Morning Oregonian., March 02, 1915, Page 7, Image 7

TTTE MORNING OREGONIAN. TUESDAY. 3IARCII 2. 1915.
RETURN
OF NOOSE
FAVORED IN SENATE
Upper House at Olympia by
Heavy Vote Passes Bill to
1 Restore Penalty.
FEES TO BUILD SCHOOL
Mudents at University to Pay by
Tuition for Buildings House
Increases Motor Licenses and
Demands Jitney. Bond.
OLYMPIA. Wash.. March 1. (Spe
cial.) Senate bill 220, re-establishing
capital punishment for first-degree
murder, after Washington's two years'
experience witn life Imprisonment as
the severest penaity, passed the Senate
today by a vote of 28 to 14. Its passage
In tho House is predicted.
Today saw two other matters of mo
ment settled. The House by more than
two-thirds vote passed the Lum bill
repealing the eight-hour public works
law as far as it applies to road work.
The Senate established tuition fees at
the University of Washington to pro
vide, new buildings needed immediately
and both houses went through long
calendars of miscellaneous bills in close
to record time.
Death Penalty Allowed.
The capital punishment bill allows
the Superior Court judge to sentence a
tirst-degreo murderer to death or im
prisonment for life, at tho courts dis
cretion. The issue provoked the usual
amount of oratory. Senator Sharpstein
making the principal affirmative speech
and Senator Steiner leading the oppo
Kition. Speakers quoted statistics tend
ing to show that homicides had In
creased or decreased during the last
two years, depending on whether or not
the speaker favored the new bill. The
final vote was:
Yeas (for capital punishment). Bethel,
Boner, Brown. Carlyon. Chase, Cleary,
L. Davis. Fairchild. llrott. Iverson,
Jones. Kleeb. McCoy, McMillan,' Mc
Cluire, JWcalf. Nichols, Palmer, Phipps,
Scott, Sharpstein. Stevenson. Sutton,
Taylor, Weathcrford. Wells, Wende,
White. Total 28.
New Senator for Change.
Nayes (against capital punishment).
Burton. Campbell. W. S. Davis. Flum
merfelt, French, Ghent, Hall, Hutchin
son. Imus. Landon. Leonard. Smith,
Wray. Total. 14.
Of the 42 Senators voting today, 24
voted on the Goss bill abolishing cap
ital punishment two, years ago. The 24
then were evenly divided. Senators
Fairchild and Sutton switched today,
voting for the return to the death pen
alty, while of- the new Senators, almost
all favored capital punishment.
Kcpeal of the eight-hour law, in so
far as state road work is concerned,
was dictated by the House by a vote of
SI to 24, practically without debate.
The law declaring the policy of the
state for an eight-hour day on all pub
lic work has been on the statute books
14 years.
Partisan I.inea Abandoned.
Tho new measure provides that the
policy of t-state shall be unlimited
as to hours on road work. Partisan
lines were not closely followed, Mr.
Lowman, Democrat, making the mo
tion for suspension of the rules to ad
vance the bill, which appeared on the
calendar on second reading to final
passage. " A majority of the Republicans
voted for the bill. Democrats were di
vided and Progressives opposed it.
The University of Washington bill
passed by the Senate provides tuition
fees of 110 a semester for all stu
dents, a $10 matriculation fee and ad
ditional fees for special courses. From
the building fund thus created the bill
appropriates $150,030 for one new class
A building, while $150,000 more for a
second building of this class is ap
propriated from the general fund.
Speaker Foe of Bill.
The measure was carried only after
fTort had been made to provide the
substitute plan of bonding university
lands to raise building funds needed.
The measure may have a stormy tn
in the House, as Speaker Conner has an
nounced his opposition to any general
fund appropriation for the university.
The House, working with machine
like precision, passed a total of 22 bills
in its day sessions. Measure after
measure came up and went to vote
without even an explanation by its
sponsor. Among bills passed were the
new motor code, increasing license fees
for all motor vehicles, the bill requir
Ing $1000 surety bonds from jitney
bus and taxicab operators, amendments
td the logged-off lands act and several
Important incurance measures.
tattle Bill Postponed.
The House spent considerable time
on the new livestock law to enable
slaughter of tubercular cattle, going
into committee of the whole for the
first time this session to allow others
than members to discuss the measure.
It finally decided against making an
oppropriation to recompense owners of
cattle destroyed and made the bill
special order for tomorrow.
The Senate also had a long calendar,
but accomplished comparatively little,
Senators generally availing themselves
of the debate privilege, which the
House dropped by tacit agreement.
pending before the Legislature which
seeks to permit only taxpayers to vote
at bond elections.
These observations of the Seattle
dock situation are written chiefly for
Oregon and Portland consumption.
They are offered, too. for the satisfac
tion of our own sound-thinking elec
torate, which last November refused,
by defeating the waterfront bills, to
make harbor development an exclusive
public function.
When dreamers get the ear of the
public the sound policy of public owner
ship of public necessities is too often
diverted into a policy of public owner
ship of mere conveniences. To expend
public money is a fascinating pastime
for those who contribute nothing
directly to the treasury and the tax
payers often are indolent until they
are bound hand and foot.
Recognition of tnese facts Impelled
the Oregon Legislature to defeat the
hydro-electric bill, which would have
encouraged the mortgaging of com
munities to attain conveniences which
capital, anxiously seeking an outlet.
turns down as a poor investment.
It was sound Judgment by the peo
ple that halted the movement in its
first steps last Fall to throw caution
to the winds in harbor improvements.
Portland, so far, has engaged but
moderately in public dock enterprises.
There are those who wouia not await
need for greater facilities, but would
build extravagantly for the future.
Portland needs only to keep pace with
the development of commerce. If it
builds public docks as assets, not as
liabilities as Seattle has done, it is
safe to predict that it will be follow
ing the surest road to commercial
supremacy in the Northwest.
MUTUAL COMPANY FAILS
UORTICILTIRAI, FIRE RELIEF
CHARGE OF STATE OFFICIAL.
Insurance Commissioner Wells At-
tribatcn Trouble to Absorptions
and Recent Heavy Losses,
SALE.V, Or., March 1. (Special.)
Upon application of the directors of
the company, which is unable to meet
Its financial obligations. Circuit Judge
Galloway today appointed Harvey
Wells. Insurance Commissioner, re
ceiver of the Horticultural Fire Relief
of Oregon, with offices in this city.
Assets are estimated by Mr. Wells
at $20,000 with liabilities of from $50,
000 to $60,000. The company absorbed
the Oreaon Merchants' Mutual Fire
Assurance Association of Dayton, and
the Pacitic Home Mutual Fire Insurance
Company of Forest Grove in 1912.
Recent large losses and the absorption
of the two companies are ascribed as
the cause of the failure. The three
companies had insurance aggregating
about $13.000.00.1. Arrangements will
be made with the Pacific States Fire
Insurance Company to rewrite as much
of this business as possible on a 10
per cent basis.
Insurance Commissioner Wells said
today:
"The net premiums received by this
company during 1914 were $80,072 and
losses incurred were $S9,976. plus an
expense of about 30 per cent of the
premiums received. Practically the
same condition prevailed with the busi
ness in 1913.
"A short time after I took possession
of this office it became apparent to
me from inquiries from all parts of
the state that the Horticultural Fire
Relief of Oregon, Oregon Merchants'
Mutual Fire Assurance Association and
the Pacific Home Mutual Fire Insurance
Company were having trouble In meet
ing their obligations and also in col
lecting assessments levied during the
month of December. During the first
part of last month I requested the
president and the secretary of thes
companies to call at this office for
conference. They readily accepted thi
Invitation, and In discussing the!
future plans, it was decided a thorough
Investigation be made by an exper
insurance accountant. This met with
their approval and they employed W,
W. Chambreau.
"The results of this investigate
showed these three companies to be i
such financial condition that the board
of directors deemed it advisable
notify the insurance, department o
same, and on being informed of con
ditions, I decided that immediate steps
should be taken to protect the pol up
holders and warn those who held in
surance in these companies to secure
new Insurance.
SEATTLE IS CRITICISED
(Conlmufd Krom First rg.)
Ing public is demonstrated by the de
niand for retrenchment by influential
newspapers of that city, but seemingly
it has not dawned on the general pub
lic yet.
Port Commissioners have been
elected and dock bond Issues so far
have been carried at elections in which
not more than one-sixth of the elec
torate participated. Two members of
the Port Commission, or a majority
of that body, are pronounced dock en
thusiasts.
Seattle commercial bodies seem to
be divided as to whether they are pur
suing a proper course. The King Coun
ty legislative delegation is not a unit,
but there is substantial backing for
a bill now pending which asks the
Legislature to do what the people of
Seattle refuse to do because of in
difference, lack of thought or for
some other cause.
Abolition Measure Up.
The bill would remove the present
commission in a polite way by turn
ing control of the municipal dock
properties over to a commission com
posed of two city officials and three
county officials.
The reverse is provided for in a
companion bill fostered by the Seattle
Dock Commission, which increases the
tax-levying power of the Commission.
The present limit is such that not suf
ficient taxes can be levied to make up
the deficit In dock bond Interest
charges. The Dock Commission must
have more money with which to pay
the obligations of the port incurred for
the benefit of future generations that
is for their benefit, provided the docks
are not in the meantime permitted to
fall down because of disuse
. Incidentally there is another measure
POLICY HOLDERS PROTECTED
Pacific States Fire Insurance Com
pany to Rewrite Risks.
"Arrangements that will be advan
taeeous to all concerned have been
effected by officials of our company,
the Horticultural Fire Relief of Ore
gon, and Insurance Commissioner
Wells." said F. E. Beach, president of
the Pacific States Fire Insurance Com
pany, last night. "The policies of the
Horticultural Fire Relief, Home Mutual
and Bankers' Mutual now in force will
be taken up and rewritten in our com
pany. Policies in our company will be
issued, covering risks now on the books
of the mutual companies. By this
plan the assets of the three companies
will be conserved and realized on to
the fullest possible extent."
The Pacific States Fire Insurance
Company was organized about five
years ago. It has assets aggregating
about $1,000,000.
IRA C. DODGEJS BURIED
Services Arc Held at Ashland for
ex-Water Superintendent.
ASHLAND. Or.. March 1. (Special.)
Funeral service of Ira C. Dodge, who
died February 27, were held today. He
was a native of New Hampshire and
was born in 1842. He came to Oregon
in 1883. ami for more than 30 years
was a resident of this vicinity, for sev.
eral terms being water superintendent.
He was a veteran of the Civil War and
a member of the local Grand Army of
the Republic Post. His wife died sev
eral years ago.
He leaves four children, Frank
Dodge. Southern Pacific agent at Dil-
lard. Or.; Fred Dodge. In the Southern
Pacific train service; Mrs. C. L. Loom is
of Ashland, and Mrs. Blaine Klum, of
Medford. J. P. Dodge, of this city, and
Warren Dodge, of Medford. brothers,
also survive.
MICHAEL HOFLICH IS DEAD
Resident of Linn County for 28
Years Is Survived by 9 Children.
ALBANY, Or., March 1. (Special.)
Michael Hofiich. for 28 years a resident
of Linn County and father of a family
well known in this vicinity, died today
at his home, five miles south of A
bany, aged 8 years. Born in Ger
many, he came to the United States
when 20 years of age. He resided lor
several years in Iowa and Nebraska,
and came to Oregon 31 years ago. Three
ears later he located on the farm
where he had resided continuously ever
ince.
He is survived by nine children:
George A., Theodore, William, Max and
Fred, all of Albany: Herman, of Butte.
Mont.: Carl, of Portland; Mrs. W. H.
Burres, of Monkland, Or., and Mrs.
Lena Caldwell, of Albany.
OF THE-
Forges
$
30,000 Stock of
High-Grade
SLUG.
SL
This splendid stock of high-grade apparel,
consisting mostly of new Spring 1915 gar
ments, must be disposed of in 10 days in order
to allow the contractors to repair building.
Every garment priced at less than salvage
prices. Come and see.
This sale will be conducted under the per
sonal supervision of both Mr. Brasfield and
Mr. Porges, and we wish to impress upon
the buying public of Portland that methods
usually used in bankrupt and fire sales (such
as running in a lot of inferior merchandise)
will not be done at this sale. Every gar
ment in this sale has the label of this firm
The policy of this firm has always
the highest standard, which will
thereon,
been of
Accord in e to snme laniruape students
Ir1h brogu Is the Ancient way of pro
nouncing KnEllsh. nreserCcJ In its Dtirllv
by residents of the Emerald Isle,
Sale
be strictly maintained during this sale.
t
tarts Wednesday
Store Oven Till 9 o'clock Every Evening
I
a
v