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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1913)
imTXlXG OREGOXIAX, f 4 rOKTLAN'D. OREGON, i Entered at Portland, Orecon. postofflca a S'coad-class matter. - subscription hates Invariahlr la Advane: (BT MAIL) .Dally. Sunday Included, on rear J. 00 Daily. Sunday Included, aix month ... 4-2 Ially, Eunilay Included, three montha.. X.3 'pally. Sunday tr.c.uded. on month .... Daliy. without Sunday, on year Xjailjr. without Sunday. m:x month . a- Zally. without Sunday, thre montha .. X-JJ . iilt- without tiund&v. on month .... - weeKly. on year. ............. ... -Sunday, on year. ........... ..... bucday and Weekly, on year..... l.su X.30 S.&0 (BT CARRIER) Dafly. Sunday Included, on year .JJJ Lai:y. Sunday Included, on month ' How to Kemit bend pustoSiC money or der, express order or personal ctaec on your 'local bank. Stamp, coin or currency are at the sender rlsK. Gl postolllc addreaa ta full. lr.cluC:nc county and Stat. , roaze Kate Ten to 14 paces. 1 cent: . IS to is paes, 2 cents; 10 to 40 pates, a cents: 40 to SO paea. 4 cents, iorelpi poi '.are. double rat. taxers Business Office Verre Con It - In. Nr TfOiH. Brunasick building. -nl- 'cjg-o. stezer building. ' San Fraarisca OBlc R. 1. BldwU Co.. T- Market street. a '. Earopeaa OB ice No. S ReaTent street B. W., London. PORTLAND. MONDAY MARCH !. 11- J SMALL DOSES FOB DIVOBCI DISEASE. An example of the uselesa dlscus ' sion and disturbance of mind that ', can be caused by the advocacy of a ; statute merely directory In character Is Just now given In Illinois. There , ." a commission on marriage and dl 1 vorce has proposed a bill containing a ! provision which requires the state's ; attorney to represent the state In all ' .divorce proceedings and to prosecute ' the offenders in case he sees evidence ' of collusion or other unlawful prac ', tlce. A committee from the Illinois ; lawyers Association has protested against the law as a reflection on the i bar and on the court and denies that ' the Judges or the lawyers need the . presence of the slate's attorney to keep them in the straight path. Judge ""Kavanaugh has replied with a censure nf divorce lawyers In general and ac- 'ruses them of contributing by their "methods to the social evil. ; It might as well be admitted that ' Judge Kavanaugh'a censure, as it ap . plies to some divorce lawyers. Is ;. roundly deserved. Many make It their business to aggravate the con ! Jugal quarrel which may have begun over some trifle. They are a medium ''. through which collusive divorces are j arranged. It is their business to make divorce easy and to accomplish that '. end they sometimes go to the extent ; of offering services which may be paid for on the Installment plan. But If I.' experience Is a safe guide, the Illinois lawyers' Association need not worry about the Interference of the state's ' attorney In divorce proceedings, pro- vided the law goes no further than to direct the state's attorney to partlcl- ' pate. Every state has a list of similar ; statute.". For example, the Governor -lit usually instructed by statute to up . . hold and enforce the laws, but is given ; inadequate machinery and little sum- mary power to perform that duty. In ' Oregon a statute similar to the one that Is creating disturbance In 1111- nols was enacted. If we mistake not I' the date, in 1862. It Is still In force. The state Is deemed a party defendant . In all divorce proceedings. The party I plaintiff is required to serve summons upon the District Attorney. It la the I' duty of the District Attorney to pre ; vent fraud and collusion In such suit i and to control the proceedings on the !;part of the defense. While not spec ; ifically charged, it is undoubtedly his duty to prosecute offenders in the event the trial discloses unlawful col- lusion. Tet the law is and always has : ' been practically a dead letter. To per ; feet the record the summons Is served on the District Attorney and there the r matter ends. One Oregon city has be. gun to rival Reno as a divorce center. Collusion and fraud are undoubtedly common and certainly they occasion ally become public knowledge. Doubtless one reason why the law does not bring the District Attorney actively Into divorce trials is the ab sence of provision for the assistance his office would require If such a great volume of work were under taken. Another reason is that the divorce evil is so Insidious In its ef fect on society that each individual case loses its Importance In the pub lic estimation. The fraud or collusion . In each case affects directly only the parties In Interest. Society is damaged directly only by an accumulation cf reprehensible practices. The public demand is not interested in a syste matic, tedious, detailed attack upon the evil, and therefore does not hold Its officials to strict account for ne glect of duty. It longs for the single crushing blow that will eradicate what is bad in divorce proceedings. The law that has failed In Oregon and Is proposed In Illinois prescribes a homeopathic dose for the disease of easy and causeless divorce. The pre scription is one that readily occurs to our law doctors but the great diffi culty Is encountered In getting the medicine into the patient. Rv hi hreaklnr of precedents Pres- i i , . u-iicnn fena Known his deter- niniiinn to be s-overned by his own ' opinion as to what Is right. Ho has already broken sixteen precedents and Is giving us an example of Jeffersonian simplicity In practical operation and of directness In dealing with the peo ple. . . . l 4 .. ...I V. t T which had degenerated Into a scan- rial Then went, uio isvuino ut uti, . . T . 1 .1 . n V. ....... himCAlf B4 tor met i i . . ...... . . ... , i wrnKiie r.is iace anu uuua sua clothes himself, like any other citizen ihe l.lln rich. He has abol ished the golJ-laee uniforms of his aides, the draping of his box at the i . i,v finn nn. thk nlnvina of - iiil'sici " . . " r- . . ' the National anthem at his entrance. He refuses to work on Sundays, will have only cold suppers on Sunday eve nings, ailowa no intoxicating liquors In the White House and has declined to Join the Chevy Chase Club, thus . i . hi. flilMrr t.i Presbvterlan jiaunut . . -. discipline). He declines to be a show ; when he goes to church, for a crowd gathered at the door to see him Is a . signal for him to go eisewnere. In his official relations he has re fused to follow old customs, tie ae clines to waste time on office-seekers; If he wishes to see them, he sends for ..them. He accepts r.o dictation ' from politicians: he is the actual as well as the titular head of the Govern ment and will follow hts own Judg ment. When he has anything to tell the people, he says it directly and allows himself to be quoted without HIT the former Indirection of "it Is said." 'or -it Is stated on the highest au- thorlty." His Cabinet meets when ever ther la business to do. not on ' . . j . mA it. tlMl:liirt fit, rnn- ei udjst " - . . . . . .- IT. .1 n . . iderrd puouc prupenj. uu ' use the Kxecutive order to set aside -"-ivll service regulations, obeying the law even when It goes counter to his wishes. - The President's course thus far proves that he regards himself as the man hired by the people to do their work. He considers that the mere fact that his position Is the biggest Job In the country is no excuse for a lot of flunkeyism and flummery, for the gratification of Idle curiosity about himself and his family, nor for the Invasion of his privacy or the waiving of his own tastes and convictions in social matters. MANY SIDES TO THI SOCIAL. EVIL. Opinions of those who. through their life work, are in the best posi tion to Judge, confirm the opinion ex pressed by The Oregonian that there Is no one reason why girls go wrong. In order to check an alarmingly grow, ing social evil," we must approach the study of it with an open mind, ready to take cognizance of all the causes, to weigh each one and to decide Its relative importance, then to find the best means of removing each contrib- l uting cause and to invoke that means. We must apply the remedy, not spas modically, in a burst of reforming fervor, but patiently, systematically, ever ready to learn by the experience we gain as we go along. To assume that this is a mere' ques tion of wages Is to put a price on girls' chastity. To act on the theory that girls will follow the straight path at a higher wage but will fall at a lower wage is to make female purity a mat ter of mere dollars and cents. Such virtue is no virtue at all. Those who were interviewed In The Sunday Ore gonian emphasize the diversity of the causes. Among these are lax divorce laws, which break up families and throw girls on the world to follow their own devices; lack of parental guidance and discipline; absence of instruction in the terrible conse quences of a fall from purity: the un satisfied yearning tor love and pleas ure: the different codes of morality accepted for the two sexes, which allow men to do with Impunity what is visited with the severest social pen alties when done by women. We need to study all these short comings of ours and we should know no rest from the subject, for even after we have set the remedies to work we shall need persistent activity to keep them at work. The subject Is one of vital Importance to our Na tional life, for the social evil is de stroying many of the future genera tion of mothers and Is poisoning the souls and bodies of the succeeding generation of children. No worse evil could exist among any people. NEWSPAPER OR OROAJft Ofttimes a strange misapprehension Is indicated by newspapers readers as to the course a newspaper should fol low in defending or promoting its po litical views. The subject Is brought prominently to the fore by the publi cation in The Oregonian of the first installment of the biography of Theo dore Roosevelt. In commenting upon this Interesting offering "A Woman Voter" writes to The Oregonian as follows: It Is a well-known fact that hero-worship was responsible for a larc part of the so called Progressive vote at the last Presi dential election. The presenting- of a his tory of Roosevelt's life set forth fry his own egotistical pen cannot fail to foster this tendency to hero-worship, particularly. I reirrel to say, among- somen who ar liable to be moved by sentiment rather than fact, and who see In him the man and not the politician. Whatever tenda to Increase per sonal admiration for Roosevelt will tend to perpetuate th division In the Republican party which all true Republicans must deplore. I desire to protest against the exploiting of the man who is responsible for th late sweeping Pemocratlc victory In the paper which so largely molds the political mind of th people of Oregon. There are many thousand voter in Oregon who sincerely admire the per snnal traits and accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt who are not lri accord with his present political ac tivities. He Is one of the most prom inent figures in our National life. His life history from his own pen is one of the most important literary pro ductions of the day. It cannot fall to Interest friends, enemies and the In different. This newspaper would fall far short of its duty toward its sub scribers if. for political reasons. It declined to publish in its news col umns or magazine section matter which it knew they desired to read. Once established, the line would have to be rigidly drawn. It is no more incumbent upon The Oregonian to omit interesting material concern ing Colonel Roosevelt than it is tq suppress news of the activities of President Wilson. If publication of that which Is good or interesting about the career of Colonel Roosevelt will perpetuate division in the Re publican party, publication of what ever constructive legislation the Dem ocratic Administration may accom plish will help to preserve Democratic power. The Journal that permits Its po litical opinions, or even the welfare of the party whose cause it espouses, to control Its selection of news and special fatures is not a newspaper but a political organ. That is one thing The Oreeonlan is not. nOW TO SEND RELIEF. When such disasters as the Ohio and Indiana floods befall, the sending of the right kind of relief is as Im portant as sending relief at all. The lesson of the Johnstown flood, the San Francisco earthquake and fire and other catastrophies teaches "us this fact. The first necessity In such a case is food. That invariably comes from the adjoining states and is available In abundance before any supply from states so remote as Oregon can pos sibly reach the scene. The next need is clothes, to which the same state ment applies in less degree. Within twenty-four hours after Johnstown was wrecked by the flood in 18S9 a trainload of food and clothing was on the way from Pittsburg and reached the scene In thirty hours after the disaster. Within forty-eight hours the tracks between Pittsburg and Johnstown were crowded with trains earning food and clothing. Next come drugs, medical, surgical and san itary supplies. These also will reach the flooded country from the thickly populated adjoining states long before Oregon's contribution can arrive. The survivors having been fed and clothed, the sick and Injured cared for. the dead buried, the next thing to do is to "clean up" the stricken town. A flood leaves streets and houses cumbered with wreckage and dead ar.imals and coated with mud. It wrecks the sewer and water sys tems and forces people to return to primitive methods of sanitation and to use water which cannot but be more or less impure. Dead animals must be gathered up and destroyed, and meanwhile everything must be disinfected. All industry and all business being 4 stopped, the population Is unem ployed, but can be given employment In the work of cleaning up, removing wreckage, and repairing damage. Re lief funds can best be expended In this work.. Able-bodied, self-respecting men. reducedto poverty by sud den disaster, do not wish to be de pendent on relief supplies for their living. They gladly go to work and at laborer's wagos and pay their way until normal conditions are so far restored that they can make a fresh start In their regular occupations. Then comes the rebuilding of the wrecked homes. At Johntown after the immediate needs of the people had been supplied and the town cleaned up, a large balance of the re lief fund remained. This was used in building houses or in enabling those who had owned houses to rebuild them. A man who had shown enough thrift to buy a lot and build a house was held worthy of being entrusted with money to expend himself In re building. The relief committee built only for the homeless. A large sum will be necessary for this purpose and it should go forward in cash, though Oregon may well be able to contrib ute a portion in the shape of lumber. Oregon's: contribution should, there fore, take the form of cash almost entirely, for that can be made avail able most quickly and can be turned Into the shape which those on the ground find most needed at any par ticular time. 1 FRANK B. BLACK. The death of Frank S. Black, ex Governor of New York, was the pass ing of one of the most brilliant of the old-style politicians. He played the game as It was played by and with the bosses, and, when he fought the bosses, he did so with no better aim than to supplant them. Personally loved by a band of devoted political followers, he sought distinction only to have It repeatedly snatched from his grasp. His one term as Repre sentative was followed by one term as Governor, and there his political suc cesses ended and his disappointments began. Allies deserted him at the critical moment and handed the cov eted prize to others. He learned to compare politics to a poker game where other players stole his chips while he answered the telephone. The game lost its charm for him. He made a moderate fortune at law prac tice with his mind set on retirement to his New Hampshire farm. Within a few months after realizing his desire he was dead at the comparatively early age of 60. Pushed to the front In the House by Speaker Reed, who quickly dis cerned his ability and was gratified at his success in being elected through a factional quarrel In a normally Democratic district, he was picked by Piatt for Governor in 1898 and was carried through by the great vote for McKinley In New York. Though hav. Ing no higher standards, he refused to submit to Piatt's dictation, and the boss found Theodore Roosevelt's pop ularity a good excuse to push him aside. In 1898. Thenceforward the rough rider dogged his political foot steps, simply through the fortune of war, but Black found some consola tion tn the things which Mr. Roose velt did to Piatt. When Governor Odell tried to make Black United States Senator. Mr. Roosevelt and Harriman forced - him to abandon Black for Depew. That ended Black's political career, for he did not again come to the front except to make an occasional speech. Fate would have It that his most famous oratorical ef fort should be a speech nominating Mr. Roosevelt for President in 1904. As a public speaker he stood In the first rank of his time, and his speeches were quoted the country over, but his fame did not last. Perhaps the ex planation Is to be found in his lack of political conscience and his blind ness to the new forces which were to send machine politicians Into retire ment. As a lawyer he was associated with the efforts to defeat the pro gressive alms of Governor Hughes. He failed, and gained fees only at the cost of his fame. Mr. Hughes, on the other hand, won not only fees, but fame and higher honors by hi9 con duct of the insurance inquiry. Such talents as Black's, exercised in more recent times in political strife as It is carried on under the new dispen sation and with the Ideals which now All the public mind, might have won him the honors which he lost by such narrow margins, or even higher hon ors. Exercised as they were, they gained him an ephemeral fame as a man of great possibilities who fell short of his opportunities. WILD GUESSING. We have word from the Oregon City Courier, which gets it "from pret ty good authority" that the State Grange intends to submit a measure for the abolishment of the State Sen ate. This information Is accompan ied by the statement that "just as surely as the matter is ever given to the voters. Just so surely is the Senate going to the discard." We cannot Im agine what the Grange has ever done that it should now be accused of In tending to fasten upon itself the blight of tTRenism. We fancy that the "good authority" mentioned by our prophetic contemporary Is located In a certain law office in Oregon City and that the aforesaid "good author ity" Is Inspired more by hope than by conviction. Most certainly there Is not the slightest ground for believing that a vote which stood more than two to one in opposition to abolish ment of the Senate last November will be so thoroughly reversed in the next election. As on single tax the vote in 1912 on the abolishment of the Senate dis closed the decline of TTRenism In Ore gon. The question was squarely pre sented then, for, although it was a new frill to proportional representa tion, previously rejected, the abolish ment of the Senate held first place In the title of the measure. In the pre ceding election, that of 1910, Mr. ITRen had presented proportional representation without the novelty of dispensing -with one house of the Leg islature. It was defeated by a vote of 44,36ft to 37, 031. But Mr. TJRen was not satisfied. He could not believe that the people would turn down the brilliant scheme of reforming legislative procedure by a mathematical change in the method of determining who were elected members. He decided that disap proval was caused by the Increase of salaries provided in the amendment. So last year proportional representa tion was presented with Legislators' per diem fixed at S3. He also pro vided for a reduction In membership of the Legislature by proposing the abolishment of the Senate. But the Oregon voters responded by defeating the proposal by an even larger vote than in 1910. Six thou sand voters who favored proportional representation with two houses of the Legislature and an increase in pay all around turned against the amend ment. Only 31,020 in all voted for it as against more than 37.000 at the preceding election, while the negative vote Jumped from 44,336 to 71,183. By comparing totals it is disclosed that the falling off of affirmative votes was in excess of 14 per cent. What caused this decline of support for proportional representation? Was It loss, of faith in U'Ren? Was it a clearer view of the principle involved? Or was It the attack on the existence of the Senate? It Is probable that it was a little of all three. Some day when the stigmas of outside interfer ence, and professional and pernicious activity In initiative lawmaking are re moved from the plan, abolishment of the Senate may again get as high as 25 or 30 per cent of the vote of Ore gon. But we doubt If such an Intel ligent organization as the Grange will next year burden itself with a policy that has been lately . so thoroughly discarded and discredited. Certainly and emphatically the record of the last Legislature has added no weight to the scheme. It would be no more successful now than a movement to abolish the Fourth of July. The conferences on the tariff bill be tween President Wilson and members of the House and Senate committees which will have charge of the bill convey the impression that all objec tions from members of the majority party In either house are to be met be fore the measure is Introduced. A three-fold machine la to "Jam it through." This beats the methods of "Czar" Cannon and "Boss" Aldrich. Each at least had his separate organi sation, acting independently, and they gave opportunity for a test of strength on amendments in open session. The three-fold Democratic machine seems to have lined up the votes in advance, after ascertaining what each member will stand for, and framed the bill ac cordingly. If this machine be well oiled, it might dispose of the tariff in a month and spend the Summer In chopping off the many heads of the money trust and reforming the cur rency. Before this Congress ends its life It may make Mr. Cannon look like a mere tyro as a Czar. In one respect the President ap pears to have carried too far his de sire to avoid display. This is in dis pensing with the motorcycle police men who formerly followed the White House automobile. These men were employed not merely for the sake of ostentation, but to proptect the life which Is for the time the most valua ble to the Nation and which, by rea son of his station, is a mark for the assaults of the cranks and for the disappointed who imagine a grievance against him. The Nation has an in terest in his safety. Even were this not so, the Nation has placed him in a position where he Is exposed to danger and should guard him. This Is a mattpp In which the President should yield his personal wishes to the exigencies or nis position. Now and then the Joke is on the railroads and the man who has been the victim of tariffs that passeth un derstanding of the ordinary mortal has moments of hilarity. For exam ple: There Is the line whose clerk made the mistake of undercharging a shipper 83 cents; the delinquent em ploye can be haled on the carpet by the company and the latter Is liable to punishment by Uncle Sam for cut ting rates and must eat out of his hand in consequence. There are boundless Joys for the man whose bump of humor is developed. An Idaho potato-grower has learned that he receives less than 40 per cent of the price to the consumer of his product in many parts of the coun try. There should be nothing start ling in the knowledge. The market is at a distance and freight rates are not low; every handling costs, wind ing up with the retailer, who takes all the risk and must make most. The allies defy the powers, which means Intervention, which likewise means a hand in carving the pie, which also Is what the powers long have awaited. The animal with the prehensile tail has no monopoly in raking out the chestnuts. The county that Is out of debt Is not to be envied. Debt under normal conditions is a stimulus to healthy activity. Without it a county can be come stagnant, and stagnancy is prej udicial to the best asset good roads. Since a surgical operation failed to cure Jean Thurber of kleptomania. Los Angeles might try a term in a reformatory or a good spanking. In too many cases kleptomania is a term used by a thief who has been caught. If the health authorities deprive the women of San Francisco of the op portunity to buy Australian meat cheap because it has no tags, the women are very likely, to tag some body at the next election. Tank cars with Bull Run water would be a blessing at Dayton, but are an Impossibility. A better way would be to move to Oregon, where blessings are manifold and dangers minimized. There Is room for all The Nampa potato-growers' experi ment in learning what the consumer paid for his crop shows us that the high cost of living is mainly the high cost of not co-operating. Efforts of American suffragists to Induce President Wilson to intercede for their suffragette sisters who are in English prisons may cause him to regret his election. Little drops of water and little grains of sand make a bad combina tion in these times of moist weather In Western Oregon. Discovery Is made that the river front is unsanitary. Was ever the riverfront of a large city otherwise? Having worn out several genera tions of partners, J. P. Morgan seems to be wearing out also. President McCrea quit work and soon died. Perhaps that is what ails Mr. . Morgan. Tomorrow is the great day of this Nation. Let everybody prepare to "bite." There's a Lasgs Coming;. New York World. "What Is your opinion of the two leading comic papers of England and America?" "Well. I don't think there's much life In Punch, but there's lots of 'punch' In Life." LESSON FROM VTLLARJB EXCITRSION Frontlera Possibilities Not Always, Plata to Mas From Finished East. PORTLAND, March 30. (To the Edi tor.) Mr. C M. Clark deserves our hearty thanks for the many good things which h said in his address, particu larly the Importance of bringing to gether producer and consumer; the un deslrability of boom prices for some classes of real estate, and his exhorta tion against prodigality of expenditure in the development of unworthy out side properties and of overbuilding. His remarks relative to the meager dividend paying ability of some kinds of Investments, while theoretically cor rect and the expression of a thoroughly trained business man, are subject to some modification in a new and rapidly developing country. The best and easiest explanation of my. meaning may be found by refer ence to some Incidents connected with the celebrated Villard excursion and reception in 1883. Mr. Villard was a Journalist. His habits of thought and mental training were not those of a systematic finan cier, but he had a clear and comprehen sive vision of the ultimate greatness of the Northwest. He had. with the aid of brokers and his individual ac quaintance, succeeded In floating the Northern Pacific bonds. He had other enterprises lr. view and wished to im press upon the great capitalists -of the East and of Europe the wonderful re sources of this new country. He in vited large numbers to accompany him on the excursion which should witness the driving of the last spike All went well until they left St. Paul and Minneapolis. They had never seen a new country and had no conception of Its possibilities. To them it seemed a barren waste. Very naturally, the question arose In their minds: "Where will the business come from to pay dividends?" At various telegraph sta tions messages were sent to agents back home to sell Northern Pacific stocks. By the time Portland was reached the finances of that road were topping. It was freely asserted in cer tain quarters that one main transcon tinental line was all that could be made to pay. The large number of such lines at the present confute the predictions of some of the best financiers of that day. Not withstanding the disastrous "blind pool" that swallowed up many millions of Portland's capital, from 1887 to 1832, we had exceptionally prosperous times. All this goes to prove that the man brought up In a finished country cannot at once apprehend the potential possi bilities of the frontier. I wish . to praise the candor of our guest and commend the good advice he gave, which should be put Into practice. Let us be cautious, but not get too much alarmed nor grow timid if our finances do not coincide with those of the older states. Mr. Clark views our affairs from a different angle to us. We should heed his warnings to the extent that the largest and best results may come from his excellent address. No wonder Mr. Clark viewed with amazed admiration the vigorous en deavor of the railroad managements operating up the Willamette Valley. They are headed by men long conver sant with the growth and development of new districts. Neither railroad builders nor other Investors should be deterred from mak ing good Investments, though the prom ise of Immediate realization of divi dends Is not present. As I have no addition to the city nor am I trying to make sales on commis sion. I feel that I can speak plainly without being accused of the prompting of self Interest J. D. LE-B. Measuring; Board Feet. PORTLAND. March 30. (To the Edi tor.) Noticing quite a discussion going on In The Oregonian in regard to the amount of board feet tn a stick of tim ber 12x12 at one end, 6x6 at the other and 40 feet long, and also noticing that some have the answer correct and others not, but all having rather a complicated rule for solving the ex ample, I will, if you will allow me space, solve the problem In the sim plest way Imaginable and give the rule for all lumber measure. A stick 12x12 at one end, 6x6 at the other has an average measurement of 9x9, which, multiplied together. Is 81. Divided by 12 is 6. multiplied by 40, the length, and the answer is 270 board feet in the stick. The rule Is to multiply width and thickness together, divide by 12, then multiply by the length to get the num ber of board feet in the piece. Thus, a board 2x12x16 has 32 board feet. F. A. YOUNG. The correspondent's rule is simple, but the trouble with It Is that It does not produce the right answer. A tally man, who makes measuring of timber his business, gave a correct rule in The Oregonian Friday. It Is the rule under which timber Is bought and sold by lumbermen who put exactness Into their business. The process of determ ining the cubic contents of a stick or the dimensions given Is founded on exact scientific principles which It Is idle to dispute. Ten-Honr-Day Law. GRANTS PASS. Or., March 28. (To the Editor.) Kindly Inform me what was done with the 60-hour-a-week bill If passed, when will it go Into effect? How will It affect gold and sliver mills operating 24 hours per day? A SUBSCRIBER, The Legislature passed an act to become effective June 3, the salient features of which provide "no person shall be employed in any mill, factory or manufacturing establishment in this state more than ten hours In any one day, except watchmen and employes when engaged In making necessary re pairs, or In cases of emergency where life or property la in imminent danger. Provided, however, employes may work overtime not to exceed three hours In any one day, conditioned that payment be made for said overtime at the rate of time and one-half the regular wage.' These provisions probably apply to gold and silver mills. Peerless Route. BROWNSVILLE, Or.. March 30. (To the Editor.) I have been reading with Interest the many names suggested as a nickname for the Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railroad. The name "Peerless Route" occurred to me as being especially appropriate for it. The first part of the syllable (peer) being the initial letters of the present name Portland, Eugene Eastern Railroad. The meaning of the name is obvious to all without an equal. A NATIVE DAUGHTER OF OREGON. The Peerless Route." . DALLAS. Or., March 30. (To the Editor.) The word "Peerless" is an enlargement of the Initials of the Portland. Eugene & Eastern Railway, which initials spell the word "peer." It is a name that may be worth consider ing. The trade-mark should be a tiny sketch of a young man. dressed to represent a "peer," comfortably "peer ing" out of a window of a modern electric car upon a Western landscape. Peerless means "without equal." A. P. OWINGS. WHY THE EARTH WILL TIP OVER It la Providence's Plam for Reetlnsr Ex hausted Soils, Says Clairvoyant. PORTLAND. March 80. (To the Edi tor.) The fact that two total strangers predict the same things Is or should be enough to convince any skeptical editor that things are about to hap pen. From the tone of the bright little paragraph in a recent number of this paper I infer that the editor was giv ing me the laugh. But, Mr. O'Hennessy wants to hog the whole show, as it were, which is not only unkind, but Joyously absurd. I myself am broadminded, insomuch as to recognize the fact that there are others who are endowed. I thank him for replying, however. as it gives me the opportunity to or- rect myself. In saying that the enrtn will tip I made use of the figurative. What I wished to make known was that the axes of the earth would snlft. They, the poles, may shift one-fourth the circumference ol tne eartn. Dnns- ing the North Pole to the Equator. On the other hand, they may not shift so far. For instance, the North Pole may shift to Europe or China. The South Pole would naturally shift, too; and the Equator, by all the laws of nature and common sense, would take up its position between them. Because the poles shift It does not necessary follow that the Equator, finding itself lonesome, will go per ambulating around the uiiverse until some mercenary gent captures It and puts it In a dime museum. I said, and maintain, that the earth Is going to undergo a change like that which has been described. The poles will bloom and be Inhabited as science proves they have been in the dim past. Probably that Is the plan of the om niscient God of Testing the soil of the earth. This has been predicted years ago. Also, the raising of the United States flag by the Mexicans I pre dicted and wrote and sealed one year ago. I marvel at the Ignorance of the sor did, earthly beings who tread this earth. Yea, I am dismayed. They think that a prophet does not exist out side of Biblical history. Still, I am aware that the land Is flooded with fakers .who Impose on the public: and I ask no one to believe me. And lastly, I have never made one cent out of my divine Inspirations. Be prepared la the command of DEVINB CLARA VOYANT. WHY DO YOUNG MEW GO WRONG f One Father Blames Himself and Warns Parents Aealns't Parsimony. PORTLAND, Or March 80. (To the Editor.) I am the father of four sons and am writing that no other father may make the mistake I did. We lived on a small farm near a small town. There were eight children in my family, four boys and four girls. Our farm was worth about $4000. When the , j . . ..... w. aaIA tlA ttiA TlOt HBa J51W"" " like farm work and asked me for ?2o0 to start in Business, j. reouira severely and told him I had no money to throw or give away. He tried to start for himself and having no money of course he failed. He came to me again for money, this time he asked for J100, and I again refused. He left for the city penniless or nearly so. Three days later I was dumbfounded .1.1. ,.n a n otx-c: n 'innt and on the l " - - ' ' " front page was a paragraph reading ... i f .-. - , i. ,. .-,. that my DOy was arieat.oA iu j. About three years later my second enn sifrl ma for 8530 to learn the drug business in the city. I refused to let him go, but ne went anynuw. Two years later he asked me for J500 to start In business. I refused, but later gave him J50 at 8 per cent In terest Later he asked me for $100, but as he had not paid the first back 1 refused, as I had no respect for the no Idea If he is dead or alive. I never saw him again. t . .. ..mincpttat mnn nlan srn-t tlrd ijti Lr.: . "'J grvM.4&L.. - - of farming. He also wanted to go to the city, rie asicea tor uiuuey refused as I had no respect for the trade he chose to learn. So he ran away at the age of about 18 years, and to my sorrow he became a drunk ard and drug fiend. He was brought home and after I had spent about $400 for medicine he went Insane. Now when It Is too late I see what 1 jt 1. 1 T maa T ,1innAMl that I needed the dross we call gold more than I neeaea my duvb. my uoai i. . breaking, for I know I am responsible for my boys' downfall. Many fathers like myself let their boys go Into the world without money to start right. Fathers, we are responsible for our children coming into the world and are responsible for them. I hope I can help some other man to see the right, that he may not spend his old age in vain regrets. B. E. RIGGS. Fisnrlna; Board Feet. GOLD HILL, March 27. (To the Editor.) Commercial rules for sawing Irregular timbers are designed to charge extra pay for extra work, and when compared with strictly mathe matical measurements give rise to dis cordant results, as Instanced in this simple example: Draw a diagram oi ono muo- . -square pyramid, six Inches square at the top and 61.2 at the base. By actual measurement it will be 9 inches square half way between the ends. This will give mean area for Buch pyramid of 81 square Inches and board contents of 270 square feet. Mr. Scott's result (280) Is not correct, and his so lution Is a "much ado about nothing." Join four such pyramids, ends reversed, and the result Is a square stick 18 inches on each side and 40 feet long, containing 1080 board feet. One-fourth of this is 270. "Figures won't lie." that Is always providing you don't make em. J. R. KENDALL. CORVALLIS. Or., Mar. 29. (To the Editor.) In The Oresonlan I notice the question of R. F. Martindale has been Incorrectly answered. This Is a simple rule which will hold good at any time. First obtain the av erage dimensions of the stick, multiply the dimensions, width, thickness and length, and divide by 12. In this ques tion the stick is 6 by 6 at one end, 12 hi- is at the other and 40 feet long. The average dimensions are 9. by 9. Hence the stick is equivalent to nine Doaras one inch thick nine inches wide and 40 feet long. The piece of timber con tains 270 board feet. E. E. GRL'BE. Mr. Kendall. Mr. Grubs and Mr. S. N. Wlllard who gave the same formula a few days ago. may conduct an Interest ing experiment by cutting the lmagln ary stick in two in the middle and as certalnlng the number of board feet in each piece by their rule. Apljlng their formula the 20-foot piece that is 6 by 6 at one end and 9 by 9 at the other contains 93.75 board feet. The 20-foot stick that is 9 by 9 at one end and 12 by 12 at the other contains 183.76 board feet- The total In the two is 277.5 feet. It would be in teresting if they would explain why a solid stick that contains 270 board feet contains 7 feet more when sawn in two In the middle. A Chair of Louis of France. Liverpool Post. A Philadelphia lawyer and connois seur was describing some of his experi ences in search of curio. "I once entered a shop.'1 be said, smiling, "and the salesman pointed out to me a dilapi dated chair. 'That there chair, sir,' he said, impressively, 'belonged to Louis Crosseye. King of France.' "Louis Crosseye?" said I. 'Why, there's no such person.' "Oh, yes, there Is, sir," said the salesman and he showed me a ticket marked 'Louis XL' " The Season's Omen By Dean Collins. There Is something astir In the season, There are omens afloat In the air. And back of it all there's a reason That omens should be afloat there. It has been related, . - . . And earnestly stated. And late Information is coming to hand. Of an omen speciflo. Of how a terrifio Rainstorm scattered angleworms over the land. I claim to be wiser than no. men. No prophetic powers I claim. And s;et, with regard to this omen Lo, 'I can interpret the same. If 'twas not a brainstorm. This tale of the rainstorm That came, bearing angleworms, falling and swishing, The wonder, most clearly Proclaims that it's nearly The season when men should slip out and go fishing. And no normal fellow's caught nap ping: His old reel with oil he anoints. His split bamboo rod he's re-wrapping On all of Its tapering Joints; Once more he produces His stock of excuses For leaving his office and all duties dishing, For who can help falling Who hears the sweet calling Of trout streams, when opens the sea son for fishing? Portland, March 10. Twenty-five Years Ago From Th Oreg-onlan of March 81, 188S. Walla Walla. March 80. The subsidy of $100,000 given by citizens to Hunt for building a railroad Is about col lected, and very willingly: also right of way and depot privileges. The Cowlitz River for several mllea from its mouth Is alive with seals. United States Engineer, CaptaM Charles F. Powell, who has charge of the Improvements at the mouth of the Columbia and Cascade Locks, will leave in about two weeks for Memphis. Walter H. Dodd, son of Mr. Charles H. Dodd, of this city, who is now at tending Amherst College, was recently awarded the Sawyer medal for excel lence In general standing and physi ology. The old Bank of British Columbia property on ront street, near Oak, was purchased from Mrs. Lucy Meade a short time since by Elijah Corbett. Mr. Corbett contemplates tearing down the building and putting up a hand some three-story business block. Work on the new railroad bridge Is being prosecuted as rapidly as cir cumstances permit. Within the next six months East Portland will he lighted by electricity. The contract has been let to the gas company. Today for the first time The Ore gonian Is printed from stereotype plates, and for the first time since the fire of November, 1886, which destroyed the La Camas mills, upon paper of home manufacture. The event is cele brated by the assumption of a complete new dress of type. Half a Century Ajo From The Oregonian of March 81, 18G3. Southwest Pass, March 15. (By tele graph from Baton Rouge.) Commo dore Farragut, leading In the Hartford, attacked the Fort Hudson batteries last night with the fleet. The-steamer Mississippi ran aground and was aban. doned and burned. Washington, March 23. Farragut safely made the passage up the Mlsis slppi in the frigate Hartford, flagship, with the whole fleet. Port Royal, March 14. Jacksonville, Fla., was taken on the 10th by the negro brigade. Washington, March 23. The War De partment has received the rolls of all the regiments In the Army of the United States, which show the number of absentees and deserters to be 125,000. Murfreesboro, March 21. An expedi tion which went In the direction of Liberty, Tenn., was attacked yesterday morning by about 2500 rebels under the guerilla Morgan, at Milton, on their re turn. Colonel Hall, perceiving that the enemy outnumbered him two to one, fell back to the crest of a hill. . The rebels made most stubborn attacks, but were repeatedly driven back with fear ful slaughter. At 2 P. M. Morgan withdrew, hut in half an hour re turned, reinforced. He made another attack, but was beaten back and with drew In great confusion. Plaeervllle, Maroh 12. Captain Standlfer'B company made their trium phant entry into our town yesterday afternoon, amid 'thp 'prolbnged cheering of the citizens. Their trip has been eminently successful, they having cap tured a considerable quantity of booty and placing hors du combat a number of Indians. They have brought In 15 scalps, and are certain that many more were killed or wounded. The principal of the Portland publio school desires to publicly thank Mr. J. Cohen, dealer in clocks, watches. Jew elry, etc., on Front street, for his pres ent to the public. school of a beautiful clock. Mr. L. W. Coe, U. S. Collector of In ternal Revenue for Oregon, has ap pointed Mr. H. B. Parker Deputy Col lector. Overworking the Servant. PORTLAND, March 28. (To the Edi tor.) I have read an editorial in The Oregonian on servant problems and wish to state a fact I myself experi enced as a servant. I think there lies as much fault on servants as on mis tresses, but the real difficulty of the mistress is In getting an efficient serv ant. The chief fault of a mistress Is In the way she employs her servant. When a servant is really honest and willing to work, then the mistress will crowd her with more work than she can do. Thus the servant has to suf fer for her honesty, while a servant less honest has to do less work than the honest one, so she will have easier times. A servant, though honest and willing to do the work at the begin ning. Will soon lose faith In her mis tress, to she will become an Incompe tent servant. This is the point where the difficulty lies in getting compe tent servants. HONEST SERVANT. Still Another Answer. SALEM. Or., March 29. (To the Editor.) I have read the answers to the question of how many feet board measure in the stick 12 by 12 at baso and 6 by 6 at top, and I do not think any of them correct, and send you my way of figuring sticks of this kind. The area of the butt is 144 inches; area of top 3S inches; area of center (9 by 9) Is 81 inches. The sum of the three areas divided by three, then multiply by 40 (the length), and divid ed by 12 gives 2S'0 feet as the number of board feet. GEORGE ARMSTRONG, Carpenter.