10 TIIE MOKXTN'G OKEGQyiAX, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10. 1911.
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fOBTlAXP. ORIOOX.
Entsra at Portland. Oratan,Poatofaee a
PKnd-c'lau 3lattr.
atxertpuea Hataa lavnrtably lm Aaraac,
(BT MAIU
tnl?y. Sondar rnrtudad. on ysar. .....
Dalir. Sunday lacludd. ala tnaatha.... 4 1
tsilr. Sunday Ineludad. thra month.. X 11
raj:jr. Sunday laeludad. on month.... -i
lillir, vlttiout Sunday, on jr. ...... J-JO
IaJly, wtthool Sunday, mix months... a.J
Iai:y. without Sunday, tnrsa anoalha...
Pally, without Sunday, monu. . .. - .
TVsaly. ana yaar.
Saaday, ana yaar. JrT
Sunday ans vaaaiy. ana yanx. .
(BT CARRIER)
raf?r. Boaday tnctadad. ana yaar...... a.W
)allr. Sunday Included, oao month.... .
Haw to Haaalt c4 poatofnca maaar
ardor, axpraas ordor or psrsonal chcs oa
your local bank. 8 tarn pa. coin er currency
aro at too sadr"s risk. JIa poatofara
addrooa la full. Including county and atata.
Jas4aa llatoa 10 to 14 pasM. 1 cant: IS
ta SS aa. 1 eoata; t to Poa. eoata;
40 to eo pacta. 4 eaala. ra poaiase
eoubla rata. .
Eastern Baataaoa OfBroo Varro tork
Itn Kow Tork. Brunswick bulldinc tu
trs. stssar building.
rOKTLAND, Xl'E&DAY, JANVAKY 1.
TOt:KAl. COl'KTS AXO UK AL AIT-AIK-H.
The arbitrary and sweeping opera
tions of government by Injunction are
strikingly exemplified by the order
which Federal Judge Hanford Is
sued to restrain the city of Seattle
from holding a special election for re
call of Mayor GUI. The purpose of
the election does not. In bur Judgment,
tut any particular figure in the busi
ness. It i sufficient for the occasion
f this comment to remember .that
the election wa called atrlctly in pur
nuance of powers conferred upon the
lty of Seattle by the constitution of
Washington and wrought In due form
Into its charter.
Whether the prpposed election was
wise la. we conceive, not a subject
with which Judge Hanford. as a Judge,
has the slightest concern. Nor dots
1t matter to him offlclully whether
the recall Is r Is not a dekirablo Po
litical expedient. If he. as a Federal
Judge, may pat one political device
under the ban of Ms Injunction hf
. in ay treat another In the same way.
Jf he should not happen to think It
advisable for the Legislature of Wash
ington to meet quite so often as it
does, he could, at the- request of some
non-resident taxpayer, enjoin all those
sessions or parts of sessions, which
might appear to him. In hi superior
wisdom, superfluous.
To be sure the happy thought oc
curred to Judge Hanford to base his
political Injunction against the people
of Seattle partly on the allegation that
the petition for the special election
had been signed by some persons who
were deceived and by some who had
no right to sign It. One readily un
derstands how the same allegations
might be made to serve equally well
against any election whatever. It Is
the easiest thing In the world to make
allegations. e
Suppose some absentee taxpayer
were dissatisfied with the result of
any city election, regular or special.
He might allege to Judge Hanford. or
some other Federal judge, that the
election had been won by fraud, that
a minority of the voters had set out
to overthrow the will of the majority
by cunning and corruption and that
he felt sure therefore that his tax
money would be squandered. No
doubt Judge Hanford would feel called
upon to Issue one of his convenient
Injunctions and stop the whole ma
chinery of the city government. In
deed It Is difficult to see Just where
the process which Judge Hanford has
begun is likely to end. It Is still more
difficult to see what there Is left of the
substantial reality of local govern
.ment. In the last resort there ap
pears to be no power but that of the
Federal judges and to set this enor
mous, thia unlimited, power In mo
tion all that is necessary Is ,a peti
tion, real or Imaginary, from an ab
sentee taxpayer.
We are aware that the United States
Constitution gives non-residents of a
state the right to sue citizens, and
perhaps municipalities, of that state
In the Federal courts, but there Is rea
son In all things and it looks like
stretching a point to throw theaclty
government out of gear for the sake
of a taxpayer whose Interest In the
affair Is apparently rather flimsy.
Certainly the United States Is not
deeply concerned In the local squab
bles of the Seattleltes. It Is not
enough concerned at any rate to make
It worth while to Invade and dostroy
the principle of local self-government
to defend Its Interest.
As for Frank H. Seobey. the man
who plays the Interesting part of non
resident taxpayer in this ominous
drama, whatever Investment he has
In Seattle was made subject to the
local constitution and laws. He la cer
tainly not to be deprived of his prop
erty except bv due process of law. but
It Is also certain that like any other
property owner in Seattle he Is liable
for all taxes which are levied legally.
We wonder if Judge Hanford holds
that any non-resident may at his good
will and pleasure stop the processes
of government In state or city when
ever he fancies that his money paid
in as taxes is not being wisely ex
pended? Or does this disquieting rule
of equity apply only to those processes
of government with which Judge Han
ford's theories do rot happen to agree?
An Injunction is above all things
the product of one judge's arbitrary
will. lie may Issue it or not as he
pleases. There Is) no law to compel
him to act. there Is none to forbid
him. Of course the Injunction Is In
dispensable In certain emergencies,
but It requires not much acumen to
perceive what dangers it may involve
when it Is made a weapon in the
hands of political factions. In our
opinion the wisest Judges of the Fed
eral courts do not seek to extend their
power by injunction or otherwise, into
the realm of politic.
A fine example of the policy of al
lowing people to help themselves in
matters that directly concern them Is
noted la the work that la being done
on the Crater I -a ice road. Upon the
decision of the Supreme Court, which
declared unconstitutional the appro
priation of 1 100.000 by the Legislature
to build this road, the citizens of Med
ford opened subscriptions for its con
struction, with the result that S10.000
was pledged for the work. Of this
sum f S000 has been expended, and to
all appearance the sum subscribed will
complete the construction of a good
road for automobile travel between
Med ford and Crater Lake. The engi
neer In charge expresses the opinion
that It will be completed by June 1 of
the present year. This Is In all proba
bility a much better showing thnn
would have been made with more than
thre Cmenv the avraouxit of the state's
money. Besides, no one was taxed for
the work who was not personally ln
tereKted In the construction of the
road and who would not In all proba-
RENATOR CAIXlNCt-R-S LATENT.
Senator Galllnger, who for many
years has made a specialty of ship
subsidy bills, yesterday presented the
public with an outline of the 1811
styles in this class of legislation. It
will, of course, be recalled that none
of Senator Galllnger ship subsidy
bills get far enough along to cau.)
any trouble for anyone but their pro
moters, but at the same time the pub
lic . Is always Interested in learning
what new disguise the same old graft
will wear In Its annual re-appearance.
The Galllnger bill for 1911 Is a
plain a ft air. It has lost some of its
furbelows and trimmings, among them
being the provision for giving the Pa
cific coast a share in the loot. Some
one must have informed the Senator
that ocean transportation was so
plentiful and cheap on the Pacifio
that a ton of freight could toe shipped
6000 miles across the Pacific at no
greater cost than was exacted by
coasting vessels for carrylnaT 't one
tenth the distance along the coast.
Under such conditions, it would of
course be farcical to ask for a sub
sidy on the stereotyped plea that our
trade interests were suffering through
lack of ships to carry freight across
the Pacific This new Gallinger bill,
having eliminated the Pacific Coast
from participating in the $4,000,000.
which It Is proposed to take out of
the treasury and present to the ship
owners, would seem to invite some
early and earnest work on the part
of a conference committee, If It Is to
be made to fit Mr. Humphrey's sub
sidy bill. Mr. Humphrey seems to
think that old things are the best and
his 1911 ship subsidy bill is the same
old bill ho has been using since he
first entered Congress. To a loyal
Pacific coaster like Humphrey, a sub
sidy bill that gave all the money to
the Atlantic coast corporations, would
hardly seem to fill any long-felt want.
The next move of Mr. Humphrey
should be an alteration in his time
tried and defeat-dented measure so
that It will exclude from participating
all' vessels that are not operated on
the Pacific Ocean. As neither' tho
Humphrey nor the Galllnger bill Is
In any Immediate danger of becom
ing law. their regular Introduction will
not seriously affect the carrying trade
of the world.
THF. TOriiK-SKIN.VKD KIERXANS.
There were Frank Klernans when
the Morrison bridge was projected in
1880-86; also when the railroad bridge
was projected in 18S7. Later they
fought the Madison bridge and then
the Hurnside bridge. Now they fight
the Broadway span.
The Frank Klernans each time have
hired lawyers or lobbyists or other
henchmen. They have asserted that
each proposed viaduct would obstruct
navigation.
In 1SS0, the bridge was started at
Morrison street. Three piers were
planted and then the project was en
Joined In the United States District
Court, on application of selfish Inter
ests headed by Z. J. Hatch. This in
junction lasted several years. In 1886,
Judge Deady. United States District
Judge, in deciding a suit brought by
the bridge company, pointed out the
way for the company to proceed with
its work. Construction thereupon
continued and the bridge was finished.
In 188", the same argument of
"navigation" was used in the Legis
lature against the project for the rail
road bridge.
Selfish wharf owners and a few
other land owners "fight." The needs
of the community they care nothing
about. They resort to every extrem
ity to "hold up" bridges. They seek
even to Impair the city's credit, to
impose on taxpayers financial losses
that will last for years.
It Is gratifying to note that 'the
courts have thrown out the obstruc
tionists as often as the present Frank
Klernans have presented themselves.
There ought to be some force In pub
lic opinion. If in nothing else, to bar
these obstructionists out of the courts.
The Frank Klernans are a tough
skinned lot. The pricks that would
stay or drive other men they do not
feel. But there may yet be some way
of reaching their tender spot.
THE MC6XAW COUNTRY.
From Kugene comes the report of
the successful financing of an elec
tric line from the Lane County capi
tal to the Pacific coast. The line as
proposed will reach tidewater on the
Sluslaw River, forty-four miles West
of Eugene. From there to Florence,
at the mouth of the river, the dis
tance Is sixty miles. It Is also stated
that the line will be extended south
from Florence to Coos Bay.
This enterprise, if it Is carried to
early completion, will mean more for
Eugene than any similar Industrial
undertaking that has been launched
by the" rapidly growing valley city.
As everything that benefits Eugene
or any. other Willamette valley city
also pays tribute to Portland, this city
will incidentally reap benefits from
the opening of the new trade field.
It is Impossible for people who have
not actually visited the country to
appreciate thoroughly the resources
and possibilities for development in
the long-neglected localities lying
West of the Coast Range.
Tillamook and Nehalem on account
of the approaching railroads are be
coming better known and are already
attracting large numbers of new set
tlers and Increasing the output of the
great staples that have made the re
gion famous. Natural conditions, very
similar to those which have made the
Tillamook and Nehalem country pros
perous, are to be found In the new
region toward which the Eugene rail
road is directed. Irrigation Is un
necessary. The rich bottom lands
along the innumerable streams that
flow toward the Pacific produce enor
mous crops of almoet any vegetable,
cereal or fruit which may be planted.
Although the land when cleared be
comes almost too valuable for stock
raising on extensive scale, there will
be a considerable range for stock for
many years and the dairy farms wilt
naturally turn off many animals which
will fatten to better advantage and
prove more profitable than those pro
duced on more extensive ranges.
The Sluslaw, like Tillamook, Ne
halem and all the rest of the coast
country, is so remarkably productive
that it will always be a region of small
farms, which, of course, means large
population and a higher average de
gree of prosperity than will be found
in the big-farm localities throughout
the State. This route for reaching
Coos Bay Is in some respects leas sat
isfactory than a more direct route
from & point farther south, but It
will open up new territory between
Siuslaw and Coos Bay that could not
be reached by any of the roads for
merly proposed. With so many new
electric and steam lines now opening
up new regions in Portland's trade
territory, there will be no difficulty in
finding satisfactory locations for all
of the many thousands of newcomer
whom the railroads promise to bring
this year. , g
TILE OBEiOX IDEA EIJSE1VHEIUE.
The Oregon Idea is spreading In
deed. The messages of many Gover
nors contain references to the initia
tive and referendum, some of them
with approval. It Is interesting to
observe, however, that there is a note
of caution and uncertainty about the
project that indicates a desire for fur.
ther light. For example. Governor
Marshall (Democrat), of Indiana, Ig
nores the initiative and guardedly in
dorses the referendum. Governor
Hawley (Democrat), of Idaho, would
limit the operations of the Initiative
and referendum to certain specified
subjects. Governor Plalsted (Demo
crat), of Maine, is favorable, though
we have not yet seen the text of his
comment. Governor Foss (Democrat)
has expressed himself as friendly to
the idea in his public speeches, but
he Ignored it in his message.
It is well enough for the states to
pause before they take the whole
plunge. They should know more about
experience elsewhere. They should
watch Oregon. They should under
stand the antipodean distinction be
tween the- initiative and the referen
dum. In the one the people resolve
themselves into a legislature: In the
other into a court of judgment and
appeal. The latter is practical, oper
ative and useful. The former may
eventually run the ship of state
aground, for no ship can sail far with
a hundred thousand helmsmen.
PEAKT AVD JVBTLEE TO JACKSOX.
Democrats, or they who call them
selves Democrats, held feast and Jubi
lee yesterday, in honor of the "hero
of New Orleans," the oak-hearted pat
riot, "who lodged his friends In office
and warded oft the nullification and
the secession of their party's founder.
The brethren did well to honor An
drew Jackson. The anniversary fell
on Sunday so that the celebration was
a day late; but that does not matter.
Now that "the party" is coming back
Into power to cast down Joe Cannon
from the throne, and lives in sleek
expectations of Federal Jobs, it Is time
for the brethren to selre . this anni
versary as season for Joy.
What of the wool-growers who are
trembling at the sound of Democratic
tariff revision? They will have to
take pot luck, we suppose. What of
the hop-growers, who want "protec
tion" against revision? What of Bry
anltes in the party who call Harmon
Ites "bolters"?' Will the sage of Ne
braska drag forth from the tomb the
corpses of free silver and anti-expansion?
Will the Democratic party in Ore
gon be "managed" hereafter for prin
ciple and for all Its members or for
"George" and "Os" and "Harry" and
"John" and "Tom"? Will the county
chairman be permitted to have a
party "organization" or will some in
dividual aspirant's hunt for office take
precedence? And now that Alex
Sweek has led the forlorn all these
years, until within sight of the prom
ised land, is he to be "kicked out"
of power?
However, January 8 is a day for all
the brethren to get together and sing,
no matter whether the song sticks in
the throats of some of them. Which
reminds us of the good old Methodist
preacher, who would sing anything
In the old Hymn Book. But a bad boy
had pasted the following in the afore
said book:
Old -Crimes la dead.
ThAt aood old man:
VVc ne'r shall sea blm more.
H uid to wear a Innjr-talled coat .
All buttoned down before.
On opening the book one day be
fore a sermon, the preacher's eyes
fell upon this hymn. He read the
first verse and stopped with surprise.
He wiped his specs, then read it again
and said:
"My brethren, I have been singing
out of this book for forty years; I
have never recognized this as a hymn
before; but here it Is and I 'alnt
agwlne to go back on my book now.
So please raise' the tune and we will
sing it through If It kills us."
We have known "Jackson Day" to
pass by In Oregon with none so poor
to do It reverence. But In other years
we have seen It the most precious of
days. Whenever spoils loom ahead It
has been a grand occasion for feast
and pow-wow. For be it remembered
that the patron saint, whose day this
Is, has always boon admired as an
extreme partisan politician. He "dish
ed up the spoils" in a manner that
filled the party with delight. This
it is that has made him tho leading
saint in the Democratic calendar.
Jackson did the country a great
service by his resolute stand for Na
tional principles against the Jeffer
sontan dogmas of State supremacy,
which plunged the country into Civil
War. Hence association of Jackson's
name with Jefferson's is historically
absurd. Lincoln was not a follower
of Jefferson: nor was Jackson. Both
Jackson and Lincoln asserted the doc
trine of National supremacy, which
had come down from Washington and
Hamilton.
However, the Democratic brethren
honorJackson on the anniversary of
his victory at New Orleans, neither
because lie was a Nationalist like
Washington and Hamilton nor be
cause he was an alleged party com
patriot of the greatest of disunlon
ists, Jefferson. It is more important
that our "hero" started the system of
"rewarding his friends" a system
that hns become very important In
Democratic minds whenever their
party seemed to be coming Into
power.
Half a century ago Democrats of
Oregon held a mighty Jubilee on Jack
son Day. There has been none like It
since. "This Jubilee started strife and
bitterness that lasted many years. It
was held In Salem, January 8. 1857.
The occasion was seized by despots
of the party to proclaim extreme doc
trines of bossism, and official spoils.
Up to that time the Democratic party
in this State was overwhelmingly
strong. Opposition to it was hopeless.
Control of the party had been seized
by a few dictators. On Jackson Day
they proclaimed the spoils system and
read out of the party those who dis
sented. Of course this ruled out many
Democrats since there never can be
honors, dignities and spoils for all
who want them. This proceeding be
came one of the principal causes of
division In the Democratic party oft
this state and of its loss of power.
This time there Is no tyranny, no
bossism. Everything is lovely and the
goose hangs high. The patron saint
of the Democratic party whose "day"
Is January 8, was a great man. Demo
crats do well to honor him. They
would do better to bestow full praise
upon him for his stout adherence to
the National idea. His "spoils sys
tem." has been altogether bad; it has
done the public service much harm.
It seems significant that interest In
the founder of spoils should awaken
Just now when the party is expected
to resume control of -the offices.
Receipt at the Portland Stock
Tards last week were 2051 cattle.
1239 hogs, and 4127 sheep, a total of
more than 1000 head per day. This
new industry has made Portland the
center of the livestock industry for
the entire North Pacific region, and
it is attracting buyers and sellers alike
from points many hundreds of miles
distant. Even at that, livestock was
not the most important coninuuiui .
to this city's markets last week, for
during the six days ending last Satur
day, the railroads brought into this
city 427 carloads of wheat, 85 carloads
of hay, and-100 carloads of flour, bar
ley and oats. In neither grain nor
stock receipts was the week a record
breaker, but so long as the great coun
try tributary to this city continues to
pour Its products into our markets in
such immense quantities, there will
be considerable money In circulation
from these two great staples alone.
Portland's fame as a Winter resSrt
ought to have spread with every day
of last December and of the first week
in January. It is unusual even here
to see the foliage of nasturtiums and
geraniums unnipped by frost even in
exposed places In the dooryard, and
to pluck rosesbuds from Marie van
Houtte and other tea rosebushes In
January, that, being taken into the
house, expand in a few hours into
delicately-tinted, fragrant and perfect
roses. Yet this was tho condition in
Portland up to GeneraJ Jackson day.
The tender green things In the door
yards are still flourishing mildly it
is true and the rosebuds are still
prettily craving to be taken in where
it is a little warmer; while all abroad
is the comforting assurance that a
Winter that does not begin until well
toward the middle of January must
necessarily be a short Winter.
There is nothing very new in the
statement of Ex-Minister White that
Europe has for years been dumping
her vicious criminal classes on Ameri
can soil. A- trip through the North
End in Portland or a similar locality
in any large American city will dis
close among the great army of never
works a larger proportion of foreign
ers than of Americans. This is too
much of a free country to bo exempt
from these pests so long as they are
permitted to cqne here. Very few
of tho soap box orators who clutter
up our streets can speak without for
eign accent, and they glibly discuss
"yobs" and "injunctions" and revile
the American flag and the Govern
ment it floats over with a. freedom
of speech that would never be per
mitted In the' land which they favored
by their departure.
Jerry Rusk, the Speaker of the
House, is no doubt of the kin of Uncle
Jerry' Rusk, who as Governor of Wis
consin, "seen his duty and done It" in
the time of the Polish strike in Mil
waukee. Uncle Jerry once bought
some pork of the Rev. Elkanah Whit
worth which needed disinfecting. At
a camp meeting Elder Whitworth was
quoting tho prophets to inspire re
pentance in the unregenerate and the
backsliders. "What does Elijah say?"
And he quoted from Elijah. Daniel
fared likewise. Then came the climax.
"What does Jeremiah Bay?" Before
the Elder could answer with his quo
tation Uncle Jerry was on his feet.
"He says, by gracious, you've got to
take the pork back." We trust our
Oregon Jerry is less profane.
' i
Mr. Selling will make an efficient
and impartial President of the State
Senate. He is a man of affairs, with
much experience in legislative matters
and special familiarity with the needs
and deserts of all parts of the state.
He has, besides. In an exceptional de
gree the confidence of his colleagues
who have reason to know that In tem
per he is considerate and in action
straightforward. We shall look for a
rapid and orderly dispatch of the
state's -business under President Sell
ing's direction.
The pessimist who sees an over
stocked apple market In the Pacific
Coast section in a few years, accom
panied by ruinously low prices and a
disappointed host of orchardlsts vi
ciously laying the mattock to the roots
of their apple trees, Is answered by
the cheerful commercial traveler, who
knows whereof he speaks, saying:
"The apple market in Australia and
the Orient has not been touched." .
A dying Scotch woman pathetically
cried to her husband: "Tummas,
Tummas;,I hae -been a good wife to
thee, Tummas." To which her sur
viving spouse replied: "Oh, Just a
middlin, woman; merely mlddlln."
Does this answer Oregon's Senators in
the National Capital who neglect their
State, yet think their Jobs never be
fore so fitly filled?
It is encouraging to hear City At
torney Grant preach the new gospel
of efficiency. No message has been
more comforting to taxpayers since we
can remember. Is it too much to
hope that the glorious evangel will
spread to other officials and produce
in all "of them works meet for re
pentance? 'Are Eskimos capable of civilization?
Peary says no; Bishop Rowe says yes.
Weight of evidence lies with the mis
sionary. His fifteen years' residence,
an against Peary's visits, clothes him
with authority to speak."
When the Andrew Jackson Club, of
Portland, finishes its debate on "Re
solved, that we are In favor of abso
lute free trade," watch the Steel Trust
tremble in its boots.
Reading reports of new agricultural
activities in the Sacramento Valley,
one Is led to believe that the Oregon
spirit has laid hold of our Southern
neighbors.
If there are snakes on Venus, as be
lieved by astronomical highbrows,
what a fine field the planet offers for
the whisky business!
ANTIQUATED AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Tag Master Snggeata Inspection Trip
at Mfcbt by Committers.
ASTORIA. Or., Jan. 5. (To the Editor.)
From a short editorial notice In The
Oregonlan of today It Is quite evident
that you have an appreciation of the
lack of the necessary aids to navigation
at the mouth of the Columbia and during
Its length to the mouth of the Willam
ette. Actual facts, with reference to this
matter, apparently do not exist in the
minds of those whose duty it is to care
for and provide such, so it is not to be
expected that the general public should
be Informed on the subject. Yet to us
who are compelled daily to ply on the
bar and river the lamentable condition
of the aids to navigation is only too well
known. In many Instances these "aids"
are a menace to navigation rather than
aids.
In the first place, it is not only danger
ous but hazardous to attempt to enter
the river during the night, as there are
no lights to be guided by, as the range
lights now supposed to exist are ren
dered useless. A light on a nearDy nsn
erman's cabin on Sand Island makes
tfcem too confusing to rely upon, and in
the same connection the unmarked end
of the Jetty, extending far out into the
sea. Is a perpetual fear. The buoys on
the bar are both antiquated and of little
use, as with a strong running tide they
are entirely submerged. A master is in
danger of running on a spit in looking
for them. San Francisco and all the
Eastern ports have modern bar buoys
that are serviceable at all times.
There is some talk of sending the old
Columbia River lightship to Puget Sound,
while Its need here is paramount.. If It
Watiht fnafrfA thp hflf fihOUt Where
buoy No. 8 Is now placed it would be of
untold benefit and convenience, as uy n.
.Nt.14 nnmn in nt nlsht with
nAnAHrtntA in tllO mlml Of the
pilot exactly as to where he was and at
the same time it would mam me imiims
point in the channel.
From this point to Astoria the buoys
are even less serviceable than those on
the bar. In one portion of this a cnan
n.i n-haro fho host nater is. was dredged
a few years ago by the Government, but
the buoys were never changed, so they
do not mark the real snip s cnannei.
From Astoria across to Harrington s
Point the channel Is very crooked and
necessarily difficult of navigation, espe
cially at night; and it is a fact that the
light buoys there are too often out of
use. They are entirely too few at best.
Continuing to the mouth of the Wil
i . himv. and nirln to naviga-
idiiiriio ntc " " " - -
tion are of the same character. Isothlng
can be said in their favor, wnue mm
portion of the river should be lined
with gas buoys like all the Eastern rivers
aim lanes me
It Is our desire that these facts may be
brought home to those wno can inw"
upon the Improvement of the aids to
navigation on the bar and river, and we
much appreciate the efforts of The Ore
gonlan In that direction.
Letters, talk, blue prints and printed
articles cannot afford this information
like an actual view of the situation under
every day and night conditions. If pos
sible, -and if the proper Interest is taken
It should be possible, a committee of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce and of
the Port of Portland Commission, accom
panied by river and bar pilots, should
make a trip out and in over the bar at
night on one of the bar tugs and then
make a similar trip up the river to Port
land at night, this being the only fair
test of the river, as a greater portion or
the business on it Is done during the
night hours. Then it could he made plain
to them so that proper action would fol
low, backed up with sufficient influence
to bring the desired results.
I submit this statement of facts and
suggestions not only for myself but also
for every shipmaster and pilot.
E. D. PARSONS, Master Tug Oneonta.
OREGONIAN" RKCA1XS SEN. ELKIXS
Late Statesman. Once Suspected of Be
ing Rebel Spy.
PORTLAND. Jan. 9.-(To the Editor.)
In the issue of The Oregonian of the 5th
Instant is a sketch of the life of the late
Senator Elkins, of West Virginia, and
an account of how he was once taken
prisoner by the notorious Quantrell gang
and escaped the penalty for being a spy
through the cleverness of two of the
outlaws, who recognized in hlra their for
mer school teacher.
I have no doubt this is true, for the
story fits In with an experience a squad
of our boys had with Elkins about that
time. It was in 1863, when General
Ewing was in command of the post at
Kansas City and a battalion of the Ninth
Kansas Cavalry was on provost duty
there "Order No. 11" had been issued
and Jackson and adjoining counties were
being depopulated in compliance there
with. Secessionists were fleeing to the
South and all Union men and families
were being brought within tho Union
lines for protection and supplies.
One day a squad of our company brought
In a young man who had been found
affiliating with known rebel families and
was belifved to be p. spy. He was taken
to the headquartersrof Major (afterwards
Senator) P. B. Plumb and examined. He
said his name was Elkins. that he was
a school teacher In one of the rural dis
tricts, knew many of the members of
the Quantrell gang, had narrowly escaped
death at their hands at one time and,
natural, while living In their com
munity, had avoided their animosity, but
Sat he was and always had been a friend
of the Union and was glad to get within
No'am'ount of cross-questioning could
weaken the straightforward story he
tttd When the officers became con
vinced, he was given an opportunity to
enlist in the Army. He expressed a
Reference, for becoming teamrter and
was employed as such and sent across
Th" plains with a train for Fort Unl
New Mexico. From that time on his his
tory is known to world.
Formerly of Company A, Ninth Kansas
Cavalry. '
Spltsenberg or Spltaenbnrgr.
CAMBRIDGE, Idaho, Jan. 4. (To the
Editor.)-In regard to The Oregonian s
inquiry re Spitzenberg" or "Spitaen
burg" I will say that the first is right.
It is right in that way, as we have no
such word as "Spitzenburg ." but : in
Greenland we have a "Spitzenberg.
"Spltx" means pointed; "berg means
mountain. The apple is pointed and large
like a mountain. It is hardy -also and
can stand that climate.
Again, we will take the name of the
town of Heidelberg. That is right and
"Heldelburg" is wrong. We have an
apple, the Duchess of Oldenburg. To
call it the Duchess of Oldenberg would
be wrong. So, please, call our famous
armla by the right name, "Spitzenberg.
apple Dy tne c ARLE3 y. CLAUSEN.
To Any Magaxlne.
Puck.
Dear Editor: I'm glad to send
My check for a renewal.
Tour mugaxlne my family find
The very finest of Its kind.
A treasure-trove, a jewel I
We reallv could not do without
its hlgh-clam advertising-.
For row we know what soap to
Whst mattress It were wine to choose.
And other things surprising.
Its pares daintily portray '
What s best in bathroom fixtures.
Each month, how bravely they declare
The highest type of underwear
And fancy table-mixturea.
If for a pancake we should yearn.
Or waffle, for that matter.
Tour magaxlne will quickly show
The proper flour to buy. and lo :
With what to mix the batter.
And for the literary part
We re really much your debtors.
The Hltle reading matter used
We. need, to keep Grandma amused
And teach tho baby's letters !
' i May Kelly. Portland,
STRANGE LOGIC OF SINGLE TAXERS
Choke a Man If He Is Ont of Breath Hit Him If Unsteady on Ills Legs," la
Construction Placed on Crldge Argument by Mr. Cnalek.
PORTLAND, Jan. 9. (To the Editor.)
In response to an article of mine pub
lished in The Oregonlan on the "single
land tax" question, Alfred Crldge gives
me a "call-down," and with the charac
teristic equanimity and assurance of his
cult, he proceeds to "explain things,"
and In doing so, Jlr. Crldge certainly
proves to be a veritable human geyser
of misinformation. No thoughtful per
son, however, can deny him the posses
sion of all the peculiar mental endow
ments requisite and indispensable in an
exponent of single tax logic and' philos
ophy. To be so serenely certain and pos
sess such boundless self-indorsement Is
surely a happy acquisition.
Mr. Cridge Insists, with much positive
ness, that my contention that placing all
taxes on land will necessarily result In
an Increase of tax burdens on a11 asr'"
cultural interests, In fact, on all land
owners, whether farmers or owners of
city lots, is entirely fallacious.
Now, is it not a fact, beyond question,
that the tax on land must be Increased
by Just so much as the assessed value
of "above ground'' property which he
proposes to release from all taxes? Does
not the deficit resulting from non-taxation
of everything "above ground"
amounting to millions, after being, as
your system proposes, placed on the
land (as you leave nothing else to tax),
necessarily and unavoidably Increase
land tax by Just so much? Is it rational
to declare that land tax will not be in
creased by the amount lost to the publio
funds, by exemption of "above ground"
property, and placing all taxes on land?
Yet, in the face of the self-evident
facts, Mr. Cridge has the assurance to
tell us that the adoption of the "single
land tax system" will not Increase the
tax on land, but In many Instances re
duce it. Mr. Crldge, with much flourish,
tells me to "consult the tax rolls." Act
ing on this suggestion. I find it will add
JIOO.OOO.OOO of tax burdens to Multnomah
land owners. Marion County land own
ers will pay approximately $11,000,000 ad
ditional: Linn County will pay an addi
tional tax on land of between 17,000.000
and IS.000.000; Benton County will pay
approximately $2,000,000 Increase on land
tax; Douglas County, increase on land
tax approximately $7,000,000 on non-tillable
timber land, which timber, if no longer
taxed (as by the Cridse programme), will
place at least $10,000,000 more on farms
in that county, and this holds proportion
ately in most counties in the state;
Clackamas County will pay approximate
ly an added land tax of between $5,000.u00
and $6,000,000; Hood River County, where
there is a "land boom." will pay a shade
less than $2,000,000 additional land tax:
Sherman County, approximately $1,500,000
additional land tax: Lake County, ap
proximately $2,500,000 additional land tax;
Polk County will pay an added land tax
of .approximately $2,500,000; Wasco County
will pay an added land tax of nearly
$2,000,000; Jackson County, with Us land
boom, will pay an added land tax ofap-
AID FOR SCHOOL FOR THE DBAFj
Comparative Statlatlca Show That Ore
con Has ton Mnintennnee Coat.
SALEM. Or., Jan. 9. (To the Editor.)
I desire to express appreciation of the
discrimination and discernment shown in
therecent editorial in The Oregonlan
relative to appropriations for the State
School for the Deaf. As you imply, the
education of the deaf brings a very cer
tain and ample economic return in capa
ble citizenship for a class, upon whom,
otherwise, the blight of Ignorance rests
with overwhelming and appalling com
pleteness. In considering the amount ($71,200) asked
for maintenance and betterments at the
state school at Salem, It should be clearly
understood that $2400 is for betterments
of a permanent nature, and for two years'
maintenance proper $43,200. Eighty pupils
have been enrolled the present session
and applications' are on file for the ad
mission of several others. The per capita
expense for maintenance proper in the
two years 1905 and 1906 was $291.63; for
1907 and 190S. $263.10; and for the two
years ending December 31. 1910, slightly
less than the latter amount,
A report to the State Board of Control
of Iowa in 1907 stated the average per
capita expense per annum for educating
9600 deaf children in all the state schools
for the deaf In the United States at
$257.02. At the present cost of living it
would certainly be higher now. The
State of New Tork allows a per capita
of VM for each deaf child In attendance
at school. Pennsylvania has a school
for the deaf with nearly 600 pupils at a
per capita cost in 190S of $312.93. Ohio,
with a school of about the same size,
spent in 1909 for maintenance and tuition
of each pupil. $297.59 Coming to the
West we find from official reports the
North Dakota. Montana. Utah, Colorado.
Idaho and California schools for the deaf,
or the deaf and blind, all conducted at
a maintenance cost exceeding $300 per
Cait'tcUan easily be shown that, propor
tionate to the population, the expendi
tures by these states for buildings and
grounds greatly exceed Oregon s. Hence
the statement can be made without fear
or possibility of contradiction that in
comparison with other states Oregon has
been and Is still exceedingly conserva
tive in her expenditure for the educa
tion of the deaf.
In the relocation of the school upon a,
site in every respect ample, suitable and
convenient!? situated, and theerection
and partial equipment of modern build
ings as carefully planned with reference
to future as to present needs, costing
with equipment approximately W00O. Ore
gon has taken a long step forward In
educational provision lor. f P""
future deaf children. Considerable re
mains to be done to get the new home
complete running order and to carry
It, nil details the general building
pbans ortginally adopted. As to whether
?!. state has received full value for the
Lll n far expended, the management
weTcoVe. 'theTosest official and public
scrutiny. & TILLINGHA9T, Supfc
Hatpin Mnsaler. Shown In Missouri.
Kansas City Times.
Not lh Kansas City, but somewhere
there " a factory that makes neatly
concerns sent samples to the aldermen
. wr. houses, showing what a small
oolerft wlU TrTnS any hatpin within, the
?aw the proposed ordinance which re-
rnuffled hatpin points is passed.
Qtrth"couenciV meeting last night each
at. uio - sanlDie of the tips for
tahdee.nntsho? ?atW which had com,
TnhatpTrgurdsTre made of alumi
num, each being about three-quarters of
an nch t" diameter. There Is a small
hole one side of the guard-Just large
enough for a hatpin to fit-and within
the guard there Is cork
Coins of 1847.
MONTBSANO, Wash. (To the Edi
tor i i would like to know if the $10
a-ol'd piece of 1847 is worth more than
face value. - E. F.
No premium is offered by collectors
tr th 110 arold niece of 1847 in the
latest available list of coins.
Edward D. White.
PORTLAND. Jan. 6. (To the Editor.)
Please give me the name of the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
ARTHUR WILSON.
proximately $6,000,000: Malheur County's
tax will be about doubled on land.
I have statements from other county
records, and all tell the same story- The
foregoing statements are approximately
correct, having been obtained from the
various County Assessors. Mr. Cridge
says "consult 'county records." "I thank
the Jew for teaching me that word." I
trust he will kindly pardon me if I hap
pen to entertain a shade of skepticism
as to even his ability to lessen and in
crease one's taxes at the same time.
Some single-taxers are candid enough to
say their purpose is to raise taxes on
lands and thereby force the large land
owner to unload his holdings and givo
the poor man a chance. But if you plac
his taxes so high as to force him to sell,
where, let me ask, Is there an induce
ment for the poor man to purchase In
the face of such confiscatory taxation? If
you are, according to Mr. Criiige, going
to lower his taxes, he will then hang onto
his large holdings, unembarrassed, and
yeu are working right into h's hand,
and In either case you defeat your pro
fessed purpose. Now, what is your pur
pose? If it is to assist the poor, as you
are fond of professing, your lopic is
faulty and deceptive, and your philan
thropy Is a boomerang and always leaves
your protege out in the cold, "holding
the sack." Your friendship Is calami
tous. Mr. Crldge is going to help the farmer
by taxing him out of existence, lie is
going to force the large land monopolist
to sell through a tax so exorbitant that
It makes It impossible for the poor roan
to buy or own it, and meet such taxa
tion. How beautifully consistent! If
Mr. Cridge were to meet a friend carry
ing a burden too great for his strength,
he would naturally and logically pile on
his shoulders about 200 pounds more. Ha
couldn't help It. It is his way.
If he were to meet one with oppressed
respiration, he would be apt to grab his
windpipe and "choke tho liver out of
him." It would relieve his breathing,
and he would be grateful ever after. If
someone who was wobbly on his legs
from debility were to go up against Mr.
Crldge, his boomerang logic would sug
gest that he "paste him one" In the
solar plexus and then stand on him a
while. One finds himself wondering what
effect would the sudden acquisition of a
few Portland lots of great value have
on the 'tenor of Mr. Cridge's music. It
helped Charley Towne "right away. He
didn't kick in the least on the increment,
and has never made a roar since.
When the Clackamas "factory gets
the farmer "fixed" it will have a tm-e
little "eye opener" up Its sleeve for the
owner of above-ground assets, which w 11
make his life truly worth living. Noth
ing like knowing what you want and
then going for it. "Government owner
ship" is their unqualified purpose, how
ever much they may deny It. But what s
the use of fretting? Leave it to Mr.
Cridge and the fact.a aad on their
authority yovuwlirbe "saved.' r-
7VEED OP HISTORICAL. BUII.DIXO
levl XV. Myera Believes Matter De
serves Attention of Legislature.
PORTLAND, Jan. 7. (To the Editor.)
The pending session of the Legisla
ture will be asked to favor many en
terprises and desired Improvements,
and In the general rush and excite
ment I fear the matter of a building
for the housing of the State Historical
Society will be overlooked.
That such a building Is very much
needed I will not argue at length It
any one will visit the rooms of tho
society, in the City Hall. In this city,
and look about and chat with the sec
retary for a few minutes he will see
how It is. Here and there are piles
and packages of valuable documents.
In danger every hour, of waste, deface
ment and loss, because there Is no
place to put them.
Mr. Himes. the very able and effi
cient secretary, is doing all that can
be done to preserve and arrange them,
but he lacks elbow room wherever he
turns. What can he do with this pre
cious stuff when he has no place to
put it? It Is not only desirable to pre
serve such data, but to make It avail
able It must be arranged and plnced
in order. This requires space and other
facilities. .
I had occasion once to visit the pat
ent office at Washington, and was as
tonished to find that of the millions
of facts there preserved, regarding pat
ents, since the foundation of the Gov
ernment, the superintendent could put
his hand on any one of them in a mo
ment because of the seemingly perfect
arrangement. The historical matter of
this state is not now available, as it
ought to be, and cannot be made so
until a building is provided for it
People generally, when they think of
the Historical Society, remember the
old relics of wagons, looms, spinning
wheels, saddles, harness, etc., that they
have seen exhibited there and have the
Impression that these things are about
all there Is to preserve. These aro in
fact but the rubbish well enough in
their way, but unimportant. The really
valuable things are 140,000 newspapers.
8000 volumes of books, mainly historical-
10,000 letters, 2000 pioneer relics,
a large number of photographs anil
15.000 biographies of pioneers, with
countless memorandums, documents and
data, all of which must be housed soon
or practically lost.
In addition to this there is to be the
museum department, for which a large
collection is already In hand and wait
ing for a place in which to be properly
exhibited and preserved. Is It not time
to make a move by the coming Legis
lature for the erection of such a build
ing' I ask the question and call the
attention of enterprising and public
spirited citizens to it. The documents
and data of our early history cannot
be preserved and made available piled
up and stowed away here and there, as
they now are, and the Information they
contain cannot be regained when once
lost. It should be the pride of tho
state to preserve them.
LEVI W. MYERS.
Slow Growth of Red Oak.
BROWNSVILLE, Or., Jan. S. (To the
Editor.) Growing red oak for timber
and lumber Is to be a new fad in Ore
gon. On my farm, near Turner, In
Marlon County. Is a red oak tree grown
from an acorn planted in April, 1S70,
more than 40 years ago. The acorn
grew In Iowa. The tree is about 18
Inches in diameter two feet above the
ground, and the foresters will have to
hustle their new red oak trees faster
than I have been able to do if they
get much lumber in a growth of 2T.
years on the lands burned over by the
recent forest fires.
W. M. HILLEARY.
Ballade of low Spirits.
Since eggs are high as they can go
Cold storage, carburetted, old.
With curious markings, row on row,
Weird hieroglyphics dim and mold
Since butter's unrestrained and bold
In climbing to the topmost bough,
What pleasures do we. have and hold?
Is life worth living anyhow?
Streams through my open tearducis
flow
When I but mildly would unfold
A tale of lovely girls I know
Hangings In Oregon.
M'MINNVILLE, Or.. Jan. 4 (To the
Editor.) Has there ever been art inno
cent man executed In Oregon?
ROY MICHELLOOK.
So far as known, an Innocent man has
never been hanged in Oregop