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VOL. Ii. NO. 15,408.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1910.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
PRESIDENT HISSED
BY SUFFRAGISTS
DR. PEARSONS, 90,
IS DISAPPOINTED
PREACHING SUNDAY
HELD T0BE CRIMINAL
POINDEXTER'S RAGE
BLOWTO PBIMARY
LODGER FALLS 3
STORIES ON TO MAN
LOCKS IMPRISON
VALLEY IS PLAINT
OD
SWINDLE
NOW
N EARS 5,000,000
llh;V Central Very
Heavy Loser.
V
XO MORE GIVIXG WILL Bl1v
DtLCED I?f FOR YEAR, "
TOPEKA'S MAXOR TO ENFORCE
' . BICE LAW TO LETTER
TUMBLER KNOCKED SENSELESS,
OTHER tXHCRT.
Lack of Sympathy
Vexes Delegates
WOMEN'S INTEREST DOUBTED
Rebuke Quickly Follows Un-
friendly Demonstration.
MANY APPLAUD AT CLOSE
Addres. Characterized by Speaker
as . "3Iy Confession,'' Kxpresses
, Fear That "Jjess Desirable" .
Class" Would Dominate. .
WASHIXGTOfi April .14. The Pres
ident of the United States, the first
chie fexecutlve of the Nation ever to
greet a convention of woman suffra
gists tonight had the oourage to con
fess bis opinion and was hissed. So
great was the throng: that sought ad
missllon to the hall that hundreds were
turned away.
President Taft was welcoming to
Washington the delegates to the con
ventio nof the National Woman Suf
frage Association. He told them
frankly he was not altogether in sym
pathy with the suffrage movement and
was explaining why he could not sub
scribe fully to its principles.
Control by "Ciiclesirables" Feared.
He sal dhe thought one of the
dangers in granting suffrage to wo
men was that women, asa whole, were
not interested in it. and that the" bal
lot, as far as women are concerned,
would be controlled by the "less de
sirable class."
Whe nthese words fell from the
President's lips the walls of the hall
echoed a chorus of feminine hisses. It
was no feeble demonstration of protest.
President Taft stood unmoved In the
demonstration of hostility the. hises
continued only a moment and then,
smllln gas he spoke, he answered the
unfavorable greeting.
Kebuke Is Prompt.
Now. my dear ladles.- be Raid, "you
iru st show yourselves capable of suffrage
sby exercising that degree of restraint
which is necessary in the conduct of
governmental affairs by not hissing."
The women who has bJssed were re
buked The President's reply apparent
ly had taken- hold. There were no more
hisses while the President continued his
address, which he characterized as "my
confession" on the woman suffrage ques
tion. At the conclusion of his talk he
was applauded and some of the leaders
of the convention expressed to him their
sincere regret over the unpleasant inci
dent. '
President Taft asmired them his feel
ings were not injured in the leant.
STORM OVER PARDON ENDS
Colonel Cooper Silent, Xaslivllle to
Flglit Governor at Polls.
NASHVTT.LE. April 14. Nashville
has quieted down today after the ex
citement of yesterday attending the
sctlon of the Supreme Court and the
governor's subsequent pardon in the
case of Colonel Duncan B. Cooper, sen
tenced to 20 years in prison for tha
murder of ex-Senator Carmack.
Bo.h Colonel Cooper and his son have
thus far declined to m a 1 a ,.., wn.
statement. Governor Patterson has made
no comment on his pardon.
The Supreme Court today rednced the
ball for Robin Cooper from $25,000 to
I10.000.
OREGON PLAYERS LAID LOW
Washington Vniverslty Beats Them
by J4-to-0 Seore.
SKATTLE, April 14. The University
of Washington baseball team had lit
tle difficulty in beating the team of
the University of Oregon today. The
Washington players hit Oregon's
pitchers at will, while the visitors
were able to get only four safe hits.
The sore:
Batteries Henkle, Pobie. Word and
R.H.E.I K.H.E.
Oregon 0 4 6 Washi'ton 14 13 1
Oabrielson; Clark and Henemway. Um
pire, Gleason.
TWINS ARE' BORN IN JAIL
rtoman Accused or Killing Husband
Becomes Mother.
tENVER. April 14 Twins were born
9t night in the Denver County Jail to
Mrs. Emma Jett. who is charged with
the murder of her husband.
She will be placed on trial for ber life
as soon as her condition will permit.
Tart to Attend CnvelHng.
WASHINGTON, April 14. President
rsft has promised Representative
Townsend to go to Monroe, Mich., on
June 14 and attend the unveiling of a
memorial statue to General Custer.
Monroe was Custer' home when he
enlisted, and the old homestead there
Is now owned by the Government. The
ilte , will be jieed Xor a Postofflcs
touilOlXg. - -. .
Five or His "Children," He Says,
Meaning Colleges, Fall to
Come to Time.
CHICAGO, April 14. Dr. D. K. Pear
sons, philanthropist and benefactor of
47 small colleges in the South and
West, celebrated ' his ninetieth birth
day. t
On this occasion it had been ex
pected the aged millionaire would an
nounce the distribution of most of the
balance of his fortune and many of
his "children," as he style the insti
tutions to which he- has given aid,
had been expecting further recogni
tion. But they are tobe disappointed. Dr.
Pearsons says his purse will be closed
for a year and gives' the reasons in
the following announcement, which
he addresses to The Public:
''I have not accomplished on my
birthday what I expected. Kive of my
colleges have failed to come to time.
I will not cut them "on", but have given
them one year longer to meet my de
mands. During this year no other
gifts will be made to a -college or to
individuals or to any cause what-,
ever. I am going to rest a year. No
letters, no solicitations In any way,
shape or manner will induce me to
depart from my stand.
. "When I get all my colleges in
line, I shall spend the little I have left
to take care of my children. I have
47 children scattered in 24 states." -
HARBOR BILL UNDER FIRE
Burton Opposes Kivcr Improve
ments Mf.y Ask Veto.
WASHINGTON, April 14. Disregard
ing the pleas of many of his associates
Senator Burton, of Ohio, chairman of
the National 'Waterways Commission, a
member of the Senate Committee on
Commerce, presented today a minority
report on the pending- bill, which would
appropriate about $52,000,000 for the
improvement of rivers and harbors.
It Is said that if his- opposition to a
majority of these great projects should
be unsuccessful there will be launched
a movement looking to the veto of the
bill by the President. In summarizing
his report, Mr. Burton lays down the
most important rules which should
govern:
"Provision for the completipn of an Im
provement when adopted, save in ex
ceptional cases; a greater degree of dis
crimination by omitting projects con
demned by the experts who make the
surveys and recommendations; for a
careful review of pending projects In the
light of present conditions; a most care
ful consideration before the adoption of
projects with especial reference to avoid
ance of lock and dam construction, save
In streams which are capable of being
made arteries of commerce; a division
of expenses when exceptional advantages
accrue to private property of specific lo
calities or when the protection of private
property is the main object and naviga
tion subordinate; the exclusion from the
bill of proposed Improvements which do
not have to do with navigation: a gener
al policy of Improving the main streams
before attention is given to branch
streams."
WOMEN PROTEST TO TAFT
Anti-Suffragists Oppose Address to
Suffrage Convention.
NEW YORK, April 14. President Taft.
by promising to address the woman suf
frage convention, which opened in Wash
ington today, has aroused the wrath of
the 'anti9,' who have sent him a letter
of protest- The communication is signed
by nine representative members of the
New York State movement opposed to
women suffrage, and says in part:
"It is with great regret that the women
belonging to the New York State organ
ization opposed to woman suffrage have
heard that you are to address the advo
cates of woman suffrage at their opening
meeting this week. Although you have
publicly declared that this action is not
to be taken as indorsing the movement.
It is impossible to disabuse the minds of
the general public from accepting your
presence there as your sanction at least,'
RIOTERS RAZE MISSION
Chinese, Angered by Kice Corner,
Attack Missionaries.
SHANGHAI. April'l4. The Wesleyan
Mission at Changsha, the capital of
the 'province of Hunan, was destroyed
by rioters today. The missionaries
took refuse in the Yamen, which the
rioters subsequently attacked. There
was no loss of life. .
Two British gunboats are- hurrying
up the Siangktang for the purpose of
quelling the disturbance. The out
break is attributed to the indignation
of the natives at the action of the Chi
nese officials in cornering and export
ing rice.
TRAINS CLASH; ONE KILLED
Burlington Passenger Collides With
j, Freight Near Billings.
HELENA. Mont. April 14.' Speeding
eastward at ' the rate of 60 miles an
hour, a Burlington passenger train, Xo.
43, collided early today with an extra,
freight train at Tolusa, Most, a few
miles east of Billings.
Brakeman Iatterson, of the freight
crews, was instantly killed and Freight
Conductor S. Jackson suffered two
broken legs. Several cars and ca
booses were demolished.
Europe to Have Good Crops.
WASHINGTON. April 14. Bountiful
crops at this year's harvest in Europe
are indicated by reports received at
the Department of Agriculture, a sum
mary of which, was issued todajs
PECULATIONS COVER YEARS
Fraud' Believed to Involve
Country's Big Concerns. .
4-SCORE DETECTIVES BUSY
Bills Rendered Railroad by Vari
ous Companies for Sums Totaling
Millions of Dollars Are Being
Held t"p by Officials.
CHICAGO, April 14.SpeciaI.) Five
million dollars is declared today to be a
not extravagant estimate of the sum that
the Illinois Central Railroad res lost In a
swindle that a. detective agency is inves
tigating. Although the sum that the railroad is
alleged to have lost early was set at
$1,000,000, the revelations made by the in
quiry of the detectives put upon the case
by President J. T. Harehan are declared
to have raised this figure until now it is
nearer $5,000,000.
W. ' J. BurruB. the San Francisco ' graft
Investigator, and 75 operatives under him
are doing the work, which covers a period
of four years' peculations' and has reached
to nearly every city upon the system of
the Illinois Central Railroad.
Old Officials Make Way for New.
An Interesting sidelight, upon the affairs
of the Illinois Central la that within the
past year there baa been almost an en
tire reorganization of the official family,
the old officials having given way to new
ones. ;
Out of the chaos and excitement stirred
by the visit of detectives' to the various
offices and manufacturing plants of com
panies w-bich, bad transactions with the
Illinois Central Railroad came some infor
mation showing the well-defined plan
which la being pursued.
In the first place, it was discovered
that bills rendered the Illinois Central
by various companies for sums totalling
millions of dollars are being held up. The
companies have been notified that their
bills will not be paid until'' after the
investigation is ended.
Trip to Tennessee Results in Probe.
The trip of Detective Burns to Mem
phis, Tenn., which brought to light the
investigation, was discovered to have
been for the purpose of making Inquiries
at the offices of the Memphis Car Com
pany, some of the officers and employes
of which expected to assist the detectives
in their work.
Among the companies, which had busi
ness dealing with the Illinois Central
road and whose employes, and In some
instances, officials, have been questioned
concerning work done for and sales made
to the Illinois Central road, are the fol
lowing: ' i
' The Pittman Company, Osterman Man
ufacturing Company, Osterman A Dolph.
Kellogg Car Company, of Kankakee. 111.;
American Car & Equipment Company,
of Chicago Heights; Ryan Car Company,
Memphis Car Company, of Memphis,
Tenn.; International Car Company. of
New Orleans; American Car & Foundry
Company.
If Theaters Are Wrong, He Argues,
Any Other Work Done Sunday
for Money Is Evil.
TOPEKA, Kan.; .- April 14. Spe
cial.) Does the preaching of a sermon
on Sunday for pay, the singing in a
church choir for compensation and the
playing of the church organ for money
constitute a breaking- of Topeka's Sun
day anti-labor, law?
Mayor Billard says these things are
just as i much of an infringement of
the ' ordinances as ' the working of
actors and stage-nands, who are ' now
prohibited from following their voca
tions Sunday. '
Mayor Billard also calls attention to
the operation of the street-cars on the
Sabbath, and to open drug stores, cigar
stores, peanut stands and soda foun
tains. The plain inference Is that he
expects to make Topeka the "tight
est" blue law town in Christendom
unless the people repeal the present
Sunday anti-labor, law.
Mayor Billard does not believe in
the closing of theaters ' Sunday. He
says that this is the day of recreation
for the laboring man. and so long as
the attending of theaters is an ancient
amusement, the people should be al
lowed to enjoy it.
In other words," said the Mayor to
day, "the best way to get an obnoxious
law repealed is to, enforce it to the
letter. That is what I intend to sdo
with the Sunday anti-labor law.'.
FRESNO HEIR RECOGNIZED
Brother Acknowledges . Claim, but
Dakotan Will Take Appeal.
BOSTON, April 14. A public ac
knowledgement of the claim of the
Fresno, CaL. fruit packer to be Daniel
Blake Russeli and entitled to half of
the three-quarters of a million dollars
and estate of the late Daniel Russell,
of Melrose, was made today by William
C Russell, another son.
One of the provisions of the will of
Daniel Russell is that should the miss
ing heir appear he should- have half the
estate. It will be necessary,' however,
for the Fresno man to prove his claim
and it is expected that counsel for the
Dickinson, N. D-, claimant will not
only carry an' appeal to the Supreme
Court, but will strongly oppose the
Fresno man in the Probate Court
Years of litigation are believed to
be inevitable.
Demonstrations continue- Melrose,
Mass., by crowds of those who sympa
thize with the Dickinson man whose
heirship was denied Tuesday in. the
Probate Court. Stone 1 throwing is
the chief feature of the demonstrations.
Three policemen were injured last night
when the mob paraded the streets of MeU
rose for hours, cheering for the Dickin
son claimant and booting the names of
persons prominent in the respondent's
side of the recent trial.
DIGGING RECORDS BROKEN
Panama Canal Engineers Have Fin
' Ishcd Original Amount.
WASHINGTON, April 14 Although it
was generally known that splendid pro
gress had been made by the Army en
gineers in digging the Panama Canal, the
statement contained in the oanal record
just at hand' that all of the excavation
that was contemplated in the original
project has been completed comes as a
surprise. -
Under that plan 103,793.000 cubic yards
of material were to be removed and that
has been done. But subsequently, the
President ordered the widening and deep
ening of the canal cut. That involved
the removal of 70.871,694 additional yards
of material and this, is all of the task of
excavation that confronts the engineers.
The record of accomplishments has
been without precedent. Last month 3,067.
4fi9 yards of material were taken out in
the face of the heaviest March rains
known on the Isthmus.
WILLIAM JENNIN'S "GUESS I'LL DIG UP FREE SILVER.'
Party Is Disrupted
Senatorial Fight.
in
INSURGENT'S STATUS IN DOUBT
Republicans May Reject Spo
kane Man, If Nominated.
CAMPAIGN IS MANY-SIDED
Western Washington Thinks Man
From That Section. Should Be
Named, but Factions Seem to
Be Hopelessly Divided.
SEATTLE, Wash, April 14. (Spe
cial. )--The candidacy tor the United
States Senate of Miles Poindexter,
United States Representative, of Spo
kane, and radical insurgent, is a rock
on which, there is now prospect that
the direct primary lay, insofar as it
affects tha choice of United States
Senator, may be split wide open in the
State of Washington. - '
Some of the far-seeing politicians of
the state recently have been making
investigations in the four quarters of
the commonwealth and have reached
the conclusion that with King County
divided as it is, there is a strong pros
pect that- Poindexter will secure
enough vot,es to represent a- plurality
in the primaries, although undoubtedly
this plurality would in reality repre
sent a. minority of the party in the
state.
Democrats for Poindexter.
The old plan of the Democrats vot-ting-
the Republican primary ticket
will be carried out this year, almost t6
a certainty, in behalf of Poindexter,
whose record in Congress as . one of
the most uncompromising of insur
gents is pleasing to - the - minority
party.
In Seattle, where a division of
strength among tnree candidates ' is
regretted by those who wish to see
Senator piles succeeded by a Western
Washington Republican, the strength
cf McCormlck," the Pierce County can
'didate, is depreciated. It is even as
serted .that if the primaries were held
tomorrow Poindexter would carry
Pierce County, because of the as
sistance of the anti-Taft, anti-Aldrich,
anti-Cannon and Democratic votes.
Platform May Be Bar.
Already, in view of the apparent
hopelessness of the Seattle candidates
agreeing to abide by an advisory pri
mary in King County, plans are being
made to put obstacles in the way of
Poindexter. It has been suggested
that in the convention that will be
called to nominate justices of the Su
preme Court, who are not selected by
primary vote, a distinctively Adminis
tration Platform will be adopted with
the view of making it impossible for
Poindexter to subscribe to Republican
principles and still carry out bis in
surgent campaign.
The suggestion is also quietly going
around that candidates for the Leg
islature refuse to subscribe to ' the
pledge to support, the "party choice"
Concluded on Page 7.)
Machinist Toppling Headforemost
Lands on Pedestrian, Who,
Innocently, Saves Life.
Falling from a third-story window of
the Uncle Sam lodging-house at 33 H
North Fifth street yesterday afternoon at
3 o'clock. H. A. Kunstat, a machinist,
was saved from probable death by land
ing on a pedestrian. ...
Kunstat fell headforemost toward the
concrete sidewalk, striking B. R. Hutch
ings. of 818 Ivanhoe street, St. Johns,
who was passing. Hutchings was knocked
down but uninjured.
Kunstat's head struck the sidewalk
and he was knocked unconscious. The
police were notified and a Red Cross
ambulance was called to carry him to the
Good Samaritan Hospital. He is still
unconscious, though probably will re
cover,, according to Dr. Fred J. Ziegler,
who is attending him.
How Kunstat happened to fan from the
window is a mystery. It is not known
whether It was an accident, an attempt
at suicide or foul play. The police are
inclined to think it an accident, the win
dow being less than a foot from the
floor. The landlady, who was questioned
by Sergeant Goltz. said the man. a few
minutes before, was seen by her bathing
his hands In a sink in the hallway.
Kunstat is unknown here. He secured
a room at the lodging-house Wednesday
night. In one of his pockets was found
a card, made out in his name. In the In
ternational Machinists' Association.
YANKEE RAILMEN OPPOSED
Mexican Employes Allege Discrimi
nation Appeal to Diaz Planned.
MONTEREY, Mex., April 14. War upon
American railroad men in this republic
has been resumed by native employes of
the railroad companies. Thenatlve de
clare they are discriminated against and
that foreigners nil the more important
positions, to the detriment and- injury
generally of the Mexican railroad work
ers. The native unions have appointed a
committee of 60 to go to the City of Mex
ico and present their grievances to Pres
ident Diaz. They think it thus possible
to nsiodge the Americans and other for
eigners employed in the railway- service.
A number of Mexican newspapers are
espousing the cauBe of their, countrymen
and publishing reports of alleged mis
treatment of tlie Mexican employes by
meir auen superiors.
ASQUITH URGING HASTE
- . .
Premier's Resolution Sets -April 2 7
i as Limit-
LONDON, April,14. Premier Asquith's
resolution to be proposed next Monday
allocating the "time for the consideration
of the budget, the rejection of which, by
the House of Lords precipitated the re
cent general elections, provides that all
stages , of the legislation must be com
pleted on April 27.
The fate of the government depends
upon the attitude of the Irish members
towards this resolution.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 87
degrees; minimum. 34 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair with heavy frost In the
. morninft, rouowea curing: the afternoon
ty higher -temperatures; northerly winds,
National.
Suffragists' hiss President Taft. who doubts
that women are ready for ballot. Page 1.
House asks President for sugar trust facts.
Page 5.
Domestic
Dr. Pearsons, on 90th birthday, says he Is
disappointed. Page 1.
Mrs. v L. O. 6-wope objected to size of fees
to be charged by lawyers. Page 2.
Topeka's Mayor says preaching on Sunday
is against law. Page 1.
Illinois Central Railroad fraud may total
$5,000,000, involving many concerns.
Page 1.
Steamer Santa Clara awash off Table Bluff:
all passengers and crew, numbering- 100,
safe at Eureka. Page 2.
' Sports.
Pacific Coast League results:. Portland 5.
Sacramento 1; Oakland ?. Ios Angeles 0;
Vernon 4. San Francisco ii. Page 8.
Jeffries practices on big negro fighter for
three rounds. Page 9.
Langford knocks out Barry in 16th round.
Page 9.
Commercial and Marine. .
Mohair sellers await action on Dallas pool.
Page 21. ...
Rains in Southwest csusa weak wheat mar
ket at Chicago. pace 21.
Stock prices continue to advance. Page 21.
Portland business men to leave today for
trip on upper Columbia River. Page 20.
Pacific Northwest.
Son of Mrs. Schulx reports he saw Wezler,
alleged murderer, on train.-" Page 11.
Poindexter' s Senatorial race In Washington
blow to direct primary law. Page 1.
Proposed drainage of large area In Klicki
tat County to be settled by courts.
Page 10.
Track after wreck near Spokane hard to
clear; three bodies found. Page 7.
Seattle hospttal patient beaten by head
nurse alleged. Page 6.
Receiver appointed over Puget Sound Home
Telephone branches to effect reorganfza
" tion aimed by friendly suit. Page 10.
Portland and Vicinity.
Fire committee takes action looking toward
new fireboat. Page 16.
Spring colonist travel unprecedented.
Page 14. f
Fire committee submits proposed ordinance
putting ban on all fireworks except dis
play. Page 15.
Man falling three stories lands on pedes
trian; neither seriously hurt. Page 1.
Grange Institute opens at Oreehara; Oregon
farmers aroused. Page 14.
Business men complete plans for four-day
trip to Southern Oregon. Page 17.
Portland men Interested In big deal in Mexi
can placers. Page 17.
John H. Smoke's confession to Deputy said
to Implicate others In extensive freight
thefts. Page U.
District Attorney announces that -telephone
bond deal of Oregon Trust bank mill be
Investigated. - Page 10.
Southern Pacific asks continuance of
Fourtii' street icJuacUon., tfa 14j
Open River Convention
at Albany Vehement
PERMANENT BODY ORGANIZED
Appeal to Interstate Commis
sion Remedy Suggested.
INDEPENDENT LINE GOAL
Willamette Farmers Decry Corpora
tion Control of Oregon City Gates.
350 From Seore of Cities A&k
for a Free Stream.
Approximately 350 representative bu.4 .
nesa men of tha leading; cities of the
"Willamette Valley attended the con
vention. His delegations were sent
by Eugene, Salem, Cottage Grove,
Corvallis and Oregon City and there were
representatives from Portland, atcMinn
ville, Lebanon, Brownsville, Springfield,
Harrisburg, Halsey, Canby, Dayton and
Sheridan.
Across the street from the Alco -Club,
where the assembly convened, nar the
Union. Statfon was a big banner which
read, "Welcome t the Hub City, the '
Home of the Big Red Ajpie. And
stretched across the streets which led
to the club rooms were banners reading
"We want the 10-cent arbitrary rate re
stored," "Free Locks at Oregon City" and
'An Open River from Portland South,
the Year Round."
Nature did her part to make the con
vention successful, for today was one of
the best of the season, sunshine beaming
upon the delegates.
P. D. Gilbert, president of the Albany
Business Men's Association, called the
convention to order and Dr. W. H. Davis,
president of the Albany Commercial Club,
was chosen chairman of the afternoon
session. Wallace R .Struble, manager
of the Albany Commercial Club, was
made secretary and R. C. Freeman, of
Eugene, and E. C. Giltner, of Portland,
assistant secretaries. J
Dr. Davis delivered th introductory ad
dress of the convention. He said in
part;
Rail and River Compared.
Comparisons between the volume of ton
nage carried ty river and that carried by
rail in the Willamette Valley are so sig
nificant as almost to be classed as odious..
The Oregon Railroad Commission in re
sponse to the request of the Albany Com
mercial Cluib, makes the following official
statement: 1
The anuual tonnage affected by Oregon
City locKa, if operated by 3overnment on
free lockage basis, is as follows, for the per
iods Indicated:
Through the Willamette locks for year
ending December 31, 1909?
Paecei.gers .......... lO.nr.7
Cattle, head 1.3;;3
Sheep and hogs, head 74
Lumber, feet .35.014
Tons of freight ....1.1,413
Handled by Southern Pacific for year end
ing June 30. 1309:
Freight, tons 1.465.353
Passengers carried ... ....3,948,313
Free Locks Wanted.
"One of the duties of this convention will
be to discuss the question of free locks act
Oregon City, and the purchase, and opera
tion of the same by the United States Gov
ernment. To this end, careful consideration
should be given, especially in view of the
fact that hls Is a most strategic moment
for the solution of this question, owing to
the fact that an amendment has been in
corporated in the pending rivers and har
bors bill for the appropriation " of $300,000
for euch purchase.
"It is understood that this same rivers and
harbors bill carries an appropriation of
SflO.Ooo for the improvement of the Upper
Willamette River. It Is properly part of the
buslners of This convention to devise ways
and means to secure the expenditure of this
sum. if appropriated, at such points on the
Upper Willamette as are necessary to open
the river to uninterrupted navigation
throughout the year.
'Another duty of this convention will be
to consider the matter of the abrogation by
the Southern Pacific Railroad of the lO-cent
differential freight rates on through East
ern shipments In less than carload lots; in
plain English, the return to the old rate of
28 cents a hundred means an increase on
every ton affected of $3.60."
W. S. McFadden, of Corvallis, then
sprke on "Free Locks at Oregon City,"
saying; In part:
Men In Congress Blamed.
An open river has long been a subject of
the greatest moment to the home-builders
of, the Willamette Valley but unfortunately
those who have represented us in Congres
sional capacity, while prolific in fine prom
ises, have signally failed thus' far to ma
terialize any relief In behalf of the peopl
from the toll exactions at tha Oregon City
lok.
The Willamette River is an entire propo
sition and entity and by nature was In
tended as a common carrier for the products
of the valley, and when - we speak of an
open river vv mean from Its source to its
mouth.
Yearly Tribute Enormous,
Since the creation of the locks our yearly
tribute to the toll-gatherers at the Oregon
City locks has been at least 4100.000, which
has " been exacted from the producers in
tributes independent of the original $200,000
and interest paid out of the State Treasury
40 years ago.
The free will donation, of our rler to a
corporation seems incomprehensible; a river '
that was given us by nature as our com
mon carrier has been so h andicapped by
legislative enactment as to redoes our peo
ple, our producers, to the condition, of beasts
of burden for toll and freights and other
like exactions.
No corporation has the right to exact toll
upon what nature created for the benefit of
th whole community. It is up to us to fre
CConcJuded on Page &. r