Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, June 13, 1913, Image 10

Morning Oregonian., June 13, 1913, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextTHE TVTOTCTVTnvri 111 fCGsmtt i tar rrv-m m -r ..,.. . ; - -ijii,, .. aa-aa-fa. a , (lUHI; Id, 1',, I... l ' - ' . I PORTLAND. OTIEGOlN. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Poatoffice as iccond-clan matter. Subscription Kates Invariably In Advance: (BY MAIL Dally. Sunday Included, one year $8.00 Dally. Sunday Included, six months.... 4.25 Dally, Sunday Included. three months. . 2.25 uawy. aunday Included, one month..... .76 Dally, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Dally, without Sunday, six months 3.25 Daily, without Sunday, three months... 1.76 Dally, without Sunday, ono month 60 Weekly, one year 1.50 Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and Weekly, one year 3.60 (BY CARRIER) Dally, Sunday Included, one year 9.04 Dally. Sunday Included, one month 76 llow to Remit Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at (fnaer s risk. Give postorTlce address in full. Including county and state. Postage Rate 12 to 16 pages. 1 cent: 18 to 82 pagc-a, 2 cents; l to 48 pages, 3 cents; 60 to 60 pages. 4 cents: 62 to 76 nagea. 5 cents; 78 to 92 iages, 6 cents. Foreign post age. aouDie rate.. Eastern Bulne-s Offires -Verree ft Conk lln. New York, Brunswick building. Chi cago, steger building. San Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Co., 742 Market street, European Office No. 3 Regent street S. w.. J,ondon. PORTXANT. FRIDAY, JUNE la. IMS. W"HO SHALL CONTROL IN TWILIGHT ZONE? The "Twilight zone" in railroad rate regulation, which became the alarm of numerous state governors following the decision of the lower courts in the Minnesota rate case, has been effectually obliterated by the opinion of the United States Supreme I'ourt. The earlier decision had been Interpreted to mean that a state had no power to fix rates on traffic moving wholly within the state if such rates affected the fabric of interstate rates, as they do In many cases. It was alBO feared that Congress had no power to regulate Intrastate rates and It therefore followed that within certain zone? the railroads might do as they pleased. But It seems to be the general in terpretation of the highest court's ruling that neither state nor Federal authority lacks the power to regulate rates applying wholly within states on interstate railroads. The state, so long as Congress does not take the initiative, may adjust railroad rates on intrastate traffic so long as they are not confiscatory, even though the i hange may compel a readjustment of Interstate rates. But the court seems to recognize the power of Congress to take to itself or confer on a properly delegated body like the interstate Commerce Commission ex clusive authority over state rates on interstate railroads. The decision thus opens a new field for controversy. Representative "Wil lis, of Ohio, Is already preparing a bill which, if adopted by Congress, will extend the Jurisdiction of the In terstate Commerce Commission over intrastate rates on interstate railroads. This bill will probably And favor with border cities whose trade field ex tends into near-by states, while those commercial centers whose trade is limited to an area wholly within a state but competitive with that of cit ies of other states will naturally pre fer to rely on state regulation. Portland is In the former classifica tion. Its Jobbers do business with merchants In both Washington and Idaho. In the present status the Washington Public Service Commis sion might attempt to give Seattle or Tacoma rates to Southern Washington lower than the rates from Portland to the lamp points. Unless the railroads which cross the Columbia voluntarily met the Washington state rates or the Interstate Commerce Commission or dered that readjustment. Portland waiBd be handicapped in its own Held, t This possibility is cited more as an illustration of the point involved than as an imminent danger. Yet that identical purpose the shutting out of competition with Jobbers in other states has actuated one Southern state which Is now defending its act in the Supreme Court. The Willis bill would confer on the Interstate Com merce Commission exclusive Jurisdic tion over rates of that character. In other words, it would clip the wings of state commissions which sought by rate manipulation to control a trade field for a city within the state. We read that Senator Newlands, chairman of the interstate commerce committee of the Senate, will oppose the Willis bill on the assumption that the states are handling the rate ques tion satisfactorily. But, conceding that such is the record, how long will the snrtsfactoiy condition exist with forty eight states, heretofore uncertain of their jurisdiction, now definitely In formed that their rate-regulating power within the state is not subservi ent to the interests of interstate com merce? Moreover, the record of state efficiency in rate regulation Is not unbroken. State railway commis sions, as a rule, are not only effective but fair, but ratemaklng is not always left to the commissions. Oregon re cently went over the head of its com mission and enacted by vote of the people an initiated rate law that Is the wonder and grave concern of rate ex perts and students of direct legisla tion. It was not Inspired by desire to aid consumer, individual shipper of commodities or the small town mer chant, but came from a city organiza tion ambitious to build up a Jobbing center. The motive behind this particular law is Illustrative of the growing tendency of large urban communities to look upon rate regulation as a me dium for city development rather than an aid to the general public. State and local patriotism will exert powerful pressure on state authorities, now that the twilight zone is known not to exist. A Federal authorltv will be less susceptible to such Influence, and. it would seem, ought to have a broader and fairer view of what is just toward shipper as well n rail road. HOBBI.ES FOR FEDERAL COURTS. Irritated by repeated annulments or suspensions of state laws by the Fed eral Courts, the Missouri Legislature has asked Congress to submit to the "tatee a constitutional amendment forbidding this practice of Inferior Federal Courts. . confiding to the United States Supreme Court alene power to pass on vallditv of state laws requiring that all decisions In such cases be unanimous and prohibiting the issue by the lower courts of in junctions against the enforcement of laws. The Missourians object to seeing their Legislature overruled by a sin gle District Judge, yet they propose that one Supreme Judge be allowed in effect to overrule his eight colleagues. They also propose that contested laws be enforced pending test of their validity, no matter how glaringly such laws may violate the Constitu tion, though they would minimize this evil by giving cases of this nature precedence over all others In tm Su preme Court. Federal Judges have admittedly been too free in suspend ing state laws by injunction on con stitutional grounds, and there is good reason to doubt whether the Constitu tion intrusts this power to them. But there has been some excuse for their action in the incompetence of Legis latures. In attempting to prevent abuse of judicial authority by such means as Missouri proposes we might substitute an equal or even greater evil. There are twin remedies for the evil of which Missouri complains. One Is limitation of power of the Federal Courts to suspend state laws, but not to such an extreme as that state sug gests. The other is improvement in the quality of Legislatures, that they may not pass laws subject to annul ment Until direct election of Sena tors was begun, legislators were mere ly delegates to a Senatorial electoral college and their legislative functions were in practice a side issue. Now that legislation has become their chief duty, we may get men who will not be apt to pass invalid laws. The excel lent record made by the Oregon Legis lature this year encourages that hope. The requirement of unanimous de cisions by the Supreme Court to an nul state laws is Impracticable for the reason that unanimity among nine such men as compose our highest court is rarely possible. The effect would be validation of many laws which are actually unconstitutional, through the dissent of one or two members of the court. PossTbly a two thirds majority might be required or a preliminary examination of consti tutional points might be made by some such body as collects data for the Legislature of Wisconsin to guide it in the framing of laws. LAWLESS BCSYBODIES. A band of jst-T, .ViQwiaE, t-, . .. ... - i , uul .1. Ul l- land went to Oregon City and coerced the employes of three paper mills to quit work. It had the semblance of a strike; but it was not a strike by men wno Know tnelr rights and dare main tain them. Tt w Horaed h frn i . agitators, whose mission is to preach uisconteni ana wnose service always Is to provoke riot. Whatever ma?,' be the grievances of the men at Oregon City is aside from the larger question presented there of keeping the peace and permitting the adjustment of all differences, If any, between employers and employes by orderly processes. But for a group of lawless Socialistic meddlers, whe concern themselves chiefly with the easy labor of trying to adjust social' conditions so that no one may work of if any one, then someone else to take charge of the situation Is intol erable, s The authorities at Oregon City have acted promptly and have put the riot ers In Jail. Governor West shows a commendable purpose to preserve the peace. The outsiders who have broken into this affair ought to be driven back to their Portland soap boxes and the issue left to the principals and to the community directly affected. THE HORSE AND THE ROSE. The horse, after all, is man's best friend and most useful servitor. If we have been inclined In this hurrying age of fast locomotion to subordinate and even forget him, he yet comes into his own when work is to be done or great ceremonials are to be func tioned. At the head of stately pro cessions in the days of Cyrus, Alexand er and Caesar was the horse, and for the visiting millionaire of Pasadena, the admirable Hunt Club of Portland, the loyal firemen, the plain citizen all alike in the fine parade yester day the horse was Indispensable. Marching clubs, playing bands and In dividual vehicle display all added their share and made the affair a success. The horse was king. The Rose Festival is a part of the life of Portland. It can be made bet ter year bv vear. FTistorv fnhi omt .llegory have infinite resources, and 1 1 ...... nuuucuui variety may be added each season to pageantry and entertainment. The rose is an as set in some of Its aspects Portland's finest asset. What it has done for Portland it would take volumes to tell; If the public persists in the glori fication of the beautiful flower, It will do much more. MERE DEVICE. In undertaking ato hold examina tions for appointment of fourth-class postmasters. Postmaster-General Bur leson has engaged in a pretty big task. The Civil Service Commission will be required to determine the fit ness of about 120,000 candidates for 40,000 offices scattered all over the country. Months will be consumed and additional appropriations will be necessary. Though the incumbent will be eligible, he will not have the pref erence. If he should be rated at 100 and some Democrat should barely scrape through, the latter might and probably would be appointed. The excuse for the Burleson plan does not hold water. This excuse Is that the Roosevelt and Taft orders transferring fourth-class postmasters into the classified service fastened many incompetents on the Govern ment. The power to get rid of such men already exists under the civil service law, if the men in whom It is vested will have courage to use it. The examinations seem to be a de vice for evicting Republicans while appearing to respect the civil service rules. PORTLAND'S CREDIT, AND SEATTLE'S. The Oregonian is quite unable to see what benefit will accrue to Se attle through the effort by one of its newspapers, the Times, to show that Seattle's .financial credit Is high and Portland's is low. It Is not true as to Portland.' It is a fact that no city, Portland and Seattle Included, is able Just now to dispose of Its bonds at satisfactory figures. Because bond buyers were chary and offered les6 than Seattle thought a certain lot of bonds were worth, an arrangement was made by which they were taken by local banks at par. Portland had about the same time received an offer of SS.79 for certain 4 per cent bonds. It was rejected. Inasmuch as the Seattle banks in sisted on their pound of flesh by re quiring the city authorities to make concessions as to the rate of Interest to be paid on city deposits and inas much as the bonds bear Interest at 5 per cent, the Seattle banks appear to have made a fairly goon bargain. The Portland bonds, for which less than 90 cents was offered, are 4 1 per cent bonds. The city would not accept the offer, for later the price will be better. A city's credit Is a sensitive subject even at a time when no municipality can get as much for Its bonds as It may previously have had. Portland's credit is as good as any city's In the United States. Its debt is smaller than Seattle's far smaller and its resources as great. It would appear to be Justifiable to remark, without any purpose to follow the Times' un pleasant example In making Invidious comparisons, that Its credit is just as good. MEADE AND GRANT. It is one of the unaccountable tricks of fate that General Meade, who won the battle of Gettysburg, fills but a small place In the Imagination of the American people, while Lee, whom he defeated, has become a National hero. Both North and South unite to sing his praises, but who ever dreams of praising -Meade? He was one of the best Generals the North produced and won the greatest battle of the war, and yet his name Is slowly and per haps irretrievably sinking into obscur ity. His "Life and Letters," which have been prepared by his Son George and published by the Scrlbners, tell part of tho secret why he did not rise to the heights which no doubt he de served. Toward the end of the war. when his opportunities were brightest, he came into rivalry with the ascending star of Grant. Lincoln's hopes and those of the country were more and more centered upon that luminary, who had done much and was expected to do more. Grant rose steadily to ward the supreme command and the men with whom he liked to work rose with him. This was natural enough, but It was unfortunate for Meade. Without any fault of his own he was eclipsed by Grant, Sherman and Sheri dan, who remained as the dominant figures of the conflict, while Meade, very unfairly, is numbered among the commonplace commanders, if not among the failures. In his letters he gives opinions of the men, who, from merit or other wise, surpassed him one after the oth er. Grant, he says, was overrated. He does not believe that brilliant General had much education except his West Point course, and says he never read anything after he graduated. This is likely to be true. Grant's tastes were anything but intellectual and he was in no sense a "cultured" man. Meade strikes with a sure aim at Grant's fundamental weakness, his proneness to give his confidence to men who did not deserve it. This was the cause of his failures in the Presi dency and probably dulled the splen dor of his military fame. He would have succeeded more rapidly if he had chosen his confidants with more dis cretion. Still Grant knew a good man w hen he saw one and In spite of some mistakes he managed in the end to pick out those who were needed for the times, at least during the war. POE AND DICKENS. Edgar A. Poe published in Graham's Magazine in February, 1842, an ar ticle which has ever since been a bone of controversy in the world of letters. It refers to a prediction he pretended to have made of the plot of Dickens' Barnaby Rudge. This novel was pub lished In installments, each contain ing a small part of the work. The first appeared in the United States in March, 1841. with three chapters of the novel. The rest in the course of that year. When Poe, according to his story in Graham's Magazine, had the first three installments before him, with only eleven chapters of the novel, he wrote a review of it in the Saturday Evening Post in which he foretold al most the entire plot with startling ac curacy. This was a wonderful feat If he told the truth. If he did not tell the truth it was an impudent fraud upon the world. The article in Gra ham's Magazine in which he makes his claim has been familiar to students for many years, but unhappily the number of the Saturday Evening Post in which his amazing prediction was said to have been published had dropped out of sight. When thl pub lishers were appealed to they said "it was inaccessible" and therefore Poe's statement could neither be verified nor disproved. It was the misfortune of this most unhappy poet to fall into the hands of enemies after he was dead. They did all they could to destroy his reputa tion, blackened his memory with false hood and accused him of all the petty vlces they could think of. Among oth er counts they charged him with be ing a habitual liar and the calumny has clung to him ever since, like the malignant libel that he was a habitual drunkard. Naturally those who be lieved that Poe would He unscrupulous ly took It for granted that he was not telling the truth about his Barnaby Rudge prediction. The feat would have taxed credulity even if it were sup ported by abundant evidence, but with only poor Poe's word for it every body smiled and whispered "another of his yarns." Perhaps the latest per son of consequence to accuse Poe of deliberate falsehood in the matter wag Sir W. Robertson Nlcoll, who stigma tizes Poe's claim as "a piece of pure mystification, a, 'Tale of the Grotesque and Arabesque,' " the sneer referring to one of Poe's own titles. Sir W. Robertson Nicoll had no copy of the original review before him and for that reason his skepticism is not in excusable, although he must have known what the poet's analytical pow ers were. Analysis was one of Poe's hobbies. He said sometimes there was no mys tery so dense that he could not unravel it if the circumstances embodying it were recounted to him. In several of his tales he gives marvelous examples of what analysis can do to disclose hidden trains of events, but since the stories may have been constructed to prove his thesis they are not entirely convincing. He was extremely fond of Interpreting cryptograms. The Gold Bug was written to show how much art and intellectual acumen this proc ess might involve. He gave out word on one occasion that there was no cryptogram which he could not read and actually succeeded with all that were submitted to him. We see there, fore that If he did predict the plot of Barnaby Rudge before he had read more than the beginning of the novel It was quite in accordance with his intellectual powers and habits. Dick ens' novel, as the reader remembers. Is based upon a mysterious murder. Mr. Reuben' Haredale was killed In his -room. At the same time his gardener and steward disappeared, leaving no trace. But some months afterward a body was found In a pond not far away. It was too much decayed to be recognized from its face but since It had on the steward's clothes and his watch and ring It was taken for gVanted that it must be his and It was inferred, as the story runs, that the gardener had murdered both the steward and Mr. Haredale and made his escape. But Poe declared that the plot would not turn out that way in the end. He predicted that, as Dick ens developed his novel, it would come to light that the body found In the pond was not the steward's but the gardener's. He affirmed that the I steward had first murdered Mr. Hare dale. Then he had killed the gardener, put his own clothes, watch and ring on the body and sunk it in the water, finally fleeing in the murdered gar dener's person. This prediction would have been wonderful enough, but Poe did some thing still more incredible. The hero of the book, Barnaby Riidge, had a prenatal blood mark on his wrist.. Poe said this was caused by a shock to his mother, who rushed into the room at the time of the murder and would have given the alarm, but the steward seized her by the wrist and forced her to be silent, leaving a bloody stain on it. When her son Barnaby was born he had the same stain. In this part of the prediction Poe made a slip. The woman seized the steward by the wrist, as Dickens worked out the plot, he did not seize her. In every other particular Poe was right to the letter if he really wrote the ar ticle in the Saturday Evening Post, as he alleged. That he did write it is now indisputable, for It has been ob tained entire and may be read by any one who wishes in the New York Times. It establishes that Poe's ana lytical power was all that he claimed it to be, but it does the poet a- still better service. It nails one more of the calumnies which have attached themselves to his memory. It is prob ably too much to hope that all of them will be caught and put to death, but encouraging progress has been made with them of late years. Poe never has enjoyed the fame he ought to have as a poet in this country because the odium Of vice clings to his name. It has sometimes been deemed almost disreputable to read him and few have dared to praise him as he merits. It has even been difficult to secure him his proper place in our numerous "Halls of Fame," where every petty versifier shines in eternal glory. Per haps the tide has turned now and America will begin to do tardy Jus tice to her most musical If not her greatest poet. Professor Henry Van Dyke's ap pointment as Minister to the Nether lands is singularly suitable. He is an inveterate fisherman and there is no country in the world with so manv good fishing holes as Holland. There are canals In every town with nice rows of steps leading down to the water, where a Minister of State can ply the gentle art through long dreamy afternoons, writing verses to fill up the intervals. Professor Van Dyke can pass his time thus with an easv con science, for our Minister to Holland has nothing else to do not a thing in the world, except to look pretty. A good goat will give two quarts of milk a day, and the price of such an animal Js sometimes as low as $2. She can be nourished, if not on old stove pipes and oyster cans, at least on the scantiest of herbage. It would be difficult to Imagine a spot so bar ren that a goat could not thrive on Its vegetation. Finally this hardy and productive animal is Immune to tu berculosis. These qualifications seem to Indicate that goat dairying will some day be popular in the United States, as It is In "Rnvnr, tvv.-.. should not a goat be tethered in every back yard? By paying high interest the Huerta government of Mexico has been able to borrow $50,000,000 to be shot away at the various brands of insurgents. From facts , which have leaked out It may be inferred 'that many of the arms and munitions bought with this borrowed money will And their way into the hands of the insurgents by some occult mea"ns, to be used against the government which paid for them. This will afford the dealers in firearms a steady market and yield rich graft to those who sell government arms to the rebels. A Swiss millionaire and his wife have committed suicide because "life did not interest them." With the Mat terhorn to climb and the glaciers to gaze at and the antics of American tourists to watch, still this melancholy couple did not care to live. They were pessimists and it is said by the wise that pessimism is always caused by some defect in the vital machinery. Since these people were childless we may guess what the defect was in their case. Ella Wheeler Wilcox says the tango and turkey trot are really all right and adds that she will write a poem about them. That ought to do more than mere agitation to kill them. Lady Constance Richardson, just over, wears a slashed kimono and es chews hosiery. She comes to act, not to set styles, for which modest peo ple Will be grateful. Seizure of an American yaoht by Japan is merely an incident. She was in waters where she had no right to be. That might happen anywhere. President Wilson has taken to read ing detective stories, perhaps with a view to running the insidious lobbyist into his lair and caging him. Russia will arbitrate the differences between Servia and Bulgaria over territory acquired. Russia will fix it all right by tying a string. Chicago is said to be the greatest receiving point for lumber in the country. Portland is pretty close to the front in shipping It. A Naval submarine remained at the bottom thirty-six hours in Cali fornia waters. Nice safe little craft in the hour of battle. The firemen redeemed themselves. They know how to decorate and they never fail to make a great hit In any parade when they try. The motor vehicle Is the proper thing for speed and power, but the horse combines grace, elegance and comfort of possession. It Is well that we be reminded at least once a year what a superb creature the horse really Is. The Eugene postoffice will be raised to the first-class next month to match the rest of the city. We whipped the Moros. That's the type of warfare we are exclusively equipped for. An English actress boasts a gown of nine-cent silk. Must have bought It herself. The horse knows when he is on parade. Jupe frowned yesterday but didn't have the heart to turn -on the faucit. I ERROR IX MAKING VICE FAMILIAR. Correspondent Endorses Criticisms of Committee Publications. PORTLAND, June 11. (To the Edi tor.) "Unprintable filth" is the phrase used by Postal Insjector James Cortelyou to de scribe the report of the Philadelphia Vice Commission. Ho announced, too, his pur Pose to employ every means within his power to prevent its being sent through the mails. Curiously enough, the Inspector's outburst follows a resolution passed In a meeting of tho ministers of the Protes'ant Episcopal body of Philadelphia, in which it was planned to have 10,000 copies of the Commission's report printed and distribu ted. This Is the introduction of a serious and thoughtful article before me in a solid publication. In the same cate gory is placed the published reports of the situation In New Tork City by the Bureau of Social Hygiene. The New York American, a Journal not especially distinguished for sensitiveness re garding the quality of the news It prints, said editorially on May 20: "The character of the report on vice conditions in New York In its details precludes its complete puolication In the American." What wor thy purpose is attained in scattering such information? Men whose civic responsibility makes 1'. Imperative that they go to the root of festering sores In municipal life must, unhappily for themselves use every legitimate means to acquire the information that will aid them In their duty to eradicate the cruel, sordid and nefarious traffic tho commercialism of vice has called Into be ing. But the putting of the details of this information into such shape as to open its horrible secrets to young and old, to boy and girl, to the pure and Innocent quite as well as to the habitue of the haunts de scribed in the vice report is to deal a blow at the welfare of the community almost as disastrous as Is the vlclousness the bureau seeks to stamp out. Ey hedging its sa'e about with admirable restrictions Chicago managed its vice report In a better way. Personally, I have no hesitation in saying that vice commissions are no places for ministers and respectable women; their mission is to inculcate virtue into the tender and Innocent and not to poison their impressionable minds with printed filth and sickening sentimentaltsm. Says another authority: Human nature Includes women as well as men, girls as well as boys. It would be a calamitous error to assume that girls are exempt from the consequenses of Adam's fall, that they are tender, innocent beings, not only without a single irregular passion, but absolutely passionless, and that, if they go wrong. It is because they became the victims of designing villains. This would be as grave an error as to assume the con trary position. The fact Is that, while there are many victims, there are more women who fall into evil ways because they have Indulged their curiosity, vanity, gluttony, Idleness, love of pleasure, disobedience sen suality, from childhood, and have never attempted any self-restraint, and so, com ing to maturity, they have been carried away by their unbridled passions. Hence one sees that to accept the unconfirmed testimony of those who have gone astray Is a grave mistake. Tc their other irregular ities they generally add '.he vice of lying Indeed, to question them at all Is prac tically T-.seless. Much better would It De to eian lne those who have had long ex perience In reformatories, magistrates re spectalie persons who, living In the quarters from which they come have had opportuni ties to observe their conduct from child hood, and such like persons. Another principle is that poverty, in It self, never leads anybody Into vice. The contrary assumption Is an outrage on virtue which abounds among the poor. These, when well and religiously brought up, and cor responding to the training they have re ceived, will endure privations even to death but they will never dream of relieving the want of the body by bringing damnation on the soul. Indeed, the possibility of the easier life of vice will in most cases not even occur to them. On the other hand one whose sense of virtue Is dead, whose passions are ungoverned. may find In pov erty the occasion of a vicious life. Here there is need of great discrimination Sup pose, for Instance, that a young woman can live in modest frugal comfort on 10 a week. It does not follow that one who cares nothing for modesty, or frugality, or any other virtue, would live virtuously on that sum or twice that sum. Apparently popular opinion assumes that men without training and ordin ary intelligence who cannot govern themselves can govern and reform a commonwealth or city; that half-baked L..uiiian3 ana reformers can by stat utes and ordinances eradicate the evils that have cursed the centuries. Take tho case of the Governor of Oregon. Can this man control himself? Has he ever shown any Indications that he realizes the dignity and grave respon sibilities inherent in the chief execu tive of a great state? Is there anything more dangerous to the community life than to open up the portals of the hells of Iniquity so that unspeakable vice may radiate in the homes of our state and to call this stuff duty and the business of a states man? Were these days less material in thought, were there more old-fashioned fathers and mothers here among us, those who know the dangers of vice "seen too oft, familiar with its face," the Governor of Oregon would have been brought to boot long ere this. What is graft in office to the purity of our homes and the protec tion of our loved ones? What is the danger of rotten politics to the rotten reason or rotten ideals of our gover nors and our soft-boiled, self-constituted uplifters? J. HENNESSY MURPHY. REAL NOISES OF THE MORNING. Chicken Fsnrler Names Several Worse Than Tliose of City Fowls. PORTLAND. June 13. (To the Edi tor.) In answering "Another Chicken Fancier" who claims that chickens are not profitable and cannot be kept in small runs, I would like to say that I have six hens in a small house 7x3 feet ground space and 6x3 feet upper scratching shed, wh(ch laid 131 eggs In May. I think this shows a balance on the right side and. besides why should "Another Chicken Fancier" in sist that chickens be done away with now just because he has practiced what he calls the chicken nuisance on other people for seven years, but has not been able to make it pay? He says that chickens cannot be healthy in a small run. I have proved this last year that they are healthier, freer from vermin, lay better and look more contented than when I kept them in large runs in Oakland. In answer to "P." I would like to say that the cackling of a hen or the crowing of a rooster are natural sounds and will not disturb anyone more than the whistles of steamboats going down the river, the noise of the early morning car, the barking of a dog or the chirp of robins unless one sets out to make himself believe that It will. Some few weeks back my wife awakened me about 4:30 A. M. and told me to listen to the noise of my young chickens, that the neighbors would be complaining soon. I never heard such a racket myself, so set out to inves tigate. I found all my young chicks safely tucked away in their brooders not making a sound, but the din of young robins and others hollering for their breakfast overhead was some thing fierce. Who would suggest doing away with the robins and other beautiful wild birds7 The mornlngefter we first got our rooster he awakened us and we lis tened with something- akin to awe till he got through. He has never awak ened us since, but If we happen to be awake ws usually compare his voice with the rest, and there are dozens in our neighborhood, and we Invariably decide that our bird hag the best voice of them all. I have never met anyone yet who said they objected to a hen calling her wares. As I said in a former letter, by all means make us keep chickens sanitary and confined, but don't try to spoil our fun and fresh eggs. CHICKEN FANCIER. Making Near-Porcelain. Scientific American. By using finely powdered ingredi ents and great pressure cement articles have been made to resemble porcelain. MEMBER OF COMPANY STILL LIVES. P. E. Eubanka, Who Came to Vancouver With First Troops, Last Survivor. SEATTLE June 11 (To the Editor.) About a month ago The Oregonian contained biographic mention of Philip Christ, who died at Vancouver, May 6, and who was said to be the last sur vivor of the military company which established Fort Vancouver in 1849. These soldiers, under Major Hathaway, came from the Atlantic on the United States steamer Massachusetts in 1848, and were the first to come to Oregon, or what was then Oregon, as a garrison or for defense. The military post at Vancouver was tlie one first estab lished. On the same ship came another com pany, under Captain Bennett H. Hill. About the time of their arrival in Co lumbia River there was a disturbance at Fort Nisqually, in which two white men were shot, one of them being killed, by Snoqualmie Indians, Nis quaMy was one of the posts of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agri cultural Companies, allied and really identical organizations. Governor Joseph Lane had sufficient influence to secure the sending of Captain Hill's company to Puget Sound. They ar rived in the Summer and established themselves at a place in Pierce County that has ever since been known as Fort Stellacoom. now additionally known as the Western Washington Hospital for the Insane. When their terms of service expired a number of the enlisted men settled in the coun try, taking donation claims, and here spending the remainder of their days. The writer believes that Frederick Meyer, who died in June, 1911, was the last surviving member of Captain Hill's company. One of the most inter esting chapters in Oregon and Wash ington history lg that connected with the Fort Nisqually affair, the coming of the soldiers, the official acts of Gov ernor Lane and Indian Agent Thorn ton, and finally the trial of the ac cused Indians by Judge Bryant, and subsequent hanging of those convicted, the trial occurring one day and the hanging the next. But I have wandered. What I In tended saying was that Christ was not the last of the Hathaway company. Paul E. Kubanks, living in Seattle, came on the Massachusetts with Hill, Hathaway and the others, and, like Meyer and Christ, remained in the country when discharged. He thinks, and probably rlgh'tly, that he Is the last man living who belonged to the Hathaway Company In 1848-49. He Is strong and well, and appears to be be good for many more years on earth. Mr. Eubanks has lived in what is now Washington for 64 years, a longer time, perhaps, than any other man who came to the state an adult. THOMAS W. PROSCH. Blltns NEED BETTER PROTECTION. Financial as Well as Humane Reason Pointed Out by Writer. REDMOND, Or.. June 10. (To the Editor.) According to reports there are many localities both in the East and West where crops are being dam aged by insects of different kinds. In some of these places the cause has been traced to the scarcity of bird life and the powers in force have been urged to enact such laws as will pro tect the feathered tribe from further destruction at the hands of the sports man class that Infest the land. While it can be said that all sportsmen are not of the same brands, there are many who are reckless and Indifferent. In order to control this kind the others must be led by the same bridle. In the two states of Georgia and Alabama so great has been the de struction of song birds that a mUlion dollar loss was sustained lncrop shortage last year. This amount in two states would certainly mean a heavy tax the farmers are paying happy-go-easy gunners for killing their little bird friends, when we con si" there are 49 states to reckon for. It would seem that this old element of barbarity should have passed away with other distinctions of the darker ages that the world at the present time is making such a noble effort to pass beyond. But for some reason the lust for blood Is the hardest to be over come. There should be a humane standpoint as well as a financial one from which people should view the matter. No one whose soul vibrates with the sympathy that makes all life akin can without a qualm of conscience stand by tho quarry that his bullet has pierced and watch the light of the life it loved fade from the eyes never again to return. It is faking a beautiful and wonderful God-given gift that he can never give back. In many ways the world is growing better; but there are a few things which our law-makers might help along and tho protection of our wild birds and game is one that should demand their immediate atten tion. READER. WOMAN NEEDED ON SCHOOL BOARD Request Made for Discussion of Can didates for Director. PORTLAND, June 12. (To the Edi tor.) The BChool election to be held next Monday has been so pushed aside by the many absorbing events taking place In our city that I venture to say few have given the matter any close attention. This, however, is an im portant election, and the fact that the two candidates before the vcters are ap parently considered equally well quali fied, renders the choice more difficult, for many voters may feel that It makes no difference as to which of the two will be chosen. But there Is another phase to the matter which must not be lost sight of: namely, is It not for the beat that the School Board have at least one woman member? It Is obvious to everyone that in the work of the board there must frequently arise questions which need the advice of a woman and a wo man's viewpoint, and that It is most desirable to have this advice from the first hand. For thia reason should we not re-elect the only woman now on the School Board Mrs. Kerr. In order that thia question may have due consideration of the voters, I write this letter and request you to discuss the mater In your paper for he benefit of your readers. T. G. GEISLER. The Oregonian has already indicated that it thinks Mr. Plummer ought to be elected a member of the School Board at this time. We think his known qualifications should make unnec essary or Inopportune any discussion as to the sex of the new member. LET CLARK COMMAND THE OREGOX Warship Should Be First In Steaming Through Canal. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 10 (To the Editor.) The Oregon school children have certainly, done the proper thing in petitioning the Navy Depart ment to have the old battleship Oregon lead the string of war vessels that are to ateam In procession through the Panama Canal next Fall. But why not also ask that her noted commander Captain Charles E. Clark, be placed in command at the time of passage? It was his master mind that directed the war vessel in Its noted trip to Jupiter Inlet, off the Florida coast from the Oregon shores, and but for hts tact, skill and good Judgment It is safe to say such a trip would never have been made. And it wag Captain Clark who commanded the warship as it overtook the last of the Spanish men-of-war as they fled west from Santiago Bay, and ended the noted sea all means let Justice be done, and their brave and talented officer be for the time returned to his command, ax his vessel leads in the van through the canal. ROBERT J. JESSUP. Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oregonian of Juno IS, ISSS. Somerset. Ohio. June 12. The mother of General Sheridan died today. Washington. June 12. There Is no change in General Sheridan's condition. The General has not been informed of the death of his mother. Astoria, Or., June 12. The White Star Cannery was totally destroyed by fire this afternoon. The cannery was built in 1SS0 by Sneed. Timmins, Brakke 44 Gallagher and sold to the White Star Packing Company. It lastly was owned by Elmore & Sanborn. Seattle. June 12. Word comes from Mount Vernon, Skagit County, that two Chinamen who went there to start a laundry were driven out by the citi zens. A great improvement has been made in the City Park. The pathway made up through the ravine to the spring furnishes a much easier and shorter way to the summit, passing under the trunks of several huge trees. On one of these trunks a pretty rustic bridge has been constructed by Superintendent Myers. A sample of a sort of asphaltum rock, which is used to some extent in paving the streets of San Francisco, is on ex hibition In the Auditor's office. There is a prospect of the block in front of the Portland Savings Bank and Coun cil building being paved with It as a sample. The Fulton Park Addition, advertised In this issue by the Pacific Land & Investment Company, Is one of the largest and most desirable additions ever placed on the Portland market Edward Holman will not run as Inde pendent Republican candidate for Coun cilman from the Second Ward in oppo sition to Farrell. Mr. C. C. Beekman and wife. Miss Carrie Beekman and Miss Hattte Reames, of Jacksonville, are at the St. Charles. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of Juno 13. 1863. The decision of the Surveyor of Washington Territory in regard to the Vancouver claim has been reversed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. Dr. Henry decided that the rights of the Catholic Mission were above those of the military reservation and the citizens of the townsite, but the Commissioner did not see the Justice of BUch an arrangement and has wisely protected the Governm mt and the peo ple of Vancouver in the enjoyment and ownership of the valuable improve ments made by them. Mr. Lord, from Canyon City, Informs the Mountaineer that a heavy Immigra tion Is going Into the mines overland. Not less than 30 wheels have been put down in the river near Canyon City, and where they have reached the bed rock the pay is rich. The Circuit Court yesterday was oc cupied in the trial by Jury of the case of Lloyd Brooke vs. Cooper, being an action to recover possession of a por tion of the Portland land claim, pur chased of W. W. Chapman and wife. Jury returned verdict for plaintiff. A beautiful drama In three acts, from one of Bulwer's novels, entitled "Alice of the Mysteries," is billed for tonight. G. B. Weldron and Miss Mitch ell appearing in the leading characters. Whos to Blame f PORTLAND, June 12. (To the Ed itor.) Arno P. Able was run over by a streetcar and almost Instantly killed at 6 o'clock Tuesday night. An account of the accident and death was given in The Oregonian, with his address as 406 Harrison street, apartment D. One of the neighbors, Wednesday morning, saw the article In the paper and called at the address to learn if it were true, and found that the friends of the deceased had been seeking him all night and had heard nothing from him. It seems strange that The Oregonian could learn his name and address . in time to publish It, and yet neither the hospital authorities nor the police knew it; or, if they did, they failed to notify the family. There is gross carelessness somewhere. Who is to blame? H. L. SHELDON. Time From Electricity. Indianapolis News. A six-foot clock which stands In an office at Carlisle. Pa., has been operated by electricity from the earth since 1870. A wire runs from the earth to a mag net in the clock and so constant has the supply of electricity been that the clock has run well-nigh continuously since it was invented. Special Fe atures for Sunday 7000 Years Ago Incidents of previous existence are recalled in a remarkable excursion into the realms of past centuries by Dr. Charles Arym, of Chicago. Are Yon An Ideal Wife? Beauty isn't necessary, but the good wife knows the value of good looks, says an expert who gives much good advice on the topic. Your Husband Are the po lice looking for him? Laura Jean Libbey writes on the dan gers of marrying men without learning all about their past. Why All These Roses? Clim ate provides the principal rea son that roses grow more pro fusely in Portland than any where on earth. Park Baboon Prayss Further more, he goes through his weird pranks unprompted, leading to speculation on the subject of his conduct. A Local Mermaid She is a girl of 18 who frolics in modern diving attire at the bottom of the river. A page feature in colors. Theodore Roosevelt He con tinues his story of his own life with another chapter on past legislatures. Greater Things for the Farm er A great new idea of im mense value to the country is gone into by the new Secretary of Agriculture. Brazos-A short story of the West by Edward L. Sabin. Gibson Pictures The widow wins new friends without losing old ones. MANY OTHER FEATURES Order today of your newsdealer.