THE 'MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1913.
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PORTLAND. MOXDAI, FEB. 1".
OPINIONS ON THE 6 INGLE TERM.
The single, six-year term amend-'.-
ment to the constitution encounters
.! much criticism from the Eastern
newspapers. Many attribute its sup
: port by Republicans to desire to ex
? elude Roosevelt from the White House.
- others to the same motive as against
J Wilson, and say that it should be
: amended so as not to apply to either
' Roosevelt, Wilson or Taft. Some say
" It bespeaks distrust, of the people and
' ridicule fear of Caesarism. Unquali
' fled approval is the exception.
' -i Among those which Indorse the
J amendment is the New York Tribune,
'.' which says:
' The campaign of 1912 certainly gave all
the point needed to the argument that a
president can serve the country more sat
isfactorily if custom does not require him
to be a candidate for ren 'mlnatlon.
The lengthening 01 a rrwiuem mru
six years would give man a oetter oppur-
..niiv tn develon his nollcles and would
protect him from the Importunities of those
who now offer their aid toward renominat
ing him. He would be far more Independ
ent of Senators. Representatives and party
leaders who take advantage of hia can-HiHa-
tn wrve their own purposes. He
could veto bills without any fear of alien
ating personal support. Ho could be Pres
ident in all that the term Implies from the
day he entered the White House to the day
he left It. It is not necessary to turn again
and again to a few candidates.
Admitting that there are in the ab
stract good arguments for a single, six
year term, the New York Evening
Post accuses Senators of having "their
eyes fixed rather, upon political mo
tives." or "think of individuals." It
predicts that In the House and in State
Legislatures "immediate concern will
be about not the theoretical merits, but
the Immediate consequences of the
proposed change." It pronounces the
amendment in Its present form "vir
tually ex post facto legislation," aimed
directly at Roosevelt and having "the
air of sharp practice." The Post sug
gests that this be avoided by making
the exclusion from a second term ap
ply only to persons who "after the
adoption of this amendment shall have
held the office." The Post holds that.
If ratified before 1916, the amendment
would automatically extend Wilson's
term to 1919, although the people had
it in mind to elect him for only four
years. On the other hand. It says,
Wilson was entitled, "under our politi
cal practice and under the law, to
eight years in the Presidency, provided
he succeeded In the first four." It
predicts that the amendment in its
present form will have small chance
of ratification and that people will
wish to make the change In such a
way as "not to seem to be squinting
at two men."
Advocacy of a single term Is attrib-
. uted by the New York Globe to fear of
the people. That Journal maintains
that "the great body of opinion Is
strongly In favor of some form of
re-eligibility, yet makes this' contra
dictory admission:
It is shown that a President, no matter
what his original Intention, cannot help but
devote himself to securing a renomlnatlon.
' Mr. Taft was really President tor less than
two years. Since, until November, he was
primarily a candidate. The desirability of
restricting the President to one term haa
been strikingly exemplified.
The Globe concedes that. If there Is
to be no' re-eligibillty, the term should
be lengthened, but opposes perma
nent ineligibility, contending that an
ex-President may be the very man
wanted. It suspects that some of
those responsible for the form of the
resolution desired to diminish its
chances of ratification.
The Rooseveltlan New York Mall
storms against the amendment as an
attempt to "limit the power of the
American people, a Congressional ex
pedient to weaken the power of the
people and to consolidate that of the
bosses."
"What ever be the popular feeling"
on the subject, says the New York Sun,
the proposed change "should be made
on the merits and without any refer
.. ence to Individual ambitions or ca
reers to be affected by it." It says
. further:
Would It not be well to .postpone the
, ' change, should It be determined on. to a
period beyond the prejudices, accidents and
politics of the moment and the immediate
S future?
The Brooklyn Eagle expresses a
hopo that the House will reject the
amendment and quotes against It
Hamilton's plea for re-eligibility, that
a man whom "the ruling passion of
the noblest minds" love of fame
prompts to great undertakings would
be deterred from seeking the Presi
dency "when he foresaw that he must
quit the scene before he could accom
plish the work." The Eagle says this
argument has never been logically met,
that "the weakness of our government
Is lack of continuity, the breaking off
from one term to another"; and that
"if the American people lack the civic
virtue to get good government under
the present plan, no change of me
chanical system will make good the
deficiency."
Fear of Roosevelt Is ascribed to the
supporters of the amendment by the
Indianapolis Star, especially to "those
undesirable citizens, high and low,
that he denounced for their offenses
against the common weal." It pro
nounces trie amendment childish and
cites against It the practice of Great
Britain In utilizing the Nation's
strongest men by alternating In power
such men as Disraeli and Gladstone.
In contrast to the Star, the Indian
apolis News assumes that the' amend-
ment was made to apply alike to
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson "in order
to free the Senate from the suspicion
of being moved by feelings of personal
I hostility to Roosevelt." It declares
v the amendment right, saying:
There ought to be a constitutional limit
on the tenure of this very powerful office.
we think, too. that the country will be
likely to get better service from men
'. shielded against the temptation to seek re-
election. And. of course, we should abso
lutely exclude all possibility of m third term.
The Senate has, we believe, correctly In
terpreted pubUc opinion.
The Chicago Record-Herald ear
nestly hopes the House will adopt a
resolution for a single, six-year-term,
but says doubt exists whether the
Works resolution would automatically
extend Wilson's term and that the
wording should be changed in the
House in the interest of certainty and
clearness.
Opposition of party Progressives to
the amendment Is taken by the Chi
cago Inter Ocean as practical confes
sion that "without Roosevelt the Pro.
gressive' party would speedily fall to
pieces." In reply to the argument
that the Nation could not get rid of a
bad President in less than six years,
the Inter-Ocean says: "We have
never elected a President who could
rightly be called bad in any sense." It
urges Republican Legislatures to con
sider the real motive of-the Progres
sives in opposing the amendment.
Conceding that the Taft-Roosevelt
struggle gives much to commend the
single term principle, the Springfield
Republican says a third term is easier
to defeat "than a single term to de
fend, but continues:
The country Is probably disposed to p re
servo the statue quo In this matter, inas
much as the unwritten law against third
terms, whether consecutive or non-consecu
tive, was strengthened by tne result 01 tne
last presldentlsl election. The six-year
single term would be exposed to special
objections, so long aa our present system of
biennial Congressional elections is main
tained and the executive -and legislative
departments are kepr separate.
The Republican thinks it were bet
ter to have Taft pass on the amend'
ment than Wilson and anticipates that
Clark and Underwood's ambitions
will prompt them to aid Its passage
through the House, but holds that, if
It should not be ratified, W llson'e right
to be a candidate for a. second term
would be unassailable, though he
should urge his supporters in the
House to favor it.
The Boston Transcript finds In the
Senate's action "the influence of that
hysteria which sees 'Caesarism In
every bush along the Nation's high
way," but says:
As a dam against Caesarism the amend
ment would be made of paper. The real.
sufficient protection against Caesarism. as
Senator Lodge well said, 'Tests In tne
character of the American people."
It Is an essential condition of law-making
In response to popular demand that the
President and Congress should be In har
mony. That harmony Is with difficulty
reached even now. How much greater would
be the difficulty if Instead of President and
Congress being at odds for two years, the
period of their dlfferenoe was extended to
four or even six years:
OVERLOADING.
The Oregonian publishes herewith
the comments of a friend in Eugene,
who apparently has listened earnestly
to the false logic of a few professed
friends of direct legislation who seem
determined to run it into the groundJ
It la their favorite reply to every pro
test: "But see how the members over
load the Legislature " as if one abuse
excuses another. Our correspondent
says:
Eugene. Or., Feb. 7. (To the Edltor.1
The Oregonian has reason to object to the
overloading of the ballot with lawmaking
propositions. Still there is the alternative
of the Legislature with 925 bills, as reported
in The Oregonian, yesterday 9251
The voters have ample time in which to
inform themselves, then the propositions are
not changed by amendment so the father
of a bill may not know hia child on finality.
J. tt. c
Yet the Legislature, with 925 bills, is
not an alternative either of a long or
short initiative ballot; nor does the
number of measures Introduced at
Salem seem to affect In any way the
number of measures submitted to the
people. In 1912 the ballot carried a
greater number of bills and amend
ments than ever before. In 1913 the
Legislators break the record of bills
submitted for consideration.
Overloading of the ballot Is an evil,
and overloading of the House and
Senate calendars Is a grievous mistake.
But neither one excuses the other.
Both ought to be corrected.
PASS THE COMPENSATION BILL.
The Legislature, after observation of
the defeat In the past of road laws,
ought to be thoroughly aware that
divided opinion as to details among
those committed to a certain move
ment is almost, if not quite, as dis
astrous to its success as division of
opinion as to the wisdom of the main
principle Involved. Just as the peo
ple demand the enactment of work
able road legislation, they desire the
adoption of an ' adequate workmen's
compensation law. The two issues
are characteristic in the way they de
velop controversy over methods and
details. The chief danger that con
fronts both is exaggeration of the
importance of minor particulars.
While it cannot be said with posi
tive assurance that the compensation
bill that has passed the House Is not
susceptible of Improvement, the bill
ought not to be sacrificed in the Sen
ate because of controversial opinion
over non-vital features. As it stands
the bill embodies the virtues of fair
ness to employer and employed;
speedy compensation of the Injured;
preservation of safety in employ
ment; reduction in volume of court
procedure, and average justice to all
workmen in hazardous employment
or their dependents.
Mr. Day's Senate bill has its chief
difference in the more ambitious scope
of the measure. It Is compulsory in
form, while the House bill is elective,
and would therefore embrace all em
ployers and employes Instead of a pro
portion that accepted the principle of
compensation. So far as success of ad
ministration may be Involved we be
lieve the Senate bill, were It to gain
final enactment, would not reveal ma
terial shortcomings, but there is a
question as to whether the state is
ready to accept a law so extensive in
its application. The probability of a
refentidum must be considered.
The elective bill Is a long, long step
toward relief from unequal Justice,
ambulance chasing, overloading of
court dockets and drains by other cen.
ters of Oregon money for casualty in
surance. While opposed by one ele
ment In labor's ranks. It has the sup
port of probably seventy-five per cent
of the organized workmen. Its elec
tive principle is a complete answer
to those who oppose it solely on the
theory that the present liability law
is good enough, for the employe may.
If he chooses, not come under the
operation of the compensation law,
but, if Injured, seek recourse In the
courts with all the rights now given
him under the liability law preserved.
It is without doubt an anomaly to
enact a law on the theory that it is
for the general welfare and then. per
mit any Individual to say whether or
not he shall profit by it. But in this
case the anomaly Is a strong shield
against successful attack by the mis
guided and prejudiced.
The Oregonian Is not urging that no
effort be made to Improve the elective
bill by amendment, but it does believe
that It should not be changed beyond
recognition, or supply material for
grinding the compromise hopper. Prac
tical experience with compensation law
is too meagre in America to cause
friends of the principle to stickle over
details. The state should have the
best law It can get. It cannot likely
get more than a conservative measure.
The House bill Is that.
ANOTHER MEXICAN CRISIS.
While we have grown quite used to
Mexican crises which threaten to end
the government one day and evolve
into smoke the next, yet the serious
ness of this latest crisis is not to be
minimized. Heretofore the national
capital has been free of disorder. That
alone enabled President Madero . to
keep "up his programme of procrastin
ation and prevarication. It was the
one basis npon which he might rest
his claims that revolution and chaos
in Mexico would soon end.
With at least part of his own army
In revolt, with the gutters running red
in the capital Itself, how can Madero
longer maintain the bold front that
appears to have been his one asset for
many months past? He must have
realized how serious had become Mex
ico's plight. Yet he has repeatedly
assured the world in general, and the
United States In particular, that he
had the situation well in nana ana
that It had been misrepresented and
magnified by selfish detractors who
wanted his government overthrown.
Events In Mexico during the next
few days will be watched with the
greatest interest, for that Ill-starred
republic appears to be In grave and
Immediate danger. With Madero a ad
ministration tottering there Is no
strong hand to take his place at the
helm of the wildly-careening ship of
state. If the present trouble leads to
complete chaos, the burden of straight
ening out the tangle will fail upon the
United States.' If the Mexican peo
ple, however, are moderate and prac
tice restraint during the period of su
preme trial of their government, an
international crisis may be avoided.
Leastwise It would seem that a day
either of readjustment or of reckon
ing with civilization is close at hand,
LETTING THE FORESTS ROT.
The Forest Service stands convicted
by Its own confession of . being false
to the policy of conservation it was
created to maintain. Instead of reap
ing the harvest of the forests, it al
lows the harvest to rot. Instead of
using the National forests as a club
to protect the people against the ex
actions of private timber land owners.
it sells a smaller fraction at a price set
practically by private owners. Instead
of becoming a. source of revenue, it
Is doing business at a loss.
Forester Graves estimates that 348,
000,000.000 of the 697.478.000,000 feet
of timber in the National forests is
mature and over-mature, and that the
annua! growth is 6,150,000,000 feet.
yet last year he sold less than 800,
000,000 feet. That Is less than one-
seventh of the annual growth and does
not begin to touch the already ripe
and over-ripe timber.
As to the principle upon which sales
are made, Mr. Graves says:
The atumnage appraisal la based npon
a close estimate of the cost of manufac
ture and the market price of the product.
It nermlta a fair operating profit to the pur.
chaser on his actual Investment, but no
mora It is, as nearly as the experts of the
service can determine, the full market value
of the timber where it stands. -
"The full market value of the tim
ber where It stands" must be the value
fixed in the market of the great tim
ber syndicates or it would be sold
more rapidly. Government timber is
certainly worth less than that in pri
vate hands, for it is more remote
from transportation, and cutting is
surrounded by restrictions which pri
vate owners do not impose. The Gov
ernment should fix a price low enough
to offset these disadvantages In the
eyes of the logger and to offer strong
Inducements for extension of transpor
tation into the National forests. It
should do more It should make the
price low enough to break down the
monopoly price set by the great syn
dicates, to induce the erection of saw
mills In the National forests Indepen
dent of the lumber trust and to give
the people the benefit of cheap lum
ber. Were this policy pursued, not only
the annual Increase would be har
vested, but a large proportion of the
mature timber as well; the forests
would become a source of revenue and
the timber barons would be brought
to terms. The . growth of the young
trees, which are now forever shadowed
by the giants towering above them,
would also be facilitated.
The policy of the Forest Service Is
not one of conservation; it is a policy
of reservation. It does not so use the
forests that they shall be preserved;
it practically forbids their use, and
allows them to decay. It is the policy
of the miser, who hides his gold and
counts it at midnight, gloating over its
glitter. It is not the policy of the
business man, who puts his gold to
use that it may increase. It is to be
hoped that President-elect Wilson will
have clearly in mind, in selecting the
men who shall administer the National
domain, these words from the plat
form on which he was elected:
We believe In the conservation and the
development for the nse of all the ' people
of tne natural resources oi tne country.
FREE SHIPS AND SUBSIDIES.
Disappointment Is expressed in
some quarters, pleased surprise in
others, that the admissitn of foreign-
built ships to American register has
not been followed by extensive Ameri
can purchases of foreign ships; also
by depression in American shipyards.
The Government has received inquiries
as to the manner of transferring for
eign ships to American register, but no
application for transfer has been
made. The expected depression in
shipbuilding, has not come, for the
prospective Increase In coastwise
trans-isthmian traffic to follow com
pletion of the Panama Canal has
caused a boom which keeps all the
yards busy.
The canal law, however, has been
in operation only six months and the
ocean-carrying trade Is too. new to the
great majority of American capitalists
for us to pass Judgment safely on so
brief an experience. Men who contem
plate engaging tn foreign commerce
must consider not only the first cost
of ships. They must also compare cost
of operation under American law with
that under foreign law. They must
seek out routes, learn what rates of
freight and what volume of traffic are
In prospect and must make connec
tions and establish agencies. They
have barely had time to make the nec
essary preliminary study of their pro
posed enterprise and they wisely go
slowly In embarking on a new venture.
The cost of operating ships should
not alarm American investors. While
our laws require that officers be
American citizens, whose scale of
wages ranges higher than that of
foreign officers, sailors can be hired
anywhere at going rates. The differ-:
ence In cost should therefore not be
prohibitive.
The shipbuilders have apparently
abandoned hope of subsidy and have
settled down to business. They are
already discovering that . shlpbulld
lng naturally stimulated by the build
Ing of the canal will prove a far
greater and more lasting boon to them
than any subsidies Congress might be
Induced to dole out to them. With
free material they are relieved from
any burden the tariff might impose
and the time may come when they
will glory In their Independence of
artificial aid and will Bcorn the very
mention of subsidy.
BOARDS FOR EVERYTHING.
There are some trades and pro
fessions of which a large proportion
of the public is patron that do not In
volve the safety, health or morals of
the community. Regulation by the
state is asked by some of these strictly
private occupations. The music-
teachers want it, and so do the ac
countants, and the electrical-workers.
The barbers already have It.
It is no doubt annoying, and cer
talnly expensive, to discover that one's
electric -wiring has been placed in his
house in an Ineffective manner. But
It Is also annoying and expensive to
learn that one's brick-mason has built
the fireplace so it will not draw; that
his roofer has put In leaky work; that
his window-washer did not know how
to clean the glass; that the- movers
damaged his household goods; that his
washer-woman soaked his fine shirts
in the suds with the gardener's red un
derwear; that his tailor has failed to
provide a good fit; that his stenog
rapher changes the meaning of his
business letters, and so on through all
the every-day cares and Incidents of
life.
If one is to be regulated why not
all? Why not boards of examiners or
registration for the mason, the roofer,
the window-washer, the mover, the
washer-woman, the tailor and the
stenographer?
Such Is the logical outcome of pa
ternalism begun without reason other
than that the occupation over which
Its fostering care Is to be directed Is,
or threatens to be, Invaded by Incom
petents. But we do not believe that
fraud In occupations can be corrected
by the state assuming that a large
proportion of its people are impostors,
and that the general public must be
protected from its own gullibility.
One great difficulty with the reser-
vationlsts is that they are so enamored
of trees wherever found that they fall
to recognize occasions where trees are
a liability Instead of an asset . That
is the case with a settler on land in
accessible for logging, but valuable
for farming, once the timber is off.
To that settler the timber is an en
cumbrance to be got rid of, like weeds.
The reservatlonlsts surround any tree
anywhere with a sort of sanctity. In
some places trees answer the famous
definition of dirt "matter in the
wrong place."
A Chicago Judge declares Chicago
Jails are too filthy to be occupied, yet
the sterenuous life of Chicago keeps
them crowded. As these are, so
to speak, the points of original entry.
common decency demands something
better.
The brother of the woman victim
touched the match to the pyre of the
negro in Mississippi Saturday. A
lynching seems the height of cruelty
at long range, but the blood lust runs
riot in contemplating the laws delay.
Judges are advised by Chief Justice
Olson, of the Chicago Municipal Court,
to study anthropology and criminal
psychology. . A liberal sauce of com
mon sense and knowledge of the world
should flavor these sciences.
The Washington Legislature is mak.
lng a mistake In placing a bounty on
crows and magpies. These scavengers
of the field may do a little damage at
times, but more than repay It in the
good work they perform.
The status quo which our warships
are to preserve in Central. America Is
precisely what the turbulent people
of that region do not want. Their
chief Joy is to change any status which
may be established.
The new SI notes will be out in
eighteen months, much smaller In size,
but with the full purchasing power. A
dollar, big or little, Is a dollar any
where, with Uncle Sam behind It.
Unable to drive back the Bulgarians
from the Tchataldja lines, the Turks
must now submit to seeing Arianople
starved out or taken by assault.
Prirlpnt-lprrt Wilson savs he may
cut his Inaugural aaaress to zuuu.
Then how are the weary to woric In
little nap on a strenuous day
Tf there should be many more in
dictments among the New York police,
ho will remain to carry on "tne sys
tem ?"
A hospital for Inauguration-day in
ebriates is being installed in Washing
ton. Of course, there will be a ladies'
ward.
Voir TT'ne-Iand vanta to nut feet
under the Cabinet table, but like some
other regions, cannot tell whose feet.
Sixty-nine new doctors having been
passed by the state board, a. few epi
demics of some sort would help.
Apple green is the latest fashionable
sVinrlo Must be Intended to match
ihe ultra-fashionable mentality.
There Is not much mifltarlsm in
using Boy Scouts to aid tne sick ana
injured on Inauguration day.
One would not know the state was
in need until reading the list or ap
propriations asked.
Get ready for the Spring maneuvers
on the southern border.
Strike of electrical workers will
shock somebody.
The price of sugar has gone down.
How careless!
Word Pronounced.
SHERWOOD, Or., Feb, 7. (To the
Editor.) Please give the proper pro
nunciation of the following words:
1) Sacajawea, Indian squaw's name.
2) Madame Curie, discoverer of ra
dium. (3) Chlco, a town in California.
IMOGEXE L. ROSS.
(2) Sack-a-Ja-wee-a; accent oh fourth
syllable.
(2 Ku-ree; accent on second syl
lable. (3) Chee-ko; accent on first syllable.
CONTINGENCIES IN BRIDGE PLAN
Oct ails om Which Interstate Brldse
Hangs Are Criticised.
VANCOUVER. Wash-, Feb. 6. (To the
Editor.) From all reports that the
interstate bridge committee has given
out it appears that the modus operandi
tor raising the bridge fund 1b: That
Oregon and Washington shall each pro
vide one-half the cost which will prob
ably amount to $2,000,000; that the
State of Washington appropriate
JoOO.OOO on condition that Clarke Coun
ty "make up the balance." This is a
very Indefinite proposition, to say the
least. The "balance" might be (250,000,
$000,000 or any other sum.
Is this intended as a "rider" to defeat
the bridge .appropriation? Can an
undertaking of this magnitude be suc
cessfully launched on a contingency
whereby no appropriation could be
available until Clarke (or any other
county) should bond itself for the
"balance." which might be any sum.
Knot less than $500,000? So we have
this chain: Oregon s appropriation will
be contingent on Washington's; Wash
ington s contingent on Clarke County
raising one-fourth the cost of the
bridge. Suppose the voters of Clarke
County should turn this proposition
down. What then? No bridge for
another two years.
And there are other things to con
aider. This is to be an interstate
bridge on an lnter-natlonal highway,
and what is there about it of so much
benefit to Clarke County that it should
be expected to meet one-fourth the
cost of construction? This bridge will
not be of so much advantage to Clarke
County as It will to Portland, Seattle,
the streetcars, and the automobile
traffic. Vancouver will get some local
benefit, but she will be only a way-
station on the lnter-natlonal highway
as she Is today on the trans-continental
railroads.
The talk about farmers driving teams
from Clarke County to Portland with
produce is all folly, except It be a few
market gardeners. A farmer living
within six or eight miles of Vancouver
could make but one trip a day, whereas,
he could make two trips to Vancouver
and ship by boat at less expense, be
sides marketing his crop in half the
time. If living more than eight miles
out he could not. If he would, market
his crops In Portland by team. Tha
great jams of pedestrians and automo
biles we see pictured at the Vancouver
ferry, waiting in line for hours to
cross, is not composed of producers
trying to get to market, but consists
almost exclusively or persona on out
ings, or pleasure trips.
While these events and the growing
intercourse between the two states
make the bridge a necessity. It does not
follow that Clarke County should bear
an unjust share of the expense.
The proposition as it now stands
means $19.23 per capita for Clarke
County, to say nothing of the Interest;
43 cents for the State of Washington,
direct levy, no Interest, and $6.63 for
Multnomah County If she raises, as Is
proposed, $1,600,000 one-third of this
probably for approaches; so Clarke
County would pay about three times
what Multnomah would, per capita, and
near 45 times what the State of Wash
ington would; yet, the state has 76
times the property valuation of Clarke
County.- Why not excuse Washington
entirely? W. A. CATES.
STILL PURSUING THE RARA AVIS
Quest (or One-Legged Chinaman Falls,
but Mule Problem Promises Solution.
PORTLAND, Feb. 9. (To the Editor.)
While The Oregonian Is publishing let
ters from parties In South Dakota and
Idaho, written by people who claim to
have seen dead gray mules, I am sim
ply deluged with letters from all parts
of the country giving particulars of
the cases where the writers had the
privilege of looking upon the remains
of gray mules.
After SO years of inquiry, in which I
never even heard of a man who had
seen a dead gray mule. I employ The
Oregonian, and find scores of men who
have seen dead gray mules and were
fo Impressed by the singularity of the
sight that they are now able to give
the facts concerning the life and death
of the Missouri roadsters.
The Oregonian is entitled to the
credit for clearing up the disputed
question, and the fact that men from
seven states have answered the pub
llshed letters Is proof positive of a
wide circulation and almost National
nonularity for The Oregonian.
It has been my intention, snouia 1
ever locate the man who had Been a
dead gray mule, to make a pilgrimage
to his abode and learn of him the things
that enrich the world, but as the num
bers reporting promise to become mul
titudinous I will have to abandon that
Dart of my project. However, I am
sending to each man reporting lor a
detailed statement of the circumstances
which ended the days of the gray mule
and when these are to hand I will re
veal the Importance of the question.
As stated in another letter last week.
I received word from Astoria of a one
legged Chinaman. I was much pleased
to think my labors had been rewarded
and at once set out to verify the re
port Arriving at Astoria, I looked up my
Informant, who proved to be "Old
Dode" Latham. He is undoubtedly
gifted with a queer sense of humor,
for he frankly admitted that there was
no such thing as a one-legged China
man and that he wrote me in the ex
pectatlon that I would come to Astoria
and give him the pleasure of looking
upon a new sort of freak. He appeared
to be satisfied. We got palong swim
mlngly "Dode and I.
Seeing that I took the Joke in good
spirit, "Old Dode" became talkative to
this extent.
He said, "Son, there Is no such thing
as a one-legged Chinaman. There Is a
Chinaman at Roseburg who lost both
feet by the application of lime as a
cure for rheumatism. That's what comes
of taking fool advice.
Ana, furthermore, ne contmuea,
you will never find a man who has
seen a dead gray mule. A mule never
takes any fool advice, and a gray mule
has sense enough to turn white before
he dies. B"t there ain t any law, as yet
that prohibits you from trying to find
the rara avis, and I ain't saying you
could be In better business, for after
all's said and done, what you're doing
Is just as Important as a lot of other
things that folks pay good money to
learn."
So, considering what "Old Dode" gave
out. It doesn't appear that my trip to
Astoria was so unprofitable as some
trips I have made. Anyway, I'm glad
I met "Old Dode" Latham.
In the meantime has anyone seen a
one-legged Chinaman?
ROBERT G. DUNCAN,
649 East Forty-ninth street.
"Hobble" Steps for Cars.
Albany Cor. New York World.
Trolley cars In Albany- are to be
equipped 'with "hobble" steps. This
means the steps will be lowered suffi
ciently to enable women who affect
skirts that are skimpy at the bottom to
get on and off without making a too
generous display of hosiery.
The change follows many letters of
complaint from women received by
General Manager Hamilton, of the Unit
ed Traction Company.
"If you could only lower the nrst step
about three inches," read one of these
etters. "there wouldn't be as much oc
casion for masculine rubbering as
there Is now."
This seemed like a perfectly reason
able suggestion," said Manager Hamil
ton today. Tests were made and we
found that a. three-Inch alteration
would do the trick."
A . Difference In Finance.
Kansas City Star.
His Father M'boy, I made my mil
lion with only a common school edu
cation. The Son But it takes a college edu
cation to know how to spend 1L
1 THE TROCBLES OF A WATER USER.
Adventure In Farina; Monthly Tax Are
Vividly Recounted.
PORTLAND, Feb. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) So glad am I to find
that someone has had the nerve to
voice a protest to at least one of the
numerous Indignities heaped upon us
by the city water department that I
want to lend my support to the cause.
Personally I bave not had the par
ticular difficulty experienced by the
writer referred to, but with a multi
tude of others I have been obliged
to go through a series of stunts at
the water office, after a manner that
would lead one to believe he had be
come a dog In a trained animal show,
doing tricks for the master to gain
his paltry reward.
When first I heard that a new system
was to be Inaugurated. I felt a certain
amount of pride In the progresslveness
of our public officers. But alas! I now
see it was only the substitution of a
badly tangled lot of theoretical red
tape for true and tried common sense.
When I called at the office to pay my
bills, the cashier Informed me that he
could not accept my money for any
place unless) I had a bill for It. "But,"
said I. "you didn't send me any bills,
except the one for my own residence."
He referred me to the bill clerk. This
individual replied that the bills had
all been mailed and that I would get
mine In due time. I complained that
I had other things to do than to pas
water rates, whereupon he Informed
me that I could pay at any of the
places listed on the back of the bills.
So I waited several days but no bills
came. At last, fearing they would
turn the water off, I .went to the near
est agency listed and tendered my
money. There I was told I would
have to go to the main office as they
could accept payment only for the first
10 davfl and for the other places named
I could pay If I had tha bills, but could
not otherwise. .
Witn a vivid recollection of an ar
ticle in The Oregonian telling how
much the "improved system" would
save to the tapayers In car fare alone,
I once more went to the water of
fice. I applied to the Information de
partment, and was there referred to
tha oilling department Here I stated
my troubles and asked for duplicate
oills. The clerk brought forth soma
fcrms fully halt a -yard lonij and Ihen
loined a scors of clerks who seemed
to keep up a regular Marathon around
a lot of tables laden with books. While
I waited I left some better, for I found
I was not alone in my complaints. A
dozen others were telling of their
troubles at the same time. At least
the particular clerk to whom I had
applied returned with the desired bills
and Instructed me to take the:n to the
cashier. I did so, but noticed one was
for 10 tlmos as much as I had ver
paid before. When I protested I was
tuld to go to the complaint depart
ment. Here I waited for several min
utes, and when at last I was permitted
to state my grievances, the clerk said
he would have my meter reread, and
for me to come back the next day.
Of course If paying water rate3 m
teft'ies with one's business, he should
quit the business, so I resigned to
the inevitable and returned at the ap
pointea lime. The clerk consulted first
one book and then another and at
last cald he would have to see the
Inspection department. That dope, be
said he was sorry, but the meter reader
had neglected to hand in the new
reading and I had better call the next
day.
My thoughts were not of the won
derful advance made In office systems,
but of the good old days when common-
sense reigned. When I reached
home one of my tenants for whom
I had been trying so hard to pay the
water tax rang me up and said she
had Just received a notice from the
collection department of the water
company stating that the water would
be turned off If not paid at- once. I
tried to explain, but my tenant was
angry, and I was unable to relish my
supper.
The next morning I once more went
to the "Temple of System" and tried
to pay my bill. The bill had been
so obviously wrong that I destroyed it
and so was obliged to "Jump over"
and get another. It was for the same
amount and the clerk explained I
would have to get a credit slip for
the difference and for me to take the
bill with his notation to the next
window. In time the credit was made
and I was told to take them back to
the cashier. At last he took my money
and receipted my bills.
It Is time something was done to
abolish this outrageous condition. If
anyone thinks It is a saving to the
taxpayers. Just let him take a look
Into the water office. For every dollar's
worth of books In the past there Is
now a hundred dollars' worth; there
are twice as many clerks as before;
enough mechanical devices to till a
machinery hall; and other things in
proportion. TAXPAYER. ,
SELF HELP FOR FREED COXVICTS
Writer Would Provide Prison Schools
and Educational Test for Release.
HOOD RIVER, Or Feb. 8. (To the
Editor.) What to do with our freed
convicts Is a grave question and cer
tainly the present plan Is a failure.
From the moment a man is deprived
of his liberty, the state, in charge of
him, should try In every way to change
his former lines of thought and action.
If he has no trade he should have one,
or If he Is already proficient in any
line, he can help In the teaching of
others.
He should be so trained in studies and
a trade that when his time expires he
can have a good recommendation In
some line of Industry. Let hia release
be conditional .on his ability to pass
certain examinations In bis studies
and his work.
If a committee taken from the
churches and Y. M. C. As of the state
could be formed and the superintend
ent of the penitentiary could say to
thls committee. "I have so many men
whose terms are to expire on such
dates; they have all passed the eighth
grade examination; they all have a
trade one a cook, one a plumber, one
a cabinet-maker, another a scientific
farmer, etc., and I believe all of these
men will make good; will you see to
getting them positions and that they
are given a fair chance and look well
after them until they have gotten in
to settled habits T' If we could have
such a committee that would keep
in touch with this unfortunate class,
and try to Instill into their minds that
their debt is paid, and they are en
titled to a fresh start, there would be
some hope of these same ones pot get
ting back there again. .
If a man shows decided criminal
tendencies' after he has had a fail
show to make good and has to be sent
back to some penal institution, then
It should be for life, and he should be
made as useful as possible to the state.
There is no need of adding to the
state's expenses by allowing more
trials. The money could be better used
by helping others who have not al
ready forfeited their chance.
If our present Legislature wouia
vote enough money to maintain a
trade school in the penitentiary and
before a man was turned out be could
be proficient In some line of work,
they would be doing the criminal class
a great good. Let the teachers be taken
from among their own number If pos
sible. The Lord hasten the day when we can
ubo as much sense about human beings
as about criminals, and there la so
much more need of them. I bope Gov
ernor West may Bee hia ideas carried
out about degenerates, feeble-minded,
those with criminal tendencies and,
above all, the insane. Then will the
workers for humanity be getting at
the right end of the lever. There la
a big army of thoughtful men and
women back of him In this movement.
I HOWE.
Prun ng Song
By Dean Collins.
(To be sung by committees of both
Houses.)
Come Into the garden, boys.
The garden of blooming bills;
Come into the garden, boys.
For the riot of documents fills
The taxpayers' hearts with consterna
tion. With teeming demands for appropria
tion. And wildly their warning thrills.
Whether Impending debt.
Or fear of the popular rage
Should urge us our knives to whet.
In the pruning task to engage.
That matters little, the moment calls
For the shears and gloves and the
overalls
And the snip of the knife, you bet.
Nine times a million bones
Measures the big demand.
So spite of the lobbies' moans
We gather the bills In hand.
And slashing away right merrily
We prune in the name of the treasury
And heed not the dying groans.
Gladly we slash and rip,
Shaving them down somehow;
From these bills and those we snip
Several hundred "thou."
"Twist the public lip, when it thirsts
for cash,
And the coin, there's many a. slip and
splash
And we must provide that slip.
Truly, of course, we'd love
To let them by as they stand.
But necessity gives us a shove
And we gather our knives in hand
And what we leave, when our task la
done.
Still the gauntlet stern must run,
'Neath the veto ax of the Gov.
Trimming them one by one.
In the garden of blooming bills,
We'll weep and our tears will run
Regretful. In limpid rills;
And we will chant In a sorrowful
tune,
"It hnrts our feelings to have to
prune
But somehow it has to be done."
Portland. February 9.
Half a Century Ayo
From The Oregonian of February 10, 1S6.1.
The Mountaineer says that the board
of trustees of the city of Dalles have
given to H. D. Green and his associates
the privilege of laying gas pipes along
various streets on condition that they
shall light the city free of charge fot
two years.
A captain of the Confederate Kavv
has been in Victoria trying to purchast
a steamer called the Thames, but for
lack of money did not consummate the
purchase. His purpose evidently was
to capture the San Francisco treasure
ship on her way to Panama.
The Circuit Court of Multnomah
County adjourned yesterday. The fol
lowing are the names of the grand
Jurors: J. C Franklin, foreman; A J.
Remington, J. M. Strowbridge, Pem
broke Gantt, A. C. King, C. E. Hodg
klns and Daniel Gradon.
Nashville, Jan. 29. Another fleet of
28 transports arrived today. They were
fired on by guerillas above the shoals.
The gunboats shelled the guerillas,
who then retired.
Liverpool, Jan. 16. French official
documents show that mediation in
American affairs was postponed in
consequence of the refusal of England
and Russia to join France, but the Em
peror has not refrained from acquaint
ing the Washington Government that
he Is still ready to mediate, provided
the American Government desires it.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of February 10, 18SS.
Washington, Feb. 9. Paul Schulic.
land agent of the Northern Pacific
Railway Company, appeared before the
House commltttee on public lands to
day and expressed his opinion In re
gard to the bill being framed chang
ing the land laws.
Washington, Feb. 9. Senator Dolph
reported favorably to the Senate today
his bill to prevent obstruction to nav
igable streams, which prohibits the
dumping of garbage and refuse.
Washington, Feb. 10. Representative
Hermann has secured the Insertion Into
the new land bill of the main features
of his bill, which allows a second home
stead entry to those who fall to con
summate their original entry through
any cause except abandonment or sale.
The Astorlan has Interviewed Hon C
W. Fulton, who has been mentioned as
a possible candidate for Congress. Ha
"positively and unequivocally declines
to allow his name to be used In con
nection with the nomination."
Imnressive services In memory of the
late Dr. William H. Watklns were held
In the lecture-room of the Taylor
Street M. E. Church last evening. Dr.
George H. Chance read the resolutions
passed at the quarterly conference ot
the church. The response was made
by Hon John F. Caples. Dr. C. H. Hall
read resolutions passed by the faculty
of the medical department of Wil
lamette University. H. W. Scott spoke.
New Park Theater Richards Prln
gle's minstrels began a short season at
this house last evening.
The Postoffice at East Portland has
been removed from Raffety"s building
on J street to Fourth street, near I.
This takes the office some distance
further away from the Stark-street
ferry.
Hon. D. P. Thompson writes from
Osyoot on the Nile that he will leave
Liverpool by the first steamer In May.
Three passenger stations are to be
erected on the line of the Portland &
Willamette Valley Railway, one at
South Portland, one at Fulton and the
other at the White House.
A new ferryboat is to be built at
once for the Columbia River at Van
couver. How Two Nations Legislate.
NEW BERG, Or., Feb. 6. (To the
Editor.) I read an item in The Orego
nian. February 1, saying that the
British Board of Trade had ordered all
sea-going ships equipped with life-savine-
annllances for all on board and
that the necessity for such a law had
taken nearly a year to soajc into John
Bull's head, but that his cousin Sam
had passed a law to that effect some
time ago. .
This 1s truly a good word-picture and
certainly portrays admirably the char
acteristics of the two nations, but to
my mind ihe picture la not quite com
plete and I would like to add a little
more to it.
Take John Bull after the Idea has
at last permeated his thick skull he
makes a law. He makes the law so
plain that even the shipowners under
stand It. They also understand they
must obey it. You will doubtless find
all British ships equipped according to
the law's requirements.
Now as to Uncle Sam It does not
take him long to catch on and the law
is made at once. Then be Is so busy
making some more laws that he for
gets all about It and it takes about ten
years thoroughly to soak Into his brain
that he has such a law and that It
should be put In force. Then he ap
points some political boss or the New
York police to oversee the enforcement
of It.
I will leave it to the imagination of
the reader to complete the picture.
Z. L. CHAMBERLAIN,