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10
TITE MORNING OREGONIAN. FRIDAY
ITOBKR 1, 1915.
PORIUXD, OBEGON.
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PORTLAND, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1915.
CPS A'U DOWN'S.
We have before us a typewritten
tatement of the ups and downs of
a well-known piece of Portland prop
erty. The "ud" column is on the
left and in it is given the amount jf
taxes assessed against the block fir
each year from 1905 to 1914 inclu
sive. The "down" column is at the
right. It represents the net income
per month for the same years.
In the matter of taxes the outgo
on this property has more than dou
bled. In 1905 it paid $6500 in round
numbers; in 1914 it paid J17.000. In
1905 the net income from the saint
property was $568 per month. Every
year but one sinee then the net
monthly income has decreased, until
In 1914 it was $273. Whereas taxes
more than doubled in ten years, ret
Income contracted more than one-half.
In respect to income we do not pre
tend to say that this is typical. As
to taxes, however, there can De iio
doubt about it. But it is safe to as
sume as to practically every impor
tant lot or block in the city during
the decade income has not kept pro
portionate pace with taxation, or any
where near it In the growtn of the
property owner's tax receipt is rep
resented, of course, the actual in
crease in the value of his holdings.
But when taxes paid are analyzed cn
a per capita basis it is indieuted that
the increase is not to be credited in
large part to population grumh and
corresponding growth in property
values. For 1914 taxes per capita
have been estimated by Assessor Heed
at $34.85 on a basis of 250,000 popula
tion in Portland; for 1915 the estimate
Is 528.45; in 1905, using a pooulation
estimate of 125,000, the taxes per
capita were between $14 and $15.
Thus is shown an increase of practical
ly 100 per cent.
Generally speaking, it costs the cit
izen of Portland about twice as much
for the benefits of organized govern
ment today as it did ten years ago.
What is he getting for his money? A
great many conveniences and activi
ties have been and are being fostered
by government which were unknown
In Portland a decade ago. Plcy
grounds, swimming pools, -wading
pools, trade schools, domestic scier.ee
instruction have been added for the
benefit of the youth. A soiicitious
government looks after our health and
safety in a dozen different ways. Our
dairies, our markets, our slaughter
houses, our backyards are carefully
inspected and we even have an offi
cial whose duty it is solemnly to warn
In person the busy mother against
letting the children play with matches.
In ten years the city has acquired
a great area of paved streets, whiih
has called for a large street-ciear.ing
department and is now demanding a
repair plant. We have built new
bridges and established a sv.siem of
public docks. The erection 'f numer
ous structures has called for building
Inspection. The plumbing, the wiring
and even the sidewalks are carefully
inspected before construction. These
and many other things have crept
upon us and established themselves
insidiously. Most of them are worthy.
Certainly they are nice to have. But
they cost money.
One reason for the growth in the
coi-t of city government is the ease
with which small departments develop-
into big institutions. These
are suddenly augmented by new ones
under our very eyes. Of late there
has appeared the jitney problem.
Close on the heels of the problem
came the jitney inspector. The City
of Portland has one. He hasn't a
thing in the world to do, out we pay
him a good salary for not J-iing ti.
Watch the municipal jitney job If
it has not sprouted into an elaborate
"transportation bureau" within an
other decade we miss our guess.
Give a man a city job inspecting
bootblack stands and before the tax
payers have time to catch their next
breath he will be head of a depart
ment, asking for a private secretary,
a clerical force, an expert account
ant and an automobile. The growth
In cost of government is not lightly
to be considered. ro we need so
many aids to safety, health, comfort,
welfare as we are getting? W-,uM
not a little financial' relief extended
bj- the taxing authorities to business
and industrial enterprise provide bet
ter and wider safety, health, comfort
and welfare than inspectors and re
striction? There is no better moral
or health tonic than food and com
fort More money spent for wages
and less money spent for taxes just
at this time would be a public
Saenefaction.
r COTTON" BELT SMILES AGAIN.
In contrast with the gloom which
overspread the cotton states a year
ago, cheerfulness now prevails. Bad
weather has combined with reduced
acreage to cut the yield of cotton
until now it is estimated at 11,000,000
jales, as compared with over 16.
000,000 last year. The German and
Austrian market is practically closed,
the Russian market is accessible with
difficulty, but all other markets are
open, and increased purchases by the
sllies for use in explosives have gone
Jar to compensate for the loss of other
markets. The price has risen 10 per
cent in the last month and is 40 per
cent above the low price of the year.
IThe prospect is good for unloading
inuch of last year's surplus.
This situation shows how little
Justification there was for the hyster
ical alarm which spread through the
Houth a year ago. when the first con
tusion resulting from the war caused
en almost total suspension of exports.
iAs in other affairs, the law of action
and reaction has caused the cotton
business to right itself. A big crop
at low prices is naturally followed by
a smaller crop at higher prices, The
experience of a great crop with smell
demand has taught the South to di
versify its farming, and by broaden
ing the base to strengthen the agri
cultural industry. The South should
learn by this lesson not to run to Uncle
Sam for relief whenever it gets into
trouble, but to work Its way by u.ms
the means at hand.
NOT PLEASED.
Xo Democratic newspaper, so far as
has been observed by The Oregonian,
has found a. Republican candidate for
President with whom it is entirely
suited. This is all most unfortunate,
for it is well known to have been the
uniform practice of the Republican
party to consult the wishes anet preju
dices of its great opponent in all im
portant matters. Or if it has not been
the practice, there is a widespread
Democratic opinion that it should
have been.
There is the New Tork Times, for
example, dismissing Senator Borah
from consideration because (so it says)
he voted for Bryan in 1896. The Re
publicans, it says, "may have forgiven
that aberration, but what face would
they put on a campaign in which
Bryan would be the principal stump
speaker their candidate would have
to meet?"
Must Bryan, too, be consulted? Or
will the country conform to its usual
habit of listening more or less re
spectfully to Bryan and voting the
other way?
Mr. Borah ran for Congress in Idaho
in 1896, as a Silver Republican, against
a Democratic-Populist (Bryan) candi
date and a Republican candidate. Mr.
Bryan was the Democratic-Populist
candidate for President. It is quite
certain that if Borah supported Bryan.
Bryan did not support Borah. It is
certain, too, that Borah opposed the
Bryan candidate for Congress.
The Oregonian does not know for
whom Mr. Borah voted for President
in 1896. But the Times seems to
think it knows. What is its authority?
XO HARM DONE.
Mayor Gill, of Seattle, does not
think that a chief of police who visits
a local grill famous for its gaieties
and enjoys a midnight supper with a
professional cabaret dancer and a few
friends ought to be removed from of
fice. Nor does an incidental call upon
tho lady in her private apartments by
the same chief seem by the Mayor to
be worth bothering anybody about.
The chief, it appears, was there of
ficially to ask the lady a few ques
tions about some wicked persons who
were shadowing him, or something of
that sort, and strictly in that capacity
officially, as chief of police he or
dered wine or beer, or some kindred
refreshments, solely to aid her to im
part the things he wanted to know.
The Seattle Times expresses itself
as gratified at the outcome, for it
says: "In point of fact what else
could Mr. Gill do under the wholly
absurd circumstances of this disgust
ing case?"
What, indeed? We do not know
that the question is particularly ad
dressed to us, and we see no reason
why we should answer. But we will
take the liberty of passing it on to
Mayor Albee, merely to inquire of
him what he would, do if his chief
of police publicly dined and caroused
with cafe frequenters and cafe en
tertainers and had later a private in
terview with one of the fatter?
Of course, it is nobody's business
in Portland what the Seattle chief
of police does, and what its Mayor
does not do. Eut we have no difficulty
in guessing what the Portland Mayor
any Portland Mayor would do in
the same circumstances.
RENOVATED FEATHERS.
It requires the mental exertion of
a pretty old pioneer to recall the time
when Portland did not have a budget
system in all its essentials just like the
one that is now in operation. Yet the
submission of the budget estimates has
inspired the following burst of admira
tion for commission government:
One of the virtues of commission govern
ment is that everything Is in .the open. The
estimates are published long in advance, so
they can be seen and discussed by all citi
zens before the final budget of expenditures
is adopted. There is no longer a haphazard,
devil-may-care system in the financial af
fairs of the city.
Under the councilmanic form of
government in Portland the heads
of departments prepared their esti
mates for the ensuing year and sub
mitted them to the Mayor. At that
time the estimates were made public.
The Mayor pruned them where he
deemed necessary and submitted them
to the Council. The Council referred
the budget estimates to the ways and
means committee, which considerel
and revised them at meetings open to
the public, and reported back to the
Council, which finally adopted- the
budget.
Under the process today the heads
of departments submit their estimates
to the Commission without the inter
vention of the Mayor. The Commis
sion considers and revises at meetings
open to the public and finally adopts.
The process is a little made over, but
it is no more open today than it has
been for years.
Yes, indeed. The plumage the Com
mission charter borrowed from the old
charter is very pretty. But cannot the
charter's apologists stop admiring
made-over millinery long enough to
tell us something about the million
dollars commission government was
to save the city annually?
HUNTING THE WILY PHEASANT.
Fear not. gentle reader. The dull,
rumbling bombardment that awakens
you with the first peep of dawn this
morning does not proceed from the
deadly rifles and cannon of an invader.
N'o foreign army has set foot upon
our undefended . shores in accordance
with the oft-repeated predictions of
our military alarmists. Nothing of
that sort at all. It is merely the
Portland armyof pheasant hunters
advancing through the stubble fields
and brush patches in the out
skirts of the city. While the
firing is heavy, we opine that the
casualties are light, inasmuch as the
average Chinese pheasant cock is
more than a match for the average
nimrod. The principal losses are of
sleep, patience and ammunition.
Every male person who still has
left in his nature a strain of the
primitive hunt lust is wont to turn out
in the annual quest of the Chinese
rheasant. If we may judge from the
number of licenses issued, the quan
tities of ammunition sold and the
volume of noise made, the pheasant
hunting army must approximate in
size the whole allied force in France
and Flanders. It would appall our
gentle souls to think upon the havoc
wrought did we not know that the
Chinese pheasant cock is able to take
care of himself in the fray. As for
the hens they are protected by law,
their native sagacity and acumen be
ing insufficient protection a sex
characteristic peculiar -to other species.
There will be some losses bright and
early this morning. The stately birds
of gorgeous plumage which have
made their homes in wheat fields and
orchards, even in our streets, will be
caught unawares. During the tranquil
months of the closed season they have
become used to the propinquity of
man. But they are quick to detect
treachery, so that by noon the sur
vivors will be on the alert. The male
pheasant has an amazing faculty for
hiding himself. As a tactician, he has
the shrewdest hunter beaten. With a
peculiar intelligence all his own. the
Chinese pheasant is adept at judging
the ranges of effective fire, and he
will run through stubble until well
out of gunshot before rising. If
caught napping and brought into a
corner he has been known to rise
and fly directly at the hunter, barely
clearing the nimrod's head. Thus an
almost impossible target is offered,
and the hunter is too greatly surprised
to practice miraculous gunnery.
It is keenness of instinct alone that
has prevented the extermination of
this beautiful game bird in the North
west. No other bird is hunted with
such deadly earnestness and persist
ence. We might be led to wonder
that so sagacious a bird did not be
take itself to the fastnesses of isolated
sections. Perhaps the Wily fowls are
entirely satisfied with their own ability
to cope with hunters and feel no need
of retreating. Leastwise they con
tinue to multiply in spite of the
hunters, and if you will investigate
the matter you will ascertain that the
average stalker of Chinese pheasants
returns from the chase empty-handed.
THE ALTERNATIVE.
Conspicuous in the flowing mass of
misrepresentation and hysteria over
the late Western states water-power
conference is the statement that that
body went on record in "demanding
that the water-power" monopoly be
given title to the 'water powers."
There is no color of warrant for that
assertion. But it is made so persis
tently and so frequently that it is well
enough to recall just what the confer
ence said in its resolutions.
The states, said the resolutions,
have the right and power of control
and use of waters within their borders.
The converse policy, expressed in
the Ferris bill, is that the power of
regulation and control must rest with
the Federal Government. It is an
other phase of the Government
scheme of conservation, reservation,
isolation, and starvation of the states.
(2) A general leasing policy was
opposed. Do the contentious and
short-sighted brigadiers who have
raised the flag of Federal control of
state concerns favor the leasing of
the public lands?
(3) The right of eminent domain
by the states over the vacant Govern
ment lands for public uses was ' as
serted. A denial by the Federal au
thority of the right is a declaration of
intention to block development of
water powers owned by the states
until the states yield control to the
Washington bureauracy.
(4) Any legislation substituting
arbitrary or discretionary authority of
executive officials for fixed rules of
law was opposed. It cannot be de
fended, though in fact it is the rule at
Washington.
(5) Ownership or control by the
United States of intra-state (not inter
state) public utilities was opposed.
Does the most radical advocate of
Federal usurpation in its most famil
iar form dare to go so far as to
favor it? ,
The whole issue is Federal cor.trol
through bureaus versus state contrcl
through law.
Federal control means long-distance
government of state utilities. It is
just that.
State control means homo regula
tion of state utilities. Denial that'
the state is competent to control its
own affairs is an admission that state
government, and particularly the New
Idea in government, has broken dawn.
Has it?
PREPARE THE JiATiON FOR PEACE.
Advice given by James J. Hill in the
Annalist that the American people be
gin before the war ends to prepare for
the great revolution in commerce,
manufactures and finance which will
follow restoration of peace is most
timely. The war is making profound
changes in the governing conditions.
It has already changed us from a
debtor to a creditor Nation, a change
which our new banking system en
ables us to handle without disturb
ance. But, Mr. Hill tells us, "the
financial ideas of our people must be
enlarged to fit the new sphere in
which they should operate" and "we
must bend our study to the gigantic
new task of maintaining a proper ad
justment of the finances of the world."
We must stop "the reckless borrowing
at home that has marked the last
twenty years."
We must also, he says, gain "a
clearer view of the international qual
ity of productive industry," for the
end of the war will draw the Nation
"closer than ever in an industrial
sense." The tariff duties must be ar
ranged "in recognition of profound
industrial changes." On this point he
says:
These cannot any longer be made the
-"port of parties and the prey of private in
terests. The tariff should be turned over to
a nonpartisan commission of experts, whoso
recommendation should be listened to be
fore changes can be made, if we are not to
sacrifice our natural advantage in that ma.
terlal reconstruction of the world which
will follow the coming peace,
"The railroads," says Mr. Hill, "must
have relief from unjust existing restric
tions and encouragement for that de
velopment and extension without which
agriculture, manufacturing and com
merce cannot prosper." He points to
the bad financial condition of the rail
roads as an obstacle to their extension,
and warns us that the railroad's ex
pansion is an indispensable essential
of industrial growth, but that "it not
only will not grow, it will contract if
laws and regulations prevent it from
arning a reasonable profit."
"For the foreign carrying trade,"
he says, "American ships need only
the same freedom from hampering
regulations that those of other coun
tries enjoy to restore the old prece
dence of our merchant marine." He
predicts that, with this done and with
land and ocean carriers free to make
joint rates, "our foreign trade would
take the same precedence that events
have given to our international finan
cial position."
Our future place in the world, in
Mr. Hill's opinion, depends "less on
any one act or policy than on our ca
pacity to take the broad, scientific
view of the whole situation." He con
cludes: .
The wisdom of real statesmanship must
supersede the petty piay of party ambitions
and the ruinous selfishness of class Inter
ests Jf. during the war. it is the nations
or Europe that are put to the supreme test,
after the war is over it will be our own.
In the same vein the Springfield
Republican u-!Is us that the next Con
gress "might accomplish a work of
incalculable value if It were led with
wisdom, inspired solely by patriotism
and sought no object, personal or par
tisan, .inconsistent with the largest
and highest public welfare," for it
will have the opportunity of preparing
us not merely for the future competi
tions of war but also for the future
competitions of peace." That Journal
outlines how bureaucracy like that of
Germany would attack our problems.
It would exhaustively study them all
in advance of peace. It would not
only reorganize our defenses, but
would clean up all outstanding ques
tions in the Philippines, Mexico, the
West Indies and Centra! America and
would decide the scope of the Monroe
Doctrine. It would remove the tariff
from politics, adapt the anti-trust law
to foreign trade, start the development
of a merchant marine and recognize
that the United States "might have to
face in the international markets a
Europe more nearly consolidated in
dustrially than it has been hitherto."
We must prepare for a great diminu
tion of that individualism in Britain
as well as in other countries to which
"many of Britain's weaknesses in the
war are traceable."
Congress' will not be able to rise to
the great emergencies thus described
unless its leaders on both sides have
the patriotism to place country above
party. What matters it who gets the
credit for legislative and administra
tive achievements provided the coun
try benefits by them? If the men at
the head of the two parties can prove
themselves big . enough and broad
enough to rise above considerations of
party advantage, they will combine
their energies on the right solution of
our problems. Then this Congress
may render us secure from foreign at
tack, may establish a tariff commis
sion, give us a rational shipping code,
clear away obstacles to foreign trade
expansion and start us on a career of
peaceful, commercial conquest which
will put to shame the bloody, military
conquests of Europe.
What bade fair to develop into a
thrilling manhunt came to a tragic
and fortunate close when the slayer
of Warden Minto was shot by a police
officer after a single day of liberty.
Thanks to the telephone. teleeraDh
and more thickly settled rural districts,
the way of the bad man is hard and
his career short. The hunt for Hooker
was brief and uneventful as compared
with the pursuit of Tracy and Merrill
in much the same region years ago.
More don'ts for our mollycoddle
teachers: Don't let the children en
gage in calisthenics. Don't let them
carry themselves erect and alert. Cau
tion parents not to let the children
sleep in tents or the open air. Don't
let them obey you without question.
Don't encourage them to be prompt
Don't enforce discipline over them.
Soldiers do all these things and they
savor of militarism.
There was not a mollycoddle among
those 20,000 tottering veterans who
marched through Washington, nor
was there a militarist, for when they
had saved the Union they went home
and returned to the arts of peace.
Their conduct refutes the statement
that preparedness for defense means
militarism and aggression.
The underwriters of the allies' half-billion-dollar
loan will reap a little
business, too. Ten million dollars is
what it will amount to in a general
way, but of course they must incur
some risk and expense, although the
risk no doubt Is small enough. Any
way, it is a good business deal for
some.
Secretary Lansing has been a ccused
by a German-American of having
been born in Canada. He was not,
for Watertown, N. Y., Ms his birth
place, but iT he were, the manner in
which he disposed of Dumba would
prompt us to wish for a few more of
the same kind of Canadians.
The Balkan riddle is still unguessed.
One story is that Bulgaria will join
the Teutons on October 15; another
that a pro-Russian Cabinet is being
formed. We shall not know on which
side Bulgaria will be until she has
begun to fight on one side or the
other.
The Philadelphia Nationals have
won the league pennant, and one of
the players, Bancroft, stepped up from
Portland only at the close of last sea
son. Perhaps that accounts in a
measure for Portland's occupancy of
the cellar in our own league.
When kerosene and gasoline are
kept In the household and the former
Is used to hurry a slow fire, t'.ie only
safe way is to use containers so en
tirely different that a blind person
can tell them apart. Yet nobody will
do so.
By his method of shooting first arid
inquiring afterward. Patrolman Dong
may bo able to run the two notches
In his gun up to a dozen in due time.
If Commissioner Daly would abolish
his absurd billing system for flat-rate
water consumers, he might knock
another $50,000 off the water budget.
The size of the lottery evil in San.
Francisco is shown in the statement
that 4000 agents are thrown out of
employment by its suppression.
Unless the allied army at Gallipoll
hurries, the British expedition in
Mesopotamia will get to Constanti
nople first.
The German line is not yet broken,
but it is slightly bent. The allies' task
is to discover the limit Of its flexr
ibility.
Governor Withycombe has a happy
way of doing things. John W. Minto
is just the man to succeed his brother.
The wireless phone may yet enable
the Kaiser to consult Mars on how to
wage war.
The truth of the matter is, the qual
ity of the films has outgrown the
nickel.
Jim Hill is neutral ani subscribes
to both loans. That's business.
That city woodpile will be thor
oughly ripe before it is gone.
If the days are rainy. It will be
dress-up week, all the same.
Dave Bancroft In the big series
sounds good.
The day of the pheasant's doom is
at hand.
GERMAN OX MONROE DOCTRINE!
Hostility Is Denied, but Hint Crven
Gnsuir May Oppose
A most significant article at the
present Juncture In our international
relations is that of Professor Herbert
Kraus on "The Monroe Doctrine as
Germans See It," in the Atlantic
Monthly. There has long been an im
pression in this country that Germany
was hostile to --the Monroe Doctrine
and would be the first to challenge
it. Americans accept as a matter of
course British assent to and support
of the doctrine as in consonance wltn
British policy. Professor Kraus gives
a far different view.
The Monroe Doctrine is compared by
Professor Kraus to a wlll-o'-the- wisp,
but this "most salient characteristic"
is unquestionably the secret of its
practical efficiency and beneficial ef
fect upon the policies of the United
States." He sees "not the slightest
indication" that the doctrine will ever
be defined, and adds: "The general
conviction exists that when the Mon
roe Doctrine has been defined its value
will be extinguished."
But he attributes to this lack of
definition "the preponderance of false
statements as to its scope, objects and
contents." One result of these errors,
he says, lsthe argument as to whether
the United States should oppose a Ger
man invasion of Canada, and as to
whether sending of Canadian troops to
Europe contravened the Monroe Doc
trine. His opinion is that "technically
the Monroe Doctrine does not have the
remotest bearing on either point." He
says, "more mistakes occur in this
respect in the United States than in
Europe," and that "the tendency to
stretch the principle is generally pop
ular in the United States."
The rest of the world, however, ac
cepts it "in a spirit of cold aloofness"
and abroad "efforts are made to re
strict its scope as far as possible."
So far as it affects Europe Profes
sor Kraus says there are "few true
enthusiasts" for the doctrine, and he
warns us to mistrust British profes
sions of friendship to it. saying: "No
true Englishman can favor the Monroe
Doctrine," emphasizing the word "can."
"Every blow that the United States
has struck with the aid of the Monroe
Doctrine has been dealt at England."
He describes this doctrine as "the
strongest weapon of which the United
States disposes in the long-protracted
and by no means concluded contest
which she and England are waging
for supremacy in America." As to
Germany's attitude. Professor Kraus
says:
There has been a daily increasing; number
of persons who recognize the tremendous
val-te which the Monroe Doctrine possesses
for the purpose or the United States. In it
they see the master key to the political
power of that country: they envy her the
theory, and they have formed their Ideas
as to Its significance in connection with the
minimizing of possible bones of contention
between the members of the family of na
tions. "As a result of my personal and
minute observations as to German
sentiment," he says, "there is not the
slightest indication of any actual hos
tility to the Monroe Doctrine."
As to the immediate present he be
lieves the Monroe Doctrine to be "en
grossed by the idea of absorbing, con
trolling and commercially restricting
non-American states." Professor
Kraus says: "'The Wilson doctrine"
contains the power ana the initiative
to restrict without discrimination all
trado between foreign nations and
America." On the "same assumption
of right" which Mr. Wilson, raised
against oil concessions, he says the
United States could object to contracts
between Americans and citizens of
foreign countries and could "veto any
or all Asiatic or European immigration
into Central or South- America." '
The professor here finds the only
contingency "which might eventually
cause the Monroe Doctrine to militate
again6t German interests." He asserts
Positively: "Germany has never yet
made a serious attempt to establish
colonies in America."
Professor Kraus does not expect that
"the commercial element of the Mon
roe Doctrine will cause friction be
tween the United States and Germany,"
and says:
such a contingency can arise only in the
course of relations with England, whose
every transaction has been actuated by un
derlying motives and who, up to the presont.
has always made use of her political suprem
acy to ndvance her commercial influence.
He declares "this undertone entirely
foreign to the relations between Ger
many and the United States."
Acceptance of the Monroe Doctrine
by any "or all of the world powers, he
says, "depends entirely on the atti
tude of the United States toward the
present war." He adds:
Confidence and might must be co-exlstent.
The world must be convinced that it can
safely rely upon the attitude of the United
States in regard to international relations.
He styles the export of war muni
tions by this country "as contrary to
the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine as
the tone of the American press," and
makes this veiled threat:
All of this will make Itself felt In the sub
sequent relations between the United States
and Germany, and It will doubtless play a
part unfavorable to the Union In the general
acccuntlng. when her attitude toward Ger
many's opponents is considered. Partiality
In International crises has always brought
Its own reward.
After all due allowance has been
made for a desire to prejudice Ameri
cans against Britain and to quiet dis
trust of German arms, this article is
encouraging to our hopes that the
supremacy of the United States on this
hemisphere will not be contested by
Germany. But we cannot expect that
supremacy to remain undisputed unless
we provide the force necessary to
maintain it.
An Aerial "Pidesmr."
In the British and French air service
in the war, according to Claude 6ra-hame-White,
the English aeronaut, a
premium is placed on speed. A tiny bi
plane of 160-horsepower, called the
"bullet." has beaten all records of
speed made during times of peace. "It
passes through the air." he says, "at a
speed of more than 130 miles an hour.
Even when flying low this craft has
been found to offer an extremely diffi
cult mark. It sweeps up with a hum
from its motor and Hashes into view
perhaps Just above the tree tops at Its
amazing speed; then, almost as soon
as it is sighted, and before guns can
bo leveled, it lias faded to a speck and
disappeared. Mr. White and Harry
Harper has written a book. "Air
craft in the Great War," which deals
with the science of airchaft and expe
rience of airmen in the conflict, Tho
work nas Just been issued by A. C. Mc
Clurg & Co.
Who Charlie Chaplin Is.
BON'AXZA, Or.. Sept. 28. (To the
Editor.) Would you please give infor
mation as to who Charlie Chaplin is?
A SUBSCRIBER.
Charlie Chaplin is Charles Chaplin,
formerly an English pantomimist. In
his teens he began In London theaters.
A year or so ago he was in vaudeville.
One day he wandered into a moving
picture studio and plied his clown-like,
reckless antics. He became popularin
a short time. His brother is also an
eccentric actor, having been brought
up-In the London theaters. Their man
nerisms are similar.
Nerve and Golf.
Buffalo (X. Y.) Express.
"It must take a lot of nerve to play
golf." Oh. not necessarily. You can
dress sensibly for golf as well as any
other game."
riebnft .From a Friend.
Houston (Tex.) Post.
"And you refuse me a loan?" "Oh. no.
I don't refuse you alone; I refuse all
panhandlers." .
HIGH SCHOOL QO PERIOD SHORT
Half Hour To Little. Thlaks One Fath
er Wse Sera Possible Bad Results.
PORTLAXD, Sept. 30. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you kindly lend some space
to a question Interesting the health of
the school children in regard to time
allotted to the students of the high
schools in Portland for their noon meal.
This time is only half an hour. Many
parents, for financial reasons, cannot
afford to give, every day. to their child
or children the money necessary for a
restaurant meal, even at moderate
prices of the cafeterias installed in
schools.
Some children purchase their luncb
in other boarding places of the neigh
borhood and this should be their privi
lege. For other reasons, some parents
whose residences are not too far dis
tant prefer to give luncheon to their
children at home.
In practice cafeterias and nearby
luncheon places are most often crowd
ed at lunch time, owing mainly to the
short time granted, and it is difficult
to serve quickly all children. As to
those who go home or board outside,
it takes them from 10 to 20 minutes to
go to and from their eating places.
In conclusion many children have to
take their noon meal in about 10 min
utes, which is too short a time at an
age when appetite and need of food
are pretty much exacting. The result
is easy to guess. It consists in a
shoveling and swallowing process
which can be but hurtful to many chil
dren's health, considering that this
goes on five days a week for nine
months. It is hardly what any doctor
would approve of.
Would it not be possible to grant to
the children one-quarter of an hour
more at noon, which is a very moderate
and reasonable request? The closing
hour would be 2:45 instead of 2:30. a
very small difference.
This request respectfully submitted
to the Board of School Directors is an
expression of opinion not only of many
students, but mainly of many parents
and possibly of part of the teachers
themselves. FATHER.
BUT WHAT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS t
Aid of Unemployed Seems to Consider
Only the Men. Says Writer.
PODTLAXD, Sept. 30. (To the Ed
itor.) Knowing that the question of
dealing efficiently with the problem
of the unemployed during the Winter
months is now occupying the minds of
the city officials and others interested
in the work. I am desirous of pointing
out one very pressing necessity in con
nection with it. which, so far as I
know, has not yet received the atten
tion it deserves.
The working man in hard luck can
get good 5-cent meals, with many
other comforts and conveniences, at
such places as the Scadding House and
our own Working Men's Club. The
charitably inclined have meal tickets
to give to such cases as they think de
serving, and in this way the lot of
many a poor man is made less hard.
But what about the women ar.d girls?
mere are to my knowledge many
hundreds in the city to whom the sat
isfaction of a nickel meal and a com
fortable warm clubroom during the
cooler weather would be an unmitigat
ed blessing.
We ourselves have fed many such
during the past year, but our club-
room Is not adapted to women; it lacks
the necessary conveniences and privacy
w men are essential to their comfort.
If one or more of our wealthy citi
zens were to take this matter uo and
provide a working women's reading
and dining-room on similar lines to
our Working Men's Club. 1 believe It
would ne one of the most beneficial
and good-resulting endowments which
they could establish in our city.
CAPTAIN J. G. M'CLELLAND.
Germany's Submarine Campaign.
SHERWOOD. Or.. Sept. 30. (To the
Editor.) Did the Germans Inaugurate
their submarine campaign in retalia
tion for England's attempt to starve
the civilian population of the former
country? If possible I should like ref
erences, as I roust convince a skeptic
of decided pro-German tendencies.
DONALD HARRIS.
We can only cite the sequence of
events. England announced a long
distance "blockade of German ports af
ter Germany had proclaimed a subma
rine war zone around the British Isles,
but England had previously aroused
resentment in Germany by enlarge
ments of the contraband list and other
marine activities. Germany, on Feb
ruary 6, 1915, issued a Justification of
the war zone policy in which the Im
perial government charged that
additions to the contraband list of ar
ticles only of remote military bene
fit, seizures of German goods and Ger
man citizens at sea and the difficulties
Instituted by Britain to navigation of
the North Sea were designed to starve
the civilian population of Germany.
The first official announcement of a
"limited blockade" of German ports
was contained in a speech delivered
by Premier Asquith in Parliament
March 1. The text of Germany's proc
lamation wil be found in the morning
newspapers of February 7, the report
ot Asqutth's speech in the morning
tapers of March 2.
Non-Military Works Destroyed.
GLADSTONE. Or.. Sept. 30. (To the
Editor.) I have just read in The Ore
gonian Karl H. von Wiegand's article
r.n Lieutenant-Commander Mathy's
raid by Zeppelin on London. Accord
ing to the commander's story he ap
proves of aerial attack on London so
far as concerns everything usable for
military purposes, such as big railway
stations, banks, docks, shipyards, in
dustrial establishments, etc.
From a letter I received from my
brother I find the brave commander
has not confined himself to blowing
up these institutions. My brother
writes: "The last Zep raid we had
completely blew up the John's Old
People's "Home at Leytonstone. East
London. A family of five, who were
known to us and were spending their
vacation on the East Coast, moved to
the same suburb to escape the expect
ed East Coast raids. They also were
wiped out by the same bomb."
It is to be hoped that the brave
commander was apprised of this grand
military coup. FAIR PLAY.
Liquor In Unlicensed I'laees.
PORTLAND. Sept. 30. (To the Edi
tor.) Can a person buy a bottle of beer
in a saloon and take it to a restaurant
and drink it with his meal? Or is there
an ordinance against drinking it in a
restaurant if the restaurant has no li
cense to sell liquor?
A SUBSCRIBER.
Section 3 of ordinance 5216. passed
by the City Council May 8. 1912, pro
hibits anyone from taking liquor Into
any eating place that Is not licensed by
the city to sell intoxicants and drink it
with or without meals. A fine not to
exceed $100 may be Imposed on both
the proprietor and the person taking
the liquor into the place.
Bine Grouse "Drum."
PORTLAND, Sept. 30. (To the Ed
itor.) "G" says that the well-known
blue grouse of Oregon has the char
acteristic of "drumming" while . "B"
says they do not. Also could you
answer as to whether Oregon pheasants
"drum" in a like manner?
E. WEBSTER.
According to the prevalent belief
among sportsmen tbe blue grouse and
the Oregon pheasant are practically
Identical and they both "drum."
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonian October 1. 1S90.
As a result of activity on the part of
the State Board of Commerce and of
merchants generally, the Union Pacific
has promised more cars to handle the
business in and out of Portland. Lum
bermen especially have been hard hit
by the car shortage and have appealed
directly to Omaha.
Seattle The city election will be
held here today. The excitement was
intense last night. Bands were out
and the crowds on the street were
dense. The Republicans held a big
demonstration in the Armory. Harry
White is candidate for Mayor on the
Republican ticket and John Collins Is
seeking the office on the Democratic
ticket.
Astoria The advance guard if Lieu
tenant O'Neill's exploring party, which
is returning from the wilds of the
Qulniault reservation, has reached
here on the Alliance.
The performances of Diver Nelson,
who is engaged in boring holes through
the timbers at the new Madison-street
bridge, is attracting considerable at
tention. Frederic Archer will give a concert
Friday and Saturday, October 10 and
11, at the First Presbyterian Church.
D. Hutchins has been appointed a
regular policeman for the Humane So
ciety. W. Olstitt. P.-J. Barry and J. S.
McHugh were added to the regular
force yesterday.
The Portlands released Pitcher Wit
brock yesterday. He had not won a
game for Portland since he joined the
team.
M. Wilkins, one of Oregon's repre
sentatives on the World's Fair Com
mission, returned yesterday from Chi
cago. '
Captain W. T. Symons, United States
Engineer in this district, has been noti
fied that $494,500 is available for work
under his charge.
THAT ELUSIVE CITY AIDITORUM.
Its Construction This Winter Would Be
Boon to Working-men.
PORTLAND. Sept. 30 (To the Ed
itor) I see by an evening paper that
the Auditorium may be moved again.
This time up in the Nob Hill district,
handy to the apartment houses on a
double block twice the size for half
the money and so forth. Just about
the time we think we are going actu
ally to have an auditorium built,
somebody Jars us and says. "Your
pipe's out." I'd like to see some of
that few odd hundred thousand dollars
spent in this town this Winter. It
would help some. The roads will- soon
be done. The auditorium is the largest
piece of city work that was in sight.
And now somebody's goinjr to move it
again. "Button, button, who's got the
auditorium?" Just about the time we
think "Portland's got the auditorium"
somebody or other comes along with
another plot of ground to sell the city,
and the usual line of bunk about sav
ing the city money.
Listen: Several years after Portland
decided It wanted an auditorium so
did Oakland. What happened? Oak
land gave Portland several years' head
start, got its auditorium completed last
Spring and Has been holding conven
tions in it ever since, while Portland's
auditorium Is still a will-o'-the-wisp.
Why, I think it was about or over a
year ago that Portland "decided" to
build the auditorium on property it
owns at Third and Market streets. It
Is not only not bu:lt yet but what be
sides? Somebody's going to move it
again. "On again, oft again, gone
again, auditorium."
It strikes me that right now would
be a pretty good, time to spend that
money. There are unfortunately plenty
of men in this city not over supplied
with work, especially in the building'
line, and the erection of a building of
this size, if restricted to city labor, as
I believe was tho plan, would prove
a boon to many. I think Mr. Baker
said the plans and so forth would be
in shape to go ahead on the Market
block this Fall. But if there's going
to be another long-drawn-out scrap
about it, it'll never get started this
Winter. It's too bad the auditorium
can't be parcelled out all over town,
then everybody with land to sell would
be happy. But as it's only one we
need, and we can't agree on where
to put It, it looks like a safe bet that
old Rip Van Winkle could return to
this sleepy hollow in 20 years and find
us still saying (altogether) "On again,
off again, gone again, auditorium."
WORKINGMAN.
LATITUDE OK PORT UNCHANGED.
Boole Which JnBK Irs Bar Depths Right
In One Particular.
PORTLAND, Sept. 30. (To the Ed
itor) In a rather pretentious publi
cation of 420 pages, entitled "North
Pacific Ports," which is understood to
have wide circulation at all of our
leading ports, we are informed, in a
chapter devoted to Portland, that tJle
"approaches at the mouth of the Co
lumbia River have a depth of 25'4
feet." This appears in the edition for
the year 1916 Just issued, on page 244.
In the issue of 1914. page 215. the
approaches were reported as having a
depth of 28 feet. From this it appears
that the channel at the bar Is now
more shallow by 2Va feet than it was
one year ago. The accuracy of the in
formation contained in this publica
tion cannot be doubted, for it is issued
by the "Terminal Publishing Co., Inc.
of 303 Burke Building, Seattle." It is
very gratifying to note that the lati
tude and longitude of Portland is re
ported the same for both 1914 and
1915.
Within the past 10 days we have
had reports, purporting to come from
Government engineers, that recent
soundings showed a depth of 36 feet
at low tide, in a channel 1000 wide,
across the bar. Would it not be well
for the Chamber of Commerce to in
stitute an official inquiry to ascertain
how the Government engineers made
such an egregious mistake?
CHAS. B. MOORES.
Why It Is.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
"Why do they call 'em fountain
pens? I should say reservoir pen would
be the better name. A reservoir contains
liquids: a fountain throws 'era around."
"1 think fountain pen is the proper
name." said the party of the second
part.
Kault-Finaer on Deck.
Exchange.
Some people denounce sin because
no one ever gave them a chance to sin.
Be Sure You Are Right.
Remember old Davy Crockett and
his motto?
"Be sure you are right then go
ahead."
Good motto for everyday life
"Be sure you are right then spend
your money."
Don't buy haphazard. Don't trust
to luck. Find out first.
The advertising in a good news
paper like The Oregonian is a buy
er's guide.
It is the nrst step to correct pur
chasing. It may not tell you all you want
to know, or ought to know, but It
will start your feot In the right
direction.