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rORTLASD, SATURDAY. FEB. 31. 1914.
CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED.
When asked how he reconciled his
declaration against exemption from
canal tolls with the platform plank In
Ifavor of exemption, a Washington dis
patch says, "The President, without
the slightest apparent embarrassment
and with his characteristically expres
sive smile, promptly replied that po
litical ' planks are not binding when
the circumstances of a situation
change." ' - .
Certainly circumstances have
-ll u n rr rl Whan V. 1 .-.
adopted, Mr. Wilson wa3 striving to
become President; now he Is Presi
dent and Is sure of the job till March
4, 1917. When the platform was
adopted we had no Important cause
of friction with England except the
canal tolls; now we have to keep Eng
land in good humor during the slow
and painful process of eliminating
JIuerta from Mexico and while we
chase away any Englishman who at
tempts to procure a concession in
Central or South America. True, the
change has been brought about by Mr.
Wilson himself, but what difference
does that make?
m-uuiMaucts nave aiso cnangea
between the time when President Wil
son, of Princeton, expressed a desire
to see Mr. Bryan, then a private citi
een, knocked into a cocked hat and
the time when President Wilson, of
the United States, eulogized Secretary
of State Bryan's "justice, his trans
parent integrity, his capacity for busi
ness, his mastery of the principles of
each matter he has been called upon
to deal with." He is responsible for
Mr. Bryan's acts and is in the same
boat with the great Chautauqua lec
turer. He may realize that, under
present circumstances, if Mr. Bryan
were to be knocked into a cocked hat
he would be knocked into the same
head adornment. Hence the change
of circumstances explains the praise
which has taken the place of the de
sire for Mr. Bryan's elimination.
Circumstances have changed also
as to the single-term plank. When
that plank was nailed into the plat
form by Mr. Bryan, Mr. -Wilson was
striving for a first term as President.
One term looked so good to him that
he was willing to dismiss all thought
of another. Now he has the first term,
and it looks so good to him that he
would doubtless like another. He may
desire a further change of circum
stances, namely, a change in Mr. Bry
an's views on that plank. Were Mr.
Wilson to become a candidate for a
second term, he might be embarrassed
by copious quotations from the Com
moner, arguing in favor of a single
term amendment. Those arguments
must be- answered and reasons must
be found why an exception should be
made to the principle Mr. Bryan ad
vocated. Who could answer the ar
guments better than the man who
made them? As he has most influ
ence with the men whom they con
vinced, it is important to convince
him that they do not apply to the
circumstances which will exist in
1916, in order that he may convince
the men who follow him.
Of course, a platform comes handy
once in a while, when a President
wishes to "stand off a delegation of
perniciously active women, who try
to commit him to a measure to which
the predominating element in his nartv
is opposed. Circumstances may have
changed In regard to woman suffrage
since July, 1912. but one can conveni
ently ignore that -change and stand
firmly on the platform when the al
ternative is to step on dangerous
ground.
A platform Is all right in its Place,
but if one stands indifferently on any
or its planks and walks freely all
n, uioiin may give wav
or, being insecurely nailed,, may tip
up ana give one a nasty fall. There
fore, one should walk circumspectly
on one's platform, carefully selecting
soma planks to stand on and rejecting
otners. otherwise, a platform is bet
ter out or me way, for it is but a
pile of old lumber, full of bent nails
and nail holes.
THE PARENTS EDUCATIONAL BUREAU.
The purposes of the Parents' Edu
cational Bureau deserve alL praise. It
aims to give "young wives and hus
bands scientific and accurate inf or
matlon upon the subjects in which
they are peculiarly interested. Pre
natal influences, infant hygiene and
the .difficult subjects of adolescence
and sex education are among the
topics which will be treated in the lec.
tures offered by the bureau. The work
is admirably practical.
The system of measurements which
is applied to children often brings de
fects to light. Parents -will be taught
how to remedy these defects so that
their offspring need not go through
life needlessly hampered by curable
troubles of the eyes, ears, teeth and
so on. The proper care of babies is
also among the lecture topics of the
bureau. Everybody knows that chil
dren are often done to death by their
parents ignorance. Improper food
inadequate clothing, wrong habits of
exercise and neglect of cleanliness
Often inflict lasting injury on children
and not infrequently cause their
death. The only remedy for such mis
haps is education of the parents.
The bureau has mapped out a
course of lectures to run weekly until
next June. They include such sub
jects as "Frenatrl Hygiene," "Patent
Foods," "Common Ailments of Chil
dren and Their Treatment." "The Be
ginnings of Sex Education" and many
others of kindred nature. Besides
the lectures, the bureau conducts a
-system of eugenic tests under the care
of competent physicians. These are
made without charge.
As it develops, the work of the bu
reau seems likely to transform the
ideals commonly prevalent among un
educated parents upon the care of
young children. Nothing can be more
important to the welfare of the race.
Nothing has been worse neglected in
the past. There- is a prevalent super
stition that kindly nature gives young
parents all the knowledge they need
for the care of their offspring. Sad
experience proves that nature handles
this business very crudely. If we
lived under primitive conditions no
doubt we might depend upon nature
with some confidence, but modern
civilization is far from primitive and
we must take the trouble to supple
ment nature by science if we wish
the race to thrive.
- WHERE IS IT TO END?
The curious and significant feature
of the proposed recall is that it is
directed against Mayor Albee and
Commissioners Brewster and Dieck.
The retention in office of Commis
sioner Daly and Commissioner Bige
low is therefore satisfactory to the
subterranean ,recallers, whoever they
are. Cridge is put to, the front as
the leader of the . movement. The
stately figure of the reverberating
Wagnon looms in the background.
As they comprise the privy council of
Portland's single-tax newspaper, there
is room for conjecture as to the re
sponsibility of that devious Journal
istic mole for the latest manifestation
of professional public disturbance.
Any proposal to recall the entire
City Commission would at once bring
up anew the issue as to commission
government. But a scheme to recall
part of the Commission and to leave
undisturbed the radical minority
makes the matter either personal or
political, or both. What impulse of
pique, or revenge, or ambition, has
this precious recall, anyway? What
excuse for continued agitation or for
execution of soap-box threats or So
cialistic intimidation is to be offered
in its behalf?
The whole business is disgusting. Is
there never to be an end to the up
setting and demoralizing reign of the
demagogue, or of envious and de
structive TTRenlsm?
ARE TRUSTS EFFICIENT?
Modern economic methods of trusts
are being investigated by the United
States Commissioner of Corporations
with a view of enabling students of
the subject to determine whether they
have really an economic excuse for
existence. In defense of trusts, it is
contended that by production on a
large scale and by combining a num
ber of plants they reduce the cost of
production and distribution, with the
result of lower prices to the consumer.
and that, therefore, trusts are a di
rect benefit to the public.
Commissioner Davles sums up the
case against the trusts by reciting the
contention that they are organized to
exploit the public by stock-Jobbing
schemes, or to control the market and
exact unduly high prices. Many have
failed and thus demonstrated their
economic inefficiency. Those which
have obtained control have prospered.
but through monopoly, not superior
efficiency. There is a point beyond
which increase in size does not bring
greater economy and efficiency, but
causes loss and waste, the maximum
efficiency being obtained by concerns
of moderate size. The claim to ef
ficiency is declared a blind for the
purpose of getting control and exact
ing excessive prices or of Issuing wa
tered stock.
Mr. Davies does not express his ad
hesion to a view either favorable or
adverse to trusts; he even admits that
the problem cannot be solved dog
matically, but he says an analysis and
study cannot fail to throw much light
upon the question. Those who have
followed the revelations as to the op
erations of the trusts and the course
of prices can hardly escape the con
clusion that they have capitalized ex
orbitant profits gained by the extor
tionate prices which monopoly en
abled them to exact. They have
checked individual initiative, inven
tion and industrial progress. Tiey
have turned loose in idleness with
great fortunes men whose factories
they have bought, and thereby have
converted into luxuriating loafers
many sterling citizens. Others, who
under competitive conditions, have
become heads of industries, have been
converted into salaried officials man
aging factories for great combina
tions. Such men have been over
shadowed, their activities cramped
and their initiative .destroyed or re
stricted.
Mr. Davies does well to study the
subject in detail, but we shall be sur
prised if he does not confirm these
conclusions.
FOR THE DAY OF WRATH.
When Taly tried to "return to an Inex
pensive plan" In collecting water rents. The
Oregonlan bitterly objected. It set up a
yell to awaken the dead. It screamed arid
shrieked and kicked. It called Dalv names.
It led the mobs that went to the City Hall
to bully the Commission Into abandonment
of a plan that would have saved 950,000 to
$100,000 a year. Shrieking at IJaly because
he tries to reduce the cost of collecting
water rents ana tnen shrieking at him be
cause he doesn't reduce it, Is wanton and
wilful persecution of Mr. Daly. Portland
evening Journal.
It is useless, of course, to. complain
of studied and vicious misrepresenta
tion from such a source, even when
presented in chaste and unexception
able language; but It may be well
enough to invite our excited friend to
examine the files of The Oregonian
and reproduce what it said at the
time of the storming of the City Hall
by an exasperated army of tax-ridden
citizens. It is nothing short of down
right falsehood to say that the "mobs'
Invaded the City Hall to protest
against the method of collecting wa
ter bills, either quarterly or monthly
The "mobs" constituted many Port
land owners of property, who -went
in person to tell Commissioner Daly
what they thought of his radical and
outrageous plan to make the water
rate a tax or lien against the owner
and not against the tenant. Mr. Daly
had fixed up a fine scheme to hold
the owner, no matter what became of
the tenant, who is the man that buys
and uses the water and who, with
the city, is the principal in the water
transaction.
The history of the great Daly re
form as to the expensive and elab
orate billing system is that the Com
missioner, at considerable cost, took
a postal-card referendum, with the
result that the water users by a large
majority voted for monthly collections
as against quarterly collections. But
Commissioner Daly, wholly disregard,
ing the verdict of his own referendum,
went ahead on his own account to
Install the -quarterly system and was
prevented only by the action of the
City Commission. The Oregonian de
clared then, as it declares now, that
the true way to efficiency and econ
omy was the old system of no bills,
The bill scheme, either monthly, or
quarterly, is costly, unnecessary and
troublesome.
It may be added, that The Orego
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1914.
nlan objected vigorously, to the meter
folly when it was first proposed,
pointing out the . consequences as to
large increase of overhead charges
and needless cost to the taxpayer. It
has never ceased to protest and, so
long as the city's water policy con
tinues to find new avenues 'of ex
travagance and ' waste, it will not
cease to protest.
The newest excuse for the million-
dollar meter idiocy is that the dis
tributing system is inadequate and
there is no way to perform the serv
ice except through meters or through
an enlarged distributing system. Wa
ter meters will not improve or en
large the distributing system. Not a
drop more nor less can be carried
through a 10-inch main or a '2-inch
lateral if a water meter is at the out
let. But, of course, by installing me
ters and fixing round charges the gen
eral use of water may be prevented,
thus carrying out the Daly ideal of
perfect water service, which is to give
the user as little as possible and make
him pay for it. Millions of gallons
of unused water are now going into
the sewers in Portland. This state
ment is literal not figurative. For
some incomprehensible reason a ra
tional water policy is entirely reversed,
so that the city may waste at the in
take and save at the faucet-
Undoubtedly, when the great proj
ect of installing meters everywhere, so
as to limit the usa of our overabun
dant water, shall be consummated, we
shall then be told that the distributing
system must be dug up and replaced.
because the user cannot get what he
is willing to pay for. Tet it is now
pretended that the sole purpose of the
meters is to make the consumer pay
for what he gets and to let him have
all he wants.
The City Commissioner who lessens
the load on the taxpayer and the
home-owner is the public officer who
will Just now most nearly realize the
universal desire. But the City Com
missioner, or other public . official,
who continues to devise new ways of
spending the public moneys and who
seems somehow to think that the pa
tience of the public is boundless and
its capacity to yield more and more
to. the tax-eaters cannot be exhausted,
is storing up a day of wrath.
A MIRACLE EXPLAINED.
Ninety-nine normal people out of
every hundred are deeply interested
in magicians' tricks. Most of us would
like to believe that they are pure
magic. We resent learning the ex
planation of them because it helps de
stroy the world of illusion in which
we delight to live. When a trick is
exhibited by a vaudeville performer
or a spiritual medium which nobody
can explain the audiences go wild
with joy because they fancy that at
last they have a real miracle before
them. A gT.eat authority has alleged
that fully three-fifths of mankind be
lieve in witchcraft, which may be an
overstatement, but it is certain that
almost five-fifths are hungry for mir
acles. We far prefer the occult to
exact science. There are millions of
men and women today who spend as
much time over the Kabbala, astrol
ogy, magic and mediumship as would
suffice to master all ' the secrets of
electricity. Tho latter knowledge
vould be substantial and genuine. The
former is mere moonshine and decep
tion. But, as a certain great man
once remarked, the human race loves
to be humbugged. We rejoice to pay
a spiritual medium hundreds of dol
lars a week sometimes for deceiving
us, while it is as much as a real sci
entific man expects if he does not
starve to death.
Perhaps the greatest of those mir
acles which en-trance and fool the
devout believer in miracles is "spirit
portrait painting" Not spirit pho
tography, that is an entirely differ
ent thing. The fine art we speak of
paints the portrait of a departed soul
In oil colors on a white canvas before
the eyes of the raptured spectator.
His aunt, with hex thin gray curls;
his revered grandfather, with his
chimney-pot hat; his beloved mother-in-law,
gone before years ago, but not
forgotten, any of them can be pro
duced on canvas by spirit power at
the word of command. The judicious
reader will confess unhesitatingly that
this is a more wonderful exhibition
of superhuman power than writing
slate messages or even composing
poetry. Yet it is done. Nay it is done
commonly. The indulgent spirits even
exhibit their artistic gifts on the
vaudeville stage surrounded by criti
cal Investigating committees and
faced by enthusiastic audiences.
The apparatus for this miracle, like
that for most others, is extremely
simple. We learn from a pamphlet
by David P. Abbot, who has investi
gated many mysteries of the ever
green shore, just what is needed for
it. - Inasmuch as some readers may
like to repeat the marvel in the sanc
tity of their own dwellings we shall
describe it with some little care. One
needs first an open . frame with a ta
ble for it to stand on. Before the
frame he must place two clean white
canvases upright and close together.
The spirits, if properly invoked, -.vill
paint the portrait between the two
canvases. Of course they could not
be expected to produce their extra
ordinary effects without some little
solicitation. Behind the frame is to
hang a bright light of any sort, pref
erably an electric arc, in whose bril
liant rays one can, if he Is devout
enough, actually behold the spirits at
work on the picture. The light shines
through the double canvas with a
clear luminosity, proving that there
is no fraud or deception. The vigi
lant investigating committee walks
round and round the apparatus on the
watch for humbug and finding none.
All is" open, honest and candid. When
all is ready and everybody is satisfied
that there is no deception the super
natural agencies are invoked and the
painting begins. Mind you, it is all
done between the two canvases In the
plain sight of the beholders. At first
there Is a slight darkening at the can
vas edges. Then a roseate soft glow
appears in the center. Black lines
are sketched In where in due time
eyes shall open. The lips are out
lined, the hair shows vaguely. In. a
moment, or two the spirit artists be
gin to work more eagerly. The colors
are -fairly showered on the canvas.
The eyes ppen wide, the cheeks take
on the hues of rose and lily and ere
the rapt worshipper has ceased to
wonder there- before him stands the
complete counterfeit of the one he has
loved and lost, beautifully .painted on
a charming background.
Originally the miracle was per
formed in tho bright light from a
sunny window. The double canvas
was placed on a table before the win
dow, black curtains were drawn close
to it on all sides and the illumina
tion shone through about as effectual
ly as it does from the arc light on the
vaudeville stage. Tne miracle la for
tunately so simple that anybody, even
a child of 10, can perform it. That
is, he can if the spirits will obey his
commands. The mystery is, of course,
how to invoke the supernatural pow
ers. This is the way to do it. Pause,
gentle reader, before going ahead and
prepare yourself for a dread revela
tion. We' are, in fact, about to dis
close one of the darkest mysteries of
the other world. Listen and learn.
A day or two before the seance takes
place the medium procures a photo
graph of the departed, whose portrait
is to be painted by spirit artists. The
photograph is turned over to an art
ist of flesh and blood, who paints a
copy of it on canvas. This copy is
at hand when the seance opens and
at the proper moment is deftly slipped
behind the front canvas in place of
one which is removed.
Please do not wag an incredulous
head at this point. The substitution
can be done before your very face
and eyes and you will never dream of
it. The canvas bearing the portrait
is pushed back into . the frame at
first and the light shines through
without revealing a suspicion of the
picture. But as the portrait is gently
moved nearer to the canvas in front
of it the picture begins to show
through and little by little, as it
comes closer and closer, it all grows
visible. The front canvas is then re
moved with proper incantations and
the spirit portrait of the loved and
lost is ready for delivery. This trick
puzzled psychic researchers for many
years. Thousands of dollars were
paid for the right to exhibit it when
the secret first became known to the
profane, but it is now common prop
erty and like so many other sacred
ikons and holy ceremonies it is rid
iculed by those who once adored it.
Representative Bryan, of Washing
ton, has moved to abolish an injustice
in the law regarding the liability' of
shipowners for injury or death of em
ployes or passengers. He has intro
duced, a bill which abolishes the
present limitation of liability . to the
ship and freight money. In the case
of the Titanic the total liability under
American law is $96,000, while under
English law it is $3,000,000. Natur
ally the Titanic's owners try to have
suits tried under American law and a
suit is on appeal to the Supreme
Court to decide this question. Mr.
Bryan's bill would render any prop
erty of the shipowner liable for dam
ages suffered on one of the owner's
vessels. He has moved in the direc
tion of justice.
An ingenious critic has at last dis
covered an infallible test for good
English. Read the passage under ex
amination aloud. If the voice rises
and falls in a pleasant rhythm almost
by necessity the style is good. If it
Is kept down to a humdrum monotony
then the style is bad. This affords an
easy way for any aspiring author to
compare, his own style with Milton's
or Defoe's. All he needs to do is to
read passages from ' each and see
which modulates the voice most har
moniously. Usually he will find that
It Is his own which does so.
If al, classes of business enjoyed
the rivalry shown by the undertak
ers the world would be in a mad
race. The intensity of competition is
shown by the offer of a local concern
to remove bodies from the poor farm
at a rate of 1 cent each. It is said
death has a grip that cannot be shak
en; yet' there must be a post-mortem
clutch that is remarkable.
The increase of wages secured by
5000 Burlington employes will amount
to $100,000 annually. This is an av
erage of $20 a year and certainly Is
not much of a victory other than to
extract a big sum from the road's
earnings.
A man, said to be a. retired farmer
from Seattle, was killed under an au
tomobile at San Diego the other day,
Generally the days of the retired
farmer are few, although all do not
come to a violent end.
The merrv bandits who held on th
Queen and Crescent train and got
4u,uuu. Dut missed another $10,000
were jolly enough to give that dis
count for cash.
Scientists are still trying to classify
the bones of that 3,000,000-year-old
man. Bet It's the remains of the
first man to predict intervention In
Mexico.
If the influx of non-resident stu
dents crowds the high schools, the
only thing to do Is to build more.
Portland must be paternalistic and
easy.
. Two jealous lovers with but a single
revolver toolc turns shooting each oth
er, tossing a coin for first shot. Score:
Two fools less in the world. .
An Australian woman is touring the
world in a coat with $2000 worth of
gold buttons. It is just as well that
she can afford to lose it.
Secretary Daniels will encourage
marriage of Naval officers. Great op
portunities await the miss who longs
tor an absent husband.
A neutral zone has been set nnrt
for the impending battle at Torreon.
Trouble is, most of the warriors will
try to slip Into It.
Besides flooding 'the orange groves
that California storm put another
crimp in the "favored climate" bun
combe. Butte women will not be allowed to
serve tea at tjie registration booth.
For who knows what they might put
into it?
Maryland lawmakers would bar
high heels and late dancing. Want to
ruin the doctors and undertakers?
But, after all, floods are possibly
not so destructive as frost in the- cit
rus belt of "sunny" California.
Corncob pipes are the Gill symbol
in Seattle's Mayoralty fight. Must
Hi's women supporters learn?
Bloodhounds ' will be used to trail
the $40,000 train robbers. Their es
cape is assured.
The wicked saloonkeeper at Cove
would better vanish ere Miss Hobbs
arrives.
The Thaw legal .battle is to open
again. What! Thaw's money still hold
ing out?
What- California needs now is a
fleet of inlarrd steamers. '
Villain Villa ia in trouble again. y
MENACE OF .ALIEN IMMIGRATION.
Democrat ' "Will Leave Party it Some
thing la Not Done About It.
LENTS, Or., Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) One of the most important ques
tions affecting - the welfare of the
American people is now before the na
tion, the subject of the restriction of
immigration. According to The Ore-
gonian's accounts. President Wilson
and Congress -do not apparently realize
me menace the ever-increasinar foreign
population Is to the American citizen,
and especially on this Western Coast,
where capable men and- women are
constantly compelled to compete with
aliens.
I boarded an early car on mv wav
to work, and saw that nearly all of
me passengers were foreigners, going
to their employment, who were not cit
izens, as I inquired of the one who
appeared to be their interpreter, while
in the downtown district charity was
feeding about 1400 men. some of them
skilled workmen and most all Amer
icans, according to reports. Yet there
are people of such small mental cali
ber that they will declare that there is
employment for all if they will only
work, but lose sight of the fact that
work without a living compensation,
with Its demoralizing tendency, is about
as un-American as anything that could
be imagined. These foreigners coming
here In hordes are rapidly and surely
displacing our own and robbing us of
our nerttage.
If President Wilson and Congress
could only realize the havoc caused by
the admission of this foreign element,
which taints our laws and retards de
velopment, they would close the doors
of our country and protect our own
from those who can be nothing but
undesirables in the light of this great
injustice done to our Americans, and
care for our own first and nip in the
oud this great peril to our homes.
Even wealthy men have made pub
lic statements that they were opposed
to trie landing- or another workingman
or woman until those already here and
our native-born Americans were all
provided for, and how much more do
we who come in daily competition with
mem tear me great innux or tnis ele
ment. As it looks to me, at short range, no
more should- be allowed here, except
it might be dependent female relatives
of men who had taken out their citizen
ship papers, and then In no degree
further removed than mother or sister.
I am a registered voter of Demo
cratic affiliation, but If our Demo
cratic party sees not the duty it ojyes
to our American citizens, both male
and female, and has not the patriotism
to stand by our own people by exclud
ing these usurpers of our heritage.
even at the risk of the displeasure of
other governments, I am ashamed of
It, and will not cast my vote in sup
port or such cowardice.
REGISTERED DEMOCRAT.
AVOID REAL ESTATE INFLUENCES,
Market Block Site for Auditorium
Pleases Averase Citizen.
PORTLAND. Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) If there is any one in all Port
land who has not fully informed him
self as to the accessibility and desira
bility of the Market block as the best
site for the auditorium, he ought to
become satisfied if he will read the
excellent article in The Oregonian of
F ebruary 17, by Thomas J. Bulger.
iso otner place suggested is more
accessible for either walking, or for
car service. What then is the reason
for the constant and continued effort
to decry It and insist on the choosing
or some other site? The answer ii
found in three words: Real estate spec
ulation. . The city owns the' market
block and nobody can secure a com
mission for either buying or selling it.
One of the excellent gentlemen on
the auditorium committee gave as his
chief objection to it the fact that only
amaii lactones and unimportant busl
ness places were apt to be ever built
up around it. While he is not a real
estate dealer, his anxiety and care for
that influential class of our citizens is
shown in his words. There cannot be
any great real estate speculation
around it, because there it will not
greatly enhance the price of property.
It is really strange, to average
man, the extent to which all business
interests in all cities of the West cater
to the real estate dealers; how they are
considered In every booster or devel
opment move. If they cannot reap some
Kind of harvest there is nothing doing.
To us same average citizens this 1
becoming a little bit tiresome. We
want public buildings and institutions
for the benefit of the whole people, re
gardless of whether anybody turns a
dollar in real estate, in connection
therewith.
The city owns the Market block: its
location is unexcelled, if equaled by
any other site suggested,, and it is the
only one that combines size with good
location. We do not believe this block
can be sold and another one purchased
by the city at a profit. We have never
yet known the city to get the best of
a real estate deal. We do know some
one has to be paid to sell and to buy.
Therefore, speaking for Just the aver
age citizens those who own homes
and desire "to see Portland, East, West,
North and South, grow and become
great, I say let the City Commission
do the natural, logical, sensible thing
Build the auditorium on the Market
block. HORACE ADDIS.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of FetC 22, 1864.
Charleston, Feb. 8. The enemy re
sumed fire on the city last evening. A
200-pound shell exploded last week in
a blacksmith shop, killing and wound
ing six men.
Baltimore, Feb. 13. A passenger
train on the .Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road was waylaid by guerillas two
mrles west of Martinsburg, Va.. yes
terday, thrown from the track and the
passengers robbed of 40 or 50 watches
and $4000. Cavalry pursued and cap
tured 10 or the bandits.
Chattanooga, Feb. 12. The Army Is
under marching orders.
Washington, Feb. 14. Captain Por
ter, of Jhe Fourteenth New York Cav
alry, arrived from Richmond today,
having escaped from Llbby Prison a
week since. He reports that the
rations issued to our officers in prison
consisted of a quart of rice to 16 men
and every eight days a small piece of
corn bread and four ounces of very
poor fresh meat.
The O. & N. Company have a place on
the river just below the city where a
boat that has become too old or unfit
for business has been taken and th
plafe is becoming known as the bone
yard; There are at present, remains
and all, six boats lying at the bone
yard. The pioneers of Portland will
remember the James P. Flint, which
was afterwards remodeled . as the
Fashion. She is a total wreck. The
Senorita'is next in place; she was
originally the liazelle. She was blown
up on April 11, 1854, when leaving
uaneman ior saietn. Killing 25 or 30
persons, among wnom was Mr. Page,
one of her owners. In. August 1855.
she was re-launched, refitted and put
upon the Cascades route. After a few
trips her hurricane deck was blown
oft and she was laid up.
Several blocks on First street, at the
upper end of the city, have for some
days been flooded with water, so much
so that occupants had removed the
planking on the walks in front of
their premises and sunk trenches to
drain their lots. At one of these places
a party of boys had congregated yes
terday, amusing themselves by build
ing dams on either side and floating
moaei cran. witn run rtg and sails
set, in the avenue that should be used
by pedestrians.
WATER METERS ARE OBJECTED TO,1
Commissioner Daly's Innovation Ia
Criticised aa m I7aeleaa Extravagance.
PORTLAND. Feb. 16. (To the Edi
tor.) While the citizens of Portland
are invoking the referendum against
the proposed auditorium site, would it
not be well also to Institute proceed
ings against the proposed extravagant
waste of taxpayers' money in the mat
ter of water meters? Commissioner
Daly, apparently backed by the entire
Council, shows a disposition to save at
the spigot and waste at the bung. He
planned to saddle the property owners
with the collection of water rentals and
to transfer certain other outlays to
other departments, in order to make an
economical showing in the Water De
partment. Now he proposes to burden
us with an enormous expense for the
purchase and operation of perishable
property of which there is very ques
tionable need. We shall scarcely get
these meters paid for before they will
be worn out and another bond Issue
will be necessary to replace n. and
all this expense for the purpose of
saving something of which we have, at
present at least, so abundant a supply
that we cannot use nearly all of it, even
with the alleged waste which so vexes
the economical heart of Commissioner
Daly. And the clerk hire proposed to
be saved by requiring property own
ers to collect water rentals would be
as nothing compared with the cost of
maintaining the army oi employes
which would be required in the use of
water meters throughout the residence
districts.
Also, with a meter the small house
holder would naturally try to reduce
his water bill as much as possible. Now,
one of my friends recently had a great
deal of trouble and expense f'nm sewer
obstruction, the cause of winch, accord
ing to the plumber, was that not enough
water passed through the sewer to
properly flush it. Hence the small user
would be liable to pay out In plumb
ing bills what he saved In water
rentals.
Why not return to the old method
of automatio collection of water bills,
when each user called at the office
and paid his flat rate rental by a cer
tain date each month, under penalty of
having his water connection turned off
and having to pay a fee for having it
turned on again? There was no expen
sive meter system, no expense of send
ing out bills, and no commission to a
collection agency. Under that system
the rate to the ordinary consumer was
reduced from $1 to 75 cents a month,
and. I never heard of any one making
complaint of hardship In having to go
to the water office each month to pay
his bills.
The present City Commission is fore
doomed to failure if it persists in in
curring needless and unprofitable ex
pense in the way of changes, innova
tions and different kinds of experts
which only add to the burden of the
already overburdened taxpayer.
W. W. COX.
POPULAR FASHIONS IN POLITICS.
Common Citizen Cinched Up Until
Pecuniarily Uncomfortable.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) As I never got anything out of
this world- that I didn't have to work
for, I have of necessity learned econ
omy in its real meaning. Unlike1 some
of our tax-increasing officials, I have
found that it doesn't pay to spend more
than $7 and three hours' time to find
a nickel we may have lost the day be
fore. So when I see so much good
Bull Run and cheap hot air going to
waste, I begin to wonder why some
Inventive genius doesn't devise a way
to convert the two into steam and thus
derive power enough to force some
common sense into our political ad
ministration. I suppose that politics and dress are
about alike in .showing modern ad
vance;, the more they cinch us up and
the more uncomfortable they make us,
the more up-to-date we are. But
honest labor doesn't seem to have much
need for either one.
We've been coaxed along with prom
ises of economy like the mule with the
straw tied to a stick and held in front
of his nose, till I for one now want
to see the promise fixed on something
more substantial. Instead of paying
$26,000 a year for five Mayors and
furnishing a marble palace for them to
quarnel in, and numerous secretaries
and slaves to hold back the multitude,
why not do more as we do when we
want some real work done?
If we want a building put up we
contract for it and hold the contractor
to his bonds; if we want f. street im
proved or other work done we find it
cheaper and more satisfactory to let
it out So why wouldn't the same
thing hold good in such things as col
lecting water rates also? The expense
of this service has increased threefold
In the last couple of years and the
lack of service has also increased in
even greater proportion. Now it ap
pears we are about to get another Jolt
by Daly's plan to increase the divi
dends on meter factory stock.
In my estimation we would do well
to use the present expense as a base
and instead of paying for short-lived
promises, pay a practical man a per
centage of what he can eava the city
and at the same time let him furnish
bonds that he will do the work ac
cording to contract Thus the people's
Interests would be his Interests, no
extra burden would be placed upon the
payroll, satisfaction would be guaran
teed by the bonds and the desire for
reappointment, economy would be real,
not promissory, and the scales of jus
tice might come nearer balancing.
H. E. SANAS.
CROSSING FLAGMEN ARE NEEDED.
Correspondent Condemn Unarnarded
TrafiVc Conditions on Railway.
PORTLAND, Feb. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) Why is it that when all the
country Is clamoring for "safety first"
here in one of the most progressive
cities of the progressive West, an in
terurban railway is allowed to oper
ate heavy, three and four-car trains
through the very center of town on
grade crossings without flagmen at
the corners?
Such a condition would not be tol
erated even in sleepy old New England,
for there in many towns of less than
5000 population, regular flag stations
are kept at -every important corner,
while in cities less than half the size of
Portland all heavy trains must run
over viaducts above the city streets.
When the old steam trains gave
place to trolleys on Fourth street,
there was a feeling that ail objection
able features, of that line had been
eliminated. This was erroneous. Only
the minor evils of smoke and noise
were cured. The great factor of
danger still remains, for a heavy train
no matter what its motive power
may be gains such momentum, even
when traveling at a very low rate of
speed, that in case of emergency it
would be almost impossible' to stop
In time to avoid accidents. This is
true especially on a grade like South
Fourth street
And what does the railroad say In
case of such accidents? It claims that
the fault must lie with the victim, for
if he had come to a complete stop he
would not have been struck. Does
this sound reasonable? Are we to have
a dead line drawn down Fourth street
at which all city traffic must pause
whether a train is coming or not; or
would it not be more practicable to
compel the railroad company to elevate
its line from Montgomery street down,
or at least to provide flagmen or elec
tric semaphores?
RICHARD L. MASTEN.
A Well-Mated Pair.
Exchange.
Knicker Thay seem a well-mated
pair.
Bocker Oh, yes, botanlcally. She is
a society bud and he is a blooming
idiot
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of Feb. 21. 18S9.
Washington, Feb. 20. Both Houses
today adopted the conference report on
the admission bill.
Salem. Feb. 20. The House this
morhing followed the example of the
benate and refused to sustain the Gov
ernor's veto of the Railroad Commis
sion bill.
Salem, Or., Feb. 20. The bill for the
consolidation of Portland, East Port
land and Albina was amended by. the
Senate by submitting consolidation to
a vote of the people of each of the
three cities. The House concurred in
the amendments. The Governor will,
of course, veto It on account of the
exemption of bonds from taxation.
David Henshaw. who for the past
eight years has been foreman -of the
molding shop of the Smith & Watson
Iron Works, recently purchased a farm
near Milton and is about to remove
there. The mold ers presented him with
an upholstered easy chair.
Miss Rachel Gantz, who has taught
languages and drawing for the past six
years, died yesterday.
John Campbell' has removed his real
estate office from No. 9 Washington
street, to No. 8 Stark street.
A building permit was Issued yes
terday to Hon. H. W. Corbett to ereot
a five-story brick building at the cor
ner of Third and Oak streets, to cost
This evening the educational mass
meeting will open Its sessions. The
exercises will consist of an address of
welcome by Miss E. C. Sabin. city su
perintendent of schools, and a response
by Professor S. T. Adams, followed by
lo-iuiiiuiB speecnes Dy ixev. J. T.
Driver, Hon. M. C. George, Professor
W. N. Hull, Dr. Ross C. Housrhton. Dr.
George H. Chance, President D. T.
btanley and Rev. T. L. Eliot The above
will be interspersed with music by
Mrs. Wetsell, Mrs. Goodsell, Miss
Jones, a glee club of East Portland,
Miss Lalla Dalton and Miss Dora
Humphrey.
Sidewalks are needed very much
leading north to the Albina limits
from the bridge at Fourth and Clay
streets. East Portland.
'Mrs. William Frazier has returned
from California.
The City Council was asked to
authorize sale of the remainder of the
old City Cemetery to James Terwilliger
tor $500.
Author of Mouae-Trap Quotation.
BAKER, Or., Feb. 18. (To the Editor-)
Your many readers may be inter
ested to learn the author of the quota
tion called the "mouse-trap" quotation,
which has been so often attributed to
Emerson, and which no student has
ever been, able to find in Emerson's
workB.
These are the lines: . "If a man
preach a better sermon, write a better
book or build a better mouse-trap than
his neighbor, though he build his house
In the woods, the world will make a
beaten path to his door."
The following from the library pub
lication. Public Libraries, for .February,
1914, is self-explanatory:
A Long-Sought Clue.
A recent statement of Mr. George P. Brott,
of the MacMillan Company, speaks of the
author of "the mouse-trap Quotation" as
Dr. John B. Faxton, pastor of the Wesi
Presbyterian Church, of New York City.
18S2-1S63. used In the sermon, "lie Oouid
Not Be Hid." LULA M. SMITH.
SPECIAL
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What's new in fandom.
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Your Vocation
It should be determined by your
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Why Ex-Convicts Return
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Speeding Her Machine '
It isn't an automobile, but a
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What Your Pen Tells
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Ferocious Actors
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Writing a Play
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As to Corporations
In this Theodore Roosevelt tells
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A vital chapter in the Roosevelt
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False Pride
It will surprise you to learn just
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A delightful little love story by
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