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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1914)
TTTR MOKXTNG OI?EGONIAN, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 1914, PORTLAND. OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon. Postoftice as econa-ciass metier. Subscription Rates Invariably la Advance: (By UaiL) Dally. Bundav Included, one year .......18.00 lally, Sunday included, six months ..... lally, Sunday Included, three months ... 36.25 Ually, Sunday Included, one month .75 Ually, without Sunday, one year O.Ou lally, without Sunday, six months ..... 8.26 Ee.lly. without Sunday, three montha ... 1.75 Dally, witbout Sunday, one month. .60 Weekly one year ...... 1.50 Sunday, on year 2.60 Sunday and Weekly, one year .......... S.bO (By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year ... ....$9.00 pally. Sunday Included, one month ..... .75 Row to Remit Send Postoftice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postoftice address In lull. Including county and state. Postage Bastes 12 to 16 paces, 1 cent; la to 32 pages. 2 cants; 84 to 4a pages, 8 cents; 60 to AO pases, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, o cents; TS to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age. aouDie rates. Eaaterw Rnalnem nrflra Varrea A Conk Dn, New York. Brunswick building. Chi cago, Stenger bonding. San Fraactseo Office B. J. BldweU Co., T42 Market street. PORTLAND. TUESDAY. NOT, 17. 1914, TILE INSIDIOUS ANNUAL APPROPRIA TIOM. The State of Oregon has one method of appropriating money that Inevitably leads to extravagance. This is the custom of granting annual or continuing appropriations. Under this process one Legislature author izes the expenditure annually for. an indefinite period of a specified sum for a particular purpose. The suc ceeding: Legislature may repeal an nual appropriations, but It rarely does. They are lost sight of in . the effort to perform a large amount of work within a brief period. It is possible, owing to this custom, for a Legislature bent on economy to be gravely deceived. Its own appro priations may be moderate, but when the total demands upon the treasury and' taxpayer are footed up the an nual appropriations authorized by preceding sessions increase the total and may impose upon the later body the stigma of extravagance. Large appropriations are encour aged by the method in another way. A department already having a sub stantial annual appropriation may needlessly seek more money for some new activity or enlargement 'of old functions. A few of the members of the Legislature may be aware of the continuing appropriation, . but usually the majority is not informed. The new demand seems moderate and it is likely to be granted for that reason without aa careful . Investigations . as would be caused by general knowl edge that the department iwas already receiving annually a. large fum from the publio treasury. This method of encroachment on the . cost of government is growing. The tendency is to grant more annual appropriations, not fewer. New ones are added from time to time and old ones increased. Unless the system is soon abandoned there can be little hope for permanent economy in the administration of the state govern ment. As a concrete example of annual appropriations, the- money granted the State Board of Health may be cited. This department Is now conducted wholly on the annual appropriation basis. It receives $1000 each year for vaccine virus, granted in 1907. It receives 115,000 annually, granted in 1911, for payment of its secretary, his clerks, and for incidental and gen eral expenses. It receives J 5000 an nually for combating, or for protec tion against, bubonic plague, cholera and other Asiatic contagious diseases, the last granted in 1913. These ap propriations or such parts of them as are needed will be available every year, provided some Legislature does not affirmatively repeal or alter' them, and the total of them is $21,000 annually. Incidentally, but no less pointedly. It may be mentioned that the State Board of Health is given a free rein In the expenditure of these appro priations. It fixes the salary of its secretary, decides on the amount of assistance he needs and. designates the pay of his helpers. In the past two years the public has not been aware of any Impending danger from bubonic plague, yet since the appropriation for protection, against the plague was authorized less than two years ago the State Board of Health has expended nearly $6000 from the sum available. When the present State Board of Health was created in 1903, $5000 yearly was considered ample to con duct its labor;. The allowance was trebled In 1911. The Board has doubtless been of benefit to the health and physical well being of the people, but some of its activities through its secretary along political lines could readily be dispensed with and probably the frequent bulletins Issued for limited circulation would not be greatly missed. Possibly the liberality and freedom extended the Board in the matter .of expending public money would . be subject to less criticism, except upon the score of its continuing char acter, were It not that protection and safeguarding of the public health do not stop with its activities. Aside from the $42,000 the State Board Health - has available each blennium, the Social Hygiene Society was granted by the last Legislature $20,000 for prosecuting its efforts toward healthier human bodies. Moreover, the protection of the public health Is not confined to di rect dealings with the physical prob lems of man, but extends to livestock. There, while economic, it is also de signed to guard the life and physical being of the human family. Large sums are expended by other depart-1 ments in this particular. But primarily the money granted the State Board of Health Is men tioned to illustrate the insidious and encroaching character of the annual appropriation. The statutes are spotted with others. No man can determine the cost of conducting the state government for the current blennium by referring to the session laws of 1913. He must go to those of 1911 and then refer back to the code which contains laws adopted only not later than 1909, to find it all. The tendency of the method Is un doubtedly toward top-heavy cost of government. The new Legislature has a golden opportunity to carry out its economic reform pledges by dealing ruthlessly with this one custom. Re peal of every annual direct appropri ation and establishment of every de partment on a blennium basis after a new and careful consideration of its needs would be wholly proper and a decisive step toward economy. More over, the submission of a constitu .tlonal amendment prohibiting future Legislatures from restoring the meth od of granting annual appropriations would not be amiss. MERELY A SUGGESTION. Merely as an onlooker. The Orego nian is vastly Interested in the recent pointed suggestion of - its neighbor, the Seattle Times, that the State of Washington ought to be divided and two entirely new states erected. "Eastern Washington" (remarks the Times) "is a dry country most of the year, and produces hay, frtiit, grain and a variety of vegetables and does this in great abundance. "Western Washington is wet two-thirds of the entire year and; Is noted for her lumber, her fisheries, her manufsctures and her water commerce." The special emphasis laid by the Times on the peculiar meteorological characteristics of the two parts of Oregon may or may not be signifi cant. But it is a fact that in the re cent election Eastern Washington voted dry, possibly under the ' direct influence of its arid climatic condi tions, and Western Washington voted wet. Yet with the aid of certain minor western counties, the tall was able to wag the dog. . The County of King (Seattle) went against prohibition by a large major ity. . It Is in no humor to succumb to the demands of the rest of the Btate. But whether the dissatisfaction of Seattle, and also of Tacoma (wet), is sufficient provocation for dismember ing a great state we do not pretend to say. No sovereign state (except Virginia) has yet been divided. The process is not easy. It- seems to us that an easier solu tion would be to devise a plan to divide the dry sheep from the wet goats by colonizing all the former in Eastern Washington and all the latter in Sqattle and Tacoma. It would be an interesting experiment. LOBBYISTS AND PATRIOTS. The old question "What Is a lobby ist?" came up in the Senate when debate on the trade commission bill was in progress. Senator Reed in quired of Senator Newlands about the activity of Mr. Rubleein favor of the Stevens trade commission bill. Mr. Newlands described Mr. Rublee as a disinterested citizen who was 4 work ing for anti-trust legislation. Senators Clapp and Walsh also said they knew Mr. Rublee and testified to his high character. Mr. Reed then remarked: The term "lobbyist" seems to be one that Is very difficult to define. It is a very elastio term. When a man la working on the same side of the question we are on, no matter how active he may be, he is, of course, a patriot, a statesman, and all other things that are good and virtuous and ad mirable. If he Is on the other side, he is a lobbyist, with divers and sundry adjectives attached, dependent In each case upon the vocsbulary of the gentleman who is discussing him. The Senator hit the nail on the head, though his remarks were, in tended to discredit Mr.. Rublee's de fenders. It has come to the point where no man can exert himself to promote or prevent the passage of a bill without being tagged as a lobby ist and held up to obloquy. It Is Just as conceivable that a man may strive to influence legislation from worthy and unselfish as from unworthy and selfish motives. The indiscriminate classification of both types of men as lobbyists with opprobrious adjectives prefixed is likely to drive the unself ish lobbyist away from Washington, while no amount of opprobrium will affect the selfish. FROM TIUTATE TO GENERAL. While the whole world is paying homage to the genius, bravery and patriotism of the great British Gen era, who died suddenly in France last Saturday, Americans should not for get to pay like homage to an Amer ican General who displayed like qual ities in no fess degree. Americans Join Britons in mourning Earl Rob erts; Britons may well Join Amer icans in mourning General Adna R. Chaffee. Unlike Roberts, who was the son of a General and began as an officer, ahd who therefore had every advan tage to be derived-from his father's position, Chaffee began as a private in a cavalry regiment at the outbreak of the Civil War and worked his way up to the chief command of the United States Army without any ad ventitious aid. At the close of the Civil War he was brevetted Captain and during the long interval preced ing the Spanish war promotion came slowly, for it was not until 1897 that he ' became TJIeutenant-Colonel, but each of his brevets was won for brav ery, two in the Civil War and two in Indian wars. On one occasion he led a cavalry charge over a rough and precipitous bluff straight into a body of Indians, who poured repeated vol leys, into his soldiers, but whom, he scattered. " In the Spanish War he was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers and wjas in the thick of the fighting around Santiago. He there won his brevet as Major-General and was marked as the man to entrust with hazardous work. His fame was then National, but his leadership of the American force in the allied army which marched to Pekin in 1900 made' it international. He was on board a steamer at Nagasaki, Japan, bound for the Philippines, when he received orders to take command of the expe dition, and he proceeded direct to Tien-Tsln. Knowing of the peril surrounding the Americans who were besieged with other foreigners in the legations at Pekin, he spared neither himself nor his soldiers in pushing forward with all speed. He was determined that the American troops should not suffer by contrast with those of our allies, and, animated by the same spirit, his soldiers seconded his ef forts. The way was beset with un known dangers and the strength of the Boxer army was a matter of guesswork, but Chaffee's army led the others. The General was on the alert day and night against surprise, and he Has always at the point of danger. The Chinese picked him as their tar get, and on one occasion a shell ex ploded at his feet. As he stood on the wall of Pekin with missiles com ing from four directions, Major Reilly was killed at his side and six other men within a few paces of him, but he was untouched. Captain Arthur Lee, the British military attache, said that Chaffee's headquarters were al ways where the fight was heaviest and the danger greatest. 1 General Chaffee's career is an In spiration to- every American. It proves that opportunity is open to every citizen who will seize It and it is an example of devotion to duty winning its reward. Honor will be paid to his memory not only by Americans, but by men in the army of nearly every nation now at war, who are proud to claim him as a comrade in arms. 'Dr. Anna Howard Shaw is probably too perfect a lady to "steamroller" herself into office. If she were a coarse male that term might apply to her methods, but .being the angel ically fragile creature she is, we must use some other expression. Shall we say that she rolling-pinned the oppos ing crowd? PROGRESSING RUSSIA. There is a perceptible softening of the world's feeling . toward Russia. Most people in the United States have been taught to believe that the Czar is a ferocious tyrant and his govern ment the direst despotism, which is probably true in part. Perhaps little can be said for the Russian autocracy. It stands for everything that a civil ized government' ought to avoid, but one cannot speak so definitely about the Czar himself. He began his career, like some of his predecessors, as an idealist. He had real aspirations to reform the methods of the autocracy antt elevate his people. But unhappy circum stances intervened to pervert his views, and, for some years at least, Nicholas played the tyrant to perfec tion. . Since the war broke out he has shown symptoms of better things. His promises to the Poles are taken seriously by people who are In a situ ation to Judge accurately of his inten tions. The. Jews who are serving in the Russian army are said to receive fair treatment. Their enthusiasm is warm and their prospects seem to be reasonably assure'd. If all this la true, it indicates a great change in the Czar and his court. But that need not make us Incredu lous. Human beings often change. Nicholas may have recognized the ad-, vantages of a reversal of . his policy toward the Poles and the Jews. It has been borne in upon his soul, no doubt, that a happy and loyal popula tion is preferable on all grounds to one made rebellious by misery. The. mentality of the Slavic race Is admir able. The people are docile, kindly and intelligent. Russia has produced its full share of great literary and musical geniuses in the last half century and has done creditable work in science. This has been accomplished under appalling difficulties. What may we not ex pect, therefore, of the Czar's subjects when once they have obtained reason able liberty under a civilized govern ment?. That they will do this within the next few years seems now as like ly as. most human contingencies. . WORK BEFORE CONGRESS. Though the second session of the Sixty-third Congress will continue for only three months, expiring by limita tion on March 4, 1915, it will have a great -'amount of important legisla tion to consider aside from the regu lar appropriation bills. The Senate will have before it the conservation bills and the Philippine government bill, which passed the House at the last session. These measures are fraught with so much controversy that the Senate will do well to pass them all in- addition to the appropria tions without taking up new legisla tion. But it Is morally certain that new bills of the first importance, which have not yet passed either house, will be forced to the front. The bill for Government purchase of merchant ships through a Government-controlled corporation will be revived. The cotton situation has materially improved and will continue to do so, Judging by the present trend of events, but the South Is likely to re new Its demand for some plan of Gov ernment relief to the cotton-growers. The Democratic deficit tax may not fulfil expectations as a revenue-producer and plans may be pushed for ward for further revision of the rev enue laws. The Republicans may take the opportunity of urging that duties on some commodities be imposed or raised, both as a source of revenue and as a means of incidental protec tion. For example, a small duty on lumber would produce some revenue from British Columbia imports and would at the same time tend to re vive the lumber industry of the Pa cific States. The prospect of action on any of the Important deferred legislation is very poor. Differences of opinion among' the Democrats on the rural credit bill, the railroad securities bill and the seamen's bill caused them to be stricken from the programme at the last session, and there is little chance of their revival at the coming session unless President .Wilson should insist that one or more of them be pushed forward to the exclu sion of anything else. ' Unusual attention to the details of appropriations may also prevent ac tion on much general legislation.' The discussion of, the new revenue law and of Democratic extravagance during the campaign has done much to focus j attention on economy. The Republi- j cans are' likely to renew their attacks on the Administration in this regard. A new river and harbor bill will be Introduced and will receive the at-, tentlon of Senator Burton and his as sociates, who have gained confidence and . reinforcements since their vic tory the last session. The session will be interesting, though brief, for each Congressman will try to crowd out his neighbors and to force his own pet bills to the fore, much as two men try to crowd each other from a railroad ticket window. MOST IMPORTANT TO THE WEST. The most important legislation to be considered by the Senate at the approaching session of Congress will be the bills providing for lease of powersites and of Government land containing various minerals other than metals. These bills "are of supreme importance to the West, and it will become the Western Senators to exert themselves to the utmost in modifying the bills in such manner as to pro tect the interests of their states. There are three of these bills, one relating to powersites on navigable streams, one relating to powersites on non-navigable streams in the "public domain and one relating to mineral land. "Reasonable charges" are to be collected by the Government from les sees of powersites on navigable streams and are to be fixed by the Secretary of War. Apparently they are to be paid into the United States Treasury, no provision being made for their disposal. Rental from othei? power sites and from mineral land are to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior and are to be added to the reclama tion fund. .When repaid by settlers on reclaimed land, tney are to be divided equally between the Government and the state whence they are derived, the state to use ita share In education and public improvements. This policy would perpetually with hold . from taxation a very large pro portion of "the area of the public-land states in Oregon $0 per cent, in Idaho i a still higher percentage. Until the rentals from leases bad been expended in reclamation and until repayment by settlers began the states would not derive one dollar of revenue from this leased Government land. During the interval the states would be called upon to build roads and schools, to maintain courts and to keep the peace- in these great areas, where de velopment would be increasing popu lation and building- up of towns. How long this Interval would be cannot be estimated. Reclamation of arid land has barely begun and may be con tinued indefinitely. Rise in land value may render feasible projects which are now too costly to undertake. Hydro electric pumps will certainly make practicable the irrigation of land which Is too high for watering by gravity. The term "reclamation" -may be extended to include drainage of swamps. If the payment to the states of any revenue from leases Is to be deferred until the Government has car ried out not only such reclamation work as is now considered feasible, but such as may In the future become so, the prospect that the states will ever receive a dollar from that source is so dim as not to be worth considering.- The states are forbidden to tax Gov ernment land, but when that prohibi tion was adopted, no man contem plated that title "would remain perpet ually In the Government. The estab lished policy was to give or sell land to individuals, whereupon it became taxable by the states. By adopting a new policy without safeguarding the right of the states to derive revenue from the land as It passes Into private use, the Government would be creat ing a condition which was not In the minds of those who made the agree ment. It would be tricking the states out of a valuable right which they ex pected to enjoy. It would be exercis ing a technically legal right, but would be acting contrary to moral right and to public policy. In short, justice to the states re quires that leases of public land should be made taxable. The states can be trusted not to overtax them, for that would cause abandonment of leases and would retard . development, for which the public-land states have been clamoring. An Englishman who rescued a wounded German soldier was award ed the Iron cross and was recom mended for the Victoria cross. But, like other great heroes, he succumbed to his wounds before wearing his baubles of warfare. There Is prospect the supply of tur keys will exceed largely the demand under " prevailing conditions. At points up the Valley where the bird is raised handlers are quoting low figures to the- producers in conse quence. Swamps are said to have lost their terrors to the German invasion. The unit of the Kaiser's army is as a grain of sand and when enough of the front ranks are killed their bodies- make good footing for the forces that follow. A municipal workhouse wherein brooms may be made is a sensible proposition. The price of brooms is nearly high enough to make them. a luxury and a great many housewives believe they need new ones about so often. When the great British super dreadnought was torpedoed the re mainder of the fleet left her to her fate in' accordance with orders.' Ex pediency, not humanity, is the first law of the great war in Europe. Japan, In describing her activities, is careful not to use the term "occu pation" in connection with the seizure of islands in the Pacific. However, there is no other word that describes her action so fully. Peace prospects in Mexico are said to be improving. It is only to be ex pected that the factions will Settle down until our troops are taken away and the plunderers and bandits are given free rein. Three more British fighting -vessels sent to the bottom. The German naval programme of picking off the British fleet a little at a time seems to be advancing satisfactorily. Four sons killed in action, the mother dead of suicide and the father insane of grief is the record of one German family. Oh, yes, war la a beautiful thing! With the war in progress. Uncle Sam will have his hands full making the various warships behave during the great Canal parade. Henry Conquest Clarke, who helped to found the rural free delivery serv ice, has a monument at the gate of every farm on the line. The demise of Earl Roberts with the huge guns of battle tolling out his eventful life was given an appropri ate environment. - General Goethals' report shows that the Panama Canal cost $353, 659.049. And it may be worth it some day. The Russians are Imposing fines on captured German towns. But up to the. present the Czar hasn't gotten rich at it. With the elastic currency system in operation no doubt we shall be able to make one dollar do the work of two. The Germans say Winter will help them in dealing with Russia. They plainly need some sort of assistance. Peace prospects in Mexico -are brightening to match the shine of the carving knives of the warriors. The allies have made another gain, says Paris. Another 100 yards at a cost of 10,000 lives, no doubt. Pneumonia is developing on the firing line. Winter will prove a valu able ally of the bullet. A rise of 60 per cent in the British national debt merely makes the lion shake his mane. There is now enough froBt on the "punkins." Pick 'em for pies next week. The City of Eugene now has water from a deep well that Is absolutely pure. Britain's machine guns will trim the 300,000,000 Moslems. Finished your Christmas shopping? The Russian Drought. By Dei Collins. (The prohibition act In Russia be came absolute on Monday. News Item.) The times are rife with bitter strife And booming gun and drum; On every street with hasty feet The soldiers go and come. Oh, who'd suppose, while shots and blows About the country hum. The Russian Czar would turn from war To swat the Demon Rum? In Petrograd, with faces sad. The mujiks get the news; Some ruthless chap has closed the tap Upon the country's booze; And by and by, with throttles dry. Ere they their thirst can lose. They'll have to find a tiger blln Or bootlegs learn to use. Moscow and Kiev, one may believe. Will snort in thirsty wrath Whene'er they think they've nought to drink Except their morning bath, m And men will lug and hide the jug Behind the plastered lath. And to and fro, zigzag will go The drug store's beaten path. And at the front will soldiers hunt, With thirst all parched and -dumb. And nostrils keen. In each canteen On which they chance to come. In hopes to find Its inwards lined With gin or vodka some; And they will yell: "This war is well. It's touR-h on Demon Rum." Then and Now One hundred and fifty-one years ago last Sunday two English surveyors, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, began the sur veying of what is known as the Mason and Dixon Line between the states of Penn sylvania and Maryland. This line afterwards became famous as the supposed boundary between the North and South or between the free or slavery holding states.' From It came "Dixie" the cog no m e n for the South, which has been Immortalized in song and story. The line was sur. veyed at the in stance of William Penn and Lord Baltimore. The surveyors were three year In making the survey from the north east corner to the foot of Savage Mountain. In 1767 the work' was finished from the latter point to Virginia, now West Virginia. The line is said to have cost $300, 000 and the sur veyors employed an army of 100 axemen and a road 30 feet wide was cut through the dense forest. A mixture of sand and lime stones of light brown gray ish color were brought over from England to mark the line and these stones were set up at intervals of a mile apart wherever It was possible to erect them. They weigh ed 600 pounds and were four and a half feet high. On some parts of the line the country was so rugged that mounds of dirt and rock had to be substituted for these stones. Today the Mason and Dixon Line has been re-sur veyed and re marked and di vested of its chief erroneous tradi tions. In 1849 a revision of the line was made by a Joint commis sion from Penn sylvania, Mary land and Dela ware and it was then found that the original sur vey was so near ly accurate that the change in volved by the cor rection amounted to less than two acres which were added to Mary land. In 1903. Pennsylvania and Maryland each ap propriated $5000 for the restoration of the line. Many of the peculiar English stones had disappeared and the commis sion made an ex haustive search for them. The identification was an easy task, for on breaking them the stones emitted a sulphurous odor. So thorough was the search that some were found in the curbing of streets and In peo pie's cellars. One was taken from the wall of . an old stone church where it had done service for many years. In the places of those that could not be found new stones or marble were set up. On every fifth one or these, the coat of arms of William Penn was cut on the Penn sylvanla side and on the Maryland siae the escut cheon of Lord oaiumore was placed. On the others the single monograms P. and M. were cut. The stones are now set so near one an other, even in the mountain regions, that the traveler may stand at a stone and see the next one. REPRESENTATIVE APPROVES PLAN. Mr. Dover frees Conferences of Mem bers Before Legislature Convenes. BURNS. Or., Nov. 13. (To the Edi tor.) I note with approval a recent editorial recommendation of The Ore gonian that some definite plan of ac tion on important measures should be worked out by members of the Legis lature before the opening of the ses sion, to the end that good results may be reached during the short working space of 40 days. The session of 1915 should make a remarkable record for efficiency and good legislation. The House will have a larger percentage of experienced, gifted men than any for several years. For the first time in 12 years there will be absent the disturbing element of a Governor trying constantly to put the Legislature "In the hole" and to take revenge on politically offending mem bey, breeding by necessity a rebellious ana retaliatory disposition among the members. This time, with the helpful sugges tions of a business Governor, there ought to be, and I believe there will be, a disposition to respond in open good faith to the wishes of the people for economy along reasonable lines for constructive policies and for laws that will encourage investment, progress and development. Members who are situated as I am. a long distance from Portland and Salem, with a costly, tedious journey intervening, cannot be present at pre liminary conferences looking to the shaping of events beforehand, but I hope the members who can with con venience reach the metropolis will join in several gatherings for the suggested purpose, and will keep Informed those of us who are geographically less fa vored. If a majority of the House Re publicans can be assembled it would be well to decide on a Speaker, then announce who he is, and let each mem ber convey to him the measures in which an especial Interest is felt, the preference of committee work desired, and such other personal facts as will enable the Speaker to make up the standing committees on merits and qualifications, and to announce them the first day of organization. Let us avoid log-rolling, minimize the influence of special Interests, think only of the state and its taxpayers, and we can make a record this Winter that will stand as an attractive example in the future. FRANK DAVEY, " Joint Representative 27th District. 'Little Elisabeth's First Dream. Everybody's. Little Elizabeth was telling her first dream to her grandma and her auntie. Her mother, who was listening, asked her a question about it, whereupon Elizabeth looked up wonderingly and said: "Why, you were there, mamma. Don't you 'member?" SARTORIAL HISTORY REVEALED Eve Was First Person to Wear "Ilar leys," According to Chronicler. SEASIDE. Or.. Nov. 15. (To the Edi tor.) I was interested in reading Miss Baer's report of the lecture delivered by the lady who has invented the harley," and surprised that Miss Baer admitted that she, and a majority of the audience, were not aware that trousers "harley," feminine, singular were first worn by women ages ago, and were stolen from them by that basest of all creatures, man. I recall a similar Instance of lack of information on the part of a vaude ville singer, who, 20 years ago, gaily warbled: "They have taken our hats, but left us our pants. And we ought to be thankful for that." Unf amiltarity with sartorial history is deplorable, but it does not excuse modern man's boast that . he should be allowed the sole privilege of wear ing pants and claiming their inven tion as part of male attire when his tory records exactly the reverse being true. When Adam and Eve were fired from Eden and clothed in skins, a two-year-old heifer was jerked out of her hide and the hide was converted into two garments by being cut in two parts at the hips. The part containing the hind legs was tossed to Eve, who slipped into it and stood before her mate clothed in the original "harley." Adam crawled Into his part of the skin from the lower end, thrust his arms through the fore-leg skins, his head through the neck opening and stood robed and proud of his new suit. Characteristic of man he could not help, boasting a little by saying to Eve, "Ah-hah! I have the better of you." Eve, however, squelched hini by saying, "I don't care if you have." This explains two mooted questions, viz: the identity of the person who first wore trousers and the originator of woman's having the last word. There are other stories of ancient costumes that would, perhaps, surprise the auditors at the "harley" talk. For instance, at one time in the history of the Jewish nation about one-third of the population. grown men and women, wore swaddling clothes. You know what this means. Wouldn't that be an amusing sight today? And yet, to the esthetic the spectacle would be no more ludicrous than the hobble skirt and a thousand times more con venient. This method of dress never became popular in Israel and was in vogue only during the Journey through the wilderness. It became necessary then, as during that Journey of 40 years the Jews had no change of raiment, yet, according to holy writ, their clothes did not wax old, neither did their shoes wear out. The little fellows that started out as babies grew to be men and women and their diapers grew along with them and, it is pre sumed, no one noticed anything pe culiar in their attire. Truly this question of dress is an old one and as diversified as the vagaries of the human mind. BEN A. CHILDERS. THE MOTOR QUEERED HIM. He took his best girl for a spin in his car, Yo-ho, but didn't they go! Her beauty was seven per cent above par. And her face was with rapture aglow. She snuggled close up to his heart housing side With expression of features that spelled "glorified," And he sighed when she Blghed and she sighed when he sighed Sigh-chologically, don't you know. Tfcre car seemed to swallow the miles In Its night, O, my, but didn't It fly! Her soul seemed to float In a sea of delight As the landscape flew rapidly by. Through picturesque woodland and long rustic lane They flew with the speed of a limited train A speed that an eagle could never at tain. Though Its wings possessed multi plied might. "How typical this of our future, my peach; Through life with never a Jar; We'll spin o'er .life's highway in Joy side by each In the flower-decked marital car. As faithful to you will my heart ever be As this motor that pulses with such energy . O, you'll find a devoted love chauf feur in me." And thrilled with desire was his speech. The motor here lost Its desire to mote. Stopped dead as an Ingot of lead. And he scowled like a demon and peeled off his coat, ' While wicked thoughts peopled his head. He cranked and he cranked, till his crank arm was sore. Then rested a minute and cranked 'er some more. But the motor gave not e'en a gaseous snore Preferred deadly silence instead. He clawed at Its vitals, his efforts were foiled. Hard luck, for keeps it had struck. His hands and his face and his shirt front were soiled " With black oleaginous muck. Forgot he the presence of she In the car. And his language would raise Colonel Beelzebub's h'ar Swore like a mad trooper lead-punctured in war At the blankety-blankety luck! "A future forecast!" and her toning ' was rough. And. O, Lawd, dark was her frown, "If your love's as this motor, here's where I get off!" And she lifted the skirt of her gown And hopped from the car while he stood in dismay. As mute as the engine, pray, what could he say? As he watched his lost love as she faded away. Hitting up the high places for town? JAMES BARTON ADAMS. Vancouver, Wash. Trouble of Childhood. ASTORIA. Or., Nov. 15. (To the Edi tor.) I have noticed the published pictures of children whose photos are to be placed in the Temple of Childhood at the San Francisco Fair, and I wish to ask you to kindly send me the name of the person who has charge of select ing the photos. MRS. C. W. HOLMES. For full Information and requirements address Temple of Childhood, Under wood building, San Francisco. Send with Inquiry statement regarding child's age, weight, height, condition of health, complexion, name of parents, etc. If you have a photo of the child send It with the letter. Write child's name and address on photo. If they make the entrance they will send you full details and an order for a new photograph at their special photographer in Portland. Scorn for .a S10 Per Week Lover. Kansas City Journal. "Why does that young woman grin so every .time she sees you?" "She knows I'm getting only $10 a week." "But why the grin?" "I was engaged' to her once and broke it off, and she afterward married a millionaire." Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian, November 15, 1SS. William H. Gray, the pioneer so well known to all old residents, died yes terday at the home of his son-in-law. Jacob Kamm, in this city. He came to Oregon first in 1836. in company with Dr. and Mrs. Marcus Whitman. and Rev. and Mrs. H. H. Spalding. He was one of the first committee of nine or ganized to govern the territory. Edison's latest improved talking phonograph, Lilian Weston Curtis, only child in the world. born without eyes, and H. G. Kennedy, champion bicycle rider of the world, are among the at tractions at the New Wonderland Mu see, 49 Morrison street. Boston. Nov. 14. John L. Sullivan, champion of the world, has made up his mind to ignore the challenge and let ters issued by Dominick McCaffery. of Pittsburg. Peter Esser, the State Food Commis sioner, and Dr. James Wlthycombe. a veterinary surgeon. have announced their intention of investigating the sale of alleged impure milk in East Port land. Olympia. Nov. 14. The city was thrown into a flutter of excitement to day by the publication of a letter in sinuating that Watson C. Squire had pledged himself, in event of his elec tion, to support H. G. Struve, of Se attle, for United States Judge. Ex-Governor Squire denies the report. Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perces, and Interpreter Arthur R. Chapman, ar rived in the city yesterday. Joseph will visit the Cyclorama this afternoon in company with General Gibbon. The board appointed by Congress man Hermann to examine candidates for West Point have forwarded their report to him. The committee consists of General William Kapus, Professor I- W. Pratt, and Dr. R. Glisan. Vicksburg. Miss., Nov. 14. Informa-' tion was received In this city today that ex-President Jefferson Davis is se riously 111 at his Brierfleld plantation in Davis Bend. Yesterday 15 deeds, aggregating $21. 256. were filed, making the total num ber of deeds filed since the first of the month 217. value of the transactions. $538,004.25. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan, November 16, 1S64. J. it. Klrkpatrick, of Owyhee; Samuel E. May, Secretary of State, and L R. Moores, late Speaker of the House of Representatives, were recent callers at this office. The grand Jury yesterday Indicted Madison Bledsoe on a charge of mur der in the first degree. In the case of La d-d & Tilton versus Harkness, judg ment was rendered for tho sura of $3336.43. A kettle weighing 2400 pounds, and nearly seven feet in diameter, was re cently cast in at the Oregon Iron Works, for the new soap factory of Mr. Higgins, on Front street. It was the heaviest cauldron ever cast in the state. Captain John H. Couch, the obliging United States Inspector of steamboat hulls, has placed us under obligations for valuable favors. Joseph Hall, of Canyon City, and Mrs. Maryetta Grimes, of Milwaukle, were married in Vancouver, Wash.. Novem ber 4. Justice P. S. Smith performed the ceremony. Ellen, the youncest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Harrington, died yes terday at the home of her parents. She was seven months old. The funeral will take place from the home at 2 o'clock today. New York. Nov. 12. The Richmond Sentinel of November 9 says that a large fleet of Ironclads are in the James River, below Dutch Gap. It is rumored that Grant contemplates a movement on Wilmington. Another fine play Is offered tonight at the Willamette Theater. We should like to see the company greeted by a full house. The Eastern periodicals have Just be gun to arrive by mail at the Mercan tile Library rooms. The first invoice of books is looked for on every steamer. A team and truck, owned by Frank Hornstrum, a drayman, were lost off the Stark-street ferry yesterday after noon. The boat pushed into the stream when the wagon was about half way up the apron. The truck dragged the team into the river and they were drowned. LAW HAY INCREASE TAX BURDEN Port Employment of Pilots Makes Port Responsible for Damages. PORTLAND. Nov. 18. (To the Edi tor.) As the Legislature is soon to convene, would It not be well to amend the Port Commission law to the extent that the portion pertain ing to employing pilots by commissions of ports be stricken out? As now, port commissions are empowered to employ pilots, and by so doing throw all dam age cases onto the taxpayers of respec tive 'ports when damage Is done through the act of the pilot so employed by port commissions. Damage can be easily done by carelessness or unquali fiedness of a pilot. If the pilots were permitted to operate and handle their own business under state regulation the damage to ships by reason of such care lessness would not fall upon taxpayers of respective ports as now. The Port of Portland is now having some damage cases which will run into thousands of dollars should the courts decide against the port, and who must pay for same? Only the taxpayers. This is a vital matter to the tax payer, and it seems but proper that the said service should be segregated from any port commission, and let the pilots stand on their own footing. Who knows but what at some time port commissions may be composed of men who care for nothing and em ploy Inferior and unqualified persons for pilots, and with such power dam ages will pile upon the taxpayer by reason of their carelessness? What ports in the world outside of Oregon have such laws and powers in the hands of port commissions and the right to throw the burden upon the tax payer to maintain a pilotage service when the service is well able to take care of itself, properly managed? ANTI-HIGH TAXES. x Bus ness in the Making President Wilson recently de clared his belief that "good busi ness was in the making and to be made." Every day the industrial outlook Is brightening for the whole North American Continent. Crops are bountiful, prices are high, the entire world Is demanding our goods. . Now Is the time to go after pros perity. Now is the time to seek sales ag gressively and now is the time to advertise In the newspapers. Business "is in the making." and there is no better medium to make it than newspaper advertising.