TIIE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAN, TUESDAY, JAXUART 3, 1911.
10
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Pi!y. BuDilftf tnrlud!. one month
Bow to HaenJi Saad poetofnce n
raw. fiprtM order or peraooal chock on
your local hank, stamps, coin or rurr.nry
aro at tho eender'e r;.. oia woatofnca
ad'lroaa la full. Inciudluc county and state.
Poalaca Rales 10 to 14 paaaa. 1 cent;
a aa pataa. X casta; M to 41 paean.
to u paces, 4 casta, Foreign poataa
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roBIXAXD. Tl -ESO.tT. J.tXr.tRY JMll.
THE CO REJM ON AI, T-ROCRA.MME.
Congress will meet tomorrow for
resumption cf iu short session after
the holiday recees: but te do not di
corcr either In the Presidential or the
Congressional programme anything to
prlva immediate concern to our friends
the nvoolgrowers. who are about to
meet In Portland, chiefly. It would
Appear, for the purpose' of finding out
what la going to happen to schedule
K. Nothing will happen until the
nrxt Democratic Congress meets. If
the wool tariff "hall be lowered by
Iwmocrats tr Republican", the Presi
dent will sign the bill. He will sign
any bill on any commodity that bids
fair to relieve him from his great
political blunder of emphatic and un
qualified (except as to wool) Indorse
ment of the Payne-Aldrich act.
Mr. Taft's programme Includes the
passage of an ocean mall subsidy bill
to promote the establishment of new
steamship lines to South America and
the Orient: legislation for the limita
tion of the Issue of Injunctions by
Federal Judges: a large appropriation
for the Immediate commencement of
work on the fortification of the Pan
ama Canal, and legislation making the
present Tariff Board a permanent tar
iff cnnuaUun to gather Information
as a basU for tariff revision one
schedule at a time. Some other thing
the President ardently desires to do
before he shall be confronted with a
Democratic House of Representatives,
but he will probably not go far out
side his present limited plan, lie will
have accomplished much If. after the
raiioua appropriation and supply bills
are out of the way. these measures
hall have been enacted Into law.
But the Senate and House will not
settle down to work along the lines
defined by the President without more
or less exciting and diverting excur
sions Into various political and legis
lative field. Senator Brlstow's reso
lution for submission of an amend
ment to the Constitution to elect
United States Senators by popular vote
win be one Hon In the Senate's path
that cannot be pacified, or avoided, or
ignored. Then there U the scandal
of the Lortnier election, and there Is
Uao the Cummins rule to pave the
war for tariff legislation schedule by
schedule.
In tho Howie th Balllnger report
will not down, and It may lead to pro.
tracts! and fruitless discussion. The
House rules, too. bother tho Insur
gent, and they may Insist on Imme
diate change In procedure. The Dem
ocrats have lost much of their Inter
est In that burning topic since the last
election.
The woolgrowers need not worry,
thew. about an Immediate slushing
away at schedule K. Congress will
have all It can do without unnecessary
and unprofitable controversy over the
tariff. Besides the Republicans are
more than willing to pass the whole
troublesome topic on to the Demo
crat. But wool Is going to have the
time of Its life In the sixty-second
Congress.
aVaIUMAI EARNIXO.
Detailed statistics on railroad oper
ation as presented In a Chicago spe
cial dispatch printed In The Orego
nlan yesterday account In a large de
gree for the inability of railroad com
panies to market new securities to
advantage in this country. That a
gain of S4S.000.000 In the gross earn
ings of the roads for the lust half of
1910 should be smothered by an In
crease of more than 1. 000. 000 in
operating expenses discloses a situa
tion not at all attractive or pleasing
to Intending investors. It Is not alone
the railroads that are Interested In
this matter. Kail road transportation
Js a commodity of such general use
that the buyer as well as the seller
has an Interest in maintaining its ef
ficiency. It is obvious that this effi
ciency cannot be maintained without
constant additions to the immense
capital that Is required to construct,
maintain and operate the roads.
The average rates for freight and
passenger service on American rail
roads are lower than thane of any
other country, but with the constant
Increase In the cost of operation,
equipment and maintenance. It seems
hardly probable that the necessary
capital for Htw extensions, equipment
and other Improvements will be avail
able unless there la a corresponding
Increase in rates. The problem Is
slmrty one of "cost of service." So
much publicity has been given the
matter and Federal Investigation and
regulation hare been so elaborate that
there should not be much difficulty
In determining exactly what this "cost
of service" amounts to. These figures
obtained, the matter of determining
what Is a fair and reasonable return
on the Investment should not be
difficult.
Federal Investigations and regula
tions have been so drastic In recent
years that most of the abuses that
first caused the Investigations have
been corrected. The railroads and the
people who patronize them have a
much better understanding. Fair
minded patrons of the roads are will
ing that the several hundred thousand
stockholders of the roads shall re
ceive a fair profit on their Investment,
and the railroads In their chastened
spirit seem willing to play fair with
the people. Out here In Oregon where
the railroads are spending millions
every month and have plana for con
tinuing these expenditures for several
year, the matter Is of exceptional
interest. There are in fact a great
many Isolated localities In this state
where the people would willingly pay
almost any rate If they could only In
duce the railroads to build and open
vp the country.
It la on this class that the 111 effects
of a. demoralized market for railroad
ecurlfea fall heaviest, for there Is
small hope for marketing securities
for new construction at a time when
funds for maintenance and equipment
of old roads are made unobtainable
through expenditure Increases out of
all proportion to the Increases In
earnings. Whatever may have been
the sins of the railroads In the past,
the statistics now Indicate that the
punishment has reached a point
where the public may suffer along
with the original culprits.
POVTAi. SAVINGS BENEFITS.
Postal savings banks will fortify the
cause of sound currency and strength
en the foundations of the Govern
ment because depositors will insist
that they shall get back from the
Government banks money whose pur
chasing power Is equal to that of the
coin which they put iu.
Depositors will also demand that
the holder of their money, the Gov
ernment, shall be protected against
foreign foe and domestic agitation.
It will be the interest of depositors to
see that the seaboard of the Nation
shall be fitly defended and that the
Government shall have adequate
powers of defense and offense In Its
distant possetielons.
Postal banks will cause depositors
to lend their aid to defend the Nation
internally against humbug reformers
who would grab for themselves and
their kind the savings of their thrifty.
Industrious fellows.
Had the Government been the
banker of a million voting citizens in
time past, the crazes of greenbacklsro.
and free sllverism would have been
short. Those crazes planned debase
ment of the Government- currency.
They would have flooded the country
with cheap money wherewith dishon
est persons would have paid their
obligations and thus cheated their
creditors.
For these reasons, if for no others,
the postal savings system will benefit
the people and the Government.
Moreover, it will teach and promote
Individual thrift, provide citizens with
safa deposit for their savings and sup
ply the Government with funds at
Cheap rate of Interest.
OiTORTl JOTY XB KCONOMT.
If Mr. Brandcis, who has become
famous by his statement that he could
save 1500.000.000 per year by a bet
ter system of railroad management,
should turn his attention to the Gov
ernment's management or misman
agement of some branches of Its serv
ice, he might find equal opportunities
for economy of a practical nature.
One of the most glaring examples of
waste of money by the Government Is
about to be Investigated by Congress
when action Is taken regarding the
publication of the "Pilot Chart" and
the "Meteorological Chart." The
"Weather Bureau, fully equipped for
the work, with hundreds of represent
atives In seaports throughout the
world snd recipient of reports from
thousands of shipmasters sailing every
sea. each month issues an elaborate
map. accompanied by a wealth of me
teorological data and jttornt warnings.
This publication bears the caption:
"Meteorological Chart of the North
Pacific Ocean" and also bears the
Information that It Is "published
by authority of the Secretary of
Agriculture."
Simultaneously with the publication
of this chart, appears the "Pilot Chart
of the North Pacific Ocean" with a
caption explaining that it is "prepared
from data furnished by the hydro
graphic office of the Navy Depart
ment, and by the Weather Bureau of
the Department of Agriculture." We
are further Informed by the caption
that It Is "published at the hydro
graphic office under the authority of
the Secretary of the Navy." It might
be inferred from the widely different
captions that these "charts" were of
an entirely different nature, but as
a matter of fact It would require a
microscopic examination to disclose
any material difference In them or In
the Information they present.
The absurdity of the Government
spending Immense sum every year in
the duplication of this pilot chart or
meteorological chart Is so pronounced
that a Congressional committee was
appointed last session to report on the
matter, and at the coming session an
effort will be made to eliminate one
or the other of the charts. It is not
a question of depriving the public of
the very useful Information which the
Weather Bureau has collected and
published In the "Meteorological
Chart" and handed over to the Navy
Department for duplication on the
"Pilot Chart." It Is simply a matter
of eliminating one or the other of the
charts, thus saving a large sum of
money which is now being needlessly
expended for keeping two sets of of
ficials In positions and Issuing two
sets of charts bearing the same
information.
I.FSSON8 FOR OI'R TirKODORK.
Ex-Presidents before our Theodore,
quitted the office without deeming
themselves summoned to "boss" the
country. Nearly all of them retired to
lighter duties. None of them, so far
as now recalled, attempted to turn the
country over; and It may be added
that none ever hunted Hons.
Washington spent the remainder of
his life raising tobacco and com.
John Adams went home to Massa
chusetts and llcd in luxury and ease.
Thomas Jefferson had no great sur
plus to live on: he worked In aid of
education and died po6r.
James Madison had plenty and
lived among his books, free from
care.
James Monroe was well off. He
served as Justice of the peace and
made himself generally useful.
John Q. Adams went to Congress
and made a great flight against slav
ery. He died in the Capitol when a
member' of the House on the Fourth
of July.
Andrew Jackson lived a long and
busy life at the Hermitage. Tennessee,
and died there, never offering to min
gle In politics.
Van Buren never, engaged In busi
ness, but kept a hand in. politics.
John. Tyler went back to his farm
In Virginia. He died while serving as
a member of the Confederate Con
gress. James K. Polk never again mingled
with public affairs, though he was
planning to do so when he died.
Millard Fillmore tried to be again
President and was the candidate of
the Know Nothings in 1860. He had
an ample fortune.
Franklin Pierce went abroad and
lived to be a pro-slavery dlsunlonist.
Andrew Johnson became Senator
from Tennessee after being President.
James Buchanan lived through
the war, but was a nonentity in his-
tory.
Chester A. Arthur expected again
to practice law, but death came.
Grant lived to be a candidate for a
third term and to be defeated.
Hayes retired to private life and to
educational work.
Cleveland became, an educator and
a publicist.
Benjamin Harrison resumed prac
tice of law.
So that Colonel Roosevelt has
ample precedent for feeling that he is
full of honors and that his fellow
cttlzens can run their government
without his continuous dictation. The
Colonel ha made a specialty of study
ing the lives of the ex-Presidents and
doubtless knows all the foregoing.
The results of the elections last No
vember may have reminded him of
them: since that time he has acted
more like other ex-Presidents.
THIS COST TO OREOOX.
The State of Oregon had contribut
ed to tho Government reclamation
fund, up to June SO. 1910, by the sale
of public lands within its borders the
sum of S7.860.000. The amount is
now said to be approaching S9.000,
000. The reclamation act was passed
In 1902. It contained a provision
(section nine) that within ten years
51 per cent of the aggregate amount
contributed by any one state should
be expended or appropriated for ex
penditure on reclamation projects
within Its borders. It la obvious that
the Reclamation Service, under this
provision. Inserted through the care
ful foresight of Representative
Tongue of Oregon, would necessarily
have enlarged the scope of Its Oregon
projects. The only way to avoid com
pliance with law and the doing of
substantial Justice to Oregon was to
repeal section nine. So section nine
was repealed, without a syllable or
sign of protest from the two Oregon
Senators.
Now, In the distribution of the
145,000,000 fund (S20, 000.000 being
appropriated by the special enact
ment) Montana gets S8.000.000. Idaho
S7.000.000. Wyoming S6, 000. 000. and
Oregon, which gave more to the fund
than any other state except North
Dakota, is contemptuously shoved to
one side with a petty S923.000.
Thus we see what it costs Oregon
to send to Washington two Senators
whose highest conception of their
duty is to leave it all to Lodge or
Aldrich.
rREVKNTTXO INSANITY.
The Increasing frequency of insan
ity has at last awakened the doctors
to the desirability of trying to prevent
its occurrence. In other terrible mal
adies, like consumption, prevention
has been found a' great deal better
and easier than cure. We have there
fore reverted, so far as they are con
cerned, to the excellent old Chinese
practice of requiring our physicians
to keep us well instead of running to
them for healing after the disease has
stricken the patient.
Prophylactic measures against in
sanity have been almost undreamed
of in modern communities. The most
civilized are as bad as the most bar
barous in this reaped. And not only
do we neglect disastrously to try to
prevent our friends and relatives from
going crazy, but no very exact method
has as yet been invented of telling
whother they are sane or not. The
usual practice is to wait until the sus
pected person has demonstrated his
abnormality by killing somebody.
Then we set about his cure more or
less scientifically. This practice re
sembles the profound wisdom of the
poetess who wished to know whether
a certain mushroom was poisonous or
not. After long meditation she de
cided to eat it and tak.e the conse
quences. It might kill her to be sure,
but In any event she would have the
blessed satisfaction of knowing the
truth about it.
Recent students of the subject seg
regate the Insane Into three pretty
clearly marked classes. There is the
Insanity of adolescence, that of ma
turity and that of old age. Of course
the last is the most hopeless of all. It
arises from the failure of the faculties
of the mind. The pitcher having
made too many trips to the fountain
f- ... 1 . . V. n I. .i M'hail In hpnltAn
at thi "eta".. The best that can be
done for the insanity of old age is to
mitigate Its miseries by care. It can
be warded off. no doubt, in many
cases by devoted attention, but it can
hardly be cured after It has once
fixed upon Its victim. Very likely the
best way to preserve the waning in
telligence of the old is to make their
lives as free from worry as possible,
to multiply their interests and keep
them occupied with duties wjjich
seem important even if they are realty
trivial. The worst possible treatment
for grandpa, whose mind has begun to
waver a little, is to establish him .in
an easy chnlr in the corner and never
let him undertake any occupation.
By all means give the poor man some
thing to do which will take his
thoughts off the condition of his
brain and stomach.
People who wish to keep their wits
In good working order up to the verge
of the grave must furnish themselves
with a multiplicity of interests.
Charles V. said that for every new
language he learned he felt himself
another man. Knowing half a dozen
he was the equal of half a dozen poor
wretches who knew but one apiece.
Certainly the more subjects a person
is interested in the more holds their
wits have on sanity. When one an
chor slips they have others to throw
out and some of them are sure to
catch and hold. The case of the man
who has devoted himself wholly to
business to the utter neglect of art.
books and play is pitiable when the
evil days come and the years draw
nigh in which he has no pleasure.
Had he remembered not only his
Creator but the mental faculties his
Creator gave him, in the days of hi
youth, his old age might have been a
time of serene and prolonged enjoy
ment Instead of a period of sordid
waiting for dissolution.
Saints and sages all agree that old
age is in truth the most enviable time
of life if we only take measures to
get ready for it when we are young.
But the taking of these measures also
has it dangers. It may bring on that
insanity of maturity which is the
bane of Americana This arises from
too much work, too much worry, too
little play and not enough change.
The human machine runs on month
after month and year after year at
full speed and then on a day when
he thinks not the soul who owns it
finds himself with a brain that will
not work. It begins to rattle and
grind. The cogs clash, the levers slip.
The only sure prophylactic against
the Insanity of maturity, according
to the latest lights of science, is play
I change. Do something to make
villi r,p r in ii n nn mfltrAF nnw biiiv l L
may be. Play Jokes on your friends
If you can think of nothing else.
Even that Is better than to go crazy
and murder them as the man is only
too likely to do who never lets up on
the everlasting grind of life. "Break
the routine at all costs," Is the advice
of the wise to the toller In store and
office. If you have a habit of break
ing the routine then breaJt that habit
occasionally. Change is the law of
life. He that does not change is as
good as dead.
As for the Insanity of adolescence
It comes from sowing wild oats. It is
curious to reflect what a variety of
crops is usually reaped from that
youthful sowing and Insanity 1 one
of the most common and least desir
able of them. Drink together with the
excesses of youth accounts for almost
half the Insanity of males. Women
go crazy for other reasons. Life on
the lonely farm with no parcels post
to break the dire monotony of the
hideous daysMs one of them. Bad
roads are directly responsible for the
lost wits of thousands of farmers
wives. Had It been possible to get
away from home and visit the nelglv
bors or attend church all would have
been well. But the mud was too deep
and the ruts too bottomless so they
staid at home all Winter brooding over
the kitchen stove and the next Spring
they were carted off to the asylum.
The pity of these tragedies is that the
blow does not fall on tho men who
are mainly at fault.
The biennial report of the Attorney-
General for the State of Alabama as
serts that liquor was the cause of 258
out of 630 homicides in that State In
the two years ending September 30.
while in the previous two years 238
out of 656 killings, were charged tq
the same cause. The amount of woe.
misery and murder that is caused by
improper use of liquor is staggering
in its Immensity, but in order to make
fair comparisons between liquor and
other influences which prompt mur
der, it would be necessary to know how
many of the more than 600 tragedies
were chargeable to other Influences.
Some day the purveyors of liquor will
take due cognizance of these statis
tics on murder and insist that their
natrons ston short of inebriety. A
good many men who are amiable and
harmless when sober become quarrel
some and vicious when Intoxicated
The proflJts on the drinks that place
them In that condition hardly repay
the liquor men for the odium that is
cast on their calling.
Post-mortem news regarding the
British steamship St. Denis, which
foundered Bomewhere off that "terri
ble north coast" a few weeks ago. is
to the effect that the vessel was over
loaded to an extent that it was impos
sible for her to rise under the weight
of a big sea. This British Columbia
habit of overloading vessels is not a
new one. A Vancouver dispatch states
that a court of Inquiry will be held
for the purpose of fixing the blame.
Perhaps If some of the authorities at
the Canadian seaports would do a lit
tle "inquiring" into these matters be
fore the vessels were permitted to de
part for sea, the death list would be
smaller. The St. Denis was a vessel
of 278 tons net register, and, accord
ing to Vancouver advices, she left port
with 600 tons of coal, in addition to
that which filled her bunkers. By
taking note of these figures it Is not
surprising to learn that "she rested
low In the water."
It is instructive to remember that
the Ohio farmers who sold their votes
so freely and frequently were' not
"Ignorant foreigners." They appear
to have been of good old Yankee
stock, speaking New England dialect
and graduates of the common schools.
One of the grandest lessons some of
our native sons can learn from the
Italian section gangs is how' to vote
Intelligently and honestly.
Take the country over except
Oregon and look at the balance sheets
of all business. Isn't It a matter of
congratulation that financial rewards
for 1910 equalled those for 1909? Of
course here in Portland, the general
average doesn't count. With new
blood new capital new enterprises
ttlltl ICIIOCU I ULl R." 1IC v.
profit kept pace with the
activities.
Increased
In 1892, the "Oregon Territory"
celebrated the centennial of the dis
covery of the Columbia river; in 1905
the Lewis and Clark expedition, and
now we are on the eve of commem
orating the one hundredth anniver
sary of the founding of Astoria.. New
as it is in the Nation's annals, still
what a historic place the mouth of
the Columbia has become!
About the biggest little industrial
news In The Oregonlan yesterday was
an authentic report of a Clackamas
County farmer who netted S605.60
from 178 hens last year. When you
consider that Portland consumes a
car load of Eastern eggs a day. there
is no immediate danger of Oregon
overdoing this profitable industry.
It is not agreeable to read that
some 600,000 persons in New York
city are more or less dependent on
charity. If the phenomenal growth
of that town means merely the multi
plication of paupers it might be well
to stop and take breath and think
things over. There may be a better
way to grow.
There is to be no liquor at the
forthcoming Portland Jackson Day
banquet. Appropriate comment on
the great renunciation might be
made by the Seattle lawyer who is to
speak on he topic "If Andrew Jack
son Lived Today."
In keeping with the progressive
spirit of Portland, the Y. M. C. A.
shows a growth from 2.326 to 4.019
members in the year. Oh, there's no
holding of us back now that we've
put on our seven-league boots.
Except for the enterprise cf John
Jacob Astor centering at Astoria 100
years ago, perhaps a good many of
us would be freezing back East today
instead of enjoying the balmy weather
of Oregon.
Peace as It Is conducted now-a-days
costs Europe a billion and a
quarter dollars a year and adds about
that sum to the total of public debts.
Fighting would be cheaper.
It savors of disloyalty when Kaiser
Wllhelm has his clothing made in
London. Maybe he is retaliating on
the Berlin tailors who don't advertise
In tho Court Journal
VACCIXATIOX IS SII-VERTOJr CASES
Axsrumcnt Offered That There Is Ke
Virtue In Immunity Measure.
PORTLAND, Or.. Jan. 1. (To the Ed
itor.) Much stress has been laid upon
the unvacclnated condition of some of
the small-pox cases at Silverton and
I think equal prominence should be
given to the vaccinated condition of
other of the cases. Three persons
traveling in Mexico came in contact
with smallpox on a train. One of the
three was vaccinated, the other two
never had been vaccinated. The vac
cinated one took the disease. The
others escaped until they were shut
up in the same house with the vac
cinated smallpox case in Silverton.
Then in due time they, togetner witn
the Silverton family, came down with
the disease on the same day. There
Is no guessing about who conveyed
the infection from Mexico to Silverton.
It was the vaccinated woman.
A nurse was put on the case, and
she shortly developed smallpox. Then
it was ' announced that she .had never
been vaccinated until she went to this
case when it was done. If this is so,
the health officials must have assured
her that this vaccination would pro
tect her. But it did not. Then two
nurses were sent to the scene of ac
tion, both said to be protected by
vaccination. One of the new nurses
took the disease and then the Polonlus
like press said she had not been vac
clnated, but that the third nurse was
vaccinated all right. Now we are in
formed by the papers that all three of
the nurses have the smallpox. here
does the protection of vaccination
come in?
Vaccination is said to have saved
the life of the first case, but It was
her susceptibility to smallpox that
brought it to all the other cases. Those
who escape with their lives will be
said to have been saved by vaccina
tion, but at least- one unvacclnated
person besides the unvacclnated nurse
has recovered, the child of the Silver
ton family.
The apologists for vaccination will
now have to do some more figuring.
As William Corbett said of similar
screwing and twisting in his day,
"Quackery has ever a shuffle left."
K. SHELDON.
Without disputing K. Sheldon's facts
we may be permitted to point out a
slight flaw in the logic he brings to
bear upon them. Let it be candidly
admitted that the vaccinated person
was the first to take the smallpox
and that he communicated it to the
others as K. Sheldon states. Does It
follow that vaccination is worse than
useless? N6t at all. It is one of the
primary facts about vaccination that
it must be repeated at intervals of a
few years. Its virtue is lost in the
course of time and unless it is re
newed the vaccinated person is no more
Immune than the unvacclnated.- This
disposes of the particular instance
which our correspondent cites. Per
sons who wish to take a broad and
sane view of the matter will not for
get that vaccination has virtually ban
ished smallpox from those countries
where It is rigorously enforced upon
the entire population as it is in Ger
many and Denmark. This fact admits
of no question and It Is decisive of
the issue. ' A properly vaccinated in
dividual is immune to smallpox while
one who Is not properly vaccinated
will take the disease if he is exposed
to it. In the face of this fact argu
ment is vain. .
Equator and Pole.
ANTELOPE, Or., Dec. 28. (To the
Editor.) I have heard it argued that
the equator of the earth was as high
as the North Pole; but for my own
part can't see through it. Would you
please answer in The Oregonlan?
KIXLAY M'BETH.
Height can be measured only when
the base or foot of the thing or things
to be measured Is given. Strictly
speaking, neither the equatornor the
North Pole has height. The equator
is an Imaginary line belting the earth
equidistant between the Poles and the
name of the point on the earth's sur
face designating the extremity of the
earth's axis. From the center of the
earth every direction is up. As the
earth Is slightly flattened at the Poles
the distance from the renter to the sur
face at the equator is greater than the
distance from the center to the sur
face at the North Pole. In this sense
the equator may be said to be higher
than the North Pole.
When "height" is used as a synonym
for "altitude" the measurement is up
ward from sea level. We are told by
Peary that the North Pole is located In
the Arctic Ocean. The equator orosseB
both land and sea and the Imaginary
line therefore is at times at greater al
titude than the Pole.
A Danserous Jiatr.
Newark News.
It's a mighty good thing for Brazil
under the circumstances that her navy
Isn't any bigger.
Ana Carey and the Bear.
(In Pendleton.- at the annual round-up.
pectators saap at the daring of cowboya
who ride bucklne horses and wild ateers.
In Curry County ridins prouesi. la alnnK
different lines. A true story of tho achieve
ment of a Port Orford celebrity has been
translated into the appended verse.)
But did you hear the story, so strange,
yet true as well.
Not one that fancy painted like some
folks often tell.
But one that's really truthful, and this
I will declare,
And emphasize with firmness) Asa
Carey rode a bear.
This happened down in Curry, a part
of this fair state.
Which now seems forging to the front.
a coming out, though late.
Like blossoms on the sweetest rose
but really I declare.
I quite forgot my story Ase Carey
rode a bear.
Ase went and set a bear trap, beneath
a spreading oak.
And trouble then was brewin' for
bruln this no Joke.
And from a limb suspended, he placed
a bill of fare;
I think he sal :- twas equine, and Asa
caught the bear. ,
He caught him by the hind leg, well
ud to be secure.
Ase went then to a neighbor's to have
a witness sure.
The neighbors came and saw him throw
a rope, that landed fair.
Around the neck of bruln, and then he
snubbed the bear.
Horatlus at the bridge is naught, Ther
mopylae is tame.
This Ursine ride of terror entitles
greater fame.
Ase stood there like a Spartan, erect.
serenely fair.
Then bowing to his audience, he calmly
rode the bear.
E'en Nolan in the Jaws of death on
Balaklava s field
Must in the final Issue the palm of
courage yield;
The world did wonder as It should
when death shots filled the air.
The Jaws of death were e'en bestrode.
when Asa rode tne bear.
Bear with me for a moment, this story
I have told.
There was no tragic end to this that I
should here unfold. .
'Tls now a part of history, and think
It Just and fair.
AU time should be reckoned from the
day Ase rode the bear.
S. P. W.
FOREST SERVICE BLUNDERS AGAIN
Practical Forester Aaserta That Pablie Will (irt Sugar-Coated Pill In Plant
i ins; of Southern Oak and Walnut in Northern Burned Areas.
BAKER, Or., Jan. 2. (To the Editor.)
On December 29, 1910, an article
by the Forest Service appeared In The
stncmntnT. Thla nrtfflA wnA headed "Nw
' Timber Introduced, Black Walnut and
Red Oak to Be Seeded in Burnt Areas."
It then goes on to tell that 500 pounds of
black walnut seed and 8134 pounds of red
oak acorns have been shipped from Har-rls-bnrg,
Ark., to the district forester at
Portland to be distributed through the
burnt districts of the Northwest. And
that in 25 years Oregon will rank as an
Important producer of commercial wal
nut and red oak timber.
9uch sugar-coated pills for the public
demand attention. Let us look at thie
article more closely. Most certainly the
Forest Service has experienced, during
the past season, heavy forest Area on
the various public forest reserves. Why?
Not because the season was extremely
dry; not because there were too few
rangers employed: not because there was
too little money to expend, but for the
simple reason that men who should have
been patrollng the forest reserves during
the Are season were assembled In groups
and assigned to do various kinds of so
called improvement work (fence building,
etc.), agaiust their own belief and pro
test. No wonder then that fires broke
out, ran wild for days, and finally got be
yond control. Had thesa faithful, over
worked rangers been allowed to do what
the public thought they were doing and
what they were supposed to do the loss
of many thousands of dollars, millions of
feet of timber, and the lives of many
brave men would never have occurred.
Now that the fires have laid wsste mil
lions of acres of the forest primeval, up
Jumps the concience-strieken Forest
Service with the whim that we must re
stock these burned-over areas by plant
ing, for the good of the public. Merci
ful heavens! Who restocked the burns
of old and gave us our present timber
supply? Who Is restocking our present
burns successfully today? Nature, and
she cannot be Improved upon, for forestry
has taken its ideas from nature first,
last and always. Nature handled the
forests long before the Forest Service
was ever evolved by the pipe dream of an
Idealist or nursed at a Pinchot breast.
So like bees swarm the planting Ideas
In reforming brains and unsophisticated
intellects and what on earth happens?
Of all ridiculous and blundering ignor
ance that which follows is the worst
They go away south Into Arkansas and
ship north into Oregon, Washington and
Idaho hundreds of pounds of black wal
nut and red oak seeds to plant and
restock our burned areas when common
sense, science and any school kid know
that commercial success can never come
from such a venture. Any lumberjack
knows that trees taken from a warm
climate and moved so far north and out
of their natural range cannot possibly do
well. Some may live and grow but they
can never be anything but scrubby non
commercial trees, especially when planted
in our burned areas, which for the most
part are in the high mountains where
even our own native broadleaf trees
do not exist. If such maneuvers are the
result of scientific training In the for
estry schools of this country, heaven help
our posterity.
a a a
How many millions of acres of timber
land are burned over annually in the
forest reserves? How few acres In com
parison can the Forest Service ever hope
to plant? How many million acres of
barren waste will still remain after the
Forest Service has put Its absurd drop
in the empty bucket?
Why bother about uncertain gambles
under the ruse of experiment? The
Forest Service has experimented and
VOTERS AND SIXGLE TAX AMBUSH
Only Small Percentage of People Knew
True Purport of Measure.
Harry Park in Brownsville Times.
Your statement In last week's Times
that the neonln of Oregon were up
against a hard proposition in enacting
the const'tutional amendment provia-
ing tor the people of each county to
regulate taxation and exemptions with
in the county, etc., and which con
tained the single tax Idea, leads one
to inquire how many people there are
wh- really want such a law? It seems
that the vicious and freak measures
-voted or. at the last election were
about the only ones that passed into
laws. One Is forced to the conclusion
that the people want such laws as the
home rule law, the liability law and
the single tax amendment or they
don't know how to vote. It Is not likely
that there were more than a very small
per cent of the people of Oregon that
really knew what they were voting for
when they voted for the single tax
amendment. Its title did not reveal
the real character of the measure.
Why don't the people Inform them
selves as to the character of what they
are voting for or vote no? It is a
simple thing to do. I can look back to
the November election and recall with
satisfaction that I, voted "no" 29
times. I can recommend U as an easy
way to kill freak legislation. Vote no
on everything you don't understand,
and then some.
Perhaps people of Oregon want the
single tax. Perhaps they want the
land to bear all tho burden of taxation
and all other forms of property to bo
exempt. If they do they have got It.
Perhaps they want the splendid tide of
immigration that has been coming to
us In recent years diverted to other
Western states where the crack
brained reformer is unable to get a
hearing. Perhaps they want land val
ues to decline as rapidly as they have
risen In the last few years; If so, call
In the slngle-taxer with his unerring
monkey-wrench of reform and he will
fix things for them. If the profession
al and habitual reformer would begin
by reforming himself he would have
less inclination to reform the rest of
the planet.
The announcement that IT. S. L Ren
has just returned from the East, where
he has been In consultation with single-tax
agitators and will begin a cam
nio.n tn .kiv the single-tax theory
adopted into as many counties as pos
sible will cause a long-suffering pub
lic to wish that U'Ren had some useful
occupation. It is remarkable that a
mere man like that can waive aside the
accumulated experience of generations
and go into his closet and shut the
door and then all unaided and alone
with nothing to work with but a dis
ordered brain map out a scheme of
taxation that will make the other fel
low pay the taxes, and then practice
a shameless deception on the voters
bv calling it something other than
w:hat it really is. The worst wish we
have for such a disinterested reform
er is that he might bo obliged to lo
cate on a farm and find himself up
against the proposition of making a
living by physical exercise or starve to
death. By the time he had made a suc
cess of his Job he would be willing to
surrender eome of his theory for facts.
In time he would not be so good look
ing, but he would know more. Unfor
tunately for the rest of us, however,
such brilliant dreamers usually make
their living with their jaw Instead of
their muscle.
Rhyme of the Tlmea.
Baltimore American.
There was a young fellow named Coony,
Who fall deep in love and got moony.
He spent ail his cash
On the girl, which wu rash. y
Whan aha shook him all said, -Now. who's
loony ?"
studied for years. What has it given
the public that is original and not taken
from the ideas of others? Give the pub
lic a little common wnse judgment to
its immediate practical needs. Faith
fully preform duties entrusted the care
of the Nation" timber. Stop bluffing
and get down to business.
Why trot down to Arkansas and bring
home a load of southern tree seeds into
a northern climate when on every hand
we have splendid forest trees which wo
know will grow and prosper trees that
are lndlginous and acclimated which will
produce lumber of much greater value
than any southern tree could possibly do?
As a matter of fact it would be al
most impossible to prevent good repro
duction of native seedlings on most of
our burned areas.
This absurd expenditure of money
under the headinsr of experiment, which
on the face of It must fail, appears to
be a strategic piny Into the hands of the
public to hide past neglect and blunders.
To crown further this masterpiece, the
district forester says he believes that in
25 years these walnut and red oak seeds
will yield enough timber to make Ore
gon rank as an Important producer of
commercial walnut and oak lumber.
Could anything be further from the
truth? Think of it! Commercial lumber
from black walnut and red oak seeds
under the most adverse circumstances in
25 years! How absurd! Go to the stats
mentioned Arkansas. There we find that
in Its native home under most favorable
circumstances from 40 to id years are
necessary to produce commercial black
walnut timber, while from 40 to sO years
are required by red oak to attain similar
development. Yet the Forest Servioe will
grow this timber out of Its natural ranee
in 25 years. Both of these tree species
are only moderately rapid growers on the
average. Perhaps the service intends to
inject a catalpa or an eucalyptus serum
into these trees to make them beat out
Old Father Time. And so they study
on and on, always expecting the public
to take the innocent, proffered, sugared
pill.
The forest reserves, strictly speaking,
are not on a paying basis and never hava
been. This is contrary to the usual
claim and, belief. Thus far, the grazing
fees have paid for service nuit'ic to a
large extent. Are tho forest reserves
sheep pastures? Why not faithfully care
for the timber and not oppress the graz
ing man? The service hangs on to gruz
ing to keep from going to the poor house.
That's what's the matter. The fundamen
tal and prima reason for creating the
forest reserves and organizing the Forest
Service was to perpetuato our forests by
their wise use not to burn them up, nor
to bottle them up; but to give them to
the people who created and still support
the Forest Service. Today much mora
money is lost annually on the forest
reserves from fire alone than is received
from all the grazing fees and other
timber sale Incomes combined. The
forests are neglected for grazing a(
frightful cost. The day of reckoning is
coming, however. The public is learning
slowly.
Furthermore, by holding tnis reserve
timber at a high price, the Forest Serv
ice Is acting not unlike a gigantic trust,
while millions of feet of timber burn,
decay and go forever from the public
Ftorehouse. Again, when the big lumber
man is ready for this reserve timber In
will purchase it for a sum far less than
what it actually cost to protect it at Gov
ernment expense. Wherein, then, is thert
wisdom in an astringent and narrow
minded policy which prevents the pivsenl
economic uso of millions of feet of timber
which can never be fully utilized under
the moot liberal methods of management.
A PRACTICAL FORESTER.
THUMB RIXGS FOB MARRIED JIES
New Jersey Woman's Club Wants Sinn
Required by law.
The Cupid Wings Club, the Trenton or
ganization composed of women for the
purpose of mending broken hearts and
bringing about domestic felicity, haB writ
ten to Governor-elect Wilson asking his
support of a bill they have prepared for
the coming session of the Legislature,
providing that every married man be
compelled to wear a ring on one thumb
to show that ho has been wedded. T.ls
will be one of the first measures to be
presented to the Leglature next year,
and the members of the club will lobby
for its passage.
The bill provides that every man in the
State of New Jersey who is married wear
what will be known as a "thumb ring."
Married men. If the law goes into effect,
will havo to wear thoir rings at all
times while outside their own homes and
a penalty of two years in state prison
and a line of J300 is provided for failure
to live up to the provisions of the law.
Jewelers are aiding tho Cupid Wings
Club In its endeavors to have the meas
ure passed, and some of them have made
models of what they believe will be ap
propriate. Mrs. Charles Howell, the president of
the club, drew the bill, with the assist
ance of an attorney. She says that a
married man should be as easily identi
fied as a married woman. In speaking
of the movement today Mrs. Howell said:
"If we succeed in getting this bill passed,
as we hope we will, there must neces
sarily be a sister bill passed, compelling
married women to wear rings. A great
many homes have been made unhappy,
we have found, by husbands posing as
single men and making love to others
than their wives. Several cases where
young girls have suffered by falling in
love with married men whom they be
lieved to be single have been reported
to us."
C-o-OperatlOTO. ia Appreciated.
SALEM. Or., Dec. 31 (To the Ed
itor ) During my administration as
Superintendent of Public Instruction. I
have endeavored to create in the minds
of the people of this state a desire
for better school conditions, and have
striven at each session of the Legis
lature, for the enactment of-such laws
as would raise the standard and effi
ciency of our public schools.
In this work I feel that I have, at
all times, received the support ot The
Oregonlan both in its news and editor
ial columns, and I take this opportu
nity to thank The Oregonlan for its
generous support. I assure you I havo
appreciated its co-operation more than
I can say. J. H. ACKERMAN.
Supt. Public Instruction.
Comptilsorr School Attendance.
HILLSBORO. Or., Dec. 30. (To the El
ltor.) Can a child of 12 or 13 be allowed
to quit pehool for good providing he
has passed the eighth grade? Please
answer in The Oregonlan..
CONSTANT READER.
In districts where the school popula
tion is 1000 or more attendance at school
is compulsory on nil children between
the ages of S and 14 years, inclusive. In
districts having & school population of
less than 1000 and more than 200, attend
ance is compulsory between the ages of
9 and 15, inclusive.
Sale of Liquor to Indians.
SALEM. Or., Dec. SO. (To the Editor.)
In regard to selling liquor to Indians,
what Is the ruling of the Supreme Court?
Can you sell to Indians off the reserva
tion who have become citizens?
J. M. WILKINSON.
An Oregon statute prohibits the sale of
liquor to such Indians. It is permitted
in soma states, as the Federal laws do
not prohibit It.
1
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