THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY,' APRIL, 1, 1915.
i . -
p
John Albert, City Contractor
Said to Have Offered
Gratuity to Official.
THOROUGH PROBE STARTED
Authority to Prosecute to Be Asked
of Council Today Investigation
May Involve Others If Re
ports Are Pound Correct.
An alleged attempt on the part of
John Albert, a Syrian street and sewer
contractor, to bribe C. H. Smith, chief
sewer inspector of the Department 01
Public Works, is to leaa to tne prose
rntiim of Albert and the commence
ment of an investigation which may
Involve a prominent Portland attorney
and others in the case. A report will
be laid before the City Council this
morning by Commissioner deck. In
addition to asking for authority to
prosecute Albert. Mr. Dieck will ask
that the Iirm or Aioeri oc n.auuuui
rnntractoni. in which Albert is a mem
ber. be debarred from bidding for city
contracts In the future.
It is declared by Commissioner Dieck
that the case either is a bold attempt
at bribery or is a frameup on the part
of sewer contractors or others to "get"
InsDector Smith, who has the reputa
tion of being strict in the enforcement
of the city's sewer specifications.
Letter Starts Inquiry.
When Mr. Smith started inspection
of sewer work being done by the firm
of Albert & Kanbolff on the East Side
recently he was handed an envelope.
He opened it and found two "green
backs." one for 310 and the other for
35. with a letter of explanation. The
letter, which was in typewriting, is al
leged to have said:
'Dear Mr. Smith I herewith inclose
you $15 in appreciation of your serv
Sees and kindness to me."
Signed) JOHN ALBERT.
Mr. Smith forthwith inquired into
the proposition and says he was in
formed by Albert that he understood
It was necessary to make such a re
mittance if a contractor expected to
jret fair treatment from the inspector.
Mr. Smith took the letter and the
money to the City Hall and turned it
over to Commissioner Dieck. An in
vestigation was started at once.
"Krameap" la Alleged.
Comparisons with the typewriter Im
pressions in this letter and others re
ceived from an attorney prior to this
led Mr. Smith to believe that the letter
was written on the same typewriter as
the others.
The opinion is expressed by Cimmls
sioner Dieck that the incident may
have been a "frameup" on the part of
contractors to trap Inspector Smith.
This phase of the proposition will be
Investigated thoroughly and. if findings
warrant, the grand jury will be given
the facts.
Albert was called into the office of
City Attorney LaRoche and questioned
about the proposition. He is said to
have declared that he wrote the letter
himself on a typewriter. When ques
tioned farther it was found that he
. could not operate a typewriter.
Contractor Is Questioned.
He is reported to have said that he
gave the letter to the inspector and
the money because he had been in
formed by other contractors that this
was necessary if he got fair treatment
from the inspectors. He said that he
understood it was necessary to pay up
occasionally and to keep cigars on tap
at the scene of work.
"We intend to go to the bottom of
this thing, said Commissioner Dieck
yesterday. "This is a deliberate and
open attempt at bribery or is a scheme
on the part of someone to trap Mr.
Smith. Before we are through we ex
pect to present facts to the grand Jury
regarding all the persons involved -in
the proposition.
108 HEAR FARM LECTURE
O.-W. R. & X. Campaign in South
west Washington Draws Many.
CENTRA LI A, Wash., April 1. (Spe
cial.) One hundred and eight farmers
turned out at Adna last night to hear
C. L. Smith, the official agriculturist
of the O.-W. R. & X. Company, deliver
e lecture on diversified farming. This
is part of the educational campaign
being waged in Southwest Washington
by the company. Mr. Smith talked to
114 at Tono yesterday and 94 at Ten
Ino yesterday morning.
W. Carruthers, district freight and
passenger agent, who is accompanying
Mr. Smith, while in Centralla today as
serted that following the recent offer
of his road to rent its vacant land here
all of it has been spoken for. It was
planned to reserve the three blocks in
front of the depot for circus grounds,
but there are so many applicants who
have not yet secured a tract that this,
too, will probably be used.
CARLTON IS CLEANED UP
Fifty Wagonload9 of Rubbish Are
Burned as Result of Day's Work.
CARLTON. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Yesterday was observed as "clean-up
day" by the citizens cf this city and
a large force of men turned out early
and worked until late at night.
Fifty wagonloads of rubbish were
collected and burned, consisting prin
cipally of old sidewalk lumber that
had been recently replaced with ce
ment walks.'
A hot lunch was served to the work
ers at the City Hall by the members
of the Civic Improvement Club.
CORNELIUS TICKET NAMED
Xon-Partlsan Candidates to Oppose
Citizens' Nominees.
CORNELIUS, Or April 1. (Special.)
A new ticket has been put in the
field in opposition to the ticket put
out last week and known as the Citi
xens' ticket. The new ticket is called
the Non-partisan ticket and its candi
dates are the present Mayor. Mr. Kill
gore, for re-election: Ora Hughes for
Councilman and P. E. Phelps for re
election as Recorder.
It indorses two men on the Citizens'
ticket, Mr. Mooberry for Councilman
and A. S. Hendricks for Treasurer.
Koseburg Pastor Held for Angling.
ROSEBL'RG, Or.. April 1 (Special.)
D. H. Brown, a local minister, was
arrested here yesterday charged with
fishing in the Umpqua River. He will
receive a hearing Saturday,
AT
Ttieater Sunday
"Hypocrites" is the title of the indescribably wonderful sermon-photoplay that will be shown for the first time at the Peoples
Theater next Sunday. Mayor Albee declares everyone in Portland should see this picture. It was passed without any elimination
by the Censor Board, which expressed the same view as the Mayor. Below are to be found letters from- politicians, judges,
preachers, clubwomen, business men and leaders in all ranks of Portland life. Some praise; some commend; but take their advice
and see "Hypocrites," for it will be the most discussed play or photoplay Portland has ever seen next Monday.
Portland People Commend and Score "Hypocrites" Here Are
a Few Letters From Leaders in All Lines of Life Who
Have Already deen 1 tvs W onderjul LJlay
i i it . ff. MICCinvl'U Ufif U4V nrmTira .Ullilolv artA aptlatinollv that It H nM anv
cotvrr COMMISSIONERS 1M-
Board of Commissioners Multnomah
County.
In reply to your letter of the 23a
instant, we beg to advise you that
we accepted your invitation and wit
nessed the play Hypocrites" and
were favorably Impressed with the
production.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION
ERS By W. I Liphtner.
Philo Holbrook.
Rufua C. Holman.
WOMAN' NOT IMMORAL. .
The Portland News.
"Hypocrites" should b seen by
every person whose thinking appa
ratus Is in good condition. The moral
Is strong. The naked woman hold
ing up the mirror before the wrong
doers Is not Immoral, but impresses
one with the thought to what purity
and beauty good womanhood can at
tain. E. W. JOKGENSON,
City Editor.
PREACHER OIVES IMPRESSIONS.
Third Presbyterian Church.
Thanks for the invitation to wit
ness the films of "Hypocrites" this
morning. Responding to your request
1 herewith send you my impressions:
First I think the several move
ments of the films are quHe true to
the higher circles of modern life as
found in society, politics and the
church.
Second The lessons taught are
very impressive to one who has the
capacity and the Inclination to think
soberly and fairly.
Third The artistic work of the
films is most pleasing and attractive.
Fourth I would modify the per
sonification of "Trtth" somewhat, lest
the lesson be lost upon that lance
class who will see it and who are
iust passing over "Fool's HHI" and
ave not safely gotten beyond the
cross-roads of prudery and pedantry.
Upon the mature mind the films can
not fail to make a very ken Impres
sion. A. L. HUTCHISON.
WOMAN IOESNOT APPROVK.
I do not approve of the pictures.
MRS. C. M. M'KAT.
"GIVE TO PUBLIC," IS PLEA.
Through your kindness I have just
had the pleasure of seeing "Hypo
crites, which impressed me as being
one of the finest works of art I have '
e ve r seen tuong umi
I can see no possible objection to
the piece either from a moral, ethical
or true-to-life standpoint, and believe
it carries a strong moral conviction.
The only possible objection could
be from the truth that Is shown us
lu the play, that we are afraid of
the naked truth and rather have it
clothed In our ideas or vanished en
tirely. 1 sav "give it to the public
by all means; it Is a great Inspira
tion." ' INA COLEMAN.
I -'84 E. otn st. is.
FINEST,"
says r. s. cosrais-
Dept. of Justice, u. S. Commissioner.
District of Oregon.
Accepting your invitation, I attend- -ed
the exhibition of Hypocrites" at
the Peoples Theater this morning ana
I can conscientiously say with Mr. .
Hapgood that "Hypocrites" is the fin
est, both in spirit and execution, the
art of motion picture has borne.
By all means exhibit here, as the
people of Portland should be given
the opportunity of seeing.
FREDERICK H. DRAKE.
"A VALUABLE LESSON." '
I think- the photo-play "Hypocrites
a valuable lesson and should by all
means be presented In Portland.
BLANCHE B. BLUMAUER.
BKVOND MINISTER'S KXPECTA
HONS. Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.
Accepting your invitation of last
Saturday morning to see Hypo
crites." I am glad to say that It was
far beyond my expectations, a tre
mendous portrayal of the modern
church of today; a play of practical
value to those who raise questions
about "Truth," for Truth is Truth,
and cannot be veiled.
WILLIAM A. MAGETT.
"SHOW!" saysTji'imje M'GINN.
Circuit Court of Oregon.
I did not see "Hypocrites." I was
busy and could not accept your kind
Invitation, but for goodness sake, put ,
it on or anything which keeps be
fore us the truth that we are all so
prone to lesh the other fellow for
what we ourselves do. or at least the
things we do are equally bad By
all means put on "Hypocrites' or any
thing which will tend to keep before
all of us the truth spoken more than
nineteen hundred years ago by that ,
blessed one who made sacred for all
time the shores of the Galilean lake. .
"Woe unto you hypocrites! for ye are
as graves which appear not. and the
men that walk over them are not
anare of them."
With all best wishes, .
HENRY E. M'GINN.
LIKE A LOVELY PAINTING.
I thought the picture perfectly beau
tiful. Just like a lovely painting, and
surely a great deal better to be looked
at than low, vulgar comedies you see
everywhere. pjjLLA D. LADD. ,
COMMISSIONKR HOI,MAN WRITKS.
Hoard of County Commissioners,
Multnomah County.
In reply to your favor of the 23d
Inst., I beg to advise you that I ac
cepted your Invitation and witnessed
the play "Hypocrites." and believe
the - pictures to be very Interesting
and instructive and not in the least
objectionable. However, there ar
certain features of the play that are .
so sad as to depress one rather than
to entertain t h em.
RLFUS C. HOLMAN.
MR. DALY "HAS DOUBTS.
City of Portland, Or.. Dept. of
Public Utilities.
Tour letter of March 23d. inquiring
as to my opinion regarding the show
ing of the picture called "Hypo
crites' has been received.
In answer I will state, frankly, that
I have grave misgivings regarding the
effect of such a picture on the Imma
ture mind. The picture is certainly
beautiful, especially from an artistic
viewpoint, but I doubt the wisdom of
portraying the Naked Truth in the
form of a living, breathing, naked
woman. Tours very truly,
WILL. H. DALY,
Commissioner of Public Utilities.
AGREES WITHIAYOR ALBEE.
The Mutual Life Ins. Co.
of New York.
I have your letter of March 23d,
asking for my opinion of the wonder,
ful production. "Hypocrites," civen
at the special exhihitlon at the Peo
ple's Theater last Saturday morning.
I think this production, would b
well received In Portland. In fact, I
can quite agree with Mayor Albee In
his statement that he believes that
everyone In Portland. , should see
"Hypocrites."
ALMA D. KATZ, Mgr.
"TRCTHTUL PORTRAYAL"
LEON HIRSCH.
The Meier & Frank Co.
' Hypocrites.1' which I had the
pleasure of seeing at your private ex
hibition, is to my thinking one of the
most truthful portrayals of the
actions and life of part of the human
race.
The film is gripping, forcible and a
splendid sermon. It should be fre
quently shown, on account of the
good moral lesson ft contains.
LEON HIRSCH.
DELICATELY HANDLED, SAYS
CITY EDITOR.
The Oregonian.
Please pardon my delay In answer.
Injr your request for an expression of
opinion on the film "Hypocrites. I
can say without qualification that I
approve the film and believe it is
worthy of production In Portland.
The moral tone of the play is ex
cellent and the settings as artistic as
any I have seen. The one thing that
might be criticised the picture of a
nude figure, should not in my opin
ion bar the film from exhibition
here. This feature is handled so
delicately and artistically that it does
not offend in the least. I believe that
th showing of numerous films based
on the sex problem that have been
passed in Portland is far more unde
sirable than an exhibition of the
"Hypocrites."
H. E. THOMAS, City Editor.
LESSON WEIGHTY, DOCTOR
THINKS.
Many thanks for the privilege of
viewing the advance showing of the
film "Hypocrites."
It has a lesson so weighty and so
needful today, one cannot help but
wish every man and woman of Port
land would see and ponder over
"Hypocrites.
DR. FERDINAND H. DAMMASCH.
ALL CAN PROFIT.
R. W. Price Harness Co.
I saw your picture. "Hypocrites."
last Saturday and highly approve of
it, and hope you will show it in the
near future at your theater, as every
. man and woman in Portland should
see It. as we can all profit by such
lessons as this picture presents.
Thanking you for the invitation to
see this picture, I beg to remain
R. W. PRICE.
MOST WONDERFUL EVER' SEEN"
I had the pleasure of seeing the
special exhibition of "Hypocrites." I
assure you it Is the most wonderful
motion picture I have ever seen.
And I am sure the public will con
gratulate you and the People's
Amusement Co, after they see it.
JOHN E. KELLY.
JUDGE MORROW WITHHOLDS
VIEW.
Circuit Court of Oregon,
Fourth Judicial Dist.
Your kind invitation to attend the
preliminary presentation of "Hypo
crites" unfortunately came at a time
when I could not possibly escape.
That Saturday morning my time was
occupied every moment from 9
o'clock until after 1; so I missed a
rare treat.
Under the circumstances It will
obviously be Inappropriate for me to
express any opinion as to the pro
priety of the presentation of so
clearly outlined a subject. In this
world, especially In regard to the op
posite sex. It has never been consid
ered exactly a proper thing to have
too clear a presentation or too ac
curate a delineation; but If the
Mayor can stand It. I suppose the rest
of us ought to. In view of the official
order to the police to suppress the
d laphanous costumes which were
popular two vears ago.
JUDGE R. G. MORROW.
"BERT EVER SEEN."
After seeing the wonderful produc
tion, "Hypocrites," Saturday morn
ing, T say that I consider It by
far the best picture I have ever seen,
and I believe every adult person
should see it, and I hope every one
in rortland will have the opportunity.
DR. S. L. BROWN.
any way why it should not draw
diij crowa.
A. B. STEINBACH.
DIGNIFIED EXPOSITION
LED FRIKUE.
T appreciate the courtesy you ex
tended me to see "Hypocrites," and
as for my judgment say: It la mini-
festly a more dignified exposure of
human fraiitles than many problem
plays often shown. Whether it will
be acceptable to the general public.
Is a feature to be tried, for the pub.
lie do enjoy having their porridge
served from a silver platter and their
mental appetite put to as little test
as possible.
I say gfve It a trial and a seenna
attempt of a like character will cer
tainly give evidence of the educa
tional results growing from a play of
this kind uon the people.
LEO FRIEDE.
ALL MAY BE BENEFITED.
Portland 1'a rent-Teacher
Association.
T have to thank you for a pleasant
and profitable hour last Saturday
morning, when I saw the special ex
hibition of "Hypocrites" at the Teo-
Fdos' Theater, indeed, and I believe
t should be seen by everyone.
Surely no one could see the play with
tut being benefited thereby.
MRS. A. e. KINSEY.
1042 Arnold street.
VIEW ONE-SIDED, RAYS JUDGE.
Dist. Court of Mult. County, Oregon.
In reference to "Hypocrites," it is
one of the most artistic creations I
ever have seen. But as it purports
to portray the truth, yet It conceals
the truth. To my mind ther is but
a very small proportion of the people
in the various lines indicated who
practice deceit. Therefore. I consider
It a one-sided view, and unfair In that
It lacks that equltahle nicety that
each in their just proportion should
be entitled.
Again, it Is highly Improper to
stamp upon the mind of the youth of
a community, the idea that there Is
no good In the church, no honor In of
ficial life, and society as immodest.
Your picture charges the many with
the sins committed by a few. Cer
tainly there is another aide to the
question, but as to that your picture
evades.
JOSEPH H. JONES.
Judge Dept. No.
MS. CORDRAY COMPLIMENTED.
I received an Invitation to see
"Hypocrites" last Saturday, but it
was not possible for me to attend.
However, I thank you, and wu irery
sorry 1 could not have gone.
Mr. Cordray, I believe through your
serious consideration of this big sub
ject for the good of the people you
should be most honestly compli
mented. MRS. G. M. BURLINGHAM.
7228 48th Ave. S. E.
Admission
25
Cents
Box and Loge
Seats, 50 Cents
11
i
' - -L-' . UD KTFIVKAf'll TMTR.ESSED
IT V. a t ofhoh a rn AaMyI
tPfPaM 10:3tTA.M. to dul0 ?.heM..V: - vvWiM
itwmtlfl ii:3op.m. r is SirXrsussszi: m
fciV -41k'- j Hr .1 "Hypocrites," last Saturday and was vlv3XJs 1 Jv vvl
PVii;' ' :vlfe jj i y very nvurh Impressed with same. In JvSSvVVSnJw
MKJl l 14,000 people paid VSrU VLrTiZ CWfMWl
JGKEGOSTSSUSPENSiON
BAKER STUDENTS SMEAR Fl'RXI-
NITIRE WITH PRINTERS' INK.
Principal Aaal.ta Senior Claaa in "Fool-
intr Remainder of School by
Pretended Entertainment-
BAKER. Or., April 1. (Special.) Aa
the result of an April fool joke, four
high school boys have been suspended
unttl they appear before the School
Board, and teachers and pupils are
scrubbing printing ink off their hands
and clothes. It is believed that about
15 boys were In the trouble, but only
Lynn Gardner. Oliver Francis, Rud
Brown and Lynn Whipple have been
punished.
The boys took the ink from the
morning newspaper office while the
force was at luncheon last night, and
with the aid of a pass key got into
the hig-h school building-. They smeared
ink over the door knobs, around desks,
into keyholes of doors and pianos.
One of the boys gave away the secret
early this morning, but teachers and
pupils were compelled to soil their
clothing or have no school. The four
pleaded that it was only an April fool
Joke, but the Board will meet soon and
consider whether to reinstate them or
not. It is determined to put en end to
rough play, which has been frequent
by students recently.
The senior class of the high school,
aided and abetted by Principal Elton,
played an April fool joke on all the
rest of the students in the central
school building this morning in assem
bly period. They were listed to ap-:
pear as entertainers, and after the
hall was filled, the seniors marched on
the stage to the strains of Men
delssohn's wedding march. A moment
of expectancy followed and then the
seniors informed their fellow students
that they were all April fools and
that there would bo no programme.
Mrs. Frances Knight Resigns.
Mrs Frances Knight, for the last
four months matron and student of
psycholoty at tne Frazer Detention
Home, resigned her position yesterday.
Her suecassor has not been chosen, but
many applications for the position have
been received, according to Mrs. Mar
garet Thoroman, superintendent.
Anti-Hanging Bills Placed.
SPRINGFIELD, 111.. April 1. Four
bills providing for the abolition of
capital punishment were made a spe
cia order of business in the Senate for
next Wednesday. Governor Dunne
probably will address the Senate - in
favor of the anti-capital punishment
law.
RATES TOPIC IN SPOKIE
LIST OF COMMODITIES TO BE RE
' DICED NOT INCREASED.
If Railroad Plan Carries Tariffs Ex
pected to Be Lower to Inland City
Than Ever in History.
SPOKANE, Wash., April 1. (Spe
cial.) About 30 Spokane merchants
and jobbers met at an informal confer
ence today to discuss the rate readjust
ment for Spokane and Intermountain
territory, which will come up at the In
terstate Commerce Commission hearing
in Washington April 12.
No definite action was taken by the
local shippers with regard to increasing
the list of commodities prepared by the
railroads for rate reductions to Spo
kane, a ruling on which will establish a
new principle for the intermountain
territory.
Frank W. Robinson, representing the
O.-W. R. & N. Company, was present.
The commodities selected by the car
riers in the case which goes to the
Commission in a few days have been
chosen, according to Mr. Robinson, be
cause they represent staple articles
which ordinarily move by water.
That the carriers have had a hard
time to agree on a mode of procedure
in the matter of rate adjustment now
being threshed out at the Chicago con
ference was learned.
An important point brought out was
that, in all probability, Spokane will
enjoy lower rates than ever before in
its history, if the proposed schedule
to be submitted by the railroads May 1
is approved by the Commission.
40 TAX CLERKS ARE TO GO
On Last Day, $44,92 7 Is Paid in,
Excluding Mail Collections.
During the last day of the tax col
lecting season, March 31, 2763 tax
payers passed $244,927.20 across the
counter to Cashiers McCann, Bird and
Lewis in the tax department, accord
ing to figures compiled yesterday. This
represents only a fraction of the total
collections for the day, however, for
most of the large payments were by
mail.
The total amount collected since the
rolls' were opened will not be computed
for more than a week, but Tax Col
lector Huckabay estimates that nearly
60 per cent of the total 17, 663.310. 26
has been collected. The force of
clerks in the tax department will be
reduced from 63 to 23 next week when
the extra clerks employed for the sea
son are laid off.
THIRST QUENCHER JAILED
Youth of 21 Convicted of Bootleg
ging in Vancouver.
. VANCOUVER. Wash.. April 1. (Spe
cial.) Mercedes Barrett, only 21 years
old and a recent arrival from Spokane,
was sentenced today to 30 days in jail
by Perl M. Elwell, police judge, for
operating a "walking oasis in the des
ert of Vancouver."
Barrett quenched thirsts at 10 cents
or 15 cents, owing to the size of the
appetite. More accommodating tharf
some bootleggers, he furnished a glass
for his patrons, but did not give ,
"chaser."
The police say Barrett was released
December 26, 1914, after completing .v
six months" term on a Federal charge
of using the mails to defraud.
An Italian priest who ha Invented many
wtreleea devices has turceened In Intercept.
Inic messages with needles thrust Into a potato.
IV mT1 Give th. k Tf.?Wm.
Ijr UUvl best thine "'t rV" '
J Does it easiest I I f lJ
s " I 1 RtiV kfi.'1 C "sy