THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 3. 1910. FORTLAKD, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce as Second-Class flatter. nbcription Kates Invariably in Advance. (By Mall.) Pally. Sunday included, one year $8.00 Daily, Sunday Included, six months.... 4.25 Daily. Sunday Included, three montha. . 2.23 Daily. Sunday included, one month.... .75 Daily, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Daily, without Sunday, six montha..... 3.25 Dally, without Sunday, three montha... 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month 60 Weekly, one year........... 1-50 Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and weekly, one year. ....... . 3.50 (By Carrier.) Dally. Sunday Included, one year..... 9.00 Dally. Sunday Included, one month 75 How to Remit Send postofftce money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at the sender's rink. Give postofflce ad dress in zull. Including county and state. Postaa-e Rates 10 to 14 pases. 1 cent: 16 to 28 pages. 2 cents; SO to 40 pases. 3 centa; O to 60 pages. 4 cents. Foreign postagQ double rate. Eastern Business Office The S C. Beck wlth Special Apency Nflw York, rooms 48 50 Tribune building. Chicago, rooms J10-512 Tribune building. PORTLAND. MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1910. SADNESS AND SORROW. But, when Roosevelt shall com home, as he will, and when he shall express approval of the Taft Ad ministration, as he will, and when he shall urge Taft for renominatlon and re-election, as he will then iwhat course will the remarks take about Roosevelt from those who are making themselves unhappy zanies by deploring "the failure of Taft to make good on Roosevelt's policies," in sisting the while that In order to save anything of the country's heri tage to Its people Taft must be put aside and Roosevelt put in again? We note, with some interest, that Senator Chamberlain, "our George," bed-rock Democrat- who always op posed Roosevelt, emits expressions of alarm and distress over "the failure of Taft to follow what are known as the Roosevelt's policies." These Roosevelt's policies our George now finds were "progressive," just what .the country wanted. But they were not so desirable when Roosevelt was President, or a candidate for the Presidency, as to Induce our George to support him. Ah, no! Possibly Roosevelt may be a can didate for the Presidency again, some time, for he will not be an old man in 1916. nor even in 1920. But our George then will oppose him and his progressive policies just as he always has heretofore; for he is a bed-rock Democrat, devoted to his party, and always will be, but .talking buncombe now for his partisan ob jects setting up Roosevelt against Taft, and expressing the fear that Taft's Administration will bring dis appointment to the country, and go to rack and ruin. This sadness and grief are equalled only by the trust fulness and sorrow of the Democratic party's war-horses in Oregon, arising Trom their fear that the Republican party of the state will ruin itself by Its persistence in the purpose of holding assemblies or conventions for suggestion of candidates for the primaries. Never before were our Democratic brethren so sad and anxious about the progresslveness and welfare of their opponents. It Is truly touching; and the most plaintive note of all. perhaps, is that nne which our George pipes up from Washington. ENGLISH I'AMPAKiV BALLADRY. The political campaign among Eng lish constituencies has reached the rhyming stage, famed of old in the works of the corn-law rhymsters, and many more. The following screed is now obtaining considerable cur rency. It is worth reprinting on ac count of its flavor and savor of America. Thus: If they'd put. a tax on talking it would make a useful law. They could raise nbout a million out of Mr. Bernard Shaw, And perhaps we mtht get a little less of Jaw and Superjnw As we go marching on! There's a tax upon your whisky, so you have to take It weak. There's a tax upon your beer as big as Winston Churchill's cheek! There's a tax upon your temper when Lloyd George begins to speak. As we go marching on! Chorus Oh! we're a happy, happy nation. Thanks to modern logislat ion ! Ofve three elisors for emigration And Heaven btesa Lloyd-George! But it will be mighty hard to popularize this; for though the jingle may be popular the sentiment Isn't, as Sam Slick would say, "by a long chalk." RUSSIA'S CREDITORS KSTRANOKD. Constitutional Government is not making the headway that money lending nations were induced to be lieve was scheduled in the realm of the Czar. By one act and another of the little Autocrat, the century old constitution of Finland has been abrogated by the Imperial Govern ment and practically eliminated, all against protests in Finland, showing no change from the old policy that abolished the constitution of Russian ized Poland and those of Baltic prov inces. Now come startling evidences of duplicity of Premier Stolypin, who repeatedly has declared his belief in representative government and his desire to lead Russia in that direc tion, but who now is said to be re vealed as a foe to the Duma and to limited Monarchy. This charge is made by a daring Russian who already has suffered im prisonment for unbridled utterances, Vladimir Bourtseff. This publicist claims to have discovered a series of memoirs from Stolypin to the Czar, covering a period of many months and containing definite plans for gradually abolishing the Duma with out alarming the nations and the money-lenders of the rest of Europe. Bourtseff also has disclosed what he calls the Czar's private newspaper a series of regular reports from the Minister of the Interior, covering all manner of detulls of affairs and events in Russia and foreign coun-t-ies, and bearing marks and annota tions of the Czar. Thus far, Bourt seff has procured only three years issues of this record 1S97 to 1899, inclusive. This newspaper reveals that the Government has spies in every revolutionary movement, so that from the camp of every revolu tionary body come reports to the Emperor. Bourtseff is publishing a list of spies and agents in the Russian se cret service. "We are already be ginning to read daily in the papers." says an article In Van Norden maga zine, by Rose Strunsky, "how these spies are found dead in. their rooms." Thus revolutionary vengeance is al ready beginning to work. Supposed revolutionary leaders are revealed as hirelings of the Czar and, of course, terror haunts the circles of these men. Already, we are told, the Chamber of Deputies in Paris has adopted a reso lution to expel all secret agents of Russia from France, and Indignation of Russia's other creditor nations is growing. In all this is a picture of official duplicity in Russia, of Czar and nobles pretending to welcome repre sentative Government, yet all the while tightening their grip on the people, meanwhile confounding the foes of their scheme by means of secret spies and then by persecution. Although the Czar took an oath,' at the time of his coronation in 1896, promising to observe the constitution of 'Finland "steadfastly and unim paired," that constitution, like ,those of other provinces, counts for noth ing in the scheme of absolute autoc racy. This was what caused other white nations to lend their moral aid to Japan in the recent conflict. Their influence may count again In Rus sia's next trouble. THE CANTING WAY. The Lord's Prayer shouTfl be revised to suit the peculiar views of the editor of The Oretronian. "Deliver us from temptation" should read "Expose us unto temptation." f'r by this process only, argues The Ore gonian. can merit be determined and char acter formed. The Oregon Mist, St. Helens. The Lord's Prayer is simple, yet one may not -know how to interpret it. "Lead us not into temptation" can mean nothing more than a prayer to. enable us to resist temptation; for there is temptation on every hand. Always will be. Besides, the worth or value of the sayings of Jesus depends always on the method and spirit employed in their interpretation. The Christian church does not follow, nor can it accept, the general ideas embodied in the social or socialistic doctrines of Jesus. Men must resist indignity and oppression; men must look to their own interests and take thought for the morrow; men must not sell all they have and give the proceeds to the poor, for that would beggar even those who might receive the goods. If a robber ' take away your coat you are not to give him cloak also; and you are not to give or lend to everyone who asks. Endless cant is employed in the interpretation of the sayings of Jesus, even by those who pretend to make them the guide of their lives. A SUITABLE ANSWJ5R. ' One reason why the cost of living is high and why taxes " are high is the rush of families from the coun try to the towns and cities, where they can have the benefit of free schools and higher education, at the expense of others paying nothing themselves. They call it "betterment of the human family." The industry of the country is diminished and taxes on the remaining industry increased. A man should be ashamed to say he has moved his family to Eugene or Walla Walla to get the benefit of schools, to the support of which he doesn't contribute. These people all snap savagely at The Oregonian for its plain speech. "Methinks," says one of them,' "that The Oregonian's editor rides in a fine big automobile and lives in a palace like modern home that is 'lighted, heated and elegantly furnished,' and sits down to sumptuous meals every day, and that is why The Oregonian is apt to call out loudly to anyone who works for the1 rights of the de fenders, 'Oh, it is easy.' " Thus the argumentum ad hominem. But the editor doesn't ride in an automobile, never was able to own one; his house, humble enough, has been paid for by fifty years of hard labor, and its "elegant furnishings" might perhaps bring $500; perhaps not. His "sumptuous meals" and he pays his butcher and grocer con sist of wheat mush, - chops and po tatoes. Well, now, this is petty indeed. But petty as it is, it is just such an answer as the attitude of this class of critics calls . for. They are a mighty cheap lot. REFORMING JXIOTBALL. Wide diversity of opinion enters discussion of football reform. Con ferences on the subject each time bring out many Ideas, many of them In conflict. On Tuesday of last week, the Intercollegiate Athletic Associa tion discussed the matter in New York in an "acrimonious" meeting, and finally disposed of the task by referring it to the committee on rules, with instructions "to use every pos sible endeavor to bring about such a modification of the rules as in its judgment shall tend to reduce to a minimum the danger of physical in jury to players and at the same time retain as far as possible the most de sirable and wholesome features of the game." It has become evident to devotees of the game that dangerous plays must be minimized, if the game is to stay in favor. More than forty deaths v.-ere recorded on the mortality list last year and bad injuries were nu merous. In the face of this record there can be no doubt that some im provement will be effected, though how much is doubtful. The amended rules will be the result of compro mise between the contending inter ests. One change which is widely favored is that of placing the man who passes the ball at least rive yards behind the line. Some authorities would put all the backs that distance behind the line. Walter Camp is of opinion that increase of the mini mum yardage gain would reduce heavy mass playing. The object of reforming the game is to substi tute as much as possible individual playing for heavy mass aggregations. Too often is one player exposed alone to assaults of combined team wprk, and this player is usually the one least able to withstand the hard treatment. Another reform as to which there is general agreement is vesting of authority in some official to compel withdrawal from the game of weakened or Injured contestants. Still another is removal of restric tions as to the-forward pass, although acceptance of this change is not so unanimous. One more precaution against injury on the line of defense would be requirement of at least seven players there, so as to afford more safety for individual line play ers against whom assaults are made. A proposed change that should have approval is that of rest periods every ten minuteVi. The rules committee of the Inter collegiate Athletic Association has a very necessary duty to perform, di rectly fo,r defense of players against death and injury and indirectly for perpetuation of the American foot ball game. It is the judgment of most well-informed persons that the game can be preserved and made more desirable and attractive for col lege athletics. The only present sub stitute for it would be the Rugby game, which does not, however, wholly fit American habits and ideas of athletics. The rules committee which is working on the reform, con sists of the following: Dr. II. F. Williams, Minnesota; Dr. James A. Babbitt. Haverford. Pa. ; E. K. Hall, Dartmouth College; Lieutenant H. B. Hack ett. West Point; Professor C. W. Savage, Oberlin, O. ; Professor W. L. Dudley, Van dertoilt. and Dr. W. A. Lambeth, University of Pennsylvania. AMERICAN INTEREST IN NICARAGUA. Recognition of Madriz as a suc cessor of Zelaya is withheld for the same reason as caused the rupture between this country and Nicaragua. Madriz is not regarded as a proper individual to guide the destinies of the nation over which he has been temporarily placed. There will be no permanent peace in that unfortu nate Central American nation until the making of presidents or dictators is taken out of the hands of a small faction, and turned over to a major ity of all the people. The somewhat hasty actions of Secretary Knox un doubtedly aided in thickening the plot In Nicaragua, but, had the country been under control of a popular ruler instead of an rresponsible and vindictive despot, no such crisis would have appeared as now threat ens American prestige in a very rich trade field. Secretary Knox has "backed down" and withdrawn his threats of retalia tion over the killing of American citizens by Zelaya's forces, but America still has interests in Nicara gua which are in need of protection, and will have to be considered by the successor of Zelaya. These in terests are of sufficient Importance to warrant this country In withhold ing indorsement of such a man as the followers of Zelaya have chosen to succeed that rascally tyrant. In mining interests alone Ameri can capitalists have several million dollars invested in Nicaragua, and they are also heavily Interested in coffee, rubber and tobacco, and sugar Industries. In 1908 this country im ported from Nicaragua, products of the value of $2,492,485, and shipped Into that country, American goods valued at more than $1,900,000. This trade is not large compared with that of some other countries with which we do business, but It is capable of great increase, which was practically Impossible under the dictatorship of Zelaya. OCR NEW RAILROAD SERVICE. The inauguration of a regular passenger and freight service between Portland and Seattle by the Harri man lines is a. matter of much im portance to the railroads as well as to the territory they traverse. Judged from the railroad standpoint, the Northern Pacific, over whose rails the Harriman service will be handled, was affording the people ample facili ties for moving freight and passen gers. The Northern Pacific was at least getting all of the business that developed in that territory. Now comes the Union Pacific, and, with no means available for increasing traffic, proceeds to double the service. This increased service will be duly appreciated by the public, but the fares and freight money must now be divided between two companies instead of one. As the railroads themselves, with the most vital interest in the great change, are unable to determine just what the results will be, it Is natur ally much more difficult for the pub lic to make an intelligent forecast as to what may happen under the new management. In the lumber traffic it would seem that the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor manufac turers have made a distinct gain, as the "Portland gateway," which re mained closed in spite of all legal attempts to open it, now swings open of its own accord. So long as Port land was the northern terminus of the Harriman system the Southern Pacific-Union Pacific interests declined to divide a freight rate with the Northern Pacific on lumber shipped into exclusively Harriman territory, when they could get the entire amount by hauling exclusively from their own lines. With their own road reaching into the Grays Harbor and Puget Sound countries, the situation is changed,, and the field formerly in exclusive control of the Oregon manufacturers, is now open to the Washington men. Perhaps the most direct tangible benefit which Portland will receive from the new arrangement is the im proved service to Grays harbor and Willapa harbor. It has for many years been practically impossible for the people of the localities mentioned to transact business conveniently with Portland, but under the new schedule, which became effective Saturday, Portland is on slightly bet ter than even terms with the Puget Sound cities. The establishment of the new service will undoubtedly add a large area to Portland's trade ter ritory. Increasing demand for lum ber will naturally make up any loss which might be felt by the northern invasion through the Portland gate way, and Portland, the northern headquarters of the Harriman sys tem, will derive material benefit in the handling of the trains which will be made up and dispatched over the two Harriman routes out of this city. It will materially increase Portland's prestige as a railroad center without in any way lessening the volume of traffic handled through the Portland yards. "He is a man of iron nerve," said the attorney for Charles W. Morse in discussing the "buoyancy of spirits" di3played by his client on what is probably the last New Tear's day that h.' will spend outside of a Federal penitentiary. Hope for escape has been practically abandoned, and Morse will be taken to Atlanta to be gin serving his 15-year sentence. No one who has followed the sensational career of this master of high finance has ever questioned his possession of "nerve." Morse was not alone in laying the train up to the powder magazine which exploded with such appalling results In the Fall of 1907; but it was he who touched the lighted match to the train of powder, and brought on a catastrophe which shat tered thousands of fortunes, caused scores of suicides arid widespread and terrible sorrow and suffering. It takes a man of "nerve" even to re main sane in contemplation of such awful havoc, as that for which Morse was largely responsible. The State of Siskiyou is an enter prising and ambitious abstraction. Its capital is the palace that old liter ature is full of. Old literature knew Yreka. but not by its modern name. In old times Yreka was the town in the clouds Nephelococcygla, or Cloud-Cuckoo-Town. We get the fol lowing from an esteemed contempor ary, the Albany (Or.) Democrat: The Democrat has received a copy of the Yreka Journal, with a long editorial headed "The Oregonian's Baneful Influence." It declares The Oregonian a barnacle on Oregon's ship of state, a. knocker and a grouch. Perhaps, but as a newspaper The Ore gonian ranks among the best in the country, and there's the rub. You may depend, there's the rub. Not only as to the news, but some thing else and much else. The Al bany Democrat, of course, will move to the State of Siskiyou or to Bara taria and play Sancho. In dividing the Pacific fleet into two squadrons, the Government will probably increase the efficiency of the service, if the vessels should hap pen to be needed. There are some excellent fighting machines among the craft reported for each of the squadrons, but the list does not meas ure up to the Atlantic squadron. Ex treme difficulty has always been ex perienced in convincing the Navy De partment that the next real fighting that our navy must engage in will take place on the Pacific, and that most of it will be over before any of the Atlantic squadron could get around where it might lend any assist ance. In permitting as many vessels as will make up the two squadrons to get away from the Atlantic sta tion, the Government Is making quite a concession, and eventually we may have a Pacific fleet in keeping with the importance of the interests in volved. A somewhat and occasionally es teemed contemporary tells about its vast "year-end edition" an immense number having been printed to sup ply the extraordinary demand. The number given was 40,000. But the regular edition claimed by the paper is 34,000. Now, subtracting the less from the greater number, what was the real magnitude of that enormous edition ? Fifty tons of paper were consumed in printing New Year's Oregonians; and this was followed by nearly thirty tons used in printing the Sun day paper next day. Yet this mass, thrown on the postoffice, was handled in addition to the other matter com mitted to the mails without delay. The postal service of the country is efficient. The old gag they are working In some parts of the country "How cold is it when it's twice as cold as twenty degrees below zero?" is as interesting, doubtless, in the cold parts of the country as the still un answered inquiry, "How old Is Ann?" Oh, yes, of course, the Winters are not such protracted seasons of moist joy as we had of yore; and it's tough to be reminded so frequently of the terrible cold spells they have back East; but what are you going to do about it? Despite large deficit in the rural free delivery branch of the postal system, there will be no curtailment of the service. Any Congressman who votes that way will be remem bered at election time. It may be just the luck of the youngster who spends his savings for ice skates to receive again a dose of the warm Chinook, and it may make him a philosopher. Chinese eggs are being brought to this country by the barrelful. They are said to be as good as the native cold-storage, article, but one who is wise will crack them before eating. Another deaf man has been run down while walking-on the track. All things considered. Coroner's juries should class this manner of death as suicidal, not accidental. Mount Pelee is again" active. The universal heating department Is not attending to business, wasting caloric in the West Indies, with the mercury below 32 up here. Senator Chamberlain says he has not yet lost faith in President Taft. He was nearest that point when Bryan was running against Taft for President. Seattle's population at 3 A. M. yes terday, when the Seattle papers went to press, was a modest 300,000. It will continue to grow till the next census. Mayor Simon has already done so many things, and done them well, that he is evidently the man of the hour for the servant-girl problem. A Washington County man is in jail for hitting his father. In that re spect, the Chinese are ahead of West ern civilization. Brokaw owns up to property worth $1,600,000, but declares he's "a poor man." He meant, of course, "poor kind of man." The water wagon for 1910 got a bad start. It couldn't get through the band of drunken revelers Friday night. If you are chilly, you can hear a tale to make you feel better from the oldest inhabitant. Vancouver has a. new laundry, which is the proper thing for Van couver, Wash. That Seattle cartoonist whose bride Is worth half a million has a drawing personality. It's mighty easy to start the New Year wrong at a midnight wine revel. There never was a Sunday too cold for the plumber to make a bill out of. What boots the discovery, when polar weather is here? Good morning! Did you turn off the water t WATER BOARD IS CRITICISED. Private Corporation Would Get Mich at lO Centa Per lOOO, Says Writer. PORTLAND,. Jan. 2. (To the Editors There is an old saying, "Figures, won't lie." Evidently this saying is not be lieved by the City Water Board, judging from its action in changing the water rate. The Water Board is distributing daily about 25.000,000 gallons of water to the consumers in the city, and for this water the Board has been collecting about $600, 000 a year. If every consumer of water should have been compelled to pay 13 1-3 cents per thousand gallons, the old rate of last year, such rate would have pro duced a revenue of Jl.116.666.40. Yet the Water Board says that the meter rate Is too low. Shades of Archimedes! what figuring! The rates established by the Water Board for this year are over 100 per cent more than last year, and almost 200 per cent more than other cities which have to pump their drinking water, charge to their consumers. In other words, we are saying to the world that the City of Port land, with an unlimited water supply and a gravity flow, is oharging three times as much for water as other cities which pump muddy water and run It through numerous settling basins. The Water Board should not forget that the water belongs to the people, and not to a few office-holders, who are only servants of the people. By charging a minimum rate of 76 cents on meters and 50 cents where no meters are used, the Water Board has acted not only unfairly and unjustly, but illegally. The Board has no more right to charge 50 per cent more to one con sumer than to another than the city of ficials have to charge one person a tax of 20 mills and another a tax of 30 mills. The Water Board has no right whatever arbitrarily to fix' a rate for the use of water that will in any way discriminate against any single water-user. While the people of Portland stand for many things that no other city would stand for, I doubt If they will submit to such outrageous demands as these. Any corporation could take the water system of Portland, lay "all mains and pipes, charge a rate of 10 centa per 1000 gallons and declare a dividend dY from 15 per cent to 20 per cent per year. What we need in Portland is less poli tics and more business. S. M. VENARD. This is inconsiderate and unjust. The Water Board simply carries out the pol icy of the city and the will of the people. A higher rate than would suffice for maintenance of the plant as it exists Is charged for the purpose of getting in come to support extensions. This always has been the plan or policy. It is the socialistic feature of the water system. Members of the Water Board have no salaries and get nothing but criticism and curses for their service. Strange that any citizen of Portland doesn't know that the water-users of the inner parts of the city must be taxed at least are taxed to supply water for a Greater Portland. A private corporation could Indeed take the water system of Portland, reduce the rate and make money out of it; but the outskirts of the city would get little sup ply, at the expense of the inner parts of the city. And a private corporation might, and doubtless would, drive a harder bar gain with its employes than the city can if that's what is wanted and save money that way. There Is no politics whatever in .the business, except the so cialistic tendency of all public utility undertakings. Ed Howe' Philosophy. Atchison Globe. There is nothing new now except rabbit stories, and most of- them are lies. An easy chair will not keep a man at home unless he Is otherwise disposed to stay there. ' We can't help admiring Ward Hart, even if he did once kill three quail out of season, and give them to us. A really polite and capable man can go into any town in the country and- attract attention In six months. The woman's idea of a mean man is one who gets sick just before Christmas, when his wife is too busy making butterfly aprons to make gruel. - We are becoming old, but we still give three cheers every morning because we are not compelled to go to school. We are not so old that we have forgotten how we hated it. The old-fashioned woman, whose door nob knot of hair is done so tight she has to use a monkey wrench to undo it at night, has a firm, unmovable conviction that no woman who runs to puffs and curls amounts to. much. No one but a girl can do some things; for instance, a girl can wear an auto veil with the .ir of just having -stepped from her own machine, when her present possessions and future prospects couldn't be cashed for ten dollars. obody Kiprosncd a Doubt. From Tit-Bits. Once again the conversation had veered round to thrilling adventures. "That reminds me of an experience I had some time ago." remarked a mem ber. "I was riding a brakeless bicycle down a step hill when all of a sudden the chain snapped and I careened down the rest of the hill quicker. than greased lightning. . "The road down the hill took a turn at direct right angles, and in the corner of the angle stod a cottage. I was won dering what the verdict would be at the inquest when I saw a -man rest a plank of wood against the. eaves of the cot tage. "I went straight for the plank, over the roof and down the other side. Luckily, the cottager's wife and daugh ters were shaking carpets, tnd, alight ing on an outstretched carpet, I was gently lowered to the ground." A dead, dull silence descended on the company, which was broken by the hissing of a soda water siphon. Hoy Blind by Day; Sees by IV is; tat. Washington (D. C.) Despatch. Richmond, Va., has a 19-year-old boy, Audrey Wilson, who is totally blind in the day, but can see like a cat at night. He can speed a bicycle where ordinary persons have to walk with caution, but in the day he gropes about, able only vaguely to distinguish any object and with no discrimination as to col ors. He is quite a possum hunter. He can easily distinguish the animals In the trees without the aid of a lantern. Needless to say, young Wilson is in great demand by possum hunters. A Tailor's Shop In Iucb.es. New York Press. A building only 3 feet 84 inches wide stands at the northwest corner of Mel rose avenue and East One Hundred and Sixty-first street, the Bronx. It is occu pied as a tailor shop by its owner, Henry TJbelhor. It is 22 feet long and two sto ries in height, its upper story contained In a French roof. Bible Is Still the Best Seller. Baltimore News. It will astonish some persons, it will do the hearts of multitudes good to learn that each year there are printed and sold 17,000,000 Bibles, giving that book an Indisputable lead over all Its possible competitors. There is still hope for our literature. Bricks of 1620 and 1(150. . Springfield (Mass.) Dispatch.' JoBeph N. Perkins, of Woodbrldge, Conn., in tearing down one of the chimneys of his old house, found a brick bearing the date 1650. He found another with the date 1620 in the cellar. WHAT PROOF" OF POLAR JOl'REl'l ftnrrj i When Doubtlns Scientists Write at Home, Why Cant Explorers f PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 1. (To the Ed itor.) Concerning the North Pole con troversy, there are some matters the common herd doesn't understand as well, evidently, as other herds. For in stance, the Copenhagen scientists say, among other assertions, that the Cook records are entirely unsatisfactory be cause they "contain the results of his observations instead of the observa tions themselves." This lucid state ment occurs twice in their report, and the ordinary mind is somewhat stag gered when trying to "negotiate" the real difference between an observation and the results of that observation, when both are of necessity reduced to paper. What possible proof can a man who has actually been to the North Pole bring back, except his written state ment of what he saw and where he was longitudinally and latltudinally ? Can he furnish any other proof, save the affidavit of some man, Eskimo, ne gro or otherwise? If a "scientist," living at Copen hagen or i New York, who had never been nearer the Arctic regions than the limits of his own city, knows what observations will answer the require ments of "consistory"; if all these things can bo known, this information acquired, by the reading of books, what stands In the way of Dr. Cook or Com mander Peary reducing such observa tions to writing, while sitting under a tree on the inspiring banks of the his toric Hudson? It seems clear that no man can transcribe an astronomical observation to writing in the shape of proofs, with out in some way including the results of that observation but the magical difference between the two appears to have sent Dr. Cook "to Coventry." No doubt he is a colossal fraud, but the question is: If a scientist can remain at home and determine what proofs are satisfactory, why can't any other man sit in his library and write such evidence as the scientist himself has found, and establish indisputable proof? What more has Peary supplied to the scientific world than his written proofs or observations? Couldn't he have written them at Etah, as well as a New York scientist or "explorer," who never has explored anything, can decide what proofs should be supplied that will answer every technical re quirement? In other words, ordinary people wonder why the world is not supplied with a statement as to the difference between the proofs of observations furnished by Dr. Cook, which have been pronounced insufficient, and those supplied by Peary which seem not to be seriously questioned. Indeed, the Cook-Peary controversy, boiled down, seems to suggest the inquiry: What is a scientist, anyway, and why? T. T. G. LAWYER ON LAW SCHOOLS. They Turn Out Half-Baked Graduates in Lsrge Numbers. PORTLAND. Jan. 1. (To the Editor.) The Oregonian's editorial on "Service on Juries" is timely and well put likewise Its reference to the fomentation added by "law schools." so called. As a general proposition, lawyers are creatures of necesssity; were it not for the necesssity, I doubt If there would be any. It has been well said that neces sity knows no law, and we have members of the bar who are. free from the knowl edge of any of the written law. The legitimate law school performs wor thy functions', but we have many whose success is not in the quality of graduates they turn out. but the quantity at "so much per." It has been my experience, within the past year, to have quite a few law graduates come to me for employ ment, and In every instance. In answer to my Inquiry how they happened to choose the legal profession, I was in formed that solicitors of law schools had pictured our profession as one of ease and great emoluments. So strong and rosy were these arguments that the young men gave up their steady and well-paying em ployment for this, to them, new, promis ing field. What is the result? They have entered the arena without clients and by dire necesaslty proceeded to make a living by questionable means and practices, thus bringing a once noble profession into disrepute. Instead of the legal profes sion being the easiest means of liveli hood, the really conscientious lawyer finds it to be the most exacting in both time, study and morals. The causes of a lot of needless and petty litigation lie in most of our law schools and their pretenses in "rustling" for business. CHARLES J. SCHNABEU A "Cook, Book" or a "Peary-odlcal." Chicago Inter-Ocean. Professor Willis L. Moore, chief of the United States Weather Bureau and president of the National Geographical Society, has not been asked to verify the story, but it is told on excellent authority. Professor Moore was doing his shop ping in Washington, D. C, one even ing last week. He stopped at a book stall in one of the big department stores. "Have you any books about the North Pole?" he asked of the sweet young thing, who smiled at him from under an altitudinous pompadour. "Which do you wish?" she queried, "a Cook book or a Peary-odical?" New Microbe Noted In Paris. New York Press. Professor Metchnikoft. of the Pasteur Institute, Paris, has discovered a mi crobe called the proteus, which he says kills at least 10.000 French children every year. The microbe is that of gas troenteritis, and it lives on the surface of apples and other fruits, salads and the rind of cheese. It is dangerous not only to children, but to grown-up peo ple also. $40,000 for Two Soap Tureens. Washington (D. C.) Post; Including commissions and other in cidental expenses, J. Plerpont Morgan recently paid 140,000 for two soup tureens which he obtained in Paris. The tureens are the work of a noted artificer, D. A. Melssonier, and en graved by Huquiet. A True Philosophy. Louisville Courier-Journal. "Don't overeat," says a physician, "it superinduces pneumonia." It also su perinduces plutocracy and paresis among packers and the pauperization of the ultimate consumer. FAREWELL TO NINETEEN NAUGHT NINE. Farewell to thee, 1909, No more we'll see of thee Thou gavest us rain an'- sunshine. Which thou didst furnish free. Thou hast the consolation now. Of having done thy best. An' leaving men behind the plow. For food not now distressed. Thou hast left, too, 1909, Proof that thou hast been here. In a new ring on ev'ry pine. An horns on ev'ry steer. Tomorrow will be 1910, Mankind's great swear-off day. Who will quite likely now an' then. Backslide the same old way. But don't "talk back," 1909, They did it in thee, too May pleasant dreams henceforth be thine, Adieu, adieu, adieu. OLD MAN OUT OF A JOB. Portland, Or., Dec. 31, 1903, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE. ' Some of the Farts Found la the A -Congressional Directory. The Congressional Directory for the Sixty-first Congress, now beginning its first regular session, has just appeared. It contains a list oif Senators and Rep resentatives arranged according to ' length of service, and the first thing to arrest atention here is the great youth of the" Senate. Of the 92 members of the upper chamber no less than 4S. or more than one half, have five years or less of service to their credit; and not less than 65 have been in their, seats no more than 10 years. In other words, the Senators who have served more than 10 years constitute less than one third of the chamber, and of the 27 members who have served more than 10 years', seven exceed that period of service by only a few months; and of the 20 with nearly 11 or more years in the Senate to boast of, 12 date back no further than 1S95. Thus only eight Senators are of more than 15 years standing. They are Eugene Halo and William P. Frye, of Maine, and Nelson W. Aldrlt-hj of Rhode Island, who en tered the Senate In 1881; Shelby M. Cul lom, of Illinois, 1SS3; John W. Daniel, of Virginia, 1S87; Jacob H. Gallinger, of New Hampshire, 1891: and Henry Cabot Lodge, of Massachusetts, and George C. Perkins, of California, who entered in 1S93. It may be doubted whether before since the Civil War so youthful a body of men in point of service has ever filled the upper cham ber. It seems but yesterday that Mr. Lodge was a "junior" Senator, yet here he appears among the first seven of the veterans. There are always to be found in the House a few cases -of extended service therein, but they are rarely very numer ous. In the present House, however, of 389 members (two vacancies existing to be filled), there are 94 men who have served five terms up to the present one, or 10 years. They constitute about one-fourth of the whole number, while tlie 10-year or older members of the Senate constitute not much more than one-fourth of that body. It is an unusual situation which h;is brought the Senate closely to a parity with the House in the small proportion which the older bears to the younsor membership. There is no member of the Senate who has served as much as or over 30 years, but Speaker Cannon, of the House, has 34 years of membership In that body, and II. H. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, 30 years, each with elec tions to two more years. Including the present term, Sereno E. Payne, of New York, is credited with 13 terms; John Dalzell, of Pennsylvania. 12: and Hull of Iowa, Jones of Virginia and Living ston of Georgia with 10 each. Of tlio eight members having nine terms to their election two are from Massachu setts Gillett and McCall. We have to jump over among the seven-term mem bers to find any more Massachusetts Representatives Lawrence, Green and Lovering. It may be said, therefore, that that conservatism which is besrotten by great length of service in either branch of Congress is exceptionally weak in the Senate of today and exceptionally strong in the House, where it is also aided by control of the autocratic ma chinery that has grown up in that body. Thus for once in the country's history the radicalism of the day can find larg er hope for itself in the United States Senate than in the popular branch of Congress. THE JOY OF THE COSQIERED. The Honey That Repays the Explore for Ills S 1 1 it km. New York Evening Mail. To the dreary, downcast Democracy shivering in the cold and gazing hun grily through the windows into the dining-room where the other fellows are modestly partaking of the fruits of vic tory, that old reliable professional com forter, William Jennings Bryan, bears a message of good cheer which should perceptibly brighten up the gloom. Ho assures his disconsolate followers that things are not as bad as they seem and might be much worse. They have not. of course, as many offices as they could take care of, but they have the joy of the conquered, if they know what that is and can use it in their business. "For the past 13 years," chirps Mr. Bryan, "the Democratic party has actu ally dominated and molded the public; affairs of this country." Is not that enough for the Democrats? What do they want? The planetary system? Moreover, "the Republican party has done nothing good that was not out lined in the Democratic platform." So there, now. Let the faithful rejoice and make a great noise like 16 to 1 or soma other paramount issue. It is too bad that other Democrats cannot pattern after Mr. Bryan. He is not only resigned but cheerful and ever jubilant. Business is good with him, his circulation as lecturer and other wise steadily increasing and he is com pletely reconciled to prosperity. Not all men may speak or write as profitably as he does, but there is no earthly rea son why they should not be cheerful in spite of the good times which have be fallen the country. The Democracy can truthfully deny that it is in any way responsible for them. If Mr. Bryan is .satisfied with the. Democratic party as it is and where it is, who has a right to complain? And if the party can find even a grain of comfort in claiming credit for the achievements of the party which the people insist on retaining in iwer, who In this hour of cheer will deny it that harmless enjoyment? Excluslveness Around V. S. Senate. Washington (D. C.) Post. In meandering around the Senate side of the Cajjitol, one sees emblazoned here, there, and everywhere', "exclusive" and "private." Turn to the right, then to the left; to the back of you and to the front, and still those -signs meet your gaze. Visitors are nonplussed. They come to the capital of the Nation expecting to find everything open to the poor public, but are disappointed when they land any where near the House of Lords' side of the big white building. A recent visitor got lost In the mystic maze of "ex clusivess" and "privates," and on turning to leave by a door that, as he supposed, led to the free air, found himself up against the same old sign. "Great Scott," said he. "they have put that sign on the exit to freedom." There is, however, one elevator marked public, and during a ses sion of the Senate that one ear is worked overtime by the dear public. Uncle Snm's Highest Paid Woman. Philadelphia Despatch. At present the highest salaried woman doing departmental work in Washington, D. C, is Miss A. II. Short ridge, of New York City. The State Department recently recognized her services by promotion to a salary of $2500 per annum, the highest pay ever given to any woman worker by Undo Sam. Miss Shortridge began with a position of $900 a year and has worked her way up by efficient service. A. Beesam and Street-Singers Trust, Baltimore News. A meeting was held recently at Mar seilles, France, when the beggars and street singers got together and formed an organization for tiie protection of their interests and to resist the en croachments of pretenders. A 'regular organization was effected, with consti tution and bylaws, and limitations wera placed upon membership. Christmas Cheer. Atlanta Constitution. If it came twice a year, father might never get out of the receiver's liaiius.