TIIE MOTIXIXG OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, XOYEjiBER 23. 1910.
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JX)KT1V D S ATI ROAT, NOV. S. !
WHAT ARE I'.VIK KAIIJCOAO KAT:ST
An lndigaant cllixen of Medford.
Mr. Newbury, senda to The Orcgonlan
a. letter of Inquiry aa to hy lh ex
press rata on two boxes cf apples from
Medford to Portland la aonutiung like
four timea the rate from Modford to
Maker City, though the- distance Is
lut twice as grtit. The rate from
Medford to 1'ortUnd 1 TO cents, ac
cording1 to the correspondent, and
from I'ortland to 1'akt-r City
Plainly there is Inequity and discrim
ination here. Wh.it h:is become of ur
justly famous State Builroad Com mis
sion? la It possible, that a single
Srtevar.ce cf any shipper haa escaped
lta eagle eye or disciplinary hand?
A few months back. Jisl before tho
late campaign, that resolute and pow
erful body mada a sweeping ord-T re
ducing express ratta In Oregon, and
the companies meekly acquiesced. But
It reaiJy acems that thero are a few
things yet to be done. The 1,'ommls
lior.. which Is not a perpetual board,
and which has In lta membership a
CommL-itloner now and then whose
hearing alone; about the election period
Is particularly acute, will likely enough
be surprised to learn Juat now that
very one Is not aatlstied with the
recent atcrn regulation of tho express
companies. Why did this correspond
ent wait until after November S be
fore It occurred to him that he had a
grievance? It Is no sufficient answer
that his apples were not picked and
ready for shipment. Plums were ripe
then and were duly gathered, ex
pressed and delivered.
The Medford shlrpcr also has aome
thlnic to say about railroad rates, and
the heavy tolls Imposed for the short
haul to Medford as against the long
haul to San Francisco. Now he la
getting on difficult ground. The
"bluff of w-ater competition" as he
contemptuously characterizes It, Is an
Insurmountable reality. We have no
purpose of being aarcastlo In suggest
ing that Medford would have no trou
ble about adjustment of lta rates If
it were to move to deep water or
deep water were to be made available
there. It Is a factor In rate-making
that no railroad has been able to ig
nore, and no railroad ever will be. able
to Ignore. It la a fact that the sched
ule of rates from Portland to San
Trancisco and from San Francisco to
Portland by water Is and must be the
basis of all rate-making between those
points. Is or Is not the railroad Justi
fied In bidding for the business at tho
same or a lower rataT Or must it
make from Portland to San Francisco
a mileage or distance tariff that will
rive intermediate points the advantage
of a proportionate charge? This
would be ideal. If the scale of the
through-rail rates could be made ex
actly the same as for the through
water haul: but In practice, it docs)
not and cannot work, out In that man
ner. The Medford writer will agree, of
course, that the railroad la entitled to
a fair return a reasonable profit on
any haul, whether to Medford or to
the seaboard. If the rates to Med
ford were to be fixed on that basis
he would have no further reaaon to
complain: but If. in that event, ho
found also that the railroad was tak
ing through business) from Portland to
San Francisco for what It could get.
would or should ho also say that the
railroad must not take the business,
but must refuse It? In other words,
would he insist that tho rate to Kan
Francisco from Portland should bo ad
justed on the basis of the rail rate to
Medford and not the competitive
water rate to San Francisco? "We
think he would not say eo, though In
effect that Is precisely what he says
In his letter. He would say. or he
should say, that the rate to Medford
should be a. rate fair to Medford
Identical with the rate to other places
similarly situated as to location, dis
tance, and conditions. A reasonable
rate to Medford Is a rate that yields
the railroad a proper return for Its
service.
There are perplexing and compli
cated aspects to the rate-making prob
lem that have puzzled the most ex
perienced and ecientlfio experts of the
country. The Medford contention la
not new. It was made prominent by
Spokane, which after years of cease
less agitation procured from the Inter
state Commerce Commission a decision
that lowered the transcontinental
tariff to 6pokane. but distinctly recog
r.Lzed the principle of water competi
tion. The rates to Spokane were too
high because the railroads were charg
ing Spokane too much, not because
they were charging Portland. Seattle,
or Tacoma too little. If the shippers
of Medford are able to demonstrate
that the rates from Portland or from
any other point are exorbitant on
their merits, they ought to have re
dress, and we hope they will get It.
But Medford can hardly succeed any
better than Spokane succeeded, by at
tacking the controlling factor of water
competition.
TEATHEB DISTEBS.
A germ afloat In the air Is in his
native element. ITe Is master of tho
situation. No matter whether he be
longs to the pneumonia tribe or tuber
culosis or what not. so long as he Is
flying about on the breezes he has the
advantage. He will get breathed In
or swallowed or will effect a lodge
ment In somebody's eye and In the end
he will alay his victim. But when
the germ settles down on the piano
top or the looklng-g'.aas he ta help
less. He can no longer make wanton
assaults upon unsuspecting humanity,
but must lie anj wait for some min
ister of death to set him afloat again.
Usually this Instrumentality of de
struction la a feather dua4er.
Time, nu when, tho feather J aster
I-a-.y. vlltioat fcun.l&y. m:m io&ir. . . .. " ; " i
!'hou fucdmr. tir m.r.th. . -'f I
rl.y. without hjcO. on. roonta
V.il. on. y.r J ?0
. a.a i
held full sway In every household.
Mothers raged with it from room to
room dealing out doom to their hus
bands and children. Tho hired girl
scattered more than Egyptian plagues
upon her employers as she released
the disease germs from Imprisonment
by Its mglc touch. But now the
relttn of the feather duster la pretty
well over. It still exercise dire sway
In Pullman cars. Ieath dances gaily
In those pestiferous palaces as he be
holds his sable ministers" advance upn
tho helpleos public armed with letlial
dusters. Women w ipe dust away with
damp ciotns ar.a tnus Keep me
Imprisoned while they clean surfaces
effectively, but male Janitors cling to
tho ancient weapon of the King of
Terrors. Some any they do it because
they hcte their own species and want
to depopulate the world; others say
thev do not know any better. All
women who live In flats and all men
who inhabit office buildings aver that
every Janitor is possessed of seven
devils. They probably exasgerate. Six
would bo nearer tho mark, but there
Is much gTound for the common re
port that there servitors are Inspired
nv malignant fiend to wreak death
upon mankind
KUOKI) FOREIOX TRAIlfc.
Tho trade balance which hung
heavy against this country In tho Sum
mer has swung back In our favor
and the October returns on our for
ein trade are flattering In the ex
treme. The exports of i'08.057.7 j5
were the greatest ever recorded in a
single month and. as they were more
than t4.OuO,0t)9 In excess of the im
ports, tho balance of trade which had
hhrunk to small proportions now
shows for the ten months a total of
J 135.000.000. This figure is smnll In
comparison with the JiOO.OUO.000 bal
ance that stood in our favor for the
same period two years ago. but it Is
such an agreeable change from what
threatened a few months ago that It
has had a decidedly beneficial effect
on tho financial situation in the East.
This improvement will be further en
hanced when tho November returns are
completed for It Is now a certainty
that big gains In October wlil bo wull
maintained this month.
Not only have the October figures
broken tho record for excess of ex
ports, but this most encouraging re
sult wbs achieved In the face of a fall
ing off In tho shipments of staple ex
ports. There was, of course, a heavy
Increase in tho value of tho cotton
exported, but tho exports that made
possible ho new record were manu
factured products which showed an
increase of more than i:. 000.000 over
the same month last year. This is
further evidence of a change that is
rapidly taking place by w hich we are
destined to cease gradually to figure
to any appreciable extent as an export
er of farm products. Wo are becom
ing more of a manufacturing coun
try and are using more of our agri
cultural products at home.
The change Is a welcome one and
has an important bearing on the pros
perity of the farmers aa well as em
ployes of tiro factories. All our wheat
and corn now exported Is not only
obliged to stand the cost of a long
voyage across the ocean, but when it
reaches Europe it Is Immediately In
competition with similar products from
cheap labor countries In other parts
of tho world. This country as a
whole will bo a distinct gainer when
we no longer have any wheat and
corn to ship to Europe, for by that
time our manufacturing Industries will
have reached a degree of prominence
where they will not only bo keeping
tho trado balance In our favor, but
. i... h nnnivinir employment to vast
numbers of workmen, who In turn
w ill supply a market for the products
of the American farms. Two or three
months of foreign trade Ilka that
shown by the October returns will set
tle the matter of an easy money mar
ket for at least another six months.
FROM SIAIX, BEGIN-NTN'Q.
The Oregon Railroad & Navigation
Company. Ilka Its predecessors, the
Oregon Hallway & Navigation Com
pany, tho Oregon Steam Navigation
Company, and the ' original "pool,"
known as the Union Transportation
Company, Is about to pass into rail
road history and In Its placo will ap
pear the Oregon-Washington Railroad
& Navigation Company, a new Incor
poration, which Is to take over all of
tho main lines and branches of tho
old system. Tho history of this great
transportation company Is Inseparably
woven with that of tho State of Ore
gon. Begun In 1S63 with a few small
steamboats and a tramway between
the upper and lower Cascades and
abundantly capitalized at 12,000.000.
tho Oregon-Southern Navigation Com
pany, la 1879. lost its Identity in tho
pew Oregon Railway tc Navigation
Company, with a capitalization of J6,
000,000, and with a considerable mile
age of real railroad and numerous
steamers and steamships.
Mora miles of railroad and more
capitalization were Involved when tho
Oregon Railway. & Navigation was
succeeded by tho Oregon Railroad &
Navigation Company, and now with
some of the original incorporators of
tho Oregon-Southern Navigation Com
pany still with us, there appears the
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navi
gation Company, a 150.000.00 corpor
ation with 3474 miles of track ramify
ing nearly all the best portions of Ore
gon, Washington and Idaho. Through
out it growth and changes of owner
ship and management this "Oregon"
corporation has always retained Port
land aa headquarters, and all the
products of the great empire which,
flrat. its steamboat and finally its rail
road traina hauled out of tha country
were brought to Portland. So long as
the control of tho great property re
mained In tho hand of Oregon men,
who could understand tho require
ment and tho possibilities of the Im
mense territory in which It enjoyed a
transportation monopoly, construction
work kept well up with tho demands
of the country.
With tho passing of the control to
New York Interests, this policy was In
a measure abandoned, and. the field
being left open, other lines appeared
and "diverted much business to Puget
Sound. The road leading across the
Cascade Mountain could not, how
ever, compete on anything near even
term with the water level grades of
the "Oregon" road, and to thla fact
waa due tho building of the North
Bank road to Portland. The conatruc
tion of that line had an immediate ef
fect on the Eastern stockholders in
tho "Oregon" road, and to protect
their main lines, work wa begun on
tho project which until thi week wa
known as th "mysterious" North
Coast road. Tha activity cf tho Hill
forces also hastened th construction
of tho lines into Central Oregon.
It Is a far cry from tho small
steamers Carrlo Ladd, Renorlta, Moun
tain Buck and other diminutive craft,
which comprised tha Una and equip
ment of tho original predec-ssor of
the $10,000,000 Oregon-Washington
Railroad & Navigation Company to the
magnificent traina do luxe that now
carry the passengers, and the 100-car
trains of freight over the S500 miles
of track now under control of tha
"Oregon" road. And yet tho possi
bilities for development in tho terri
tory are so great that tho growth of
tho future will show changes fully as
siartlin? as those of tha past.
THE IVirF.MHNO MNOLB TAX.
From U'Ren's "People's Power
Lttgue" comes tho word that the sin
gle tax on land is to be presented in
Multnomah County next election for
enactment by the Initiative, in pursu
ance of the law. Just enacted, abolish
ing tho rule of uniformity and equal
ity of taxation throughout the state.
This single (land) tax Is to exempt
land Improvements, manufacturing
plants, and personnl property gener
ally. The scheme was rejected by
voters of the state In 1908, by ma
jority of nearly SO. 000, but 'now that
Mu'.tnomuh can be detached from the
rest of the state. Its supporters think
it can be established In this county.
The single taxer and the Socialist
are ono and the same person. Indeed,
single tax Is agrarian Socialism. Both
seek to strip owners of property of
their possessions; to prey on the prop
erty others have created and gathered
by Industry and patient self-sacrilice.
The single taxer would pile all taxes
on land, so that tho owner can get no
use or prollt out of It and will bo com
pelled to sacrillce it. The Socialist
would extend this scheme to all in
dustry of production and distribution.
The single taxer contends that all
property comes out of land; that as
land Is tho producer of all things, its
valuo Is a "social product," created
by the needs and the necessities of
society; that therefore, land should
bear all the burden of taxation.
The single tax would exempt great
part of tho wealth of Portland. It
would exempt the personal property,
the machinery and tha improvements
of tho so-called rich and woold load
up the land of homeowners with big
tax.es. Besides, the value of this prop
erty that would be ree of taxation is
even more of a "social product" than
is tho valuo of land. Factories cer
tainly acquire their value from the
needs of society and would be worth
nothing, would not exist, were popula
tion removed or those needs cut off.
So also as to cattlo and horses and
houses; railroad trains and steam
boats; stocks of merchandise; poultry,
dairy prolucts and orchards; fine mil
linery and fashion's shoes.
These matters will bo discussed In
the coming time, for evidently the
champions of single tax will try to
force, single tux upon this county.
Their theory Is that the- socially
created values are the ones that
should be taxed which are, in their
opinion, the value of land. But In
civilized and densely populated com
munities all values come out of the
progress of society. Many of theso
values which slnglo taxers would ex
empt from taxation minister to the
luxury and tho comfort of their pos
sessors more than do land values to
tho luxury and tho comfort of land
owners. Tho whole system of busi
ness. In which many non-land own
ers make money. Is created by tho
needs of tho public. Society Institutes
a system of markets, whereby a man
may buy materials and tools and ma
chinery, and maintains a system of
market whereby he can sell his man
ufactured product. All tho property
of such business is to bo exempted by
slnglo tax and land only Is to be taxed,
whose value, however, is less created
by Boclal forces than other values of
things which are to bo free of tax.
All this may bo a bit premature
perhaps a year or too early, since tho
threat of single tax Is not to bo car
ried out. Its supporters say, until 1912.
But tha subject hna acquired a new
Interest and a vital one, since the
constitutional barrier to tho innova
tion ha -been abolished.
Tho only rational method of taxa
tion, tho best that men have ever de
vised, is that of levying upon all prop
erty, of whatever kind and nature, ac
cording to its actual or market value
equally and uniformly.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 1913.
Colonel Roosevelt la not likely to
get a unanimous call from any Na
tional Republican convention to bo its
candidate for President, and ho does
not expect It, of course. What he
means when he said if ho has said
to hi friends that ho Is In a receptive
mood Is that ho will take the nomi
nation if they can get It for him. Per
haps they can and will get it. but not
without an organized and aggressive
fight.
Tho Republican party In 1912 will
be confronted by an extraordinary
dilemma. If It shall nominate Taft.
Taft will lose tho great Middle West.
If It shall nominate Roosevelt, Roose
velt will lose tha East. So it looks
now.
The Democratic party ha a great
opportunity. It also has Bryan. It
Is In as awkward a fix aa the Repub
licans. The campaign of 1912 is yet
to be won or lost.
INTO TirB 191S INITIATIVE HOPPER.
The result of the recent election
wherein the voters rejected twenty
three out of thirty-two measures are
said by some persons to be an abso
lute vindication of tho Initiative. It
Is rather an emphatic demonstration
of the purpose of the people to pre
vent overuse and obvious abuse of
tho Initiative. Vet has tho lesson
been sufficients Impressed on tho pro
fessional law-tlnkerer and life-long
devotees of particular legislative fads,
fancies and follies?
Here wo have already the prom
ise the certainty of half dozen bills
for Initiative action In 1912. We are
to have prohibition, female suffrage,
repeal of the county tax amendment,
making the single tax measure opera
tive, county division, and several
others. The list may be and will be
enlarged Indefinitely, so that the rec
ord of thirty-two already bids fair to
be badly broken.
Some day the people, through a
Constitutional amendment, will put
necessary protection about the Initia
tive. It ta Inevitable. They will atop
thia business of bringing up the same
old Issues at every election. They will
require proper selection and scrutiny
of measures before submission. They
will cut out tho helter-skelter, hlt-
or-miaa, haphazard method of putting
any kind of a measure, drawn In any
kind of way into tho legislative hop
per, men ina peopia wm j
measures and questions they desire to
pass on. Why should they have to de
termine any others?
The Rivers and Harbors Committee
of tho House will assemble at Wash
ington next Monday for the purpose
of getting the river and harbor bill
In shape for a report to the House
very early In the session. Washing
ton advices state that an attempt will
bo mudo to keep the total appropria
tions down to $30,000,000, but in that
sum the Columbia River will probably
be well taken care of both at the
mouth and at Celllo. It Is also stated
that Grays Harbor will receive a lib
eral appropriation. Fortunately for
Portland and for tho entire North
west, there Is no longer any opposi
tion of consequence in tho State of
Washington to Columbia River im
provements. Railroad activity In the
entire region east of the Cascade
Mountains Is eo pronourrfced that it has
mada practically tho entire Inland
Empire tributary to Portland. The
producers naturally desire the best
possible channel between this oty and
the sea, and will insist on their repre
sentatives working for Columbia River
appropriations.
Five oil tank steamers carrying in
the aggregate nearly 200.000 barrels
of oil were discharging in this port
Wednesday and Thursday and nearly
all of them will return again next
week with cargoes of similar- size.
Perhaps In no other direction Is the in
dustrial growth of the city more forci
bly shown than in tho remarkable de
mand for fuel. With a big fleet of oil
steamers running Into port with full
cargoes of the new fuel and the usual
number of coal cargoes discharging
here, the scarcity of wood is more pro
nounced than in any previous season.
Even the refuse from the steadily In
creasing number of sawmills is all be
ing used for heating purposes at high
er prices than have ever before been
attained. It seems strange to think
of a fuel famine in a heavily wooded
region like Oregon but had oil not
been discovered in California great dif
ficulty might have been experienced
in securing adequate fuel supplies in
Oregon, exenpt at very high figures.
Tho Farmers' Union in this state will
ask tha next Legislature to pass a
grain Inspection law. No definite
statement is made as to the kind of
a law that Is desired, but presumably
something Is wanted that will make
the buyer accept the grading by a state
official In preference to that made by
the buyer. After an experience of
more than a dozen years the Wash
ington grain Inspection law has proved
practically worthless except to provide
a number of officials with good sal
aries. All payment for Inspection
comes out of the farmer's pocket and
the buyer cannot be forced to pay
an increased price for grain simply
because it is inspected. Inspection
does not Increase the weight or im
prove the quality of wheat and the
farmer who has a good grade of wheat
will always get better prices for it
than wilt bo paid for poor stuff, re
gardless of what the inspector says.
Three items in the news of one day
show the trend of investment. A New
Yorker pays $50,000 for fruit land
near Medford, an Ohio physician
leaves a lucrative practice at Cleve
land to grow fruit at "White Salmon,
and a North Dakotan Invests $14,000
in a farm at Creswell. Climatic con
ditions are not tho principal Induce
ment, but they help.
Immigration Commissioner Keefo
gives voice to tho wonder of
many observant, people on this
coast who find multitudes of
Chinese who "no eabby Melican,"
although tho . exclusion law went
Into effect nearly a generation ago. In
all thoso years even an Australian
savage could learn English.
"Why Is not today a good time to be
gin Christmas shopping? You can
get several gifts out of tho way after
dinner tonight. Salespeople will not
be nearly so tired then as they will
bo three weeks from pow.
Unquestionably tho most direct, eas
iest and cheapest way for Great Brit
ain to sound read public sentiment on
woman suffrage Is to follow tha Amer
ican plan. Let tho males decide by
ballot.
Tho center of youthful precocity
must be shifting from the Old Bay
State, for now comes a 19-year-old
Marylander to give the Interstate Com
merce Commission points on rates' and
rights.
Roses In bloom In tho open tho last
week of November are no uncommon
sight In Portland. There have been
seasons without freezing weather when
blossoms were cut as late as Febru
ary. Another evidence of Oregon's rapid
growth is offered In tho State Treas
urer's report, which shows that pub
lic expenditures aro nearly $4,000,000
a year.
Thero is little danger of a tie-up of
railway traffic. . The engineers never
strike, for tho roads always "como
through" before the time of trouble.
Tho college football season Is over.
Now for Caesar, geometry, "trig" and
other minor stunts for which, pre
sumably universities aro maintained.
This week's events in Rio Janlero
fill a long-felt want among modern
librettists by furnishing a plot for a
genuine comic opera
With a baseball game In Havana on
Thanksgiving day, tho Americaniza
tion of Cuba may be said to have be
gun la earnest.
At Salem next week the Oregon De
velopment League will sound tho
whole gamut of affective community
advertising.
Mr. Carnegie gave away another two
million Thanksgiving day. Mr. Car
negie's effort to die poor are dis
tressing. It seems that Hood River is hold
ing two apple shows simultaneously:
Ono in Chicago, the other at home.
The Colonel will strengthen his hold
on tho Far West by sloughing off
Plnchot.
Restlessness Is spreading in the
snuX-oo-lore4 republics.
COUPLES
SEPARATE
Wlfo Polls Hair and Spouse Is
Granted Divorce.
Four divorces were granted yester
day morning by Circuit Judge Cleland,
among them being one to Mrs. Belle
Buehler, separating her from T. E.
Buehler. She married " hlra at La
Grande, April '23, lb94.
The Buehlers entered Into a stipula
tion whereby he is to pay his wife
$720 a year, or J60 a month, for the
education of their J5-yoar-old child,
B.issie. who is in a seminary.
ltusaell O. Yates was given a divorce
from Catherine Yates, because she
threw thinKS at him when she became
anprrj-. Besides, ho said, she growled
at him and pulled his hair. He mar
ried her April 2. 1308.
Edward J. Clark went homo drunk
the nisht after lie was married, ac
cording to Sarah Helen Clark. He has
been drunk on an average of three
times a week ever since, she said. The
Judpe gave her a divorce. She was
married March 26, 1'jOfi. She resumed
her former name, Williams.
Anna E. Masters, who married Wil
liam Masters, at Schofield, Utah, April
15, 1SSS, was given a divorce. Ho failed
to support her, and deserted in 1S97.
she said.
Loella Waprner brought a divorce
suit yesterday against J. A. Wagner,
whom she married at Salem, January
7, 1902. He deserted her October 24,
1906, she alleges.
BURGLAR IS SEXT TO PRISON
Convicted Man Declares He Was
"Doped" by Accomplice.
Frank Kali, 24 years old, was sen
tenced to the Salem PenitentiaS for
two years and a half by Presiding Cir
cuit Judge Cleland yesterday after
noon. Kail admitted that on November
1 he broke into Woodard, Clarke &
Co.'s store, but he said it was because
he was with another man, who had
doped him. Kali was arrested the day
after he arrived from St. Louis. He
said ' he was never in trouble before
and asked the Judge to be lenient with
him.
Mike Miller and Dan Dublo pleaded
not rullt to having assaulted Louis
Eby, intending to rob him. Their case
was set for trial February 8.
Harry Martin was arraigned on a
larceny charge and allowed 10 days in
which to plead. Gertrude Blake plead
ed not guilty to a charge of larceny
by bailee. F. H. Lasher was arraigned
on a charge of obtaining money by
false pretenses and will plead Monday.
O. Andrew Jackson pleaded not guilty
to a charge of obtaining money by
false pretenses. O. Kogoway was not
sentenced yesterday, his case being
continued until 2 1. M. Monday.
CIGARETTES CAUSE IXSANTTY
Guardian Asked for Man Who Gives
Cheap Option on Good Lots.
Addicted for many years to the ex
cessive use of cigarettes, which have
contributed to make him Insane, a
guardian has been asked for Charles
W. Smith, son of the late Joseph E.
Smith. The petition for the appoint
ment of a guardian was made in the
County Court yesterday by It. B. E.
Smith, of 631 Marshall street, a
brother. The petition states that both
Smith's parents were sent to tha asy
lum because of Insanity.
Dr. Smith says that his brother and
himself, together with his brother, Mil
ton O. Smith, and his sister, Lena B.
Smith, were bequeathed four lots In
block 205, Couch Addition, share and
share alike. The property is worth
$50,000, he says. He complains that
Charles gave Henry Schuldorman an
option on the property in May last for
$9000, a payment of $20 being accepted.
Dr. Smith says he and his relatives
heard of this option only within the
last 10 days. Judcre Cleeton will hear
tha matter December 8.
ADMINISTRATOR IS PROTESTED
Brothers of Greeks Killed in Acci
dent Petition Court.
The brothers of three Greeks who
were killed In an accident on the Uni
ted Railways lino several weeks ago
applied to County Judge Cleeton yes
terday, asking that John Marandas be
removed as administrator of their rela
tives' estates and that relatives be ap
pointed in his place. When the estates
were probated, November 3, Hans Heid
ner, Greek Consul, represented that
there were no relatives In this coun
try. The brothers complain also that
a bond of only $500 was called for from
Marandas lu each case, while the
amount of damages to be sought from
the company in the case of each death
is $3000. Judge Cleeton set December
5 as the day for hearing in the matter.
The estates are those of George Diml
trou, Haralunlos Gust Moustakas and
Stavros George Anagnostou. The pe
titions yesterday were filed by John
Dimitrou, Nick Moustakas and Petros
Anagnostou. John Dimitrou waives his
right to appointment as administrator
and asks that Jim Dimitrou be appoint
ed. Petros Anagnostou asks that Nick
Moustakas act in his stead. The Greeks
died October 26.
Painter Wins $2000 Verdict.
Verdict for $2000 was returned yes
terday against the Portland Railway,
Power & Light Company by a Jury In
the suit of Walter Chomicz for injuries
he sustained by receiving a shock from
high voltage electric wires when paint
ing the Morrison street bridge. He
sued for $15,000. Chomicz said the
wires were covered with a dark sub
stance and that he supposed they were
Insulated. But' when he tried to crawl
between two of them he received a
severe shock and fell 20 feet to tho
deck of the bridge.
Damago Suit Settled.
When court convened In Judge Kava
raugh's department yesterday morning
to take up the suit of John Lareon
against the Oregon Timber & Lumber
Company, It was announced that the caee
had been eettled. Darson smed for $20,000
damogea because he was struck by a
log while working on the company's roll
way near Mist October 26, 19-J8. The log
was being pulled up by a cable, end waa
In some way caught, so that It came at
him end over. The amount of yester
day's settlement was $12M.
Man Sues for Loss of Fingers.
Victor Bosan filed suit In the Circuit
Court yesterday against the Enterprise
Planing Mill Company to recover $10,
000 damages for the loss of two fingera
on his left hand. . Ho says he was
working September 17. 1909, planing
lumber on a Jointer. His left hand be
came caught in the knives, severing
the Index and mlddlo fingers. He al
leges the knives were exposed, when
guards should have been placed over
them.
Suit on Xoto Complicated.
T A. Lewis Is euing the Smith-Wagoner
Company, before a jury In Judge Kava
naugh's department of the Circuit Court,
for the recovery of $100 on a note given
by R. H. Vose to Lewl and by Lewis
tqthe company In lieu of a $3"0 payment
on a lot. The suit Is a complicated one,
end' the Jury is being given a chance to
straighten out the tangi- . .
Forn
TAX OX FLEET WILL STAND
Court Empowers Clatsop Sheriff to
Sell Boats for Xon-Fayment,
ASTORLV, Or., Nov. 25. (Special.)
Judge Campbell, of the Circuit Court,
handed down a decision In favor tf the
defendant this afternoon in the case of
the Callender Navigation Company vs.
the Sheriff of Clatsop County. The suit
was brought to restrain the defendant
from selling the plaintiff's fleet of steam
ers for the collection of delinquent taxes
on the ground that the home port of
the company la at Knappton, Wash., and
therefore its steamers are not subject
to taxation In this county.
In giving his decision the court said the
evidence showed the real status of the
property is In Astoria. It was true, he
eaid, that the boats were engaged In
Interstate commerce, but the crews were
hired here, tho steamers lie up here
when out of work and there was no
evidence submitted showing that any of
the craft had ever been in Pacific County.
"Testimony was Introduced." said tha
court, "that one of the steamers carried
the mail to Deep River, but the court
has no Judicial knowledge as to
where Deep River Is. The only
purpose of taxation Is protection and
whatever state or county affords pro
tection to the property In question is the
one that should collect the taxes. The
decision of the court is for the defend
ant.'1 The plaintiff gave notice that an ap
peal will be taken and Judge Campbell
said he would make an order continuing
the Injunction in force pending the ap
peal. POTATOES VERY PROFITABLE
Three Acres on Twin Falls, Idaho,
Tract Yield 893 Sacks.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Nov. 35. (Spe
cial.) Potatoes grow Into money in
Southern Idaho, That, at least, is
what the farmeis of the Twin Falls
tract think since they began harvesting
their 1910 crops. Louis A. Snyder, a
farmer living one mile east of Twin
Falls, has given the secretary of the
Commercial Club at Twin Falls some
figures which are Illuminating.
On three acres which h has Just
harvested he gathered 893 sacks, aver
aging 110 pounds. He sold 1500 bushels
at 70 cents a hundred pounds, receiving
$630. In addition he has 75 sacks left
for seed. Mr. Snyder planted three
varieties on the three acres. One acre
was planted with Delmany Challenge,
and this brought $245.42. One acre was
planted In WThite Peachblow, and
brought $195.12, and the third acre in
Red Peachblow, which brought $189.46.
The planting and harvesting were all
done by machinery. Mr. Snyder for
merly lived at Park, Utah, whore ha
was engaged In mining, and he had
no farming experience previous to his
removal to the South Side Twin Falls
tract about four years ago.
JIEASURES GO UPON BALLOT
Papers Filed on Last Day, After
Office Closed, Allowed by Court.
ASTORIA. Or., Nov. 25. (Special.)
Judge Campbell, of the Circuit Court,
dissolved the temporary Injunction this
afternoon In the suit of G. C. Flavel and
others versus the City of Astoria, an
action to restrain the defendant from
placing certain proposed amendments
to the 'city charter on the ballot for
the coming municipal election.
The suit was based on the contention
that, as the amendments were filed with
the auditor while he was attending a
council meeting, after the hours for
closing his office, on the evening of the
last day allowed for filing, the filing
was thus illegal. The court held that
when an officer is performing a duty
prescribed by law It is mandatory upon
him to receive papors for filing at any
time, when presented.
If ha is otherwise engaged, after the
closing of his office, it Is optional with
him whether or not he accepts them, but
If he does accept the documents and
takes them to his office, they ara prop
erly filed under tha law.
niLLMAX INDICTMENTS STAND
Judge Domvorth Overrnles Objec
tions of Rich Realty Man.
TACOMA. W7ash., Nov. i5. (Special.)
Federal Judge Donworth today over
ruled the demurrers to the Indictment
of Clarence Dayton HUlman, and held
the Indictments valid. The decision
refers only to the six indictments
against Hlllman personally, accusing
him of conspiracy and fraudulent use
of the malls.
The court withholds opinion on the
seventh indictment, which charges em
ployes of Hlllman with conspiracy to
defraud by use of the mails.
A demurrer to Hillman's motions to
quash the Indictments was filed by
Distrlot Attorney Todd. ' Hlllman has
been ordered to appear in court Thurs
day afternoon, December 1, to plead.
Indians Hear Addresses.
CHEMAWA, Or., Nov. 25. (Special.)
The Chemawa Indians will have occasion
to remember Thanksgiving day, 1910,
which was celebrated at the school in the
good old-fashioned way. At 10 A. M.
the entire student-body was assembled
in the auditorium and exercises appro
priate to the occasion were given. The
President's and Governor's proclama
tions were read, addresses were made
by the members of the faculty, the pu
pils, and by visitors. Among those to
address the Indians was Superintendent
Brlggs of the Albany schools, whose talk
made a strong Impression on the red
men. The dinner at noon was the event
of the day for the young Indians and
was the realization of many days' look
ing ahead. The day'a festivities ended
with the football game with the strong
aggregation from Albany High School.
Collision' Damages May Be Big.
ASTORIA, Or., Nov. 23. (Special.)
Harrison Allen, of Portland, attorney for
the Astoria & Columbia River Railroad
Company, is in the city today to Inter
view the owners of the ship St. Francis
and the tug Melville, relative to the
damage sustained by tho railway as a
result of the collision of the vessels
with the railway trestle below Smith's
Point some weeks ago. He says the
damage to the trestle was about $2000,
but the loss from the tying up of traf
fic for three days and the fines Im
posed by the Government for the failure
to deliver the mail will bring the total
damage to a much higher figure.
MiHhand Has Narrow Escape.
BPRINGFTBLD. Or., Nov. 25. (Spe-
claj j The fact that the rollers on a
planer in the Booth-Kelly mill here were
set for heavier lumber than usual saved
the life of E. M. Young last night. Young
was caught by the hand between the roll
ers and drawn Into the machine to the
shoulder. The light tension upon the
rollers, 6et for a thick piece of timber,
saved the arm from being, torn from the
body.
Pacific Alumni Enjoj9 Banquet.
SALEM, Or., Nov. 25. (Special.) A
few of the Paclflo University alumni
were entertained at a banquet at the
Hotel Marion last evening.
DiscBUirvATiosr seen in rates
Express Charges for Same Distance la
Oregon Declared Out of Proportion.
MEDFORD, Or., Nov. 2 4. (To the
Editor.) I shipped two boxes of ap
ples yesterday from Medford, Or., to
Baker City, Or. The price charged for
shipping two boxes weighing less than
100 pounds by express to the latter
point is $2.95. Wells-Fargo's agent
here informed me that their rate to
Portland was 70c on the two boxes,
and that the additional charge of $2.25
is the charge made by the American
Express Company from Portland to
Baker City. There Is less than two
miles' difference between the distance
from Medford, Or., to Portland, and
from Portland to Baker City, yet the
express rate from Portland to Baker
City is $2.25 on the same package that
Wells-Farpo's rate fjr the same dis
tance is 70 cents.
We have been Informed that our Rail
road Commission lias been making a re
duction of express rates in this state
and that in pursuance of their Investi
gation everythine: would be lovely and
that there certainly would be no rate
discriminations. But how is the Amer
ican Express Company and the Oregon
Railroad Commission to reconcile a
charge from Portland to Baker City
25 miles at $2.25 per hundredweight,
with an express rate from Medford to
Portland 326 miles at 70 cents per
hundredweight, and at the same time
call each rate a just and equitable one
to the shipper? Isn't there something
right here for the Oregon Railroad
Commission to look Into? If the rate
at 70 cents from Medford to Portland Is
one on which Wells-Fargo can grow
wealthy, why can't the American Ex
press Company afford to carry the same
package the same distance for tho same
figure?
True, there may not be .very much
fruit shipped over the O. ft. & N. via
the American Express Company from
Baker City or to Baker City; but the
public is aware that It doesn't require
extraordinary facilities to ship apples
in small lots, and they are as a matter
of fact shipped over the American Ex
press in the same kind of cars, equipped
with the same kind of facilities as the
cars used by Wells-Fargo In the ship
ment of small consignments of fruit.
Then why the difference in price
charged for haulin? it? Wells-Fargo
was never yet convicted of hauling any
thing at a less figure than would re
turn a profit to It; and if 70 cents per
hundredweight will return a margin of
profit on apple shipments a distance of
325 miles to Wells-Fargo, why will not
the same figure return a margin of
profit to the American Express Com
pany for the same distance? The ship
per has pretty good cause for believing
that $2.25 for a shipment of two boxes
of apples from Portland to Baker is
nothing less than highway robbery.
Can't the Railroad Commission get busy
and look into these unjust charges?
There Is something else in railroad
charges that the average American cit
izen cannot reconcile with the true Idea
of justice In rates. We are told in
Southern Oregon that a carload of mer
chandise can be shipped from Portland,
Or., to San Francisco, Cal., a distance
of some 800 miles, for a less figure than
the same car, containing the same mer
chandise, can be shipped over the same
route from Portland, Or., to Medford,
Or., which is less than half the dis
tance. And when we complain about
this, we are met with the bluff, "water
competition," "short haul'' and the
"long haul." But we can't get away
from the Idea in our homely way of
looking at things that the Southern Pa
cific Is not running its railroad for fun
between Portland and San Francisco
and that It is not hauling freht in
carload lots from Portland to San Fran
cisco for a less sum than returns a
reasonable margin of profit for the
service, even though it is desirous of
meeting "water competition." It doesn't
haul that freight at a loss, and if it
can afford to haul a carload of freight
from Portland to San Francisco at a
stipulated figure and make a reason
able profit, why can't it haul a carload
of the same kind of freight 100 miles
loss than half the distance for one
half the price charged for hauling from
Portland to San Francisco?
True, there are a lot of intricacies
about railroad rates; but there isn't
anything so Intricate about this that
if the company can haul a carload of
goods from Portland to San Franclsoo
for $100 and make a profit, it can haul
a carload of the same kind of goods
from Portland to Modford, 100 miles
less than half tha distance from Port
land to San Francisco, for at any rate
half the through charges, or $50.
Can't the people of Southern and
Eastern Oregron have redress of some
kind from the outrages which are be
ing perpetrated against them by the
express companies and the railroad
companies?
The people of Oregon, through the Initia
tive laws and Its referendum check upon
tha Legislature, should be able to care
for themselves In these particulars; and
if our Railroad. Commission is not
clothed with the authority to right
these wrongs after the Commission has
made the necessary Investigation, let
us give it tha necessary power and
authority so to do.
"It Is such Iniquitous charges as
these," said a bystander, as I paid the
etpress charges on the shipment of ap
ples, "that make Socialists."
v GUS NEWBURY,
The Early Shopper
Detroit Free Press.
The happiest woman we know of is
the one who 'nas 21 Christmas gifts
bought already.
FEATURES IN THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
MAKING A MAN
OUT OF THE BOY
New series of talks by Colonel
John Sneed with his daughter con
cerning her baby. They are full
of common sense and humor, both
equally balanced. This is the key
note of Sneed 's first conversation:
"No, little girl, you can't start to
work on this man-makin' business
too early."
ETHEL IS INITIATED
INTO FOOTBALL
May Kelly tells how Jimmy ex
pounded the spirit and explained
the details of the Thanksgiving
game.
GREATEST EVENT IN
THE EOSE WORLD
Rev. Spencer S. Sulliger con
cludes his account of the London
Rose Show and tells of new va
rieties. DO YOU HAVE A
WORKING MODEL?
Mottoes that have won fame
and fortune for the men who fol
lowed them.
ORDER FROM YOUR NEWS
DEALER TODAY
"i