TTIE MORNING OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 0, 1911
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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.