TTIE MORNING OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 0, 1911 10 ronjxn. otrcut. rir al fart I a ad. Oregon. raaufiae will liw Matta. uaecxiptiwa kAi't Invariably la AaWsaee. HIT MA1L1 Dairy. ttnKfar tneiue'ed. aa yaar. I'af:. pmtmi lnel-idl aim mvn'H.... 4 11 fatly. andr tarludad. tars) anoethe.. XII t'l. S in4 IncIudaU, ane moal.... .J Ie:;y. M.:til lunjar. Oft yaar. ...... tally, wir.iout Sua iar. B eiMi a Ii r. without tuii ttirM nelllU.. LJ I ' I V MtllAu ......... r. ..Bit - :. aa ar. J- lio-ltf, aae yaar.... AttSOA tfi4 iHll tli tMf A- ibt riimcR) 'T. ufie'ay tnrludd. ana ??.. esnaair in IlmI.!. oee noitll.. w l Maaail end poatorr.ra maaarr wi.r. iinnn ardr or Mrxul !! reue tacal task. Mampe. catn ar nrfrt at tae MDdr r.j. la poatofSea is ru.i. lacludias fmiatir aaa r-ata iuim i o to 14 uu, i ett: 1 I gases. 2 canta. 10 la J .. 1 eoa: o o aaae. e aUL ruii soatage wvio.a rat. agthM. new.. a T-.-Ta a Cask Bn a Vara. Kr-jaaa-lcB kulldlnx. CaA- mTLAXD. TllllCOMT. 1TB. . 111. TUB MTVAriO IX JAPAX. Kecent writers on the affairs of Japn are Inclincii to deduct tome th.ng from former accounts of the financial distress which hxs been said to prevail In that country. If we niay trust Mr. J. H. Do Forest' article In the Independent for February Japan's foreign debt Is not nearly no large a many supposo It to be. and the taxes lm;sJ upon the population to meet IntTret rhargi-s are multi plied several fol.I In the common ac counts. The Kvenlng Post has mated that Japm ti'.fM 1 1.50 annually for very individual In the empire. This ef course Is preposterous, slnco. as Mr. lt'orl points out. a single levy of 120 on eovh person ouM wipe out the entire domestic and foreign debt at one stroke. We may safely conclude that the Japanese do not labor uujcr any such fearful hurd- n of taxation a has been Imagined since the close of the war with liusstn. It appears that their rational finance are In ab'.e hands. Jdarquls Kaisura. who has been Prime Minister for several years, has refund ed some IIIO.OOO C0' of the domestic d bt at 4 per cent Interest und has ob tained the same rate on about $1J0. ")0.00 of the foreign dt bt In Purls and London. This look, pretty well. It Is better than IIujI.i ran do. In the eyes of the world's bankers it 1s fairly evident that Japan appears sol vent and honest. Many persons who undertake to dis cuss Japanese affairs lose sight of the fact that a poor country may be able to bear grant financial burden with out serious difficulty. Japan Is poor but Industrious to the Inxt possibility artl thrifty beyond anything we ever drnim of In this country. Though the standard f living seems low to Amer icans, s:i:i It Is far above the level of actual want, and the people are able to retrench without sufferinc. Thus tir can carry financial burdens which seem out of r r. portion to their ap parent wnl:h. After ail. It Is the pro ductive csjvi'y of a country rather thin l; lif . riitilatcd weakh from which taxes .in paid. Tho vast stand r.g la-jmul i'i ns of property In the 'r.lt-d S:a:- ;ay very small taxes mparel the visible annual triljil of 1: 'ustry. Japan has no irt in'S as :.'-re as some or those m h.s country, tut the chances are that pr-,'u-cji tu.w wealth fully as rap- ily. man f.-r man. so that the needs ' the kvi rr.mer.t are supplied wlth- ut much vilstress. Heavy as her -h'.s undoubtedly are, the empire la m-prou und able to push on irreat f re.i.-n er.ir-rprtses as well nj Impor- iiil u; f Internal improvement. Amon the foreign enterprises may Include the annexation of Corea and the steady advance In Manchuria. Corea ws finally absorbed without any particular opposition from It In habitants. The truth seems to be that Japan Is itrowinir popular In Its new province. The liberal policy of the empire has at last won recognition from the Indolent Coreans and they are waklnir up to the opportunities of a better future. We do not mean to Imply that Corea has become actually progressive, but It la far from being as contentedly somnolent as it was be fore it fell Into the hands of the Jap anese. It would not be difficult In deed to show that the example of the ixtand empire has been an inspiration to all the Oriental countries from the ractflc to the Mediterranean. In Man churia, Japan and Russia have com posed their old enmities and present a united front to the rest of the world. Mr. KnoV effort to disturb their Joint piarts by a concerted Interference did not succeed very well. His note to the six power whom he honored with hi confidence led to no action of the kind he desired, while It fomented some suspicion la Japan of our Intentions and cemented the understanding with Russia a little more firmly. It seems to be conceded by observer that American diplomacy in the East has lost In astuteness of late. Mr. Knox's hand is not so cunning as Mr. Hay's was and the United State plays a less enviable part in Oriental affairs than It did formerly. Th decline of our Eastern trade goea steadily on. Here and there the hostile wiles of Japan are said to be th cause of It. but Intelligent men who have lived long in the East and looked about them shrewdly say that we co less and less business In China and Manchuria simply because do not care for it. Other markets are so much more attractive that the effort required to meet trade conditions In the Orient doe not seem worth while. If this is tru. the likelihood of war with Japan for the commercial empire of the Pacific looks remote. Th 1'nlted States will hardly begin a fight for an advantage which It does not rea'.ly want. Although there is a jlnro party In Japan, as there Is In the Vr.lted States, the trend of public opinion Is strongiy In favor of the tra ditional friendship which began more than half a century ago. Nothing has happened which ought to make Amer ican rntml'i of the island empire, white the Mikado' subjects know very well that they have nothing of any -oneiunc to gain by fighting ns. Japan has her Hobeons. but they do not weigh very heavily. Meanwhile the work of internal im provement goes on with enviable speed. Japan la spending KIO.OOO.OOO for new railroads, rectification of river banks and industrial enterprise in Corea. The works. whlch.,re planned to cover a long series of years, will no doubt require a great deal more money before they are finished. The river particularly need attention be cause of the destructive floods which have occurred recently. Japan does not leave It to the farmer to build dike themselves or lose their land. vt ail thla bailee oa bond, rail- roadlng and colonizing in Manchuria, making over the civilisation of Corea, vast engineering enterprises at home and a big national debt to take care of. Japan does not seem likely to cross lo.ovO mile of ocean to look up a war for some time yet. HACK TO SAI-B GKOCNO. The Senate at Salem votes unani mously to submit to the electoral next year a constitutional amendment which anticipates and defeat single tax. It will be carried overwhelming ly by the people without doubt, for the action of the Senate i but a re flection of the general temper and at titude on this subject. The people know that they were tricked and duped into adoption of the county option (single tax) amend- ment last year, and they resent It. times re-eieciea nun oy eiiunuuua m They understand, too. better than ever JorUlea. He did nothing but draw his now Just how much credit to give to Py and take petty liberties with the the loud profession of good faith public fund and quarrel with hi dep and fair play with the public that J uUs; but apparently it wa expected have so long been a great part of the and desired that he should do Just ene.ltl of soma, of our most prominent "re form or. ThrA la n n wnv bark to solid ground no except through the refer- endum. The Legislature has respond- ..I .J.M..,,AT. an.l nrnmntlV fO. S fl ,me.hti - nubile demand: the people wll do their part completely when the time comes. We shall escape, after while, tho odium cf being the experl- ent mUob for th. trial of fantastic m and dar.rerou theories and the dump. Ir.g ground for worn-oat and cast-off dogmas. rtvrtutT rx TMKOBT A1 PK.imcE. Gt.'ford Plnchot has been describing hU virtue and telling hi troubles to the student f Tale University. Mak ing some highly moral reflection about the struggle between tho.-A who "believe in government for the human welfare and men who believe in gov ernment for human profit." Mr. Pln- chcot Illustrated his point by showing how the wicked sheep men had driven their flocks "over the open country without respect to the rights of men of small means" and how the "ad vance In forestry "a checked by po litical Intervention." But the chief achievement of "con servation as It Is pracuceu in ino lexicon of the great Olfford in locking up the forests, driving the sheep from the ranges, sending to the lock-up the Bill Hanleys for attempting to reclaim the bunch-grass desert from Its native usclessness through the only practical conservation, and starving the real homesteaders out of the reserves, did not find place In the Plnchot oratory. But he gave this solemn advice to tne students: I think tha tlma ha naaaed whan nnlver- attlaa eiat for praaarvatioa ot learning, and hno lha ttma will coma abto may win 4a tn fart ahM thar now do la tbaor train lhatf atuJanla so that they so oil In tho world anih a p'nt of vlaaj wni.-a lll make ihem uaaiul In tt actual eonol tiuna of tbo oar- Give them a practical training, we suppose, to evade the law and aery tho Constitution. Let them find some way outsldo the statute and the his toric prac tice of the departments to do what the Plnchot theorists want to do. Set the spies and sleuths and bloodhounds of tho Government after men who have gone out on to the frontier and reclaimed the wilderness, o a to learn if they have not some where or at some time for some nec essary purpose cut down a worthless Juniper tree, growing on Government land: then railroad them to prison. That's the Plnchot practice. frKATTU: M-11UT A" FOKTUWD STA TISTIC!. The raclflo Northwest Commerce, the official monthly publication of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, sends The Oregonlan a proof sheet of it February Issue containing the "Record of prog-res made by Pacific Coast cities as told by their commercial sta tistics." This record presents elabo rate statistics of the Pacific Coast cities and. we are assured by the pub lication that stands sponsor for them, the showing "is favorable to each and every one of them." The Oregonlan has no definite knowledge regarding the accuracy of the figures for other Coast cities than Portland. The fig ure purporting to show the growth and condition of Portland are such gross and palpable misrepresentations of actual facts that their presentation can by no possible means be excused. In the matter of bank clearings the Now York Financial Chronicle, Dun's and Ilradstreof reviews and every other authority on such matters early In January printed and sent broadcast throughout the country the statement that Portland's bank clearings for 1910 were 1517.171.867, compared with IJ91.028.890 for 1909. The organ Of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce gives the correct total for 1909, but place the total f th 1910 clearing at 1428.228,098, or about 190.000,000 less than the actual figures. Equall Inexcusable are the figures regarding postofflce receipts. These statistic are Issued only by the United State Government, and any change from the actual figures must be the result of deliberate misrepresentation. The Government reported postal receipt at Portland for 1110 amounting to 89t5.K4.S3, compared with i78. 853.73 fflr 1909. The official organ of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce changed these official statistics so that Portland was credited with 1910 postal receipts of but 181 S. 383. 73. or more than 3100,000 less thsn the total re ported by th Government and circu lated throughout the country weeks before the appearance of the Seattle publication. The assessed valuation of Portland property Is placed at 8274.396.620. although the 1910 as sessment roll shows a total f 3301,- 925. 649. compared with t20S.362.448 for 1909. . Portland's bank deposits appear In the Seattle publication as 843.621.465, ithough there Is not a banker of any Importance in Seattle who is In Ignor ance cf the fact that the deposits In he Portland banks at the close ofll were more than 366. 000.000. In build ing permits Seattle is credited with -a total nearly $3,000,000 greater than was shown by the American Contrac tor In Its review of the year's business. Portland's total of more than 320.000.- 000 of building permits is followed by an asterisk and an accompanying foot note informs the reader that "Port land went under a stricter building ordinance January 1. 1911. The re sult was that something more than 34.000.000 worth of projected build ing wece "permitted- during the clos ing month of the year 1910 to swell thu total, which really do not belong in the record, as no start was made on them during the year." No asterisk calls the reader atten tion to tne fact that tne lorty-rwo- story Smith building In Seattle, for hlch a permit was taken out lost Autumn, is not yet under construction and probably never will be. As for Portland's Decenfber permits, those for the Multnomah Hotel and two apartment-houses, all well under way In December, exceeded in value of the permits the total volume reported by Seattle for that month. Deliberate misrepresentation of this nature dis play a very small spirit, even though It be the Seattle spirit. CETTTNO KIO OF BAILEY. The Legislature twelve year ago created tho oflice of State Kood and Dairy Commissioner, and It has been filled occupied is the better term during all that long time by the pres ent lneiiiclent Incumbent. It would almost appear that Mr. Bailey was pre cisely the kind and stylo of officer the i people wanted, for they have several I mose inings, or nume oi uinu, uv bodv seemed to rare I W'i however, the public has been .uddenly awakened to a realiz that Its investment in It Food iniiiiAiiTv awakened to a realization and , U wasted, or I worse, and It want, to frt rid of him. I But how? He will Tot resign, ana apparently ho cannot be discharged - "'" cumbersome recall or impeachment. Both are undesirable and perhaps im practicable. The Vtate Legislature created this office. Why cannot the Legislature abolish It? We hear it suggested, on grave authority, that Bailey will draw his salary In any event till the end of the term for which he was elected; but we take the liberty of questioning the soundness of that opinion. The doctrine that any office was created and must be maintained for the benefit of any man was long ago exploded. It is essentially contrary to public pol icy and wholly untenable. The state might as well It might botter have no Commissioner than Commissioner Bailey. If there Is no other practicable way to get rid of him. the Legislature should abolish the of fice outright and devolve its duties elsewhere. Tire mv i-il;ium.-. It is pleasant to rend of a thou sand farmer with their wive and children going to Corvallls. They do not make the Dllarrlmaee to see a foot- j bnlj lm, or a prizefight or to attend horse race. What they go for, un less we are misinformed, is simply to learn something about the noble old calling ot running a farm. Old as this calling Is. and noble as it Is said to be at election time, very little is known about It by those who are most con cerned, that is. by the farmers them selves. Formerly they were satisfied with their Ignorance. They were even proud of It. The fact that their fore father had done things foolishly and wastefully was taken te be tho best reason In the world why they should go on forever doing likewise. But now a new and different senti ment prevails. The farmer la no longer rroud of his father's ignorance. He is not content to follow the old destructive and discouraging ways. He is filled with seal for better things. He wants his labor to count for all It is worth. He want to avail himself of the help of modern science. Knowl edge has helped the miner, the elec trician, the railroads, why should it not help the farmer? The farmer of Oregon believe It will. So they go to Corvallls to sit under the drippings of the professors' pulpits and take the family along. It 1 all primitive, grand and good. In John Huss' time, as some historians tell us, there were 80.000 students at the Uni versity of Prague and the great Abe lard, the pioneer of progress in his day, had perhaps 60.000 at Paris. They came from everywhere. Now we shut the doors of our colleges in the faces of the people unless they can pass an examination in a vast collec tion of nonsense. We shut all the doors except those at Corvallls. There they stand wide open and the spirit and the bride sny come and whosoever will let him come and bring all the family and take of the water of life freely. We aro no prophets, but yenr from now we foresee people flocking to Cor vallls In the sunny February days and dwelling In tents. The farmers' short course will call so insistently that no body can resist it, and there win be so many enger students that the hotels cannot hold them. IXJUHT1CE TO TILLAMOOK. The Board of Engineers at Wash ington is not Inclined to improve Til lamook bar and harbor unless addi tional reasons can be supplied for such action. Washington advices state that in tho opinion of the Board the amount of present and prospective tonnage doe not Justify the expendi ture that would be necessary to pro vide a channel of the depth desired. This news will be somewhat disheart ening to the people who have labored so earnestly and subscribed so hand somely in aid of the project. If the splendid showing made by the Tilla mook people in support of their proj ect does not Justify the moderate ap propriation asked, it would be inter esting to know what the Board of Engineers would regard as sufficient "present and prospective tonnage." Directly tributary to Tillamook Bay is one of the largest and most valuable timber tracts In the known world. It contains 35.000.000.000 feet. Its min imum value, when manufactured into lumber, would be about 3300.000,000. In the manufacture and marketing of this vast body of timber an Immense volume of subsidiary 4rafflc would be created. The opening of a good chan nel to the sea would make possible a development of resources and the cre ation of new tangible wealth which by comparison would make the appro priation asked seem small and Incon sequential. Unless this great timber wealth is given an outlet to th aea through which the cheap grade of lumber may be marketed, billion of feet of this fine timber will age and decay, or else be placed on the mar ket at figures far below its value. It cannot be manufactured to advantage under existing conditions. The Tillamook and Bay City people were so firmly Impressed by the merit of their project and by the vital ne cessity for securing an outlet to the sea that they agreed to tax themselves to the extreme limit allowed by law for the purpose of aiding the Govern ment in the work. This limit, which Is based on the assessed valuation of the district immediately adjoining the bay. permitted them to raise 3650,000 or more than 3100 for every man, woman and child in the. county. No more valuable testimonial to the merit of the Improvement could be con- ceived. The necessity for the work Is so apparent to all that it is difficult to understand why the Government Is so exacting in it requirements. January building statistics for the East bide and the West Side contain more food for thought for the Frank Klernans who are endeavoring to pre vent East Siders from coming to th West Side to do business. Last month permits were Issued for 180 residence on the East Side and for 6 on the West Side, the ratio being 30 to 1 in favor of. the East Side. In January, 1910 and throughout the year, the ratio was 15 to 1, there being 3125 residence permits issued for the East Side an 203 for the West Side. In 1909 East Side permits were 2447 and West Sid 212, or 12 to 1 in favor of the East Side. The Kiernan assumption that by preventing this increasing population from securing easy access to the West Side a new business district will be built up on the East Side may be sound, but the skulking methods of Kiernan and the refusal of his back ers to disclose their identity are ad missions of the unpopularity of their scheme of misrepresentation and de lay. The Joint ways and means commit tee of the Legislature, having lnves tigated carefully the needs of the State Agricultural College, makes a recom mendatlon that it be given every cent it aks, and Just a little more.' The sum for the biennial period is o70. 000. It may seem a large amount, but the people of Oregon believe in the Agricultural College and the prac tlcal value of the work it la doing, and ore willing to provide it with adequate funds. IX has a large student body and It must have build ings and equipment and a' com petent and adequate faculty. The unanimous action of the legislative committee Is an expression of confl dence in the institution and a recogui tion of the general sentiment for the college. The Legislature should make the appropriation without hesitation. The Oregon ian hopes, too, that sulta blo appropriations may be made for the State University. It would have the university properly supported. The Senate committee on expositions has voted unanimously In favor of ban Francisco as the site for the Pan ama Fair. In view of this recommen datton and the sweeping victory In the House, it la a certainty that the elimination of New Orleans is a rival for the big show has practically been accomplished. The adoption by the Senate of the committee's report will probably bn made in a few days. There win then be nothing to prevent San Francisco making a start on the pre liminaries of what, will undoubtedly prove one of the greatest fair ever held in the country. In due season Oregon, Washington and all the other states which stood resolutely with San r ranclsoc on this fight will befrln prep aratlon for tho part which thf y are to tage in tne great event. Senator Albeo's bill canceling paving contracts which are not fulfilled within six months of their being awarded will have unanimous support in a great many districts In this city. In nearly all parts of the city there are miles of muddy streets on which paving con tracts were let many months ago. The contractors had no intention of Im proving these streets within a reason able time after accepting tho con tracts. Portland last year built more miles of street than were built .In any previous two years in the history of the city. If there had been more con tractors and a shorter limit for the completion of the work, thousands of people who need paved streets would npt now be floundering through the mudpuddles which linger where the paving ought to be. The Los Angeles man who had him sen cut open in order to convict a doctor of malpractice had the courage of his hate. If his inexorable spirit had been moved by love instead of malice .he might have been one of the world's benefactors, for great success depends, we are told, more upon an inflexible will than upon any other quality. It cannot be pleasant to re member In eternity that one ha died In a bad cause. It Is more agreeable, as well as safer, to live for a good one. What will the farmers of the Inland Empire do - for seed wheat? They have sold it down to the last kernel, almost, and now there Is none to plant. The hope of the world is not half so much in the thousands of carloads that go to market as In the few bush els that stay in the bin waiting for the sower. ChihV labor sells the seed of the human race, and if it Is not stopped the whole world will some day be as badly off for men as the Inland farmers are for wheat. Recent experiences in the Northwest prove that some suffragettes do not care to vote when they have a chance. They Just don't like the idea of the man telling them they can't, don't you know. The cutting of telephone and tele graph wires by Mexican revolutionists has caused great damage and suffer ing. It is now time to put another block of wireless stock on the market. The commission form of govern ment is a success in Tacoma with the single exception that the citizens are so disgusted they are seeking to recall the Mayor and the entire commission. Uncle Sam has not only raised the duty on English beverages arriving in Portland, but has also Increased the custom on glass. Will some of us be forced to return to the Jug? The entertainment committee should not fall to how ex-President Roose velt the very biggest stick in our for est on the occasion of his visit to Oregon next month. Senator Calkins must think that it la much belter to climb from the Statehouse elevator to the roof than to be carried from the basement on a stretcher. There may be ome satisfaction for the Portland small boy when he is informed that the Pittsburg boy gets his face dirty when he plays in the snow. Whether Cook really reached the North Pole or not will now depend exclusively on he prolific efforts of the vaudeville circuit press agent. While the water wagon does not seem to be burdened with the white man, it is making few stops during the Clflnese New Year festivities. Lady Decies should carry danger signals on a train twenty feet long. The Anniversary Number Thorourbneas and Skill Shown. Yakima Republic. The Oregonlan celebrated its 50th anniversary by issuing a 128-page paper devoted to the progress of the Northwest during the last nan ceniury. The task was performed with the tnor- oughness and skill which is character istic of the great Portland paper. I'sefnlneas Will Be Prised. Lewiston Tribune. The work throughout possesses a dis tinctiveness, a dignity and finish syn onymous with The Oregonian's stand ing in the profession. The anniversary number lias many unusual qualities of usefulness and value that will be prized by those who take the trouble to pro cure one. Historical Section Interesting. Medford Mail-Tribune. By far the most interesting section is that devoted to The Oregonian's own history, telling of the first issue of the dally, when Portland had but 3uuu in habitants, its early struggles and ac complishments in the half century since. Through all the long period, the paper has been under the management ot H. U flttocK. ana tne paper is u monument of his life work, and a fine monument Indeed. ' Credit to the Publisher". Grays Harbor, Wash., Hoqulam. One of the best editions of a news paper ever issued in the Northwest and in fact in the country, has Just been gotten out by The Portland Ore gonlan. as its 50th anniversary num ber. The edition is 128 pages, and is devoted to the story of the progress of the Northwest during the past half century. The paper is profusely Illus trated with views of Portland and is altogether a credit to the publishing company and the men , who did work in getting it out. the Product of Two Hen. Ashland Tidings. For 50 years continuously the same hand, that of Henry L. Plttock, has guided the business destinies of The Oregonlan and his success is attested by the splendid property which The Oregonlan of today is. Mr. Plttock Is modest gentleman but of keen busi ness Judgment and unstinted enter prise, and to his energy as well as the ability of his co-worker for so many years, the late H. W. facott. Drmiam editor, is largely due the position of The Oregonlan today as one of the lead ing newspapers of not only the Pacific Coast, but the entire United States. Sueeeaa Deaerved. Pen'dleton Live Wire. The Issue deserves the widest cir culation. The Oregonlan has become o much a part or Oregon me inai there are many who believe It indis pensable. At that it serves as an ad mirable advertisement of the state or of a county and it is to be hoped com mercial organizations everywhere will reallze the anniversary edition Is worthy of the widest circulation and accord It that circulation. Bv all odds the arreatest oaner in the Northwest, The Oregonlan deserves the success which has crowned the "tall tower" after 60 years' of struggle and endeavor. All Oregon Proud. Polk County Observer (Dallas). The readers of The Oregonlan ex pected a great Seml-Centennial Num ber and they were not disappointed. Whatever The Oregonlan does, it does well. The splendid 128-page paper, with its wealth of descriptive and his torical matter and handsome illustra tions, would seem the very acme of twentieth century newspaper achieve ment. The thousands of friends of Publisher H. L. Plttock congratulate him that he has lived to see the news paper to which he came as a barefooted boy, nearly SO years ago, now recog nized as one of the powerful forces In the social and business life of the state and Nation. The achievement is one of which all Oregon Is proud. Progress Scarcely Matched. Seattle Times. There is sounded a note of pardon able pride when The Oregonlan, after having braved the storms of a tem pestuous past, celebrates its Jubilee by publishing a superb edition of 128 pages, incorporating witnin it ail tne elements of the finished Journal ot modern times. It gives the record of half a century, and therein Is written story of progress scarcely to be matched by the history of any like community anywhere on earth for The Oregonlan is Oregon, In as full and complete a sense os a newspaper can embody the composite thought of the liousands of readers It has influenced and molded to lis thought from year to year and from generation to genera tion. History of the Commonwealth. Rogue River Courier (Grants Pass.) The literary work on this Issue of Oregon's great dally Is In keeping with the wonderful facts gathered to make lp the story. It is fairly a history of the commonwealth and the biography of the remarkable men whose lives were devoted to the founding of the State of Oregon. The story of the pa per Itself Is filled with incidents of merest not only to newspaper men but o all others who appreciate what a ewspaper can do in the upbuilding of tates and communities. This leading journal of the Pacific Coast won its way to jjubllc favor at home and abroad by . its editorial opinions and by Its masterly presentation of the latest ews drawn from tile world. Record Is Marvel. La Grande Observer. A we looked at the pictures por- raylng the first home of the paper, he old hand press, the drum cylinder machine added a little later, and then the magnificent equipment possessed oday, we could not help but marvel at progress. H. L. Plttock has lived through it all. His hand has been on the cash drawer and his signature has been on the notes, whichever was nec essary. The business management oi great concern like The Oregonlan Is the greatest importance. iirigiii writers frequently are unable to man ge the business end. and good busi- ess men seldom can write. Mr. Pit- took is the business end and for years had with him Mr. Scott, now deceased. editor, which made an ideal combi nation for the product of their com bined efforts tells the story. Typical of Oregon Country. Astorian. With tho whole state, and the great Northwest, the Morning Astorian has nleaaure in expressing its gratiricatlon with the semi-centennial number of The Portland Daily Oregonlan. n is typi cal of the splendid development of the "Oregon country, for which It nas stood o toutly and successfully all these year, and a fit memorial of the brain and character and courage of the great editor who built it to the highest standard known In the newspaper world and of the financier who stood squarely at his back through all the vicissitudes of its career. Oregon is immensely proud of The Oregonlan as a National institution, as its highest home-medium of clean, dependable, and Influential public expression upon all the issues of possible human concern. I LA GRASDE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING Circuit Judge Know lea Answers Asser tions of H. J. Hoekenberry. LA GRANDE, Or., Feb. 6. (To the Edi tor.) My attention having been called to a communication appearing in The Oregonlan of yesterday over the signa ture of H. J. Hoekenberry in which he unmercifully attacks M. C. Gaunt, the architect who planned and superintended the construction of the La Grande High School building as being a "grafter" of the worst kind and the La Grande school district as having been "grafted" by him. as acting chairman of the Board of Di rectors of the La Grande school district. I ask for space to answer the communi cation referred to. In the first place, in order to deter mine the weight and credibility to be given to said communication, I consider the interest that the writer had In order to ascertain whether he was prompted by selfish and Improper motives. Mr. Hoekenberry In his communication uses this language: "I am not an architect. but a simple school teacher, and there fore I am not violating professional ethics by writing this letter." The writer hereof will admit that the professor is a "simple school teacher," but be should have been frank enough to have stated that he has abandoned his profession as school teacher and Is now engaged In the architectural busi ness in Portland. He should also have been frank enough to the readers of The Oregonlan to have stated that the firm with which he is connected at tempted to secure the contract for draw ing the plans and specifications for the La Grande High School building, but that the contract was awarded by the board of directors to Mr. Gaunt. As a matter of fact, Mr. Hoekenberry endeavored to influence the board of directors not to advertise for bids for furnishing the plans and specifications, but the board did advertise for bids for furnishing the same, and bids were sub mitted by numerous architects res'ding in the states of Oregon and Washing ton. Mr. Gaunt's design and plans and specifications being, in the opinion of the board, superior in many respects to all others, were accepted and the con tract awarded to him. a a a The School Board, consisting at that time of J. H. Watson, master mechanio of the railroad shops at this place: S. N. Bolton, president of the Bolton-Bod-mer Implement Company; W. L. Bren- holts. assistant cashier of the La Grande National Bank; Henry Henson, locomo tive engineer, and the writer hereof. circuit Judge of the Tenth Judicial. dis trict, felt very kindly towards Professor MocKenoerry, ne naving Deen an aoia superintendent of our city schools for several years, and being, as he says, one of the taxpayers of the district, having paid the sum of 86.16 taxes for the year 19(W, as shown toy the tax roll for that year. Mr. Hoekenberry also states in his com munication . that "three bids were re ceived, for 8.O0O. 898.000 and fllS.000, re spectively. The difference In the amount of the bids will tell its own tale to archi tects and contractors." Thereby inti mating, no doubt, that the contractors who made the lowest bid had an under standing with the architect to construct an inferior building. I will say right here that the contrac- tors to whom the contract for the con- structlon of the building was let nave I not yet been paid in full by tne scnooi Board, and if Mr. MocKenDerry nas any knowledge or information that the build lng has not been constructed according to th Dlans and specifications, n is nis duty as a taxpayer of La Grande to make siirh knowledge known to tne ocnooi Board. If he has any such information, he must have gained the same second hand and at long range, for he has not been in La Grande since some time prior to the completion of the building. Further, the communication states that the contract was let for 852.400 and that thn bulldlmr alone would cost about $10.- 000 before it is completed. Nothing can be mom misleading than such a statement. Indicating clearly that the writer of the communication either deliberately misrepresented the facts or was Inex cusably Ignorant or tne facts, ine oruc Inni contract Drlce was $t!2,000, but certain changes were made in the original plans and specifications, sucn as cnanging mo stone foundation called for in the archi tect's plans and specifications to dtick. and many other changes, and the con tract was finally awarded to Bartlett & Roth, of Pullman, wasti., ior jiwi. The School Board substituted brick foun dations for stone foundations, as it would make auite a saving in tne cost of the building, and being advised by contractors that brick foundations were Just as durable and substantial as stone foundations and were being used in the largest modern buildings. in Duuuins complete, including power-nouse, sieam heating and ventilating plant, plumbing, lighting and furnishing of High School building and also heating, ventilating plant and plumbing of another ward building, will cost about $S1,000. instead of about 8100.000 for the constructing of the High School building, as stated by Mr Hoekenberry In his communication. All of the contracts for the construc tion of the building, including heating, ventilating, plumbing, furnishing and lighting, were let by the School Board to the loweBt bidder, after competitive bidding, and we feel Justly proud of the La Grande new High School Duuuing, and the people of the city and district are well pleased with the same. This communication is noi wnutn m the interests of iir. uaunt, me i de tect or Bartlett & Roth, the contractors, as 'the same is done without their knowledge, but In Justification of the ac tion of the School uoaro. in Bwtnu.m, the contracts and in refuting tne im plied charge in Mr. Hoekenberry s com munication that the members of the School Board are either a lot of graft- ers" or blockheads. J. W. know Lia. English Oria-ln of "Hobaon's Choice." Chronicle and Comment in the February Boolcman. The latest addition to the Highways and Byways Series deals with Cam bridge and Ely, and is written by Rev. Edward Conybeare, and illustrated by Frederick L Griggs. Among the anec dotes is one which recalls the origin of the familiar phrase, "Hobson's Choice." Hobson, who lived in Cambridge when the Tudors held the English throne, was a "carrier," a profession which at that date included not merely the transport of goods but the provision of locomotion for passengers then almost wholly equestrian. Thus Hob son not only himself traveled regularly to and from London with his stage, but kept a large stable of horses for hire even supplying his customers with boots and- whips for their Journey. But he was very autocratic in the matter and would never allow any steed to be chosen except in accordance with his will. "This or none." he would say to any hirer who dared to remonstrate, and his business was so prosperous that he could afford to be independent. Solomon and Hla Wives. New York Tribune. Laura Jean- Libbey, discussing in Brooklyn, N. Y., her appearance on the stage, said: 'I talk In my monologue aoout ioe. marriage and the other interests of the heart. On these subjects women, espe cially young women, are strangely Ig norant. "They really make me think, you know, of a little girl who was aEked by her teacher: 'What can you tell us of Solomon? 'Solomon,' replied the little girl, "was very fond of animals.' ' 'And how, my near,- saia tne teacner, 'do you make that out?" " 'Because,' answered the little girl. the Bible says ha had BOO porcupines.' " Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan Feb. 9. 1S61. The Columbia River Indians ran off 15 horses on Butter Creek on Saturday last. They attempted to break into a house on the same day. There was no one there but children and their mother. They were repulsed. They then went over on to Willow Creek and robbed a Mr. Reeder of $400 and all hi furniture, and escaped. v We are pleased to observe the Council moving in regard to the matter of re pairing the City Jail. We have visited the Institution mentioned and found its condition to be unfit for the retention of any person unless the object is to put him to death. We are sorry to note the fact that the far-famed song, "Dixie's Land," Is fall ing Into disrepute. At this time it is not to be heard in the streets mora than half the time. It has had a great run, how ever. When first introduced, the abortive attempts of various whistlers and singers .to sound its notes correctly were amus ing. At first they got no farther than "Way don south in Dixie's Land;" here the tune and words both gave out, but In the course of a fortnight, by constant practice, the public got as far as "away! away!! away!!!" After the devotion that has been shown to this song it should not be allowed to go down, just as we have got a copy to give to our readers in full. The individual who sent the local poem to this office two days ago "sold" us. He hooked that poem from Frank Leslie. Military movements are still progress ing at Washington for the protection of the Capitol. N. R No gentlemen of the Lane qual ity are wanted In the Republican party until purged of the foul taint of dls unionlsm. Tho girl who was lost from Captain Hoyt's house has been found. She was secreted under the house insane. St. Louis. Jan. 12. (By stage from Yreka.) Senator Hunter made a speech declaring it was too lote to save the present Union, and said It was necessary for patriots to recommend a new and more enduring one out of the fragments Of this. St. Louis, Jan. 14. A Charleston dis patch says that the sloop of war Brook lyn had arrived off the harbor; that dis affection existed among the troops at Fort Sumpter, and that its evacuation is contemplated. Adv. In addition to our stock we re ceived per steamer Pacific 50 dozen hoop skirts, which we will sell from 60 cents to 81 each. Cohen & Lyon. Justices of Supreme Court. WARRENTON. Or.. Feb. 3. (To the Editor.) Please answer the following questions: 1. What are tne names oi tne mem bers of the United States supreme Court, named in the order of their seniority? What are their political ffiliations. and when and Dy wnai Presidents were they appointed? 2. Is the Chief Justice named as sucn by the President, or is he simply named aa un Associate Justice, ana ai mo death or retirement of a Chief Justice succeeds to the position? 3. Did President Grant nominate tne lata Oeorce H. Williams, of Oregon, to be Chief Justice or to be an Associate Justice? . It was stated recently in xne ure- gonlan that sliver is not extensively mined in Oregon. Is it mined In Oregon at all? If so, in what county? J. C. 1. Chief Justice Edward T. White, appointed by Taft- Associate Justices: John M. Harlan, appointed by Hayes; Joseph McKenna, appointed by McKln ley; Oliver W. Holmes. William R. Day, appointed by Roosevelt; Horace H. Lurton, Charles E. Hughes, W. Van Devanter. Joseph R. Lamar, all appoint ed by Taft. Associate Justices are named in the order of their seniority. 2. The Chief Justice is appointed a such by the President. 3. President Grant nominated George H. Williams for Chief Justice. 4. Silver is mined in Oregon only in cidentally where it occurs in small per centages with other metals. It Is found In the gold mining districts of Baker, Grant and Josephine counties. From Mlaaourl Has to Be Shown. Judge. A book agent once got the Hon. Champ Clark, of Missouri, into a corner and, though his victim was helpless, the agent was not cruel. "I beg your pardon." he said solic itously. "I have a volume here which I don't want to trouble you with, but I hope you will permit me to show-; " "Don't apologize, don't apologize," Mr. Clark broke in impulsively. "I know you've got to do It. I'm from Missouri." Prophecy of Cromwell's Greatness, "An Anecdotal History of Parliament." One day, when Cromwell had spoken warmly In the Houne, Lord Dlgby asked Hampden who he was, and Hampden is said to have replied. "That flovcn whom you see before you hath no ornament in his speech; that sloven, I say, if we should ever come to a breach with tr. King which God forbid; In euch a case. I say, that sloven will be the great est man in England." ESTRAYS FROM TJrE DAY'S DOINGS Senator Abraham says the State Home i full ot spits, and yet tbe sliisle tax Idea didn't set a look In. It would seem that if anybody eould suc eaasfully resUt an adverse popular wava and remnln In tha swim it would have bean Mayor Gill. A New York dispatch says Decies la ot on-tent llneaee. No douDt. it waa a -eery old story that waa told in that Madison- avenue church Tuesday aiternooa. It Is now proposed at Salem to maka groundhog day a public holiday, thus again Illustrating how coming events cast tlielr shadows before. No doubt Mayor Gill la convinced that the strongest woman's club in Washington at present la the recall. rt will soon be v...ionstrated that the single tax on land in Oregon will have no ground to stand on the proposition being specially harrowing to tbe Grangers. Shaw'a short-weight till has been re referred to tha judiciary committee, the members of the House deciding that In Its present form It has a scaly appearance. The Salem story that the State Houae elevator "shot to tha roof" with Senator Calkins as a prisoner Is the limit aa an attempted Imposition upon the publlo cred ulity. As to whether the n:an really walked around tbe squirrel. It should be said that however, thereby hanss a tale. The Decles-Gould wedding caka weighed 250 pounds and was taken to tha Gould home in sections In an automohlle. Being a joy ride the method of transportation was very appropriate. It is said the Roosevelt dam is ready, but it seemed to have been In good working order in Now York state last November. Marshal Colwell was not confirmed, but H is dollars to dourhnuts that President Taft Is In his feelinn that a certain United States Senator. Is personally obnoxious to his Administration. A Portland woman has sued a man for damages, alleging that he is responsible for her making a bad investment. It thia is to become a common proceeding most married men would as well casltulata at once.