Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1914)
TITE MORXTXG OttFOOVTAX. MONDAY, JUXE 22, 1914. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon, PostofHce as - Second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably In Advance CBY MAIL.) Dally. Sunday included, one year DmIIv Uiinhnv ini-luiicd. Sir months Ijally Sunday Included, three months ... 2.-3 jlkiij, auuunj - ,.A aily! without Sunday, six montlis :.i ,c.na.r , H -.,,, ,n nnr h .... X. t J Daily! without Sunday! one month .JW weeKiy, one year Sunday, one year ........... f-ir'U Snodav nod Weekly, one Tear ....-.. tt-OU (BJ CARRIER) Daily, Sunday Included, one year 9"2 tialiv. SurwlKv includud. one month H..nr to Kemit Send Dostoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local oanK. btamps, coin or cujcmw -v sender's risk. Give postofflce address in lull, including county and state. Postage Kates 12 to ltt pages. 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, !i cents; 3-1 to 4S pages, it cents; S0 to 80 pages, 4 cents: 62 to 76 pages, o cents; 78 to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Ea-rtern Business Offices Verree Conk lln.. New York. Brunswick building. Chi cago. Sieger building. San Francisco Office K. J. Bidwell Co., 742 Market street. PORTLAND, MONDAY JUNE 22, 1914. WATEK POWER AND STATE KIGHTS. The Ferris -water power bill, which has been reported to the House and is one of the conservative bills to be pushed through Congress at this ses sion If possible, contains most of the same provisions as Senator Jones' bill, but the latter is preferable in one re spect, that it limits the rent to be paid to the Government to 5 per cent per annum on the value of Govern ment land used for power sites, thus by implication recognizing the state's sovereignty over the water. - Both bills reserve to the Government right to ' acquire power plants on the expira tion of a 50-year lease on payment of the value of the plant, but the Ferris bill also reserves this right to be exer cised at any time after three years' notice. Neither bill contains the provision suggested by Secretary Lane, that "so much of the plant as was based on the land itself and the improvements di rectly attached thereto, such as reser voirs, dams and right of way," should revert to the Government at the ex- piration of the lease, the appraised price being paid for such- tangible property as the distributing system and machinery. Both the Jones, and Ferris bills provide for rental to the Government, but Mr. Lane would ex act no return whatever provided the plant reverted to the Government, and he says: The terms of the franchise would be long euourh to Dermlt of the amortization of the plant upon such a percentage as would lay J no heavy burden upon eacn year s earnings. In this respect Mr. Lane is in line with the Pinchot conservationists, who have a mania for Government control and Government ownership. Amorti zation would be a burden on the con sumers throughout the term of the lease, for it would add to the rates charged for power. It would thus place power companies holding a Govern ment lease at a disadvantage in com peting with those companies which already own their power sites out right. It would be a tax imposed on the people of the next fifty years, dur ing which water power will go through the earlier stages of development, in order that future generations may be given fully constructed and operating plants free of cost. We hear much criticism of bond issues on the ground that they pass on to future generations the burdens of the present, but this amortization scheme would compel the present generation to bear the bur dens of the future. The Pinchotites are likely to attempt its inclusion in the bill by amendment, and Western memhers need be on the lookout to resist any such attempt. Both bills, however, are open to one fundamental objection. They re tain the power sites indefinitely under the control of the Government, and they use the Government's power as owner of the land to infringe on the state's unquestioned sovereignty over the water. In its dealings with the public domain the Government Is a land-owner, nothing more, and the state is the sovereign. But the state must perform all the duties and as sume all the burdens of sovereignty protection of life and property, pur suit, detection and punishment of criminals on Government land while the Government uses its usurped sov ereignty to exempt itself as a land lord from state taxation on its land. True, the Ferris bill has adopted Mr. Lane's suggestion that Federal reve nue from water power shall be used in reclamation work and that after repayment half of it shall be paid to the state for education and public im provements. But recollection is still vivid of how Oregon's public land rev enues, which the law. required should in major portion be spent on Oregon reclamation projects, were diverted to other states and the law finally Changed. The state being sovereign over the water and the land, the Government simply owner of the latter, the state should name the terms on which it will permit use of the water by the land-owner and his tenants. The wa ter gives value to the land; the land does not give value to the water. If the law as declared by the courts were to be observed and if the state chose to play dog-in-the-manger, the state could forbid the Government's lessee to develop the power, and the land would then be worthless to him. But it is not necessary to rest the case on an extreme hypothesis based on abstract rights. Public policy, which dictates the best and most eco nomical use of all natural resources, dictates that the state, not the Na tion, control. The Nation has done nothing with power sites so far ex cept to trace out every stream and lock it up. The men who profess to be inveterate foes of the power trust have given it an absolute mon opoly for years past by preventing de velopment of competing power sites. If they have their way, the West will swarm with inspectors and rent col lectors on power sites and another great bureau a hive of drones will be built up at Washington. Federal officials have not made such a bril liant success of managing the Na tional forests, the reclamation work and Alaska that they should be en trusted with control of water power. Pinchotites profess great dread that, if given control, the states would hand over the power sites to the trust. One would think, hearing them talk, that the movement for railroad regulation had its origin in the East, not the West, that progressive Republicanism Hi rang up in New York instead of Wisconsin; that "blue sky" laws were iirst devised in New Jersey, the "mother of trusts," instead of Kan sas. The West has always been the first to tight corporation and trust domination and it has been busy for some years back in helping the East to emancipate itself. It needs no Pln- I chot with a .horde of Federal officials to protect it against Itself. It can take care or itself. LOADING DOWN THE PRIMARY. The Oregonian does not approve the proposal, embodied in an. Inltla- tive measure filed at Salehj.for a partial return . to the convention sys tem of party nominations. The scheme is politically premature and wholly injudicious. ' .On its merits, it Involves the primary system in new complications and unnecessary ' bur dens. It provides for three elections a delegate primary election,- pri- mary election and a general election and for county and state conventions, named by the delegate primaries, to recommend candidates to the general primary. It is a revival of the assembly sys tem under the direct sanction of .law and not by volunteer organizations, as proposed in 1910. The people have made it plain that they do not want the assembly as a supplement or guide to the direct primary; and experience has shown that a nominating assem bly seeking to work through the pri mary gets nowhere. ; The state has adopted the primary nominating, system, in place of. the assembly or convention nominating system. The people cannot havebotn. They are not ready now, if they ever will be, to dispense with the primary. They must, if they are to have con ventions, except possibly a convention to make a platform. . -. The proponents of the convention measure have given the professional friends and self-elected trustees, bf the direct primary an excuse for reintro ducing into Oregon affairs the assem bly issue. They are. supported by no political organization, so far as The Oregonian knows; the new bill is but a personal emanation, a private ex pression, art individual venture. - It ought to fail; undoubtedly it will fall. THE ERA OF TIMIDITY. "... An editorial "in the current number of The Outlook has attracted wide spread attention. Its appearance in full Is-ohservod in manv leading news- naners nf the country. It is published elsewhere in The Oregonian today. One Interesting element is me iact that Colonel Roosevelt is a contribut ing editor of The Outlook. Colonel Roosevelt usually signs his outiooK articles. This one Is unsigned. Never theless (ha reference to the Adminis tration's trust policy Is Rooseveltian in sentiment, and, although V may be fancy, we seem to recognize through out the article the Colonel's literary punch. But whether or not It may iorecast Colonel Roosevelt's metnoa 01 cam paign In the Fall elections The Out look has in a brilliant article unques tionably put its finger on the weak ness of the present Administration. The Democratic Administration "is afraid of strong government." We have entered upon an era of timidity and surrender. The one phrase em braces the reasons for business de pression, the Mexican uncertainty, the repeal of canal tolls exemption, the proposed submission to Colombia's blackmail. The White House is timid in every thing but schoolroom discipline. Con. gress is ruled as with the iron rod. The Democratic side is marked 100 in deportment. But it is all to the end that the country must surrender its prosperfty, give up control of its 'own property, resign as guardian of its citizens abroad, repudiate Its respon sibilities In the Orient, and pay heav ily for a well-deserved spanking it has administered to an impudent republic. We do not believe self abasement Is popular with the American people. The nation is too big' and resourceful to play to role of shrinking violet. Th niihllo. is enamored of the big stick in support of all that is right in foreign or domestic policy, rne neea of the day is an infusion of strength and energy at the National capital. That we shall soon have. SENATORS AS MINE BOOMERS. If the explanations given by Sen ators Overman and Chilton to the Senate are to be accepted, they have been "worked" to boom the North Carolina gold mine in which they hold stock. Through a little error of judgment, according to them, their clerks made or permitted to be made copies of a boom letter on the letter paper of committees of which the two Senators are chairmen. This letter was addressed to Senator Chilton, al ready a stockholder, by J. C. Will iams, who calls himself an "economic and mining geologist," but whose name is not listed by the American Institute of Mining Engineers. This letter says $60,000,000 is a "conserva tive" estimate of the mine's value. The letter was originally written on the company's stationery, but the as tute Mr. Williams and the equally as tute Walter George Newman, promo ter of the mine, no doubt realizing the prestige to be derived from having the names of a number of Senators , a nanpr hearing coDies of the letter, contrived to have a number of copies made on committee stationery. Of course it was simply a "mistake" nt ho i-iorV-s. hut conies of the letter fell into the hands of brokers, and ultimately came under the eyes oi other members of the committees whose stationery had thus been dese crated. Among these are such foes of corporations as senators ia roi lette and Cummins, whose state of mind on making, the discovery can be imagined. The mine is in Mr. Overman's coun ty, and he took a small "flya" in it. Having visions of another Klondike, he moved to have the assay office at Charlotte reopened and Induced Con troller Williams, "always willing to Kiiro " o his home citv of Richmond learned when regional banks were being passed around, to sena an eipen at Government expense to investigate the mine with a view of determining the prospect of gold for the assayer to buy. Treasury Department of ficials admit this action to nave oevu elv unusual, but not irregu lar." This expert. Dr. Dewey, was far more conservative tnan Jr. huimuis, for he reported that he found condi tion: which would warrant expendi ture on development, but that the only fair test would be a wonting oi the property for six months and the milling- of ore from different parts of the mine to ascertain the average yield. He made no assays on me ground, but specimens of ore "said tn h fmm the mine" had been sub mitted to him and his assays ranged from $800 a ton down to nothing, in short, the mine was spotted, like nthr North Carolina mines. The company is the successor to the Gold Hill Copper Company,., wnien is ae scribed . in the Copper Handbook as "a- notorious promotion that caught many Wall street operators." . Dr. Dewey -report .was 60 much more conservative than that of the "conservative" Mr. Williams with its $60,000,000 valuation that it was not circulated among the brokers. He would not recommend an assay office to buy problematical gold which was still deep in the ground. He was careful to distinguish between speci mens which are assayed to fool suck ers, and samples, which are a true average of the ore 'if honestly taken. The resentment of those Senators whose names have been indirectly used to boom the mine, though they are not "in on the deal," can be imag ined. There must have been a great flutter in the cloak rooms and some strong language must have been spoken before - the two speculative Senators offered their explanations. If the great mine should prove a fail ure, as have so many others, what chuckles of 'malicious glee would be heard at the expense of the explainers! TIDE TCRNS TO PROSPERITY. The turn of the business tide has already come In the East, and all events in Immediate prospect promise to accelerate its flow towards healthy activity. Harvest is already under way in the Southwest with favorable weather, and is reducing the probabil ity of a phenomenal wheat crop to a certainty. It has also .begun in the Northwest in Walla Walla and Uma tilla Counties. The crop will be quickly bought up, for both our do mestic millers and European buyers have allowed their stocks to run low. In preparation to move wheat rail roads have concentrated more cars west of the Missouri River than ever before, and they will be compelled by the necessities of traffic to put in repair every car and engine and to replenish their supply of rolling stock. Philadelphia says pessimism is on the wane and that sentiment Js unques tionably swerving to the brighter side. Pittsburg says, that orders for iron and steel have increased In the last few weeks, that inquiries have broad ened out and that buyers show con siderable willingness to contract for future delivery. Chicago reports an increase of 30 per cent in Western buying of dry goods over the same period of last year. The one event for which Eastern business has been waiting the rate decision Is now a matter of days. A Washington dispatch says, the deci sion has already been written by Commissioner Harlan and should by this time be in the hands of all mem bers of the Interstate Commerce Com mission. Increases Inseveral'cases are expected, and by Congressmen hoped for, though hardly anybody expects a horizontal advance of 5 per cent. Al though railroad officials say that the monetary result will not be" sufficient to justify lavish expenditures, a favor able decision would certainly swell or ders for replacement of worn out cars and rails, while the psychological ef fect on railroad credit would hasten execution of long deferred plans for improvements and extensions. The heavy exports of gold, which have amounted to about $75,000,000 since January 1, are held by the New Tork Times to be no cause for alarm. Gold is a drug In our banks, which carry more specie than the law re quires, and is needed in France parti cularly to strengthen banks which have been, going through a financial crisis. Bills are drawn on London in anticipation of grain exports and rail road notes amounting to $40,000,000 must be paid in gold in London this month. Stock trade renders money rates low in this country, while Eu rope's needs and demands enable It to tjav rates for gold which yield Ameri can bankers a profit of about $4 per $1000. But the outflow of gold win De checked by the beginning of wheat exports next month. We shall have a much larger surplus of grain for ex port than in recent years. This, witn the cotton movement, should turn the current our way, even if our exports of manufactures should not Increase. Revival of trade following upon tne bountiful harvest and upon resump tion of railroad activity will increase home demand for capital, stiffen money rates and thus make gold ex- Dorts unorofitable. In short, we are exporting gold because we do not need It and can make a profit Dy letting Europe have it. When we do need It, we can get it back, and it will come in the ordinary course of trade, to pay for what we sell. A London financial paper thus sums up the conditions necessary to return of prosperity: ft noma kind of order can be re-estannsnea i. r i... u thn United States crops turn out as good as they now promise, and if reasonable concessions are maoe 10 -ways, we may see a complete change in feel ing throughout the Onion. Business may be gin to revive, and the gold outflow may suddenly stop. We are already making good on the condition as to crops. We should know the result as to railroad conces sions this week. As to Mexico, no man can guess how soon order will be re-established, but we can enjoy prosperity so long as we do not send our army on a propaganda of democ racy through that distressful country. BALKAN POT ETIIX. SIMMERING. The threat of Greece, backed by Sorvia to renew war on Turkey brings home to us the fact that we must consider the Balkan peninsula theater of chronic war. One war rarriu urithin it the seeds of another. Intervals of peace are simply periods of rest and preparation, nrte i breathing spells between rounds in a prizefight. We who are accustomed to see peo o of diverse, nationality dwell to gether in comparative peace under the eomo wrtvprTimprir ran scarcely con ceive the relentless hatred which the nations of Southeastern Europe nour ish for .each other. Circumstances have conspired to intensify this senti ment. Each nationality in turn was nroma hefore, the Turkish eonauest. and for centuries has clung to the ambition to become so again. Greece has visions of the restoration of the nirp, at ConstantinoDle. Ser via of the restoration of the empire of Stephen Dushan, Bulgarians or a domain extending front the Black Sea to t AtHarl, n a In thp riavs of their Czar Simeon.. In Successive wars and conquests the several races became mingled, and this process has con tinued under Turkish rule. Each race, occupying a separa'te quarter of town, ardently hated the otners, ana i wpr united only in a common hatrprt r the Turks whose tyranny served one good purpose in preventing is Christian races irom exterminat ing each othert The aim of each race In the recent r- wan tn rppnnmier as much as pos sible of the territory it formerly ruled and at the same time to bring under own government all of its own stock. The two ends made chronic strife inevitable. In Macedonia and Th i race particularly there was a "great mingling, ' The best that could bej done was to arrange a temporary compromise. In the second Balkan war the combatants did their utmost to make fact conform to theory by exterminating the opposing race In territory conquered by each, but the treaty of, Bukharest was signed be fore this sanguinary adjustment was completed. "A Diplomatist," writing in the London National Review, says that "at present there is little to choose between the old regime and the new"; that "in the final reconstruction the principle of nationality was trampled under foot and entire populations were "treated as if they had been chat tels"; and that "people who for more than three decades had enjoyed the boon of a national government were handed over to alien rule." Though the peace of Bukharest was an effect of physical and financial ex haustion, the recuperative faculties of the Balkan states are pronounced miraculous. Agriculture Is the staple industry and during the war work was continued by the women. In Bulgaria, It is predicted that, given average harvests, , four or five years will ob literate all material traces of the war. The heaviest item of war expendi ture was victualing, which was met by requisition and is thus a debt the nation owes to itself. The foreign war debt of Bulgaria Is declared in significant. The birth rate is the highest in Europe and would enable the country to make up the loss of 100,000 men sooner than Is expected, If migration from new Servian and Greek territories had not already done so. Servia and Greece have to reor ganize extensive territory where mar tial law still rules and where adminis trative talent Is lacking. Thus their new acquisitions are a source of weakness rather, than of strength. Bulgaria has been assumed to "be the chief menace to continued peace, but there are elements of discord among the allies Roumanla, Servia and Greece. Though Russia ana France detached Roumania for a time from Austrian influence and though the desire to emancipate millions of Roumanians in Transylvania from Austrian rule is strong, fear of being enveloped on all sides by Slav states restrains Roumania from throwing herself into the arms of Russia. Greece has Servia for an ally and has the friendship of France and Eng land, but she is surrounded by rivals and must reorganize new territory, a considerable part of those inhabi tants are of hostile, alien race. But, like Roumania, she has cause to fear Slav supremacy and has been looking to Germany for support against it. Servia's fortunes are bound up with those of the Slav race, headed by Russia, which are inimical to Greece and Roumania. Her great ambition is to reach the sea, and, though Greece has given her great privileges at Sa lonica, that ambition may bring the allies Into collision. Bitterness and recrimination be tween Servia and Bulgaria are too great at present to permit of an alli ance, but the writer quoted predicts that "a meeting ground will be found in the fact that, as regards the out side world, their interests point in the same direction." Greece and Rou mania are considered likely to join against the Slav allies and to be re inforced by Turkey. But this new grouping of the states. may be indiflnitely postponed by an attack of Greece and Servia on Tur key. Bulgaria may Join her earlier foe in order to take revenge on her later ones. If war once breaks out, one cannot foresee how far it might extend. In the twenty years he represented the Great Northern Railway in the Northwest, William Harder established an enviable reputation for affability and courtesy among the Western pat rons of that railroad. He helped ma terially to make the railroad a popular one with which to do business. He knew the traffic end of railroading thoroughly and had a broad con ception of a railroad's duty to the public. His loyal nature and his marked attainments brought to him not only the warm friendship of busi ness associates, but that of the high est officials of the Great Northern. In his death passed one held in high esteem in this community and in all the Western railroad world. "Slow pay" is the Newport hard ware man's Judgment of Uncle Sam's credit. Uncle means to pay, but he must first ask several of, his clerks whether he owes the money and must get their "O K" on the bill. Then the boys are so tired this hot weather. It might be a good plan for every body to write to Congressmen protest ing against passage of the bill that will put the Oregon in second place in the formal parade through the Ca nal. The French flag has no right to head the procession. Make celebration of the Fourth worthy the day. Upstate people who missed the Rose Festival in fear of rain will appreciate the opportunity to visit Portland. ' There is little mystery in the suc cess of the Kansas City III balloon lsts in getting out of the woods. One was a newspaperman, who simply had to file his story. Since the female suffragettes are devoted to fire, their male fellow soldiers are treated to water and plenty of it. Prunes will not be the subject of the boarding-house Joke this year, with the price already breaking the record. Excessive shipments of gold to Eu rope are phenomenal only in occur ring during Democratic Administra tions. When the Hindu considers himself a British subject, he must wonder why he is forbidden to land on British soil. That snake-charmer at Medford is in aa winch dnncrer of dving of fright as of the bite of the Gila monster. Nothing can feaze the scientist, even to keeping volcanic dust in the air two years in Alaska.' Abe Ruef may get out in time to see the end of the Exposition. The persistent man wins. Now that the aun has hopped off Cancer, the days will grow shorter and warmer. It was proper that the longest day in the year had many kinds of weather. The man who knows how always escapes when a questionable resort is raided. AFRAID" OS" STROXG COVERS MEXT Timidity of Democratic Administration Bellttliaa; the Katioa. The Outlook. Business is disorganized. New en terprlses are not begun; old enterprises are curtailing their business; willing workers are laid off; every morning newspaper reports the cry of the un employed; dividends are reduced or passed altogether. The crops are prom ising; conditions demand prosperity. But business la not good; prosperity is conspicuously absent. Why? Mexico does not want war; the United States does not want war; and yet we are in a state of restralnea war with Mexico. American property has been looted; . scores of American citizens have been killed. The Ameri can flag has furnished no protection for protection Americans have fled to the English and German flags. The hostility of the Mexicans to the United States is increased; their respect for the courage and efficiency of the United States is diminished. That our relations, with England, Germany and Spain are not more seriously strained is due to their unparalleled patience. That we are not embroiled In actual warfare with Mexico is due to the kindly offices of our South American neighbors. No one wants war, and yet we are on the edge of war. Why? i The answer is simple. . This Demo cratic Administration does not believe in a stronir srovernment It is afraid of a strong government. It fear that the. stronsr srovernment will be a des potic government It seeks refuge from that peril in weakness. It confronts great Industrial organ lzatlona. It does not believe In niak lng the Government strong enough to regulate such brgantzalions ana com pel them to deal Justly with the peo ple. Jt therefore endeavors to disor ganize these business organizations and convert each one of them Into two or more competing rivals. Business is disorganized because it is the avowed policy of the present Democratic a a ministration to disorganize business. ' It is sometimes said that it makes little difference what men believe if their characters are good. No one questions the character of President Wilson and his advisers. Their inten tions are excellent; thei spirit is pa triotic. But they believe that a strong government Is perilous to individual liberty that in weakness there la safe ty. It is this belief which has invited disaster at home, brought dishonor in Mexico, and now summons us to re treat from the Philippines. Consist ently applied. It would withdraw our flag from Hawaii and Forto Kico, aban don our protectorate in Cuba, and transform the Panama Canal into an international highway, owned, regu lated and policed by an international commission. ' The American people have the op portunity this Fall to elect. a House of Representatives which believes in a strong government able to control the great industrial organization at home, able to protect persons and prop erty in Mexico, and able to carry to a splendid consummation the National work so splendidly commenced in the Philippines. It is for them to decide whether the policy which In 15 months has brought us to the present condi tions, at home and abroad, shall be continued or halted now and in lilt reversed. The Outlook believes with Alexander Hamilton that "an energetlo govern ment is necessary to the safety of the Union." We have had the responsibilities and duties of novereignty thrust upon us in the Philippines. We have fulfilled those responsibilities and performed those duties with notable success. We have substituted law for anarchy, and a domestic government partially rep resentative for a foreign government wholly despotic. We have subdued hostile tribes, made life and property safe, baniBhed epidemics, established a public school system, built Rood roads, promoted commerce and Indus try, and furnished protection to a help less people from foreign aggression. It is now proposed to acknowledge our selves unable to continue that pro tection without aid, and to invite Japan and Great Britain to share with us in furnishing it; to abandon the attempt to protect the peaceful citizens from Ignorance of the many and misgovern ment of the few, and to leave this people unaided to struggle their way as best they can from childhood to maturity. Why 7 Mexico is torn by contending faction neither of which recognizes the neces sary conditions of peace or the modern laws of war. This Democratic Admin istration does not believe in maintain ing a govern ment atrong enough to say to both factions: The laws of war toward non-combatants must and shall be obeyed. So it looks on appalled but inert while bandits plunder and as sassins murder. It will persuade, but not enforce: It will Intermeddle, but not intervene. It looks across the ocean and sees an island people under the protection of the American flag, learning under American tuition the lesson of self government But it does not believe that the United States Government Is or should be -strong enough to protect and instruct a people on the other side of the globe. It believes that this Nation neither has nor ought to have the power to complete the task which it has begun. It therefore proposes that the United States enter into one of those entangling alliances with for eign nations against which Washing ton warned his countrymen, pay for this alliance by disavowing the right of the United States to control the canal built by the money of the United States through the territory of the United States, and then pull down our flag in the Philippines and retire, with confession of our weakness, from our uncompleted undertaking. As to Right of Way. WESTPORT. Or., June 18. (To tne Editor.) 1. When logging railroad company has condemned the right of way is this judgment as good as deed when I won't sign it or take the money which was fixed by the court? 2. And where does this- money ro from county office when I won't take it? 3. Does the railroad have right to sell the right of way to another com pany? 4. To whom does this piece of land belong when the logging company taken the steel and ties away? P. a 1. Yea 2. It remains there until you call for It 3. Yes. 4 It is an unsettled question. I s Commlnies o Boads. ASHLAND, Or- June 19. (To the Editor.) Is a man promoting a bond issue to be paid out of public money by taxation entitled to a percentage of what the bonds called for? If so, how much? And oblige M. L. JOHNqpN. No, -unless the bonding act authorizes such payment Relic for Fair. DORENA. Or, June IS. (To the Ed itor.) I have an old relic that I would like to send to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. "Please tell me whom to address it to. I will thank you for information through your paper, and oblige. A SUBSCRIBER. To the directors of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, ban Francisco, ERRORS ARB FOt'XD IX BIOGRAPHY Mr. Gerr Corrrrta Dates la Airsssl of Mr. Wllllama Life. PORTLAND, June 21 (To the Edi tor.) In the sketches of the life of the late Richard Williams several Inaccu rles have appeared that ought to be corrected. As a matter of fart, these lapses in the statement of historical facts are quite common In our local papers when commenting on the pass ing of our public men. and they are usually permitted to go uncorrected. As a result those who are not person ally familiar with the record get the Wrong Impression, which In muvh cases is worse than no information at all. As to Mr. Williams, It has been stated that he formed a partnership with the late Rufua afallory, who "was elected United States Senator tn 188." The fact la that Mr. Mallory waa never elected to the United States Senate nor to any office In Utis. In IMS he was chosen a member of the National House of Representative. Again, It waa atated that the law firm of Hill, Thayer at Williams "existed until the first bitter political fUht be tween John H. Mitchell and It. W. Cor nea for the seat In the I'nlled States Senate. Thayer being elected Governor at the same time." But the political fight referred to took place In 1ST!, while Thayer waa elected Governor In 1878, and the Legislature of that year, being Democratic, elected Jamea H. Slater United States Senator. Another error la th statement that Mr. William "vti a member of Con gress in the 70'a. at a time when th memorable Hayea-Tllden contest racked the Nation," but that contest was et tled on the 4th of March. 1877, while Mr. Williams did not become a member of Congress until the following Octo ber. The facts and date pertaining to h career of our public men are easily obtained, and for the benefit, especially of the rising generation, should be pre sented correctly. In 1874 Mr. William was th regular Republican candidate for Congress, and was opposed by the late T. W. Daven port a an Independent and George A. La Dow, Democratic. Mr. Wllllaroa and Mr. Davenport engaged in a Joint speaking canvass of the state and fur nished one of the Dioit Interesting and Instructive events of that character In the history of Oregon. They were both defeated by Mr. La Dow, who remained at bis home In Umatilla County during the entire campaign. Not three month ago I was talking with Mr. William about hi earlier career, and Inquiring why he had re tired from public life after his one term In Congress. He replied that "the only odlce I have ever had out of which I could make any money was one that I was paying rent for. Hi passing at an advanced age take from us one of the ablest lawyer the state has known, breaking another of the few links that connect us with th pioneer days of the Oregon country. T. T. (J EUR. M r. Geer should have addressed hi objections to other paper than The Oregonian. It contained none of the errors to which he call attention, ex cept that It said "Mr. William wa a member of Congresa In the 70', at a time when the memorable llaye-TIIden contest racked the Nation." Mr. Wil liam wa elected In June, 1878, and the Haye-Tiiden election waa In November, 187. The Oregonian I quite unable to see that the point made by Mr. Geer la important. GLOOMY FATE FOR OLD HORSES Contributor See Cruelty la Aactloa After 13 Year.' Service. PORTLAND, June 19. (To the Edl tor.) The Oregonian states today that five old horse were sold at auction yesterday by the city. Somehow, I can't stop thinking about Uioko old horses. I thought about them all ouy yesterday, and wished that I waa Just a wee bit rich, so that I could buy them and turn them loose In some fair green pasture, to rest, after their 1& year of faithful service, "But," ay someone, "It Is nothing unusual for horses of all ages to be bought and sold." I know It Isn't; but In most cases it Is horse that have probably changed maater several time during their youth and prime, ana nav learned to do diversified work, Willi they were yet young enough to adapt themselves to chant of work and en vironment Therein He the difference between them and these old bora' that were taken Into the eervlce of th city at three yars of ag. Each horse whs put at some special line or work, and kept at it throughout all these IS years He know nothing else, and I too old to learn. God pity him If he ha fallen into the hands of a man who will hitch him to a dirt scraper, and pull, and lash, and jerk, and curse him because he cannot understand what It I that he is expected to do. Even a farmer, with the best Intention, can break th haart of an old horse, and torture the life out of him. trying to make him learn to f low. I know whereof I apeak, for my ather waa a farmer, and I remember a day in my childhood when he cam in from work and atd to my mother: "I'm too tired to want any supper, plow ing with a horse that know nothing about plowing and I too old to learn is Just hell for man and beast" The city' horse are always well fed, well stabled and kept In uniformly good condition. So much the harder for them If they "lose tneir nuiei. So very much the harder If th Mow fall In the Winter of old age. Where are those five old horse now? Hav they been thrust into filthy, unventl lated stables to eat scant ration from musty manger, or mouldy nose-bags? A rich municipality, able to buy vast tract of land for future park and playgrounds, ought to be a little ashamed of such a transaction a yes terday's auction Rale. If no other good comes from equal suffrage and the so called "awakening of women" I be lieve it will work reform In matter of this kind. Suppose, for Instance, that a couple of the City Commissioner had been women yesterday and had aald to Mayor Albee and Commissioner Brewster and Dleck: "Pension th city' superannuated horses and we will vote for your measure to Increuse the sal aries of It human servants. Other wise we won't" C. B. MORGAN. Population Flyarea. PORTLAND. June 1. (To the Edi tor.) (1) Where can I get Informa tion In regard to one desiring to en ter the Mann Old People Home? (21 Please state the population of Oregon and the United States, and oblige A READER. (1) Address: Matron, Old People' Home, Portland, Or. (2) Oregon, 872,765; United States. S1,972,I86, including Hawaii and Alaska. Avtkor of BUI. wiPTI.lvn .lu no (To the Edl- origlnator of the Ire school book bill. We surmise he Is not a property bolder, a thl would Increase his taxes. We believe every rlght-mlndcd citiaen I willing to furnish books for hi children. ciiicx. It waa lntreduced by Senator Hal D. Patton, of Marlon County. Sulphur far Nothlac. Kansas City 8tar. . i, .,,...w,.r i:imw a nnund ft" sulphur. How much I it? Druggist- Fifteen eenta a pouno. v-rueij ,uiuin- wh.t1 Hans- It man. I can get II cross the strei-t for 10 cents. DrugKi1 (in disgust) Yes. and there a plac where you can a't it for nutbinc. Twenty-Fi- Years Ago From Tha Orinnla at June 31. ! Vancouver. V. T June 12. t in A. M A fierce fire, whu-h bri'Ke out shor'ty before i o'clock, la now rnatng wMh constantly Increasing volniup. The local lire department la powerless In stay the procri-ss of the name. The following appeal for aid baa just l.ern sent: "To V'lilef Morgan. I'nrtland Klee Department Hvnd v two engines Iff mediately. Th tomn Is burning up. Urown, Mayor." Th fir is now la clow proximity to the telearaph oflice and the operator I making preparations tt tear out hie instrumecta. S-ls A. M The Kxchance Hotel. i."ommei-rll 1 na nd Hire rrslauianta are (na, 1 h Or I going toward the wharves. As Th Oregonian goea to prep Ch.ef Morran I getting th engine iloma to th Ocklahema. and the oregonian pa porter have started for Vancouver li a buggy. Palem, June 21 V. .'. Kmhree. su perintendent of the Gurt-.ey t'sh Com pany; W. A. Freeman, a liveryman, and James Mct'une. a contractor, all tf Ta comn, have teen In this n'K hhorhod purchasing horses. Palem. June 21 A team belonging to K. X. Mathleu. of liutteville. ran away today, seriously Inlurltig three nr four member of th family, on prob ably fatally. Seattle. Jun 21 Col. J C. Halne has forwarded to Gen. John Glhhoe a letter very complimentary 1o Lieut. Kimball, U. 8. A., who rendered verv valuabl aid to the militia during their term of service after th fir. Washington. Jun 1 1 . The President today appointed Orvtlle T. Porter, nf Oregon, Marshal of Alaska. Mr. Margaret F. Chapman, wife nf Colonel W. W. Chapman, died last night. Mr. Chapman was a pioneer of Illinois, Iowa and Oregon. She was born in Vircinla, January I. 11. and married Colonel Chapman on Xlarch 1. .I2. They started from Illinois for Oregon In 1847. and became owner of patt of the townalt of Portland. T. R. Coggeshall. manager of the Rureka Parking Company, was drowned In the Columbia near tiak point yes terday. George F. Koehler. son 'f Dr. Wil liam Koehler. graduated with honors on Jure 18 from the College of Physi cian and Surgeons. New i ork. The O. It. N. Company has char tered the steamer City nf Topeka and will put her on the route tn the hound and Hrltleh Columbia with the steamer Idaho. This will give Portland a teamer to th Sound every live da. d. A. I.yell. of Captain W. Young a oBlce, Is making surveys cf rations bsva and entrance along th coast of thl state. Don Klesley. 12 year old. fell Into the river while fishing at the foot of Yamhill street last evening. Ldward Knox saved him. Yesterday Judge Catlln and lh County Commissioners opened hid for teel cells In the pew addition to th Courthouse and Jail building. William Church yesterday began suit to enjoin the city from building a city hall on th Plata blocks. Marlon D. Egbert of Walla Walla, was In th city yesterday. Mrs.'C. T. Mill, principal rf Mills Seminary. California. Is the guest of Mr. and Mr. C. A. Dolph. Twenty-one student graduated from the high school yesterday. The Supreme Court has decided against Governor Tennoycr s Stat liall road Commission. Th trial of Sandy Old for the mur der of Kmll Weber began estetdy be fore Judge Steam. Inatrirt Attorney McGinn charged that the gambler i n splred to hav Weber killed. Kaalllaa (a Hose. PORTLAND. June 21. (To th K.I Hor.) in reply to Mr. O. K. Jeffery s letter of Jun 1, would say 1 do not have to give It a great deal of thought, a I speak from actual experience. I hav taken first prlies In California, Washington and Portland, although I have Pt been situated to paiilnpal aim 110 In Portland. Mv entry of 110 contained 800 Caroline le-lout roses and I well know the time, labor and cost It take to enter. Th rose la the harden! de.oratlon thr la, and as Portland advertise Its Kestlval as a Rosa Festival (and m phaslaing this exclusively to he a rose festival!. I therelor made thl sug gestion that the rose should be gln consideration aliovt all flower, there heencoutaaing cultivation and decora tion of rosea, showing tho world at large th beauty of Portland rosea Pasadena has her rose show every year and the rose Is given th pref erence. Although there are, many other d-coratlons which art beautiful, the roe ranka first. I did not enter and waa not per sonally Interested. In amy other entty. Being a spectator. It Just occurred lo m to ask why so many wet one. orated with other flowers, when via Itors expected to e an abundance of roses. It does not speak well for Portland to show so few roses. wha they are supposed to rul th riay. The firemen were th only on who had tha real Kose Festival spirit A SI'H!i"HlHKIl AMI PH17K-M'-NLR OF KUK.Mt.lt VK.VUS. . raaaeaaera Propel Kreoea Tar. Purl Cor. Chlcagn Record Herald Under th mysterlou title. "The Lo cal Autocar Velo." a new lorrn of rait wagon hue appeared thl Summer on French country railway where service hitherto haa bn deplorMy alow nd undenendahle. k The Invention consist of a light rsr. 29 feet long and fitted on ma !" with 10 blcycl seats, with pedals, crank nd chain below, th motive power helnr exercised by the trrclr thems'-lvea. Experiment how thst a speed of 20 mile an hour can be attained easily, while th price charged Is only one fourth of th usual rat. Thla I ur to appeal to thrifty French tourist. If th Innovation provea aucceasful th main llnea purposa to ilow full alsed trama Ihu eoulpped to leav Parle during the noltdsv perio.i. The Admen' Convention Under the auspice of the Asso ciated Advertising Club of America a great convention of advertising expert I being held thl week tn Toronto. Th Interest In the convention nd It work I world wld for advejr. Using I everywhere a vltl bual nes force. While all phase of publicity are represented, newspaper 4vrtlln occupies a more prominent place than ever before. Every day the evidence ccumu late that th trend of lh Hires I toward th daily prs th modi, um producing th greatest result for th least expenditure of money.