TITE MORXIXG OREGONIAN, THURSDAV, DECE3IBER 2S, 1911.
8
tye CDiTtronhtn
FOBTLAND. OREGO.
Entered at Portland. Onioa. Poetoirie a
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PAroo AND BOKIOWlm
The taxpuylng public of Portland
ftcr with dismay a proposed total
levy for 112 of ? 3-odd milli. It wi.1
b Impojrd on a total valuation of
about $20.000. 000 for the municipal
ity, and will yield a revenue of about
to. HO'J. 000. It la the greatest sum ever
raised for tax purposes. The tax bur
den irooi heavier, not lighter. The
ability of the property-owner to pay
doe not grow greater, but rather less.
Several years ago we deluded our
frlves Into the queer notion that taxes
could be easier to pay when the Uto
pian wheme . of par valuations wa
. sdopted by our sanguine assessors.
Put the bars are now down, our tax
resource) are at their maximum, and
the levy rllrr.hr higher from year to
year. The public has not trt over the
rosily notion that It ran tax Itself rich.
Bonds are proposed as one way out
of the general dilemma. Much de
pend!. If b.nds are for Improve
ments or projects not needed, going
Into debt for them In never wise. We
have enouah bridges, and our park
system Is fairly extensive. Our com
mercial Interests did not demand pub
lic docks, but we voted bonds for
them. Probably we can get along for
a year or two yet without J200.0UO
more for the public auditorium. The
tunnel under the river can wait a lit
tle while, other convenience, luxu-
ries. or fancies will come In time and
'with Judic ious outlay. Why try to get
them all at once?
'- Put some municipal projects are
imperatively necessary. We must have
abundant water and an adequate wa
ter system Recently we voted 13.-
00.000 additional bonds for that pur-
and the Investment was wisely
made. If the methods of some of
our political economists, who happen
now to be In office, had been followed.
' we should have raiser the money en
tirety out of current taxation. Pay as
you go, they say. lon't mortgage the
future. We must keep out of debt.
Is the way to keep out of debt to pay
nut all we have, and a little more, for
the benefit mainly of generations yet
to come?
We must h.ve new schoolhouses.
The City of Portland hns a half
Unirn or more schoolbullJIng that
i (re a disgrace to an enlightened com
munity. They are a reproach to the
eye. an offense to the nose, breeders
of disease and rep'Wltorles of filth.
Thev ought to be nsed for the pro
tection of the schoolchildren If for no
other reason. But the over-prudent
School Board says they will do until
1 the money can be had to build new
'. buildings In their turn. A large num
ber of new and satisfactory structures
have been erected In this way and
have been paid for. except the Lincoln
High School, out of current funds. But
meanwhile other decaying edifices are
bout to fall down.
The Civic Council of Portland will
propose to the school meeting Friday
that one-half or more of the moneys
proposed to be Invested IB new school
houses be raised by bonds. , It Is a
prudent and economical suggestion. It
Is fair that the heavy cost of perma
nent schoolbulldlns-s be distributed
through a term of years. One-half the
cost of well-built schoolhouses, con
tributed by the present generation. Is
a generous contribution. It would be
fair If all. or nearly all. the money for
new buildings should be provided
through the sale of bonds. We think
the public would be willing to vote
$1,000,000 In bonds for new school
buiMings, If the taxpayers should see
fit to recommend It at their annual
meeting. If we vote bonds for a wa
ter system, why not for a school
system ?
Hut there Is a phase of all bonding
proposals that ought to have more
serious and thoughtful attention. If
the public Is not called upon to pro
vide money through bonds for Im
provements and facilities It needs. It
will be solicited successfully to expend
great sums through bond for projects
not actually needed. The credit re
sources of city and county are large
and there Is an IrresLstlble disposition
to employ them. If we do not vote
bonds for schoolbullJings, we will
vote bonds for new bridges. If we do
' not vote bonds for water works, we
-will vote bonds to buy the street rail
way ar.d street lichtlrig systems. If we
do not vote bonds for a new County
Courthouse, we will vote bonds fof an
auditorium. If we do not vote bonds
for a new public library, we will vote
bonds for a gigantic tunnel under the
Willamette River. It Is well to pay as
you go: but It la not well to pay out
'all you can as you go. and to borrow
all you can at the same time.
SITE I OK PI BLIC IMM K.-
The opinion of the eminent New
York engineer who was employed by
the Pock Commission that Portland
r-should make ail of Its public dock cal
culations with due reference to Hoods anywhere In the world to create a su
ts entitled to grave consideration, premely good port at the mouth of a
Some of the plans we have seen based great river." Portland Is not "at th
on a rosy prospectus of a greater ' mouth of" a great river, but J10 miles
a great
Tor:Iar.d evidently have not been made
with as great care or wise forethought.
The most disastrous of all Wiilam-
I ette Klver floods In Portland occurred
tu the Winter. February. 1SS0. No
dock should be planned which would
have a tendency to confine the over
whelming freshets of Winters. In one
- of the views showing dock plans there
is a series of docks shown near the
1 North Pacific Lumber Company. In
view of the certain flood menace a
"poorer ait could not be selected. The
proposed docks are shown protected
b- a breakwater which would confine 1
" the water precisely at the point where
,,it ehould and must be allowed free
scope. Repetition of the '$0 flood with
the waters restrained at this point
would be serious Indeed.
That the docks should be below the
bridges Is unquestioned. Proper rail
road facilities provided at a site Just
below the bridges on either side of the
river should fill all requirements for
the export trade. For the local river
trade, the city property at Jefferson
street should be utilised: or almost
any of the present docks can be pur
chased or leased at a fair considera
tion. The public dock situation should
be handled, and' apparently Is being
handled, with the same care, and we
hope with as good results, as would ac
crue from the efforts of an Individual
Investor.
THE INMIMiEXTW ONLY PLANK.
Senator Clapp la In error when he
says the people are beginning to lose
confidence In platforms and pledges.
They have been losing such confidence
for many years, but the last platiorm
In which they have lost confidence Is
that of the Insurgents.
The faction to which Mr. Clapp be
longs has shown as great agility as any
party In Jumping on and off its plat
form. A few years ago the Insurgents
had a platform which looked quite at
tractive to many people, but they have
abandoned one plank after another
until the only one remslnlng Is oppo
sition to President Taft, right or
wrong. One must step carefully and
keep a cool head In order to preserve
one's footing on a single plank, even
If It be fairly broad, and the Insurgent
plank Is so narrow that the Insurgent
voters have refused to follow the lead
era along It.
Every sound principle which the In.
surgents have put forward has been
much better advocated by the Presi
dent until they are reduced to the
purely negative principle of opposition
to him. Negation will not carry them
far.
JISTICE AVO MiFOIUt.
Governor West has found something
In the state constitution that pleases
him: or some klml mentor has found
It for him. which Is perhsps about the
same thing. It Is the following pre
cious gem from article 1. section 15:
I,aws for tha punlshmant of crlma shall be
founded on th prln-ltN of reformation, and
nl tf vlndlrtle Juatlca.
The Oregonian has no fault to find
with that sound and humane precept
tt has been in the state constitution
for over fifty years, and has been ob
served and obeyed by a long array of
conscientious and law-abiding Gov
ernors before the present Incumbent.
They did not abandon any of the wise
and necessary principles of retributive
Justice to a quixotic effort at indis
criminate reformation of criminals
some hardened and confirmed and
others not. They sought reformation
of convicts mainly within prison walls,
not without. Rut there Is another text
from a book wtlh which the Governor
Is doubtless as familiar as he la with
the state constitution, to which atten
tion may be called. It Is the following
from Holy Writ:
Woa to tha. O land, whan thy kins la a
ehlld . . . Tha h'alnnlnc of tha wnrda
of h' mouth la fnnllshnea. and the end of
his talk la mlfhlTmii madneaa.
The tender solicitude of Governor
West and his group for the state con
stltution a document which they
have long Ignored ami spurned and
looked upon as embodying the archaic
and foolish notions of our old-fashioned
and Ignorant forefathers Is a
most Interesting manifestation of
mock reverence. Possibly the follow
Ing quotation from a great writer of
the past Gibbon would appear to
have a greater relevancy to the times
and the fashions In mens opinions
than either of the foregoing excerpts
I'ndar a democratic ravirntntnt, th cltl
Bna exarctaa the power of aovaralsnty and
thtta power will be flrat abused, and after
wards loat. If they sra committed to an un-
wteldly multitude.
But of course West, ITRen and the
rest know better.
THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
A cause for gratification due to thr
building of the Panama Canal Is a de
cided revival of Interest In shipbuild
ing and owning, not only in the mari
time but in the Interior states. This
revival is far different from that which
was artificially created by the ship sub
sidy agitation, for It Is spontaneous
and Is not aimed at gratifying the self
ish gTeed of a single Industry or a sin
gle section. It is the outgrowth of
National pride mortified at the pros
pect that, when we have finished the
canal, we shall ourselves make less use
of It than nations with only a fraction
of our wealth and population.
A product of this revtved Interest in
a book entitled "The Western Gate
way." by Patrick H. W. Ross, a banker
of Western Washington. The author
Is a typical citizen of the world. Born
a British subject, he has lived In Ha
waii among Americans, traveled much
and finally chosen the United States as
his country. He argues that the United
States has been so busy developing the
continent and has drawn so large a
proportion of Its Immigration from the
HgrUultural people of Europe that It
has ceased to think as a seagoing Na
tion. He proposes to create a desire
to own ships by making a free port of
the whole of Western Washington,
where the products of the world may
be exchanged as they were formerly In
the German free ports of Hamburg.
Bremen and Lubeck, and where world
ports may grow up equal In rank to
London. Liverpool and Hongkong.
This district he would exempt from
tariff and shipping laws, allowing
"free commerce, free ahlps, free
crews, free raw materials, free goods
free labor." The custom-houses would
be moved inland to the eastern bound
aries of this district.
Mr. Roes falls foul of known facts
In underrating Porjland's future as an
ocean port. He predicts that Portland
will become one of the largest cities
In the United States, but says that, "al
though a good port and capable of be
ing made very good, Portland can
never be supremely good." He contin
ues: "I doubt whether It Is possible
from Its mouth, thus fulfilling the re
quirement for the greatest porta that
they not only be accessible to ocean
ships, but have the largest percentage
of land within a radius Of 100 miles.
That this definition of a great port Is
sound is made- evident by passing In
review the world's great porta. Lon
don Is on the Thames. Liverpool on the
Mersey, Glasgow on the Clyde. Havre
on the Seine. Hamburg on the Elbe,
Antwerp on the Scheldt. Canton and
Tien Tsin in China. New Tork. Phila
delphia. New Orleans, also are at the
mouth of or the head of navigation on
great rivers.
Mr. Ross" book is a valuable con
tribution to the discussion of that
greater freedom of commerce of which
the most encouraging part la the grow
ing movement for free ship. His free
port scheme Is In line with that move
ment, though his approving comment
on ship subsidies paid by other na
tions betrays some confusion of ideat
on the subject.
THE FAMILY TYPE Or BOCIETT.
A letter from Mr. A. 8. Froelld.
which Is printed la Trie Oregonian this
morning, contains the following strik
ing sentence: "This problem. In com
mon with the whole subject of crimi
nology and lawmaking generally, can
hardly be solved satisfactorily without
looking at humanity as a family, not
as an aggregation of equals." The
problem to which he refers Is that of
dealing with murderous-minded de
generates. In another place Mr. Fros-
lid adds: "Would It not be better to
recognize the family relation, giving
more prominence to dutlee than
rights, to love rather than force?"
to
It is our candid opinion that If man
kind could agree upon the significance
of the word "love" and apply It un
swervinclv to the problems of the
world every social difficulty would
disappear like morning dew. The his
tory of the last 2000 years covers one
great effort to do this very thing. The
effort has not succeeded as yet. but it
may by and by. Thus far "love" has
been thwarted by self-interest and
stupidity. Some time It may get the
upper hand and then there will be no
reason why we should not see that
'Kingdom of Heaven," or golden age
of which the saints and sages nav
alwava been dreaming.
As for the family relation to which
Mr. Froslld thinks we ought to re;urn,
It was the primitive social state
Usually we cannot solve new problems
by returning to old conditions, ana in
this case the method would be par
tlcularly unhappy. Our correspondent
would transform society Into a single
great patriarchal family with some
one at the head In the position of the
Homan paterfamilias or the Jewish
Abraham, the people being' arranged
in regular stfDordlnatlon like oldet
and younger children. The patriarch
must have absolute power over those
beneath him or It would not be a fam
ily. If questions were put to vote we
should have a republic, which was the
stage Into which the family naturally
evolved. Where the family did not
evolve Into a republic it decayed into
an absolute monarchy. Could we re
turn to It the consequence would be
nothing else than a repetition of tlls
old process.
THE COST or UVING.
The New York Chamber of Com
merce hus been asked for Its approval
of a project to establish an Interna
tional commission on the cost or iiv
Ing. It is notorious that tl cost has
been rlslna- of late not in this country
alone, but In all parts of the civilized
world. In the United States tne strug
gle to meet new and difficult condi
tions has excited discontent, both so
cial and political. No doubt it lies at
the root of what Is called "Insurgency"
In politics. Certainly it accounts for
the bitterness of our labor troubles
But our' disturbances over the rising
cost" of living are mild compared witn
those of some European countries. It
hus driven the British government to
ftry old-age pensions as a remedy and
has upset the ancient system or taxa
tlon in that realm. In Franca Its ef
fects apear as "sabotage. with a
ferocity In the relation between capi
tal and labor of which we happily
have seen but a few sample In this
countrv. But we shall see more if
there is not a change of spirit on both
sides.
So we might pass from one country
to another and everywhere we should
see abundant evidence that a commis
sion to Inquire Into the cost of living
might find plenty of useful work. Of
course a mere compilation of dry
facts would not be of much conse
quence. Here and there a person may
be met who denies that it is any more
difficult to make a living now than It
waa twenty-five years ago, but the or
dinary Individual Is convinced by stern
experience that it is a great deal more
difficult. What he wanta Is some
knowledge of the reasons for the new
and grinding conditions. The pro.
posed commission can do Its best work
by Inquiring Into causes rather than
mere facta. Why Is It harder for an
American citizen to live a self-respecting
life and support a family credit
ably than it was fifty years ago? Until
this question has been answered and
a remedy provided, how idle it is to
rave over such secondary subjects as
race suicide. The problem of the cost
of living Is twofold. From one point
of view it refers to the amount of
money required to buy the necessaries
and comfort, of life. But this is after
all a minor consideration. The sub
ject of real Interest Is the amount of
effort, or "labor sacrifice," which
must be traded for a living.
' In a perfectly organized society ll
would be Just as easy to earn a living
when gold was scarce as w hen it was
plentiful. Prices would fall when
gold slipped out of circulation and
rise when new mlnee were opened
but that w-ould make no difference as
to the quantity of "labor sacrifice"
needed to obtain food and clothing.
Wages would keep pace with other
prices, going up as gold flowed. In and
down when It flowed out. The mutual
relation of all prices would be con
stant, no matter how prices them
selves might fluctuate and hence the
actual quantity of money In circula
tion would not affect the real cost of
living. In other words, the effort
needed to obtain the good, things of
life would remain the same without
regard to the supply of gold. This,
we say, would be the case in a per
fectly organized society. That It Is not
the case In our present social structure
needs no repetition. It has been said
often enough. We mention the gold
supply In this connection only to re
mind the reader that It Is a rather
superficial factor In the complicated
problem of the cost of living. It af
fects prices certainly, but It does not
account for that fluctuating Interrela
tion among prices which makes th
trouble.
We are disposed to believe that
when the proposed commission has
finished Its Inquiries It will have dis
covered three fundamental forces pull
ing together to Increase the difficulty
of gaining a livelihood. The first is
monopoly. When a group of men
obtain the power to fix the price upon
any necessary of life it stands to rea
son that they will use It. They may
veil their acts under many a plausible
pretext. They may make black look
white and big little, but when they
possess the power to raise the cost and
the cost rUes It requires some little
Intellectual deftness to avoid the obvi
ous Inference of cause and effect
Twenty years ago or more our states
men discerned the natural relation be.
tween monopoly and the cost of living
and passed the Sherman Act to safe
guard the people. With the law on
the statute book monopoly throve un
checked and prices marched upward
In an unbroken procession. Perhaps
It Is too late now to retrieve the dis
aster by enforcing the act so long Ig
nored. We are told that It is difficult
to unscramble eggs. One section ol
the public has even fallen into the
habit of thinking about changing the
ownership of the dish rather than
analysing It Into its elements.
The second factor In the rising ex
pense of living is what economists call
"the law of diminishing returns." Ac
cording to this law. which is as uni
versal a it la cruel, the greater tha
demand which mankind makes on the
resources of the world the more labor
we must expend to get what we need.
The more people there are the hardei
they must toll to keep from starving.
No doubt the United States Is feeling
the first rude grip of the law of di
minishing returns. From now onward
it will be our Intimate companion
everywhere and always and we shall
have plenty of opportunity to get
thoroughly acquainted with it. It Is
a law which cannot he repealed by the
Initiative nor modified by rhetoric.
The moving finger writes and having
writ moves onward." and you can
make speeches until you are gray
without altering a single word.
The third force which we have in
mind Is waste. Some may prefer to
call it a bad habit Instead of a force,
but for our part we know of no force
In the world equal to that of. habit,
and therefore we shall cling to our
own nomenclature. Look anvwhere
you like In our society and the most
conspicuous fact that meets you Is
waste. It begins in the kitchen,
spreads upward like a desolating fire
through the city government, wreaks
its Infuriate will In the state legisla
tures and reigns unchallenged at every
capital In the world. It Is a moderate
estimate that one-half the entire prod
uct of human Industry Is lost by na
management, vanity, foolish enmities
and stupidity. Until we have applied
a few reforma In this direction It 15
not very encouraging to talk about
reducing the cost of living by law.
ROSY VISIONS FOR THE WEARY.
Not being acquainted with Mr. Ivan
Jalowskt, who write to The Oregon Un
about single tax today, we are in drfubt
whether his letter Is Intended as sar
casm or is the result of the writer's
associating for long periods of time
with only himself. Prolonged solitary
contemplation of the mysteries of life
often produces weird and beautiful
dreams, be that contemplation by the
Hindu under the midday sun on the
secrets of the spiritual life or by the
white man under the rain-spattered
roof of Oregon on the problems of the
physical existence.-
The promises of this writer are not
more ridiculous than those of other
slngle-tnxers. The latter have many
dreamers in the ranks. Some of the
advocates of single tHX proclaim, for
example, that its adoption will end the
social evil and solve the saloon prob
lem, to say nothing of settling the con
troversies between capital and labor,
promoting building and Inducing culti
vation of vacant lands.
The one poiht that causes us to
doubt the genuineness of the corre
spondent's sentiments as expressed in
the letter is his placing the proper
limit of a day's work at two hours.
W hy two hours? Anybody who ad
vocates a two-hour workday does
not at heart want to work at all. Every
Industrious man knows he would be
perfectly miserable with fourteen
waking hours every day in which to
loaf. Roaming in beautiful parks,
promenading grand boulevards and
gazing upon magnificent buildings as
dally occupations would pall on any
one of working age and normal
strength who was not constitutionally
lazy. There are comparatively few
lazy men In Oregon. No well-bal
anced man would seriously seek to
carry a measure by appealing to the
ambition of the drones.
By abdicating Instead of waiting to
be forcibly deposed, the Manchus may
be able to leave China without being
reduced to such straits as was ex-King
Manuel. It Is better to be an ex-monarch
with a bank account than to be a
dead monarch or to be driven to bor
rowing of one's royal relatives.
Absurdity of the postal regulations
Is again shown In the incident at Se
ttle, wherein a package five feet
square, ' weighing eighty-two pounds.
was forwarded to Australia. Not even
an order from the Supreme Court In
this land could get it into the local
malls.
Some will disagree with Dr. Rap-
pold's statement that the wife whose
genius he developed and who cast him
off has risen to a sphere far abovt
him. No sphere can be very exalted
which condones ingratitude.
Britain and Russia may clinch their
spheres of Influence In Persia, but they
will have to do it with bullet and bayo
net Asiatics of every shade of color
have an Instinctive repugnance to liv
ing In spheres of Influence.
The local trolley company has
agreed to heat Its cars and needs go
but a step farther, by teaching Its con
ductors the rudiments of the science
of ventilation.
Perhaps In the matter Of closed
draws the Government will heed the
w lsh of the great City of Portland bet
ter than that of Multnomah County.
We must not become asylum for the
entire Pacific Northwest, however.
There must be mean adopted to Iden
tify the unemployed as our own.
Any architects' prize competition is
sure to stir up a row, so there need be
no surprise at the criticism of the
Auditorium award.
It is part of American economic life
that there always shall be dissension
In school matters. These - turmoils
produce result.
Representative Kent proves himself
a true progressive by declairng for
free ships in preference to free canal
tells.
The peace treaties are stirring up
war in New York. This battle, like
many others, rages around the Colo
nel. The smudgepot will save the orange
crop In California and the wise grower
is ready.
When you feel Inclined to growl
about the rain, read of the blizzards.
The East Side charter board 1 get
ting down to splinter.
Stars and Star-Makers
Br Leone Cass Baer.
Lilian. (one "I") Graham, a European
dancer who recently was seen on
Broadway In "The Red Rose." has made
the announcement that she is going to
change her name. Following the in
cident of the W. E. D. Stokes spec
tacular portrayal of a revolver range
Miss Lilian Graham attempted to dis
tinguish herself from the Lillian
Graham of that contest by dropping one
"1" from her name. She found, how
ever, so many people confusing her
identity with that of the markswoman.
that hereafter she will use the name of
Lysa Graham. She says her principal
reason for making the change Is that
she feared European music hall man
agers would be afraid to deal with her.
a a a
In Sacramento where Fred Niblo and
bis wife Josephine Cohan are appear
ing at the Clunle Theater, In "The
Fortune Hunter." a huge Christmas box
from the Cohan family reached them
on Christmas day. Among the remem
brances was a play written by George
M. Cohan, playwrlpht, actor and poet
laureate of the Great White Way sent
as a gift to his sister. As ownership
of a Cohan play Is considered generally
to be equivalent to a fortune, the gift
Is probably one of the most munifi
cent received by any woman this
Christmas season. Miss Cohan has for
raken musical comedy for straight
comedy and Just before going on tour
In "The Fortune Hunter," her brother
George told her that he was about to
prepare a new play, the second he had
Written minus music, and that It was
to be the new vehicle for the Niblo
Cohan starring organization. Cohan
didn't let his sister know that the play
would be In her hands by Christmas
day. When she received it there was
attached to the manuscript a notarled.
document worded: "This play Is to
be played without royalties to Its
author, George M. Cohan, as long as It
Is presented by his sister, Josephine.
and her husband, Fred Niblo."
a a a
Louise Dresser Is to take a whirl
over the Orpheum circuit, or at least
a part of it, her' tour beginning on
December 31. She Is doing this pend
ing the completion of a new musical
play which Is being written for her.
Her tour Is to last 15 weeks, so It's
probable she'll get out to the Pacific
Coast.
a a
When the play Charles Klein Is now
writing from Rex Beach's latest "best
seller," "The Ne'er Do Well," Is pro
duced In New Tork City early next
season the chief role of Kirk Anthony
will be personated by Hale Hamilton
who created the title part in George M.
Cohan's great comedy hit "Get-Rich-Quick
Wallingford" in which he is at
present appearing in Boston. Hamilton
Is one of the most conspicuous of the
younger generation of actors who have
come to the front with rapid strides in
the past few years. He ma-de his first
New York hit as the young Wall street
broker In "The Fortune Hunter" and
his pleasing personality should make
his selection as the hero of the new
Beach-Klein play a wise one. "The
Ne'er Do Well" Is to reach the stage
under the auspices' of the Authors'
Producing Company, a newly-organized
firm of which John Cort is president,
and whioh is the managerial sponsor
for Charles Klein's play "The Gamblers"
which Is to be the New Year's attrac
tion at the Helllg.
a a a
In the Dramatic Mirror the "Matinee
Girl" tells of how a few actors spent
Christmas:
Lillian Russell, while on tour, often
omits her Christmas matinee and Rives
a olnner to her company In her private
car. There l a plum pudding for
which she has sent to England three
months before. There are toasts to the
absent ones. Including the manager.
Genee gave a Christmas feast to her
company on the stage, setting up again
the big tree that had been part of one
scene. So with Rebecca of Sunnybrook
Faim, Ke.te Dnugas Wiggln. the au
thor, playing Santa Clans. In fact. In
most of the Klaw & Erlanger com
panies, the celebration of Christmas is
an Institution.
Robert Kdeson and his wife, who
travels wftti him, celebrated Christmas
as they have the day of general Joy, In
their villa at Strongheart, ever since
their marriage. Mr. Edeson Is resting
this week, and Christmas was celebrat
ed at the Sag Harbor home on Sunday.
"There'll be a week of life as we like
It." his pretty, young wife eald, "with
log fires and apple Jack, and riding
through the woods and a tree cut from
our own woods hy Bob himself."
Between rehearsals and his wife's
cruelly forcing him to accompany her
on her Christmas shopping tours, which
he says have left one night stands far
behind In the mleery race, Otis Skinner
is somew-hat worn and cries out against
a day which he declares is "The great
annual swap."
Wilton Lackaye was once moved to
write of the seamy side of Christmas,
that 19 the side swept away from home,
these verses:
O lords of hearths and dames of nomea.
Whose Joy of this tlma apeaks
In the ringing of your laughter. In tha holly
or your cheek,
'Twlxt the oysters and the coffee let a cheer
ful toast be drunk
To tha players poor Penates
In tha top tray of hit trunk.
While children of an older grojrth their
youngster's antics view.
And In baby frolics sharing their lost fable
fallh renew;
While peace of home and mirth of rest are
found on every hand.
We've the dank Insult called dinner In a
Western one-night stand.
i Edna Showalter, the vocalist, who was
heard here this season with "Chevalier"
and who was the first singer engaged
by Henry W. Savage for "The Girl, of
the Golden West In English, has sued
the manager for 133.700 damages. She
asks $25,000 for continuing to use her
name and photograph after he had
discharged her and $8700 due In salary.
Miss Showalter was dropped from the
cast after two performances.
a a a
Henry Miller, In a recent Interview,
said pertinent things about conditions
among the younger playwrights. He
ha so many manuscripts submitted to
him, many of which are rich in new
ideas but so ridiculously lacking In
the knowledge of stagecraft, that ex
asperation must finally set In. The
actor whose life la confined to hard
work In a theater has little or no time
for life outside with tne springs or
new Ideas which such a life can pro
vide; so when the actor writes plays
he Is as a rule rich in the technique
of the stage, but poor in material; while
the average playwright Is the reverse
In both particulars. Mr. Miller declares
that vaudeville audiences are not fitted
to genuine dramatic entertainment; the
continual change from one thing to an
other makes them Incapable and un
desirous of continued concentration on
one thing.' This prevalence of vaude
ville has had its effect on the legiti
mate audiences, who, Mr. Miller finds,
are restless in the face of a serious
performance. He Is a scorner of elab
orate scenery, but a strong advocate of
the emotional drama.
HtMASITT TREATED AS FAMILY
Corrfapoadrmt Would Reeosratse Broth
erly Relation la Law Making.
PORTLAND, Dec. 25. (To the Edi
tor.) I not an editorial in The Orego
nian today on the right of society to
protect itself against murderers, but
this is not written in a controversial
spirit. This problem. In common with
the whole subject of criminology and
law making generally, can hardly be
solved satisfactorily without looking
at humanity as a family, not as an ag
gregation of equals. We have pro
ceeded In our law making on the theory
of equality and by this time most peo
ple are dissatisfied with the results.
Would It not be wiser to recognize
the family relation, giving more promi
nence to duties than to rights, to love
rather than force?
The chief trouble In the treatment
of criminals, and more especially
murderers. Is the materialism of religion
a.i generally taught. For in practical
matters we fail to recognize man as
an evolving spiritual entity, though re
ligion is based upon this fact. We
may pretend, but do not really believe
In a life outside the hoay. we recog
nize material evolution, but fall to
realize the reality of spiritual evolu
tion. How can we understand and treat
criminals rightly without taking note
of the fact that conscience Is an evolv
ing power? In some it Is weak and in
others so strong that physical life is
given up rather than violate its edicts.
Nor can this discrepancy be explained
by physical environment alone. It does
not reach the bottom of the problem.
The facts should tell us that we
have grown-up children and that we
must treat them accordingly. But If
we face the problems with candor we
must also admit that these children
are not the natural law makers. Then
we are up against the problem of who
re to make laws. Here again the spirit
of brotherhood, the spirit of the family
relation, is the only means 'of a satis
factory solution, for we now lose sight
of our rights and pay, attention to
duties and the promptings of love. We
become less eager to seek to pass laws
favoring ourselves and getting at the
other fellow, and on the other hand
we become more concerned lest we
should do Injustice, lest we should
literally force the young and weak
souls into vice and crime and thus
making their sins our own even more
than theirs.
In most men at this stage of human
evolution the power to resist evil is
limited. Placed in certain environment
fall Is therefore absolutely sure to fol
low when the limit Is reached. This
places a tremendous responsibility on
those who think they are not criminals
nor addicted to vice. How can we
solve the labor problem without recog
nizing this family relation? Clearly
some are evolved to serve the family
In one capacity and some In another;
some with manual and some with men
tal labor. But the division of the earn
lngs should be made in the family
spirit. As it Is we recognize two
factors In production, capital and labor
and between the two the earnings are
supposed to be divided. But capital
swells up and is padding Its account.
It even claims the space and resources
nf the nlanet without regard to tne
fact that these are or the support of
The fnmllv. What is the reaction to
r.e' The onDresslon of the weaker mem
bers of the family must eventually let
down all bars of restraint.
But can we In practice recognize the
family relation without broadening our
religious conception so as clearly to
recognize the spiritual man imprisoned
for a time In a physical body for the
purpose of Its evolution? It becomes
necessary to note that souls enter the
world, with different capacities morally
and intellectually; different capacities
to acquire and achieve morally and In
tellectually. While we know this to be
fact, we are startled by the Inevitable
conclusion that the Inhabitant of the
body has an age Independent of the age
of the body, that some human beings
must remain children all their life.
As regards the killing of murderers
will it shock anybody to suggest that
as the executed murderer escapes from
his body full of revenge he is free to
offer suggestions to all in a similar
frame of mind? This is a real and
terrible danger, and the proper place
to keep such men is in prison. Those
who cannot see how these suggestions
are offered and are not willing to trust
the word of those who can, might be
willing to give society the benefit of
the doubt If they could only tie induced
to Investigate the available evidence.
A. S. FROSLLD.
SINGLE TAX AND THE MILLENIUM
Great Promises of F.artbly Paradise
Held Out to the Lssy.
PORTLAND. Dec. 36. (To the Edi
tor.) C. P. Strain, Assessor ol Uma
tllla County, In a letter to The Orego
nian todav says "single tax will de
stroy private ownership in land," which
Is not quite correctly stated. We
single taxers propose to leave Just
enough of the rental value In land to
the present owners so mat tney win
sddIv their Intalllgence, education and
business acumen in putting the land to
Its frreatest productivity. We will let
the land owners take the responsibility,
but we will take nearly all of what
the land produces, whether the crop Is
collected In city rents or rarm products.
We will go still further. We will
vote and sell bonds against the land
owners' Holdings to build magnificent
nubile buildings, grand boulevards,
beautiful parks, establish homes for
the aged and poor and havens of rest
for the weary and heavy laden. We
will shorten the work day from eight
hours to Bix hours, and then to four
hours and later on, to what it Bhould
be. or two hours.
By carrying on .vast public Improve
ments from the sale of bonds, we will
double and treble wages. If the land
owners get gay, we will pass an Initia
tive measure cancelling all private
debts. Through the philanthropy of
Mr. Fels. the sagacity of Mr. U Ren
and the beauty of the Oregon system,
the people will surely come into their
own. The only cloud on the horlzen is
the remote possibility of the Supreme
Court of the United States declaring
unconstitutional the Initiative and ref
erendum, and unless this calamity
should overtake us, single tax will
overwhelmingly carry at the next elec
tion. Vive 1 'ITRen. Vive la Oregon
system. IVAN JALOWSKL
Tae Senate O. K.'a Tipping.
Washington D. C) Cor. N. Y. World.
The United States Senate has put its
official O. K. on the tipping evil. It
has been Influenced In this by W. Mur
ray Crane, of Massachusetts, who su
pervises - the Senate cuisine. Mr.
Crane's views on tipping have led to a
repeal of the antl-tlpplng law of a
year ago, when a boldly printed legend
appeared on the menu cards of the
Senate restaurant reading, "No Tipping
Allowed."
The sign did not stop the evil. The
waiters, fully aware that Instant dis
missal would follow if they were
caught at it, took tips with the same
alacrity as before, and the patrons
gave up with the customary reluctance.
This year a new style menu card Is
In operation. The "no-tlpplng" slogan
Is missing. Th oversight of the printer
Is not escaping the victims of the
waiters.
' Greatest Employment Bnrean.
Chicago Record-Herald.
In the Civil Service Commission,
United States Government has
srreatest employment bureau in
the
the
the
world. Over half a million people are
on the Government payroll, and of
these nearly half are receiving pay
as the result of competitive examinations.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of Dec 18. 1S61.
The Norfolk Day Book of the 13th
acknowledges that a negro plot had
been discovered at Charleston and we
have no doubt that the great conflagra
tion which has laid In ashes that once
opulent city was the work of slaves.
San Francisco Herald.
(A graphic account of the battle and
capture of Port Royal by the Union
fleet is reported from the New York
Herald.)
, A letter from Cincinnati says that the
defeat of a Union party in Guyandotte.
Va.. was the result of trickery. At the
time the Union men were there, there
was a rehel force in the neighborhood of
some 1000 men. These proposed, with
the assistance of the citizens of Guyan
dotte, to annihilate the I'nion troops.
The- Guyandotte people were to invite
them about to their houses, treat them
with kindness and then, by signal, in
vite the rebels in to the treat of mur
der. This was done, and our Union men
were murdered by the citizens and sol
diers In cold blood. Many, however, es
caped. The murders were mostly ef
fected in the houses. When Colonel
Zeigler arrived and heard the particu
lars of the aiYair. he ordered the de
struction of the town. The buildings
were immediately fired and the whole
town reduced to ashes.
It is evident that a great battle Is
Impending between the two armies in
Virginia. Both Northern and Southern
accounts agree that one: is. Inevitable.
We had already received Intelligence
that the Confederate forces were with
drawing from the Potomac, but It seems
that this movement had only been ob
served In the left wing of the rebel
army. The center was advancing, and
In the meantime McClellan was also
making a forward movement. The bat
tle will be tremendous, for some 400.
000 men will be engaged, assisted by ar
tillery more formidable than was ever
brought Into one Held. San Francisco
Herald.
Report of public schools for quarter
ending December 20 senior department
G. F. Boynton, principal; Miss F.
M. Kittredge, assistant. Whole num
ber of scholars, 95: average number, 9.
Intermediate department Miss E. J.
Way, principal. Whole number of
scholars. 110: iverase number. 50.
Primary department Mrs. M. Hensil,
principal: Mrs. J. Frazer, assistant.
Whole number of scholars, 110: aver
age number, 80. Whole number at
tending school, 26S; average daily at
tendance, 198.
General McClellan would not allow
two bands of music to serenade his
wife. He Is opposed to all that sort of
thing.
The Alta says that a united effort
will be made In Congress to procure the
restoration of the pony express.
A night or two since the balloonlsts.
Lane and Dan Sickles, made. an ascen
sion from the Maryland shore of the Po
tomac and near Quantico Creek. The
balloon was lifted almost directly over
some of the rebel camps, and they had
en excellent opportunity by means of
the camp fires visible to determine
the position of the enemy. The fires
were lighted from Ocognan and they
continued down along the line of the
road to the vicinity of Dumfries. They
were also visible along the two roads
as far back as Brentsville. There Is no
doubt of the rebels being present in
strong force, and that they have not
fa'len back as has been alleged by some
of the correspondence from the city.
A He Understood It.
Ladles' Home Journal.
A young Canadian came to Washing
ton, D. CL, and was making a call upon
a very pretty young woman .whom he
met for the first time.
"Do you have reindeer In Canada?"
asked the young lady.
"No, darling," he answered, "at this
season it always snows."
Dollar and American Farm.
Indianapolis News.
American farms, exclusive of build
ings, are valued at $28,770,000.
K. NITTS OX MADNESS.
Nesclus NItts, whose philosophy had
Become about Punklndorf, really the
fad.
Shot nicotine death ah, conclusion
most sad
At a roach that romped round on a
new blotting pad;
Then spake upon madness, and why
men go mad.
"I sees by the papers that Doo Mary
W &1 led
Who alius was found more or less of
toll..
Has Come to the front and has named
the real source
Of what makes men's brains wobble
. th.li. ..nurse
Deolarln It's due to the presence, by
KecK' . ,
Of them collar buttons, at back or
the necK.
Annoyln' and chafin' the nerves of
,V,a anln.
It soon throws his reasonln" power out
o' line,'
She says. I myself notes another
feet too
In buttons, to Jolt a man's reason
askew
And drive him to rampage around, rer
And make ' a display like a plumb
maniac.
'It works out this way. If you ever
k.. t,I.H
To slap on a collar and get your tie
tied.
Nine buttons In ten, will fall out of
Bounce onto the floor, and to "bllvlon
roll;
And many's the man I has seen Jest
Of mad, crazy capers, while huntln' a
button.
"Of course collar buttons can drive
And make 'em rage round jest like wild
,l,tifrB In n.i 1 n
Drop down on all fours and prance
n,Ti h.i-n nrirl there.
Crawl under the dresser and growl
llKe a Dear,
They shore drives men mad In more
Than merely by presstn" the backs of
tneir spines.
But sence Dr. Walker has come to
the lltT-ht
And brought the fac' out to the
popular sight,
can't help a-thinkln' this knowledge
will cause
marvellous change In our treatment
And give added force and much more
certainty
To 'Merica's honored Insanity plea.
'The man who has shot someone else
will not need
To have his dementia well guaranteed
By alienists, who depose and explain
That brainstorms or somethln was
loggin nis Drain;
He'll need but to show to them Jury
men gents
A bone collar button fer ample de
fense."
By Desn Collins.
4