Morning Oregonian., March 27, 1915, Page 8, Image 8

PORTLAND KBGOI.
Kntere lit Portland, Oregon, Fostoffic as
fetand-claas matter.
Subscription Bates Invariably In advance:
(By Mail.)
Dally, Sunday Included, one year . J-o
joallv, sunduy Included, en months
Maily. ttunday Included, three months ...
Iaily. bunday included, one month -
Iiaily. without Sunday, one year
Dally. without Sunday, six months . .....
Daily, without Sunday, tnree montna .... a.j
Daily, without Sunday, one montn .WJ
Weekly, one year - JjfJ!
fcunday. one year
bunday and Weekly, one year -"'
By Carrier.)
Uallv. Sunday included, one year ...."?
Dally. Sunday Included, one montn ... ...
How to tu.mil Send Postofflee money or.
der, express order or personal check on your
lal hank. Stamps, coin or currency are at
tender's risk. Give postofflee address in tuil.
lucludioc county and slate.
Postage Kate 12 to 18 paces. 1 cent; 18
to J paces, a cents; 34 to 4S pases, B cents,
hi) to 60 paxes. cents; ' to ) paf s.
cents; 7 to pages, a cents. Foreign post,
double raxes.
Eastern Businos Office Vera Conk
lin. New York. Brunswick building; Chicago,
bianger buildiuf.
can Franeisco Office R. J. SldweU Com
pany. Market street.
J-OKTI. AND. SATCKDAV. MARCH .
MHO DELAYS DEVELOPMENT ?
Defenders of the Ferris waterpower
bill, beaten at every point, frequently
fall back on the argument that op-
. position to that bill will delay devel
opment and that, as compared with
the vast gain that would accrue to
the West from the provision of a
great supply of electric power, state
sovereignty over the water is not
worth the fight They urge that the
Senate amendments to the Ferris bill
reeognixe state control of the water
and require compliance with state
law before leases are granted by the
Government. They assume that no
steps have been taken by the states
to regulate and impose rental on
waterpower. In fact, the general
theory of the Ferris hill Is that the
Government should occupy a twilight
zone of jurisdiction which might have
been, but in fact has not been, occu
pied by the states.
The truth is that this field has-al-ready
been fully occupied by the
states. The first obstacle in the way
of power development is the refusal of
the Government to permit the use of
certain tracts of the public domain on
terms under which, capital will invest
and which recognize the state's own
ership of the water. The Govern
ment's action is based on the assump
'tion that it can exercise sovereignty
over the public domain. As The Ore
gonian has frequently shown, it can
esercise only the same rights or own
ership as other landowners, ..though
the states are estopped by the act of
admission from taking pr interfer
ing with the manner of disposal of
public land. Even this concession by
the states has been held by the courts
1o be subject to the right to condemn
public land for public use, - which
would include tlic use of a public
utility such an a power company.
The states, lire the owners and
sovereigns of all the water which tbey
have not ncprefsly ' granted to indi
viduals fend corporations, subject only
to the Government's authority to main
tain the navigability of navigable
streams. Tet the Ferris bill authorizes
tho (Secretary of the Interior to lease
not only the land which the Govern
ment owns but the r ater which the
state owns. It directs how the state's
water shall be used and exacts .pay
ment for the use. graciously condescending-
to pay one half to the state
after the Government has had the use
of the money for an Indefinite- perio'd
of time. The Henete committee rea
lised the iniquity of the latter, pro
posal and provided that one-half
should bo paid to'the state from the
beginning. The Government has no
more authority in the matter than
a private land-owner. If the latter
should attach such conditions to a
lease of his land, the lease would be
void.
The bill attempts to devote the
tate's water adjoining public land to
the exclusive purpose of developing
powerN Nearly all the arid land
states. Including Oregon, have pro
vided by law. as Senator works sas
in his minority report, "what uses of
water shall bo preferred over others
where the water supply from any
source is lnsuatclcnt to meet all needs,
usually in the following order: Do
mestic use, irrigation, development, of
power." That is the order established
in Oregon. A power company having
a Government lease might be deceived
of some or all of its water for domes
tic use or for irrigation under the
state law.
The Government having surren
dered riparian rights as to public land
patented since 1S77. water, on public
land became state property and sub
ject to state sovereignty. Oregon has
adopted a water code placing its
water tnder the jurisdiction of a
board of control and making elabor
ate provisions for the use of water.
Upon a showing that an appropria
tion of water has been perfected, the
board of control issues a permit for
forty years with a preference right
of renewal under the laws existing at
the date of expiration.
- Although the state has a complete
code filling the entire field of juris
diction over water, Congress, acting
simply as a large landowner, attempts
to invade that field with a law of its
own containing provisions which con
flict at many points with the state
law. Congress tries to ' give power
priority over other uses, while the
state places power behind domestic
and irrigation use. The Ferris bill
contains a provision that it shall not
affect or interfere with state laws, but
either this provision must have no ef
fect or it will nullify every other im
portant provision of the bill. The bill
limits Government leases to fifty years
with option of purchase by the Gov
ernment, state or municipality at the
end of that time. The Oregon law
fixes the limit at forty years with, pre
ference right of renewal by the holder.
Here is a direct conflict. If the state
law is to stand, a vital provision of
the Federal law is annulled.
The Ferris bill provides that' no
lease shall be granted until the right
to the water is secured from the state,
but the state grants a permit only
after the appropriation has been com
pleted, that is, after the plant is fin
ished. Thus one of the conditions of
lriu. rannnt he fulfilled
until tie capital to be invested, under
h. l,uw has already been invested.
The conflict is so irreconcilable that
no investment would De maae.
St its law gives the Oregon Utilities
Commission authority to fix rates,
and to permit security issues, but the
Ferris bill propones to give the same
anihoritv to the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Either open conflict
would result or the Ferris bill provi
sion would be treated as oid. The
Secretin' ef the, Interior- may allow
combination of pUnU. but the rtata
might forbid it. : The Government as
the mere lessor of land has no right
to a voice in the matter. In forbid
ding the incumbrance of the property
leased, Congress again assumes a
power that belongs to the state.
-; If the Government should take over
and operate a plant constructed under
state laws, it would at once become
amenable to state regulation or the
state is deprived of jurisdiction over
its waters. Contracts for power are
by the bill made subject to approval
by the Secretary of the Interior, but
they are also subject to approval by
the Public Utilities' Commission of
Oregon. -
Were it possible to reconcile the
state law with the proposed Federal
law, there would be so many .require
ments to comply with and there would
be such risk of conflict in the future
that no capitalist would be likely to
attempt compliance for the purpose
of making so Insecure an investment.
But the conflict is irreconcilable at
many points and a would-ba investor
under the Ferris bill would almost
surely become involved in litigation
at the outset In opposing the Ferris
bill, therefore, we are not delaying de
velopment, for any development at all
under that billis highly improbable. We
are simply opposing an added obstacle
to development in order that power
may be developed in the only legal,
constitutional manner, namely, under
state law. Congress need only fix the
terms for grant of use of its power
sites, authorize the Interstate !om
merce Commission to regulate inter
state rates, and permit the states to
exercise ' their sovereignty over' the
water. Then , .development can go
ahead. Congress is blocking the way
by its invasion of state jurisdiction
and its attempt to appropriate state
property.
SPLITliNG IXTO'IIIVE HAIRS.
The Oregonian has not said that the
split infinitive"" is grammatically incor
rect, and it therefore declines to enter
the lists with the bold champion of
the euphonic monstrosity who writes
today. We repeat that the objections
to the snlit Infinitive are on the
ground of taste and not of grammar.
Undoubtedly there is no technical rea
son why, if it is correct to say "he
slowly speaks" it eheuld not also be
admissible to write, "to slowly speak."
But your careful writer, who has a
true sense of sound and rhythm and a
subconscious respect for syntax, will
put the adverb after the verb in both
cases.
Grammar is not a matter of perfect
consistency and logic, for grammarians
have as many moot points to quarrel
over as lawyers. We venture to say
that no great writer or great rhetori
cian has ever permitted himself to
worry over any question of strict
verbal construction, but he has left all
that to the orthographical technicians
who are usually bores, except to one
another.
We make bold also to assert that
no great grammarian" was ever a
great writer; and we declare with
only a little less confidence that the
best grammarians are usually not fit
for much else in the literary game.
They are for ever squaring their verbs
with their nouns, and fussing about
oases and numbers and objects direct
and objects complementary, and .the
like, and losing themselves in the syn
tactic bog. ' The speaker or writer who
is not able to forget his grammar
after his juvenile years of instruction
in its fundamentals is unfortunate.
All. then, we would say to our pe
dantic friend is. that if he likes that
fwrt of thing, that is the sort of thing
lie likes.
AMERICA TO TltK KESTIK.
The United States has enough w ork
to de in connection with tho war
without taking a hand in tne fighting.
To the feeding of the entire civil
population of Belgium it has now
added the distribution of food, pro
vided by the French nation, among
the 2.500,000 French people who are
within the German lines. The ad
mirable organization perfected by
Chairman Hoover, of the Relief Com
mission, has- been chosen by France
as the distributor ot ner oouniy among
her own people.
Tn this stupendous work may be
added that of rescuing the Armenians
and Persians, from the murderous
i.-.,i and nther Moslem fanatics
who are massacring or enslaving
them. Some means surely must do
r,H nf n-ithr!ra.wlne- the miserable
people of the region bordering on
Transcaucasia from the clutches of
their oppressors, clothing and feeding
them until peace is rescorea or uum
the extinction of Turkish rule enables
them to return to their homes.
natinn than thA United
States appears" equal to the task, for
every other nation of any importance
j . nnn will he. enerasred in war
or is burdened with troubles caused
bv proximity to the war zone. ine
American Nation alone is in a posi
tion to demand that Turkey restrain
the murderous bandits and permit re
lief to be sent to tneir victims.-
Tlia trraat hear t of America has
given without stint to Belgium and
the organizing genius or tins .Nation
has carried food to that country.
Americans have proved themselves
willing to undertake the task and able
to carry it out. The State Depart
chnuM use its influence-to clear
the way for them to carry help to
the victims of the .KUras. it seems
thA ?Jw World to form
itself into a gigantic organization for
the relief of the Old woria irom me
consequences of its outbreak .of war
like frenzy.
Of A IX, SAD WORDS"
The New York Times recalls pen
sively that in 1866 the celebrated
scholarGoldwin Smith advocated an al
liance between Germany and England.
His purpose was to curb the over
weening ambitions of Napoleon III,
who at that time tlireatened to dom
inate Europe. Napoleon was disposed
of a few years later without any help
from England, and now pretty nearly
all Europe is united against Germany.
Thus the wheel of fortune turns and
Time brings in his .revenges.
Germany has won her pre-eminence
by the systematic cultivation of effi
ciency. No department of human life
or effort hs to-en r neglected. In
scheol. in the shop and manufactory,
in the quest for markets and particu
larly in the armyeffieiency has been
the German aim. and it has been at
tained with wonderful completeness.
The German cities are the best gov
erned in the world. They set an
example for all others in economy,
honesty and care for the welfare of
their inhabitants. German science ad
vances speedily because the wnoie Doay
of investigators orgau'- lumunj
with numerous learned reviews for the
exchange of knowledge and the pub
lication of discoveries.
Effielapcy was never before carried
so far as It is in modern Germany.
Other countries have , imitated the
TIIE 3I0KXIXG OEEGOXIAX, SATURPAT,
Prussians more or less energetically
in some departments but none in all.
Democratic governments pursue ef
ficiency in a dilatory, half-hearted
way. They seem to set a higher value
on individual liberty. But in one par
ticular all the European nations have
followed Germany's example because
they felt obliged to do so. .None of
them could hope to survive5 without
an efficient army, and therefore mili
tarism has grown and expanded every
where. One cannot help wishing the
Prussians had applied their genius for
efficiency to peaceable projects. If
all the energy and intelligence they
have devoted to warlike preparations
had been consecrated to the improve
ment fit human conditions we should
not have to wait for the millennium.
It would be here now.
HIGH PRICES AND COMMOX SENSE.
Victor Murdock, editor of the
Wichita Eagle, a Kansas paper, comes
valiantly to the defence of the retail
butcher against the cpmplaint of high
prices. Mr. Murdock shows conclus
ively'enough that in spite of the high
price of steaks and chops the butchers
are not getting rich. For some mys
terious reason the money they put
Into their pockets slips out again and
they are no better off for all their
extortionate charges.
This is true of other retail dealers
.. n i. , , V. That, nrimE sir
n. ttvu uuw-i"-ic. j. ...... -... .
almost uniformly higher than the pub
lic deems reasonable and yet tney are
not ' aa n rule unduly prosperous.
Failures among retail dealers of all
classes, are extremely numerous ana
success is tho rare exception. A man
of long experience among this class
of business men says that success
means rising at four o'clock every
morning, hard work for sixteen hours
hohinrl the counter, and an evening
spent over the account books to close
the day. It is a fact of common ob
servation that retail business of everj
kind is overdone. In every country
village there are too many stores, just
as there are in the cities. There are
too many independent and competing
milk routes, too many butcher shops,
nnii tar tnn manv little eating: houses.
These, like radishes planted too thlckly
in the garden, mutually starve one
another, and although necessity drives
them to ask high prices they still fail
to nrosDer. The demand tor tneir
services is over-supplied.
Each store, shop or milk route en
tails a long list of expenses which
must nf course he naid bv the custom
ers. Tho more often these expenses
are duplicated the higher prices musf
rie tr cover them. A district with
half a dozen stores and shops to sup
port when one would De enougn usu
ally presents the sad spectacle of an
array of impoverished dealers and
overcharged customers. In the great
stores, where business is concentrated
and expenses scientifically cut down
there is little complaint of prices and
the business commonly pays nanusoine
nrnfita. A liberal dose of common
sense would cure many of the troubles
of the business world.
OIK ATTITUDE TO TltK WAR.
Americans, remote and detached
from the war zone, are inclined to
berate tho warring nations for their
wickedness and folly. A Senator ut
tered a fine phrase .when he said that
Europe had accomplished a substi
tution of the law of the jungle for
that of Christian civilization. oucn
rnnuirks hrtrav itrnoranco of what the
warring nations are lighting for, or
think they are nghting ror. rney mao
betray forgetfulness of a similar epi
sode in our own history only fifty
veura nark. Thouarli fifty years is
a. long time in the life of so. young a
Nation as ours, it. is out a onei aiian
in the history of old-world nations.
Germany, France, Great Britain,
Austria, Belgium. Turkey' and Serbia
are firmly convinced that they are
fighting for their national existence.
Russia is fighting for a kindred na
tion, which it beltoves to De mreai
onefi with extinction. If the convic
tion were driven home to us that we
must fight or cease to exist as a nation,
would we not fight as they are doing?
If instead of being bound together
in one Union our states were separate
nations and one of them were threat
ened with extinction, would we not
fly to the rescue?
When we are tempted to lecture
Europe on its seeming lapse into bar
barism and to plume ourselves on our
superior regard for humanity, it be
comes us to remember that those
nations are composed of people very
like ourselves. They are giving up
life, substance, those that they love
best, for a cause which they believe
to be worth the awful sacrifice. They
are willing to suffer or to die for the
which their countries fight.
Deeds of splendid heroism are being
done on both sides. Surely they have
weighed the cause against its cost, and
K,r eciufl to oav in their own
blood and agony. It does not become
us to taunt tnem wun return i"
law of the jungle.
' We are too prone, to scoff at the
causes of this war because we do not
understand them. We need to iono
. ncerr "Put vourself in his
place," in order that we may under
stand. We are so tar removeu irom
. i. oni its causes that they
have a merely academical interest to
us. By imagining ourselves citizens
-r,, nf the countries engaged,
we may come to realize that so
gigantic, a struggle nas a caic w
portionately great. ;
BCDC.ET SVSTEM AND ECONOMY.
Th ncmnrratic caucus of the new-
House of Representatives has- ap
pointed a committee of seven to re
port on a budget system when the
rnr.oi-eaa meets. It was led tO
take this action by the scourging which
Representatives j-ltzgeraiu ana mum
gave the House at the close of the
,..nn The. chairman of the
appropriations committee usually de
pends on the majority pbj lj a nod
dling of the Nation's finances, but Mr.
Fitzgerald's closing speech was little
less severe in its denunciation of
Congressional extravagance than was
f Mr Gillett as spokesman of
the minority- The Democracy has
been driven to take up seriously ine
n..sinn rf financial reform by the
growing deficit, by the fact that direct
taxes attract pumic aiicuuuu
.i iar- tc the snhieet and bv the
evident purpose of the Republicans
to make the dencit a caniiaiu iuc.
No other civilized nation manages
its finances with so little system as
the United. States. In times ef pros
perity Congress has raised more meney
t,;i and has occasionallj r -
cumulated a huge surplus. At etrer
times Congress spends more man it
raises and shows a deficit, as at pres
ent. Other nations have a budget
prepared by the Cabinet, Bhewing a
close relation between income and
outgo and proposing" methods of rais
ing more revenue if increased outgo
is proposed. " ' - .
Our heads of departments submit
estimates of prospective expenses and
the Treasury Department submits es
timates of revenue to Congress, but no
attempt is made by the Cabinet to
trim the former to conform to the
latter. Congress appropriated 147.
000,000 less than the' total estimates
at the last session, and yet did not
bring expenses within Income. Here
again the money-getting and money
spending functions are not brought to
gether. The ways and means com
mittee initiates bills to raise revenue,
while the initiation of appropriations
is divided among eight distinct com
mittees, each of which acts without
regard to the other or to revenue
available. But the work of the House
committee is not final. The Senate
may add to or reduce appropriations
and a conference committee of the
two houses adjusts the differences on
a give-and-take principle, again with
only a most cursory glance at the
amount of money available.
Concentration of power over ap
propriation bills in the hands of one
committee, as proposed by Mr. Fitz
gerald, would be only a partial cure
for the evil. We need a budget sys
tem similar to those of European
states. There the finance minister
submits to the Legislature a state
ment of proposed expenditures, of
revenue available and, if this be In
sufficient, of new taxes proposed to
meet the deficiency. He explains the
reasons for each item, and his state
ment forms the basis of discussion.
President Taft made a beginning at
this system by getting together the j
department estimates and trimming
them at Cabinet meetings, but the
House promptly scented an invasion of
Its prerogatives and would have none
of the Taft budget system.
Common sense dictates that some
such system be adopted, but its ad
vocates are met at the outset with
the statement that the Constitution
forbids. Then the Constitution should
be changed. The states recently
amended the Constitution to permit
Congress to levy a new tax; them why
not amend it to effect economy?
The reasons for opposition by Con
gress to a budget emanating from the
Cabinet are not far to seek. A large
part of the work of Senators and
Representatives consists in obtaining
appropriations for expenditure in their
states and districts. They, therefore,
wish to have- as active a' hand as
possible in malting up details of ap
propriation bills, and they wish to
be free to trade votes. Congressmen
also look to the President and Cabinet
members for favors in the way ef
patronage, which gives the Executive
a club to swing ver them. That club
has been used n forcing reluctant
members to vote for Administration
measures and might be used to force
them to vote for n Administration
budget.
Thus tho best hope of adoption of
tho budget system lies in the adop
tion of other reforms. Were all of
ficers except the heads of departments
and bureaus put under the merit sys
tem the patronage club would lose its
terrors and Congressmen could be
more independent of the executive.
Were appropriations for rivers and
harbors, buildings and other forms of
pork made in lump sums for expendi
ture by -commissions or boards, Con
gressmen's interest in details would
bo lessened. They would then cease
to shout for economy in tho abstract
while voting for waste in the con
crete. Being less exposed to coercion
by the Administration, they would dis.
trust it less. In order to induce Con
gress to vote for a budget system, it
is necessary to remove the selfish
motive for opo-sing it.
One can read of the sinking of
a submarine in the North Sea with
equanimity, for that Is part of war,
but the loss of an American sub-
a- thrill nf nitv thrnllirh
mersiuie aenua L " " - - t -- '
our people on the fate of the men who
went down with her to stay until
resurrection mom.
t : -iie anA nrobablv it is. that
Californians deprecate the idea of vls-i-etiiminer
bv way of Oregon,
those who know Oregon cannot blame
them, for the Easterner win get ins
last impression here and it will be
the best of his trip. m
, TJr.herrcnn wrote Stories Of
sea life that were full of action. His
. i -i. -ic in tellinfr hnw the
OeSL WVHV v ... . . . . n
shanghaied man finally put one over
on the brutal captain aim n ""-
mate. They were good stories for men
to read.
When done balancing his books, the
...... v..-.- oti-eVeener will read with
much satisfaction that the estate of
the man who started tne raau-uii
business 'must pay an inheritance tax
of 313,615:
Income tax inspectors in Chicago
propose a house-to-house canvass to
.nearth the men who earn $7-5,000
and are not paying on it. As if every
man told his wife what ne gets;
The "alien enemy" under arrest at
Fnrt Frances. Ontario, is probably an
American who' talks too loud to suit
the Canadian. A few days in jail
will aid his discretion.
The account in Germany's sub
marine blockade shows an average of
one ship a day sunk at the cost of
one submarine a week. The price
seems rather high. --" m
Lord Roberts was not only a great
soldier but a shrewd investor and teok
care to place some of his money out
side the war zone.
Plague is completing the work of
war in depopulating Serbia, and it will
be well if the rest of Europe is not
similarly afflicted.
Belgians realize that the ruins of the
cities destroyed by the "Germans may
become an asset as an attraction to
tourists.
Being very much of a family man,
the Kaiser will forget the enemy long
enough to "hoch" his new grandson.
The cost of running Fprtland last
- x4.QOO.eOO. but it was
worth iwhlle to be in the running.
The recurring news from Nome, due
on the opening of Spring, is of a big
strike of placer gold.
A submarine often proves as deadly
to its crew as to the ships it attacks.
It is not so much the Easter bonnet
as the result at Havana that day.
The Easter lily is soon due and after
that the Portland rose.
MARCH 27, 1915.
6PI.IT 1SFIMTIVE 18 DBFSXDBD
Variety and Flexibility Given Imm-
guage by Its Vmc, Says Contributor.
PORTLAND. March 26. (To the Ed
itor.) Permit me an observation upon
the. "snllt Infinitive." called forth by
several editorial articles in Tha Ore
gonian, especially one printed last Sat
urday. , i
I make the sentence "He speaks. 1
modify the sentence by the adverb
"slowly," writing in the common form
"Ho speaks slowly." I may, however,
use another allowed form and write
He slowlv EDeaks." This second rorm
many not be as common as the first,
but it is correct and may be carried
through all the moods and tenses. "He
slowly speaks: he slowly speaks; he
will slowly speak; be has slowly spok
en," etc.
Now, all these sentences are correct.
Their correctness, so far as I know, is
challenged by no one. We meet the
form everywhere "It was recently
said," "Will nearly complete," "is
finally finished," "Has been simulta
neously combined," and so forth with
out number.
And vet when we come to tne lnnn-
itive, we are told that we must not
use "To slowly speak." We may say
"He will nearly complete." but we may
not say "He tried to nearly complete."
Whence comes the sacred uses o the
infinitive? For what reason is the in
finitive taken out of the rule and made
the exception? There Is no reason. It is
an arbitrary fad.
In truth, however, mere is no sum
thiner a snlit verb in the infinitive
or any other mood. In a book I have
been reading occurs the phrase, "The
hiirh-trettson trial at Agram." The
phrase ia good English. The writer took
the nouns "treason ana trial aim
welded them into a compound worn,
"treason-trial" (written with a hyphen
if you choose).
.lust an wa take a verb and adverb
and weld them into a compound word.
When we write To slowly speaK' we
have not split the infinitive of the verb
"to speak," but have made the infini
tive of the compound verb "to slowly
speak" (written with a hyphen if you
choose). v
The matter appears clearer wnen
nfitead of a simDle adverb we take an
adverbial phrase. If we write "He will
in a loud voice speaa, tne Bememio
la irrammatical. but obiectionabla, be
cause the compound verb we have made
is cumbersome and uncouth.
The same rule applies to compound
nouns. We may say "A larenoy trial,"
but hardly "a larceny from a dwelling
trial." I confess that these compound
ed, so-called spilt verbs are not espe
cially pleasing to me. although, like
everybody else, I use them, but I think
that it would be well it tney ware
used more sparingly.
Tliev have advantages, however, iney
add variety and flexibility to the lan
guage and in many cases enable one
to mark a shade ot dilicrenco in raean-
To my mind at least, the pnrase -io
speak slowly." Imports a speech deliv
ered with slowness, while "to slowly
speak" imports slowness In a speech
delivered. The distinction is scarcely
Busceptlble of exact definition since It
lies merely in emphasis, In verbal in
tonation, as it were.
So far from thinking that a split vero
so-called in any mood or tense is nec
essarily faulty or in bad taste, I be
lieve that in many cbib it gives clar
ity and vigor to the diction.
To insist that a form ot language
used incessantly by all sort.s of writers,
good, bad and indifferent, is inaccurate
or violates good taste, or that a form
allowed in all other moods should be
outlawed in the Infinitive, strikes mo as
absurd.
If we start with the premise that to
split the infinitive breaks a rule, either
of grammar or of taste, argument is at
an end, for if the infinitive is split
tho rule is broken, and there you are.
I submit for consideration a remark
bv Locke in his essay on the under
standing, where ho says (I quote from
memory) :
"I can argue as well as the next man.
only grant me my premises."
J. SI. JOllSOI.
1G1 North Twenty-third stroet.
otjubi:tio to good timks.
Moderate One, but lis l'.mulMtloM Would
Bring; Prosperity, .Says Writer.
PORTLAND, March 26. (To the Edi
tor.) My sole object in writing this
is to contribute another mite to tha
relief of tho business and industrial
depression that has settled down on
the country. Tho cause of the depres
sion, in a great measure, will become
apparent in the remedy I am prescrib
ing and helping to administer to the
limit of mv resources, to-wit:
I am selling some unimproved land
at whatever 1 can get for it. With the
money I thus bring out of its hiding I
will. Improve my humble Portland
home, as I can do so now cheaper than
heretofore or in the future, and yet
need not be stingy toward the laborer
I hope to employ on same. I will go
into the market for some material to
remodel, the house, etc. The person
who buys my unimproved land at a
modest price will do likewise.
This is what a man of moderate
means can do to relieve the depression
if he is not too heartlessly selfish.
Now, if some of our wealthier citizens
will do in proportion the "unemployed"
problem will be reduced to a minimum.
In spite of the sneer of a certain pub
lisher at the suggestion that "good
times always follow depressions," this
is an all-important fact to bear in mind
and act upon if we would do justice to
ourselves and our feilowman.
If society as a whole cannot learn to
carry out the above ideas we must in
evitably surrender Jto the Socialist
theory or continue to starve amid
plenty.
A. Z.
Sociability of Charles Francis Adams.
PORTLAND, March 26 (To the Edi
tor ) The death of Hon. Charles Fran
cis Adams recalls the fact that 26 years
ago, in company with Mr. Adams, the
lata Tyler Woodward and Hon. D. f .
n,i . i. n-.ltar , raveled in AlftS-
inonipsoii, me "" - ---
ka during which time Mr. Adams gave
proof of geniality and rare culture. In
1 he mnre enmnanion-
able. both Mr. Woodward and Mr.
Thompson being wen caicuiaieu n .-
the best in the way of sociability out
of Mr. Adams or anybody else.
During our sojourn we spent Sunday
-.i, ii nrA hv invitation. I
in wranpcn. v,i.w s
conducted service in the little Presby
terian .Mission L-nurcn, t. "
close a collection for the missionary s
wife and baby, who were in the audi
ence, amounting to $40. my three trav
eling companions giving most of tne
money. . ,
At one time In the vicinity of Glacier
Bay Mr. Adams, Captain Carroll, of eur
good steamship Carona, and the under
signed ran suddenly onto five immense
brown bears digging clams on the
beach. The smallest one of them was as
large as a common Jersey cow. "But what
things a fellow will see when he 'haint
got no gun!" The whole bunch of these
bears in plain sight, not 100 yards
away, showed no inclination to run.
Captain Carroll, seizing me with, one
hand and Mr. Adams with the other,
yelled at the top of his voice: "See the
bears. See the bears." Mr. Adams,
manifesting not the least alarm, burst
into a laugh, saying. "That's the best
wild animal show I ever saw."
Like all really great characters. Mr.
Adams toek much interest in common
men and common things.
C. E. KLINE.
Derllnlna; a IeJ.
Judge.
T want to interest you in a mining
proposition. It's a good thing." "Per
haps it is; but I'm not."
Wall 9t Yaang Wife.
Philadelphia Ledger.
"I don't know where the eeok to eoeh
my next meal will come from." moaned
the young wife dismally.
Half Century Ago j
From The Orefonlan. March 2T, ISM.
By telegraph we learn from Albany
that the woolen mills at Brownsville.
1 .... . tiamtmxi mA kv fire
II 11 l.uuiiij , n,m i. ...... . " J -
Thursday night. The fire originated
In tha arynouse. too mius were uui
lately built and at the time ot their
j i n a J.lnff a wnA.1 hnsineJIfl.
UUL1UI1 , v. w f ' ' . w
The losa la to be regretted, especially
.. . . i
because tne state atauas in uetsu u.
ture of woolen goods. The loss Is said
to be about 60,ooo.
C ...I K tnhna nf flm-lte fOUIltV.
Washington Territory, and Miss Olive
L Goodwin, or urnauua, tr., were mar
ried at the home ot the bride's parents
March 23. Harry Stuart, Justice of
tha Peace, officiated.
Mobile Fourteen vessels mote were
added to the fleet today, and 12 are in
sight of the oity. Greater activity pre
vails with the enemy in tha lower bay
and there is every indication ot an
early outbreak.
Washington The rapid absorption
and popular appreciation of the 7-3'
loan under tho management of Juy
Cooke. general agent, has determined
Secretary McCollough to make no
change in the character of tha loam to
be placed in the market after tha pres
ent one shall have been disposed of.
The next issue will consist of an issue
of J3UO.000.000. payable In three years
after date. The sale of 7--0s in Ger
many has been very great and has
changed the exchange in favor of
America.
A Washington dispatch dated Jan
uary 31 told of Chief Justice Chase's
first elaborate opinion In the Supreme
Court. It was of International lmport
tance. A few days after the capture
of New Orleans the steamer Circassian
was -taken by one of our vessels while
attempting to run the blockade into the
City of New Orleans, under the Im
pression that It was still li rebel pos
session. The owners ot tho Circassian
claimed that although they had in
tended to run the blockade, yet New
Orleans having been taken by our
forces, the blockade was therefore
raised, and the veyage of their vessel
was a lawful one, for which it could
not be taken as a prize. The Chief
Justice held that the occupation ot the
city by our forces did not raise the
blockade and that the blockade ex
isted until proclaimed raised by the
President. Tho entire court with the
exception ot Justice Nelson concurred.
E. P. Beebe, principal of the publio
schools of this city, district No. 1. made
hia report for the quarter ended March
!4, last Friday. In the higher depart
ment. Miss A. R. Way. assistant, there
are 81 students, with an average at
tendance of 72; intermediate depart
ment. Miss K. J. Way, preceptress,
number of students 6S, average attend
ance i'0; primary department. Miss
Caroline King, preceptress. Miss Fran
ces Henderson, assistant, number of
pupils 13S. average attendance 9S. The
whole number of students in the school
is 257; average attendance 20.
Sheriff White, of Wasco County, vis
ited the city yesterday.
Paradise Iat.
MONMOUTH, Or., March S5 (T.i the
Hditar.)-Pleas stata whether Milton's
Paradise Lost haa ever been drama
tized: if so, is it appearing in the
movies?
It bas not been dramatized and la not
in tho movies.
Paper at MeiniDulli.
PORTLAND, Or.. Mareh 23. (To the
Kdltor.) What is tha name of the
newspaper ef Monmouth?
SCBSCniBKTt.
The Herald.
Mlxtare of tin and I "'
Baltimore Sun.
"Does fhe doubt your love, fount?"
'Psrbleau! Worse: she doubts my tllle."
What the Public Schools Are Doing
Told in
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN
Beginning tomorrow The Oregonian will publish each Sunday a full
page of public school news. This news will cover both the grammar
and high schools. It will be written by the pupils themselves and
assembled under the direction of a hifrh school teacher who has had
experience in journalistic work. Thia feature is sure to interest both
pupils and parents -who have children in school.
Two New Children' Features.
In addition to its many features for children The OrcfruniHii to
morrow will add two new ones, the Teenie Weenies and revised
Arabian Nights Tales. The Teenie Weenies are a little people that
have leaped into popular favor. Already they have inspired the
Teenie Weenie Waltz, the Teenie Weenie doll, and William Douuhcy,
the author, is writing a Teenie Weenie book. This pare w ill carry
handsome illustrations in color.
New Process Triples Gasoline Yield.
This story tells of the recent discovery of Dr. Walter F. Ritlman,
which promises to multiply the product of gasoline from petroleum,
and explains the economic importance of the scientist's work. Sec
retary of Interior Lane, who announced the discovery officially on
the first day of this month, believes the new process will solve the
problem of supplying tolmol and benzol for the United States. Full
page with illustrations.
Another Penrod Story.
Booth Tarkington tells The Oregonian readers more about the
escapades of Penrod. This time Duke, a little old dog, figures quite
prominently in the hilarity.
Aquila Chauncey Nebeker.
Henry M. Snevily relates how "Old Neb," a one-time football star
at Columbia University, has evolved into a United States Marshal
and recites what he has done to tame the riotous Piutes in Utah. The
narrative, with illustrations, covers nearly a page.
Round Table Detective Tales.
' Detective Richard McKenna, chief of the strong arm squad of the
New York police, recalls the thrilling career of "Dan, The Duke," king
of package thieves, and the extremes he resorted to in keeping out
of the clutches of the law.
Blockade Regulations.
The code regulating the blockade among civilized nations' and the
permitted use of flags by neutrals is outlined by an authority. The
author tells why use of the open, non-territorial seas is prohibited as
a war zone. The present trend of events in Europe and the situation
of the United States make this article particularly timely.
Flowering Shrubs Photographed.
A beautiful full page of baautiful flowers now blooming in Tort
land before the East is released from the giasp of Winter.
Addison Bennett's School Article.
Mr. Bennett continues his series of instructive articles on Portland
public schools.
Exploits of Elaine.
Another installment of this thrilling serial .story.
Other Features.
A timely first page in colors. Doc Yak, Polly and the other romicn,
the week's review of society, woman's clubs, real estate, building, au
tomobiles, sports and all the pews.
Order Today.
Twenty-Five Yeart Ago
From The Orcfontsu of itareh 27, 1S0O.
Washington. Some of the Republi
can members are much in doubt aa to
what they rhould do in esse of Wyom
ing's admission. The woman's suflrnB
clause in the Constitution Is a stum
bling block. They want to support the
report of the majority and yet do not
want to commit themselves or tha
party. Tha Democrats are opposed t
granting suffrage to the women end
are also opposed to compulsory educa
tion. Tacoma. Presidnnt Oake. of tha
Northern Pacific n.Mlrond. i.i here an !
announced yesterday thnt a $4(0.00t
hotel was planned for Tacoma, to be
known as "The Palace."
San Francisco. It looks as If tnlm
L. Sullivan and Peter Ja. kson ill ba
brought together for a ring battle for
a purse of .'0,000.
. i
Potatoes are selling f"r S rents a
pound In Portland. Few if any can re
member when tlu-y were higher.
Eastern capital will take hold of tha
Portland Laundry Company's properly
and expend soma K'O.ooo In Imnroie
tncnt.s. It was announced csterdsy.
True to prediction". Dave Campbell
was brought up before the grand Jury
yesterday and pli-d with questions an
to what ho knew nf tha i;uvr-'onle'
match Saturday. Mr. -mbpell did tint
prove a very good wltnasa tor tha
"prosecution," which attempted t proia
the match a prliefight Instead of a
boxing contest for scientific points.
John Hartman. wife and family of 13
have arrived at the International lin
tel. Mr. Hartman says It is his Intan
tlon to snttle in theso parts and hava
his family grow ui with the Wast. At
the amo hotel Is 1 Wclkel. who ia at
the head of a party nf 12 Immtaranta.
They will leave this morning for inde
pendence. Or.
Gcorgo A. Steel will n.-Mima the du
ties of Postmaster about April 1. Mis
assistant. A. A. Pranklin, Is getting tha
hang of things under the direction of
Mr. Roby.
Misses R. A. Cosiirove Company
will have their Spring opening 1 hura
day and Krlaay of thia work at their
shop, (i2 Washington sirecL A fine line
of millinery is proniired.
D. C. Bogart. the venerable rrirr In
Judge St'iarn.s' court, is mourning lb
losa of a week's washing, which waii
stripped from tha Una at his reslriaaca
In Kast Portland. Tho Ihiaves. who
were much in a hurry apparently, left
an umbrella.
A runaway utreeloar horse created
much excitement yesterday "U First
street A runaway at the dock was
averted by suiuu one's timely use of
an umbrella.
Rider Haggard has been offered
J1U0U a week for a 40-weeka lecture
lour in this country.
Alvin Campbell, tha 8-ycar-nld son
of A. F. Campbell, the t nlted HtateH
under, lost his Ufa in the Willamette
yesterday.
At the office of Captain Symons.
United Slates Engineers, yesterday a
reporter was shown namples of tha
new explosive, a smokeless powder
called "Emmonslla."
When Bees Sitins.
SKA.MOKAWA. Wash.. Marca
(To the hdttor.) When bees marin
does the voung or the eld swarm leave
tho hive? JACK SCI 1 1 LT.lNfJ.
When bees swarm ther old queen
leaves tha hive and bees or all ages
Join bar. A new qaean is in the process
ot development, when lh swarm
leaves, and when hatched she becomes
Ilia head of tho bees rcmslnlng. Strict
ly speaking there are no old bars during
the working season, with the exception
of the queen, for at that ttmn the llfo
nf tha bn Is only about ? dnya.