court. It was one of those famous five
lo four utterances, but since sound rea
son is on the side of the majority, it
6eems likely to stand.
This places the trusts on the 6am 9
basis as gamblers when it comes to
collecting what is owed to them. The
law will not enforce a contract to pay
a gambling debt, and now, by the de
cision of the Supreme Court, It will not
enforce a contract to pay a debt to a
trust. This may be hard on the com
binations In restraint of trade. It may
even break them up, but who will
grieve if It does? The chances are,
however, that it will not break up the
trusts. Its result may be to make
them do business on a cash basis en
tirely. Henceforth nobody can buy
anything of the tobacco trust, the beef
trust, the powder trust, the whisky
trust or any of the rest of the Inflated
throng without handing out the coin.
This would be one way of evading
the dire consequences of the decision.
A better one would be for t,he trust to
disappear behind an innocent third
party, who would do all its buying and
nelling In his own name and for his
own behoof. The fraud would be fair
ly transparent, but from past experi
ence the law could be trusted not to
see through it. A veil need not be very
thick to baffle the eye of modern Jus
tice, who is a good deal blinder than
her ancient sister was.
USES OF THE PARTY SYSTEM.
Most readers who keep in touch
with the movement of modern
thought and discussion are acquainted
with the books of Benjamin Kidd. On
subjects of political science he is a
strong thinker and forcible writer.
"Social Evolution" is the title of one
of his books; "The Principles of
Western Civilization" is the title of
another.
In this second book there are dis
sertations on the uses of Party as an
Instrument of Government, among
English-speaking peoples: for it is
among these alone that the party sys
tem and its uses have had actual de
velopment. The paragraphs In quo
tation marks, which follow, have been
culled from various parts of this
book, and are worth most careful con
sideration in Oregon, where the doc
trine is preached that party is a
hindrance in politics and government;
not a useful or necessary agent.
"During comparatively recent time,
by the necessary tolerance of many
conflicting views, there has been al
most imperceptibly developed an en
tirely new attitude of the human
mind towards every system of action,
of power, of knowledge, and of opin
ion representing itself for the time
being as the embodiment of a prin
ciple claiming general assent.
"The first large outward expression
of this attitude, as a working prin
ciple in the political life of our civil
ization, is that which we have in view
in the rise of tho system of Party
Government. If the mind is carried
back over the recent political his
tory of the English-speaking world
It may be noticed that In almost
every quarter it presents the same
feature. Side by side with the In
creasing assertion of the right of
every community, from the hamlet to
a continent, to manage its own local
affairs, there has been developed that
phenomenon in public affairs now
known as the system of government
by party. No system of government
has been more sweepingly condemned
outside the countries where it exists.
In it there survives, as indeed there
still survives in most of the insti
tutions of the present day, many of
the evils of the era of evolution out
of which the world Is moving. No
system of government is from time to
time more scathingly criticised even
in England and America. Neverthe
less, no system has ever been invented
which has given such efficient results
as a cause of progress. Throughout
the public affairs of the whole of the
English-speaking peoples at the pres
ent day it is the life-principle of all
effective criticism; the most potent
fact behind every condition of good
government. For 150 years it has
been the soul of that orderly unceas
ing stress of competing principles,
from out of which the rapid but un
hasting political progi-ess of the English-speaking
world has proceeded.
"Now If we look closely at the sys
tem of government ny party It may
be perceived that what It essentially
represents is. the unconscious organi
zation, on each side of a line of cleav
age, of all the opposing elements, in
any situation, utilized against each
other to the full extent of their powers
as forces of criticism and progress.
The essence of the system is that there
are of necessity only two principal
parties, each continually organized In
opposition to the other; and that, as
in the system of legal trial developed
In the conditions of English Jurispru
dence, each side proceeds from the
point of view that it is itself entirely
in the right, and that its opponent Is
of necessity equally and entirely in
the wrong. Vital, essential and
fundamental as Is the system of party
government in the circumstances men
tioned, it is nevertheless almost out
side the forms and recognition of
written constitutions. A system in
the conduct of public affairs which
appears so entirely bewildering, and
even absurd, to the observer who has
not grasped its meaning, is only made
possible by a condition which Is al
ways in the background, but which is
never expressed in ahy constitutional
formula. It Is a condition the in
fluence of which has come to perme
ate the entire atmosphere of the intel
lectual and ethical life of the English
speaking world.
"The fact that parties or their lead
ers should be at once uncompromis
ingly hostile and yet be mutually tol
erant; that they should enforce their
principles on the whole community at
the point of the narrowest majority,
and yet expect that their successors
on acceding to power should not at
tempt to reverse the law they have
made; that they should be, as has
sometimes been the case in the
United States, divided by a principle
scarcely visible to outsiders, and yet
proceed to call out all the strength
of their adherents on the assumption
that the opposing party is in all its
proposals the representative of abso
lute error; that they should, even after
the most bitterly contested struggles,
accept the result as conclusive for
the time being, and with that imme
diate subsidence of excitement which
has been characteristic of the great
historic party struggles in the United
States; nay, that they should in their
organs of opinion even go out of their
way, as has sometimes happened in
England, to regret the lack of organi
zation or strength in their opponents
as being bad for their own side; are
all matters which appear from time
to time to a large class of critics as
utterly irreconcilable with standards
of right conduct as they prevail else
where In our civilizations. They pre
sent themselves either, at the best,
as bewildering absurdities, or at the
worst, as conclusive evidence of the
consistent and organized hypocrisy
of the public life of the peoples
amongst whom they are found.
"At first sight. In short, no more
illogical, anarchic or impossible prin
ciple of governmeht could be con
ceived. Yet no more elemental con
dition of progress has ever existed in
the world. It is the first fundamental
working principle In public life con
tributing to tho freedom and intensity
of conditions that prevail amongst the
English-speaking peoples. So natur
ally has it sprung from the principles
underlying the development of those
peoples, that it has nearly always
proved Impossible in practical life to
keep its influence out of the affairs
of the smallest township or precinct.
So entirely foreign has Its meaning
proved to the peoples amongst whom
Aralnrmtnt in not run itS full
course, that as a successful working
system of government it is at the
present day almost unrepresented out
side the limits of the English-speaking
world."
Party is the efficient and indispens
able agent in this work; because It is
through party only, or by means of
parties having alternate power, or
each strong enough to have hope of
contending successfully for it, that
an orderly and increasing stress of
competing principles and purposes
can be maintained, in this stress are
represented all the forces of free and
active criticism, and' therefore of
progress. Our country would lose its
vital political energy, but for Its party
system.
Sixteen coasting steamers and three
coasting sailing vessels were loading
or discharging at Columbia River
ports yesterday, this being about the
average proportion of the two types
of craft now trading here. The
change from sail to steam has been
even more rapid in the coasting than
In the foreign trade, although the
sailing ship in deep-water trade has
been practically driven from the
ocean by the tramp steamer and five
years hence will be a curiosity. For
these reasons it would be the height
of folly for tho Port of Portland to
Invest a large sum of money for big,
powerful tugs for the Columbia bar.
All that Is required Is two or three
small tugs to be used In placing pilots
aboard steamers and towing the occa
sional sailing vessels which come
along. Steam, not sail, will In the fu
ture dominate rates and service out of
this port as well as other ports where
large fleets of tugboats have been
driven into reirement along with the
sailing vessels.
The farmers throughout the United
States who are now marketing their
wheat at prices well above a dollar a
bushel are probably less impressed
with the evil of Chicago Board of
Trade gambling than they would be if
the prices were 50 cents per bushel.
There Is great legitimate strength in
the wheat market, sufficient to war
rant high prices. It fs extremely
doubtful, however, if the price would
be within several cents of where it
now stands had it not oeen for the re
markable manipulations of Wheat
King Patten, who has secured control
of a line of May wheat estimated as
high as 20,000,000 bushels. With
this amount of wheat held off the
market, it is certain to affect prices on
the stocks still in farmers' hands. If
Mr. Patten is able to hold on, the
price may soar much higher than
now.
One who has read last Sunday the
facsimile page of The Oregonlan of
April 17, 1865, expresses wonder that
men were "blacklisted" Jn advertise
ments for paying their debts in green
backs; and how a creditor, or The
Oregonian, should have dared to do
such a thing without fear of a suit for
damages. The explanation is easy.
The Pacific States adhered to gold
currency, and there was universal de
testation of persons who took advan
tage of the legal-tender act to pay
with depreciated paper debts incurred
on a gold basis. Such was the state
of public opinion, that a suit for libel
on such a basis would have been
thrown out of court lnstanter; per
haps the Jury would have ridden the
plaintiff out of court on a rail.
The Charleston News and Courier
hopes Mr. Bryan will reconsider his
determination to go into the ministry
"after his next defeat," on the ground
that he has already done all the harm
he can possibly do to the Democratic
party, but there is no telling what
harm he might do to the church.
This is mighty unkind. Judge
Parker's adventure as representative
of "the other side" of the Democratic
party, seems to have been forgotten.
The bill in the Washington Legis
lature making it a misdemeanor to
walk on a railroad right of way is
vicious. That state is not England,
with macadamized highways. Until
country roads come nearer perfection
the railway track must be the thor
oughfare of the poor man who is not
a hobo. To be sure, he Is sometimes
killed, but the loss Is his.
The committee in charge of the
boosters' banquet given at Tacoma
last night was up against the hard
proposition two days before of pro
viding knives to go around the two
thousand guests. Were there no Ar
kansawans in Tacoma to offer "big
butch little butch" and the rest of
the family cutlery? No mention was
made of the useless fork.
"The rainfall in the Sacramento
Valley for February (eleven days) ex
ceeds by an inch the average for sixty
years," say the news reports, and
heavy floods are expected. It is not
to laugh, of course; but it Is well
enough Just now for Oregon people
to avoid a country 'where it rains
thirteen months in the year."
Now that the Untted States has
launched the most formidable battle
ship in the world, there are some peo
ple on both sides of the Pacific who
would like to know what-Uncle Sam
Is going to do with it.
The water code carries an emer
gency clause, but all danger of ex
ecutive veto is averted by the thought
ful wisdom of its promoters in plac
ing appointment of the water super
intendents in the Governor's hands.
Mr. Harriman has gone south for
recreation and "to examine some of
the Southern Pacific's new lines."
That proves It: There are such
things as new Harriman lines.
Aid and comfort will be given the
suffragettes to know that a woman
will be Acting Governor of Oregon.
But how shall she be addressed as
"Governess?"
Justice Brewer said recently that
the most dangerous tendency of cities
Is overbonding. Every resident of
Portland ought to paste the remark
in- his hat.
Senator Knox's salary must be re
duced before he Is eligible to become
Secretary of State. Public office is
sometimes a private misfortune.
That proposed state-aided bridge
across the Columbia at Vancouver
should have a common-user section
covering street railway rights.
If anything for the Governor has
been overlooked there is yet a week
of legislation.
EinOPE'S ENORMOIS ARMIES.
France Strained for Men, Germany for
Money to "Protect Trade."
New York Sun.
The now famous article of General
Count von Schlieffen, late chief of the
general staff of the German army,
which was quoted by the Kaiser in his
remarks to his generals 'assembled at
the New Year's conference, has drawn
attention anew to the great startling
armies of Europe', their development in
recent years, their present- condition,
and tne outlook for further increase or
disarmament.
Recently in a speech in the Landtag
the i Imperial Chancellor of Germany
called attention to the fact that the
only way to improve the financial con
dition of the empire was by a return
lo the old German practice of economy.
Tho watchword In the army this year,
as it was in the Reichstag, is "econo
my." The proposed increase of pay of offi
cers and men in the German army was
postponed for that reason, and the in
crease in the appropriations was main
ly for material of a technical nature,
which would at the same time improve
the business conditions of the country.
There is little difference between the
different armies of Europe today in
equipment or armament.
European armies are all being sup
plied with modern field uniforms, and
the armaments have reached a condi
tion at present which puts them all
practically on a level.
. The point of greatest interest to the
statesman, therefore, is the supply of
trained soldiers, since the armies are
practically equal in other respects.
This supply depends on the population
and on the percentage entering the
army.
Compare for a moment France and
Germanv, tho former with a population
of only 39,000,000, the latter with 62,
000,000. The oficial records for 1907
show that France really drafted more
recruits that Germany. France strained
her population much more severely by
putting a much higher percentage in
the army. The percentages of the
population levied on for the army in
the last few years in the two countries
have been as follows:
1907. 1906. 1905. 1904.
Germany 62.6 B3.87 54.S 65.9
France 90.6 SS.85 80.2 81.8
It Is thus seen that the strain In
France is becoming more and more se
vere, whereas in Germany it is actually
diminishing. In France practically no
one who is physically fit is left without
military training, whereas in Germany
thousands are assigned annually to the
reserves and receive no military train
ing whatever, simply because there is
no place for them in the army, the
maximum strength of which Is fixed by
law.
It may not be uninteresting to con
sider the Increase in annual expenses
for the armies and navies of the great
European continental powers during the
last ten years.
The annual expenses (expressed in
millions of dollars) were as follows:
-1897-
-1907-
Army Navy Total Army Navy Total
Germany ..147 27 174 193 69 262
Austria- .
Hungary 7 B S2 93 13 105
Italy 64 20 74 62 28 80
France 132 65 187 127 84 211
The total expenses have therefore
increased in Germany 8S.5 millions, or
50.9 per cent; in Austria-Hungary, 23,
or 28 per cent; in Italy 6, or 8 per cent,
and in France -24, or 12.8 per cent.
Thus while France is straining her
resources in population to the utmost
in order to keep his army in numbers
equal to that of Germany, the latter
country Is straining her financial re
sources not only to keep her army .and
navy abreast of the times, but also to
preserve tho power of the Triple Al
liance. There Is no real sentiment inclining
toward disarmament among any of the
great powers. The demands that the
people are willing to submit to are a
sufficient evidence of this. The in
creased appropriations year after year
passed by the people's representatives
almost without a murmur show that
they believe In their necessity.
The great determining factor In keep
ing up these armaments is not revenge
or resentment, although they may have
their influence, too, but trade each
nation is anxious to protect its com
merce, manufactures, exports, all that
relates to its material growth, and de
mands protection against every other
nation.
Coming; Flood of Immigrant.
Harper's Weekly.
We shall probably see a considerable
increase of immigration In the Spring.
Calabria and Sicily will doubtless send us
an army of refugees from the earth
quake region, and if business keeps on
Improving the influx from all sources Is
likely to be greater than that of last
year. In 1907 we got 1,285,000 immi
grants; in 1908. 782.870; and these figures
were offset by a strong human current
running from our ports back to Europe.
Out of last year's total. Austria-IIungary
sent lliS.OOO; Italy, Including Sicily, 128,
000; the Russian empire and Finland.
156.000; over three-fifths of the total
number thus coming from Southern and
Southeastern Europe, There is a pros
pect of a Russian emigration of a higher
quality than we have had heretofore,
from the reformer and high-grade revo
lutionist class discouraged patriots,
such somewhat as came here from Ger
many Carl Schurz among them after
the troubles of 184S. It has often been said
that that suppressed revolution gave us
the very pick of Germany. Now if we
are to get the chosen best of Russia it
will be a considerable solace to the keep
ers of our gate, albeit Russia can ill
spare them to us.
Venl, Vldl, Vict.
New York Evening Post.
At 10 o'clock on Friday ' morning the
picked force of eminent engineers ar
rived in the harbor. By 10:30 o'clock
they had completed a painstaking and
exhaustive examination of the great
dam. From 10 o'clock Friday till 1 P. M.
Saturday they enjoyed the hospitality of
the' authorities. From 2 o'clock till 3:15
they made a thorough Investigation of
the great cut. departing immediately for
a reception given in their honor by the
President of the republic. Sunday they
rested. On Monday afternoon they made
a careful study of the rainfall conditions,
and returned in time for 4 o'clock tea.
Epoch-Making Day.
Washington Herald.
"Taft will settle canal problems on re
turn to capital," says a headline in the
Brooklyn Standard-Union. It will be a
blessed relief, and a noteworthy, not to
say epoch-making consummation.
BOMB COMMENTS.
BT A. GROUCH.
Can't Sheriff Stevens stop the profanity
of those howling taxpayers who call to pay
the flddlers bill?
The reason for most of the recent legis
lation Is beyond reason.
Is Secretary Gaten replying to those
variant epistles anent the appointment of
Judge Gatons?
In his advocacy of more parks. Judge
Munley reminds us that we need lungs as
well as heads, to which the Judge is re
minded that the heads appear to be full of
lungs.
"No woman Is born Intellectually honest,"
oratls ThTHon. Wallace McCamant in his
Lincoln address. Even so. the true patriot
is born with freedom's shriek and a
Kosciusko yell.
It Is whispered that the Hon. W. S.
U'Ren spent the anniversary of Lincoln's
birth in searching for a Just application to
present affairs of that suggestive political
maxim: "You can fool all of the peop e
some of tho time; and some of the people
all of the time: but you can't fool all of
the people all of the time."
STOP THIS WHOLESALE LOOTING
Vlgorou. Call for a Public Exprewdon of Portland'. Wlde.prred Indignation
Over Past, Present and Prospective Ha Ids on Taxpayers' IToperty
PORTLAND. Feb. 12. (To the Editor.)
When Assessor Sigler began raising the
assessable valuations in this county as
surance was given by him and the other
politicians that the levy would be kept
down within reasonable limits. It was
predicted then that his course In lifting
the value of property would only open
new schemes for gouging people. Mr.
Sigler said such would not be the result.
But every prediction made in The Ore
gonlan has been realized. It was pre
dicted that Portland and Multnomah
County would pay the main portion of the
state taxes.
First This is now being done.
.Second Every day The Oregonlan an
nounces a new raid on the taxpayers of
this city and county.
Third Salaries of all clerks and em
ployes of the Water repartment were
raised 15 and 20 per cent. Men who In
the ordinary affairs could not make $75
per month have their salaries boosted
to $130 and $150.
Fourth Tho Legislature increased the
number of Judges in this county so that
the remainder can have another month
off during the Summer month.
Fifth Oeneral raid on the taxpayers
all over the state, but mainly in Mult
nomah County.
Sixth Push clubs demand another
bridge costing $1,500,000 in South Portland.
Seventh The County Court prepares to
erect a $2,000,000 courthouse.
This Is but the picture of a single day.
Read the announcements of this charac
ter in the daily paper every morning.
Hardly had Mr. Sigler boosted the as
sessable valuations In this county when
the office-holders and politicians organ
ized raids of all sorts. If Portland had
$225,000,000 valuations, of course the peo
ple would stand all sort of looting with
out protest, and the Jobbery, grafting and
boosting of salaries have gone forward
until today the taxpayers of this county
are now paying 100 per cent more taxes
than before Mr. Sigler began boosting
valuations and when the assessment
valuation was kept low. If the ordinary
citizen repaints his house, Mr. Sigler finds
it out and penalizes him. If he buys a
phonograph or a piano, or a range; If he
buys a wheelbarrow, or needed crockery
for his bedroom, the assessor finds that
out and the increase is now making Hs
appearance in the increased amount he
has to to pay.
In the suburbs of Portland 83 per cent
of the people are home-owners and many
are paying for their homes on the install
ment plan. These are now being
"cinched" to the last point. One poor
man came to me and said. "My God,
look at this tax bill. How can I pay it
and save my home? Where can I borrow
the money to pay this tax bill?"
Widows who have a house or so. on
which they depend for a living, find their
taxes so heavy this year that they must
take in wasliing to get money to pay
their taxes. And so the raiding and
looting and grafting go on.
We have given the Water Board credit
for being sensible, and yet, with the ex
piring gasp, of this body, it boosts the
salaries of its employes. Who boosts
the salaries of these homeowners in the
suburbs of this city? They are the ones
who must pay the salaries of these water
employes.
C. K. Henry struck the right key when
he declared that the burden on taxpayers
In this city had reached tho limit. It
has reached the limit and gone beyond.
Interview these home-makers who are
struggling along with a debt on their
property this year? What are these peo
ple to do? They must borrow money to
pay their taxes, and then grind and pinch
to save their homes. The amazing thing
is that the Water Board should have
boosted the salaries of the men in their
JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS IN 1908.
Excess of Arrivals Over Departures for
the Year Waa 3820.
The report of the Commissioner-General
of Immigration for 1908 gives the
following as the Japanese Immigration
into the Continental United States In
that fiscal year:
Non-laborers 5,503
laborers 2.S60
In transit 1.181
Total 9,644
The non-laborers were
Students 2,018
Merchants 951
Falmers 618
Clerks 14
Restaurant and hotel keepers 130
Actors 64
Teachers -i. . . . 60
Government officials .......... 45
Clergy 37
Editors 18
Sculptors and artists
Other professionals 70
Other occupations (Including women
and childreuj
Total nr.n-laborors 6,503
The laborers were
General laborers 1,153
Farm laborers 1,031
Working students 234
Tailors
Barbers , 28
Carpenters ........................... 27
Other artisans 0
Cooks OS
Servants Z 71
Gardeners 18
Other occupations 67
Total laborers 2.860
The departures from the Continental Uni
ted States were as follows
Non-lahnrers 3.105
Laborers 2,523
Total departures 5,718
Excess of arrivals over departures, 8826-
This Is a net addition of only 319 Japan
ese a month to our population of 85,000,000.
Japan Trade Treaties.
Boston Herald.
In some respects the most important
portion of Count Komura's recent ad
dress to the Japanese Diet was his
formal announcement of Japan's in
tention to notify the powers next year
of a termination of all commercial
treaties, the warning to be effective
one year after notice is given. This
means, of course, that, after careful
study of the problem by experts, Japan
is about to alter her system of tariff
and revenue as seems best to her, with
out the measure of defence to other
powers which they were able to indi
cate at an earlier stage; and that she
will work out and stand for a system
of commercial treaties based funda
mentally on the principle of recipro
city. Sentence Sermons.
Henry F. Cope, In Chicago Tribune.
A good day's work Is the best prayer
for rest.
He who fears to make foes falls to
make friends.
For the work of heaven you need the
bread of heaven.
True friendship Is always richest in
days of greatest need.
It's no use sighing for a chance to
lead if you dare not go alone.
Out of deep sorrows come high powers
to comfort and strengthen.
There is always greater benefit In en
during my own pain than In envying an
other's pleasure.
employ when it is common knowledge
that every part of that service is over
loaded with employes. Enter the Ea-"t
Side water office at any time and men
will bo eeen hanging around doing noth
ing. Business men who know declare
that this office has double the number of
men It ought to have, and that any pri
vate business would smash under such
a load. So all through the departments
of this city. All are overloaded with em
ployes. And etlli the dance goes on.
Every day brings announcement of a
fresh graft on the taxpayers of this
county.
Will the taxpayers of this county stand
all this raiding and looting? Will they
stand for the erection of a $2,000,000 court
house, when the present building Is ample
for years to come? . Once let Judge L. R.
Webster start on the erection of a court
house, It means at least a $2,000,000 build
ing, regardless of the grinding necessary
on the shoulders of the home-builders
and the industries of this city.
Where are the initiative and referendum
laws that were enacted for the "protec
tion" of the common people? Why not
use this alleged club to beat it into the
heads of the politicians that the taxpay
ers will not submit to their grafting
schemes?
Where will all this raiding end? It
was extended all over the State of Ore
gon. Will the warnings of The Oregonian
of the coming disaster be heeded? Not
as far as the politicians are concerned.
Every boost Assessor Sigler mnkes on the
assessed valuation in this county Is
hailed with ghoulish glee by these official
grafters as so much more to their gain.
The thrifty families which strive to build
a home and be useful citizens in this
city are the victims to be exploited. The
industries of the city are burdened with
taxation so they must cut down expenses,
and the wage-earner is the first to suffer
as a matter of course. Rents must be
advanced to meet the 25 por cent advance
in taxation.
And still the cry goes on "More bonds,
more officials and higher salaries."
The widow's crust niust be taken in
order to erect a palatial courthouse.
I propose that the people stop the erec
tion of a courthouse; the erection of all
bridges across the Willamette River, ex
cept the Madison; the cutting out of
every department of the county and city
government every official not actually
needed that he might become a taxpayer
and producer. I propose that the people
stop further looting In the form of sal
aries and multiplication of useless of
ficers. Is it not possible to do all this? Have we
not in this community one who will lead
against this wholesale looting that id
rampant In this county, and save this
beautiful city from the grasp of looters?
Is it necessary to call in Mr. Heney?
Out of thirty of forty push clubs is
there not one which will cry out against
this relentless march of the grafters over
the toiling bodies of the taxpayers?
Where is the United East Side Push Club,
representing, as It is supposed, the whole
of the East Side? Where is Mr. Nolta's
club In Norlh Albina, and Judge Munley a
club, snd the East Side Business Men's
Club, C. A. Blgelow, president? Why aro
these civic organizations silent while this
wild career of extravagance goes on 7
Will not these organizations, which pro
fess to have the interest of the city at
heart and are doing so much, call a mass
meeting and start a movement that will
put a stop to this wholesale looting In
public places? Wind will not do. It will
take personal sacrifices and nerve to in
augurate a tidal wave of protest.
Mr. C. K. Henry had the manhood to
tell the whole truth. Shal he not be sup
ported by a tangible movement?
JOHN F. WILSON.
CHORUS GIRLS KISS HERO BIJINS,
Wireless Operator of Steamer Republic
Fame, Motif of Theater Party.
New York Times.
"Jack" Blnns, the wireless operator
of the Republic, did show the white
feather at the Hippodrome. He fled
before an onslaught of chorus girls
who tried to kiss him. Blnns didn't
run fast enough. He put up a heroic
fight, and when he did escape into
Sixth avenue, bedaubed with rouge and
powder, with the chorus girls still pur
suing him, even his friends who went
to his assistance had difficulty In rec
ognizing him.
His aprearance at the Hippodrome
was entirely unexpected, both by him
self and the audience. He dined at the
Army and Navy Club opposite the Hip
podrome, as a guest of its officers, and
later It was suggested that the party
go over to the playhouse and see tho
water ballet, which was In the last act
on the programme. Just as the act was
drawing to a close the spot light was
flashed on Blnns In the box, and Stage
Manager Burnslde announced in a loud
voice:
"Allow me to introduce C. Q. D.
Blnns."
The audience Jumped to its feet, and
there were loud yells for a speech.
Several of Blnns' friends dragged hlra
out of the box onto the stage.
After the chering subsided Blnns
bowed. He said briefly that It was no
fault of his that he was there; he had
tried to escape, but It was not his fault
If he could not escape the press agent.
Then he thanked the audience and has
tily departed.
Blnns was standing In a group of
about 50 chorus girls while all this was
going on. As soon as the curtain went
down every girl made a rush for him.
He was taken by surprise, and in at
tempting to escape he almost fell Into
the water tank.
One girl threw her arms around the
young man and planted several kisses
on his Hps, or, as near to them as she
could get, before he could shake her
off. The girl's action was the signal
for all the others to Imitate. Blnns
was firmly wedged in the group, but
by main force he fought his way clear
and darted down the first passageway.
It led to the cellar, where the dress
ing rooms are. With loud screams,
the girls started in pursuit.
Congressman Hears of IV n Death.
Washington, D. C, Herald.
Representative Loudenslager did not
know he was dead until one day recently.
Telegrams galore began pouring Into the
Capitol asking how and when it happen
ed, and expressing regrets. It seems
that in an obscure New Jersey town
there is an H. C Loudenslager. ana wnen
this Loudenslager passed over the great
divide, and the papers noted the fact,
the Inhabitants of mosquito land were
sure It was their own Harry C. Louden
slager, statesman from the First District.
Consequently they got Dusy with the
wires. Representative Loudenslager . is
still alive.
Tired Out.
M. D. Prior In New York Sun.
To the assembled alphabet
The letter "I" then said:
"My master's going to Africa
And I am going to bed."