6
ttjv. 3rOT?XTXG OT?F(tOXTA'N ,f"VWAY. MARCH 2, 1914.
Mt$Bw$mxnn
.,- PORTLAND, OREGON.
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 2, ' 1814.
USD BILLS TO. THE FRONT,
The West has refused to await
President Wilson's leisure for the
opening of its public land to develop
'ment, and he and his Cabinet are now
co-operating with committees of Sen
ate and House in preparation of bills.
If all of these should be passed, we
shall have practically a new code of
land laws. Bills have been or soon
will' be introduced for the leasing
of Alaska coal land and for the de
velopment of some coal' mines in
Alaska by the Government to supply
the Xavy; for the development of
water-power on Government land In
the United States proper; for the
leasing of coal, oil, gas, potash and
phosphate land in the United States;
and for general revision of the min
ing laws governing metalliferous ores.
Several bills are pending which areJ
designed to ease the way of the home
steader, both on irrigated and - other
land. . '" ' . ''
The most urgent of these measure,
from the standpoint of public polled,
is that relating to Alaska coal larid.
Now that the Government is commit
ted to construction of railroads in
Alaska it must without delay take
steps to provide fuel and traffic. The
first step is the opening of the coal
land. It should be practicable to fee
cure enactment of a law for this pur
pose at the present session.
The same general principles which
would be applied to Alaska coal land,
should be applied to coal, oil, gas,
potash and phosphate laud in the
Western states. Hence when a deci
sion is reached as to Alaska, there
should be little controversy as to the
Wert. The principal controversy is
likely to arise over the terms of leases
and over the disposition to be made
of the royalty. The bill relating to
Western resources embodies the gen
eral principles recommended in Sec
retary Lane's annual report use of
royalties' in development of arid land,
and, upon repayment by the settlers,
division in equal shares between the
Government and the states, the latter
to apply the money to schools and
development.
AVe may expect Congress to' divide
Into three main camps on these bills.
In one will be the genuine .conserva
tionists of both old parties who will
rally to the support of the Adminis
tration bills. In another will be the
reactionaries of the Mondell type,
who oppose permanent retention .of
title to public land by the Govern
ment and any form of leasing. In the
third will be the Pinchot conserva
tionists, who wish the West to pay
rent for its land to the whole Nation
without any allowance for the fact
that the West is to produce this rent.
Mr. Pinchot will rally to his side those
selfish Kastern states, whleh.-.after
having wasted their public land like
the prodigal, -.-wish to share equally in
the proceeds of Western land. :'.. :
The principal battle promises Ho
rage over the terms of power-site
leases, the Pinchotites wishing the
plant to revert to the Government'
without compensation at the end of,
fifty years, while the Western men
insist that the Government merely. re
tain an option to purchase the plant
at the end of that period. Under the
Pinchot plan, power companies must
either be permitted to charge rates
high enough to refund their entire
investment at the end of fifty years
or the, investment will not be . made
and power .villi continue to run to
waste. Under the Western men's
plan, the consumers of power would
pay minimum rates. The Pinchot
plan would commit the Government
to public ownership of power plants
at the end of fifty years; the Western
plan would simply give the Govern
ment the option of choosing at that
time between public and . private
ownership.
The rational conservationists of the
West in Congress need to stand to
gether for the interests of their states
when these bills are considered and
there is good prospect that they ' will
do so. Without eregard to party the
Republican Senator Borah . and the
Democratic Senator Walsh " stand
shoulder to shoulder for Western.ln
terests. Upon ' their judgment . and
success . depends the development 'of
66,000,000 acres of land which ' has
been withdraw as valuable .for min
eral fuel, fertilizer or water-powen.
When development ljas been made at
tractive ' to capital - without sacrifice
of National and state interests, -the
West will advance at redoubled, pace.
camp is muddled, . r .
In its eagerness to show The Ore
gonian to be hostile to President Wil
son. the Albany Democrat - has ' first
misquoted and then misrepresented an
article in The Oregonian pointing out
certain tendencies of the Wilson Ad
ministration. We said that Mr. Wil
son's book, "The New Freedom,"
reeked with individualism, but that
the legislation passed and proposed at
his suggestion reeked with patenal
ism and socialism. The -; Democrat,
confounding the book with the prin
ciples put in practice by the Admin
istration and ignoring the fact that in-,
dividualism is the opposite principle
to paternalism and socialism, says: ;
From no leas, an authority than the Port
land Oregonian we learn that President Wil
son's "New ' Freedom" reeks with individ
ualism, paternalism and socialism.
After eulogizing the tarifT and cur
rency law and praising. the Adminis
tration for "divorcing business from
politics, exiling the lobbyist from the
National capital, and applying the
rules of common sense, efficiency and
honesty to the various departments
of government," the Democrat says:
Woodrow "Wilson is a Democrat. Because
he subscribes to the principles of the Dem
ocratic party be is opposed by The Ore-J
Igumau.
Mr. Wilson has been as often sup
ported as opposed by The Oregonian.
He was supported in pressing for pass
age of the currency bill and is now
supported as to the general provisions
of his anti-trust policy, as to" Govern
ment railroads in Alaska and as to his
public land policy.- His policy .with
regard to Mexico, the Spanish-American
republics and canal tolls, his de
partures from the civil . service law
and his handling of the " diplomatic
service are opposed. The. -Qregonian
cheerfully gives Mr. Wilson credit for
what it considers his good work, but
reserves freedom to criticise hint when
it considers that, he errs.
DANGER OF GOING TOO FAR.
There is danger that, unless' greatly
modified, the bill to define offenses
against the anti-trust law may do a
public injury as well as a public good
The bill, as it was introduced by Rep
resentative Clayton, would, though not
specifically,, forbid those associations
of farmers . and fruitgrowers which
have proved a benefit to consumer as
well, as producer. They have secured
a larger" price and a more certain and
wider market- for the producer, yet
have reduced the cost to the consumer
and have put the commodities in question-'
within the reach of, many Who
could npt formerly procure them
Yet there can be no question that they
restrict trade, prevent competition and
are - based on agreements to prevent
free and unrestricted competition
among their members.
Though this be the plain truth and
a strict interpretation" of the law
would require dissolution of these as-
sociatt6ns, they injure no one and con
fer" unquestionable benefits on many
Sound policy would dictate their ex
emption from the operation of the
law, but can exceptions be made un
der the Constitution, and, if they can
how shall a general rule be laid, down
without letting some pernicious com
binations survive?
These are questions for the states
men to consider and answer, if they
are to avoid destroying the wheat with
the tares.
PLAN FOR AN AERIAL NAVY.
.. If the recommendations of a special
board on naval aeronautics should be
adopted ' the present Administration
will to"ome extent atone for its par
simony in building warships by in
creasing the effectiveness in war of
the ships we have. This board rec
ommends an aero naval service which
would cost $1,297,700, or about one
tenth as much as a modern battleship.
A fleet of fifty aeroplanes is pro
posed, one to scout for each fighting
unit, with one dirigible balloon to ac
company the fleet. Aeroplanes would
be carried not only on battleships and
scout ships, but on auxiliary vessels,
which would pick up and repair them
and supply fuel and extra parts. A
dirigible, which would cost J173.000
and would attain a speed of fifty miles
an hour, is proposed. It would be
provided with a ship . specially
equipped to serve as a base. Three
captive balloons v.ould do meteoro
logical work, and kites would be built
aboard ship.
These new military devices have the
merit of being comparatively inex
pensive. A Navy aeroplane," with all
the necessary outfit, spare engines,
propellers and other parts, would cost
only $10,000, and the annual cost of
maintaining fifty aeroplanes is est!
mated at only JlOO.OOO.i But. experl
ment may prove that one of these
little craft, skilfully . and daringly
handled, can cripple a' : $12,000,000
battleship. The drawback would be
that war vould become so cheap that
the smallest, most poverty-stricken
nation could afford to indulge in it.
THK HAMMER AS A MESSAGE.
The unemployed problem Is serious
enough without the complication of
prejudicial, statements. - This ,obserya
tion is induced by the appearance of
"A. Message, to the People", prepared
by . a- committee of the' Federation of
Labor. Its text Is a recital of assump
tions so well known- to be far from.
fact-that the proclaimed purpose of
the circular to unite the people and
officials in quest of a remedy for the
situation is more likely tO ';be -.discouraged
than aided, y -. ' '' V ' ?
Among causes of unemployment
this circular enumerates in most part
alleged influences wholly local- in
character, such as homeseekers' ex
cursions, advertising of- logged-off
lands and Irrigable tracts, community
"boosting," efforts of employers to
induce workmen to come West, ef
forts of Oregon employers to main
tain long hours and low wages and
the distribution of- "highly-colored"
advertising. s ' -r - . ' . .
Every one of the supposed factors
thus named would have only a sec
tional bearing on the labor problem.
Yet it is or ought to be well known
to the committee that ' grafted the
"message" that' employment exists
throughout the country in the same
degree that it does in Oregon. In Chi
cago, the problem of the unemployed
has caused the authorities to take a
census .of idle men through the me
dium of the police force. An Asso
ciated Press'dispatch sent out Satur
day night gave returns from twenty
sevn of the forty-five police' precincts
In the city and disclosed that In tlrose
precincts there are 28,231 Out of em
ployment. If the ratio- continues
throughout the cty there are iriore
than 46,000 idle.men in Chicago.
Yet Chicago does not' advertise
'logged-off, or semi-arid lands, tior
issue community literature,, nor mail
but "highly-colored" . advertising, nor
is it the destination of homeseekers'
excursions. . 4
- That the same conditions exist n
the extreme East has been indlcate'd
In other dispatches. Recent snow
blockades were reported as experi
enced in good grace because they pro
vided work for the many idle men.
Unemployment exists chiefly in the
cities and it is prevalent in nearly all
of them. The only near-by city
that is said to have .escaped is Ta
coma. There it is reported that in
February the city employment bureau
had more jobs than men to fill them.
The same efforts toward development
of latent resources have been made
in Washington as in Oregon. That
Tacoma has been more fortunate than
other cities Is ascribed by a Seattle
newspaper to the existence in Seattle
of a "free hotel for the unemployed."
There can be no doubt that there
is a serious state of unemployment.
Moreover it is aggravated In nearly
every city by the presence of those
who do not want work, but hope to
participate and do participate in the
relief offered the deserving. In Chi
cago the police report that only three
fourths of the idle men are willing to
! work. In Oregon we have had a
striking example' at Salem. There
upon a plea for work by a moving
army". forty men were provided with
places by the state. Two remained at
work.
There might have been something
sa'ld about this phase of the problem
of the unemployed in 'the "message
to the people of Oregon." There is
not a word.
THE CANNING IXDUSTSY
One of the marvels of modern trade
conditions is the rate at 'Whlcli the
canning industry has grown and is
still growing. Commercially speak
ing, the putting up of fruits, veg-
etables, oysters and other .products be
gan about fifty years ago iri the- City
of Baltimore. During the early years
of the Civil War a firm ef oyster deal
ers in that city began the sealing of
oysters in tin cans and from this be
gan the canning of . tomatoes, then
the canning of peas '' and peaches.
Thereafter the business was taken up
by others, for there are no patents
Involved, and soon it became a very
Important commercial proposition
The growth of the canning trade
was slow for a number of years, for
the reason that many people were
afraid to eat the products because of
belief that ptomaine poison lurked in
the tins of fruits and vegetables of
fered the public. This fear was soon
eradicated, for from, the very first
there have been few deaths from that
cause. . Indeed, it is stated. by those
who ought to know that. a thousand
deaths from eating ' decaying fruits
and vegetables that are alleged to be
fresh occur where . one comes from
unwholesome canned goods.
In the years 1911, 1912 and 1913
the pack of tomatoes, corn, peas, sal
mon and fruits amounted to almost
four billion tins, or an average of one
and one-third billion' tins a year, and
in that time there was not a single
well-authenticated cace of Illness
from eating canned goods of any va
riety, f
When we add to the five items giv
en the long list - of other products
canned sardines, milk. . other vege
tables, soups, meats, pork , and beans,
hominj-, plum pudding and scores of
others that will come to the mind of
the reader it is- likely that the fig
ures will be nearly doubled. There
fore ' there are consumed each year
fully 3,000,000,000 tins, or something
like 9,000,000 tins every twenty-four
hours.
These figures . are approximately
correct as to the past fifty years and
they give an inkling of what the
growth of the canning business may
be during the next half century. It
is altogether likely the increase 'will
be nearly as great. Indeed, the only
thing that keeps, the traffic down to
its present status is the expense of the
cans. . Already steps have been taken
to cheapen these . by substituting as
bestos and other materials for tin, and
meanwhile tin may become cheaper
through better trade conditions, such
as the elimination of trusts;
It is a satisfaction to know that the
Northwest is .getting into the canning
business in a way to bring profit to
our producers, particularly of pears
and loganberries.. It :1s said that the
Oregon Bartlett pears canned at the
co-operative plant at Eugene are hav
ing a ready Bale at gopd prices in
France and other portions of the old
world. It is the same with loganber
ries If our growers will get together
In the various-sections and. specialize
on these two products, then see that
canneries are put up.'-to. handle the
pack, we will be taking a long step
towards , universal . prosperity In Our
agricultural regions, for. we can beat
the world on these two products. Per
haps we can on others rbut when H
comes to Bartlett pears and logan
berries the Northwest has no opposi
tion in the wide world. . .
It is practically the- same with
prunes. Hence it seems the. part or
wisdom to see to it that interest in
these three products should not be
allowed to languish, .but" we should do
all In our power to, accelerate such in
terest; We should remember particu-
larly that the growing of .loganberries
ought to appeal to the newcomer, for
the reason that he-can secure a fair
crop the second year after ptanting.
whereas - with -such fruits, as apples
and pears the grower has to wait from
eight to ten years to get a. full yield
" : ; - - T
IXOYD-O.EORGE -f A STORM CENTtR.
Mr. Lloyd-George, the- British
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Is now
a target for the attacks of the London
Tinfes, the champion of those vested
Interests whereof the Iandlqrds are
the greatest. Mr. Lloyd-George's de
nunciations of the landowners have
been so wild as to have embarrassed
his colleagues, and the opinion pre
vails in London that a section of the
Cabinet, headed by. Premier Asquith,
Inspired the Times' attack and that
the Thunderer -deliberately tried to
provoke the Chancellor to- sue for
libel by accusing him of . political
bladkmail and lying and by insihuat-
ng mental infirmity. He was ac
cused of misrepresenting the terms
of a land sale- made by the Duke of
Montrose and his ' exclamation at
Limehouse: "Oh, these Dukes! How
they harass us! called forth severe
comment. ' " ".
There are, in fact, three main di
visions of political opinion in : Great
Britain, and they do not fully coin
cide -with party divisions.' The Union
ists stand for what is for established
institutions, existing ..privileges and
vested interests. They never make a
concession to the unprivileged except
to stave off a demand for still greater
concessions. The Liberals are for
progress-in doing away -with privilege,
but with moderation, being held in
check by the presence among them of
many whose interests would suffer.
The Radicals would sweep away every
remnant of rank and privilege lords,
church and titles and would take
the land for the use of the people.
Among them are included the Labor
party men, and probably a large ma
jority of the Irish Nationalists. They
create a resistless tide of public opin-
on which drives the reluctant Lib
erals along the road of what they con
sider progress.
Mr. Lloyd-George has placed him
self at the head of the Radicals and
uses his place in the Cabinet as a
vantage point for their assaults on the
Tories. Mr. Asquith has his hands
full with Irish home rule, .Welsh
church disestablishment and reform
of the House of Lords. As almost
every bye-election goes against him
he perhaps realises that the tide of
public opinion which carried him into
office has spent its force and that re
action has already set in. He prob
ably foresees thatMie cannot do more
than ' put through his present pro
gramme before a general election in
stalls a Tory Cabinet. This being the
tendency of public opinion, the reac
tion is only accelerated by Mr. Lloyd-
George's assaults on the landlords,
and Mr. Asquith may wish to hold the
fiery Welshman in oheok.
But the true British Radical drives
on regardless of such temporary set
backs as the overthrow of a Liberal
Cabinet. He no sooner sees one meas
ure upon which ho has set his' heart
well on the way. to enactment than
he begins pushing another to the
front,. If the Asquith Cabinet should
fall and the Tories : hould assume
power the Radicals may use the pe
riod of Tory , rule in making this new
measure the burning issue of the next
campaign. If they win, its chief
sponsor may expect to head the Cabi
net which will put.it on the statute
books. Thus personal ambition com
bines with political conviction, to urge
on Mr. Lloyd-George in his assaults
on the landlords, for the next "wave of
- l Liberal sentiment may make him Pre-
mier.
, The New York Court of Appeals has
given a new illustration of the prone-
ness of technical lawyers to defeat
justice. A packing company was con
victed of selling rotten meat and fined
$500. It . appealed. The appellate
court,. by a three-to-two decision, or
dered a new trial because incompetent
testimony was admitted. The minor
ity, though agreeing that some of the
testimony was incompetent, held that
sufficient other evidence was produced
to prove guilt, and the Globe says the
company "was caught red-handed with
the rotten meat." When will the
courts' learn that they exist hot to
make every verdict square precisely
with certain formulas, but to make it
square with Justice? When Ave criti
cise the courts we are accused of low
ering their dignity, when in truth they
lower their own dignity y their out
rages on common sense.
Governor Walsh, of Massachusetts,
appeared before a legislative commit
tee in favor of the initiative and ref
erendum, and expressed the opinion
that those -devices: would, be used in
but few instances. That depends on
the conditions attached. It may.be
so easy to invoke the "I ..nd R" that
the U'Rens, Parkisons and Cridges
will run riot in the old Bay State, and
corporate. Interests may be able to
hold up laws demanded by the great
majority of the people. On the other
hand, the - amendment may be so
hedged about with restrictions as to
be practically Inoperative. What is
needed is provision that, when a real
demand exists for a popular vote- on a
bill, it can be had, but that the cranks
cannot force the people to vote year
after year on their, hobbies and self
ish interests cannot defer operation of
needed laws.
At a time when Seattle had more
water than it could use and was re
ceiving more water revenues' than
were needed, that city, as is now pro
posed in Portland, installed a general
system of meters. - An article taken
from the Seattle Argus and published
in another column of The Oregonian
today tells the result. , Water is
"saved," only1 to go to waste. Reve
nues have decreased and overhead ex
penses increased. The consumer has
not gained anything because the water
rate could have been reduced without
putting in meters. Tire people's money
is pouring over spillways or flowing
away through the sewers. The benefi
ciary is the meter manufacturer.-
A large quantity of the records in
the Government's case against the
New ..Haven road has been eaten by
rals'aothat no: head or tail can be
made of what remains. They were
stored in the house which was occu
pied . by Cornelius Vanderbilt when
ever ' he visited Washington. This
house is now used by the Department
of Justice-and is, infested with rats
which are wary of -traps. The. .New
YorU World says they -are "long gray
rats -with, whiskers." ..Perhaps they
are some of the same rate which- ate
up the New .Haven road before they
ate up its records. "
-The United ' States is the greatest
producer of radium ore, having sup
plied two or three times as much -as
all, the rest Of the world in the last
two or three years,' but-nearlyr all the
ore-is' exported, and up to January 1
1914, only two grams of. radium, -had
been extracted in. '-this country. "Trre
company producing it - lias already
contracted abroad for most ' of this
year's output. . The foreign demand
Is bo great and the supply so small
that the price is far beyond the cost
of productiod. the total amount so far
extracted In the whole w-orld , not ex
ceeding one ounce.-
But-for the late Senator Teller, we
might have a Cuban problem as vexa
tious as the Philippine problem. At
the outbreak of the. Spanish war he
was the author of a resolution pledg
ing the United States not- to. annex
Cuba. Had that -resolution not been
passed we might :'have-been pestered
for years with the question "what to
do with Co ba."". As it Is, under .the
restraining influent-" , of the amend
ment Cuba is doing fairly-well by her
self. . , -
If von wish to' test the coaratra of any
Washington officiat ask him something
atout the llQuor. Question -Senator Kenyon.
Some day a man may arise in Con
gress who has enough nerve to light
for salvation of the army by restor
ing the canteen. Then watch the art
ful dodgers run to" cover;.-:. They are
afraid of the misguided - prohibition
ists- who are responsible for the de
moralization of the army; they- are
afraid of the liquor interests, which
thrive on our present policy; they are
affald of their owri shadows.
The boy . . at. Troy, Idaho, -who
knocked down his teacher with a
drinking cup as he was about to be
chastised stands better chance of be
coming a good citizen' If he gets the
deferred "larruping" at home.
Br'er Groundhog may have missed
his-reckoning, although there are two
weeks left in which to make .good.
Considering fruit buds, the two are
the best weeks for cold weather.
The thieve9 who -stole more than
200,000 from a postal wagon at a
Paris station Saturday are masters of
the art of arranging with accomplices,
Having Stopped cardplaying, shak
ing dice and swearing in the tele
phone, Albany does not leave much
diversion for its men folk.
. --
"After lapse of sixteen years, German
testimony is that Dewey did the right
thing in Manila Bay
It is Spring time on Mars, accord
ing to Professor Lowell, and the Mar
tian is damming the floods -
If earthquakes are due to spots on
the sun, there Is little, use in trying to
dodge them.
If you have not turned in your In
come statement, you'll have to hurry.
"Tom Kay, the Joke," would be hu
morous if it was not ghastly.
- Now to meet the meter bill.
Mother's Garden
Br Dean Collins. " ,
There's a breath of life-in the warm
earth panting; ,'; -. yi "" V
And swelling buds on the "branches
cling; .
And crocuses on the lawn are planting
The first, brave battleflags- of Spring:
Bold they blaze on the sod beneath,
Flinging defiance in Winter's teeth,
And winds from the North. tho.uglj
shrill and fleet, ' , -
May never scatter them in defeat." ...
The . world's athrill ' as- the buds
awaken;
I feel its urge; and the crocus' gleam,
Out of my memory's! chests has shaken
Thy fabric fair of an old, old dream;
Mother sits by the. window there
With packets of seeds strewn every
where, j.
And with eager zeal -and full -carefully.
She plans the garden that is -to be.
Hagio art hath my little mother,
Charming the earth and seeds and
showers; . .... .-
Maytlme shall find the yard a smother
Of wonderful,- sweet, old-fashioned
flowers;
Packet by packet she picks them well.
The seeds she will use in her Spring
time spell.
And the wind at the window sings elf-isrily.-
,
Of the wonderful garden that is to be.
- ' '
Ho, for the larkspurs purple and yel
low; The double daisies in flaming line;
The waxy bleeding hearts, plump and
mellow;
The trembling cups of the columbine;
The stalwart phlox in the garden set;
The dreamy scent of the mignonette;
And there by the hedgerow Hark, O
. hark! -
The ghostly - primroses burst in the
dark. ,
Ho,, for the rumbling, fairy, thunder
Of bumble bees in. the. scented bow
ers . .
Where, maudlln-wlnged, they bump and
oiunaer, . - - .
,Drunk with ? the :' honey of cosmos
flowers;
And humming-bird moths sing '."Zoom"
and 'Zoom,
Over the banked petunia1 bloom; . '
And the bold nasturtium climbs and
- - tells .. . - - ...
Its tales to the Canterbury, bells.
Under the eavesvof th porch are cling
ing .. .
Soft pink- garlands of. Mission rose:;
And 1 dream that I hear my mother
singing
Her garden charms where the' sweet
pea grows; .
And the lazy butterfly glides and rocks
Through pillared aisles of fho holly
hocks;
And the tiger-lily, with freckled face,
Grins through the goats-beard's snowy
lace.
Mystic priestess who can evoke us'
Blaze of bloom from the brown
earth's arms;
I see the vanguard of valiant 'crocus,
And know thou art brewing garden
charms;
And my fancy files, aB a swallow speeds,
To thy Springtime muster of garden
seeds, .
And, little mother, I plan with thee.
The old-fashioned garden that is to be.
SEATTLE FIXDS METERS COSTLY.
Water "Saved" at BIk Expense Allowed
s. to Ua to Waste. - ' . -.
Seattle .Argus.
And now it ist proposed in Portland
that water meters be installed. Uhlesa
the Portland water supply is unequal
to the demand, and that 'seems hardly
possible, tire only - people who- will
profit by. this . transaction are the marir
ufacturers of water meters, ' and the
Argus would suggest that the people
of Portland ascertain before aay deal
is made whether' or not that city is to
buy them at the lowest market rate.
The price of water meters has been
known to vary, according to circum
stances, and the amount and kind of
persuasion necessary to secure their in
troduction. ,
. Some years ago water meters were
introduced in Seattle, although their
use. "was not made compulsory. Those
who .use them, however,- are at present
getting their, water for less, excepting
during the Summer months, than those
who do not. The result has been that
their Use in cfutte general.
The amount of money which is saved
by individuals hr the use of water
meters comes out of. the profits ,of the
water department.-'-. -
In other words. Seattle could have
afforded to xeduce the water rates,
with no reference to the meters, as this
cMty was, at the time of their installa
tion, deriving more revenup froYn water
than was necessary. ' - ;
The installation of water ;meterg,
then, represents an investment of hun
dreds of thousands' of Hollars which is
unnecessary, and which oomes directly
from -the pockets of the water consum
ers. In addition to th$, a number of
inspectors are given jobs for all time,
reading he meters, and the salaries of
these inspectors will, it is estimated,
more than eat up any saving in water
that may be made. The water, which
la saved by this -method in Seattle at
present 'costs nothing, and is allowed
to go towaste. .
Portland, if she adopts wateV mefer6,
will find that her beauty will be sadly
marred. - The exquisite roses and well
kept lawns surrounding the homes-of
those in mbderate circumstances are
remarked by 'all visitors to the Rose
City. During the Summer it will be
found that the water rate of a man
properly keeping up a lot 30x100 is at
least dooble what it U during the non-
irrigating season. How many. Port-
landers will be movedj through motives
of economy, to allow their lawns and
flowers to suffer only a trial, will tell
And when once the water meters are
installed there is little chance that they
will ever be removed.
In Eastern cities, where thera is
tendency to let water run all night to
prevent the pipes from freezing, or in
cities where- the supply Is limited,
water' meters may be justified. But
under no other circumstances.
NO BENEFIT. IS HAD FROM METER
Wasteful Neltthnor Gets Minimum Rate
Although Water la Measured.
PORTLAND, Or.; Feb. 28. (To the
Editor.) There has been a great
amount of discussion about the water
meter being a benefit to the water
user. Now I have lived In Portland
two years and used all water through a
meter. There are . four of us in the
family, three of us away every day,
except Sunday. We keep lots of house
plants and flowers in tha garden in sea
son, also a lawn. - we use all tne water
we want through the season and pay
75 cents a month, In the Fall and Win
ter we only ' use .water tor house Use,
and still we 'pay -75 cents. Now' will
you kindly tell jne why there should
not be a difference when .we only use
it for the house. If there Is -no differ
ence, then what good is the, .meter
to usT -
One of our neighbors has four to six
in the family, as many house plants, as
large a lawn, one cow and four horses.
They apparently use twice as much
water on their lawn and to clean their
barn out as we use all together. Yet
they pay only To cents a month. In
addition, they take In lots of washing
for other families.' They also have a
meter. Should there not be a differ
ence? If not, what good is -the meter?
We would , be glad to know the why
of it. 1 A TAXPAYER. I
WORDS FOR
BOOTH
Numerous KewapapersSupport Eugene
t Senatorial Candidate,
Tillamook Headlight.
' There are indications that at the
next election the &. O. P. will be
United, -with clean men like Mr. Booth
on the ticlcet to carry It to .victory
once more, .'-, , --
.People for Mr. Booth.
Brownsville Times.
This journal is satisfied with the can
didacy of Senator R. A. Booth for this
important office, and we believe the
Republicans of the state are practically
of the same mind, i--
f One to. Get What We Need.
Cotfkge Grove Sentinel
Oregon needs business men' at Wash
ington If she is to get from Congress
and the departments the things to
which she is entitled. Mr. Booth seems
to be such a man.
Formidable aa Candidate.
Lebanon Criterion.
Senator Booth is one of the strong
men of the Republican party and would
make a formidable candidate were- he
chosen to represent the Republican
party .in the Fall election.
He Is Superior Man,
Harney. Vayey (Burns) News..-'
There will bs ready and widespread
encouragement all over the state for
Mr. Booth's candidacy for this or "any
other high office within the gift of the
state. He is a superior man from any
angle at wnica nmay be viewed.
Capability. Generally Admitted.
- . Roseburg- Review.
Announcefent of the candidacy of
Hon. R. A. Booth,, of Eugene, for the
United -States Senatorship will be
pleasing to his manv friends in thi;
county. That he is a. capable man for
that position will be generally admit
ted.
' ' Election Dead Easy.
, Mitchell Sentinel.
Mr. Booth is .a good sound Repub
lican, a clean .man, and would make
a Senator that the State of Oregon
would be proud of. He is the present
State ? Senator from Lane County. We
certainly think he can be elected dead
easy, almost with bis bands down.
- -. . ,- f
Rank Is High In Tvto Particulars.
' Ne'wberg, Graphic. -
Mr. Booth has been a man of affairs
1ft Oregon, he havins: succeeded well
In the lumbering business, and he has
the confidence of the' people. He has
the ability to represent Oregon well In
the Senate, and from .the standpoint of
morality and temperance he would
rank above tha average-Senator.
He Has the Qualifications.
' Heppner Gazette-Times.
Robert A. Booth, of Eugene, who has
recently- announced his candidacy for
the race- for United fctates Senator .as
rf Republican, is' looked upon as a very
strong man on the weft side of the
state. Tno right will We a warm one,
for Mr. Booth is a big man and has
strong . qualifications for the position
he seeks.- -
Propitious Time to Defeat Chamberlain
" Union Scout. '
It has been found that Chamberlain
Is a hard man to down, but there may
be a first time in the future, even
though there has not been a first time
in the past. We are waiting to see
the results of Democratic legislation.
If the Democrats can bring about good
times and start the wheels of business
moving George will he re-elected In
the state. ; R, A. Booth has selected a
propitious time to make the race.
.Strong: at Home and Klaenbere.
y Albany Herald.
Whether the movement in his -favor
sprang Up with all the unpremeditated
spontaneity, which Eugene dispatches
would have us believe, or ' not, it Is
aartain that the overwhelming major
ity of the business men and a clear
majority of the voters of his own city
took with favor on Senator Booth's
candidacy and that there is sincere
feeling in . that respect on the part not
only of the' people of ..Eugene, but of
many warm personal friends through
out the state.
' Not an Offtceseekrr.
' Eugena Register. -Mr.
Booth Is. well eaulorjed to unite
the factions that have split Hie Re
publican - party t 1ii Oregon. He has
taken no part in political activities
for many years, and has never' been
active in tate politics. ' He Is not a
politician, and has not sought the of
fice for which he has become a candi
date.' He is just a straightforward
citizen of Oregon Who vil be thor
oughly .representative of all the other
oltlsens. The call that has come to him
Is genuine, and In -becoming a candi
date he Is acceding to the wishes of
those who know him and those who
know of him. . '
. Doubters Won Over.
' Pilot Rock Record.
Hon. R. A, Booth, of Eugene, Or.,
candidate for'-'tbe office of , United
States Senator, is making a stUl hunt
for votes, the result of which is very
encouraging to himself and his many
ardent supporters. He visited Pendle
ton a week ago and was met In the
evening by many of the old Repub
lican warhorses, many of whom were
not very favorable to his candidacy,
but after : meeting and talking with
him came' to the conclusion that- in
the Senatorial equation he would not
be an unknown quantity. He is a man
of Inviting personality and by those
who know htm Is' said to be of high
moral character and personal integrity.
DIPLOMACY GOLD BRICK TRADES
John Bull Never Hesitates In Breaking
.- Treaty, Says Mr. Murphy. '
PORTLAND,. Feb. 28 (To the 'Edl
tor.) Concerning the dispute in the
matter of the Panama Canal, it seems
to me there's a lot of slush peddled
out for - public consumption on both
sides. But that's what we like; if it
didn't taste, good, there would be no
demandor it. - .-
. We are being Constantly reminded
that this country of ours is an Anglo
Saxon Nation. Like other able men
with the courage of. their convictions.
Mr. Scott, the late editor of The Ore
gonian, did not go that far, but seemed
to discern an Anglo-Saxon spirit in
American institutions and did not deny
Celtic and Teutonic energy in its best
traditions. ...
However." going over to- the side of
Carnegie's brass band and the mellif
luous flutes of the Pilgrim's Club and
the loyal sentiments of the American
Anglo historians and writers, and ad
mitting- for tha nonce that, we are an
offshoot of pur Saxon mother, in ignore
Ing the Hay-Paunefote treaty on the
canal are we not true to our Anglo-
Saxon traioing7 When did England
ever -keep a treaty with any nation
when it served her purpose to break it?
And what good is a treaty, anyway, un
less there are men and money and guns
and ammunition to enforce its terms?
Holy John Bull! Steadfast he looks up
to heavcn'Wlth grief In his eyes! He's
been bunkoed.. Too bad!
A weighty authority, close to the
game for many years past, has told us
recently that if the average man among
the common peorple but knew of the
unscrupulous tactics necessary to hlerh
distinction in the realm of international
diplomacy, he would accord some dis
tinguished gentlemen with a reputation
for statecraft about as much respect
as a dexterous gold brick artist too
clever to be connected or caught with
the goods on him.
J.. illiiiSl!,SSl MURPHY.
FAVORABLE
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of March 2, 1SS0.
. Washington, March ' 1. Tonight's
Cabinet certainties are Blaine,. VVindom,
Wanamaker and Noble.
Treka, Cal., March 1. W. H. Kin
ross, of Oakland, and formerly of Port
land, was married last Evening to Miss
Addle Cassidy at Little Shasta. The
bride is the young lady whose namt
was coupled with Kinross' last July
in connection with a lively scene at
Golden Eagle Hotel. Oakland, when
Mrs. Kinross No. 1 put in an appear
ance. Olympia, March 1. The firing "of 100
guns last evening announced to citi
zens " of Olympia that their presence
was desired at Columbia Hall for the
purpose of rejoicing over the admis
sion of tha Territory of Washington
to statehood. The speakers were Gen
eral Ross G. O'Brien, Judge Henry, Sec
retary Owlngs, General Milroy, Hon.
P. X. Moore, Judge M. A. Root, Pro
fessor Follansbee and Hon. T. M. Reed.
Fbrest Grove. March 1. John La
Chapelle, the pioneer boat-builder of
Portland,, died today, aged 59.
. Ma-drid- March 1. Richard Pigott
was arrested in the Hotel des Ambas
sadeurs today and afterwards commit
ted suicide with a revolver.
Jasper Ward stated to Councilman
Flledner. that he had nothing to do
with the shanty built on the old cemetery-plot
belonging to the city.
F. M. Overbeck, night chief operator
of the Portland Western Union office,
leaves tonight to accept the manager
ship of the Seattle office.
The contract for putting the, roof On
the big hotel has been let to Hobkirk
& McKenzle,
- About 1 months ago H. C. Campbell.
C. F. Swigert and W. M. Killtngsworth
bought 100 acres of land at Albina for
$50,000 cash. They have just sold If
for $105,000.
J. E. Sisson, the well-known real es
tate dealer, was called to Syracuse.
N. Y., yesterday on account of the se
rious illness of his mother.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of March 2. 1S61.
The Union County committee have
requested those who support the Gov
ernor without conditions to meet in
the various precincts in this county to
morrow at 1 o'clock P. M. to choose
delegates to the county convention.
In Richmond good whisky sells at
$5000 a barrel, rebel money. -An in
ferior article can be had for J3000. A
glass of brandy commands $5.
New York, Feb.. 19. The Creole from
New Orlenas February 11, has arrived.
Admiral Farragut, with the greater
portion of his fleet, has left New Or
leans Chicaco, Fro. IS. A Chattanooga
telegram says Sherman's troops de
stroyed the bridge on the Mobila &
Ohio Railroad, severing the connection
between Polk's forces and Mobile.
Great consternation exists in conse
quence. Th toloo-anh ,JTT . 1 .. . j .
day and messages of congratulation
were exchanged between Mayor David
Logan -and S. F. Chad-wick, of Rose
burg. A committee composed of S. N
Arrisoni. John M. McCrakefi. A. K.
Richardson. ,1. W. J. Pierson, R. .1.
LaM. E. A. Temple. L. 'H. Wakefield. -
Samuel A. Millc nnH nthorm I. -.-,
ing for a celebration. -
- - - j t jenvnud; arrange
to attend in a hnrlv tlia ,,,,,-.-., 1 r
Thomas L Watson, late a member of
Council.
Mr. Wakeflel-d commenced the eolIe-
tion of subscriptions to the library
fund yesterday. '
W, rrti inul . . 1 ..tf
' -' o. tmii ' ' 1 U lift'
horses in the city yesterday on thetr
Willamette Theater was well filled
last evening at the performa.ncn of
Hamlet" by J. H. Taylor. A. R. Phelps.
Miss Virginia Howard and Miss Douc
las. A- hnrlf '-Z-anahlA . , f , . 10 - .
1 - vn. i.i 111 to y9 -
SSnaers WUH nn thA wharf fn. -1.1 .
to the Cascades yesterday. It ia to be
put upon the line between Umatilla
City and tha mines by Ish & Co.
'Wilson's Mexican Folic),
PE ELL. -Wash.. Feb. 28 (Th the-
Editor.) First A maintains that the
present Administration has not inter
fered with Mexico's Internal affair.
It has only refused to recognize
Huerta.
B maintain that it has not onlv re
fused to recognize Huerta. but that
Bryan practically sent an ultimatum,
demandmg that Huerta step down and
out and not convene his Congress; that
tha United States has .really interfered
with Mexico's internal - affairs. - -'
Second A claims that thera is-fn
times more British money Invested In
Mexico than -American money.
a claims tnat there- is more Amer- -
ioan money invested in Mexico than
British. C. S. REEVES.
B is-right on both points. J
Caller In Newspaper Office.
- Atchison Globe.
' Mrs. Short Jenks, who called at the
Globe office today to declare that news
papers are shiftless and never get any
thing right, should tuck up her under
skirt. It drags and looks sloppy. -
What "Pure Food" is
Doing for the Millions
, The country -wide campaign for
pure food has been one of the great
est events of this decade. Its effects
will reach far Into yie future, but
already there have been marvelous
results.
The sheep and the goats have been
pretty well separated.
One manufacturer of food-stuffs,
after having been thoroughly inves
tigated and pronounced above re
proach, has almost doubled his out
put in a year.
' He tells his story in his adver
tisements In the daily newspapers.
He knows he prepares wholesome
food and does not hesitate to guar
antee It In every way. The public
knows it now and responds by de
manding his product from retailers.
The manufacturers who adulter
ate their food products do not dare
come out in- the open and adver
tise. . By watching these advertisements
In newspapers like The Oregonian
millions of people throughout the
country are able to find out who are
honest manufacturers, and buy ac
cordingly. -The demand for food
stuffs of known quality is uni
versal. Retailers must read the signs of
the times and stock their shelves
and display In their wlndbws the
kind of foods that an educated pub
lic demands.
Perhaps you would like some sug
gestions. Write to the Bureau of
Advert lsing, American Newspaper
Publishers' Association, World
Building, New York.
Booklet on request. Adv.