Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, March 02, 1911, Page 10, Image 10

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    TTTE MOTIXTXO ORPOOXTAS. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1911.
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TORTLAXD. THrB.HD.tT MARCH fl.
THC IXCOXK TAX AMEXD.HEVT.
The course of the Federal Income
tax amendment dor not run so
smooth as its friends might desire
Reports are now at hand from twenty
rtatrj which hare voted upon It In
their Legislature. Of these twelve
have accepted and eight rejected the
amendment. It renulres the assent
ing vote of three-fourth of alt the
races to make the amendment valid,
and since twelve Is not three-fourths
e-f twenty It Is apparent that the nec
essary ratio Is not bring obtained
thus far. Th wind may change Its
cours by and by and afford fairer
tailing; for the amendment: but unless
something of the kind happens it
wilt not become part of the Constitu
tion. t'p to the present the amendment
)ia. found most favor In the South
and lt-a.it In the extreme East. New
Tork rejected it under the Influence
rf Governor Hughes and likely
enough his objections had weight In
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
Vermont, which voted the same way
on the subject. Perhaps a predllec
. tlon for state rights settled its fate
In Virginia. There the Legislature
seems to have thought that the power
to tag Incomes should be retained ex
clusively by the slates and not ahared
wlrh the general Ooverument.
If state rights played a part against
the amendment to Virginia It Is
strange that It should have fared so
well farther south. Alabama, Geor
gia. Mississippi and Texas have ac
cepted it. and so has South Carolina.
It found fjvor alio In Maryland and
Kentucky, which really belong to the
South as far as sentiment Is con
cerned. Louisiana Is the only Gulf
state which has thus far rejected the
amendment. No Western Legislature
has rejected It as yet. while Okla
homa. Montana. Illinois and Ohio
have -atifled It. In KansAs. New
Hampshire. Michigan. North Carolina
and Arkansas the lower branch of
the Legislature has acted favorably,
while nothing has been done by the
upper. The more popular house In
moot of the states Is the better dis
posed toward the amendment. In
IVest Virginia It would have been rat
ified had the State Senate concurred
with the House of Representatives.
The popular body, which may be said
to represent the men of the state,
wished the Government to tax In
comes. The upper house, which no
doubt represents property, opposed
the measure. Something similar has
happened In most of the states where
the amendment has been rejected.
Most of the states of the Middle
West have yet to express themselves
upon the amendment. Judging by
what Ohio. Illinois and Oklahoma
have done. It will fare well In that
region and may receive favor enough
to carry It beyond the danger point,
but as the case now stands the out
look for a Federal Income tax Is not
by any means bright. The public,
which was supposed to be wild with
eagerness to see the amendment
adopted, has lost Its enthusiasm. If It
ever had any. and there Is not much
pressure upon the various Legisla
tures to ratify. The people are in
different rather than other Ise. and
whatever the Legislatures choose to
do satisfies them. This Is unfor
tunate because the power to tax
Incomes may at some time be
essential to the existence of the Na
tional Government and under the re
cent decision of the Supreme Court
It Is Impossible without the adoption
ef the pending amendment.
It Is sometimes said that the power
exists already. All that is nevresary
la to apportion the tax among the
states according to population. This
sounds plausible, hut In reality It Is
very foolish. The purpose of an In
come tax Is to levy upon wealth, not
human, beings. To apportion It ac
cording to population would therefore
defeat Its essentia! objeet. btde
working great Injustice. It would be
wrong to the last degree to Impose
as large an Income tax upon a state
Inhabited by hard-working firmer as
upon one where a band of multi-millionaires
dwelt. The Income tax must
be levied where the Incomes exist,
not where they are larking. The dif
ficulty of collecting It has probably
been exaggerated by persons who are
Interested In defeating the amend
ment. England collects her income
tax without any particular trouble,
and so do other nations. As the Gov
ernor of New Hampshire said to h's
Legislature. It Is upon the whole the
fairest method of taxation which has
jt been devised. It throws the task
of supporting the Government upon
those who are bet able, to bear It.
while It relieves humble Industry of
n Intolerable burden.
rkjt n- irxoKo r-MMrr.iuTT.
The United States, with a vast ter
ritory which Is still a virgin field for
capttal and labor, quite naturally has
opportunities that are missing In the
centuiies-old countries of the Old
World. Let none of our patriotic
boomers, however, get the impression
that those old-world countries have
reached the limit of their productive
powers or that prosperity Is barred
froro their people. It seems some
what strange to note that nowhere
else on earth was prosperity as ramp
ant and noticeable In ItlO as It was
In Great Britain. With the country
In constant political turmoil and with
more strikes than ever before In Its
history, every branch of Industry and
trade established new records. We
have prided ourselves on the fact that
our own foreign trade for 110 broke
all existing records with a total of
JS.4J7.S1I.SJS. but the "tight Uttle
Isle" of Great Britain exceeded her
best previous record by more than
I510.a00.000. her exports and Im
ports reaching the enormous total of
tS.S45.lS0.000.
In segregating the Import and ex
port figures of Great Britain. It la
easy to understand the source of her
prosperity. That famous "balance of
trade" which Is such a fierce bogle to
our eminent standpatters whenever
there Is danger of our Imports ex
ceeding the value of our exports has
no terrors for the British. We note,
for Instance, that-In 110 they ex
ported JI.1:.4,03 worm OI goooa.
while their Imports for the same
period were 3.32.200.SS. In this
big volume , of imports was Included
SI. 10t. 210. 000 worth of raw material
for use in manufactures. To offset
this they exported J 1.7 10.000.000
worth of manufactured products, an
Increase of more than SS31.000.000
over any previous year. Among the
Imports was nearly 1 1.300.000.000
worth of food stuffs. The Increasing
Importance of our own manufactur
ing Industries and the attendant In
crease In the domestic demand for
foodstuffs have resulted In smaller
Imports of these commodities from
the United States and have forced
Great Britain to turn to South Amer
ica for supplies of beef, mutton and
breadstuff.
This Is not. however, a one-sided
bargain, for during the year Just
closed 1100.000.000 In British capital
was sent to South America for In
vestment In railroads. The ship
building trade, despite the low rates
on ocean freights throughout the
world, was never more prosperous
than in IS 10 and a new record was
made In the launching of 114 vessels
of 1.317.000 tons register. There are
other Interesting figures In this latnst
trade report Issued by the British
government, and. taken separately or
collectively, they show quite clearly
that commercial stagnation ana ruin
do not always follow a policy that
gives a people free and unobstructed
right to buy and sell wherever they
can do so'to the best advantage. This
report, however, will make very bad
campaign literature for a standpat
politician of either party.
SOT T1UE WORrT. NOB THE BET.
It was not the "worst Legislature"
In the history of Oregon. It was not
the most corrupt Legislature In the
history of Oregon. It was not the
least Intelligent Legislature In the
history of Oregon. But It appropriat
ed more money. So does everybody
else spend more money. County,
city and local governments spend
more money. The people themselves
In every Instance where they have
been called on to make or uphold a
state appropriation have voted aye.
In rortlund, millions of dollars have
been freely voted by the electorate
for bridges, pubic docks, extensions
to water system, and so on. It Is the
habit of the time voting away the
people's money. Now we are going
to have more bridges and a public
auditorium, all of which cost money.
Besides, the Legislature of 1911
was a people's Legislature. It was
made up of the same kind of men
that constituted the membership of
all previous Legislatures no better,
no worse, perhaps, but a pretty fair
average. The famous 1897 hold-up
Legislature, odious In the raemdry of
ail citizens who look askance at Leg
islatures, had the usual personnel of
Legislatures. It had an unusual num
ber of good men; Mr." TTRen among
them. Mr. U"Ren was among the
hold-ups or hold-outs. He helped
Jonathan Bourne, Jr, hold up and
hold out. When we permit ourselves
to be horrified, therefore, about Leg
islatures and particularly about that
1S97 hold-up Legislature. let -us con
template the high and holy motives
of the good and pure men who were
there on the ground, holding up and
holding out. and cease our repining.
RlTF-a SAD FATE.
It ! Impossible to escape the Im
pression that the order of the Cali
fornia Supreme Court nullifying its
previous action In giving the un
speakable Ruef a new trial had some
other basis than the flimsy triviality
upon which It was ostensibly granted.
The case bad dragged through the
courts for months and years. Ruef.
guilty of various Infamies, had been
convicted because the proof was over
whelming, though all. the Infinite re
sources of technical ' legal practice
were invoked In his behalf. The case
was appealed. The Supreme Court
gave the great corruptlonlst and
blackmailer, though a thousand times
guilty, a new trial.
Now the court suddenly reverses
Itself, having made the astounding
discovery that one of the Supreme
Justices waa absent from the state at
the time the court's action was re-'
corded. In other words, the acciden
tal, or incidental, absence of a single
Justice was held to negative the whole
procedure of the court, there being
only six Justices left at home to guide
the destinies of that solemn though
uncertain tribunal and record Its de
crees. This would never do.
If Justice Henshaw had stayed at
home, the original order of the court,
we are to suppose, would have stood
and Ruef would have had a new trial.
But Justice Henshaw, In a thought
less moment, wandered off into an
other state, and Ruef must now go
to the penitentiary.
The public, which looks to the
courts to administer Justice and pun
ish malefactors, will be left forever
to wonder what essential connection
there was between the travels of Jus
tire Henshaw and the fact of Rufs
guilt or Innocence.
(.000 a to bad BAxnrxo.
The Supreme Court of the United
States has declined to reconsider Its
opinion that the Oklahoma bank
guaranty law Is constitutional. Okla
homa will therefore continue to pro
tect and Justify by law Inefficient and
reckless banking and to penalize good
banks for the mistakes and dishon
esty of the bad. It Is as well, per
haps, that this unscientific and un
economic system be tried out In Okla
homa, for doubtless the craze for the
bank guaranty will have to run Its
course somewhere.
But let us see what Is happening In
Oklahoma. When the state banks
mere placed under the protection of
the guaranty law. the National banks
suffered from withdrawal of deposits.
But several bad failure of state
banks occurred, and assessments
amounting to about 1 447.000 were
levied to make good the losses. There
being no guaranty to the -good banks,
under the guaranty system, that the
drain would not continue and perhaps
become heavier as the days go on, the
state banks are now seeking to escape
the menace of an enforced alliance
and responsibility with other con
cerns in whose management they
have no voice, and are becoming Na
tional banks. The bank statements
last November showed that the Okla
homa National banks had gained 11.
88J.452 In deposits over the previous
year, while the state banks had lost
157.755.
The only sound bank guaranty Is
honest banking. Tho best way to
secure honest banking- Is honest,
rigid, and frequent bank Inspection
and Inexorable punishment of crim
inal bankers.
THE EW FRENCH MINISTRY.
Tersons who like to think of the
French as a fickle nation Incapable
of orderly self-government will be
disappointed at tho ease with which a
new Ministry has been formed to suc
ceed tbe Brland Cabinet. Apparently
President Fallleres had his eye upon
the right man, and at his request M.
Monts at once accepted the task of
forming the new Ministry. The re
port that he will receive the hearty
adherence, not only of the radical
republicans, to which party he be
longs, but also of the socialists, shows
that there is no Imminent danger or
Instability In the government of
France.
Brland has been losing favor with
the socialists for a long time. Earlier
in his career he was a militant mem
ber of that party, but when he ac
cepted office he became conservative.
This was perfectly natural, but they
never forgave him for the change.
By his vigorous measures In settling
the celebrated railroad strike he exas
perated them still more, and since
that time they have moved heaven
and earth to make his position unten
able. At last they have succeeded
and M. Brland leaves his office speak
ing bitter words of disgust with pub
lic life and popular Ingratitude. An
able man of profound integrity, he
did his full duty In a national crisis
and suffers the disagreeable conse
quences which often follow unyield
ing rectitude.
Briand's fall seems to Indicate that
the French extremists are gaining
power. The anti-clericals, as well as
the socialists, triumph In the acces
sion of M. Monls. The crusade
against the ancient church will be
pushed vigorously, one may suppose,
and no check will be offered to those
local authorities which have been
doing their best to make France a
godless country. Many of the village
churches have fallen Into decay, and
It la said that sometimes the priests
have been forbidden to repair them
so that the communities are totally
deprived of church services. The
chances are that the world will be
treated to the spectacle of a country
trying to get along without religion.
Doubtless it will, be Interesting.
A NEW fEXMBUmP.
We must all sympathize with the
efforts of the New York clergymen to
purge the stage of "vulgarity and pro
fanity." even if we have no vivid hope
of their success. One difficulty is to
define the terms. What la vulgarity?
From one point of view there is noth
ing In English literature more vulgar
than the conversation of Falstaff.
Shall we exclude it from the stage?
There are expressions In Romeo" and
Juliet which shock the modern ear.
The old nurse In particular uses not
very choice language, but It would be
rather a piece of vandalism to ex
purgate her talk.
Vulgarity Is a word which admits
of many meanings. We should Imag
ine that It would be a sad day for the
drama when a censor received the
power to forbid plays which In his
eyes lacked refinement. Profanity,
of course. Is another matter.
Some actors depend for popularity
upon the skillful use of the word
"damn." and when that falls to draw
they proceed to oaths of darker hue.
Certainly they ought to be taught bet
ter, but Is that object Important
enough to Justify a censorship of the
stage by the clergy?
THE BRIDGE. DRAW PROBLEM.
Elsewhere The Oregonlan prints a
communication from Mr. J. Allen
Harrison, who Is prominently Identi
fied with one of the oldest steamboat
lines operated out of Portland, and
consequently opposed to Interference
with tbe- Government regulations for
handling the draws to the bridges.
Mr. Harrison errs slightly In assuming
that the proper conclusion to draw
from the newspaper accounts on the
bridge subject Is "that the river trans
portation was of very little Interest to
the city and state." The steamboat
business and the logging and lumber
ing business, with which It Is closely
connected, have been and still are
very Important factors In the growth
and prosperity of the city. It is
equally true that there are hundreds
of other Industries in this city which
contribute much to the business that
is given the steamboats.
In the early days of Portland, when
the population was small and the
number of steamers smaller, there
were no bridges and not much busi
ness. Tbe unrestricted movement of
vessels was permitted because - It In
convenienced no one and In no man
ner Interfered with the transaction of
necessary business between the east
bank and west bank of the river. Even
the first bridges built, with their slow
moving draws, were not seriously re
garded. Their appearance was during
a period when the old steamboat city
had not yet given way to the railroad
and electric-car city. Steamboats,
barges, schooners, ships and steam
ships are still handling an Immense
and steadily Increasing volume of
business In and out of the port. The
people who supply this business and
make It possible for these vessels to
earn money for the owners are those
who are opposed to unnecessary de
lays which will Impede the movement
of bridge traffic between 'the east and
west sides of the river. The amount
of freight handled dally by team,
train and electrlo cars .crossing the
bridges is greater than that handled
by the steamboats. In addition, thou
sands of passengers make dally use of
the bridges for every one that uses the
boats.
The problem Is one. which never can
be settled to the complete satisfac
tion of every one. and It must accord
ingly resolve Itself Into a case In
which .'The greatest good for the
greatest number" must be considered.
The County Court may have been
somewhat hasty In violating the laws
of the Federal Government, but there
Is something more than a trace of ab
surdity In a law that Inconveniences
thousands In order to accommodate,
at the most, dozens. The attempt or
the court to remedy a situation that
was rapidly becoming unbearable was
certainly made in good faith and was
In keeping with successful efforts
made elsewhere In similar cases.
Portland needs the water carriers
and the water carriers need Portland.
Neither would be here without the
; other. Thus, having such a mutual
ity of interests, there can be no reason
why an Immense majority of the peo
ple should be Inconvenienced, for a
very small, minority. As stated by
1n HnrrUnn In hijt communiration.
1 "let us be fair to the best Interests of
the city."
An effort Is being made to have the
Port of Portland dredge Oregon
slough deep enough to make it acces-
I sible for seagoing vessels. Eventually
. this may be necessary, but until we
1 have made use of the miles of good
I waetr frontage much nearer the city
' . . i- w ... . ...... Mnn V MadA rt tHA
money available for dredging by In
vesting It In Willamette River dredg
ing or In keeping the channel down
the Columbia In good shape. Much
or our deep-water snipping naa oeeu
I forced down below the bridges. As
IIIO 1 1 1 rUK, HI lO blOOB "-- o
will work still rarther down the
stream, and It will be necessary for
the Port of Portland to keep the chan
nel to these lower river docks In good
shape. To make a long Jump at this
time from south of Swan Island to
Oregon slough, ten miles away, would
hardly be Justified even by the re
markable activity In manufacturing
in the new districts on the peninsula.
The Chicago wheat operators have
been exceptionally favored during the
dull season that always follows the
turn of the year, i-a a rule conditions
at this season are not iavoranie iur
speculative life In the market. It is
too late for dry weather and unpro
tected fields, and it is too early for
the chinch bug. the Hessian fly or any
other first aids to the crop killers to
appear. The gloom, however, has
twice been cleared by extraordinary
influences. First came the reciproc
ity measure, which was worked to the
limit by the bear element in the mar
ket, and then came the Russian war
scare, which was fully as pleasant and
profitable for the bulls as the reci
procity scare was for the bears. Next
the "killing frosts" of Spring will hit
the market with an effect far more
serious than will be felt by the wheat.
The American hen seems to be com
ing to the rescue of those who suffer
from the high cost of living. Per
haps the best feature of the declin
ing prices for hen fruit Is the
fact that the poultryman does not
! suffer any loss through decreasing
i prices. There Is more profit in eggs
j at 25 cents per dozen than at 60 cents.
for the reason that the same flock will
produce three or four .times as many
eggs a they will lay when eggs are 60
cents per dozen. Butter ' and meat
products are also reported to be de
clining In price in the East, and from
present appearances the consumer is
about to have an inning.
It does not appear that any sesnsa
tional developments await airing In
the case of the latest claimant for a
share of the Baldwin estate. The al
leged marriage antedates the "Irreg
ularities" that have made the life
record of the turfman famous or In
famous. It was a simple, ordinary
marriage between a poor young man
and his village sweetheart and -as
hence decent and commonplace) as
waa also the birth of the child that
followed. The public Is Incredulous.
The story does not sound like one of
which Lucky Baldwin Is the hero.
The Long Beach police no doubt
do well to prescribe long bathing
suits, but to some observers brevity
Is not the most scandalous feature of
the current mode. A suit, no matter
how long It may be. If it Is construct
ed of diaphanous material, makes
revelation of the most startling char
acter when it Is wet and clinging.
Perhaps a tin lining would be desir
able. At any rate, reform should not
stop at the mere question of length.
The right of Abe Ruef. of Califor
nia, to a cell In the penitentiary, and
the right of William Lorlmer, of Illi
nois, to a seat In the United States
Senate, were both decided yesterday.
Ruef Is now safely in Jail and Lorl
mer Is in the Senate. While there Is
not much similarity In the goals
reached by the two men, there seems
to have been much In common other
wise. The presence of cholera In Hono
lulu is properly regarded as a menace
to the Pacific Coast, and especially
to San Francisco, the port most di
rectly connected with the Hawaiian
city. Forewarned is forearmed, how
ever, and strict quarantine measures
have been taken to prevent the Intro
duction of the plague through traffic
between these ports. "
The "divided skirt" began with two
parts. Now by grace of Mrs. Alfred
Marchal It has four. The next step
will be eight, then sixteen, and so on
until it is reduced to a mere portiere
of strings. When that triumph has
been achieved perhaps fashion will
next attack the corset and slash it up
Into Innocuous sections.
Longshoremen are a husky lot, and
sometimes good fighters, but they
have hearts that feel for the desolate.
Members of the Seattle -union gave
their services free to load relief for
the starving Chinese. Next time they
"knock the bloody blocks" off a few
heathen shoulders any excuse they of
fer will be accepted.
It Is Mr. Frlck's money and he can
pay half a million for a painting If
he bo desires, forgetting that once
upon a time a member of an ancient
trust would have given much more
than that sum for a drink of water.
It Is Just as well the Jackrabbit can
nery at Baker turns out no bologna
product, for the killing of fifty dogs
in one day would give Its patrons
pause, as well as other things.
Appointment of a colored man to be
Assistant Attorney-General Is a trib
ute to merit as well as recognition of
a large body of citizenship.
Albany, Or., merchants contemplate
a style show of women's goods late in
the month. Have they consulted An
thony Comstock?
Up at Freewater a second artesian
well has been developed. The man
who' named that town knew his busl-
Lo rimer is as white as the drives
snow, but baa a smell of lime.
Half a Century Ago
From Tha Orexonlati. March 2. 1861.
Tbe past week is memorable on many
accounts: It Is General Joseph Lane's
last week In the Senate; James Buchan
an's last week In the Presidency, and It
Is the- week before the Inauguration of
Abraham Lincoln.
. . , ,i,,i-, nr
yrero .. uri.
f,f V 'Ul ? v?JsS steim
Portland the past month . viz. six steam-
ens and three eailing vessels. There have
been 11 departures.
Report of public school for the month
closing March 1. . . Total number
of boys. 122; f:fla, 119; total. 241. Average
attendance 197.
Olympla February 26. -The most
exciting topic in political circles Is the
character of the Capital bill, passed by
the last Legislature, removing that In
stitution to Vancouver.
Telegraph meeting: We the under
signed citizens of Oregon, being desirous
of considering well the advantages of a
telegraph connection between Portlanl
nd California, and knowing that nor-
mony of action and effort is very desir- ( tne operators of the mills and steam
able to accomplish such an object, here- t boats- We hav8 8carcaly spoken to a
by suggest th&t a meeting of citizens,
and all others Interested in this enter
prise, be holden at the City Council
room, in Portland, on Tuesday evening,
March 6, 1861. at 7 o'clock, for the pur
pose of a public conference upon this
question, and we further request that J.
E. Strong, who Is now among us. be pres
ent at said meeting and communicate
such facts end information as he may
dee. ?Mr- -i.U ?S Jh X.Pe,?":
? h wXiu c-lL h wil,, ;.'
John McCraken, George H. Williams,
w a Trt rv w nth T. tu Rtrr.
A. B. Elfelt, Alonzo Leland, W. EX Gris
wold & Co., James O'Neill, J. M. Breck,
8. N. Arrigoni, Seymour & Joynt, James
W. Davis, A. R. Shipley & Co., Henry
U Plttock, A. G. Walling. H. D. Green,
O. Collier Robblns. Henry W. Eddy,
George 1 Curry, Si J. McCormick, G. W.
Vaiighn. H. B. Jones, John R. Foster,
Samuel M. Smith, ii W. Tracy, C. H.
Lewls. J. Failing. A. C. Gibbs, D. H.
Lownsdale. W. C. Hull. Jacob StitzeL
THE NEW ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Democratic ISO; Republican, 238 j
Doubtful 131 1 Oregon to Get S Reps.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Republicans have no reason to be
despondent over the readjustment of
state values under the census of 1910
In so far as it will affect the Electoral
College to be chosen next year. That
body will consist of 529 members If
present plans are carried out. The
states surely Democratic will return
160 of these, while states almost If not
quite as certainly Republican will se-
lect 238. One hundred and thirty-one
must be placed in the doubtful col
umn, as the following table shows:
DEMOCRATIC.
States. Electom. States. Eloctora.
Arizona 3 North Carolina.
Alabama 12 Oklahoma
Arkansas USouth Carolina.
Florida 0Tenneaaea
Georgia ..
Kentucky .
Louisiana
Maryland .
Mlaalsalppl
, 14 Teias
LllVlrglnla
.... io
81 Total
.160
10
REPUBLICAN.
Electors. States. Electors.
13 North Dakota
6Ohlo 2
8 Oregon o
20 Pennsylvania 38
States.
California
Connecticut . . . .
Delaware
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota . . . -New
Hampshire
New Mexico....
13 Rhode Island 5
lOlSouth Dakota
5
Vermont ...
19, Washington
151 Wisconsin ..
12
4 Total ....
81
. 4
. 7
. 18
.23S
DOUBTFUL.
Electoral States.
, fi! New Jersey.
New York...
States.
Colorado
Idaho .
Electors. ;
H I
, 43
Indiana
15, Utah
4
Missouri 18 West Virginia 8
Montana 4'Wyomlng 8
Nebraska 8
Nevada 3 Total 1S1
It will be seen from the foregoing
. .
ta-ituiaic turnouts" luiiiatia, ut.y "
get an extra member and Arizona may
be kept out of the Union because of
her unrepubllcan constitution, that
the Democrats must take over 105
votes from the doubtful column before
they can hope to win, as 295 are nec
essary to elect. This means that their
candidate must carry New York, where
the party is now hopelessly divided;
New Jersey, Indiana, Missouri, West
Virginia, and at least two of the "sage
brush" states. If they lose one of the
large doubtful states they are doomed
to defeat, and all of these, with the
possible exception of Missouri, are
normally Republican.
CONSOLIDATION SPIRIT OK DAY
"One College" Movemeat Should Be
Kept Alive Says Writer.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Feb." 26. (To the
Editor.) The editorial In The Oregonlan
of February 22, and the letter of Robert
C. Wright of February 23, about con
solidating the colleges, is a subject that
never should be dropped until the con
solidation is accomplished. I would go
one step further; I would merge the
university, the agricultural school and
the normal school, and make it one in
stitution and at one place. We now
maintain three presidents, three facul
ties, three boards of regents, three heat
ing plants, three equipments and three
gangs of logrollers whenever the Legis
lature is in session. If the logrollers
would confine their tactics only to them
selves It would not be so bad, but they
Infect the whole Legislature, throwing
It Into chaos and demoralization. The
effect on the last Legislature was not
so bad as on the preceding one, when
we had the additional normal schools' in
fluence over them.
Our institutions of learning ought to
be exemplary in every respect Being
teachers and supposed to be Intellectual,
the proposition ought to come from them
to unite rhs three into one. But being
anxious to hold their Jobs we need not
look for any comments from them, ex
cepts perhaps to defend the particular
Institution that pay them their salary.
The Oregon-Washington Railroad &
Navigation Co. Is going to expend fg,
000,000 in building a cut-ofT from Spokane
to Pasco, all for the sake of economy
In the management of its business.
Wholesalers discharge the salaried help
thsy do not need for the sake of
economy. Retailers sell at a discount
their stock that Is superfluous and out
of date. They pull down five and ten
storv buildings, throw sentiment to the
dogs, and build over again and do it
right. A farmer Andes fruit trees in his
orchard that are unprofitable and super
fluous. He cuts them out without any
sentiment. A cow or a horee which has
served Its purpose and become a burden
to the farm Is sent to the butcher or to
the woods to be shot and buried. So
let it be with our superfluous educa
tional institutions. Let ua centralize our
efforts on one, suid let that be a good
one. F. P. FRIDAY.
Rights of Widow.
PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Ed
itor.) Would you please answer the
following questions In The Oregonlan:
1. Can the widow sell the real estate
that was left by her husband without
the signature of all his heirs, said heirs
all being of age?
2. Can the widow sell the real estate
when the same was deeded to husband
and wife Jointly?
1. If the heirs are of the relation of
son or daughter, the wlnow cannot sell
without their signature.
2. Yea
CLOSING OF THE BRIDGE DRAWS
Transport atloa Man Sara City's Best
. Interests Are Hurt.
PORTLAND, Or., Feb. 28. (To the
Editor.) We notice in The Oregonlan
an account of the arrest of Judge Clee
ton and the two County Commissioners
on account of failing to . open the
bridge draws in keeping with the law
of the United States. From the gen-
eral tone of this article and previeus
' srtlcles on this subject In the papers
one woul raw the conclusion that
transportation was of very
,,, t ,h nrt .tit.
little interest to the city and state, as
it Is generally referred to as "tow
boats and sand barges."
When this matter of closing the
bridges was first brought before the
United States Engineers the steam
boat and logging interests of the city
tlt..l . ...... n .1 V. 1 I A V. i
j JV'at any par lodT a. they realiieS
the detriment that would result to tne
shipping Interests. It would be use
less for us to call the attention of the
readers of your paper to the fact that
this city has been largely built up by
the river transportation and the lum
ber Interests. The delays and dangers
resulting from the draws not being
opened promptly when signaled by the
tl mr-H art si f o-v-qva nnaDiiui.D to
man within the last few months rela
tive to the poor conditions of business
but what he has referred to the dull
ness in the lumber market, attributing
it almost wholly to this cause so let
us not kill the goose that lays the
golden egg. When the Secretary of
War sent out the rules and regulations
governing draw bridges across the
j wlllametste Rlver at ortland Au(Just
' 1910, covered by section 6 of the
i regulations, which reads as follows:
v ' , ,v t,---,t,
I UDOn hearing the signals hereinb
fore prescribed, the engineer or opera
tor of a drawbridge shall promptly
open the draw, except between the
hours of 6:30 A. M. and 7:00 A. M.,
7:15 A. M. and 7:45 A. M. and 8:05 A.
M. and 830 A. M."
the steamboat companies accepted
' s, w . nVB Fr" .
' themselves accordingly, notwlthstand-
Ing they have sustained losses on ac
count of the closed period. But when
our honorable County Judge took the
law governing this matter into his
own hands and began to use his -own
I discretion , as regards the draw open
ing, we raised a protest and we think
Justly. We cannot extend to him or
the County Commissioners our sym
pathy only so far as we do to any
other lawbreaker. Notwithstanding
Judge Cleeton stated that he does not
want to violate the law, even if it Is
a poor one, he has gone on violating
, it, according to the United states uis
trict Attorney's decision, which we are
willing to accept as correct. He also
thinks it very hard that the law states
j that anyone who fails and neglects to
, open the draw when the boat whistles
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
would ask a modification of this stat
ute. He has perhaps not thought of
the danger that may result to a boat,
which represents a large amount of
capital invested, from the want of
promptly opening draws. We would
cite to illustrate this that the steamer
Lurline this morning white coming into
j port whistled for the Steel, Burnslde
J and Morrison- bridges, and notwith
standing it was the open period they
took their own time for opening, which
came very near causing an accident, as
there was a severe wind blowing and
a boat alongside while another fol
lowed closely.
Judge Cleeton has called attention
to the matter of fire engines, patrol
wagons and ambulances passing over
the bridges. We wish to state that
steamboat people are not Inhuman
creatures and he may be sure no owner
or captain of any steamboat will raise
a protest against being held on oc
casions of this kind, but they would
protest against being held by people
who are ia a rush to get home or
to work when perhaps they have wait
ed till the last minute to start.
Having lived on the East Side for
over 12 years and during this time
having crossed the Madison, Morrison,
Burnside and Steel bridges, we have
hart vatv fAvir nrrflttnna 1 11 frtmnlnln rtf
I being held up by the draws being
open, notwithstanding that our cross
lng time has. occurred in the busy
hours of the day. We have tried to
look at this matter from an unbiased
standpoint and we believe that all of
this draw-opening agitation Is wholly
unjustifiable, especially since we have
the new Hawthorne bridge and are
soon to have the new Steel bridge with
I largely increased capacity over the
old one. The Broadway bridge wil
also come to our rescue If the obstruc
tlonlst can be choked off. Let us be
fair to the best interest of our city.
J. ALLEN HARRISON,
Supt. Vancouver Transportation Co.
Rlehts of Chinese and Japanese.
PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Edi
tor.) For some time we have had an
argument which I wish you wouid
settle.
1. Can a Chinaman or Jap become
an American citizen?
2. Can either of these nationalities
lease real estate' in the states?
8. Can either of them own real estate
In the states?
A It tliov rannnt hprnmA rftiftna.
I nrhRt about their children owning
property? JAMES L. TAYLOR.
1. No.
2. Chinese not citizens of Oregon
cannot hold property here. They can
not In other states unless provision
therefor is made by special statute.
3. Chinese children, born in the
United States, are citizens.
4. Citizens may own property.
The Right to Vote.
PORTLAND, Feb. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you kindly answer the
following through your columns?
Smith claims a man born In the United
States, of foreign parentage, his father
not having taken out naturalization
papers. Is not entitled to vote. Jones
claims he la Which Is correct?
A SUBSCRIBER.
Every person born in the United
States Is a citizen thereof. Jones Is
right.
' Law ef Descent
PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you please answer the fol
lowing question:
When a married man dies without
. i ..-III lagvlnv a wlfA ttnii no
, ll'il v I II s - n
issue, is the wife the sole heir to all
I . ii i ha mair loiiv.
ana any itiau ui v v .j j
or can his parents, sisters and brothers
have any lawful claim on his estate?
MRS. E. CARTWRIGHT,
The widow gets the whole estate.
Game Laws and Patented Lands,
PORTLAND. Feb. 2S. (To the Edi
tor. ) A holds 320 acres of patented
timber land In this state and Is of the
opinion that he has the privilege of
killing game on this land at any time
of the year.
B maintains that all patented ground
Is subject to the game laws of the
state. Which is right?
A SUBSCRIBER.
B is right
Native Ban Mnr Vote.
PORTLAND, Feb. 2S. (To the Edi
tor.) A says a man born in the
United States, of foreign parentage,
has no vote, provided his father has
not taken out his naturalization
papers.
B says be has a vote. Which Is
right? A SUBSCRIBER.
B is right .
Timely Tales of the Day
"The Temple of Jokes" has been sug
gested as a name for the new Multno
mah County Courthouse, referring to the
Innumerable gibes that have been passed
upon the slowness with which It nears
completion. A new one was added to the
list. In a streetcar conversation, over
heard recently.
"If the fellows building that Courthouse,
don't look out, they will be out of a Job
in a few years," said one citizen.
"Too bad.'' commented another, "if both
of them lose their Jobs.'(
"Both of them?" queried the first
speaker.
"Well, to be exact, there Is only one."
was the answer. "They did have two,
a general workman and a boy carrying
watdr to the force. Now the general
worker has quit and the force consists
of the water uoy."
m a
City Auditor A. L. Barbur Is studying
up on psychology. He says he has a hazy
recollection, carried over from his stu
dent days, about some such thing as
"the fundamental principle of the asso
ciation of Ideas." and he thinks .it may
"have had something to do with the re
mark of his 6-year-old daughter, who
dearly loves the old fables, following an
Incident that happened in his home a
short, time ago.
The Barbur family had dined upon a
fine catch of choice salmon trout, and
Barbur's pleasure was somewhat marred
by getting a bone lodged crosswise in his
throat All efforts failing to dislodge
the lish-bone, someone suggested that a
neighboring dentist be sent for, and In
answer to a frantic telephone appeal, the
dentist came, bringing a long, slender,
curved, sclssor-Iike instrument with a
notched pller on the end. With this In
strument the dentist reached down
Barbur's throat, somewhere In the region
of his epiglottis,' gripped the bone, and
easily extracted it.
When the first excitement was over,
there was a moment of relieved silence,
which "was broken by the little 6-year-old,
who said:
"Papa, wasn't the stork good to the
fox?"
e
"Mac Martin" was the only name which
he signed on the Cornelius Hotel, the
Commercial Club and the Press Club
registers. "Mac Martin" was the only
name by which he was introduced, and
behind the secrecy in the name hangs a
tale.
"Mac Martin" came to Portland recent
ly from Minneapolis, bent on securing in
formation of the Rose Festival festivities,
which he might carry back to the now
wintry-blasted Minnesota metropolis,
which Is planning a celebration in July,
"Mac Martin" came, "Mac Martin" saw
and "Mac Martin" conquered. He was an
affable chap, well-groomed and withal
came well recommended, though un
heralded, as Minneapolis' publicity expert
But why such secrecy about his name?
"Twas an enigma unsolvable by Portland
clubs.
"Mac Martin" was a welcomed visitor at
the Commercial Club, where he dined.
He was welcomed at Creswell, where he
was asked to make an address on how
Creswell and Oregon should advertise.
"Mac Martin" was a "man of a few
words," as his name indicated and he
said, briefly, that every newcomer In
Creswell and all Oregon should each
write one letter to a friend, left back
East and give them only the facts of
the great climate, the possibilities of Ore
gon and it would be the greatest kind
of advertising.
The sp?aker was Introduced as "Mr.
Mac Martin."
A Minneapolis friend spied him and
recognized him in the "seething mass of
humanity."
"Hello, Mac. how are you? I see
they got your name wrong out here."
"Yes," eaJd Mac.
"Why don't you tell them your right
name?"
"I'll tell you, if you won't tell. You see,"
continued Mac, "I'm out here on a hurry
up trip. I've got a lot of ground to
cover, I've got a lot of people to see
and I've got to hurry back, and if I'd
stop and sign my full name to every
register, speak my full name every time
I met anyone, why, I'd never accomplish
a thing. You know, my real name is
James MacGlnnls Martin."
And the secret was out
. a
That W. W. Cotton, legal couneel for
the great Harriman Interests in the
Northwest, is a humorist, developed at a
meeting of the street committee of the
City Council last week. The committee
demanded of his company what Mr. Cot
ton said he believed was unjust and he
said he would not recommend it.
"Of course," explained Mr. Cotton,
suavely, "I peak now merely as a
private Individual, and what I say doee
not bind the company, but I will not rec
ommend what the committee demands."
"However," interjected City Attorney
Grant, "the company usually accepts your
recommendations, does it not?"
"Sometimes the company's officials are
foolish enough not to," replied Mr. Cotton,
gravely.
father's Boy.
Town Topics.
"I inherited my lather's brains,
Otherwise I am completely bust,"
But he turned quite red when the lady said:
"Who's holding your Inheritance In trust?"
FIRST OF OPPENHEIM'S NEW
"Peter Ruff Series"
One of Many Features for
Next Sunday's Orejonian
The first of a series of nine
"Peter Ruff" adventure tales,
from the pen of the noted writer,
E. Phillips Oppenheim, will ap
pear as one of many features of
next Sunday's Oregonian.
Yon will spend a pleasant hour
reading "111 Blows the Wind
That Profits Nobody," the first
one of these "Peter Ruff" tales.
It is the sort of tale in the read
ing of which you forget yourself
entirely.
St. Patrick's Day is close at
hand and you will be interested
in the illustrated page account of
the achievements of the Irish.
All great Irishmen aren't men
tioned, of course, or many pages
would be required- But some of
the leadens in America and their
work are written of in an inter
esting vein by an Eastern corre
spondent. Not many years ago you used
to call the militia "tin soldiers,"
and with some considerable jus
tice. But the "tin soldiers" have
passed and the militia is now a
real part of the first line of Na
tional defense. There is a page
with plenty of excellent pictures
concerning the change.
If yonr digestion is going back
on you and your vitality is play
ing out with little traceable eaus6,
you wjll be interested in reading"
the story of tke gymnasium and
its functions,
Then there will be features for
for housekeepers, for the children,
the comic supplement, the artistic
"Widow Wise" all on top of
the best news service money can
buy.