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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1915)
voiLVyo. lcosys. Portland, precox, Thursday, February 25; wis. rnici: five cents. BRITAIN CONSULTS ALLIESONPROPOSAL Answer to American Suggestion Delayed. SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOUND Washington Considering Food Embargo as Possible Step. HIGH TENSION IS ADMITTED I-o-s of American Lives, It Is De clared, Might Kesult in Aban doning Policy or I'riend ship for Belligerents. WASHINGTON. Feb. 24. Great Brit uln has submitted to h r allies, France and. Russia, the proposals made by the United States Government designed to end the menace to neutral commerce n rising from the retaliatory measures of the European belligerents toward each other. Briefly the American proposals, which have been submitted to both England and Germany, seek the elim ination by Germany of the recently prescribed war tone around Great Brit ain and Ireland, with -s dangers to neutral shipping '...rough mines and submarine torpedoes, and the adoption by all the belligerents of a definite pol icy with reference to food supplies for civilians. ' .Vest Move Depends on Britain. From such premliminary observa tions as American diplomatic officers abroad already have made there is said to be some encouragement in the man ner of the reception of the proposals at London. Germany is Inclined toward an acceptance of the suggestions, it is understood, but upon the attitude of Great Britain depends the next move In the situation.' The stroncr opposition which the Scandinavian countries. Italy, Holland and other neutrals, have assumed toward the retaliatory measures adopt ed by the belligerents is playing a considerable part in the situation. Uravlry f Situation Clear. Officials, while reticent about what has been said to Germany and Great Britain in the latest communication, do not deny that the gravity of the whole situation has been made unmistakably clear. In some quarters today the sug gestion was made, but without confir mation from sources usually well in formed, that an embargo on exports of foodstuffs from the United States to both the allies and Germany was being considered as the next step in the event of an absolute rejection of the Amer ican plan for ameliorating the situa tion. It became known that the latest communication, described as a confi dential memorandum, was sent Sunday to Ambassadors Page and Gerard after a conference between President Wil son. Secretary Bryan and Counsellor Robert Lansing.- The American Gov ernment asked that the document be jegarded for the present as strictly confidential. American Exports May Drop. Some officials think the most serious effect of the submarine warfare on merchant ships and the restrictions im posed on the shipment of foodstuffs and conditional contraband has yet to develop. They believe that if the pres ent situation continues American ex ports will drop a considerable extent. There is no concealment either of the feeling in high official quarters that if the present tension over the attitude of the belligerents continues and any American lives are proved to have been lost as a result of their ac tivities, the Washington Government may be called on to abandon its pres ent altitude of friendliness toward all the warring powers. Information Is Larking. While there was no official comment today on the sinking of the American steamers Carib and Evelyn because ol the absence of definite information as to the causes of their destruction, it Is understood that the latest communica tion from the United States urging an acceptance of its proposals deals with the grave dangers to neutral vessels that have arisen through the mines al ready laid and threats to strew more of the explosives in the high seas. It is taken for granted that the re ports that the captains of the two ves sels followed instructions given them by British naval officers will be brought to the attention of the London Foreign Office so that the British Ad miralty may Investigate the truth or falsity of the report. MAILED SLURS. DEPLORED Germany Believes Inscriptions Have Unfavorable Effect. BERLIN, via London. Feb. 24. The German government has made known that it objects to th6 use of expressions like the oft-quoted words, "God punish England," on mail going abroad from Germany. The North German Gaxette rails attention today to the fact that certain German firms have been rubber stamping envelopes used in their cor respondence with neutral countries with objectionable inscriptions, which are in tended as insults to countries hostile to Germany. The newspaper points out that such inscriptions must have exactly the op posite effect on neutrals that they are intended to have. BRITISH WARSHIP IS THOUGHT LOST ARMORED MERCHANTMAN WITH 280 MEN IS MISSING. Part of Crew Is Made Vp of New foundland Naval Reserve No Word Heard for 3 Weeks. LONDON", Feb. 24. The British armed merchant . cruiser Clan Mac Naughton. with 20 officers and 260 men board, has been missing since February J, the official Information bureau an nounced today. It Is feared she was destroyed in a storm. The announce ment said: "The Secretary of the Admiralty re grets to announce that H. M. 8. Clan MacNaughton, an armed merchant cruiser. Commander Robert Jeffreys, R. N., has been missing since Febru ary 3 and it is feared the vessel has been lost. "An unsuccessful search has been maiia nni wreckage supposed to be portions of this ship has since been discovered. "The lat slcnal received from the Clan MacNaughton was made in the early morning of February s anu it is feared she was lost during the bad weather which prevailed at that time." Among the crew of the Clan Mac Naughton were 20 men of the New fmirvriiaTiri Roval Naval Reserve. The commander and the principal officers hploncMi to the Royal Navy, me otn- ers to the Royal Naval Reserve. HILLS MAY BUILD IN IDAHO Construction of Winnemucca-Bolse- Lewiston Line Thought Likely. T Ewrsmy Idaho. Feb. 24. (Spe cial.) According to advices received in this city from San Francisco, in all probability the Hill system will build tk. winnemucca-Boise-Lewiston Rail road. It has been ascertained that Louis W. Hill, chairman of the board or di rectors and president of the Great Northern Railway, is on an automobile trip from Winnemueca to Boise, and is Investigating the feasibility of an ex tension of the proposed road from Lew- iston to Boise. - Tt In known that the Hill interests hovA nhtalned control of the Gilmore & Pittsburg Railroad running from Armstead. Mont., to Salmon, Idaho, ana it is predicted the new owners intend connecting it up in Montana with the Northern Pacific and extending it from Salmon to Lewis ton, which will short en the distance by many miles. VERDICT SIMPLE ASSAULT Jury Acts in Trial of ex-Member of Legislature, Jesse Barton. ROSEBURG, Or., Feb. 24. (Special.) The jury in the case of Jesse Barton, ex-Representative from Coos County, tried on a charge preferred by Miss Madge Yoakum, of Coquille, returned a verdict at 10 o'clock1 tonight of sim ple assault. The jury retired at 5 o"clock in the afternoon. Chief among the evidence introduced today was a deposition by Mrs. Edna Walls, formerly of Coquille, but at pres ent in a Portland hospital. In her dep osition Mrs. Walls denied several of the allegations made by the prosecuting witnesses. Mrs. Walls was formerly employed with Miss Yoakam in Mr. Barton's abstract office in Coos County. Other witnesses who testified today were Mayor Morrison. Jack Tozier, Mrs. Louise Mansell and Mrs. Patrick Rooney, of Coquille. Their testimony was in reference to the general repu tation of Mrs. Walls at Coquille. MAN LEARNS NECK BROKEN Carpenter "Walks About Town 13 Days After Accident. Wandering about for 12 days with a broken neck, suffering little pain and unaware of the seriousness of his condition. - Harry M. Lambert, a car penter who resides at Lents, is a hu man puzzle to many Portland physi cians. Lambert fell eight feet from a ladder on February 12 and landed on the back of his head. An X-ray photograph of his injuries yesterday disclosed that Lambert's neck was broken. To be exact, the Atlas bone, which supports the head, was broken. He was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital and his neck was put in a blaster cast, after which Lambert walked to the University of Oregon Medical School and allowed the students to examine his condition, physicians say that Lam bert will recover. MUSICAL DEGREE (S ADDED Requirements at University of Ore gon Are Announced. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. Eugene, Or, Feb. 24. (Special.) The Univer sity of Oregon is to confer the degree of bechelor of mil 'ic hereafter. To obtain the degree on an instru ment the student must practice three hours a day and take two lessons a week for four years. Vocally the stu dent must practice one hour a day and take two lessons a week for four years. The degree requires two years of modern languages, except in the case of voice, when a year of Italian and op tional language is required in addi tion. ITALY ALARMS GERMANY Sudden Change or Peeling Noted Among Berlin Diplomats. BERLIN, via London, Feb. 24. A sudden change of feeling, concerning the attitude of Italy was noticeable in diplomatic quarters during the last few days. The position of Italy appears to have become a matter of murh con cern. The reasons for this change are not clear at this time. RIVER AND HARBOR BILL IS IN DANGER Only Existing Projects Have Much Chance. SHIP BILL MAY BE REVIVED Spirited Effort at Passage Rumored in Washington. , CONSERVATION IS COST Enlarged Self-Government for Phil ippines May Pass if Quick ' Ac tion Can Be Obtained, but , This Is Doubtful. WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. Democratic Senate Leaders conceded tonight there was little hope for the passage of any legislation except the big supply meas ures before the adjournment of Con gress a week from tomorrow, and there was no nrosDect of passing the rivers and harbors bills in its present form. For the rivers and harbors bill It was generally expected would be substituted a joint resolution appropriating $30, 000,000 to continue existing projects. Skip Bill Efforts Renewed. As to the Government ship-purchase bill, there were rumors of a spirited revival of the effort to pass it. These followed a conference between Presi dent Wilson and Senators Fletcher and Simmons. Senator Simmons said later that no report would be made to the) Senate before next Monday. Pro-merits for the conservation legis lation were declared to be out of the question. As for the Philippine en larged self-government measure, it was understood there might be some chance of its passage if it could be done within a few hours' time, which was gravely doubted. Rural Carriers' Salaries Fixed. The Senate today passed the post office appropriation bill virtually as it passed the House, carrying a. total of approximately $323,000,000. A recommendation of the Senate com mittee to eliminate the House provision fixing the salary of rural mail carriers on standard routes at $1200 a year was overruled, 62 to 10, adding $2,700,000 to the bill as reported from the commit tee. All attempts to add new legisla tion were stricken out on points of order. The agricultural bill was taken til tonight. Diplomatic Bill Increased. Increases in the House diplomatic and consular bill recommended by the Sen tn committee include the addition of (50,000 to pay the expenses of the forth, coming conference of South and Cen tral American nijanciai oniciaia w no those of the United States. Provision is made for the $10,000 ap propriation for the International Medi cal Conference to be held in San Fran cisco, and the appropriation of $25,000 for the City of Panama Exposition is (Concluded on Page 1 INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. S4 degrees; minimum. 40 degrees. TODA Y'S- Rain ; southerly winds. War. Britain wary of adopting Washington- plan of ending food blockade and submarine war. Page 1. Allies push fighting in Champagne district to relieve Rheims. Page 2. Second British army landed In France. Page 2. Few churches in war zone spared. Page 2. Austrlans retreat in Bukowina and Germans stop in North Poland. Page 5. British armed merchantman, with -SO men aboard, is missing. Page 1. German government gives pledge not to in terfere with cargoes of food from Amer ica. Page 2. Mexico, Carranza Command levies heavy tax on people of Mexico City. Page 0. Domestic. Counsellor l-anslng says path of neutrality Is strewn with thorns. Page J. National. River and harbor bill unlikely to be passed ;. in present form. Page 1. i-- " . Domestic. Jap:nesa day at San Francisco Is joyous. Page 13. ... A . , . Sport. JobnTo'n-Willard fight may be transferred to Havana. Page 12. Four- Portland chess players defeat cham pion In world's record match. Page 12. Chicago Colored Giants to play 23 games In Pacific Nortuwest. fage Oregon and Ageles to battle for stats bas ketball championship. Page 12. Pacific Northwest. Democrats berate diametrical actions of two Legislatures. Page 1. Major Bowlby asked to remain temporarily as State Highway Engineer. Page 5. Idaho Senate outs $171.T91 from school ap propriation bill. Page 6. GoV3rnor vetoes bills creating new judge ships. Pace 6. Washington Legislature likely to send dele gates to Portland to conterence on roms bill. Page 3. Commercial and Marine. First wool contracts made in Northwest at 25 cents. Page 17. Resumption of export trade sends wheat up at Chicago. Page 17. Stock market . turns firm with numerous gains at close. Page li.t Sales of cargo In transit forbidden by clause In American war rlsH. policies. rngo Portland and Vicinity. Minimum for labor on municipal work set ac S3, after wordy war. Page 18. Contract for Irrigation of 10.000 acres near Echo soon to be let. Page i. Question as to application of new tax law puzzles officials. Pago 11. Council passes emergency law to give Idle men w irlc cleaning up g-uicnes. rm Y. M. C. A. workers add 78 new members sec nd day of campaign. Page la. New compensation act has many changes from present law. Page 11. New bills in movies. Page 18. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 17. PIUTE BOYS OFF FOR UTAH Youthful Indians on Umatilla Res ervation Believed Going to Aid. PENDLETON. Or., Feb. 24. (Special.) Frank and John Lee, Piute Indian boys, aged IB and 16 years, disappearea yesterday from the agency school on the Umatilla Reservation and are be lieved to be headed for Utah in an ef fort to join their warring relatives. Indian Agent Swartzlander has sent descriptions to all points the boys will likely pass through on their way to Utah. SWISS FIRE AT GERMAN Aviator Later. Is Target for French men, but Escapes. GENEVA, via Paris. Feb. 24. Another German aviator flew today over Swiss territory. Swiss infantrymen fired at him over the village of Beurnevesin. near Bonfol. Later French troops at Pfetterhausen fired at him, but he returned to Muel hausen apparently uninjured. ANOTHER MERCHANT CRAFT NOW DOOMED TO 10,000 ACRES NEAR ECHO 10 GET WATER Contract for $600,000 Job Soon to Be Let. ACRE COST ESTIMATE IS $40 o lAWr Twohy Brothers, Viiu, to Use Big Force of Idle. PAYMENTS TO BE EASY Bonds to Be .Issued With 10-Year Exemption in Redemption and Reduced Interest Tract of S000 Acres to Be Sold. Reclamation of 19,000 acres of fertile land near Echo, Umatilla County, is planned by the directors of the Teel irrigation district, who are about to let the contracts for the work, requir ing an expenditure of approximately $600,000. Asa B. Thomson, president of the Oregon Irrigation Congress, and one of the directors of the district, was in Portland yesterday and consulted local contracting firms regarding the work. Portland Firm Expects Job. Twohy Brothers, of Portland, are figuring on the contract, and it is probable that they will be awarded the job. They hope to begin work as soon as weather permits and will employ a large number of men. The project adjoins the Government irrigation district at Hermiston. The land is held largely in small blocks and will be developed by the owners them selves. One tract of about 3000 acres may be placed on the market after the work Is done. Directors of the district have ar ranged to bond the property under the district bonding law. The contractors. presumably, will be paid partially in bonds. It is hoped to market the re maining securities in the East or in Europe. Cost Estimated at $40 an Acre. According to present estimates the work can be done and the water turned onto the land at a coat not to exceed 40 an acre. The land itself is valued at $20 an acre. The owners will pay S per cent Interest on the bonds but will pay no part of the principal for the first 10 years. In the 11th year they will pay 6 per cent of the principal in addition to the interest. Each year they will pay 1 per cent more of the original principal than was paid in the preceding year. While the prin cipal payments constantly will grow greater, the interest payments obvious ly will grow less. Water for the proposed project will be taken from Camas Creek and will be turned onto the land with a gravity flow. It is believed thai if the con tractors can begin work early In the Spring, it can be completed before Fall. Engineer Approves Plans. In addition to Mr. Thomson the di rectors include: J. Frank Spinning, (Concluded on Page 6.) CO UNDER Wednesdays War Moves THE German blockade of the British Isles has been in effect for a week with the result that, so far as is known, two Norwegian, one French and five British steamers have been sunk or torpedoed by submarines with the loss of four lives. Two of these steamers, the Belridge and the Dinorab. succeed ed in reaching port. On the other side of the account it Is reported that two German submarines are missing and that a third had been hit and possibly sunk by a French de stroyer. Besides the vessels which fell victims to the submarines, two American and one Norwegian steamer have been sunk in the North Sea and the s teamer Specla and one or two VlTmii steamers are overdue and, it is feared, have been lost with their crews. In almost every case the steamer sunk by the submarine was a small and slow vessel and at least three of them were caught while at anchor or while they were bsrely under way. This, with the failure of a submarine to hit a fast cross-channel steamer at which it fired a torpedo, apparently proves to the satisfaction of British naval writers that the steamers with modern speed, which observe obvious precautions, can invariably escape the underwater craft, and such vessels are continuing to cross the seas. The blockade, however, has had the effect of increasing insurance rates and some neutral owners are keeping their ships in neutral waters. With conditions such as this, the public, both in England and neutral countries, are naturally curious as to the latest proposal of the American Government to Great Britain and Ger many, of which little has been allowed to leak out, either in London or Ber lin, and also as to what the allies' reply to the German blockade will be, another matter in which secrecy is being main tained. In addition to the loss of the mer chantmen, the British Admiralty has been impelled to give up hope for the armed steamer Clan MacNaughton. which has not been heard from since February 3 and which it is believed went down, as did another armed mer chantman, the Viknor, during storms which prevailed early in the month. The Clan MacNaughton carried a crew of 280 men, consisting largely of Royal Naval Reserve men, 20 of whom be longed to Newfoundland. The . Admiralty also reported last night the loss of three positions along the Belgian coast. Nothing further has been heard of the naval operations In the Dardanelles, which were interrupted by unfavorable weather conditions, but it la understood the intention i3 to continue all efforts to demolish the forts which line the straits. Otherwise the Turks, who have been severely handled in the Caucasus, Egypt and Mesopotamia, are being per mitted to rest while preparations are being made by the allies for a powerful attack against them. A wireless report from Berlin says that further obstacles have arisen to prevent the invasion of Russia and this would seem to confirm reports from Petrograd that the Russians are mak ing a successful stand against the in vaders along their fortress line on the northern rivers. The Russians from all accounts are also holding back the Austrlans in Bu kowina and it is said in an official dis patch that they have reoccupied the Im portant railway center of Stanislau. There has been little or no change in the Carpathians, where fighting of the most severe character has been going on for nearly two months. With regard to the Western arena, the region around Perthes, where the French have been making a long-sus taincd effort to advance, and in the Vosges are apparently the only centers of fighting of Importance. A good deal of significance is attached by military circles to the operations near Perthes, as a successful offensive by the French there would relieve Rheims. The campaign to the northwest of Verdun has a similar object in view. the French hoping to drive the Germans from Montfaucon, which has been strongly fortified, and thus deliver a fatal blow to the German plans for capturing Verdun. According to a Berlin dispatch, the concern in that city regarding the atti tude of Italy has been greatly accen tuated of late. Nothing is known in London as to any change in the Italian policy, except that reports have Been current that the neutrality party had been gaining adherents, particularly among business men, who are doing so well out of the war that they do not desire Italian participation. JITNEY FEES INCREASED Spokane Council Also Eliminates Filing of Personal Bonds. SPOKANE, Wash., Feb. 24. (Spe ial.) Taxicab companies were ex impted from the bond provisions of the ,cmt antnhns ordinance at a meeting e h. r-itv founrll this afternoon, and all provisions for personal bonds were excluded, thereby rorcing jitney o it ers to patronize insurance or nonaing companies. The license fee for the Jitney bus nwnr also was increased from 23 to 60 per cent. The fee for the Jitney buses of five-passenger or less was in-,.,-ocr from 125 to 140 a year; six and seven-passenger Jitneys from $3i to $50 a year; cars carrying from eignt in m nocKenirerg from $50 to $75 a year and those carrying over 10 passengers from $75 to $100 a year. Albany Poslofficc to Move March 15. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Feb. 21. The PoMofflce De partment today announced that the Postoffice at Albany. Dr., would be moved Into the new Federal building March 15. DEMOCRATS MOURN DEPARTED POWER Cases Diametrical at Salem and Olympia. POINT OF VIEW IS CHANGED Lister Shorn of Patronage; Withycombe Gets More. NEITHER ACTION PLEASES Anti-Republican I'it-. ProWr ! cent riillzntion f Authority In Washington; Call Addition of Power In Oregon Ttimtlonnr) . ft nosAi-n n. r.i.i. i n r. OLYMPIA.' Wash. Feb. 23 1 Staff Correspondence.) It is nn odd circum stance In a way th-'t the Lrfcialatme of Washington Is proi-ccdiiig In one particular in a dirertlon opposite from that taken by tne Legislature of Ore gon. At Salem the Legislature psve summary power of removal to the Gov ernor and various boards over their appointees. The Democratic press there Is condemning the new law as a reactionary political measure. In Washington certain p.ttinnaRO is being taken away from the Governor and the Democratic term Is a danger ous decentralisation of authority. aars Are Diametrical. There are. of course, two view points. The new Governor of Ore gon Is a Republican, the ttrnt of that political faith 111 12 years. The Gover nor of Washington Is a Democrat, who, when elected two years aeo, was the first of that politiriil faith In prac tically 12 years. Both states arc nor mally Republican and both have hern electing Republican Legislatures. During the 12 years that Oreeon had Democrats In tho executive chair thero was a Bteady trend toward tylnn knots to prevent the Governor from exercis ing complete control over ad inliiislra tive affairs In the appointive depart ments. In Washington tho Republicans let the Governor have a sway com mensurate with the dignity and natural responsibility of his office. Tiie recent Legislature In Oregon be gan untying knots. The present Wash ington Legislature Is tying thrm. Remark Applicable to Oregon. What Governor Lister, of WashlnK ton, said to tne today ribout tliM changes mado by ihe Wafhinston Leg islature respecting his control over certain state activities referred solely to Washington alT.-ilrs. Let It not be understood that he was commenting on what the Oregon Legislature hai been doing. Ncvel theU a, his remarks are applicable ti t lie new policy adopt cd by the tirenon Legl: hit urn In pan lug the Mos r bill giving the appoint ing power the r'-ilil to recall en ap pointee at will. Governor I.lsltr said: "The Legislature could not perform a kinder act in behalf of the Governor personally than to deprive him of ad political patronage. Rut there Is an unmistakably growing sentiment in fa. vor of centralization of authority. The publlo demands that thero he someone on whom responsibility for the proper administration of state business ran be unmistakably fixed. The people do not want responslbi;ity scattered among officers who can shift blame (or mistakes in the conduct of the peo ple's business." McArdle IIIIU Hit l.l.ler. The things the Legislature of Wash ington Is doing to the Democratic Gov ernor are represented In the so-called McArdle bills. They have heretofore been reviewed In The Oregonlan, but it will do no harm to review them again. One I 111 abolishes the titate Tax Com mission. The tax commission law ft Washington Is quite similar to that of Oregon. There aro a few differ ences In that there have been three ap pointive members here against two In Oregon. The Washington Tax Commls. alon has also had collection of a slat liquor license paralleling the Govern ment licenses. A license of $J5 has been levied In each case where a -ernment license has been required. The Tax Commission has had supervision over escheats and Inheritance taxes nd, as In Oregon, has fixed tha tat value of public service corporation properties. " There has been more or less of a ovement In Washington for several years to abolish the Tax Commission. Last year an attempt was made to initiate a law eliminating that depart ment, but it failed to get on the ballot through lack of a sufficient number of signatures. Veto la Kspeeted. The Legislature's bill abolishing the Tax Commission is In the hands of the Governor, who Is expected to veto It. It transfers assessment powers over public service corporations to the Tun ic Service Commission and supervision over escheats. Inheritance taxes and state liquor license collections to th Secretary of State. The Governor ap points the membersenf tho Tublln Ser tce Commission. A second bill has hern passed by bom houses over the veto of the Uoverno-. This law reforms the State Land Uoai l by removing therefrom the State For ester, who Is Indirectly appointed b the Governor, and the appointive thrra Tax Commissioners. The fifth member has been the Commissioner of Publie Concluded on l ag i ) 1