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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1915)
TTTTS MOTtXING OTtTRO'TAN. MONDAY, 3IAY 3, 1915. wB PORTLAND, OKGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, Postoffice aa second-class matter. . Subscription Hates Invariably in advance (By Mall.) Xally. Sunday Included, one year $8.00 Xwilly, Sunday Included, six month 4.-3 ' XMilly, Sunday included, three months.... 2.2u I'ally, Sunday iueludt-d, one, month. ..... .75 XJally. without Sunday, one year. ....... 6.0o Iially, without Sunday, six montiu Xally, without Sunday, three months.... l.o liuil y. without Sunday, one month . Weekly, one year .............. 1.60 fiunaay, one yu&r 2.u0 Sunday and Weekly, one year a.60 (By Carrier.) Daily, Sunday Included, one year $9.00 Xatly. Sunday Included, one month o How to Remit Send Postofflce money or der, express order or personal check, on your local bank, stamps, coin or currency ara at lender's risk. olve postofflce adureas in lull, Including county and state. Pontage Rate 12 to IS pages, 1 cent; IS to 3 paeas, 2 cents: 34 to 48 pages, 8 cents; Bo to tv pages, 4 cents; fi to id pages, 5 oents; 78 to 12 pages, e cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Veree & Conklln, , York, Brunswick building; Chicago, altenger building. San Francisco Office K. J. Bldwell Com pany, ?4'J Market street. rOKTLANU, MONDAY. MAY' 8, 1913. A PEANUT FOR DEMAGOGUES. When the Oregon Legislature in 1907 me moralized Congress to take lome action concerning the Oregon and California Railroad land grant It only asked that by passage of a law or by some other course the railroad company be compelled to comply with the terms of the grant on penalty of forfeiture. The terms of the grant provide for sale of the lands to actual settlers in 160-acre tracts at $2.50 per acre. The outcome of this memorial was not a law as asked, bat the institu tion of a suit for forfeiture of the grant. The Government in this liti gation suggested alternative decree provided there should be no for feiture. One was that a receiver be appointed to sell the lands in accord ance with the terms of the grant. Another was that the railroad be re quired by mandatory injunction-to sell the lands as it had agreed to do. The decree of the lower court de clares a forfeiture. In the appeal to the United States Supreme Court the railroad company asks no quarter. It eeeks retention and control of the grant and the right to dispose of the land as It sees fit. The Government has on appeal wholly disregarded the alternative decrees mentioned in the bill of complaint. It seeks complete forfeiture. In this grant are nearly 4,000,000 acres of land standing in alternate sections. Consult the family checker board and imagine that the black squares are railroad grant lands and the white squares land in private ownership. Increase the number of black squares In imagination to 6000 and the number of white squares to an equal number and one will have a fair conception of the magnitude of the issue. Consider for a moment conversion of the 6000 black squares into a reservation Government or railroad. The private landowner cannot reach his property without crossing a re served section; community advantages are denied him; he cannot hope for pood schools or churches or easily accessible markets or good roads. In a broader sense the 6000 sections in reservation automatically become 12.000 reserved sections. The state lias a grave interest in the outcome of the case. It is not wholly one of taxes even at $500,000 a year, which is approximately the amount that would be collected from the grant in its virgin state. It is one of development and progress as well. As such it rises above and beyond the question as to whether the railroad company shall receive $2.50 per acre for the land. If the grant goes to the Govern ment its disposition will be subject to the will of Congress. Against the combined efforts of Oregon's small delegation in Congress will be arrayed the powerful influence of the Forestry Bureau and the ignorant conception of the West and its needs held by the provincial Eastern Congressman. If the Forestry Bureau once gets its hands on the 4,000,000 acres the present generation may say good-by to all prospect of development of Western 'Oregon commensurate with its possibilities. If the title of the railroad company Is unqualifiedly af firmed there is no better reason, in the light of previous experience, to expect tha development that we all wish for and know is .possible. But it is within the province of the United State3 Supreme Court to go back to the bill of complaint and order the lower court to enter a de cree in accordance with one or the other alternatives asked therein. Either decree would mean $6,000,000 to the railroad company. Is that the sole reason for the vicious attacks upon the Legislature for its instruc tions to the Attorney-General to in tervene in behalf of the best interests of the state? Is it meet that we, without protest, sacrifice taxes and development to gratify antagonism aroused by the railroad's adminis tration of the grant? Is it good business to discourage the longing of the land hungry, the production of wealth by contented settlers, the growth of the community, the prog ress of the state, merely because the $400 each settler pays for his quarter section must go to a railroad corpora tion? Sixty per cent of Oregon is now un taxed. That 60 per cent is in control of the Government. We have learned to our sorrow what Government res ervation means. We have learned from bitter experience what railroad reservation means. We want neither. We want the 4,000,000 acres opened to settlement. It exceeds the bounds of common sense that they will bo disposed of for less than $2. B0 per acre, no matter what the outcome cf the suit, and as between settle ment of the lands and any question as to who shall receive the $2.50 the latter is but an inconsequential matter. It is but one of the political peanuts on which demogogy feeds. GRAFTING OFF THE LABORER. , The report of the Multnomah County grand jury reveals the exist ence of a disgraceful practice inuring to the financial detriment of laborers . In the employ of the county. The pay ' checks of the county are equivalent to cash. Some formalities are re quired in uuLuiiiuig wiit? xuuiiey mey . represent, but the funds to meet them are in the county treasury and there Is no shadow of real need for any la borer to pay a discount on what he earns. But a foreman becomes obligated to a broker. Instead of handing tht pay check to a workman, he delivers 11 x to the .broker and instructs the laborer to call on the broker. There, al though no service is rendered, a dis count of 1 per cent is exacted. This discount has been collected from la borers In "the Courthouse and within a few feet of the office of the Treas urer, where the money awaited the presentation of the' order. The grand jury commends orders recently Issued by the County Com missioners directing that the checks be delivered personally to the proper owners and that the use of office room in or keys to the Courthouse be denied unauthorized persons. The grand jury adds the recommendation that instruc tions as to the manner of cashing be plainly printed on the checks. If we are to understand that fore men directly in the employ of the county have been guilty of such prac tices, we would go still further. . Ex action of such a discount is an iniqui tous graft. Every foreman or other county employe who 'becomes a party to it in the future or has been a party to it in the past ought to be kicked out of his job. A LEADERLES3 LEGISLATURE. The New York Legislature, which ended its session a week ago, was leaderless, according to both the New York Times and the New York World. An Intense optimist might imagine. In the light of all the criticism that has been heaped on bossisro, that the other extreme would produce nought but wise and constructive legislation. But without exception the New York City newspapers condemn the -Assem bly in almost unmeasured , terms. , It is given credit for adoption of a widowed mothers' pension act, an excess condemnation law, and a few other advanced ideas, but outstanding above these, according to the . New York press, were its extravagance and its "ripper" legislation. "Ripper legislation" is the pic turesque term applied to laws rip ping up the state departments. About forty. Democratic heads of bureaus with extensive patronage were legis lated out of office, some say for po litical reasons, others say for economy's sake. But a still graver offense In the eyes of New York was the Imposition of a direct tax of $19,000,000, most of which will be ex pended up state and of which New York City will contribute about $14, 000,000. The complaints of a community which has been hit in the pocketbook by a Legislature are, of course, sub ject to discount, but what impresses us is the careful manner in which the New York press avold3 blaming the Legislature's shortcomings qn its lack of leadership. Had the Legislature been bossed and adopted the same laws, it is not difficult to imagine where the blame would have ben laid. We Ifave no patience with bossism, but we have a wholesome faith in intelligent, unselfish leader ship!. It will not be profitably dis pensed with until legislators of high equal calibre are elected. And that is impossible in the present stage of political development. THB VSELESS METER. During the period that the universal water meter ordinance has been held up by referendum the senseless ex travagance of the measure, has been demonstrated. Extension of larger mains to districts not theretofore ade quately served and the designation of alternate Bprirtkling- days have cured the trouble primarily for relief of which it was proposed to expend $500,000 for meters. The phases of the issue are old and were at one time well under stood, but perhaps have been for gotten by many. There was no actual shortage of water. In some districts so many people were served from on main that when all attempted to use water at once for irrigating the lawns the main could not deliver a sufficient quantity. .It was not waste or shortage at the fountain head that caused the difficulty. It was the effort of all to use water at the same time. How anybody can believe that installation of meters will help such a situation is difficult to understand. If each consumer gets water through a meter and all tap the main at the same moment the shortage that before ex isted will continue. Meters may cause some economy of water, but the sprinkling hours .are firmly estab lished by both custom and conven ience. The meter will not make more water, enlarge the main or change custom or convenience. It is a valua ble appliance In connection with a gravity system only when there is a shortage at the source of supply. It is an expensive equipment of incon sequential benefit when the source is adequate. The measure is on the ballot in the June election. At a time when economy in every direction is so de slreable it should not be overlooked. FREDERICK W. SEWARD. Frederick W. Seward, who died re cently, had a career which alone would have made his name distin guished, had not that of his illustrious father already done so. Born at Au burn, N. Y., in 1830 and graduated at Union College in 1849, he was admit ted to the bar in 1851 and for the next ten years was one of the editors and owners) of tle Albany Evening Journal. He then became Assistant Secretary of State under his father, William H. Seward, and he frequently attended Cabinet meetings as Acting Secretary during the Administrations of Lincoln and Johnson, and, when reappointed, during that of Hayes. In 1867 he went with Admiral Por ter on a special mission to negotiate the West Indian treaties, and he had a part in the purchase of Alaska and in the acquisition of Pago Pago, Samoa. He served in the New York Assembly in 1875, was a member of the international arbitration confer ence in 1904, and was vice-president of the Hudson-Fulton Commission In 1908-09. During the last fifteen years of his life Mr. Seward was occupied in writ ing, and he had written much in the intervals of his public duties. - In 1870-2 he assisted Thurlow Weed In writing' his recollections. He edited his father's "Travels Around the World," having been the elder Sew ard's companion on that journey. He published "Life and Letters of Will iam H. Seward" In 1891, "A West In dian Cruise" in 1894,and many maga zine articles. ' The most dramatic event in his life was Payne's attempt to assassinate William H. Seward and the son's abor tive effort to ward oft the assassin. The Secretary was ill and the son met Payne at the head of the stairs. Just outside his father's room. Payne snapped a revolver at young Seward and, when It failed to discharge, beat him into unconsciousness with the butt. He remained unconscious for weeks. Payne then slashed the Sec retary of State three times on the neck and cheek, attacked Sergeant G. F. Robinson, the nurse, slashed the head and face of Cofonel Augustus Seward and struck at Miss Seward. The father recovered and lived seven years longer. Frederick Seward's life was for a time despaired of, but it was prolonged for fifty years. TIKE1 OF F1DDLLKG. The single taxers who walked out of the meeting at the Library Satur day evening have a right to feel ag grieved at Mr. U"Ren. "JThey have submitted to his leadership for a num ber of years, but he has done nothing but fiddle away on measures that do not give the sincere single taxer an opportunity to present the Henry George idea in its true light. With the genuine single taxer tax ation is but a means to an end. Car ried to the ultimate, their plan is government without taxation at all, as we now understand taxation. They propose. In effect, that the Govern ment own all land and derive all Its revenues from rents charged the users. The plan is offered only sec ondarily as an assumed improvement in tax methods and primarily as a cure-all for speculation, monopoly, un employment. Involuntary poverty. Some' even hold that it would cure the social evil. But Mr. URen's four measures have been presented essentially as tax re forms. The arguments in their sup port have almost wholly been ap peals to the cupidity of such tax payers as can be plausibly assured through adoption of his measures of a shift of a portion of their taxes to some other property owner. The real end In view confiscation of their land is carefully concealed. That there are single taxers in Port land who are ready to tackle a prop aganda in behalf of single tax for what it really is, at least speaks well for their sincerity. A glance at the latest URen meas ure will reveal the objections found in it by sincere single taxers. It declares in the bill of rights which preceeds the measure itself "that all ground rents shall be collected by taxation for pub--lie use." Ground rent is the price paid for the right to use and improve a piece of land. The declara tion is therefore very nearly an equivalent to a declaration for single tax. But the purported enactment of this ideal is very different. The meas ure provides: Taxes shall be levieg on ground rent and not on land, and the tax in any year may equal, but shall never- exceed, the ground rent for that year. Until provision is-' made by law for the valuation and assessment of ground rent, the yearly ground ren for land tor taxation, whether the land is rented or not, is hereby declared to be an amount equal to 6 per cent of the assessed value of the land, ex- i elusive of Improvements. The first paragraph of the forego ing provision Is as empty of meaning as blank space upon a wall, because only by an offer in the open market to rent a particular piece of land can the amount of the ground rent therefor be determined. The second paragraph in defining ground rent' provides only . for a 5 per cent levy on the assessed valuation which would be less than 3 per cent as land is now assessed. The measure of confiscation thus offered would depend upon the assessing authorities. By custom assessed values are now flexible. They may be 25, 50, 85, 100 per cent of the -full value. It would be within the power of the assessing authorities so to reduce the assessed values that' the fixed levy of 5 per cent would produce only the current needs of government. The man of small means might lose his property by tax foreclosure, but the wealthy could aafe'ly sit back, pay high taxes temporarily, confifient that when the less fortunate learned by bitter ex perience of the effect and of the dis crimination In the measure their votes would be utilized to overturn the amendment. The conception of a measure held by Mr. Young, Mr. Coulter and other opponents of the U'Een scheme is one that is brief, yet sweeping and to the .point. Their measure would probably read something like this: All taxes shall be levied upon land and upon land only. Said taxes shall in amount equal that amount for which said land would Tent if offered in the open market. Such an amendment would be definite, certain, straightforward, which Mr. L" Ren's latest emanation is not. But it would mean confisca tion ,of all land whether owned by rich of poor, nothing more nor less. CANDIDATES FOR THE SCRAP HEAP. As to the efficiency of the Navy, Representative Gardner brings us down from the clouds of airy optim ism, to which Secretary Daniels lifted us, to the solid earth of cold facts. By including In his totals every ship which has not been formally con demned as worthless, Mr. Daniels shows that me have a splendid Navy on paper. By saying that "the Amer ican Navy has not been at war for seventeen years and the scrapheap is almost unknown in our military sj-s-tertv," Mr. Gardner compels us to look at the Navy as it actually is and to consider Its actual fighting strength. Against the Secretary's statements he sets those of the General Board, which is composed of men who know. For years the General Board has been teling us that we should have forty-eight battleships less than twenty years old In order to cope with any nation that might attack us. Reg ularly, year by year. Its recommenda tions have been ignored, under Re publican administrations by Congress, and under the present Democratic Ad ministration by both the Secretary of the Navy and Congress. The present war has demonstrated the Immense value of battle cruisers and an attempt was made to Induce Congress to authorize the building of one or more. The speed and gun power of ships of this type enabled them to run down and sink German squadrons at the Falkland Islands and to run down and sink the Blucher and to damage two other German ships In the North Sea battle. We have been congratulating ourselves on the launching of the huge- battleship Pennsylvania, but in both those battles the Germans could have run away from a ship like the Pennsylvania. As seagoing submarines are . now being built with a surface speed or twenty knots, no long time may elapse before they can overtake'and sink a battle ship in mid-Atlantic. Then consider the scrap-heap which we should have. but. have not. The General Board, In view of British and German practice, recommer.ds that new ships be built to replace each ship when it becomes twenty years old. According to this policy, ships should have been laid down in 1910 to replace the Indiana, Oregon and Massachusetts, and In 1912 to replace the Jowa, There are four ships which Mr. Daniels includes In his total, but which should have been scrapped. In our total number of gunboats are included four which the General Board terms "old boats of little value." Building of four to replace these "old and worn-out gunboats" was recommended, but none was voted by Congress and "no seagoing gunboat has been authorized since 1902." More material for the scrap heap. We are informed that the destroyer tender Iris, built in 1885, is- "past her period of usefulness and should be replaced," and that "of the six ves sels used as submarine tenders all are of the improvised variety and none is well fitted for the service," but only two new ones have been authorized. Thus five vessels of this type should be taken frdm our paper strength and added to the scrap-heap. e As to other auxiliaries, the General Board says that-not one of the four Improvised transports "is of the size or is fitted for the work required, nor of the character of construction needed for safety in ships carrying large bod ies of men"; that "all are old, single skin ships without proper water-tight subdivisions." If one of these ships loaded with a large number of men should suddenly be sent to the bot tom, we can Imagine what a cry of rage and consternation would go up, but until such a disaster occurs the warnings of the men who know pans unheeded. If not consigned to the scrap-heap, these ships should be re turned to the merchant marine. The two hospital ships Solace and Relief "are both improvised and small, and neither adapted to the service." The Relief is "now unsea worthy and the Solace would be of lit tle value in time of war." " They are included in Mr. Daniels' paper Navy, but should go to the scrap-hap. Of the four supply ships "the Sup ply is already beyond her period of usefulness and has been discarded as a supply ship," and the Culgoa is ap proaching that point, but only one new ship has been authorized. The other two, "while old and inadequately fitted, are still good for some years' serVice." At least one supply ship should be relegated to the scrap-heap. Admiral Vreeland has warned us that we need 100 submarines for har bor defense alone, but Mr. Gardner says we have Just fifty-nine Includ ing all that are building and "a sorry lot they are, many of them at least." If the old, worthless ones were con demned, they would greatly enlarge the scrap-heap. The Navy needs a stock-taking. The United States maintains a Navy to fight when fighting becomes neces sary, not to inflate the Secretary of the Navy with satisfaction over the number of ships under his control. We can only determine whether we have a sufficient Navy by cutting off the. list all unserviceable ships and by comparing what remains with the serviceable ships at the command of possible -enemies. When the Departmentof AgricuK ture begins its active campaign to de stroy the coyote east of the moun tains, it can with profit follow the plans of the only man who ever got all the animals he went after. He used the familiar oilcan of commerce, slitting and bending Inward the top, so that the coyote in pursuing the bait found himself caught when he would withdraw his head. Dispatching: him then was easy. This plan, too, would open a good market for the cans. Between Teddy, European battles and the ball games, Mexico has lost its place on the map for the time be ing. However, another crisis is only a matter of hours. But we're ready for It with one of those printed diplo matic slips from the State Department about "viewing with grave alarm" and "holding to strict accountability," etc. Not being able to get that big gun with a range of twenty-three miles to Calais in order to shoot at Dover, the Germans turn its fire on Dunkirk. They have already learned that it's a long way to Calais by the road they must take. The Lusltania's large passenger list suggests the though that some people are attracted to the scene of war as crowds were formerly attracted to' public executions. Horrors have a fascination for some minds. That young rooster who is mother ing a lot of chicks at Albany does not appear to mind what the old cocks say of him. He is like the young man who wears a watch on his wrist and clocks on his socks. Mrs. "Silent" Smith, having $15, 000,000 of her own, was probably not prompted to marry Mr. St. Cyr by de sire to annex his $1,000,000, but by the natural affinity between millions and their owners. The King of Greece is in the situa tion of many men who discuss great undertakings with their wives before embarking. Sophie is enough like her brother to remove any doubt of re sults. What would this city do without an election? First is to select a queen of the Rose Festival, then municipal offi cers, and last, but not least in inten sity, a School Director. The recommendations of the Mult nomah grand jury to reopen one of the county rockpiles is in the right line. The county has too many star boarders. People who embark on ships flying flags of the allies are warned by Ger many of the risk and that may mean naval activity by the end of the week. It is Japan's move in the game with China. Had not the world been watching with only half an eye, Japan would not have begun the game. The fans can give the Beavers three weeks of absent treatment and It may "be the team will get out of the hole. The Hill steamers have begun to have adventures early in life, but they come through with few scars. The storms have ceased and op timism rules. This will be a year of good crops. Snowfalls at Flagstaff, Ariz., and at Butte were Mayday diversions. "Safety last" seems to be the watch word of many automobilists. The British trap for submarines must have sprung a leak. The one who goes the faster gets !,hurt the least. Twenty-Five Year Ago From The Oregonian of May 3, 1890. Dr. A. C. Panton and William Church. Jr.. had a ride Thursday morning both Interesting and exciting but fraught with too much danger to be welcomed again. They hired a spirited livery team to go nine miles out in the coun try to look at some land. On the re turn trip the harness became shifted, frightened one of the animals and the other started in "to kick. Dr. Panton Jumped out to pacify the horses, but they bolted and Mr. Church headed them into the woods. He was thrown out on his head. The team continued on its wild career until the buggy was smashed into smltherens and the two men had to walk back to the city. The Multnomah Canoe Club has been formed. The officers are: Edvard Gantenbein, commodore: Charles Stolte, secretary: Bittle Wells, chairman. Oth er members are: George Ainslee, D. Church. Harry Northrup and George Scoggins. As soon as school is out the boys will prepare to take their first outings. M. J. Davis, who was on the road for Hexter, May & Company for several years, has bought an Interest in the H. Wolfe store on Front and Stark streets. C. Reed, state fish commissioner for Oregon, and James Crawford, who holds a Blmilar position with the state of Washington held a conference at the St. Charles yesterday. The Chamber of Commerce ended a debate last night by electing every member who lives In Portland, 600, a director. There are 628 members in all. Of the. 1824 shares of stock, 1009 were represented at the lively meet ing. London Gladstone has written a letter to Lloyd's News to publish in which he urges the working classes to consider their position carefully. "There may come a time," he says, "when la bor will be too strong for capital, and may use its strength unjustly, but capital will surely get its own." In conclusion he wishes to sea labor and art united to alleviate and adorn the life of man. General Siglin has been" nominated jointly by Coos and Curry for Repre sentative by the Democratlo conven tions. A. J. Gaylord, Thomas Golbate, and Francis and Joseph Cronen are making a canoe trip down the Nehalem to salt water. E. J. Ladd, the restaurant man, and Charles Goodrich were riding in a budd buggy on the East Side, last night when, in front of "Doc" Deed's store two wheels came off throwing Mr. Goodrich out heavily. Officer Slavin caught the spirited and frightened animals. l-IUfidm A 1 V.. ....... . " " - - ly terms with Signor Libretti on the master's recent visit here, was agree ably surprised to receive a few days ago a beautiful scarf pin from the famous musician. The Willamette Rase PORTLAND, Or., May 1. (To the Editor.) My daughter asked me today why. In all my writings I had never written a line about the Wlllameette rose, so 1 went to my type machine and soon handed her the following and. at her request, I aend It to you for publication if vou think It worth the space In your valuable paper that I have read for 83 years. UK. EK.NEST EVJiKiiST. Bloom on, lovely roses, we're glad you are here To brighten the pathway and scatter good cheer; For no -other country and no other clime Can give us' such blossoms, you're almost sublime. You bow to us gently on every high way. And come to full blossom so early in May - You speak to the lover in soft whispers, low," For the poor and the weary you mod estly grow. No merger can reach you or hold your perfume. For all and forever you smilingly bloom. The fame of Willamette, inwoven with you In honor and virtue, you'll ever be true; You cover the barrens with beautiful shades, You climb up the mountains and sleep in the glades. Thy kisses enmored in beautiful love. Thy sweetness doth come from the heavens above. You dwell by the snow-covered moun tains and streams. And bide from our view their scar and their seams. You're first in the. morning, with sun set's red glow 'ou laugh in the breezes that come and that go; Bloom on, lovely roses, for man and his bride. The pride of our city, Willamette's first pride. Bloom for the pilgrim on life's desert so .drear. And bloom for a garland to cover our bier. Dr. Ernest Everest. TUB FRUITS OF WAR. The cottage is lowly, la gloomy and dim. And gloomy and awful the struggle within; For here, in her anguish, a war-widowed wife Is struggling to bring a new soul into life. And never she knows, as Death closes her eyes. That her child cries but once before it.too, dies. Her soldier in carnage is thinking of home. And wondering, in pity, if her hour has yet come; Hoping and praying to the God they both love That strength may be given to her from above. With his mind on the far-away home over there. Relaxes a moment his usual care; Forgets that the bullets are pouring like rain. Stops one in its progress, and endeth his pain. Oh, wife in the cottage, dead babe on your arm! Thank God you are safe now from hunger and harm Oh, man in the battle who gave up your life. While dreaming of bairnie and pray ing for wife! Though all that is mortal Is severed fore'er. ' Let's trust that your soula are to gether' somewhere. 'Tla tike watching a plant you are hop ing will flower That by lightning is struck In its blossoming hour. The- plant is uprooted as Its bud be comes bloom. The gardener, also, is sent to his tomb. Where once was all brightness, all beauty and joy, Is now but the elements' discarded toy. Of all that was promised naught is left but a palL And, blindly, we grope for the why of it all. j Horace William MacNeal. A Generous Giver. Boston Transcript. "Is Tawkins liberal in his opinion?" "No, but he's lavish pf them," Gleam Through the Mist By Deis Collins. LITTLE BOY BLUE, COMB BLOW 1'OL'll HORN, THE SHEEP'S IN" THE MEADOW. THE COW'S IX THE COllN; WHERE IS THE BOY WHO LOOKS AFTER THE SHISKP? CNDEK THJ HAYSTACK. FAST ASL1EEP. Nursery Kjhyme. Little Boy Slue, come blow your horn, Vor the sheep In the meadow yonder. Over the fields of trampled oorn. The white-belted cattle wander. Nervously snifYlns here and there At the taint of powder adrift in the air. Stopping to start, dumb, wonder-yed, -t.i the lazy names that flicker and catch At the hrlstllnr straw of the broken thatch Of the little house by the tardenalde. The hedges are broken, little Boy Blue. Hut not by the belted cattle. There arc the gaps where the guns rolled through In the line of retreating battle; The beet roots shine iu the fresh-turned ground Of a long, long trsnch and a battered mound ; And shell-cut -'craters are yawning deep; And tipped with red is the grasHes' cr-st Not with a red from the beet loots pressed And where Is the boy who looked after the sheep? What has become of little Boy Blue, In all uf this smoke and smother? Little Boy Blue, full alx feet two. Who kissed goodby fo his mother. And stood to the trench, with the gallant fffw On the Eastern front, when the foe broke through. And the harvest waa left with none to reap. While over the land, resistless, cold. The grim, gray line of the enemy rolled. Where Is the boy who looked after the sheep? Where Is the boy who looked after the ffheep? And cared for the belted cattle? Search, little mother, the trenches deep. And the field in the woke of the battle. What has become of little Boy Blue, Who smiled as he kissed goodby to yon? Where is the hoy who looked after the sheep? Search, little mothc-r, frail and forlorn. Out past the trampled fields of corn. And the shattered thatch where the red flames leap; Where the last shrapnel tempest flew. . With forehead wet with a crimson dew. And eyes wide open, lies little Boy Blue, Under the haystack fast asleep. e e All the world's a stage and. Just at the present time, it strikes us that it has some doggone reckless drivers. Solemn Thought. Howe'er It be. It seems to me. When fellows practice o'er the way. Bassoons are worse than cornets; yep And viola than fiddles, any day. An over-resourceful man, we think, is one who, Instead of pulling that old one about "detained at the office on business," phones to his wife that the building's on fire and be can't get out to come home tonight, . No Competition. Confucius was a wise gasabe As learned as he could be; But I'd not swap my bean for his And be as dead as he. N. Y. Evening Bun. Methusaleh lived many years We're told. It may be true; But thirty days today beata all Methuaaleh lived through. "Sir." said the Courteous Office Boy, "here's an autographed copy of a new volume in our capsule classical for the Five-Inch Bookshelf for Busy Men." I was all attention. "It is," said the C. O. B., "a version of 'The Lady of the Lake,' compacted as follows: Jamas lost; Lskt crossed; Hostess fair , James meets there; Khe makes a hit. Hut Malcolm's "It." (One of the Graemes.) Home James! Roderick Lhu Likes her too ls canned surprise Clans arise James anew. Peeks' to woo. l.ove tales teltin ; "Nope'" says Ellen. Quarrel picked; Roderick llrked; Her dad pinched; Whole bunch cinched. Ellen's come James says: "We W'lll go and see!" Rod" cadaver; Itoyal palaver; Jiut the same Khe gets Graeme; Iad back strong; Life one song Whaddye think? James is Kink! e Kansas has eliminated barroom scenes from the movie shows and it occurs to us mm We are here interrupted by the per fectly obvious jest that the movie shows must be dry In Kansas, but we proceed to maintain s That it occurs to us that another good subject for state and National prohi bition Is the souse impersonator in tha vaudeville shows. No Competition. I am obscure, while oft the name Of Ananias I see; But after all, his brand of fame It doesn't appeal to me. Professor G. Pythagoras BImelack, the well-known rag-time seer and as trologer, sends the following disserta tion and forecast for May: The Spring poet has now passed peri helion and his orbit .will soon carry him out of the range of brickbats or bou quets. The oyster will become silent as the R. in May and will cease to be one of the baffling suspicions in our soup. Oyster Bay will still be apparent struggling for a place In the sun alon& with the baseball and war news. Grecian artist" will begin the restora tion of the ruins of Panama and the market for straw bleaching compounds will be decidedly bullish. The Sign of the Fishes is in evidence this month, appropriately supported by the Sign of Taurus, as is -usually the case, and under these signs the length and weight of salmon and trout will tend to be magnified enormously. The Sign of the Crab in mid-month betokens the awakening of the base ball fan to a state of wonder as to whether the home team Is as good a pennant winning aggregation as he had -it doped out for at the opening of ths season. Rational Parks. SHEDDS. Or.. May 1. (To the Edi tor.) Please publish a list of the Na tional parks Of the United States. ALTA ALLEN. Yellowstone , National Tark, In Wyoming, Montana and Idaho; Yosem lte National Park, California; Glacier National Park, Montana; Mount Rai nier National Park, Washington; Se quoia National Park, California; Gen eral Grant National Park, California; Crater Lake National Park, Oregon; Wind Cave National Park. South Da kota; Sully's Hill Park. North Dakota: Piatt National Park, Oklahoma; Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado; Casa Grande Ruin, Arizona; Hot Springs Reservation, Arkansas. In addition, a number of objects of antiquity, natural curiosities and prehistoric ruins have been set atlda as "National monuments.". Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of Mny a. 115. Hy private telegraphic dispatch re ceived from Washington City yesterday, we arj informed that Senators Williams nd Xesmlth left for home on the 21st of April. The May term of the TTnlted States Circuit Court. Judce M. 1. ldy pre siding, convened at the courtrooms In this city Monday and has been mainly occupied in actions of replovtn in thM cases of Treadwell A. Co. vs. Jacob Stitzel. Sheriff; Hadger & IlndeiiburRr-r vs. stitzel. and Tnadwell & Co. vs. Richards k McCraken. for tli- recovery of goods und-r attachment. The rsses were finally settled, and, on motion of C H. Larrabee. council for plaintiff, dismissed. Today the action of 1'hHp man vs. School Uihtrlct No. 1, City of Portland, comes up for hearing. We are advised thHt the good people of Dayton propose giving an exhibition of titie horses on Tuesday next the in h instant, free to all Oregon horses. The prize for the best horse Is an elegant blanket. The Judges appointed by the citizens are: A. J. Knbinaon, G. Max well. J. Dixon. Dayton Is about fix hours' drive from Portland on the Slth of Mav, but about six weeks' drlv tur ner in the season. Now the roads are in flnu condition. R. It. Thompson, his daughter. Mr. Jagger, and her little girl, aged be tween four and five years, were rldins: below the city yewterday. when their carriage upset, slightly Injuring the two former and breaking the right arm of the little girl n or the shoulder. Drs. Chapman and Gilsan were called to re duce tbe fracture, and she was doing very well last evening. i A view from Mount Robinson will reveal the fact that a numberjf houses are at the present time In ).ocrs of erection, within two miles of the court house square in this city, the averaice of which is 40 monthly lnce the begin ning of the year 1865. On every hand the thumping of hammers and the cut of the saw indicatea that Portland "still lives." What is more, not a house is to be found in the city vacant. Real estHte has been changing hands very rapidly. It seems now a proper tlinu, with all this building, for the establishment of Are limits to the city. Developments of the past few days show a depraved state of affairs amongst a certain class of boys in this city whom It would seem wrong to imprison with the hardened convicts of the peniten tiary, and still it is wrong to permit them to run at large, committing depre dations, schooling themselves in vice and only fitting themselves for the worst society in the world. A system for their reform and education, under the control of the state government, is a matter of urgent necewslty. STEAMER FLIST HIS BIRTHPLACE Late Franklin Flint Neely Born on Early Columbia River (earner. SHERWOOD. Or.. Mny 1. (To the Editor.) In The Oregonian Wednes day there is an article by J. W. Exon in reference to a J. V. Brewer bavins been born on a Columbia Itiver steam boat and so far as known the only uch birth that ever occurred. Then mentions a birth having occurred on a boat (the Lurline). of which he waa monter at that lime 192. With your kind consent 1 would like to add one more. My father's name Is Lucius A. IW-ly. We emigrated from Springfield. 111., in 1S51. leaving there April 1. nirlvlnc at The Dulles in the early pnrt ot September, 1851. After father had armnged and sent the men and tennis over the " mountains by the Harlow road he took the f.-iniily down the Columbia Hiver by boat. owner was Jam I. Flint. n the way down to Portland niy brother Frank was born. September It, 1K51. The captnin of the boat told my par ents if they would name tho baby James P. Klint he would Rive lilni free passage on any boat that he was mas ter of in future. They compromised on Frank. in Flint Seely. Brother Frank parsed to the beyond December 22, 1912. GEOKOK B. KEHL.Y. It. F. D. 2. Box 7. TRIE roETS. In visions grand that span the world around. They touch the Infinite by waves of thought. In endless space they sway this mystic wand And gather gems wherefrom their poems are wrousrht. No colors, creeds nor races can but blend. When hands of theirs have touched the golden chord; It thrills with love and Ineplrn tions aend A ray of hope to those that grip the sword. The dead and moaning and the flood of tears May desecrato the masonry of years. And leave upon the gore-besprinkled sod The blights of kings or curses of a God. But still the poets sing In optimistic tone Of laws divine that rule the Universe alone. And see in all some splendor and ex tract some good, When each and all, by them, are right ly understood. And hear the world, as they plod o'er the sod. Pulsates with love and eulogizes God. P. K. ENEBO. Minimum Waff e Scale. PORTLAND. Msy 1. (To the Editor.) May I request that you publish In formation In regard to minimum wage scale for municipal street work under contract. I am under the impression It was 13 for eight-hour day and would be grateful for accurate Information. john Mcdonald. The wage scale for laborers is $3 a day. For skilled labor the rate Is the same as the city's rate for similar workmen. Statistic on Commerce. CENTRAL POINT. Or., May 1. (To the Editor.) It Is my desire to obtain the latest fltatlHtlcs relative to the for eign and domestic trade of the I'nited States. Could you Inform rne where I could quickly locate this Information? ALLAN C. UOPKINb. Write for bulletins to Bureau of For elgn and Domestic Commerce, Depart ment of Commerce, Washington. Ci Erne rson Up-To-Date A well-known newspaper adver tiser buys space to blazon forth this Emersonian quotation: "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he bulid hl house In the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." But he has an afterthought He takes pains to print his own name, address and character of business in good sized type. Of course, the world will come If you tell them about It in the newspaper advertising columns. ,