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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1911)
(Dmroman rORTXJLND. OREGON. Entarad at Portland. Oniu, PoatoXloa aj a aeoad-Ciaae Mattar. aubacrlpuoa Kataa larai-labiy la Advance. (BT MAIL.) rt:jr. Sunday taciadrd. eu Tr .....IS-oO I'mily. Sunday ln.udl. U moatha.... 4.-J I'allr. Buadar Included. Uiraa monlhl.. iJil.r, Sunday Included, on moalfc.... 11 jr. without t-undar. cna yaar tal.r. wttr.oul Bundajr. '. montha .... tally, without Sunday, tnraa nonltl.. -7 lai.y. without Suauay, o&a moatft..... WMkly. an year ? Sunday, en yaar Sunday Bad Weekly, ana year ......... (BT CARMIR.) rally. Sunday laolnded. ona yaar C lai:y. Sunday Included, ona month 3 Haw to Itaaalt PootoSico money or der, expreaa order or peroonal check on your local bank. Stampa, coin or currency ara at the ei.der'a rua. Oiva poetofrica addraaa la full, including coanty and atala, Poataco Katie 10 to 1 paea. 1 cent: 1 to is aeaea. 2 casta; (i to paaaa. eenta; to o aaaa, 4 casta, JToreiaa postasa. sonblo rata. Eaatarat Boelweea Office Verro Conk lla .New Torn. Urunawlca bul.diss- Chica go, toteaer bui.dtnc Karopoaa Oaico No. I Itef ent rtroet. B. W.. Ln do a. rOB.TLA.VD. MtrBPAT. DEC 1. THE sTCAMAHAS. There hu been fair play tor the Mc.Vmam. They are ruUtr of mur de and they confess. They would undoubtedly have continued their ca reer .of violence. Intimidation and bloodshed by dynamite If they had not teen pursued by the bulldog- of the latr. arrested Jailed and tried. They manifest no contrition for the many crimes they have committed, no sor row for the Impoverished widows and starving- orphans they have made, no reireta for the valuable property they have destroyed. The meshes of the law had slowly and certainly entan gled them, and they saw their sure fate. They made a barrain to save their precious necks. They were cow ards to the last. We shall have no more parades of sympathizers of the McNamaraa. There, will be no more resolutions of confi dence lo their Innocence. The cam paign for a vast fund to be used for their defense will end. The Inspired outcry that good men. because they were staunch champions of labor, were feeing railroaded to the callous by the unscrupulous servitors of "capitalism' has been lgnomlniously dumbed. The motives of the prosecution, which un flinchingly sought to convict the guilty because they were guilty, and was not dismayed by clamor or threats or In fluence, have been vindicated. The reign of terror Inaugurated by the Mc Namara. false friends and faithless knights of labor. Is at an end. If the tabor organizations 'of the United States shall discover that they have been Injured by the result of the McNamara trials, they will not have far to go for the reason. They sought to make the cause of the McXamaraa the cause of labor. ETHICS. The Medford Mall-Tribune la sad dened In soul because the Portland newspapers, which "long ago exposed the unfitness of Congressman Lafferty for once," continue to "carry paid reading matter singing Lafferty'" praises," Paid for by Lafferty, too, and marked "paid." It raises, says this sensitive critic, "a nice question In newspaper ethics." No question of newspaper ethics Is Involved. But there would be a most serious viola tion of newspaper ethics If The Ore gon lan, or any Portland paper, should refuse to admit to Its columns on any terms the statement of a public man, or any man. It had criticised, or had refused CO allow therein the discussion of any subject except from Us own viewpoint. It would be Intolerable assumption on the part of any newspaper to re quire that presentation of all matters In its columns should harmonize with Its own opinions. It would be equally Intolerable assumption on the part of volunteer contributors that a newspa per must print without discrimination or question everything they chose to offer. No newspaper can abdicate Its editorial function of selection and limi tation: yet there Is a well-defined rule of fair play that requires It to give a searing through its columns to all who may reasonably be thought to be enti tled to It. - The Oregonlan will Inform Its more or less esteemed Medford friend that ft has at no time denied Mr. Laf ferty. or any one. free and full oppor tunity to say through Its columns whatever he may have had to say In explanation or defense of any of the things for which he may have been criticised by The Oregonlan. But It has declined to open Its columns to Lafferty for gratuitous self -exploitation, and he has sought the advertis ing columns of this and other newspa pers so as to say for himself In his own way whatever he had to say. At other times Lafferty has hired a hall, or sev eral of them. Would the Medford paper criticise the owner of a public theater at Medford. for example, if he were to rent his place to Lafferty to hold a meeting and make a speech? Is there "a nice question of ethics In volved thereT If so, what Is ltT rORTlAXD9 HEALTHT GROWTH. Portland leads the West In expan sion of legitimate business, and Ore gon leads all Western states In the earns respect. By opening to settle ment backward sections of the state, the new railroads have cleared the way for Eastern Investors to buy large tracts of land and prepare them for cultivation. The flood of new settlers which has followed the rails Into the Interior has Increased railroad traffic, as well as the business of Portland merchants. Accessibility by rail has stimulated development of mineral and timber land heretofore Idle. Expansion of Portland's business Is thus the natural sequence of develop ment of the Interior. More fruit, grain, lumber, livestock and other products of the land are marketed here. Expansion of the supply and expansion of the market go hand In hand. Expansion on the part of Portland merchants results. All the subsidiary facilities of commerce and internal trade grow In proportion. Increased supplies of ram material In duce erection of new factories and enlargement of those existing. New office building, more retail stores and more dwellings become necessary. Thus the great expansion of Port land's business, as reflected In new balldlngs. Increased bank clearings, livestock receipts, realty sales, postal receipts, lumber, flour and grain ship ments, is the natural healthy growth resulting from development of the state and of the great Columbia basin In general. Business In neighboring cities shlnks or ceases to Increase be cause their development Is ahead of that of their tributary country and conditions cannot Improve until the tributary country has caught up. Port land develops step by step with Its tributary country, as Is evidenced by the steady, even pace with which It proceeds. Only one striking exoeption Is to be noted the great increase In building. This Is not due to a build ing boom, but to the fact that our buildings were out of date and are Just catching up with our needs as well as supplying the current demand of Increasing business and population. Portland Is not having a boom, but Is growing In a healthy manner, and for that reason will suffer no de pression. MADAME CTBira WEAOKSS. If new Illustrations were needed of the old truth that great Intellectual power Is compatible with feeble mor ality Madame Curie and her affinity. Professor Langevln. have supplied one. Madame Curie discovered radium with the help of her late husband and since his death she has done other scientific work of such value that she has re ceived a Nobel prize. Professor Lange vln has a wife and family whom he would like to desert for Madame r-.,.-i-. ui Tha latter says that "there are the profoundest affinities between them" and suggests some naughty tricks to him for deceiving his wife and obtaining a legal separa tion from her. All this need not surprise ns, nor need we infer that Madame Curie to n a e-rant scientific Investigator be- j cause her morals are lax. 8he Is slm I ply asserting for herself a liberty I which men have long enjoyed In varl ' r.t Ufa 'nhnil thinks that j Nelson was not a great admiral be cause he fell Into t-auy nuniuou a snares, or that Napoleon was not a master of warfare because he desert ed his first wife for a mere brilliant alliance. In some departments the same lib erty has always been accorded to women of genius as to men and when they used their privilege It did not lessen the praise which the world al lotted to their achievements. George Sand, the novelist, did many times over what Madame Curie Is accused of doing oncer and nobody values her books the less for It- George Eliot asserted for herself the privilege of living with a man and dispensing with the marriage ceremony. Famous act resses are often permitted to be dls regardful of the conventionalities in this sphere. We do not clto these facts to excuse Madame Curie. Our purpose Is very different from that. We wish to em phasize a danger which Is sure to threaten society as women become Independent In their work and liveli hood. It Is the danger that they may claim for themselves the same moral standards as those to which men con form In their secret Uvea We do not believe that many women would de sire to do this as yet- But In the pro fessions where women have long been conspicuous something of the sort has unrinlablv harnened. Madame Curie's conduct shows that It may happen In other Instances. All revolutions have their perils. It Is the part of wisdom to lend some of them a little fore thought. T AFT AM) HIS WTNOXA SPEECH. President Taft's adherence to the opinions expressed In his Winona speech the most criticised of all the speeches he has made since he as sumed office Is typical of the man and displays a quality of mind which constitutes one of his strongest claims to public confidence. This Is his fidel ity to his convictions as to the wisdom of a certain course, without regard to political considerations. He could not but have realized that the Payne Aldrlch bill was a disappointment to those who had hoped for a deep cut In the principal duties. Had he been moved by political considerations, he might -have de nounced Its framers and excused hi approval of the bill on the plea that It was the best he could extort from them and that the urgent necessity of Increasing the revenue made that ap proval necessary as a . temporary ex pedient. By so doing he would have aggravated the division in his party, would have made common cause with the Insurgents and would probably have held for the Republican party those voters who went to the Demo crats o'r stayed at home In 1910. . Instead, he calmly compared the bill with Its predecessors and noted Its good as well as Its bad points. He saw that It Increased a few duties, but he also saw that it reduced or abolished many more, therefore he decided that, while It did not please those who had looked for a SO or 15 per cent reduc tion. It was an Improvement on the Dlngley tariff and all preceding tar iffs. Believing so, he said so and let the consequences be what they might. Unlike the Democrat and Insurgent critics of the bill who fastened their attention only on the fact that the reductions were not as great as had been hoped and as conditions required, he considered every provision of the bllL He noted that it created a tariff board, which he regarded as the first step towards an entire change in tariff-making methods In the right direc tion. He noted that It contained a maximum and minimum provision, which allowed him to put reciprocity in operation by executive act Instead of by treaties. He noted that It gave free trade with the Philippines, thus doing an act of Justice to those Islands and expanding the volume of our trade with them. He noted that It Imposed a tax on corporations, which gave the Government a degree of control over them. Seeing all these good points in the bill, he was unmoved by the chorus of disappointment which came from those who could think of nothing but slashing of duties. He pronounced it a good bill and went right ahead to provide a remedy for Its defects by the means which it had provided. His opinion was formed deliberately, and after the storm of criticism which It has provoked during the past two years, he steadfastly adheres to It, The spirit which moved him to this course Is expressed In the last two paragraphs of his Interview with the Outlook, In which he says: Tha truth l. howarar. that political con siderations have not welshed heaTlly with ma I bars tried to do In each rasa what aeemed to ma tha wleeat thins, rasardlaae of It affect upon my futura. I am (rateful for tha h on ore the people hare riven, me. I do not afreet to deny tha eatlfactlon I ehould feel If they ahould decide that my Bret term has been fruitful eneugh of ood to warrant their enllstlns ma for another. But I nae not boon will ing, nor shall I be. to purchase It at tha sacrifice of my freedom to do my duty as I eea It. That Is the spirit which the Ameri can people desire in their Presidents the patriotic spirit which places re gard for the publlo good above party suooess or personal ambition. Just because President Taft has displayed that spirit and because he proposes measures which are In the line of progress, he should be given the sec ond term which he refuses to seek by Ignoble sacrifice of duty. PANAMA HAS A COMPETITOR. That only a moderate rate of toll can safely be charged on the Panama Canal if traffic Is not to be diverted to the Tehuantepeo railroad is clear from comparative figures of United States traffic done by the Panama and Tehuantepeo railroads in the last six years. Since the Tehuantepeo route was opened on January 1, 1907, there has been a great Increase In trafflo by both routes, but the Increase has been much more rapid by the Tehuan tepeo than by the Panama route. In the year ending June SO,' I90S, which was the last year during which Panama had no competition from Te huantepeo, the westbound traffic via Panama-was 13.800.000 and the east- bound traffic 12.000,000. In the fol lowing fiscal year, during only half of which the Tehauntepeo road was in operation, the westbound traffic waa: Panama IT. 300. 000. Tehauantepec J5,- 600.000: and the eostbound traffic. Panama ll.8000.000,-Tehuantepeo J 5. 900,000. But In 1908 westbound traf fic was half as great again antt east bound traffic twelve times as great via Tehuantepeo as via Panama; In 1909 west bound traffic was three times as great and east bound traffic thirteen and one-half times as great; In 1910 westbound traffic was four and one-half times as great and east bound traffic seven and seven-tenths times as great, and in 1911, both west bound and eastbound traffic were nearly three times as great via Te huantepeo as via Panama. While the volume of traffic via Panama has In creased enormously, namely, west bound, from 13,800.000 In 1906 to $18,100,000 In 1911, and eastbound from 12.000.000 In 1908 to J9.800.000 In 1911. the Increase via Tehuantepeo has been: westbound, from 15,600. 000 In 1907 to 148.500.000 In 1911; eastbound, from $5,900,000 In 1907 to t27.200.000 In 1911. The closer proximity of Tehuante peo to American ports evidently gives that route a decided advantage so long as It has only the Panama Railroad as a competitor for trans-lsthmlan traf fic. When the canal Is finished It will have the advantage, as steamers will not be required to transship cargoes, but this advantage will be partly offset by the greater distance south that coastwise vessels will have to steam. The difference will be calcu lable In dollars and cents and "will not be so great In favor of the canal that anything above a very moderate toll can be charged without driving traffic to Tehuantepec. AS TO RF PON HI BI I JTY. Beyond all question Chaplain Bauer, of the State Penitentiary, spoke his sincere sentiments about crime and criminals at Temple Beth Israel on Thanksgiving day. With some of his opinions all humane persons win con cur. Few men want the prisoners to eat unwholesome food or wear defi cient clothing and It will be conceded on all hands that their surroundings should be kept clean". Perhaps we may even agree with him that It would be a good thing for them to receive more "sympathy from the outside," only we should stipulate that the sym pathy be of the right kind. We can not perceive any advantage to the prisoner or the world In the kind of sympathy which was slopped out upon Beattie, the abhorrent wife-murderer. In his last hours. This Inhuman crea ture enticed his wife away from home and deliberately shot her. He then returned with her corpse and Invented a tale about some murderous high wayman to account for her death. In the end he confessed his deed. But that made no difference with our pur veyors of sentimental slop. While the brute was waiting to go to the gallows which he so richly deserved he was deluged with "kind letters," with "ex pressions of Interest" and with "sym pathy." No doubt he got enough of It to satisfy even Chaplain Bauer. What Interests us particularly In Mr. Bauer's Thanksgiving sermon Is the way he explains the excessive number of violent crimes committed In the United 8tates. It la a matter of common repute that we have more than any other civilized country with the possible exception of Russia, and that we are In the habit of permitting the criminals to go unpunished In about nine cases out of ten. Chaplain Bauer explains this singular state qf things by saying that "you and I who s.r free and unpunished are responsi ble for the crimes for which these young men are suffering." and to fix our responsibility more definitely he adds that the "cheap rate at which human life la almost universally held Is in part responsible for the murders committed." Of course he means that the cheap rate at which "you and I." the "unpunished freemen, hold life la responsible for crime. The cheap rate at which the criminal holds human life naturally has nothing to do with It. It is a comfort to learn that Mr. Bauer thinks somebody Is responsible for crime, even If It Is only you and I." There are luminaries who tell us that nobody Is responsible. According to them, crime rrowe up In some mys terious way without any particular human aid. It Is a product of "con ditions." they tell us. But Chaplain Bauer does not go quite so far. He believes that "you and I" are to blame, or "responsible," and If we are respon sible, then It follows that something we have done or left undone la the cause of the terrible prevalence of murder. Mr. Bauer also implies that by some act of volition on the part of "you and I" this cause could be rem edied, because clearly If our wills were powerless to effect any change we could not be held responsible by a person as Just as Chaplain Bauer. This brings us to the question we have been getting ready to ask, and we hope Mr. Bauer will think It worth the preparation we have made for Its Introduction. To us It seems to be fundamental. This Is the question: How does It happen that "you and I" are blamable for not using our wills to check crime while the murderer himself Is not required to do any thing of the sort? He has a will the same as "you and I." and he could use It, if he wlBhed. to refrain from stabbing and shooting." But he does not, and Mr. Bauer thinks he Is under no obligation to do It. Then why are "you and I" under any obligation T Admitting that all of us are acces sories to the crime, why are we, the mere accessories, to bear all the blame while the principal goes forth Immaculate? It Is very pretty and extremely con venient to assume that the murderer has no will of his own. He Is a mere creature of "economlo determinism" without control over his conduct. But why not be consistent about ltT Why is he more a creature of economlo de terminism than the rest of us? And if he has no control over his conduct how In the world can Chaplain Bauer say that "you and I" have? We deem this train of logic perfectly impreg nable and the reader will readily see from It how useless It Is to exhort so ciety to mend Its ways. If we are all. floating down a stream and can do nothing to help ourselves It Is idle to talk about setting a higher value on human life or doing any other desir able thing. On tha other hand, if "you and I" can reform our conduct, so can the man who Intends to commit murder. The same moral laws which rule us rule him. We are all in the same boat- The obvious fact is that, whatever metaphysical dust specula tive minds may kick up, things go on In the world precisely as they would If we all had perfect freedom of the will. Unless a person is Insane he usually commits crime because he wishes to do so. Social conditions may give rise to the wish in some cases, but In many cases It arises from a man's own depraved passions and from nothing- else. We cannot for the life of us perceive how "you and I" contributed to Beattle's crime or to that of the monster who killed little Barbara Holzman. , - In our opinion It Is no kindness to a criminal to teach him that somebody else Is to blame for what he did. The true way to make a man of him is to Insist that the fault is his own and that If he ever reforms It must be by his own volition. When he has re solved to rise we may help him, but as long as he believes that he has not fallen all our efforts In his behalf will be wasted. There is profound truth In the old theological irwuclm that con viction of sin Is the Indispensable pre liminary to conversion. We heard something at the time of President Taft's late visit to the Pa cific Northwest of a very dangerous automobile ride which was given him by the citizens of Tacoma to Rainier National Park. According to a late dispatch, there was method In the madness that placed the life of the chief magistrate of the Nation in dan ger. Citizens of Tacoma wished him to know by actual experience how difficult of access was this magnifi cent mountain peak, hoping thereby to enlist his Influence in favor of a large appropriation for building and extending Government roads therein and leading (hereto. It Is said that thus enlightened, the President will set forth the needs of Rainier Nation al Park In his forthcoming message, supplemented by a recommendation for a sum for the improvement of Its roads far In excess of the Interior De partment's estimate of 850,000 for that purpose. Since the President's ride, though full of peril, was accom plished without disaster, the Nation has no score to settle with the Rainier National Park boosters of Tacoma. One thing Is certain. A better and safer road than that over which the President was carried Is necessary If Rainier National Park Is to become a place of general resort in the tourist season. The new Harrlman road to be built fmm Vale tn Ttnrna will be the first section of a line across Central Ore gon from east to west. The filling in of the gap between Burns and Bend will assuredly follow quickly, for de vAinnmnti will romnfil it. The road will transform Into agricultural coun try a great area which Is now given up totgrazing and will make Central Oregon a well populated and wealthy Hietript Tt ban taken the railroads a Jong time to Invade Central and East ern Oregon, but now that the Inva sion has laegrun they are. pouring In their forces by regiments ana ongaaes. The McNamaras did not Intend to mrt anv one when they blew up the Times, only to scare somebody, they say. "I was the most surprised man that ever lived, as I had not expected any great damage would be done," un .Tamu B. McNamara. The Mc Namaras had evidently got over their scare, for two months later they blew up the Llewellyn Iron Works. The naval expansion race between Britain and Germany resembles a po ker game. Germany says: "I raise you," and Britain says: "I. go you one better." They threaten to continue the game until one nation bets its pile and the other. If it has Just one white chip left, takes It In. The unparoled convicts at Salem should pass a vote of censure on Gov ernor West for taking that Eastern trip and leaving them to the tender mercies of the heartless Acting Gov ernor Olcott, who stupidly thinks the law should take its course. n,im rkawlnr. belne? strictly femi nine, has been barred from the Navy, unless the men go ashore. Such regu lation Is prohibitive, for Jack has other things than gum cnewmg on ma minu when off the ship. The marr-vlnar r ara oris should orran- tee their Industry on a strictly business an fftrm nartnemhiDS with di vorce lawyers. Imitating the doctor who bad an Interest in an unaerta-King firm. Marrrlns has become such a com mon, every-day habit that when two people meet at sea and marry at me end of the trip all the world must be informed of the novel affair. Actins- Governor Olcott favors the noose, but Governor West timed his departure so there would be nothing doing except political "bunk." Stories have been slow in coming of atrocities upon Italians by Arabs and Turks. Their gory details give them semblance of truth. The tragedy by which William N. Ward " died reinforces the warning never to hold a grin with the muzzle towards oneself. Tf Rockefeller had been drilling for oil he would not have been so thank ful for striking water. Every true union man, convinced of their guilt, will be sorry If they are not to nan sr. The sign prohibiting smoking In the Postofflce corridors will appeal only to gentlemen. Defeat of Harrlman will follow yes terday's surprising developments. Sweet are the amenities of warfare In Tripoli. ENFORCEMENT OF LAW IS ISSUE Derree Leas Important Thasi Certainty of Pnnlshment Says Marshal Scott. PORTLAND, Dec J- (To tBe Editor.) More than 8500 persons are victims annually of homicide In the United States and only about 100 slayers are executed each year. Nowhere In the world is the law for prevention and punishment of homlolde and of murdor, one form of homicide so lax; nowhere else do those who kill have so many chances to escape trial. Judgment, prison and gibbet. The Chicago Tribune gives tne ioi lovtnz statistics of homicides and ex ecutions in the United States since 1885: Homicide" and murders. 1,808 1.4H9 ..- 2.885 2.1S4 8.667 4.290 0.(K8 e.7l - 6.615 t.8uO 10.500 10.6S2 9.620 7.840 8,223 8.276 T.ana 8.834 8.7ll 8.4!2 9.212 9.860 .712 ........ 8.952 Execu tions. 10S 83 79 87 98 102 123 107 . 128 182 182 122 128 109 131 117 113 144 124 118 138 123 104 92 107 104 Tear. 1SS5 1S8 1897 18.S8 1 bSd a a a,,a a a a 1S'.0 1H91 181)2 1K3 ltt4 1895 1898 .....) 1897 l-:8 1899 1900 11)01 19H2 ll'OS 1904 5'3 ............. 1908 l'.KT 1908 ............ lhla '. 8.975 8.1 OS This record may well give pause In Oregon amid the talk of "reforming" criminals, instead of punishing them; amid the fashion of "law enforcement'' for prevention of crime, yet of ao qulttal parole, commutation and pardon from the law's penalties. Ls-w will not be enforced unless penalty be applied; law Is Impotent without punishment; no law can hold without the "penalty clauBe." ' Whether the penalty be severe or "easy"; wnether life prison or gallows for murder; whether five years or ten for robbery; whether one year or ten for "white slavery" the degree is less important than the certainty of punish ment. Only that certainty gives force to the law and power to officers of the law. Think of pardoning or paroling "white slavers." The community knows that the penalty needs enforcement without fall, else the white slave law will lose Its repressive force. This unfailing application of the penalties for homicide is essential to vitality of the law against that crime In the commonwealths of the United States, whether the penalty be prison, gibbet or electrlo chair. This need Is sorely felt In Oregon Just as In other states. Statistics fall to show that capital punishment lessens homicide, although It undoubtedly does check murderous practices of professional criminals. Neither does abolition of capital punishment yield statistics disproving efficacy of gallows, guillotine and electric chair. But the . practically unanimous testimony of keepers of criminals and that of criminals them selves In Europe as well as in Amer ica, commends capital punishment as a deterrent upon professional law breakers. The evidence of .statistics oovers too short periods to be final; also condi tions and circumstances too varying. In the United States this evidence Is quite unconvincing; likewise In coun tries where capital punishment has been abolished Italy, most of Switz erland, Portugal, Belgium. Holland. Roumanla and In the states of Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Kansas. It would seem that the sentimental argument against capital punishment should have little weight In this in tensely practical question. And It would seem that organized society Is fully inatlflnd In lnfllotlng; any form of punishment that will lessen crime In an enlightened and effective manner. The best preventive of crime Is rigorous enforcement of law. The real issue in Oregon la not a question of the kind of punishment, but whether the law, as ordained. Is to be enforced. Capital punishment has been almost abolished In the United States and the reign of homicide continues. LESLIE M. SCOTT. STREETS AND CITY BEAUTIFUL. Larrabee Extension Neceaaary to Plana, Snya Correspondent. PORTLAND, Dec, 1. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonlan of November 80 Is an Item entitled "Larrabee to Ex tend to Bridge." from which I quote as follows: "Completion of the new railroad bridge and abandonment of the Steel Bridge at the foot of Holla day avenue leaves considerable prop erty In a 'pocket,' and this extension will give direct entrance to the new railroad bridge." One would understand from the arti cle, and several other articles that have been printed concerning the extension of Larrabee street since the effort has been made by the property holders on the East Side to' have Larrabee street extended to a direct Intersection with the new bridge, that the sole object of the extension is for the benefit of the small bunch of property holders at the foot of Holladay avenue and Crosby street. To harmonise with the plans now be ing considered to make the City of Portland a city beautiful. It Is obliga tory upon the city fathers to extend Larrabee street, following the toellne of the grade of the O. R. & N, In order that Mississippi avenue and Larrabee street, which Is one continuous hard surfaced street of three miles or more In length, leading direct from Killings worth avenue to Holladay avenue, may not be abruptly terminated, regardless of the rights of the property holders referred to. If the city fathers have any respeot for the city beautiful they are neces sarily compelled to extend Larrabee street to a direct intersection with the new railroad bridge, first, for the rea son that there is a vast travel along said street, running Into thousands ev ery day; and. said thoroughfare if not extended will be an eyesore to future generations, for the reason that it will terminate abruptly and force travel at right angles, following Holladay ave nue 200 feet and then again turning directly south and following Adams street to the bridge. The extension of Larrabee street, as proposed, with a retaining wall built to the street grade (and which should be built whether Larrabee street Is extended or no), will be nothing more or less than a practical extension of Larrabee street, as originally 'laid out, to the new rail road bridge, the direct course of Larra bee street as originally laid out having been opposed by the railroad company, so that by extending Larrabee street along the toellne of the grade as pro posed, the city will have abandoned the foot of Larrabee street proper to the railroad company. The retaining wall should be built In any event, and when It la built, and Larrabee street extended, It will not only be a useful but an ornamental street for all time' to come. If we are to look Into the future to any reason able extent, the city cannot afford to cut off thoroughfares that practically and In all equity belong to the people and abandon them entirely to the rail road company without equitable ex change, not only to the detriment of the adjoining property but the whole dis tance of three miles or more of the thoroughfare and the city at large, as a city beautiful. FRANCIS CLARNO. SERVICE THE LANDLORD RENDERS. Mr. Wilson Dlapntes Theory of Sinarle Taxers on the Subject. CORVALLIS, Or., Nov. SO. (To the Editor.) Referring to the single tax again. I notice that Mr. W. A. War ren, of Hermlaton, Or., explains that the Individual ownership of land Is un just because, under our complex system every one who renders a service re ceives a service in return, trades one commodity for another, etc. but that the landlord renders no service for the rent he takes. I believe I have stated the idea, I 'do not believe the single tax advo cates in Oregon behind-the proposed 4 legislation along that line have any such idea. So far. -I have not received any literature expressing what It is they desire the voters to vote for. I suppose there Is such literature, but probably I live too far back In the country to have found it, But no one lives too far back to vote. That is one of the blessed privileges we all have, much as we abuse the privilege. What Is It they want the voters to vote for? That will be the momentous question within a few months, and It takes time for a voter really to make up his mind Just -how he does want to vote when it comes to these new fangled Ideas we are being asked In Increasing number to vote for. Speaking now as an average Oregon voter, I believe in the referendum, in the Initiative and the recall. Judges and all. Certainly what the majority has j the right to make they have the right I to unmake, Mr. Taft to the contrary. notwithstanding, and I am lor Mail, too. To say that the Individual ownership of property Is wrong because the land lord does not render a service to the tenant when he rents him a piece of real estate Is "going some." How did the landlord get his property, I would like to know? He rendered a service for It, of course, and the annual rental value of this service he returns to the tenant every time he rents the real estate. A service once rendered and not used or not squandered, but laid up. Is a perennial service until it Is used up. Thus a man who saves 31000 always has at his command, that amount of unused service until It is used. He can rent It in the form of money lending and takes Its annual value. If he prefers to treat It that way; he can invest It In a piece o'f land and rent the land for Its annual rental value. If be prefers to treat it that way In fact, he has a number of options by means of which he can make this accumulated service work for him. That Is what a man does when he rents land, and to take this accumulated service away from a man. In the form of taxation, Just because the people doing the taxing were not there when this service was accumulated, and did not see the service performed, and do not know that such service was ren dered. Is confiscation, pure and simple. I am not for confiscation. At the present writing I am unable to see my way clear to vote for the single tax. I read all sorts of litera ture, from the Appyl to Treason to McClure's Magazine, and I guess all will admit those are the antipodes of current thought in the United States. I would honestly like to know If there Is any reason why the single tax move ment should carry, except to stand, as an Invitation to incoming settlers. I would like to know If there Is any sound economic reason for the single tax In Oregon. The present system of taxation in Oregon Is bad. It Is very bad. It al lows one man to fix the value of real estate and personal property, and an other set of men to fix the levy on this valuation, and that Is bad. .The same dominating sentiment should do both J. H. WILSON. Interstate Commerce Committees. PORTLAND, Nov. 30. (To the Edi tor.) Will you please publish names of United States Senate and House committees on Interstate commerce. SUBSCRIBER. Senate committee Interstate com merce Clapp, Cullom, Crane, Nixon, Cummins, Brandegee, Oliver, Llppltt, Townsend, Tillman, Foster, Newlands, Clarke, of Arkansas, Gore, Watson, Pomerene, House committee on in terstate and foreign commerce Adam son, Richardson, Sims, Smith, of Texas, Broussard, Goldfogle, Hamlin, Sabath, Martin, Covington, Cullop, Gould, Doremus, Golke, Stevens, Each, Knowlond, Caider, Hamilton, Drlscoll, Martin. "Whitman Is Interdenominational. PORTLAND, Nov. 28. (To the Edi tor.) In an editorial In The Oregonlan, entitled "Religion at State Universi ties," you refer to Whitman College as a denominational Institution. May I correct you to the extent of saying that the college Is not denominational, but Interdenominational? With the fullest loyalty to the name It bears and to the Christian purpose of ltr founders, Cush ing Eells and Dr. George H. Atkinson, It alms to serve all denominations equally, while free from special affilia tion with any one.- It has no organla connection with one more than an other, nor any agreement of any kind touching religious relationship, except that a majority of its trustees must be members of Christian churches. STEPHEN B. L. PENROSE. . President. Sunday-School Life Re-enforced. Housekeeper. "How many of you boys," asked the Sunday school superintendent, "can bring two other boys next Sunday?" There was no response until a new recruit raised his hand hesitatingly. "Well. William." I can't bring- two, but there's one little teller I can lick, and I'll bring him." Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe No man has a right to economize to the extent of negleotlng to pay his debts. When people try to give the impres sion that they are rich, you may 'de pend upon it that they are not The really rich always try to keep the fact quiet, on account of the assessor. When some men can't act mean, they talk mean. Everyone at some time finds a lump on his body that he fears may be a cancer. 'Popular men know so many people that speaking to all of them must be a burden. Cupid hirs a reputation of being'ln nocent; but he Is smart enough not to establish a custom of letting lovers be man and wife on probation. If a borrower promises to pay back more quickly than man ever paid be fore, you are warranted In asking a mortgage on his house and lot, as se curity. I have always had an Idea that 'coon and 'possum are more fit to hunt than to eat. It will do you no good to call old age bllllousness. There Is no good fishing, and there are no good times. Men have their faults, but they seem to be more popular than women as roomers and boarders. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan, Dec J, 1861. Fort Monroe, Nov. 15. The steam frigate San Jacinto has Just arrived from the Coast of Africa, via the West Indies, where she had been cruising. The port was electrified by the tidings that the San Jacinto had on board Mr. Slldell and Mr. Mason, who were going xriniB,.. rt tha Snuthorn Confed- ! eracy. Commander Wilkea said ho would report at headquarters In person ana will forward his dispatches tonight. All the documents and papers of Mason and Slldell were seized. Their families were allowed to proceed. The Captain of the British vessel delivered up Ma son and Slldell under protest. A special dispatch to the New York Tribune, dated Fort Monroe, November 15, says Mason and Slldell were aboard the British mail vessel. Wilkes s&nt aboard and demanded their surrender. The reply was that there was not force enough to take them. Wilkes sent an additional force and put the San Ja cinto into a convenient position. Slldell and Mason were then surrendered. The English steamer took them on board not knowing who they were. Their friends were allowed to proceed to their destination. New York, Nov. 21. The Government is highly elated over the capture of Slidell and Mason. A Richmond dispatch says: We have information that the authorities of South Carolina have communicated with the rebel government upon the subject of hoisting the black flag, to which allusions have been made since the at tack on the cast of their state. It Is believed General Lee has received a communication from the War Depart ment urging that their captives must be regarded as prisoners of war. It is said that this will be disagreed to by the authorities of South Carolina; that the same course will be pursued as that adopted by Governor Wise at the time of the John Brown raid, and that when South Carolina is done with the Invad ers, the Confederate Government can have them. Baltimore, Nov. 16. Governor Hicks has Issued a proclamation calling a spe cial session of the Maryland Legislature at Annapolis on November 24, to estab lish Maryland In her old position as the heart of the Union and render the trai torous Legislature of the Fort Warren members of no account The New York Herald says that a dif ficulty has grown out of the report of the fight at Balls Bluff and that Colo nel Herrick of the Eleventh Massachu setts Regiment had challenged a Ma jor of the New York Tammany regi ment. New York, Nov. 21. Delegates of 24 counties of North Carolina met in con vention at Fort Hatteras and organized a provisional government. They de clared their loyalty to the United States Government, repudiated secession and ordered a special election of members of CongTess. They elected Nash Tay lor Governor and then adjourned sub ject to the call of the president of the convention. We have received a communication from the East, written by Mr. A. G. Schnelden, who Is desirous of getting up a company here and in California for the purpose of constructing a lino of telegraph from the principal towns In Washington territory through Port land to Yreka. Such a project Is al ready, as We understand by the papers, in a fair way of being carried out by Mr. J. E. Strong. Yesterday was the day when the stage company, by law, was allowed to bring the mall through from Sacra mento to this city In 18 days. Twenty volunteers have been en rolled at Oregon City, and it Is sup posed that a full company will be raised in Clackamas .County. Captain Curry is suoceedlng well at The Dalles In raising volunteers. A Cardinal's Uncomfortable Hat. London Chronicle. A cardinal's hat Is probably the most uncomfortable form of headgear ever devised. It has a round, shallow crown with a very broad brim through which a gold cord Is drawn. To this cord are attached SO tassels, placed so that 15 hang over each ear. Hats of a simi lar shape, but not so heavy, are worn on ceremonial occasions by other Roman Catholic dignitaries. An abbot wears a black hat with 12 tassels, a hlshop a green hat with the same num ber of tassels and an archbishop a violet hat with 20 tassels. George Ade's NEWEST Slang Fables Open in The Sunday Oregonian The famous tumorist opens his latest series with a corking quar ter page on "the roystering blades who absorbed the magnetio cur rent direct from the central stor age plant" Miracles of Modern Surgery An illustrated page recording some amazing .strides made in the performing of intricate oper ations. A Talk With Lee at the Front A Portland veteran of the Civil War recalls a conversation with the famous general who paused in front of him as he stood se verely wounded and a prisoner of war. Exit the Milkmen's Pumps How the milk supply is safe guarded. ' An Aproned Angel An excel lent short story of love and con stancy. Conservation An authentic interview with Secretary of the Interior Fisher on just what he thinks of that important subject. .Boy Scouts Swarm Over Eu rope A half page on the marvel ous growth of this worthy move ment. Sambo Shoots a "Dik-Dik";' Hairbreadth Harry, Slim Jim and Mrs. Timekiller have new ad ventures and Miss Anna Belle appears in pretty new cut-out clothes. MANY OTHER FEATURES.