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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1915)
TITE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 4, 1915. rOKTLASD. OlttOO. Entered st Portland. Oregon. Postofftce as second-clans matter, fuosciijuiun Bates Invariably in advance (By Mall.) 1-nilv. Sunday included, one year liai'v, Sumiay included. aix months .. . Vatl , Sunday includ. three raontba Iiiiiv, SuaaBv included, one month ... Uail, without Sunday, one year - liail. wll'iout Sunday, six moutha .... lia.lj. . ithout Suuday, three montha . 1&I1'. without Sunday, one month .... WeeUly. ona year bunUay. one i ear aunoay and Weekly one year (By Carrier.) TDail.-, sumtav included, one year Ijailv. Sunday included, one month .... .18.00 . 4.25 ) . S.UU . 3.2i . 1.73 . . 1.90 . 2.50 . 3.50 $-2? . .3 low ta KemH Send poatotlica money or er. express order or personal check on our Joal Dank. Stamps, coin or currency are at er.drr a risk. Give postoffice address in tun. Hirudin- county and state. Poo-ate Rate 12 to lti pages. 1 cent; 18 to J2 pages, cents; 34 to 43 pages, cents. bv to 60 pases. 4 cents; 2 to 70 pages, a cents: 78 to IK page, S cents. Foreign post age, doable rate. Eastera Busineaa Office Veree ConK I!b, X?w York. Brunswick building; Chicago, k-.enger building. t-aa I ranc i-.ro Office R. J. Bidarell Com pa;i, 742 Market street. rOKTLAND, THl'KSDAY, FEB. 4, 1915. THE OBSTINATE JONOR1TV. The Republican minority in the .Senate chase bill to death is also attempting to talk majority rule to death. It by its filibuster it can prevent action before the expiration of Congress on March 4 it will haxe defeated majority rule ae emphatically as would gunmen at a polling place who urove intending voters away from the bal lot box. .New York World. The Democratic majority in ' Con gress needs nothing so much as pro tection from itself. Except for the determined opposition of a small co terie of Republican Senators in the recent session, the Democratic Con press, throwing to the winds its hypo critical professions of economy, would have passed an infamous pork-barrel grab; now it would jam through a ship-purchase bill that in its original form would have provoked trouble with every belligerent European pow er. A powerful minority has so far, under the wide-open Senate rules, been able to hold up this inconceivable lolly, and will probably be able to de feat the bill outright, or to amend it Into innoeuotisness. The rule of the minority is Indeed hard to defend In popular government. It is curious now to note how the Democrats quote the Reed rules promulgated by "Czar" Reed to de feat the obstreperous tactics of a re calcitrant Democratic minority with respect and approbation. fiut it may well be wondered how far the unwise and foolish Democratic majority would take the country on the downward road, except for the irreconcilable minority. ME ARE NOT INCOMPETENT. If Oregon alone can define authori tatively a water power policy satis factory to the state at large that pro cedure w ill be of benefit in protecting the slate's interests even though the resolution submitted in the Senate yes terday fails to bring about a confer ence of the water-power states of the Wett. Until now the sentiment of'the state has been expressed at Washington through the limited power of a Con gressional delegation, small in number in comparison with those of other states. .Moreover the Representatives and Senators from Oregon have never had accurate information as to the desires of the people. The resolu tion commits the state to the definite principle that the interest of the state is in proportion much larger than the interest of the Federal Government in the development of water powers. The Ferris bill, as it has passed the lower House of Congress, in effect de clares even more than a 50 per cent interest on the part of the Govern ment in the development and benefits of water power. The state owns the water power, even that located on streams flowing through Government land. The Government's land is con ceived by the bill to be of value even paramount to the value of the state's water, although use of the land is but incidental to development. The state must have some of the land, it is true, in order to develop its water-power resources, but the Government is seek inii to trade upon the state's necessity; .and thereby build up a fictitious value on its ow n property. In point of reversionary .interest the Government seeks an advantage over the state. Of revenues It demands 50 per cent. These revenues are to be in tho form of rentals. Whatever is charged as rentals must affect the price at which power is delivered to the consumers. The higher the rental charge the higher tho cost of electric current. The rental is a tax upon the citizens of Oregon and Secretary Lane has asserted that this tax should not be merely nominal. If the-state received its just share of the rentals there would still remain the objection that the consumers in one locality were being taxed for the benefit of the whole state. But the Ferris bill proposes that the state snail not receive its just share of the rentals, ami that the tax exacted in behalf of the Government shall be expended for the development of Gov ernment irrigation projects. Oregon has already had the bitter experience of witnessing a diversion if money paid by its own citizens for Government land a diversion to the reclamation of arid lands in other states. The adoption of the Ferris bill as it is drawn means to all intents and purposes that Oregon shall continue to pay out money for the upbuilding of distant communities which contrib ute nothing to Oregon" development or Oregon's cost of government. Tho Oregonian would not object to nn equitable leasing law which also defined an equitable principle of co operative control. But the Govern ment's idea of co-operation as ex pressed through the office of the Sec retary of the Interior hits not been true co-operation. The state's co-operation is usually held down to putting up money or property and then taking a back seat. The Government does the rest. We are not apprehensive of the state's ability to control its own property, or to insure its own develop ment and keep out of the clutches of monopoly and private speculation. Oregon's people are on the ground. They know what Oregon needs. They are "jealous of their own power and confident of their own legislative and administrative ability in every other particular. Why admit incompetency In this? We run see no reason why the Gov ernment should not for the benefit of the whole people turn over to Oregon its trifling interest in water power. Tlii is what the Senate resolution suggests. It is a sano declaration. Berlin is buying heavy supplies in Ttouniania. So long as business is pood no doubt Roumania will keep out of the fray and after her surplus sup plies have been bought up she will not dare venture in. The Berlin military strategists apparently are right on the job. NEWSPAPERS IN SCHOOLS. Educational opinion in Boston rather inclines to favor the use of newspapers in the public schools. One teacher. William T. Miller, as reported in the Globe, would "set the pupils to clipping Items and pictures on current topics." In this way, he thinks, they might secure good practice in oral reading with a substantial gain in in formation. Another Boston teacher, Nathaniel C. Fowler, "would make newspaper reading a part of the cur riculum of every school above the lower grades." . Xaturally if this plan were followed there should be a little discrimina tion among newspapers. Some of them can hardly be called proper reading for schoolchildren, or for any. body else, so far as that goes. But it must be conceded that the ordinary newspaper is clean and wholesome. It presents the facts of current history in a lively and usually exact manner, while, its English compares favorably with that of "best-seller" fiction, to say the least. It is easy to avoid par- I tjsansmp Dy usjng- newspapers of vari- ous shades of opinion and if this were done- we dare say the pupils would profit more from them than from some of their textbooks. FOR A BETTER CNDERSTANOrXG. The Oregonian deems it only fair to present the German view of the widely-mooted Belgian treaty and its so-called violation by the Germans. We say "so-called," because the Ger mans in effect say that there was no treaty to which the German empire was a party for the protection of Bel gium's neutrality. From the course of a long article in the Oregon Herold, on the "Case of Belgium," we take the following: It Is universally recognized that the vital interests of a country supersede its treaty obligations. But though this Is the theoretic side of the question, there Is a practical one as regards Belgium: When the war broke out there was no enforceable treaty in existence to which Germany was a party. Originally, In 1S3, a treaty was concluded providing ror sucn a neutrality. ju jov. Franca demanded of Prussia the right to take possession of Belgium, and the written French offer was made known by Bismarck, in July, 1870. Then England demanded and obtained separate treaties with France and with the North German Federation to the effect that they should respect Belgium's neutrality, and such treaties were signed on the 9th and 26th of August, 1870, re spectively. According to them both coun tries guaranteed , Belgium's neutrality for the duration of the ar and for one year thereafter. The war came to an end with the Frankfurt peace, in ISil. and the treaty between Belgium and the North German Federation expired in May, 18i2. We are aware that Belgium is a most sensitive question, and that any commentator who ventures to open it up will soon find himself on the one side or the other. But it will do" no violence to a professed and well intentioned attitude of neutrality, we hope, if The Oregonian ventures to solicit from its German neighbor, the Herold. a further elucidation of the German attitude, viz.: (1) Did the treaty of 1839, merely binding Prussia, lapse when the North German Federation was formed? Or (2) Did the treaty of 1870 supersede the treaty of 1S3D? (3) Does the main German contention rest on the fact that there was no treaty, or that if there was a treaty the vital interests of Germany justified its violation? (4) What were Belgium's sovereign rights, as against Germany and all other countries, assuming that there was no treaty? Or had Belgium no sovereign rights as against the vital interests of Germany or any other country? The Oregonian begs to assure its friend the Herold that its purpose is not at all to invite controversy, but to reach a better understanding of some things it has not seen clearly set forth. Fl'TII.E ROAD WORK. It is plain to be seen that the Cor vallis Gazette-Times has grown a little disheartened over "road-building" as it is practiced in Benton County. But really there is no exceptional cause for discouragement in that county. Its record, bad as it looks in the Gazette Times' presentment, is about the usual thing. Other counties have been doing the same for lo these many years and getting the same results. Those re sults are precisely nothing. The Ga zette Times permits its memory to run back over eleven dismal years of road work during which $423,142 have been spent without obtaining "a sin gle foot of what is accepted as per manent roadway." It is pretty nearly the same everywhere, in some places a little better, in some a little worse. We do not gather from the Gazette Times that the road work in Benton County has actually injured the high ways, while we could point to places where it has. Some ground for con solation may perhaps be found in this fact anu the tears of the Gazette Times may flow a little less copiously for hearing of it. The considerable sum which has been spent on the roads of Benton County In the last eleven years would have built about forty miles of con crete highway at the usual cost of $10,000 a mile. Such a road properly graded and drained would have lasted, with moderate annual repairs, for a hundred years. Roman roads of simi lar character built by the Emperors have endured for 2000 years. The annual work in Benton County, we learn, regularly disappears under the Winter rains and the wheels of auto mobiles, so that it must be done over and over again with wearisome and futile repetition every season. "The ruts are worn and the ruts are filled, and what is it all when all is done?" Tho Gazette-Times pleads for work that will be permanent. A mile or two each year of scientific concrete roadway would. It believes, be an in spiration which would work up enthu siasm among users of the highways and ultimately introduce a wholesome revolution in rural methods. No doubt this Is true. But it Is easily feasible to make all road work permanent.' There is no sound reason why annual repairs should be trivial and evanescent, lney should be as permanent as concrete. The principal repairs on roads fall under the heads of drainage, fills and regrading. A new grade properly se lected and surveyed is done for all eternity. It needs no change. A fill properly made and drained will last, with slight yearly repairs, as long as the road is used. The underlying se cret of permanent repairs is drainage. Here is where amateur and political road building almost always fails. It is useless to lay down even a concrete roadbed until the drainage is secure. Fills without adequate drains always wash out. Xo grade, however scien tifically surveyed, will last lonar with out complete drainage. With due at tention to these fundamental princi ples all road repairs may be madej permanent. Once done they will be done forever, though of course total neglect will ruin them as it will any road work. The trouble at the bottom of our miserable roads is not so much lack of money as lack of knowledge. In this instance ignorance is the root of all evil. (OIKSE OF FOREIGN TRADE. Each month shows a larger balance of trrie in favor of the United States than the month preceding, for exports continue to increase, while imports de crease. The months since the war be gan make the following showing: Month, f Exports 1 Imports I Balance 1 August $110.3li7.4IMl12B,767.80,l 1,400,3B ir.052,a:t:;; 13.71o.biii ib.341.722 Seote'r I October I 104.711.17UI 138.0S0.52V (0.680,650 Xove'r. 20i.87S.3331 12U.467.OB2l 70,411,2.1 Decem'r 24B.2UB.047l 114,402, U70 131.SB3.077 Totals. !$913,27j,S77,JU48,420.0i3:264,S47,llB The total balance shown above is the net balance in favor of this coun try, after deducting the adverse bal ance for August. That this heavy balance in our fa vor is almost entirely, if not entirely, due to the war is indicated tay the totals for the year 1914, compared with those for 1913. These were: 1914. 1913. Imports Exports Balance . ..J1.7S9.022.42B Jl.792.Wfi.4S0 . .. 2.114. 2".7.i:;9 2.4S4.01S.292 32.235,113 B91.421.S12 The favorable balance for the year 1914 was thus J366.186.699 less than that for the year 1913. For the seven months ending with July this balance was only $60,388,789 in our favor, and it had been shrinking month by month until in July it has $5,535,000 against the United States. Had not the war intervened, it might have continued to grow each month until the entire year would have shown a net balance against us. The effect of this shrinkage in our favorable trade balance until it had turned against us is seen in the move ment of gold. Exports in 1914 were $222, 61656, against $91,798,610 in 1913, and imports were $57,387,741 in 1914. against $63,704,832 ir. 1913. The balance of exports over imports was $165,228,415 in 1914 against only $28,093,778 in 1913. The bulk of the gold exports of 1914 were made in the first six months, and the movement was checked by the .beginning of grain exports in July. It was temporarily renewed after the war began by ex ports of gold to settle our foreign debts, but the great trade balance in our favor has brought about an excess of imports over exports, which amounted in December to $3,978,139. The constant swelling of our volume of merchandise exports and shrinkage in our volume of merchandise imports promises to increase our gold imports, especially as the expected liquidation by Europeans of -American security holdings has not come. Belligerent nations can only prevent heavy gold imports to this country by war meas ures designed to obstruct the ordinary course of business, or. by borrowing money in this country with which to pay for war supplies. Already dur ing the war about $100,000,000' has been borrowed in this country, either by belligerents or by neutrals to meet war emergencies. These measures will only temporarily check gold imports to the United States; for they will cre ate an annual interest debt to this country, which will figure in the fu ture trade balance and must be paid in either gold or merchandise. The figures which we have quoted from a Commerce Department bulle tin prove every statement made by ex-Representative Watson in his speech at Topeka as to the disastrous effect on our industries and commerce of the Underwood tariff. Under the influence of that measure we were, month by month buying more and selling less abroad, and were piling up an adverse trade balance which was draining this country of gold. The war aliTne stopped this sapping of our strength. When the war ends, the same influence will come into play again and its force will increase with the progress of reconstruction in the war-wasted countries. It will be in cumbent on the next Administration to make an exhaustive study of the tariff question in the light of its ef fects both of the -Underwood tariff and of the war. If that Administration should be Democratic, we may expect it to renew the destructive conditions which were interrupted by the war. Onlv a Republican Administration can be trusted, by establishing a tariff board and by following its guidance as to facts and conditions, to restore American industry to permanent, healthy prosperity. rOMPfLSORT SERVICE near. At its present session the British Parliament is likely to consider se riously the proposition to adopt com pulsory military service, at least for the duration of tjie present war, per haps permanently. Notwithstanding many reports that recruiting was slow, H. W. Wilson, in the London Daily Mail, savs that "not far short of 2,- 000,000 men have been enlisted in the various services and forces," but the British Empire seems to have ex hausted the supply of volunteers. It must next resort to tne ciass ot men w ho are willing to respond when they are called", but who maintain that, it the government needs them, it must ay so. With a view to ascertaining how many such men are avaiiaDie, a can vass has been made of each house hold and has brought forth some re markable replies. A Nottingham man wrote: I am only 4 ft. 7 in., but in good health. Do you think it would be possible tnat i might Join as a mascot tor some resimeni; A Stockport man wrote of his house, evidently alluding to himself: Only one male occupant, sixly-four years of age, but he has a gun ana can. ami would. slrbot. A man who had been refused be cause five years ago he had been im prisoned for a minor crime, wrote: Do von want fighters or parsons : A Welsh family responded: "Ten will- In e-. Sorry too poor to stamp en velope." Of these ten, nine are already serving in army or navy. But the Man writer points out mat compulsory service in Germany auto matically added to the army last Oc tober as many men as composed Kitchener's first new army, and will operate in the same way throughout the war. He estimates that Germany- entered the war with 5,250,000 trained men and had 4,000.000 untrained men available. He argues that some auto matic process of filling the gaps in a field army of perhaps 1,000.000 men. acting on the offensive, wtn De neces sary, and that universal service will best supply this need. Lord Haldane said in the House of L.orus inat no new law- was necessary to ostabiisn compulsory service,' but that "it is a duty which rests on tne innereni con stitution of the country to assist in repelling an invasion." He said, how ever, that compulsory service "has not yet become a necessity, or anything like it," and the government hoped to avoid it "owing to the magnificent re sponse now being made." Mr. Wilson believes universal serv ice will be necessary and outlines a plan and its results. Placing military age at twenty, he estimates the num ber of men yearly who reach that age in the United Kingdom at 430,000, of whom over 200,000 would be qualified. Starting with the enrollment of all between twenty and twenty-six, he es timates the first line army at 969,000, and the second line at 488,000 men be tween twenty-seven and' thirty-one, with 200,000 men yearly joining the first line and an equal number pass ing Into the second line or reserve Under this plan the soldier's pay- would be merely nominal for the in fantry and field artillery, who would serve one year, and would be one shil ling a day for the cavalry, horse ar tillerv and flying corps, who would serve two years. The cost would be only $15,000,000 a year more than It was before war broke out. Time spent in military training is no longer regarded as wasted, for the training is a distinct gain In many- ways. On this point Mr. Wilson says In Germany the man who has undergone military training has an expectation of life five years greater than that ot tne un trained men. Because of his physical and meiual qualities he is preferred for every class of employment. As Colonel Maude has nolnted out, -under modern conditions of liwiiistrv the Greatest national wealth producing power resides not as formerly in thn i.i.in a sttiu nr tne mui luuai. machinery Is gradually superseding, but In the power of continuous collective eliort oi organised bodies, and physical health and the power of mental concentration are the principal qualities required by the units of such bodies. These are the two essential factors which modern methods of military training aim at developing. i-h mnnrfictiirer and merchant can rea lize. from the example of Germany that mii,lKorv service brines no danger to in- riustrv. Rather it stimulates that industry by creating a class of healthy and exceed lngly efficient workers. What is true as to the wisdom of universal training in Great Britain is true also as to the United States. A short term of service, followed by a longer term in a reserve fully equipped Sor service would not materia'Uy in crease military expense and would greatly improve individual health and efficiency. A young man who devotes four years to a regular college course of mental training can surely spare one vear for training in citizenship, which includes those qualities that fit him not only to defend his country when occasion requires, but better to fill his place in the community. The chaplain of the Penitentiary is to receive $50 a month. I his is sman pay for an outside man, but must do until one is caught. For these jobs, preference should be given "insiders.' The prison paper is produced by a printer and is well done. Other lines are well represented in the institution. In fact, the real-estater is about the onlv man out of a job, which may ac count for the ready clemency of a late Executive. Canned pig is something new in the embalming line. The German govern ment is said to be ready to invest $30. 000.000 in the article to be used to save fodder. If this means tne stun is to be fed to horses, it is waste or substance. The fighting man fed on pork has been a winner since wars began. The horse is more dainty anu the result will be watched. The heavy fine given yesterday to a dealer who sold decayed oranges will bring great joy to men who have been victimized but lacked the fighting aualitv. Seldom does a woman get fooled; she watches the dealer, not only as to quality, but the count as well. A man will arrive home with the dozen one or two short, but never his wife. It is interesting to notice that war has stimulated the growth of the Y. M. C. A. in Petrograd. Subscriptions are coming illiberally and the mem- bersnip numocrs iivv, which orising when we remember the disin clination of the orthodox Greek church to countenance liberal religious move ments. The constant trouble with Canada is her fear that somebody this side of the line will tread on the tail of her coat. Now she objects to the Stars and Stripes in films from this side. Yet over here all are glad to see the Union Jack and feel a sort of grand fatherly respect for the combination. The Legislature is described as grinding its ax to complete the econ omy programme. Looks as if a razor and magnifying glass might be needed before the end. The Administration will consent to two battleships this year. Which in sures us of a first place at least among the powers of the American continent. Bryan has actually taken issue with the German Ambassador. But cheer up. No issue of importance is in volved, it is quite needless to state. Another new- revolution has just been launched in Mexico. Now will some helpful agency please take a census of Mexican revolutions? Constantinople reports that Turkish warships successfully shelled a Rus sian military position. Must have been an outpost- If the price of the loaf rises or the size shrinks, only a cafeteria carver can cut the slices thin enough to go around. But why Ehould Germany object to our sale of hydro-aeroplanes,? They're about as destructive to friend as to foe. Thirteen-year-old girls who disap pear to visit without telling parents of their destination are fooling with fate. That ship-purchase 'dream is too much even for Democrats who have some vestige of a balance wheel. A brief news item is needed now and then to remind one the Portuguese are fighting the Germans. January revenue receipts fell mil lions short. Did anyone expect any thing different? The way grain is soaring is begin ning to i'go against the grain of the poor 'consumer. First thing we know the sane Re publican minority will be in control of Congress. The effort to put the trading, stamp out of business is cruelty to woman. Tip: Begin now saving for that va cation trip to the Fair. Tay your taxes early. ( Stars and Starmakers BY LEONE CASS BAER. MARY EJDG43TT BAKER observes that the more slender the actress of today the more paradoxically and insistently she seema to think of her self in terma of three figures. "Billy" William T. Pangle writes to say that in the mercenary theatrical world a full house in "Bertha, the Sew ing Machine Girl," Is better th.n four kine-s in Shakespearean historical drayma. One of the undesirable disadvantages In the "being worth a big salary" is the frequent difficulty of getting it. a a Leila Rhodes and Charlie King have just lost their baby boy through death. Mr. King was here with Al Jolson and it was while he was appearing in Portland that Mrs. King went East in a hurry to beat the stork. Charlie King's sister, little Mollie King, took Leila Rhodes' -place in the company, Miss Rhodes Is a cousin to Ceorge M. Cohan. a a ' When Sophie Tucker, playing on the Marcus Loew Empress circuit, sent a telegram to Joe Schenck. the New York general booking manager, saying that she wished to cancel all her bookings because as a result of playing four shows a day her "voice has been ruined," Schenck sent back a wire to the comedienne as follows: "Whom do you suspect?" a Bessie McCoy (Mrs. Richard Harding Davis) has named her baby girl Hope. The little lady was oorn on January 4. William Hooper Young, a convict serving- a life term, won the prize of $100 offered by William A. Brady for the best review of the play, "Sinners," written by an inmate of Sing Sing. It will be recalled that the premiere of the play took place in the prison chapel on Christmas day. In his review Young wrote: The play "Winners' appeared for its first trial before the select body of expert sin ners' gathered together at this Justly ce!e. brated Summer and Winter resort (which, by the way, is no sin-e-curei. The jury was large and enthusiastic, and the verdict ren. der.-d was "'Not warning in all that ought to brlnir success," and the judgment "Sen tenced co a long ilfe on Broadway with hard labor to handle the crowds around tne box office." A brief synopsis of the evidence for and against follows: Witnesses for the prosecution Analysis, Morality. Faultfinder, and Captious Critic. Witnesses for the defense iteason. Judg ment, Purpose, and Gratitude. Earl Dwire, once a Baker player, is stage director of the Bijou Stock Com pany at Fall River, Mass. This week the company is playing "The Girl of the Golden West," with Marcelle Ham ilton as the girl. Lillian Crossman, a Portland girl. Is appearing In musical stoca at tne Shenandoah Theater in St. Louis. Mo. Her husband, Charles Sinclair, Is di rector of the company. Mabel Wilbcr, of "Merry Widow" memories, is Miss Crossman's alternate as prima donna Josle Heather, the little English comedienne, has ceased appearing as a single in vaudeville. Henry I. Marshall is her partner. He presides at a baby grand piano and even sings while the little Heather is flitting from one frock to another. Dorothy Morton has formed a vaude ville partnership with Neil JJcKay in comedy with music by Ray Peck. Reginald Wright Kauffman, author of "The House of Bondage, has con tracted with the Humanology Film Producing Company, of Medford, Mass., to write plays for the motion picture screen. The authors wire, itutit ivauii- man, well known as a newspaper spe cial writer, has also engaged to be scenario editor for the Medford con cern, whose productions are released by the United Film Service. Jack Rose, president of the Human ology Company, induced Mr. Kauffman to take up the screen work. The pro ducing firm has released two produc tions, "The Price Ho Paid," based on the Ella Wheeler Wilcox poem, and 'Are They Born or Made,' a drama of gang methods and politics by Rose himself. Mr. Kauffman's works have all been treatments of serious prob lems, such as come within the scope of the Humanology Company. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman have just returned from the European battle front, where they had unusual oppor tunities of observing real conditions, through the fact that Mr. Kauffman was attached as orderly to the allies' staff, and Mrs. Kauffman acted as a Red Cross nurse. It is s,aid that an unusual treatment of the situation in Europe will be among the first of Mr. Kauffman's works for the screen. Princess Ibrahim Hassan, onee OIk Humphrey, a San Francisco girl who married an almost title in Turkey and then divorced it, is posing in a series of Turkish-flavored pictures In six in stallments. e Wilson Mizner not only writes his own plays and sketches, but also pro duces them himself. Last Monday night he produced, a sketch entitled "Ships That Pass in the Night," at Keith's Theater In Jersey City, and it was booked at once at the Fifth Avenue Theater, where it is be ing shown now. It s sa 1 tliht the woin i.i t-tiar.'.oer is even stronger and more dramatic than that of "Frisco Kate" in "The Deep Purple." Mr. Mizner is now organizing a com pany of capitalists who believe in him, not only as a playwright, but also as a producer, and with the beginning of next season he will start forth as the president of the Wilson Mizner Pro ducing Company, which will be de voted to works of art and strength from his own pen. Aa to Lumber Prleea. PORTLAND, Feb. 3. (To the Edi tor.) In Utah, Colorado. Wyoming, Nebraska and Eastern centers lumber is retailing for $33.50. $27.D0. $n.-p, $40 and as high as $60 a thousand. It can be bought at our mills here for $8, $1$. $16 and $-0. Who gets the big red apple? Is it the poor railroad com pany or the little retailer? We are told that in New York, Puget Sound and Canadian border lumber Is selling for less than in Kantem Idaho. ONCE A DEMOCRAT. Alley In Gold Coins. RA1NIE11, Or.. Feb. :!. (To the Edi tor.) Will you plense stMte throiiKh your columns the tlifferent metals usoil "in coining gold currency? ALICE E. CRAVEN. Gold coins are '0 fine. A silver and copper alloy Is ".ed. For silver copper is the alloy. BAR TOWAGE WAR.MXG IS lMW Proposal to Tarn Over Tort of l"ort laad Bualrsesa to 5ouol la Feared. PORTLAND, Feb. (. (To tho Ed itor.) Tho proposition under consider ation by a special committee of the Port of Portland to turn over to the Puget Sound Tugboat Company the river and bar towage requires careful consideration if the best Interests of Portland and the Utate of Oregon are to be protected. The opposition tugn are owned by PuRet Sound interests, the 'stockholders owning three of the largest lumber mills on tho Sound: are tho second largest timber holders on the Pacific Coast and their realty interests in and around Seattle are estimated to be worth $o,000,0ott or $10,000,000. In the early nineties each of the large mills, on tho Sound, numbering five or six, merged their tugs into a trust. The trust worked ao well in stifling and driving out competition that a I'Artinmtinn waa fnrmnd. ad vanced the towage rates and reducedl the efficient service maintained at Cape Flattery for inward-bound ships. but were contented to reduce then crews and save fuel by remaining- at anchor In Neah Bay. a few milea In side of Flattery, where the harbor sheltered the tugs from the fury of outside storms. Vessels had to get In side of the Strait the best way they could before they could get a tusr. Some vessels were lot. If the service Is turned over to the Puget Sound concern the Commission should take action to prevent a repe tition of the Puget Sound experience. It is apparent that the invading tugs are not coming' to this port to build up a service equal to or superior to that of their own ports, where the owners have millions of dollars Invest ed In real estate, and the development of their own maritime interests is es sential to the preservation of their holdings. The tugs are trying to aet control of the Columbia River ship ping for the gold dollars that they can cart back to their owners, Incidentally and naturally doing all possible to promote the shipping industry in which their Puget Sound owners are heavily, interested. The Port of Portland tan, by placing the service in charge of an experienced tugboat man, afford as good If not better service (which would be free of suspicion of diverting business to Puget Sound) than the opposition tugs. A change of policy and a little ginger in the management of the service on the river would preclude all possible chance of oppositiqn tugs gaining a foothold in ouf midst to the better ment of Seatle and Tacoma Interests. W. J. JOXHS. I O MM I' .MTV rROPKIlTV BltiHTfi. "Dower and Courtr?" Xot So Fair Writes Mrs. ,. . Therkrlaea. PORTLAND, Feb. 2. (To the lldi tor. ) The dower right as held by the statutes of Oregon gives to a wltiow one-half the income of real property over and above the runnina expenses of the same, for life only, or in lieu of dower, during probating of will, she may accept a monetary consideration arranged along a mortality or age scale. This works to a disadvantaue both ways. Cnless the estate Is large and in come bearing, the widow finds her in come very limited, if any, because of taxes, repairs, ami street Improvements. On the other hand, to take the mone tary consideration In lieu of dower, the average widow being a woman of ad vanced age and unless the estate is considerable, the amount will he small and insufficient for her needs. pcnnni nrotiertv. like mortgages. bonds, stocds. ete in fact all but real estale can he denied a woman py uer hnhnnds will in Orejron. A husband dying Intestate or without a will, she is entitled to uower in reni anu -uwr-half of all his personal estate. Courtesy and dower are now Identical, a coin- munitv property rignts inn. in which husband and wife share equally or nearly so. seems fairer. Children's In terests can be protected by tne laws o inheritance. MRS. L. W. THERKKL.-L.V Picking the Teeth. OP.KGON CITY. Or.. Feb. To the Rdttor.) After eating a meal, when Is the correct time to pick one s teeth, or should it be done? Some shv not at the table or elsewhere, except out of sight. Others say It should tie none t the tabic ana not ami i.-. A SUBSCRIBE!!. If a substance In the teeth causes distress while eating It Is allowable to remove it in an unostentatious way: shielding the operation as much as possible with the napkin. The prac tice of "picking the teeth" Is not a part of the table, hour. Like brushing the teeth, it is more to be ion0 in private. I.lqjior Limit Draws Proteat. PORTLAND. Feb. 3. (To the Ed itor.) 1 notice that the promotion bill now before the House states that a. family can have two quarts ol whiskv and it bottles of beer in a period of 30 days. Well, it s the regu lar old thing again. Uive tne l-roni bltlonists an inch and they will take a yard. They made it common news that they only wanted to knock out the saloons, and that they didn't want to deprive families of their rights to have what they desired, nut loos, at mem. It s all hog or none with them. 1 wish there were some ot the Representa tives and State Senators at Salem w ith backbone enough to stand up for the rights of some of the people of this slatc. A. C. CUMMINGS. DrtUh Museum Kahlhlta. London Chronicle, i-he number of separate objects added to the collection of the several depart ments of the British museum during 1911 totaled .179,294. of which it7,U were newspapers. Let the Oregon Lead On that great day, on that great flay Let the Oregon lead, lead on too wj . Where the rolling blue from sea to sea Wtll make for the world commercial!? . Then let us say what the world will say, Let the Oregon lead, lead on the way. On that great day. oil. that great day Let the Oregon lead, lead on tne way. A name for Freedom's cause she haa The glories of which will never fade: Then let us say what the world will sav. Let the Oregon lead, lead on the way. On that great day. on that great oay Let the Oregon lead, lead on un This goodly ship. ah. splendid and si rune! Was built to honor Liberty's sona; Then let us say what the world will saw Let the Oregon lead, lead on the way. On that treat day. on that -great flay Let the Oregon lead, lead on the way. Clarke, the brave Cs-n'Hln. uldln again. We'll hail him our great Admiral then: So we can say what the world will SHV, le led. led on. the Panama w.iy. that great day. on that great 1av the meson lead, lend on the wa' On Let There, when- worK or man moms n-.- a throne 4,., id hold lilts of the Panama xone; we'll nroudlv s.-iy on opening d;iy That the Oregon led. led on the y. SCllt. t l.l'Jlt tUNr.iA I'll' nerkeley, Cul. Twenty-five Year Ago From The Orfgoalen February 4. !!. The W illamette Hivrr is higher than It has been In "0 years. The bridge at Salem Is gone, the loan at Independence is heavy and Oregan City has auffareil tremendously. Five million Iok have been carried away. The river at Port land la fllllna- the t-rllaia along lb" waterfront and the water Is lur-ptnc; a-t Front street. None of the ferrlea have been running alnce ruuda. the river being too swift. The withdrawal of Joo Waterman from the billiard tournament which 1 arranged for the Mirror last eK has not had the effect to brenk up the ar rangement. Javeiia. of Chleaao: Man nlnn. of New York, and Hilly Harrison, of Portland, have closed details for a matin. Harrison is to play umier a handicap, making; lll0 to the othriv) l.'iUO points t-acli. William l-'razler. who ha been on ona of his periodical visita to the KaM. has returned with tao carloadg ot heavy draft halve. I'ivision Superintendent M. O. Hals, of the Northern Pacific Ktnrpga Com pany, left last niaht for Helena (o meat the company superintendent. II. H. LhownltiK. also well known In Portland:. Will O. Steel and Julius Ash. of Port land, are blockaded at Albany. Man ager C. .I. Smith and Freight Agent CuiuphrU ura both beyond rlonnevilla. Campbell was at Spokane and la aup posed to be trying, to get home, tho same as was Mr. Smith. I-'.. L. ColdwelJ, of The Oregonian reportorial atafC went lo Salem Saturday and haa been vnabla to get home. K. Detrlrk. Jr.. has aucrerded Mr. At wood aa nmnager for Ames ft Patrick. C. H. Podd was heard from by wlsa yesterday. Jle Is at Mollne, 111. With this Issue. The Pally Oresonlan begins Its .loth ) par. The first numhar of the dally appeared February 4, 1IM. The weekly was first Issued Ptrtmhcr 4. 1X00. The --'d commencement of the Port laud public schoola takes place tomorrow- evening. The members of the hiaii school graduating- class are: Isabella Ilotller, Lillle O. Siiiegl and (JeorgiHtinit Brasel of tho language colirne, and of the Lnglish course, Henrietta M. Ab bott. Mrtlo I. Carlw right. Media A. Conner, Henry Denllnger. Lulu J. Kd monds. lona llenderaon and I'.mily Strahan. Half a Century Ago From The Oregsnlan, February 4. tk. With thin issue The .Morning Uregn. nian begins volume V. Tho following names lime been plneeil on the list of Clllinidutrs tor t'nlted Statea Senator from 'a III onus by their fllendi: tiovernor l.ow, A. A. Sargent, T. C Phelps, I". M Plxley, .1. Mi M. Shatter. .1. n. Southard. .1. W. Wl nans, l-'red lilllinus and II. S. P.rown. County Srhool Superintendent . II. Atkinson has issued n nnti'-e to all teachers In Multnomah Couutv that all wishing lo have their eertlflcairs le newed should see htm at on e aa to ex amination. Messrs. William M. Artnstrona ami Samuel Miller yesterday ia.sed a high ly ereilitshle examination at the Poll land Commerelul Academy, n ml are rec ommended hy Principal T. Palteri-on to the business community as competent to eoiidiK-t hooka on seientiflo princi ples. It is understood that four sels of of ficers' quarters arc to be creeled Imme diately at Port an'ouer. The pres ent quarters are much crowded. The arret burlesque character of l"n-ea-lion-tan was assumed lm-t nlKht trv Mrs. Irwin nt the Willamette Thcatci. The beautiful drama, "Lost l.caa y. ' also w as performed. "Collren Itaw n will be produced this evening. A correspondent for the Hprl nc field Republican has written his experiences In going down In a submarine recently Invented and ma nil fact ure,1 bv s. H. Merrism mid tested by the Uovernment near New York. A irrcat sin c is predicted. John C. Cnut-li baa posted a .Hinlnit to all UEiilnst eiiltint wood or timber on ins land claim v. ithout Irate. I'.leelrlellr aa llralla Asart. Ki:i.l. Wash., Feb. I.-O'ti the i:di- t or. I Plesse state In The Oreuonian whether It has been proved that ail ments or diseases of the human body can be cured, or If any benefit to the nervous system can tie seeured from electricity bv means of electric belt". A ULAl'ML Lleclrlelly has been established at an aid to health under certain condi tions, lis value Is not tllsnutrd. The forms of application are. The electric hell has brought forth varloin opin ions. Jumping- of Claim. PORTLAND. Feb. 3. To the Kdi tor.) If a man owns a donation land claim which for 40 years has been sold and resold, can It at this date bo Jumped as a mining claim? SCEStrUBEn. Communicate with the United Stales lind Offhe, Customs building, Poit land. There are alwavs circumstances to be reckoned with In matters of this kind. The Land Office officials will gludly give you detailed Informal ion if you will explain your case In de tail. 1 hereabouta of ( row Prtaee. I.KWISTON. Idaho. Feb. I!. (To U " Kditor.) I am a constant reader of vour paper, and being Interested In tho European war 1 would like to kreow what became of the Crown Prince. We have not heard from him once he got a carso of pipes for his army, lias he pone to see his father s partner, or la ho still on earth, end ''"'' ROtlKK M'.'R It If K i . The Crown Prince has been vaiy much In the news of late, even havlnu time to be Interviewed. II la at. present aupposed to be aomewhor. near Verdun. Fashion's Little Bird Is Whispering That little bird whose twitter of the first notes of Spring fashions Is such sweet music to every woman Is besinnlna to raise Its voice. leslnera ara bnay, and Hie rol orlsls ai ready to show their handi work. The first (.hoots of the East er blooms are In sight. The stores are reportina tha ar rival of new goods. More are com ing each day. Thrv are grow Ins more ii.teie.-t. Ina, and their advcrtlslns reflects new life and color. If von ara not " advertl-ina reader begin with this !" of The tn-eaoulan. The business new a w ill live lh first authentic hints of the new styles and tell .! where to ssa them.