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Eastern Business Office The B. C. Beck wtth Special Agency New Xork. rooms O 10 Tribune building. Chicago, rooma elO-tll Tribune building. -PORTLAND, MONDAY, FEB, 15, 1309. VAIXATIOXS FOR TAXES. The Legislature ought to adopt the suggestion of the Assessor of Mult nomah for an amendment to allow assessment of property throughout the state at half Its estimated value. It would be fair for all parts of the state, and would tend to hold down the tax levies. There Is much property whose value Is largely overestimated. Pur chape of a piece here and there at an extravagant price has caused excessive estimates of all the values In the vicin ity. Owners themselves are largely responsible for the very high valu ations made by the assessors, in one locality or another. Extravagance In all directions la created by high valuations, and more and more "free" things are constantly demanded. This, certainly, if not checked, "will come to a crisis; and the check ought to be applied now at least a beginning should be made. There are many owners throughout the state, and especially in Portland, who undoubtedly now would be glad to find relief from the consequences of their own over-estimates' of the values of their property, and would help in that direction, if they could. The total valuation of the State of Illinois, for purposes of taxation in the year 130S. was $1,261,043,437. This includes the great City of Chi cago, mhose assessment was J476.770, 399. The assessment of the State of Oregon, for taxes in 1908, was $398, 133,963 nearly one-half that of Illinois. Tet the wealth of Illinois cannot be less than ten times that of Oregon, and its population Is more than ten times as great. Of the assessed values of Oregon those of Multnomah County are about 40 per cent. Assessor Sigler says he has simply obeyed the law as to "actual cash values." He seems to have accepted the Judgment or wishes of many owners as to the values of their property. Eut they do not feel so rich when they find out what their tax Is. Several other counties, besides Multnomah, have assessed at high or full values, but many others have purposely kept the valuations down nearly to old figures. It is undoubted that high assess ments lead to official and adminis trative extravagance. The Legislature now is sorely beset by the conse quences of the enormously Increased valuations of property, forced largely for "boost" and "boom" purposes. On such show of wealth every scheme In city, county and state bases its de mands for "more," and ingenuity in vents new demands for money from the public treasury, never heard of before. An enormous list of them might be made, but it would merely give the taxpayer an ague, without any prescription for his relief. City and county and state extrava gance would be checked by enactment of Sigler"s suggestion into law; but to assure Justice in the distribution of the state tax, provision should be made with It for equalization of county valuations. This is done In every other state, and it should no longer be refused in Oregon. AVE DO NOT IJVK IN 17TOFIA. Of course the churches of the city could not be opened toA the loafers for lounging places during the "week. Not many would enter them unless free lunches were served, with" beer; and this would hardly be practicable. Few of these people care for books, magazines or newspapers. Besides, doesn't the city maintain a great free library, with branches -where Mayor Lane's intellectually hungry constitu ents can sit and road all day and half the night? The Mayor exagger ates the desire of that description of intellect for literature. The down town saloon supplies its wants. However, there's the Men's Resort, right in the congested district. It has a good many visitors of the more decent sort, but they are an indolent class or they wouldn't be there but out at work; and very soon they mould have decent places to live, where they could read and rest at night. But they would require a good deal of sleep, because they would be tired, and would want to work to good purpose next day. Every able-bodied man has his. des tiny in his own hands. In a country llke this no man need be Idle; but all can't stay In the cities. It is only an Injury, a mistaken philanthropy, to try to make life for them in the cities easy and agreeable. Sovereign rem edy for all ills is necessity of labor; and "whoever attempts to redeem man from It, under the notion that labor is a curse, pronounced upon man, from which he ought to be relieved, makes his life more truly a' curse; for it reduces his spirit of self-dependence, fills him with envy of others and hatred of society and government, and encourages him to look for re sources elsewhere than in himself. It is excellent to help men to employ ment, but the greatest of mistakes to make comfortable "resorts" for them. The saloon exists because men want it, and it will exist so long as men in considerable numbers want it. All the "resorts" that may be created, all the reading rooms and coffee rooms and T. M. C. A. establishments, and all the churches thrown open for lounging places, will not diminish the crowds at the saloons, because they find there the company they want, some food and much drink. But till compelled by necessity they will not work. It is useless to worry about "re--"uitration" of these people. They don't want regeneration and will not have it. The Mayor says he can close half the saloons, if the churches will open their doors during the week and make things easy, cheerful and comfortable inside. Two Impossi bilities. First, the churches will not do it. Second, it would be useless, if they should do it. Some of the clergy men say they would close not only one-half the saloons, but all of them. Two more impossibilities. First, no result can be had in the absence of the conditions necessary to produce It. Second, no city the size of Port land ever has been able to prevent the sale and consumption of liquors not because saloons like those in the North End and some elsewhere throughout the city would be toler ated alone, or if they were all, but because there is a large number of people who use liquors, but with decency, and will not permit the sup ply to be cut oft. It is Just as well to be plain about these things. "We are not living in Utopia. . WHO WILI DEFEND THIS BH.LT Are we to have a doctors' trust in Oregon? We are to have. If Senate bill 201, introduced by Senator Nottingham, shall become a law. It is a long measure, setting forth a great many things the State Board of Medical Examiners (an autocratic body with supreme powers over life, limb and reputation) may do, and others may not do. It would take a great deal of space to set forth all the sections of this astonishing meas ure. Passing over seventeen sections, which are full of meat for the doctors and menac.e for all others, we find the following In section 18: Any person shall be regarded as practicing medicine and smrttery who shall . .. . prescribe or administer any drug, medi cine, treatment, method or practice, or per form any operation or manipulation, or ap ply any apparatus or appliance, for the cure alleviation, amelioration, correction, reduction or modification of any human dis ease, 111. deformity, defect, wound, or In jury, for hire. fee. compensation, or re ward, promised, offered, expected, received, or accepted, directly or Indirectly. No oculist, optometrist, chiropodist or masseur can live and work here after in Oregon if this amazing bill becomes law, unless he qualifies as a medical doctor by examination be fore this board. No drug clerk can sell you medicine for your cold; no barber can recommend and apply tonic to your dandruff -filled hair; no beauty-doctor can assist in your modest and proper desire to be better looking; no benevolent midwife In the plains of the remote counties of Ore gon, where It is many miles to a doctor or surgeon, can respond to any neighbor's call for help in the ex pectation of any pay or fee or reward, implied, promised or deserved. No storekeeper or druggist In or near any logging camp can render first aid to injured without making himself liable to fine and imprisonment. There is more like it in this won derful bill; but that will do. Is there a doctor in Oregon who will have the temerity to defend the bill, or to advocate Its passage by the Legis lature? ' ANOTHER WAR CLOCD LIFTED. King Edward Is home again from a foreign shore and neither a family row nor political complications have attended the friendly visit to his im perial nephew. "Kings is queer actin' things," remarked Huckleberry Finn's companion when the Jovial hobo, masquerading as a monarch. Invaded the raft which was carrying, them down the Mississippi. Perhaps this is the reason that the visit was con summated without the two monarchs indulging in any display of ill-feeling such as was predicted In England, in a democratic country like the United States it is difficult to understand why there should be any serious po litical differences between the coun tries, but the tone of the foreign press, especially in Great Britain, for several weeks prior to this visit, had been dis tinctly hostile. This feeling seems to have been re ciprocated in full measure by the Germans, for a growing dislike for anything English has been apparent in the Faderland since Emperor Wit helm followed the example of the famous parrot and talked too much. There was perhaps method In some of this madness displayed by the British, for it undoubtedly enhanced the success of Secretary of War Hal dane in getting together a territorial army for the ostensible purpose of re senting a German Invasion. For all that, this new army Is still about 50,000 short of the minimum provided for, and the prospects for further re cruits will be materially lessened now that the two monarchs seem to have made up as well as "kissed" quite fre quently and fervently when first they met. However disappointing this new peace pact between the two monarchs may be for the "war lords" of the two countries, it is hardly probable that it will fall to meet the approval of those who would be obliged to stand the expense of war if it should occur. Aside from the non-existence of any European complications seri ous enough to warrant trouble be tween England and Germany, a weightier reason for peace is found in the foreign territorial situation. Both countries have such far-flung inter ests in remote parts of the earth, that there is abundant field for the display of their financial and political prowess, without the necessity of get ting into a, family row at home. SPEAK VP Of first importance to a public speaker who attempts to point a moral or adorn a tale for the instruc tion or edification of school children is a clear, strong voice and distinct enunciation. If a man or woman has not this type of voice, and cannot cultivate It up to the standard re quired to Interest school children on Memorial day or other patriotic occa sion, he or she though conscious of having a message to deliver should firmly refuse all invitations to speak to this most restless and most critical of all audiences. Inarticulate words convey no message and children can not or should not be expected to sit decorously, in listenmg attitude, to their most monotonous, uninteresting delivery. There are a few old heroes of past battles who wake echoes of patriotism in the hearts of boys and girls at the Memorial day exercises in the schools of this city. They do not do this by soft, smooth, cultured speech, but by vigorous, sonorous words, descriptive of camp life, hospital life and of bat tles, interspersed with snatches of pa triotic songs of war and victory, sung in unmusical tones, perhaps, but with an energy that commands attention and awakens shouts of childish ap plause. There Is a simple lesson in TIIE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1909. this that soft-voiced speakers of cul ture may learn, to the pleasure and profit of their youthful audience and to the great relief of teachers who are expected to keep their charges quiet and attentive while patriotic speeches are In progress. The past is past, but Washington's birthday is close at hand. Is it too much to hope that those who are appointed to address school children on that day will profit by the above suggestions and say what they have to say "so loud that all may hear"? A NICE DISTINCTION. The Supreme Court of the United States has rendered a decision which seems at last to have breached the wall of the "fellow-servant doctrine." The plaintiff, Anderson, was sent by his employer, a master stevedore, to load one of the Standard Oil Com pany's vessels at Bayonne, N. J. While loading it he was injured by the care lessness of a wlnchman employed by the Standard Oil Company. Anderson sued the company for damages and the Supreme Court allows his suit. The distinction is drawn that Ander son was still in the employ of the master stevedore wno sent him to do the Job, and not of the Standard Oil Company. Hence he was not Injured by the carelessness of a fellow-servant, and the old rule which would have barred his damages did not ap ply. ' The distinction by which the court rescued Anderson from the clutch of the common law and its barbarism was a fine one, but we only repine at fine distinctions when they are made to serve Injustice, mployed to fur ther Justice, they are well enough. The interesting point In the case Is that the court was willing to exercise its ingenuity in behalf of Anderson, who was a poor man, and not for the Standard Oil Company, which is not threatened with Immediate want. De cidedly the tide which once set so strongly toward corporation favorit ism in some courts seems to have turned. Judges have their eyes fixed on Justice rather than on those nice technicalities which can be made to serve the turn of the great syndicates. How much the election of Mr. Taft, with his known predilection for fair dealing, has to do with this revolution in Judicial temperament it would be hard to say. Were William Allen White to write an article on social conditions five years from now, one would almost venture to wager that he could not repeat what he said In his last, that "the corporations had captured the Constitution." INEXCTSABXE MISREPRESENTATION. Mr. John H. Whyte, of the Astoria Chamber of Commerce, has a poor opinion of the intelligence of the In land Empire wheat farmers, or else he has been misled Into making nu merous false, unreasonable and ridicu lous statements about Portland. Some" of these stories regarding Portland which Mr. Whyte took with him to the farmers' convention at Spokane have been repeated so often that there are well-meaning people in Astoria who actually accept them as facts. Mr. Whyte, being a. newcomer at As toria, may have found these hoary headed untruths In active circulation as facts. In some manner he secured them, and before the farmers' conven tion and in the Spokane Spokesman Review he repeated them. Among the gems which entitle Mr. Whyte to a front seat in the Ananias Club are the following: "No modern ship can reach Port land, for . the owners will not take the risk in its narrow channel Portland has '.ost much of its shipping to the Sound. ... There are eighteen bars in the river between As toria and Portland, and a narrow channel. ... At most, ships leav ing Portland at high tide can draw only twenty-four feef. of water. . . . Ships can be chartered at Astoria 30 cents a ton cheaper than at Port land. . . . Higher insurance rates are charged ships engaged in interior navigation. . . . Portland has shown its selfishness in this work, for it doesn't want a deep-water channel over the bar -mless there is the same depth of channel the entire distance to Portland from the river's mouth." These are a few sample gems from Mr. Whyte's symposium of misrepre sentation. In order that he may not repeat the offense, his attention Is called to some fpcts regarding the points mentioned. If "no modern ship can reach Port land," how does Mr. Whyte account for the presence here of . the Dleke Rlckmers, which in October, 1908, less than six months after she was completed, loaded 212,000 bushels of wheat at Portland, and, drawing 25.2 feet of water, went through to As toria without delay and was held up at the river entrance for thirty-six hours, after she had reached Astoria? Other comparatively "modern" ships loading here this season were .the Strathlyon, ten months old, and the Falls of Nith, eleven months old at the time they were here. The most "modern" ship to load on Puget Sound during the same period was the Strathord, two years and two months old when she loaded at Ta coma. "Portland has lost much of Its ship ping to the Sound." Bulletin No. , issued by the Department of Com merce and Labor, presents official fig 'ures for the entire year 1908, show ing a gain in wheat shipments for Portland ove,r the preceding year of 41 per cent, while the gain for Puget Sound for the same period was 25 per cent. "There are eighteen bars In the river between Astoria and Portland, and a narrow channel." There never were eighteen bars In the river, and the shoalest place between Portland and Astoria will float any ship that can get in and out of the river, As the bar deepens this channel will be deepened correspondingly. St. Helens bar, the best-known obstruction in early days, now lies under thirty-four feet of water at low tide. "At most, shir leaving Portland at high tide can draw only twenty-four feet of water." The steamships Mag dala, Nederland and Dleke Rlckmers, all drawing more than twenty-five feet of water, had no delay in going from Portland to Astoria last October, when the water was at the lowest stage of the year. "Ships can be chartered at Astoria 30 cents a ton cheaper than at Port land." ' Wrong again. The matter has been repeatedly taken up with the owners, and Portland's fresh-water harbor is too attractive for them. In surance rates are no higher -from Portland than from Astoria or from Puget Sound. Regarding the work on the bar. It is Portland Influence alone that has resulted in the present depth, and this influence will not be withdrawn until there are forty feet of water on the bar. The making of a river channel in keeping with the , channel on the bar is comparatively easy. It will al ways be necessary to have ten feet more water on the bar than in the river, and Portland will attend to both river and bar channels. The steam grain fleet from Portland this season carried cargoes averaging 217,470 bushels; the steam grain fleet from Puget Sound for the same period car ried cargoes averaging 211,449 bush els. If the Astoria Chamber of Com wnniH sunnlv its hired man Whyte with some of these easily ob- , talned and easily venneu uniai ins ures, the organization would appear less ridiculous to the public, which in the long run always prefers truth to falsehood. The Providence Journal, in com menting on a "bitter feeling" which is said to exist in Boston against the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, asks if this feeling is not "Intensified by the selection of the high officials of the road from the Far West, where railway conditions are wholly unlike those of New Eng land." The Journal suggests that local men should be promoted to these po sitions instead of giving them to men from the West. C. S. Mellen, formerly of the Northern Pacific, is president of the New York, N-ew Haven & Hart ford Railroad, and his vice-president and chief lieutenant is Ben Campbell, who rose from the ranks to some of the highest positions In both the Hill and the Harriman systems. It was because railway conditions in the Far West were "wholly unlike those of New England" that these men secured a training that qualified them for any position that an Eastern railroad could offer. Tho Eastern-trained railroad man generally makes a poor showing on a Western railroad, but the Western railroad man almost in variably makes good when he is transferred to the East. It has been less than a month since a Portland saloon-keeper murdered a patron in cold blood, but that painful fact was insufficient to prevent an other drunken saloon man from at tempting to commit murder in simi lar circumstances early yesterday morning. That Saloon-keeper Turner was relieved of his pistol before he had an opportunity to use It proves that a special Providence not infre quently watches over foola. The In cident is perhaps less effective for the prohibitionist than the saloon murder a few days earlier, but it all helps somewhat and serves to drag still fur ther Into disrepute a business that has never reached a very high plane of re spectability. Until Oregon gets a Legislature strong enough In the sense of right and justice to stand against the nor mal schools combine, but little can be expected in the way of guarding the people's rights from salary grabs and Inordinate greed in all lines of official life. Promoters of the grab game In one section are met by like promoters in another section; a compromise is effected and looting of the state treas ury goes on. During this week Portland taxpay ers who have applied for them will receive from the Sheriff's office state ments of taxes due March 15. They will thus learn in the concrete the difference between multiplying the cash value of Multnomah County holdings by 1.4 and by 2. We know the worst concerning this year. Eut what about next year's taxes unless a halt is called on this looting? It .Is settled now that there will not be a sea-level, but a lift-lock, canal at Panama. Taft is convinced, and un doubtedly his recommendations will prevail with Congress. Meanwhile the Frenchman,' M. Bunau-Varilla, doubtless will continue to utter his predictions of disaster and hopefully await the resuit. The water committee did well to raise the pay --f employes. As the earnings at the rate charged cannot be used for extension of the service, a big surplus might lead to reduction of rates, which would be an anomaly in these days of high prices. It's the peo ple's money, anyway. Of course you are happy that through our admirable new way of running the government both state, county and city -your taxes are only fifty per cent more than at any time in the city's history. That alfalfa mill up at Echo ran out of hay and tpok up the grinding of wheat heads to a fine powder for an. Eastern stock-food concern. "Echo" is not the right name for that pro gressive town. Judge Gatens begins this morning and Judge Gantenbein retires to his chambers. About the same use for the fifth- judge that a wagon has for a fifth wheel. Breeding China pheasants in captiv ity is a profitable business In Oregon. A Corvallis man has already this sea son sold 600 pairs to Washington breeders. The Legislature and the Assessor seem to make fairly successful sub stitutes for the historic long and short man of every back-street hold-up. Just to think of it! Seventeen days from high noon this day T. R. will cease to be President of the United States. "By Godfrey!" Also, "by George!" You do not have to draw big pay to do good work. It is said the wire less operator who saved the Republic was getting ten dollars a week. Forest Grove does not appear on the new Government map, but Dr. Large will see that the town figures In the census report.- A wheat shortage should lead to greater use of cornmeal, which is nearly as good and more filling and fattening. Do the people rule? They do. Their rule comes high a twenty-mill tax on a par valuation Is about it but evidently we must have it. Now that Taft has loft the South, New Orleans is wondering what it is going to do with all those plug-hats. There is a. ray of comfort in the reflection that raids on Oregon's treas ury will continue only five days longer. THIRD JUDGE A USELESS EXPENSE rrotcxt From JodR-ea Hamilton and Hnrris Against Proposed Colleague. EUGENE. Or., Feb. 13. (To the Edi tor.) We have had our attention called to a Senate bill Introduced last Thurs lov hv Senator Chase, of Coos. It is a bill providing for the election of three Circuit Judges in the Second Ju dicial district of this state. Our at tention had not been called to any de mand for such Increase, or a purpose to introduce such measure in the Leg islature. We are therefore somewhat surprised, and Inasmuch as we hold the respect ive positions of Circuit Judges In the Second Judicial District we deem it proper to give our views as to the necessity for a third Judge in this district. Should we remain silent, it might be argued that our assent is given to such measure, and the bill hav ing been introduced at so late a date in the session we may only hope to make our views known by the kindness of The Oregonian in allowing us to use Its columns. The Second Judicial District of Ore gon comprises Lincoln, Benton, Lane, Douglas. Coos and Curry counties. Un til February,. 1905, the district hod but one Circuit Judge. At that time the Legislative Assembly provided for the election of another judge. Since then, so far as we know, we have been get ting along satisfactorily with the work. We have been satisfied that 'we were not overburdened. If our duties have not been performed acceptably to the people, when the proper time comes they will doubtless make a change. Two competent judges should perform the Circuit Court duties of this dis trict until the judicial business thereof has been greatly increased. This Is written for the reason that we do not desire to be placed in a false light before the public. We do not wish any legislator to believe that this is a measure for the relief of either of us, but upon the contrary, we obtained our first knowledge of this proposed measure while casually pe rusing a newspaper, and found that such a bill had been Introduced. The time mar come when it will be necessary for the people of this state to Incur an additional expense of $3000 a term for another Circuit Judge in this district, or $18,000 in all, but In our opinion the time, therefor has not yet arrived. J. W. HAMILTON, L. F. HARRIS, Judges of Second Judicial District of Oregon. Collegre Renulrenients. Chicago Record-Herald. An Interesting study of "College En trance Requirements In Theory and Practice," which appeared In the Inde pendent, presented a long list of uni versities and colleges at which a very large percentage of the students were admitted with conditions. One of these institutions, which took In more than 50 per cent on these terms, formerly insisted that all conditions should be worked off before the student could enter the freshman class. The appli cants had to pass examinations, no mat ter what school they came from. If they took the examinations early in Summer and failed in certain studies they worked on these studies through the Summer vacation and tried again at the opening of the college in the Fall. If they failed this time in whole or in part thev were kept out until they could make good. If the purpose of the college is to increase the stu dent roll It Is no doubt successful, but the question naturally arises: "What significance have the requirements? They are not a real minimum, "they are at best an ostensible minimum, any part of which is liable in most colleges to temporary suspension and occasion ally to complete abrogation. Ihere is no standard worthy of the name, but merely a pretense at a standard The requirements are good looking In trie catalogue, but the discretion that Is used takes all fervor out of them and reduces them to an absurdity. There is no real co-operation between the sec ondary school and the college, but an excellent opportunity is offered for pas sing along the unfit. Fair Babblers Encourage Sntan. South Norwalk (Conn.) Dispatch to New York World. "Woman commenced to babble In the earden of Eden, and she has babbled down through the ages from that day to this," said Rev. Hugh B. Carpenter in the Baptist Church here when PacWi.g to a club of young women called The Silent Seven." , , "Nothing will send the devil back to the satanic regions, to die and rot. like silence, but the gentler sex Is not push ing his migration very hard. i. few months ago Dr. Carpenter had occasion to rebuke a number of young ladies from the pulpit for whispering dur ng service. They banded themselves together in a club termed "The Silent Sven." They sewed for charity, and thoir sessions were mum affairs with fines for talking, the money going to hedoctor commended them on their club this evening, and expressed a wish that they would form the church into a "Silent Four Hundred." This Nation Has Eaten Ita "noodles." New Haven Journal-Courier. We have been a Nation unusually en dowed by Nature with the priceless good ies of timber, water, soil, and m ne.ra.ls. But like many a young man with too much riches at his disposal, we have turned profligate and have wasted our Inheritance. The time has come for us to turn thrifty. There is no alternative The conservation idea may or may not have been evolved in Mr. Roosevelt s brain That is of little consequence. Suffice it that it has been evolved and that It should bo adopted with all of the characteristic enthusiasm of which the American people has so often Bliown it self capable in other regards. 'o Outalde Experts Needed. Indianapolis News. Well, anyhow. Congress won't have to employ any expert outsiders in its collection of informaton concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic. It Might Bo Worse. New York Times. Note Fear of a S'-rm in Massachusetts ,mi, .-creased the consumption of that SopuUr" NeweaEnBland tipple 10,500.000 quarts per annum. Shoo! Is It true That a eerm, A venomous laetoworm. Ha""'0 ,nto MaMachilsetts milk? Yes? Ah! What distress Must follow this Incursion, Must pr.strate field and town. When milk cannot be taken With pie to wash It down. That's tad, . ' Also sad. But, gee whiz. It ain't so passls As If a iterm. A venomous llkkerworm, Teellnir frisky Had got Into Kentucky whisky. , H-iy" -Wouldn't that turn you frray?. Oh ye who comfort in distress. Who lay the kindly palm On aching heads, and into woe Pour ever-soothlni? bnlm. rufthat in your toddy, will youT s Wow. What's a, cow. NEVER MIND THE CONSTITFTION Did Old FellcXvs Who Framed It Really Know MuchT SALEM, Feb. 12. (To the Editor.) Many truths are spoken in jest. I-was Impressed with this at the third house meeting recently held in the Statchouse. Mr. Glen O. Holman Impersonated the Governor and delivered his message. In discussing the proposed Increase of the Supreme Court he used arguments (of course In Jest) that are so complete a burlesque on the absurd argument re garding the Increase of the number of Supreme Court Judges that I ask a place for It in The Oregonian. He said: "The constitution was made 50 years ago. Such men as old Ed Shattuck, Matt. Deady, George Williams, Rube Boise and others. These, men were not possessed of the higher education of our modern Institutions. Then studied Latin, Greek, mathematics, Shakespeare, English grammar, hut could not run 100 yards in less than 20 seconds. Now, gentlemen of tne legislature, tnose out cuuhcib cam, when the population of the state reaches 200.000 the Supreme Court shall consist of three Supreme Judges. Now It Is plain they meant that there could be three Supreme Judges for each 200,000 of population. The last census of Ore gon showed us with a population of a few over 400.000. Now we cannot have a Supreme Court ' of even numbers, so In the Interest of economy we drop the six and make It five. "Again, what is a constitution for ex cept to be kicked aside when it Is neces sary to create some new offices or raise a salary?" There was much more said along these lines, but it strikes me that the reason ing was Just as sound as the far-fetched ones used to defend the proposed Increase of Judges. J. L. BROWN. HOOD RIVER MAIiaRRIVALS. Extension of Sunday Service of Rural Free Delivery I" Proposed. HOOD RIVER. Or., Feb. 13. (To the Editor.) So that conditions in farm life In this section may reach the ideal, we should heed the recommendations of the Commission on Country Life re garding good roads, water facilities, mail service, etc The first two needs are receiving much attention and can be handled locally. I have not taken the trouble to Inform myself, but pre sume that the Government stands in the way of a betterment of our mall serv ice. Many farmers here take Portland dally newspapers, and many more would be taken had wa a proper mail service. A farmer's newspapers usually comprise the principal part of his mall. These papers reach Hood River every morning including Sunday morning, at 10:20. They then, except during the Summer months, remain over one day In the postoffice at Hood River and are delivered the next day. Here Is ample room for improvement. On Sun day, the Rural Free Delivery takes a rest and the farmer does without his dally .papers and other mail, or goos to town to the postoffice at the pre scribed hour for it. During good weather, Sunday Is the farmer's only day of rest and reading. The Sunday editions of the dally papers are peculiarly adapted to his needs. By failing to deliver mail on Sunday, the machinery of the Rural Free Dellevery Is worked to only, six sevenths of its normal capacity. I looked in vain among the recommenda tions of the President's commission on country life for a recommendation looking toward the correction of this deficiency. My views concerning the farmer's Sunday mail service are pre sented with due apologies to the friends of the lamented Abraham Sunday ob servance bill. J. W. SHIPLEY. Why the Pomp and Paraphernalia f PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Editor.) I have been muc.i interested in the letters and editorials concerning the Health De partment of the city schools, and though I know you are amply equipped for tho warfare, perhaps one mor9 shot in your locker will not come amiss. Shortly before Christmas the nurse tele phoned to our school one morning, asking the principal to instruct the teachers to have all pupils cleaned up next day, as she was coming out to Inspect. Today word came to our building that In the future the teachers themselves are to roll up the childrens' sleeves, examine wrists and arms, and report each week to the principal. As you doubtless know, teachers have always been required to look after pupils' personal cleanliness; also to report any symptoms of sickness; now under the new regime we still do the same (plus the rolling-up-sleeve act), so wherefore the pomp and paraphernalia of a Health De partment, conducted by telephone on the installment plan? The nursa has been In my room once this term. TEACHER. Consumption Bncfllus In the Blood. Boston Transcript. Physicians, conservative as they must necessarily be, are careful In expressing any opinion with reference to the press reports of Dr. Rosenberger's finding of the bacillus of consumption In the blood. But there Is nevertheless a great deal of Interest expressed both by them and by the bacteriologists. This viewing of the bacillus in the blood is new and the bac teriologists find in it a step of importance in its scientific aspects. Physicians find in it a field in which the imagination can run riot. It seems but reasonable to as sume that the bacillus will be present in the blood long before the irritation, so often deep-seated, makes Itself known to physicians under present conditions. It can placa In the hands of the medical attendant a new and early way of de termining the condition of his patient. The medical world will hang with Intense Interest cn the development of the new method. Dlnlng-Rooms and Politics. Lowell Courier-Citizen. The big hotels in Atlantic City have united in bouncing their negro waiters and substituting girls. There Is said to be some politics in the movement, as the colored voters, most of them waiters, have a good deal to say about the running of the city. If they are forced to go elsewhere by losing em ployment the white folks will have things their own way. The fitness of women for Waiters' duty is as a gen eral proposition undoubted; but wait ing in a board-walk hotel Is not the easiest job In the world for man or woman. Safety Chaln or Window-Cleaner. PORTLAND, Feb. 13 (To the Edi tor.) Now that Portland's office and other buildings are going beyond the ordinary three and four stories to ten and more, with hundreds of windows to be cleaned would it not be well for the City Council to pass an ordi nance such as other cities have, com pelling owners- to furnish each- window with slots into which a safety chain or rope shall be put as the window cleaner performs his work? Otherwise, we shall be horrified by more than one tragedy. JOHN E. BOYS. Wants Marconi to Re Honored Hott. New York Press. . Anna Held, the actress, desires to ap pear at a benefit for a fund to erect a monument to Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy. She thinks Marconi should be so honored before his death. And Frederick Had a Garcoyle. I Boston Transcript. "Willet'g "Gargoyle" is found in an ar ticle in the Century magazine on Pots dam. There, in Frederick the Great's writing room, "his pet brass gargoyle still disgorges warm air." Tho connec tion is now clear. SILHOUETTES BY ARTHUR A. GREENE. THE girl who has no figure to speak of usually figures on her face. It's a lucky man who is able to pledge his word of honor at the pawnbroker's. Most people seek the frivolities of so ciety to escape the boredom of tholr own society. . When a woman hits her husband for a little pin money, she is likely to make a few striking remarks. After all, fame Is shortlived. Who con tell offhand the namo of'the Democratic Presidential candidate against Grant the second time, or who was heavyweight champion before Sullivan? A Grand Army Funeral. I, saw a tottering line of marchers go; Their step was halt, their progress slow. No glittering show of pageantry it was; There ayas no blare of martial music. and no guns Were in their hands. No Jaunty banners Did they bear aloft, save only one The dear-bought flag which they had saved. Its radiant folds In somber black arrayed. This was the straggling cohort that had braved The horrid dangers of a brothers' war. They prated not of srlory nor tho high Inspired courage that was theirs; They vaunted not the deeds that they had done. It was a guard of honor to a grave. And silently they moved to follow one Whose duty called. It was the pass ing of the brave. e It seems an unnecessary cruelty that water wagons, are built so high. It is easy for men who live in monas teries to tell others how to be good. Have patience, brethren. The Legis lature will adjourn this week. I ... A fool and a sage fraternize only when they are drunk or In love. ... Rosemary and Rue. In the wonderful Inspired days of Ions; ago a youth and a maid sat one night by a broad, moon-silvered river. The long ago might have been a year, a decade or a cycle of time back along the broad highway of dead eternity; It matters not. Yesterday Is Just as Irrevocably a part of the long afro as the beginning of the world. If some Joy died thereon. They were young, these two, but a wis dom for beyond the numbering of their years had come to them, and as they sat and watched the wooing of the moonbeams and the ripples, they felt the numbing weight of It. It was the girl who drew aside the tapestry of silence which the witchery of the Summer night had hung about them. "I am going out of your life tomorrow," she said in an even voice which emotion strove In vain to make tremble. She might have been speaking to the river, the stars, the night, or the youth by her side. Nona m answered, and she gathered up the threads of talk again. "What a pleasant Summer this has been! God has been very good to us." A locust shrilled In a distant tree-top and tha first breath of Autumn touched their faces. "And now it Is over. Wa have trod tha happy path through our field of flowers and cannot retrace our steps. Wa are at tha desert's ' edge. Whatever may come to us now will be only a mirage." The boy-man at her side said nothing, but In the white light of the ardent moon she saw that his face was set as if ha looked into tha face of Death. From across the water came tha sound of voices singing an old love song to the mellowed tinkling of a mandolin. The girl who had been brave shuddered and spoke again. "It Is too high and wide this desert place. Wa may not Join hands across it." The other looked at the dimpled water and kept his silence. At last a star shot athwart the bosom of the river. "It is our omen," she said, rising. "It is like my dream. This is the end. V.uf wledersehen." The boy stood beside her. a moment, kissed her brow as the faithful might kiss the brow of the Madonna, and left her with tha river and the moonbeams and the stars. Compliment for Prealdent-Elect Taft. Washington (D. C.) Cor. New York Eve ning Telegram. Charles P. Taft, at a banquet the other evening, told a story on his big brother Bill. "One day a woman came to Bill's of fice," said Brother Charley, "to ask help In the case of her boy. He had been ex amined for West Point and passed hand somely, but he was a qtarter-inch under the required height. His mother wanted the requirement waived. "She pleaded with Bill with tears in her eyes and he was Immovable. Then she told him about Jimmy; what a good boy he was, and how he loved to fight, an ought to make a good soldier. Bill perked up. 'Wo need mora of that sort of boys.' he said. 'All right, I'll waive the rule and let him In.' "The woman had about given up In de spair, and was quite taken off. her feet at his sudden surrender. She Jumped up and started effusively to thank him; but she couldn't think of anything good enough to say.. " 'Mr. Secretary,' ,fhe finally got out. you are Just too good for anything. I I I why, Mr. Secretary, do you know, you just aren't half as fat as folks say you are.' " MlsslMKippI to fjrnore Lincoln Day. . Jackson, Miss., TMspatch to New York Tribune. The birthday of Abraham Lincoln will not be celebrated in Mississippi, nor will the school children of the state get even a half holiday. Governor Noel has been requested by the Grand Army of the Republic and by others. In and out of the state, to call official attention to the fnct that February 12 Is Mr. Lincoln's birthday, but he as serts that he has no authority to name holidays or to direct that the people of the state observe other than days made legal holidays by law. Governor Noel laid the proposition before mem bers of the Board of Education of the state, and they declined to have any thing to do with the matter. Carrie Nation Dodfces Engflinh Bottles. London Globe. In order to prevent the throwing of bot tles and other missiles, Mrs. Carrie Na tion, the American, was prevented from appearing a second time as a music hall performer in London. Balrincns and Health In - Senators. Washington, I). C, Post. Dr. Woods Hutchinson says bald heads are conducive to health. That probably accounts for the longevity of United States Senators. .1