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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1914)
10 mE MORNIXG OREGONIAX FRIDAY, APRFL 17, 1914. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon. PostofQce as second-class matter. Subscription Bates Invariably In Advance: (BY MAIL) pally. Sunday Included, one year 8.0 Ially. Sunday Included, six months. . . . 4.25 Dally, Sunday included, three months. . 2.25 Dally, fcunday included, one. month 75 Dally, without. Sunday, one year '. . 6.00 pally, without Sunday, six months 8.25 pally, without Sunday, three, months.. . 1.70 Daily, without Sunday; one month BO Weekly, one year.. l.oO fcunday. one year 2.00 Sunday and Weekly, one year 8.00 (BY CARRIER) pally, Sunday included, one year $9.00 Daily, Sunday included, out month 75 How1 to Remit Send postofflce money or der, express order or personal check: on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at Sander's risk. Give postomce address ln'full. Including county and state. Pwtsce Rates 12 to IB pages, 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages. S cents; 60 to so pages, 4 cents; e- to ? pages, 5 cents; 78 to 92 pages, o cents. Foreign post vge. double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verree A Conk Jin. New York. Brunswick building. Chit-ago. Stcger building. San Francisco Office R, J. Bidwell Co. 742 Market street. PORTLAND, FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1914. PORTLAND'S PRIMACY PROVED. ' The poll of National banks as to preference for location of Federal reserve banks, as taken by the organ ization committee, shows Portland to be far in the lead among cities of the Pacific Northwest, especially when the votes of Oregon, Washington and . Idaho alone are considered. As pre sented to ,the House by Representa tive Glass, the poll for the twelfth district was: CITIKS fan Francisco. Portland' Seattle' Salt Lake iSpokane ...... s Angeles. . 'h!cao ...... New york. "Omaha ....... Kresno Minneapolis ... Denver :os loi.. 16 Tol ( 73 73 45(235 7 20 7460 The 'three contestants for a reserve bank in this section were Portland, Seattle and Spokane. Studyof the above table will show that Portland received more votes than the other two cities combined, namely, seventy five against forty for Seattle and twenty-six for Spokane. AH of Seat tle's forty votes came from Washing .ton, while Portland received nine from that state and ten from Idaho. At that, Oregon's vote was divided, fifty-six going to Portland, sixteen to San Francisco and one to Spokane. Oregon was far more nearly united for Portland than Washington was for Seattle, for this city received fifty-six of seventy-three Oregon votes, while Seattle received only forty of Washington's seventy-three. Idaho's forty-five votes were badly scattered, but Salt Lake alone was ahead of Portland. JLlmitation of the total number of reserve banks and lack of the re quired amount of capital combined to prevent location of a reserve bank in the Pacific Northwest, but the effort to secure one has brought about a "showdown" which proves Portland to be far in the lead as the financial center of this section. It also proves that, had the location of a bank in this' section been practicable, Port land would have been the logical choice. Discussion of the- subject has settled that point and has put Port land in a strong position for the time when development shall Justify re arrangement of the districts and es tablishment of a reserve bank in the Pacific Northwest. SYSTEMATIC WATER DEVELOPMENT. A decided step in advance was made by the Columbia and Snake River Waterways Convention when it . took the broad ground that all the j-esources of the Columbia and its tributaries should be developed to gether. This should be done on the general lines of the Newlands bill, for each use of the water is closely relat ed to the other uses and by treating each as part of a. whole we can pro mote it better than by treating each apart from the others. Deep water navigation will be aid ed by upper river navigation, for the latter will increase the volume of traffic and will cheapen its han dling at the transfer point. Upper river navigation will be aided t by deep-sea navigation, for ocean trans portation will be cheapened and mar kets broadened. Power development will aid both forms of navigation, for it will furnish power to operate locks on the upper river, machinery at the docks, electric roads to the interior and to run machinery and furnish light to cities and farms in ail the tributary country. It can thus be made to pay a large part If not all of the interest on the cost of canaliz ing the river. It can be used to pump water to arid land and thus to aid irrigation. The very means by which fhe river is made navigable can thus toe applied to producing traffic and carrying that traffic to the river. A close parallel can be made to that Impossible feat lifting oneself by one's bootstraps. Closely related to the direct use of . the water are forest and soil preser vation. By forest preservation, not only is a continuous supply of timber insured, but the flow of the river Is so regulated that it remains, as near ly as possible, even the year around. This is necessary for ' navigation, power and irrigation. By preventing soil erosion, the fertility of the land is preserved and the traffic to navi gate the river and to use its power is maintained. The flow of the river is also guarded against extremes of ' flood and drought. The merit of the Newlands bill is that it contemplates improvement of each great watershed for all uses as a unit. It provides for co-ordination of all the several bureaus and depart ments which have hitherto worked Independently. It also provides funds f6r continuous work, not leaving the improvement dependent on the parsi mony or prodigality of Congress. It provides a business-like means of de veloping and managing -the National water resources for all purposes. In the heat of their zeal, apolitical orators sometimes say things which return to plague them and their lead ers after the event. In the recent Congressional campaign in the Pater son district of New Jersey, Democrats freely said that defeat of their .can- 3idate would. be "taken as a personal insult" to . the President, would dis honor New Jersey and would show the voters' judgment of the Adminis tration. The Democrat was defeated and hence, according to his own spokesmen, the President Is Jnsujted, his Administration condemned and his state dishonored. The Republi cans in the House were given a fine opportunity to crow, and of course they crowed. Spellbinders should really leave a hole, to crawl through, in case they should be defeated. - Hl'ERTA'S BACK-DOWN. Huerta's back-down, provided he actually fires- the stipulated salute, is not really the great cause for felicita tion that Secretary Bryan and other peace-at-any-price officials make of it. The fundamentals of the trouble in Mexico will be quite unchanged except, perhaps, for an added touch of- anti-American sentiment. The sa lute will not end Huerta's bankruptcy nor the state of anarchy that stifles Mexico. Nor will the presence of a greatly-increased naval force in Mexican waters sober the Mexicans into a stable government. If Huerta has yielded on realizing that we no longer bluff, it merely shows that he would have yielded long ago had President "Wilson taken a firm stand; would have yielded to the demand for his own elimination. Thus the growth of chaos would .have been ended and, Mexico might have been saved, with help of a construc tive nature from the United States. IJSSS THEORY: MORE RETRENCHMENT. Of all the musty theories on gov ernmental economy perhaps the mustiest .is the one that new sources of tax revenue iwill cause a reduction of the general tax levy. Yet here it bobs up again, pungent with the mold of' demonstrated inefficiency, in the Pendleton .East Oregonlan. We don't spend too much money; the public's income is not what it should be. Direct taxation does not answer the purpose from the revenue-raising standpoint. If we could raise more money- through inheri tance taxation and from similar sources, it would be possible to re duce the direct tax and still have more money than at present for gov ernmental purposes. So runs the argument. The same argument was spread when the laws to impose gross earn ings taxes on private car companies, telephone, telegraph and express companies were up for adoption. It was presented in behalf of the plan to create a tax commission empow ered to fix the. tax values on railroads and similar public utilities. It was used in support- of the present Inheri tance tax law. Something similar has- been offered in behalf of a 100 per cent valuation of all property. Taxes are now collected from the sources named, and the tax value has mounted nearer and nearer to the true value of property assessed. We haxe a tax commission that is sup posed to Impose diligence upon coun ty taxing officers and there has been a general effort for several years to seek out escaping property and put it on the' rolls. Yet the tax levy has gone higher and higher. Revenues have increased immensely,' but ex penditures have continued to over take and pass them. There is no sound argument against making taxation equable or against seeking new legitimate sources of public revenue, but as means of rer ducing the general tax burden both plans are flat failures, so long as the public ignores carelessness, extrava gance and duplication in government. Rather, increased revenues, under such circumstances,' are an incite ment to greater carelessness, extrava gance and duplication. The state revenues from corpora tion taxes, inheritance taxes, automo bile licenses, fish and game licenses and the like have been acquired in whole or large part in the last few years. Between 1905 and 1913 the state's population increased only 300,000. Yet In the same period the direct taxes, In spite of new or en larged indirect revenues, increased from $1,000,000 in 1905 to a total for state purposes in 1913 of $4,165,000. It is a safe prediction that the pub lic's demand for economy in govern ment will not be sidetracked th'is year by pleas for changes in the tax laws. The public mind is centered on re trenchment. The people intend to have it. '-- RUSSIA INCITES JAPAN. An example of how an offense to one nation affects our relations with another, which, is in no way con cerned, is to be found in an article in the Novoe Vremya, the semi-official organ of the Russian government, which has been translated by the Lit erary Digest. We offended Russia by. denouncing the commercial treaty when she re fused to treat alike alUAmerican citi zens who crossed her borders. Japan is offended by the California alien land law and by President Wilson's failure to procure its annulment, ow ing to his excessive respect for state rights. Russia now, through the No voe Vremya, eggs on Japan to fight the United States and to repair her failure to realize expectations of an outlet' for her surplus population In Manchuria and Corea by seizing the Philippines and Hawaii. The Russian organ says the United States has stopped the Immigration of Japanese, and continues: Until recent days Mexico was open to the latter, whither the stream of Japanese emi gration has been turned. With the comple tion of the Panama Canal, Mexico will fall under the shadow of the United States, and the day is not distant when it will cease its independent political existence. At the same timo one of the promised lands will be closed to Japan. A clash between the United States and Japan is thus preparing of Itself, despite the will and intentions of diplomats. New lands suitable for the settlement of large, popular masses are a vital necessity to Japan. Either land or national death. Japan is said to be alarmed at the thought that 'the near opening of the Panama Canal Is to Japan equivalent fto the closing of the doors of Amer ica." Japan's war with Russia is styled a chimerical struggle and the Japanese are told they missed a fa vorable -opportunity to strengthen themselves vwhere their National in stinct impelled them to go the isl ands of the Pacific and the farther shore." An incitemenf to war with the United States Is to be seen in the statement that "it ' is impossible to acquire new lands by political dem onstrations and verbal fraternization with the Mexicans." The Japanese are reminded of their real or supposed WTongs at the hands of Americans.4 They are told that they are "ranked among, the lower races": that "the Western states, in which- there have remained Japanese colonists, have been heap ing, upon them humiliating disabili ties." The school dispute and -the land dispute are recalled and we are accused of having "organized 'po groms' against the Japanese" and placed them "in the position of de spised pariahs." Japan is twitted with having missed her chance, the Novoe Vremya Baying: , But Japan was exhausted by her ex ploits In Manchuria, ami sacrificed her rights and her dignity. True, in expecta tion of better times, she hastily continued her armaments. But on the day of the opening of the Panama Canal, which gives the United states the possibility of trans ferring, in case of .necessity, their battle ship squadrons from-one ocean to the other, the military chances of Japan will be les sened?. And If she bore patiently the viola tion of her legal rights before the opening of the canal, she will hardly have the courage to insist upon them now. But Japan's, land-hunger is stimu lated and her ehmity to the nations which deny it gratification Is stirred up in this wise: Nevertheless, the tendency toward warm waters and fertile, uninhabited lands caused by the scarcity of land in Japan will remain In full force and seek an outlet. ' Will the international diplomatic sorcer ers be able to direct this live current into a false channel once more?. Here is a plain hint to Japan to leave the mainland of Asia to Russia and to seek an outlet in sunnier and more fruitful climes. Russia seeks at. one stroke to promote her own designs 'and to take revenge on the United States for the alight we have put upon her. We touched a Russian nerve .and the reaction is fe'lt in Japan and Mexico. Had President Wilson in mind the Russian intrigue, Japan's resentment and the growing intimacy between Japan and Mexico when he spoke of those matters "of greater delicacy and nearer consequence" ? A SENSIBLE GRAND JURY. We think the Gold Beach grand Jury showed extraordinary, good sense In the way it handled two "ac cidental" shooting cases at its April session. In both - Instances hunters "mistook men for deer," and the per sons whose eyesight was so lament ably defective were indicted for man slaughter. Every man who goes into the' woods with a gun ought to be held strictly accountable for what he shoots. It is his business to know whether the object before him Is a deer or a man. If he does not know, then let him fire at his peril. Human life is too valuable to be sacrificed because some hotheaded hunter does not care to asceftai'n just what it is that he is aiming at. He discerns an object through. the branches which may possibly be a deer or a bear. On the other hand, it may be a human being. Quite fre quently it is a human being, but the zealous hunter is very much in the habit of assuming that the obscurely discerned mark is a wild beast. His readiness to take the risk results in the slaughter of dozens of men every year. In all such cases the rash hunter is morally a murderer and he ought to be. deemed such in law. The Gold Beach grand jury has set a good ex ample by dealing out .rigorous justice to one guilty pair. It Is hoped that other jurymen will be equally mind ful of their duty as the season ad vances and accidents accumulate. There is another aspect of this matter which is worth, a thought. Suppose a man wishes to dispose of an enemy. All he has to do is to follow him into the woods and shoot him "by accident." It must be the easiest thing in the world, almost, to mistake a man for a deer when one wishes to kill him. With the pious deed of, vengeance accomplished the hunter can return home in perfect confidence- that an old-fashioned Jury will hold him guiltless. A person ought not to be punished for an "ac cident," even when the accident. Is premeditated. The Gold Beach grand jury has broken with this fashion and human life will be the safer for Its action. ' It will be a satisfaction if the trial Jury shows the same good sense. FKDKK.iL SYSTEM FOR ' BRITAIN. Great Britain is steadily turning toward the Federal system of govern ment as the way out of many diffi culties. It has already applied that system to the government of its great colonies, -Canada, Australia and South Africa. It is now in violent contro versy over the establishment of au tonomy in one of the three home kingdoms. Its Premier and Foreign Minister have each declared the need for autonomy for each of the other two kingdoms and for Wales. The subject is widely discussed in English publications, particularly the reviews and weekly newspapers. It is one of the coming issues, for public opinion is steadily molding itself, and it will in a few years be the burning issue. A separate legislature for each kingdom under the supreme power of the Imperial Parliament Is seen to be the logical sequel to Irish home rule. Were that the only reason for federalism, it would not be considered seriously, for the British people do not worry about logic; they have a happy faculty of finding a way out ef diffi culties regardless of logic. They in cline to federalism because they see its neecsslty and they would have adopted it much sooner had not the opposition to home rule for Ireland restrained them, for federalism was seen to Involve Irish home rule. Now that Irish home rule seems an early probability, England.. Scotland and Wales are beginning to assert their right to the same degree of self-government. The growth of the British. Empire is seen .to have rendered necessary that the Imperial Parliament shall be relieved' of the burden of legislating for the internal affairs of any of the empire's component parts and shall devote its time entirely to matters of general concern. This necessity has become the more imperative since gov ernments have become more paternal and have undertaken to regulate those affairs which come under the general head of social and industrial justice. In .the effort to do all things which it conceived should be done, Parliament has been compelled to neglect many measures of real ur gency. Many of these measures, as well as many of those it has passed, would devolve upon a local legisla ture. A federal system in the mother country would clear the way for real izing the dream of imperial federa tion by admission to the Imperial Parliament of representatives of the colonies and dependencies. The lat ter could then be made to share the burden of defense, and possibly an imperial customs union could be de vised. The empire could be made a well-knit whole, with a supreme par liament similar to our Congress and local parliaments similar to our State Legislatures. Su'ch a federal system would dif fer in essential points from those of the United States, Germany and Switzerland. In each of those coun tries the separate states were original ly sovereign and surrendered to the general government certain defined powers. Those powers cannot be en larged or diminished without the con sent of the states. In Great -Britain all power would flow from the cen tral government, for the local govern ments would exercise only such func tions as were' delegated to them. Those functions could be increased or diminished by federal law. There could be" no state rights question -and no twilight zone, as with us. There would be no : opportunity to defeat Justice by playing off the federal and state courts against each other. In every case It would be known whether jurisdiction rested in the one or the other. Federalism would produce a hew alignment of parties. There would be no occasion for an Irish Nationalist party to continue, for that party would have gained its end. A Labor party need no longer exist in the Im perial Parliament, - for " that body would doubtless empower the local parliaments to deal with the meas ures the Labor party seek. There would be more probability of renewed division into two, parties, and the cen tral government would be stronger for the change. The creature whom the police caught drinking paregoric was the victim of a common vice. Paregoric is a preparation of opium which fond mothers give to babies to hush their cries. It lulls grown men the same as babies. It Is one of the most de ceitful of the manyforms of opium and probably does more harm than all the rest, since it begins its work upon Infants. Paregoric, cinnamon essence and chloral hydrate are often used by "reformed" sots to appease their craving for alcohol. They would be better off unreformed. The murder of Calmette, the editor of Figaro, will have some interesting consequences in the artistic world. Rodin the sculptor wished to give a collection of his statues to the gov ernment. Calmette thought them "unfit for exhibition" and, through his paper, bullied the government into refusing them. Now that he is dead, France will accept the) statues and one of the greatest of modern sculptors will receive the honor due him. Thus good sometimes comes out of evil. German investigators have found that .radium acts powerfully on dor mant plants. After a few hours" ex posure to the emanation lilac buds sprang into vigorous growth at the end of November, a time when they are ready for their Winter's sleep. Other plants show similar effects. The practical result of these experi ments will be a. great development of Winter gardening and orchardry. Fruits and vegetables all the year round at modest prices are almost in plain sight. Some people think it wonderful that Dr. Marcellus should find so much more rabies than his predeces sors in the Health Office. We can imagine two fairly good reasons for the marvel. In tfce first place, he keeps his eyes open Instead of shut. In the second place, rabies, like other diseases of men and beasts, is some times common and sometimes rare. Just now rabies is alarmingly com mon and Dr. Marcellus deserves grat itude for his efforts to eradicate it. A wise man may be swindled once, but only a fool twice by the same trick. What then shall we call the farmer near Buffalo whom a confi dence man relieved of $15,000 on his first visit and $12,000 on his second? Many farmers are so suspicious of the banks that they hide their cash in the cellar wall, but so gullible that they hand It over to the first glib swindler who asks for it. Human na ture is full of contradictions, most of which cost it money. ' A canalized Columbia from mouth to head waters is an alluring vision. The engineering feat, once finished, would redeem from flood and bog fertile land enough to pay for it. Bet ter . yet, it -would rid the Columbia bottoms of the unendurable mosquito pest, while of course it would open a navigable channel thousands of miles long. Why not go ahead and do it? Germany canalized the Rhine and did it without much fuss either. In imposing a large fine on Whit ney, the. San Francisco clubman who pleaded guilty to a charge of white slavery. Judge Dooling showed a keen sense of humor in making the penalty big enough to surprise the defendant. Curry County men who "thought it was a deer" have been indicted for manslaughter. It is high time to set an example and teach hunters to look twice before they fire. Although the fleet will arrive In Mexican waters on the anniversary of the war with Spain, it seems quite possible that- history will not repeat itself. A taxi-driver in Walla Walla killed himself because he couldn't afford to buy a larger taxi. Ambition for great wealth often proves dangerous. The most doleful object on earth is the boy who stands outside the gate because he has not the price of a ticket. - . The suspicion rises that the Greas ers have been merely having a little innocent fun with the Administra tion. With the opening game over, the leading question now Is, who will be queen of the Rose Festival? . What a lot of love will be expressed when the American and' Mexican guns exchange greetings. Oregon's oldest woman is dead at 117. This is the land of longevity. Breathes there a man with soul so dead that he hasn't registered ? Should late frosts nip the fruit, there will be plenty left. .No doubt Huerta is greatly enjoy ing himself at our expense. Hon. Lafe Pence is frisky despite h Is ( years. - Who thinks of pneumonia on open ing day? Coxey should- march down and join Villa. Old J. Pluvius also backed down. Make no other plans for Sunday. A ball park is .a democracy. . BETTER LEGISLATORS THE SEED. Reforms in LawmiklDS Are Also Sog. smted by I. s. .Smith. MARSHFIELD. Or.. April 14. (To the Editor.) The plan of Portland in urg ing 12 of her leading citizens- to stand for the nomination of State Repre sentative on a platform or economy and efficiency, should be adopted by every county la Oregon. That too many laws are enacted and too much money appropriated by the, Legislature all must admit. But the important question Is. what are we go ing to do about It? First in importance, I suggest publicity. Since many, of the members of the last Legislature are candidates either for re-election or for some higher office, a complete record of each member giving the amount of appropriations voted for: the number of votes cast to raise the salary of some public official; creating new of ficial positions, etc.. wduld make in teresting reading for thje electors and serve as a warning to future legisla tures against extravagance and reck less legislation.' ' Many unnecessary laws, as well as excessive appropriations, are the re sult of inefficiency and Inexperience on the part of a. large per cent of leg islators. A careful business man would not employ a bank cashier, a manager for a store, factory, or farm, who had no knowledge of that partic ular line of work, but the people fre quently send men to the legislature who have but slight conception of needed legislation or the requirements of state Institutions; apparently over looking the fact that they have power to spend millions of dollars of the peo ple's money. I expect to Introduce a resolution at the next session of the Legislature, submitting a Constitutional amend ment to a vote of the people providing a four year -term for Representatives. If this resolution passes and is ap proved by the people the Legislature would always have at least 45 experi enced members. ' Another abuse is the perfunctory manner in which the Joint committees from the House and Senate investigate and report on -the needs of the various state institutions. In place of appoint ing members with a, view to their fit ness, for the position, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate usually pay a political debt by appointing members who desire to be placed on a certain committee. Pro vision should be made for one or more committees composed of members of well known business judgment and honesty to make a thorough investiga tion of all state institutions, during vacation, and submit a detailed report to the next Legislature of the needs of the various Institutions and the amount of money necessary for their proper maintenance. Such committee should, of course, be paid a.reaSonable compen sation for their services. From half a million to a. million dollars can be saved by every legislature by the ex ercise of business methods and honest effort on the part of its members. A forty-day session as provided by the Constitution which was adopted more than & half a century ago Is en tirely inadequate for the careful con sideration of the vast amount of busi ness that comes before the legislature of the present day. The last session considered nearly 1000 bills, besides many memorials and resolutions. It is to be hoped that the Constitutional amendment, providing for a longer session, will be adopted at the next election. I joined with President Ma larkey In a resolution, at the last ses sion, proposing to submit to the people a constitutional -amendment limiting the members to five bills each, but the resolution was defeated in the Senate. I now suggest a commission consist ing of the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney-General. Treasurer and Com missioner of Labor, to examine all bills and report to the Legislature their opinion of same,- which would have the effect of weeding out many unneces sary and unconstitutional measures. In conclusion I wish to Indorse, with emphasis, the many suggestions that have been made to allow the Governor power to veto single items of a general appropriation bill. Strict economy will never be obtained until this is done. I. S. SMITH. CRUEL MISTREATMENT OK CHILD. Trifling; Offense AVhlrh Brought Harsh ITsaare Little Ctrl Ueserlbed. PORTLAND, April 15. (Xo the Edi tor.) An Incident which happened In front of my residence yesterday, and witnessed by a member of my family, has aroused my sympathy to such an extent that I cannot refrain from bring ing it to the attention of the public. A woman who lives In a flat on Hoyt street, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, was passing my house with a. little girl about 10 or 1 1 years of age. It was raining at the time and the woman was carrying an umbrella. The child realed.'tip' and apparently tried to pull-the umbrella so that it would shelter her. This angered the woman - who strux-k the child In the face and followed this with another blow In the mouth which was given with Biich force that it could be plainly heard In my library with the window closed. As they passed up the street the woman continued striking the child over the head with the umbrella and jerking her head from side to side by her hair which was in two braids. The child was crying bitterly. If I had seen this occurrence myself, I would certainly have sworn out a warrant for the arrest of the woman as I consider any person who would maltreat a child in that manner, should be severely punished. I write this In the hope that it will be read by the woman, whose name Is not known' to me. that. she may be shamed Into better behavior. H. AV. GODDARD. REGISTER AND DO VOIR DUTY! Otherwise Army of Undesirables Only Increases Its Ranks, Says E. K. Riley. PORTLAND, April 16. (To the Edi tor.) Registration is the arming of oneself to fight in the battle of ballots in defense of the government against the attacks of the classes which in clude the I. W. W- the Socialists the single taxers. and those who think the world owes them a living. Many think they need not care, but after the time for registration has expired they may realize (and it is to be hoped they will) that their help in the fight is needed and that their re fusal to aid is almost criminal; but unhappily It will then be too late to arm themselves. Why would it not be better for them to prepare for the battle and so be in readiness to do their duty? It is easy to register, and a failure to do so surely indicates a lack of patriotism. E. F. R1LET. ISE KAMI LIAR HYMNS ON SUNDAY. The All May Lift Their Voices la Praise, Is SaKKestlon. PORTLAND, April 15. (To the. Edi tor.) I .should like to make a sugges tion with regard to "Go-to-Church Sunday" and it Is this: That the hynma chosen for congregational singing be those with which the majority of per sons have been familiar since child hood. I think it would be nice for all churches to unite In singing the almost "peer" of hymns, "Nearer My God to Thee" at the close of the service; thus will those beautiful words be rising In praise from all the people at the same time, "and everyone will be able to join In the singing, . since the' words are familiar, r- . I should also suggest that more seats, camp chairs, stools, etc.. be provided for the people than were fit evidence on Easter Sunday. ONE INTERESTED. FLAWS SEEN IN BLUE SKY LAW. Plaintiff Im 'Actiosi to Teat "l delrn ble Features" Outlines) Position. PORTLAND. April 16. (To the Ed itor.) Will you kindly favor me with space to reply to the statements of the Corporation Commissioner, published In the Journal. Being one of the plain tiffs In the action to test the undesira ble features of the blue sky law. I feel that the remarks are too sweeping to go unnoticed. I ask space In The Ore gonian to reply because it la denied me In the Journal. , In his attempt to defend the law. the Commissioner resorts to generalities without concrete ' facts or arguments pertaining to this law to substantiate his position. Just a short time ago the Commis sioner, feeling cock-sure of the valid ity and fairness of the law, was quoted as gladly welcoming a test of the con stitutionality of the law and wanted It right away, but how about now? Is his present attitude consistent with then? Why the change of front in such a brief period? I venture the answer is the S3000 per. year furnished by the state under the auspices of chapter 341, otherwise known as the blue sky act. - The Commissioner is mistaken about the existence of an organized press bureau to mould public opinion against this law. It is self-evident that his own ghost rises before him and is a straw man of his own creation. If any press bureau exists, there is plenty of public evidence to prove that he is the father cf it and its headquarters are located in the office of the Com missioner at Salem, Oregon, where Its real function has been to publish only such information concerning the law as will mislead the public as to its true character. If the law Is safe, fair. Just, equitable for everybody alike, and constitutional as well, then It doe3 not need anybody to leap into the breach in advance of the court's decision, defending its con stitutionality and, moreover, not one whose public duty is to administer the law us he finds it. The State of Kan sas found Its law so radical and imprac tical that it forthwith amended the old original act after which our law is patterned. I wonder it the Commis sioner will tell -the public this fact. If his statement that illegitimate concerns, "wildcatters" and dishonest promoters and dealers are at large in this state, without prosecution is ac curate, why not furnish the public with a list of these crooks so that it can be protected if he is going to do noth ing? Out of several thousand corporations incorporated and doing business in this state, only about 1000 have passed the blue sky law under the Commissioner's administration. Can it be that the re maining several thousand are dis honest or Illegitimate concerns? The next Legislature should pass a sane blue sky law, one that will not be a one-man law or trespass upon vested constitutional rights of either corpor ation or individual and. in the mean time the courts will point out phases cf our present act that are not valid and cannot be embodied In a new law. W. E. DAVIDSON. ON PLANS FOR THE AUDITORIUM. Better No Bitlldlna- Than an Unsatis factory One. Architect. PORTLAND. April 14. (To the Edi tor.) Your editorial on "The Audi torium" in The Oregonian is a welcome, though tardy, recognition of the justice of the claim of those pro testing architects who have persis tently asserted that the award In the competition was unfair who have been suspected of "unworthy motives" In making their objections to the award. Undoubtedly there is legal cround for repudiating i any obligations for payment Tor the useless FreedlanLer plans that contravened the conditions of the contract. The evidence for this was presented directly after the award and Is now available. All moneys paid by the Commission for architectural services In this matter have been ille gal. I make' this statement advisedly, as one who was classed as a "competing architect." and who Is therefore con versant with the detail of this matter. A few years ago you illustrated my design for an auditorium and the Mult nomah Club In combination, and com mended It and printed the commenda tions of some of our leading citizens. It was a labor of lore on my part, and nan the oeslgn been carried Into exe cution It would have made the city of fortiand iamous. isow that it Is too late many realize that a great oppor tunity was then missed. When at last it was determined that an auditorium should be built for Port land I endeavored again to be of ser vice to the city and presented a desien for an auditorium on the Market street site, but I Intentionally Ignored the regulations and instructions laid down in the programme for competing archi tects (thereby putting myself outside the pale of competition). I knew It was impossible to construct a suitable building on the ill-considered and arbi trary limitations of the site, and I wanted to show the people of Portland the way in which a building larger man 4u.uuo square reet could be placed on a city block that Is only 200 feet square without closing the adjoining streets or the surrounding streets. This apparent anomaly was overcome in my design, and it is the only way In which a satisfactory building can be erected with all the accommodation that Is required and with dignity and beauty In Its surroundings. Better no audi torium than an unsatisfactory one. THOMAS HAWKES. PICTURE POSTCARD IS PASSING The Fad About to Take Ita Place With the Bicycle, It Is Considered. Cleveland Plain Dealer. The picture postcard vogue is dying out. Already the corner stores report a falling off in trade; already the post- office figures indicate a decline In the actual number of postcards carried. A thing that has been at the same time a fad, a convenience, a popular common carrier and a common popular pest Is now about to take its place with the bicycle as a thing that may be used with discretion but never again made a mania of. Over the greater part of Europe it Is now possible to send a sealed letter for the same price that a postcard may be dispatched. If we get 1-eent postage here, the only excuse for the illustrated card will be its illustration and the accompanying fact that fewer words are required as a personal message. It is interesting to note, now that the postcard is ceasing to be a fad, that it was not, as has been supposed. an American invention. It was first used in Austria, .where as early as 1869 a Doctor Herrmann suggested its employment. Its price was somethin less than 1 cent, then but those who used It were allowed to write only 20 words on It. Not that the writing of -1 words would have appreciably in creased the burden of the mail car riers; 20 words was the limit perhaps mat the people might duly appreciate the fact that a government owned the postoffice. An Office Like a Mcndlcaat. Washington (D. C). Star. "The office oiiht to seek the man,' said the patriot. "Perhaps," replied Senator Sorghum; "but when an office has to seek the man, the salary is generaly so small that It makes the office look like a downright mendicant." Pause In College Routine. Baltimore American. Jones How is your boy getting on at college? - Smith All right. Jones -Y hat's he studying? Smith Oewgrapliy. I guess. He wrote for money today. Ho said he wanted to learn the own. Twenty-five Years Ago From The, Oregonlan of April 17, 1889. Astoria, April 16. The British ships Fiery Cross and Hornby Castle sailed for Queenstown this afternoon. Cap tain Gray, of the former, and Captain Smith, of the latter, each made a wa ger of $S60 that his vessel would reacn the destination first.. Baker City. April 16. Waehauer Bros, have Just completed the purchase of 100 feet square of N. D. Wisdom and D. L. Moomaw and plans are being made for the erection of a four-story hotel. Albany. Or.. April 16. Dr. G. W. Maston. of this city, has been appoint ed resident surgeon for the Southern Pacific Company. Washington, April 16. Senator Dolph and Representative Hermann have pre sented to the Land Commissioner a pe tition from residents of Lake County. Or., asking to have the litigation against George Hcmersly and John M. Russell for cutting timber on Govern ment land, dismissed. Washington. April 16. General Frana Sigel has resigned as pension agent at New York. Benjamin Stark, of New London. Conn., for whom Stark street was named, arrived here yesterday. John Maguire, formerly manager of the New Market Theater, but now In charge of the Montana theatrical cir cuit, arrived yesterday. As Mr. Smally. a nicht operator in tho Western Union office, was on his way home yesterday morning, he dis covered a fire in Smith's grocery on Holladay avenue. East Portland. Tho blaze was quickly extinguished. William Kerns says a party of his friends came over the Barlow road last week and found it in good condition. Joe Ben Lane has sold his 40-acre tract at North Beach to Donald Mac leay. Dr. Barber, George B. Markle. D. F. Sherman. Herbert Bradley and oth ers for $10,000. The purchasers intend to erect cottages for their own use. Last night Rev. Mr. F nod crass, tho new pastor of the East Portland Bap tist Church, and his family were given a cordial welcome by the members. W. B. Hall called the meeting to order. Rev. George Hill offered prayer, the East Portland Glee Club sang. Dr. Gor don made an address of welcome. Rev. Mr. Bateman. of Mount Tabor, and Rev. Mr. Le Roy, of Astoria, made ad dresses and. Miss Grace Davey sang. A concert was given at Masonic Hall last evening by the Mendelssohn Quin tet Club. In the absence of the president, Mrs. R- W. Kmmous, Mrs. O. F. Paxton pre sided at the annual meeting of the Portland Free Kindergarten Associ ation last night. The Diplomatic Srrrail. Th Sketch. the caller 1 want to see your master about a bill. The diplomatic servant He left for the country last night. The caller I want to pay him. The diplomatic servant (hastily) But he returned tills morning. Episode of Home, Sweet Home. Judce. "Are you and papa doin' to stay at homo dis evening?" asked the child of its mother. "Yes. dear." her mother replied. The little one looked thoughtful for a moment and then lisped: "What 1th the matter?" In The Sunday Oregonian: UNLOCKING ALASKA A detailed study of America's greatest storehouse and how the Government railway system will unlock it occupies a full page, illus trated with new photographs of important and picturesque points. Oregon at the Fair A full page, in colors, on the su perb showing Oregon will make next year at the Panama-Paeific Exposition. Queen Eleonore, the Bulgarian sovereign, who will be in our midst shortly, is the fairy queen of the wounded sol diers. The stirry of her life is a romantic one. The Tiger Decides A thrilling short- tqry of love and adventure 1 by "IVank Confy. Complete Sunday. The Cheches What do they need to strengthen their appeal! The question is dis cussed by a number of eminent thinkers. Moods of Genevieve In a series of 12 sketches the inner feminine soul is laid quite bare. It is a story of moods, and the first sketch deals with Gen evieve's vanity mood. Exit the Age Limit Women, at least modern women, are no longer passe at 30, says Rita Keese. Breezy Suzanne Ellis Parker Butler's delightfully new character tackles international relations and war in the second article of this refreshing series. Photographing Music Impossible! Not at all. It has been done and the results will prove far-reaching in the world of music. Digging the Canal Another article by Theodore Roosevelt on .the Panama Caual. With the Confederates Portland veteran of the Confed erate army recounts the fight .it Chickamauga. Character Pen Pointers Another page of handwriting analyses by Edith Macomber 1111. Crazy Mountain School The story of what an isolated little country school did. A whole page of illustrated matter for the little ones. A great variety of other fea tures. Order early of your newsdealer.