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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1911)
TITE MORNING OREGOSIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1911. 10 T$ (DnetrDtttittt rOITtAW, OREW)!l. tnt-r.l at Porrlaad. Clrvcaa. l"otoffle f . oa.i tjaaa) M attar. i H T VI A T IT. jn'iT lnri1rt. oca Tr. .....I - M r- Kunly t:u:lual. mix mooths.... v. Sun:ar Inctu4l. n monltt . . . -3 : . wmout auedar. ana var. ...... 00 'v. itfi-t Sunrlav. thraa ir.n:na.. j. , ativ. ;tbout 8ualar. oaa awam ao jtr ' .iiwr. on )ar... 4i.Ja an i w:x. ana rr. ......... aVJ (PT CARRIER, al!r. stn?v lrcTuJ!. ooa jrae. 0 lliaw lo bail tfn4 Poatoffua Wf rl r. irrraai ordr or Mnoul eha;kt on or Ixal MM. htainra. o:i or rarrTirr at t.ia tiKia r:e toto(flca d t--- In fi:i. Inrlu.ilnaj eounly and atata. Pwiaao Rai- " ' raix. 1 cont: 10 J pa J cnt; .". to pa. a cnt: i to im paara. 4 caau oria pwin" 0':M rat. Iolora BaaalaoM Offlr.a Vrra c" a .si t jrfc. Pruniolc. bolldlas- Cfc- acOi J:s-r bull. lira. k-nKTLASD. . THIR5DAT. 1T.B. la. U1U TAIT-S XAsTEK STJUlk-E. President Taft need not b disturbed y the fa-t that the Canadian reci procity agreement waa passed through he House by the aid of Democrats and hat the Kcpubllcana were divided and !:racted; nor by the fact that the I .rangers as body appear to be a :ttl excited over the altuatlon: nor y the fat-t that the Insurant or pro- l.-resslve Kepubllcana, so far aa they up ported him at all. were half-heart-r d and uncertain. The country la with he President. Canadian reciprocity la he winning stroke of his Administra tion. It dew much to repair the Lrrlevoua blunder of the Payne-Aldrlch, ct: tt does more to show that the Ivrraidrnt has ceased to seek and take Uterybodys adTlce and has started out Iaoldty through his own Initiative, re ;rriss of the appeals of the Interests L.nd the clamorous considerations Of h.e politicians, to perform a statesman. Ike service for the consuming masses the country. In his reciprocity neenn to Con gress the President said that "a far- Hthted policy requires that if we can I-nl&rre our supply of natural resources ind especially of food products and Tecessita of life, without substantial I injury to any of our producing; or -nanufacturtnr classes, we should take the steps to do so now." lie would n-.ake a trade agreement mutually ad vantageous to both countries and one rhlrh "also would be broadly National I In Its scops as applied to our own rountry and would be of benefit to I all sections." Tet we find the farmers and the lumbermen and the others rho think they will be affected by the agreement still pressing; their own Interests, or supposed Interests, against the wider and more general welfare I of the country, under the belief that Che opening up of the markets of the Cnlted States must Inevitably lower prices and as a consequence their profits. They have not yet been able t escape from the old dorma that there can be only one party to any transaction that makes a profit, for they do not understand that the most healthful conditions of commerce arise from the prosperity of all and the eiual opportunity of all for benefit. The essence of successful barter and trade is that all shall have a reason able marpln of profit, or a fair oppor tunity for profit. Are the lumbermen of Oregon In- hired by the unrestricted flow of trade through Its unimpeded channels be tween the states? Are they benefited Sv the lumber duty at the Internation al line? If they are. they will be still more benefited by an embanco against iheir competitors In "Washington. Tet no one fancies or suggests that ths rneral market would be Improved by restriction of competition or limita tion of free opportunity for all the jtates to enter equally all markets. So with the farmer. No one proposes, or thinks of proposing, that the butter ivr e- of Iowa, or the wheat of Washington or Idaho, be denied an npen market here. It would be pre posterous and intolerable, for every one knows that Oregon would not get far In the modern world of commerce by trylna; to confine its own trade to Itself. Why. then, will the Introduc tion of the products of Canada, and the opening of the Canadian markets to our products, not lead to greater production as well as to widened markets? It has not escaped the attention of the country that the faction of the Republican party which "stood pat" against reciprocity Is the same element that urged the President on to the Initial mistake of the Payne-Aldrlch tariff. This ts the high-protection wing of the Republican party, which at the last National Republican Con vention made profuse promises of re vising the tariff, and after the sweep ing triumph of the succeeding Presi dential election was pleased to con strue the platform pledge as permit ting Congress to revise the. tariff, but rot necessarily downward. The Taft Administration has ample reason to remember the speedy retribution that followed this fatuous course, and It will not make that mistake again. Nor will It willingly make the error of passing Canadian reciprocity over to a democratic Congress, for prompt rati fication. It is clear that. If the present Congress falls to act, the coming Con gress will seize the opportunity to pro mote free trade with Canada. The President urges the Republican Con gress to pass the bill, for he knows that the Democratic Congress will at the earliest moment go before the country on its record of approval and the Republican record of disapproval of Canadian reciprocity. BY KAIL TO CENTRAL ORH.OX. The people of Madras yesterday cele brated the completion of the Oretron Trunk Railroad to their ambitious city. From this temporary terminus the road will push on south through new and productl'e territory rich In traffic possibilities. Almost simultaneously with the completion of the line to Madras the same combination of cap), tal that Is rushing the Oregon Trunk Jnto Central Oregon will have complet ed tunneling Its way Into the Tualatin Valley for aa electric line that will be extended to the Paciflo Coast. This line will traverse as rich a country as that which will make the Oregon Trunk a highly profitable Investment. Meanwhile the Harrlman Interests are building a line to Tillamook, and ar also building into Central Oregon. Ths Oregon Electric Is preparing to extend Its line to Eugene, and the Mount Hood Railway Company Is spending a few minions on a suburban line which has irroater tourt-nt trade possibilities than any other line In the country and will also open up targe tract of territory not now served by any line. a u ihia transportation activity means. In degree, ss much for Port land as It does for the country through which the new lines will pass. This city will reap great direct, tangible re wards from this transportation activ ity. The Investment of these millions In railroads which lead directly to this city are as beneficial to Portland as the establishment of factories or other large Industrial enterprises within the city limits. As Madras grows and prospers from tho development made possible by the railroad. Portland will share In that growth and prosperity. The same if true of the other new cit ies and towns which will come Into ex istence with the appearance of trans portation. The railroads, naturally, are not spending all these millions for philan thropic reasons. They expect to earn good dividends on the Investment and the resources of the country are a rea sonable guarantee that the dividends will be forthcoming In due season. In this respect there is no difference be tween a railroad company and a man ufacturing concern which would spend a few millions In securing a site and plant in our city. The railroads and the manufacturing concern alike In vest their millions for the purpose of making money. Incidentally their In vestments help the city and the state, and for that reason we should welcome them and work with them. - om preeent appearances last-spike driving ceremonies, which were Inaugurated at Madras yesterday, will be quite fre quent In Portland territory 'n the next live rears, and each and all have a di rect Searing on the prosperity of this city. WHAT IS A FAIB AJTORTI ON M ENT ? From far out In Harney County comes the old cry against the "Port land hog." a ferocious beast that stands at the gates of Oregon and de vours all comers. "Portland has no whine coming." says the Burns News, "as against any other part of the state, and it will be a fortunate turn In its affairs when Its public spokesmen conclude to be satisfied with Its com mercial supremacy and cease to play the hog politically." If Portland has sought to play the part of a greedy and voracious animal It has not played Its hand well. The constitution of the state says that the legislative apportionment In both houses shall be made on the basis of population. Multnomah County has one-third the states population, and therefore. If the states guaranty through Its highest law means any thing. It should have one-third the members In the Legislature. But of course the constitution is to be con strued In a Pickwickian sense when It comes to Multnomah and literally as to every other part of Oregon. In stead of one-third the members, the county has now one-fifth: and there Is no prospect that under the reap portionment it will fare better. The Oregonlan thinks that every county In Oregon ought to have a member In one house; but. If It should have, the distribution of representa tion In the other ought to be strictly In accordance with population. Can the News suggest a more generous and equitable arrangement thun such an apportionment? Doubtless It can; but it will not. . t-OH MrXTNOMAHTI Bl-LLDINQ. For housing Itself properly and fur nishing the home, Multnomah Ama teur Athletic Club needs 150,000 more than waa estimated after the destruc tive fire last Summer. Of this sum 121.000 waa pledged at Tuesday night's meeting; the balance must be raised among members by the sale of per cent gold notes. It will be a pleasure to announce that the demand la met by Saturday night. Portland feels and has good right to feel proud of Multnomah Club. Travel the land over and you won't find an athletic organization whose atmos phere Is cleaner. It appeals strongly to children and youth of either sex. The Influence always Is wholesome; the club spirit conducive to health, strenjrth. vigor and sane physical con tests. Then. too. Its finances have ever been well managed, the present slight embarrassment being due to acci dental cause. There should be no fur ther delay In the way of rehabilitation. Tho new buildings ought to be ready for occupancy by the Summer's end. Let response for the last few thousand dollars be prompt. UDOIsXATTltB AXD WILL Or I'KOPLE. . The argument that a repeal or amendment by the Legislature of the bill closing the Rogue River to com mercial fishing would be a thwarting of the will of the people Is not sound or weighty. This was a local measure Improp erly submitted to the voters at large. Few knew anything of Its merits or demerits. It received a total affirma tive vote of 4 9,712. For Governor In the same election 117.690 voters regis tered their preferences. The Rogue River bill was adopted by the votes of approximately 42 per cent of the elec tors participating In the election. . Of this total of 117.690 there were 34,581 who failed to vote on the bill. There were but three counties Inter ested In the measure unless the charge be true that Columbia River fisher men desired to eliminate a competitive source of fish products In Southern Oregon. It Is true that in the three counties there was a majority of about 2000 in favor of the bill. Jackson County wanted the river reserved for the sportsmen, and had little Interest In the maintenance of commercial fishing. In Curry and Josephine were many who obtained a livelihood from the river. Curry and Josephine voted against the bill but Jackson, with more voters than the other two coun ties combined, voted for it. v If the fate of the bill were left to the three counties and that would be more reasonable than to submit It to the state at large there would still be an apparent conflict of Interests with pleasure of the majority arrayed against property and bread and butter of the minority. Outside of the three counties 43,694 voters expressed approval of the bill and it Is probable that not ten per cent of them could ten why they did so. Outside of the three counties 31,559 voted against the bill and It Is prob able that 90 per cent of these voted against the bill because they were In doubt. It was Impossible for them to know anything about It. Viewed from any aspect It was a bill that never should have been sub mitted by Initiative. The issue could have been decided with as good chance of deciding It right by tossing up a quarter. The vote of the people In such a case has no sacredness that reed bind the Legislature. During ths campaign The Oregonlan advocated the defeat of this bill because tt knew nothing about Its merits or demerits and knew that.the people could know nothlnt? about them. It knows little more about the bill now than It did then and Is not advocating the repeal of amendment of the measure on the ground that lnjuctlce has been done to a particular group of people. It Is asserting, however, that the Legislature Is the proper body to deal with the question and that if It finds that an In. Justice has been done It should correct It regardless of how it was brought about. It was necessary. Indeed unavoid able, four years ago, that the Legis lature repeal the "people's laws" when It straightened out the tangle Into which Columbia River Ashing had been precipitated toy the people through the Initiative. The Legislature then per formed Its plain duty In correcting and harmonizing the people's laws. If the Legislature believes that there Is a sit uation on Rogue River that calls for remedy, why should it not act? RnXK-MNO COXFIDKNCE. The optimistic announcements by Judge Lovett, of the Harrlman sys tem, have a value far greater than any that can possibly follow the In vestment of the $75,000,000 In Im proving Western transportation facili ties. Coming at a time when the wave of anti-railroad sentiment that has swept tho country has not yet sub sided, his confident utterances will encourage many w ho have een await ing complete settlement of the differ ences betw'een the railroads and the people. Whatever these differences have been and may be, there Is one cold, hard economic fact from which there Is no escape. That Is that the railroads, representing more than 119, 000,000.000 In stocks and bonds, form the most powerful Influence In our commercial and financial life. All th Interior transportation which Is required by 90.000.000 people la controlled by this enormous combina tion of capital and It is of vital neces sity that there should exist the utmost harmony between the people and the railroads. If the railroads by extor tionate rates cripple our Industries and by lnsuffllcent transportation restrict the productive powers of the people, automatically the Injustice will react on the oppressors. Equally true is It that If the people. Incensed over some apparennt or real injury, carry their corrective measures to extremes, they will suffer as the railroads suffer. For more than a year past the railroads and the people have been companions in a misery which has been brought about by material departure from the mutual interest principle which should govern both. With local, state and National commissions and tribunals keeping the railroads continually on the gridiron and with muckraking magazine endeavoring to prevent an amicable settlement of the differences, the market for railroad securities has been demoralized to such an extent that money actually needed for re pairs, equipment and extensions has been almost unobtainable. From this unfortunate condition of stagnation the railroads are gradually Tt la encouraging Indeed to witness a change of sentiment on the part of the people. ine cnaoieniuaj process has run Its course, and with both the affected Interests realizing the mutuality of Interests the outlook for the future Is most promising. Judge Lovett declares unequivocally that, regardless of the decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission on pending rate matters, the Harrlman Interests will proceed with their Im provement programme Involving the expenditure of 176.000.000. In this state the railroads are spending many millions. It will be many years before the new territory that is being devel oped by the Harrlman and the Hill Interests In Oregon will yield traffic sufficient to get the new lines on a dividend-paying basis, but eventually rich returns are certain. Meanwhile the new lines have opened territory In which thousands of new settlers have found homes and in i m. nrnriurers. The entire country will be the gainer by the speedy settlement or any remaininB um:. ences between the people and the rail roads. In Oregon especially the inter dependence of the two Interests de mands the utmost harmony. LO BEI-l.T IATS. The report of Commissioner of Cor porations Smith on the lumber Indus try discloses a condition with which the West, and especially Oregon and Washington, are not unfamiliar. The free-and-easy land laws and the free-and-easy manner In which they were administered for more than thirty years made tt a comparatively easy matter for capitalists to get together great bodies of timber, as -well as ag ricultural lands, at a very small frac tion of their present-day values. These Immense private holdings, if we except those of the Weyerhaeuser Interests, which were mostly bought from the .t v. Paiiin Railway, were se cured by the massing of Individual claims, presumably oougni or empted by bona fide settlers. The holdings of the railroad company were secured through that prodigal land grant policy which was Inaugurated ostensibly for the purpose of hasten ing construction of the roads, which in turn agreed to seU the land to settlers who might naturally be expected to rush In on completion of tho railroads. The Government kept Its faith with i ..iiMia hv lasulns: title to the land grants. It also kept Its faith with the vast army or "stool pigeons n In the aggregate secured title to mil lions of acres of the beat Umber and ..i.-.i in nd in the world, and BKin,ui.w. who. Immediately on securing title, deeded It to the big syndicates wnicn now hold It. But while the Govern ment acted In good faith In thus glv i ".r.r, man a farm" and In giving the railroads several million ."farms," very few of these oenencianes played fair with the Government. Ac cording to the report of Secretary Smith, the timber holdings of the Southern Pacific are the greatest In the United States, amounting to 106.000. 000,000 feet. None of this timber is for sale at prices that bring It within ..-. -. r rfc settlers in whose In terest the Government turned it over to the Southern Paciflo as a girt. Ignoring the express provision of the grant that provided for the sale of these lands at a reasonable figure to actual settlers, the Southern Pacific i - voir held the lands off the market and deprived the people of the right to aecura nomea in a rtjiuu exceptionally favored by climatic con ditions. It may truthfully be said that much of this Southern Pacific land Is so much more valuable for timber than for agricultural purposes that it would not have been cleared even had It fallen Into the hands of settlers. But scattered throughout the vast holdings of this railroad company are hundreds and thousands of claims which are good for both timber and farming purposes. Had the railroad carried out the intention of the Gov ernment and sold these lands to set tlers at reasonable figures, the area in volved today would be supporting thousands of people lngtead of remain, lng in Its original state of virgin wil derness. . The problem Is a serious one, espe cially as vacant land ts disappearing more rapidly than at any previous period In the country's history. Whether It Is possible at this late day to force a distribution of these vast holdings in accordance with the pro visions, or rather the intentions, qx the original land grants. Is uncertain, but the gravity of the situation certainly calls for the most stringent guardian ship of the small remaining holdings of the Government. It Is also Impera tive that every effort be made to force the railroads to fulfill the agreement under which these land grants were originally made. t Great Britain Is much excited over the possibilities which lurk behind the Canadian reciprocity measure. The London Post, commenting on the pre diction that reciprocity would lead to annexation, appeals "to those Liberals not yet blinded by partisan prejudice" to close their ranks and fight to save the empire, which Is threatened with danger. The annexation of Canada would be a. perfectly natural sequel to the reciprocity measure, A large proportion of the Canadians are more American than they are British. The work of Americanizing our blood brother on the north goes rapidly on. Not the least of the advantages which would follow this union of the two countries which have so much In com mon would be the good accomplished In demonstrating to our hidebound protectionists that the effects of free trade between Canada and the United States would be In no manner different from those which now accompany free trade between Oregon and Washington or any other states. Canadian Pacific earnings of more than 110,000,000 for the last half of 1910 offer pretty good evidence of the prosperity of the country traversed by that line. In no other part of the world has there been such good.team work on the part of tho government and the railroads as In Western Can ada. The result of this amicable un derstanding between the two control ling forces has been the remarkably rapid settlement of tho country, with an attendant increase in the amount of business handled by the railroads. At this time the group of American rail roads known as the "Pacifies" are en gaged in a similar campaign of pub licity. Exploitation of Pacific Coast resources and the results that will fol low within a.year or two will be fully aa satisfactory as those which have made Canadian prosperity famous throughout the world. Tha Rnn Francisco Shvlock Who re ceived 1255 In cash and a deficiency Judgment for $333.30 for a $100 loan made five years ago was neitner worse nor better than others of his breed who have found lodgment In this city. Be ing absolutely devoid of any sense of fairness or decency, these human vul , a'tta nrv an their financially In jured brethren have no scruples against robbing any unrortunate wno gets mio their clutches. That they are so suc cessful In escaping punishment Is due to the disinclination of their victims to make public their own folly or mis fortune. Eventually these harpies, who hide their Identity behind gilded signs of "bankers and brokers," will be forced Into the open and hundreds of poor but deserving men will be pro tected from their own folly. Forest Expert Oakleaf will conduct technical investigations at the experi mental laboratory of the Forest Serv ice at the University of Wisconsin for the next three months that will be of practical value to the tlmbermen and mill operators of the Northwest. His name Is suggestive, of suitability for this work. When a fellow reads of that great revolutionary leader Madero shaving off his whiskers and making a sneak, it is hard to repress regrets that O.. Henry didn't live long enough to put into permanent literary form the hu mor of the present rebellion. It Is not likely that many California militiamen will learn to fly even un der Ely's tutorship. His Instruction will be faithful of course, but not very fruitful. One would suppose the militiamen would want to learn how to march before they tried flying. Well, anyway, the residents1 of San Francisco will have three opportuni ties to visit ths New Orleans Mardi Gras before the Panama Exposition turnstiles are working. It's up to the general passenger agents. Tom Richardson, who says that the Oregon dairy business Is on the de cline, must remember that the more apartments and flats we have in Port land the greater will be the demand for condensed milk. ' George Gould lost control first of the Western Union, then of the Western Pacific, and now of the Missouri Pa ciflo Evidently Jay Gould's successor borrowed more money than he was. able to pay back. While Clvlo Architect Bennett is telling us that Burnside ought to b the backbone of the new municipal arrangement will he please mak-' prognostications as to the future head a our city. Even with the 'suffrage Seattle women have no advantage over their Portland sisters. Here the police pinch feminine speed maniacs aavwell as the male variety. To what heights will the pension a nnrnnr la Lions soar when the United States Army men bepin battling with tho elements In airships? The coronation of the King and Queen of England has been postponed to take place two weeks after the Portland Rose Festival. When all of the suffragettes In the state of Washington take the stump then It will be time to talk of clearing the logged'-off land. As further evidence of Oregon's for ward movement, note 754 students in the strictly collegiate departments at Eugene. -- Now let science get busy over a serum for the 17-year locusts which threaten to sweep the country. All aboard for Madrs1 SHALL WHMG BE COBItKCTKD f That la Sole Qaeatlam mm to UeaVPe Klver Flak BUI. SALEM. Or., Feb. ll-(To the Edltor) I have noticed that some of the PPf" are questioning the advisability of : tne Legislature amending the Rogue River fishing law enacted by the peoje No- V In ray Opinion, the people did not : fully understand the effect that the adoption of this bill would have. I am a member of the fisheries committee of the Houflo Mr. Pierce, who Introduced the bill, is also' a member of this committee ana a resident of Curry County, the county which Is most vitally affected by the enactment of the Rogue River risking bill. We called before our committee residents of Curry County, of JPhln County and Jackson County, and each was allowed to make a statement or his case before the committee, and the com mittee went carerully into all condition existing upon the Rogue River. We found that about three miles above Grant's Pass there is a dam or suffi cient height so that la low water sal mon cannot get over. The water falls upon a bed of concrete in such a way that in low water the depth doesn t ex ceed 18 or 20 inches. This is not suffi cient water to give the ealmon a chance to make the necea-eary leap to tret over the dam. There is no adequate flshway h We found that if the law adopted by the people were to stand without amend ment, 200 fishermen in Josephine County who make a living by. fishing would be compelled to leave the county. In Curry County we round that many or the tisn ermen have taken up homesteads and that If the Hshing in the river were closed they would have to vacate their homesteads and leave the county, as tney could not make a Uvlng upon the r homesteads under the preeent cona tion Aleo that the fishing in the river was a means or livelihood or two or three hundred ramllles alonfr the river in this county, and that the fishing in the Rogue River in Curry County was the leading industry or the county. We round further that the Hume In terests had bult and owned and oper ated at their own expense, with the ex ception ot one man employed by the United States Government, three sal mon hatcheries which last year turned out 6,000,000 young salmon which were retained In the hatcheries until they were four or five Inches In length and then placed In the river within a mile of the sea. We found that the first season the Hume Interests were on the river they packed 3000 cases of salmon. By keeping up these hatcheries they have Increased the pack from 3000 cases to 10,000 cases per annum. We learned that the movement for the closing of the river waa in behalt or the sportsmen, particularly, ot Jackson County, who de sire to rish in the Rogue River with hook and line. It was also shown conclusively to the committee that only the steel-head sal mon could be caught with hook and line, so It was proposed to amend the bill adopted by the people so that steel head salmon should not be caught, which would give the people ,or Jackson Coun ty what they aoked tor In their b'll. and that the fishermen or Curry County and Josephine County should Ash with nets ot not less than eight-Inch mesh tor the nhl.iwb almnn nnvl for onlv fifi daVS during the year; thus giving a much shorter season than under the old law. This size or mesh allows an steei-neoa salmon to pass through. The amended bill opens the river for fishing to the steel bridge at Grants Pass, which Is three miles below the dam. We are Informed that a good flsh way will be constructed over this dam. t at.- initio dir. hiu wpra allowed to stand unamended It would put out of business the canning Industry at the mouth or the river, vaiuea ai jdu,vw, aim would materially cripple the business In- . - -rv niiritv Ppraonall v. I do not think it would be wise to destroy an Industry wnion me owners oi mo tan nery themselves hsve developed by op erating their own hatcheries. In order Kn. no.tn annTtatnan anient have the fun ot rishlng in the upper waters or the nver. xex, we sruni.au luaui awa viej 1--. in ,1.1- hill ' Hnwavpr. thav objected to the opening or the river above ths mouuj or tne Illinois niver. As regards the charge that members of v. t ui at fit ii hfl vara tha friends or the .initiative and referendum should vote against the cnanging or sucn a bill, I am of the opinion that it would be an Injury to the cause of the Initiative and referendum to let such a bill stand ....m.niari o ft vnuM ha dolns eerl- ou Injustice to the people or two coun ties. The people ot me main at iiusa were not In a position to inform them selves ot the conditions prevailing In that locality when they voted upon this meas ure, and in my opinion should have voted it down for the same reason that they voted down the new county propositions. I think It should reriect credit upon the friends) of the initiative and referen dum that they were willing to rectify an error made by the people in this matter. I have always been a supporter of the Initiative and referendum and waa elect ed upon a platform to support it, but as I stated before the best way to support and make effective the initiative and referendum is to correct the mistakes that may be made by its use. r tn atnta further that thin TB-faa. lature Is not establishing a precedent by amenaing ims iniuciiive iaw aa me legis lature of 1909 amended the upper and i .Iu.f ?1aH In are nRrtrH hv tho nan! pie In 1908. I heard no vigorous protest by tne pumic pienta ai liv nmo ouuui amending the people's laws. I think the Legislature should be the balance whee ot the system of direct Iglslatlon. F. M. GILL. Representative of Wasco and Hood River Counties. Flrat American Flas; la Orrgon. PORTLAND, Feb. li To the Edi tor.) On page 11 of The Oregonlan, February 7, the making of the first American flag seen In Oregon is claimed for Mrs. Bills, and the statement Is made that It- was floated by the steam er Lot Whitcomb, launched on Christ mas day, 18S0, at Milwaukle, Or. There is no question of ths truth of the ar ticle, except as to the flag being the first Union Hag rioated in Oregon. The Star of Oregon, Captain Joseph Gate was at Swan Island, now In Portland harbor limits May, 1S4L to May. 1M2, and sailed out of the Columbia for the Bay of San Francisco with "an anchor, hawser, nautical Instruments, a flag and clearance," furnished by Captain Wllks. commander of the American ex ploring expedition in Pacific waters, September 12, 1842. On the th or July, 184S. Miss Nar clssa Waldo on horseback bore the American Hag to the speakers' stand at Salem, where J. a Smith read the Declaration or Independence. That Hag was made by Mrs. Mary Holden, as sisted by Mrs. Looney and daughter, or Looney's Butte. Marlon County, . for Captain Charles Bennet's company of scouts which drilled at Salem on July 4, 1846. Then, in 1847, Lieutenant Howlson, when a guest of Governor Abenethy, after the wreck or the ill fated sloop of war Shark, gave the vessel's flag to the provisional govern ment of Oregon. J. M. rtrlaaro Speaks aa the 'Librettist." New Tork Morning Telegraph. Mr. Belesco th'nks It Is an honor to have furnished the libretto for Puccini's Girl of the Golden West." but not the supreme honor some persons seem to consider it. "That reminds me of a story of Ar dlti." he said. "Arditl was once in vited to lecture on Shakespeare. " 'Shakespeare.' he said with a puz zled frown. 'Who's he?' 'Don't you remember, maestro,' said a disciple, 'don't you remember "Am leo." "Romeo e Giulietta" and "Otello," and so torthr " 'Oh, yes ; of course, said Arditl, Shakes'oeare. the librettist' " MR. HAAK OX THE SCHOOLS Replies to Statement by Board of Edu cation. PORTLAND, Or.. Feb. 15. To the Edi tor.) An article has appeared in The Oregonlan of February 15 which It Is stated was issued In behalf of the mem bers ot the Board of Education and makes some sttUements which are, to say the least, severe reflections on the members or the Civic Council and the different improvement clubs of the City ot Portland. This is the cry or the beast in dis tress, and I make this comparison after having heard the able address of Judge Ben Lindsey, ot Denver, on an allied subject. As citizens and taxpayers or the City ot Portland we do not wish this ltasue to be diverted into the channel ot person alities. Thns far the Board of Educa tion has been treated respectfully in every communication and in every meet ing. The issue before the pubKc is the new school bill before the Legislature. We wish the- public to keep this tact in mind, that Hrat or all we are working ror Improved conditions in the manage ment ot the school affairs of this city and the proper expenditure of the large sums of money received by the School Board. A delegation from the Civic Council and the improvement clubs of the city was in Salem Monday night, and had an atten tive and respectrul hearing by the Mult nomah delegation. The criticisms of the Board of Education are certainly made in poor taste, especially, after the bill was considered In Joint meetings with citi zens ot this city and every effort made to meet the School Board on middle ground In the preparation of the school bill; the compromise measure resulting was finally approved by their own com mittee. This bill Is at present before the Legislature. In reference to Mr. Gauntt, I will say that he has been recommended to me by a member' or a reputable firm or archi tects in the City of Portland. He stated that Mr. Gauntt has been known to him tor many years, and that he considered him a specialist In planning school build ings, that he believed Mr. Gauntt could build a school building ror less money than any other man on the Paciflo Coast. In communication with the Board of Education, I have endeavored to place this on a business basis, and have asked for a meeting, at which time we wished to place before them the plans Mr. Gauntt has drawn up for their considera tion. This has been refused In a very tart letter by H. C. Campbell, chairman of the building committee. Now, If Mr. Gauntt cannot give proper security for the proper completion or the building ac cording to his plans, It certainly would be proper tor the Board ot Education not to accept them. But thus tar we have not succeeded In getting these plans be fore them. In regard to the manner in which the Board of Education's books were kept, previous to Mr. Thomas' administration, I will say that It is Impossible to get an accurate knowleage ot the transactions ot the board without the expenditure ot an undue amount or time and money. In regard to the statement that a cer tain architect employed by the Board ot Education received 2,000 I will state that according to signed statement made by Mr. T:.cmas. school clerk. T. J. Jones received from December, 1908, to Decem ber. 1910, a total of t,34S.&4 and at thai time there was still due 'him $1373.71, making a total renumeration for this period of $24,722.65. The Board of Education states that a falsehood la told by me when I stated members of the Board or Education went to Salem to defeat this bill. The article to which I am replying is proor enough that the Board or Education is fighting this bill, and this statement does not need any repetition. So far as the state ment made concerning contractors and material men of this city is concerned, will say that they can speak for them selves' and they certainly are speaking loudly. The object of the 22 Improvement elube represented in the Civic Council Is to better the administration of school af fairs or this city, and an honest effort in this direction is being made, which certainly is evidenced by the fact that every section ot this bill represents con siderable labor and discussion on the part ot the Board ot Education and the members ot the Improvement clubs of this city, and the citizens appointed In dependently. The public will judge who Is rignt in this matter. JOHN H. HAAK, President. Anti-Pass Law and Jnnkets. VERNONIA, Or.. Feb. 12. (To the Editor.) Is there a law In . Oregon making It a criminal offense for a railroad company to offer a pass to a member of the State Legislature? If so, what Is the difference between a railroad company giving a pass to a member ot the Legislature and two towns furnishing free rides on these same railroads for all the members of the Legislature, their wives, lady clerks and all their friends, to take a day otf and have a picnic at their ex pense, when the schools of these two towns are asking at the bands ot the Legislature nearly quite a million dol lars ot the people's money? No doubt you will think me decidedly green for asking such questions, but we farmers are simple folk and can't i see farther into a millstone than the man that Is picking on it. We have found that the farmer must lead a very strenuous life, to keep out of debt and pay taxes, and we are wondering where we are going to get ofr ir we must dig up tor all that the Legislature is asked to saddle upon us. Some of us were even simple enough, when the state went into the business ot giving to her youth a university education to think that our boys could go to college, too, but we have found that It has kept us hustling so lively to dig up taxes that we have had to keep our boys on the farm for what we can get out of them. It seems to me that in this age of "reform" and "square deal" that some member of the Legislature could im mortalize his name by proposing a square deal for the taxpayer. SUBSCRIBER. There is an anti-pass law In Oregon, but It is designed principally to pre vent the secret furnishing of transpor tation to officials or individuals with the view on the part of the railroad otrerlng the passes of gaining some favor or advantage at the hands of the recipient of the transportation. There Is no law prohibiting an Indi vidual or group of individuals from purchasing transportation tor other in dividuals or groups. The Oregonlan sees no cause for criticising the Legis lature or its hosts for employing the means accepted or supplied to give the lawmakers an accurate and intimate knowledge of the needs ot the two public educational Institutions of the state. But this Is not saying that other Journeys or entertainments might not go beyond the bounds or propriety. Present Owners Get Ref un-L PORTLAND, Or., Feb. 11. (To the Edi tor.) Will you please answer the tollow Ing question regarding the water money refunds? Suppose that "A" owns improved prop erty and has paid up all assessments against same Including water mains. Before the enactment ot the recent re fund law he sells this property to "B." Will the refund he made to "A," who originally paid for same, or to "B," the present owner who has purchased this property at an Increased .figure on ac count of improvements? A READER. Mayor Simon says the city will refund all water money to the present owners of property, which in this case would be "B." Half a Century Ago St. Valentine day was kept as it always Is In this town by the sending of unnum bered comic, sentimental, and ridiculous valentines. Young gentlemen were seen rushing distractedly around inquiring who Maud was, others calling on triends to ascertain whether they could guess in whose hand-writing a certain missive was written. Others In animated conver sation suddenly went down into their left breast pocket and brought up a white envelope with a billet Inside of it, which drawing suddenly, they referred to a friend. This last individual after perus ing it attentively would burst out in a horse laugh, and then they would both cudgel their brains "who can It be?" Well, the day is past and our senior devil got all the valentines that came to this office, cause, supposed to be superior personal appearance. The San Francisco market for Oregon lumber Is pretty well stocked, with a downward tendency in prices. By the cargo it Is quoted at $20 per M. A sale of. one cargo at this price is reported. We notice that "dressing" makes a dif rerence of $10 In the price of redwood lumber, and no doubt a similar advance could be procured on Oregon pine. The price or dressing it here is $10, and no San Francisco machinery can compete with that in Oregon, on account of the mere nominal price of fuel, and the abundant, available and never-falling water-power on almost every township of land In the country. This export trade in dreseed and manufactured lumber, is worthy of more Investigation than it ap pears to have received. For a copy of "Dixie's Land," we refe our readers to the outside of our Issue of the 15th Inst. It will be perceived that the stanzas are either too long or the tune as sung and whistled In Portland is too short. In either case we leave tlia matter In the hands of our Oregon poets and music-composers, hoping they may be able to make the two come to terms, or to meet each other half way. This new Instance of a tendency to disunion between poetry and music should be promptly rebuked. A gentleman thoroughly acquainted wits making files, has commenced the manu facture or that article In this city. He is located at the head of Washington street. Flies are a considerable article of import here, and If they can be made at home, would prove a great saving. The exports from Portland for the week ending Friday night, the loth of Febru ary, are as follows: 2200 sks. flour, 1977 wheat, 2S11 bxs. ap ples, 40 bxs. butter, 1 bx. fruit trees, 1 bx. mer., 34 cs. bacon, 7 pkgs. leather, 126 hides. The receipts of produce from the in terior, for the same time, foot up the fol lowing totals: 3305 qr. sacks flour, 3500 bushels wheat, 4 cases rruit trees, 1342 boxes of apples. 33 cases bacon, 14 boxes eggs, 9 cases mdse.. 167 sacks bran, 1 bbl. cider, 78 bushels potatoes, 12 hf. bbls. lard. 2 bales Salem wool, 8 sacks seed. 3000 reet oak lumber, and 12 ska oats. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT Writer Thinks Benefits Should Kot Be Confined to Employes. THE- DALLES, Or., Feb. 12. (To the Editor.) I have read and re-read 'In jured Man Indorses Bill" on page 6 of The Oregonlan of February 6, 1911. That gentleman was very unfortu nate. He was laboring to support his family and Incidentally for tho benetit or the state. I know or a young man with a wife and two children who was working with might and main to clear up his homestead, make a living for his fam ily, and Incidentally for the benefit or the state. He was Injured in an acci dent with a log and lost a leg. He is practically helpless and has no trade. I contend that It the one .should re ceive a benefit from every taxpayer within the state through appropriation by the state, then both should receive a like benefit. It Is presumed that both were working at a chqsen calling. We of Oregon surely have a choice. J. C. HALL. Mr. Hall possibly overlooks the fact that under the provision of the pro posed compensation act, the state ts to contribute only one-fourth ot the compensation fund after the Initial ap propriation of $60,000 Is made. It Is the intention of the tramers or the bill that one-hair the fund shall be pro vided by the employers, they thereby obviating the necessity ot buying in demnity insurance. One-tourth Is to be contributed by the employes. The state would probably save its share In reduced court costB, as personal injury cases rorm an important Item In the expense of maintaining our courts. In the long run, too, the consumer pays the Judgments obtained by Injured em ployes and also the insurance premi ums ot the employer. The compensa tion plan proposed Is a form or Insur ance supervised by the state with fixed benefits tor every Injured employe who may have elected to accept its terms. In theory, at least. It' would Impose no greater burdens than those now carried by the taxpayers in providing a means of relief for injured work men. 'THE COUNTRY BOY' The Story of His Own Early Life. BY HOMER DAVENPORT An Extraordinary Narrative Writ ten and Illustrated by the Famous Cartoonist. BEGINS IN THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, FEBRUABY 19 The Sunday Oregonian has se cured from G. W. Dillingham Co., publishers, the serial rights of "The Country Boy," by Homer Davenport, the famous cartoonist. Everyone knows Homer Daven port's cartoons. Everyone knows he hails from Silverton, Oregon. He has achieved a new distinc tion. He has written a fascinat ing book. It is not fiction, but real, live, pulsing autobiography not the sort that divers "great men" have been kind enough to offer to a world too often bored by it ; but the vital tale of an ambitious country boy's extraordinary struggle against odds. The story is illustrated by Homer Davenport himself. The drawings are a wonderful aid to the story. The first installment will ap pear -Sunday, February 19. ORDER FROM YOUR NEWS DEALER NOW