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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1915)
THE MORNING OREGONIAy, - WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 13, 1915. 1! i! PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon. PoatoJflca a second-class matter. Subscription Hates invariably in advance. 1 Rv Mall. I Dally, Sanday included, on year ...fS.OO Ially, Stiuday included, six monthi... Iaily, Sunday Included, three month. Xaily, Sunday included, one month.... Jjaily. without Sunday, one year. ...... lJ&ily, without Sunday, six month Daily, without Sunday, three months.. Daily, without Sunday, one montn..... "Weekly. nn vtrar. ................... 4.25 2.25 -7i 6.00 3.v:5 1.75 .00 1.00 Sunday, one year. J.5u Sunday and Weekly, one year a. 50 (By Carrier. Dally, Sunday included, one year 0.00 Dally, Sunday included, one month -'5 How to Kmlt Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postoffice address In full, Including county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, ft cents; 50 to tiu pages, 4 cents; 52 to 76 pages, & cents; 73 to 02 pages, 6 cents. foreign postage, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree A Conk lin, Brunswick building. New York; Verree & Conklin. Sieger building. Chicago; San Francisco representative, R J, Bidweil, Market street. POBT1AM), TODSESDAT, OCT. 13, 1915. FIT AMERICA FIRST. President Wilson's speech to the Daughters of the American Revolution is a summons to every true American to declare himself for America first. He calls upon all true Americans, wherever born, to be active partisans of the United States in any contro versy between this and any other country and to confine their neutrality to quarrels between other nations. In any quarrel in which this country is concerned, any American who pro fesses neutrality is a traitor in only less degree than is he who espouses ' the alien cause. In such a case there is no room for neutral Americans; he who is not with us is against us and must so be counted. The President's summons is ad dressed more particularly to citizens of foreign birth, for these experience in their hearts the conflict between love for a native land which is en gaged in death-strife and love for and duty to an adopted country which more nearly realizes their Ideals of lib erty than any other. They came to enjoy liberty and have found it. They came to enjoy material prosperity and intellectual and spiritual light; if they have not found these, It is because they have not sought diligently enough. They came to escape, if not tyranny, at least the trammels of privilege, caste and tradition. They came so to leave an atmosphere poisoned by old world, racial rivalries, which have for generations caused every nation to sleep with a loadd gun under its pillow. Having personally experi enced all these evils, they should feel and practice an active, aggressive de votion to their chosen country which cannot be expected of men and women born in freedom. To the latter the old-world experiences of their ances tors are a tradition and a matter of reading and observation from the . standpoint'of a spectator. The impres sions they form cannot compare In vividness with those of the foreign born. But the horrible fascination of the war has fastened the attention of the , native-born, together with that of all others, upon the blessings of being Americans. It has reawakened that loyalty to American principles of lib erty which foreign travel has cooled in some. It has also aroused them to the duty of unifying the Nation in sentiment by knocking the hyphen not merely out of the names but the hearts of their foreign-born fellow citizens. They recognize that this unity of sentiment is essential to our existence as a Nation and that it can be achieved only by inspiring the foreign-born with the true spirit of Americanism. T"he need of this clear alignment of all nominal Americans as American at heart appears in the confusion of ideas as to what constitutes neutrality toward the nations at war. No man who places America first should ques tion our right as a neutral Nation to sell goods to a belligerent, to extend credit to the buyer or to lend money to him. The inability of an opposing belligerent to buy that which we are as willing to sell to him as to any other would not affect the opinion of such a man. Looking at the transac tion from a purely American 'point of view he would regard the trade as American trade, the money lent as American money and the nations with which we deal as the customers of American merchants and banks. The confusion of thought which causes pome men to denounce such transac tions as unneutral is due to the fact that they are considering the other nations in question as enemies of their native country, not as customers of the American people. They contem plate the effect of the transaction on the fate of the nations at war, not on the fortunes of the American Nation. Their judgment Is warped by sympa thy; it can be straightened by undi vided American patriotism. DANGERS OF THIS DfNTXa-ROOM. Overeating and overwork are two of the principal recruiting agencies for our armies of drug fiends if we may believe Dr. William K. McLaughlin, of Ohlcajro. In an address before the Tri-State Medical Society the other day Dr. McLaughlin ranged those two vices side by side with use of alcohol and tobacco. Recourse to drugs is not so much a matter of degeneracy or of Inherent viciousnees as It is of nerve weakness, the doctor tells us, adding that the average victim of drugs does not use them because he finds any en joyment in the practice, but because of the wretchedness he seeks to escape. Insofar as overeating produces toxic condition and poisons the system, its dangers are apparent. Of the dangers of overwork we are not so certain. It is only when work Is done improperly and is attended by worry that it becomes a menace to health. Long hours of sustained effort may produce no ill effects if the worker is Interested in his labors and maintains a cheer ful state of mind. Worry mixed with work creates a combination which quickly disintegrates the energies and Impairs the faculties, creating an in sidious toxin which blasts the nerv ous system. From nervous disturb ances to use of opiates is not a long step and once the use of opiates is taken up, who can tell where the end will be? The ordinary idea of nervousness is Inadequate. Only the sufferer from real nervousness knows the true hor ror of that state. Nervous disorders and disturbances are as far removed from a trembling hand and feeling of . weakness which the normal person occasionally experiences as a pin prick is different from a sword thrust. - The exquisite torture of the individual whose nerves are frayed beggars . description. His is a misery surpass- ing mere physical pain. If he lacks strong moral fiber, the escape which drugs offer will be seized upon huiv grily. Any price to evade the wrack ing mental state which leads him to fear insanity or suicide. Oftentimes it is the doctor who starts him on the road, to slavery. To allay an acute condition sedatives are prescribed. Thereafter the hapless victim becomes dependent on drugs at those moments when his nerves begin to play capers. When the less harmful sedatives, such as choral and bromides, lose their power to sup press hU riotous nerves, he turns to opium or morphine. Thereupon his fate is sealed. At the outset he will assure himself that the expedience is temporary, but the nerves come to demand the soothing effects of drugs more and more and their rebellions become irresistiblewhen the demands are refused. Thus it is that the un happy victim falls into bondage. It is not difficult to understand that any habits or set of habits which tend to create nervousness contribute to the lists of drugusers. Dancing, late hours, card playing and a multi tude of minor vices and pleasures must be added to the list, when they are carried to excess. The Chicago doctor may be credited with calling attention to an .ominous and common danger, but he might have made his charge more sweeping. Any irregu larity of conduct which brings on nerve disturbance leads in the, di rection of the drug habit. CAN TAX LEVY BE REFERENCED? In Seattle, where the blessings of commission government do not pre vail, a majority of the City Council has adopted a tax levy which violates promises of economy previously made. Although the ordinance has been held back until a time when the Mayor's veto somewhat endangers the accum ulation of tax revenues for the en suing year, Mayor Gill has had the hardihood to enter an official disap proval of the ordinance. "If we don't have any money for the next year," he says, we will get along with some inconvenience. It is true, but to the financial betterment of every citi zen."' In Portland, where "the cards are face up on the table," un der the beneficent - influence of commission government, there Is no veto power. As to ordinances which do not take effect imme diately, it is true, any member of the commission may file written objection which makes necessary an other vote on the ordinance. A ma jority vote overrules the objection. But under a charter provision the ordinance fixing the annual tax levy takes effect immediately and is therefore not subject to the modified veto. Hence no single watchdog of the treasury can interfere with ex travagance, if extravagance should happen to be the order of the day. But there is a new phase of the situation to which it is proper to call attention. In the jitney case Judge Bagley, of the Circuit Court, held that the right of referendum on municipal legislation exists under the state constitution "without any ex ception whatever," city charter pro visions to the contrary notwithstand ing. An ordinance cannot be put into effect immediately because that would defeat the referendum power. It is almost unnecessary to- point out the gravity of a referendum of the tax levy. Either no city taxes would be collected In 1916, or the city would have to meet the expenses of a special election to decide the is sue. Judge Bagley apparently was quite aware of the importance of his ruling, for he said Jn his decision: Neither should matters of public policy nor expediency. ... govern the courts In the interpretation and construction of the provisions of the constitution. No expediency or policy, however potent of Imperative, will Justify the deprivation of a power reserved to the people of Portland by written expres sion in the highest form of law. It is true that this is a decision by an inferior court. , It may be re versed or modified by the Supreme Court. For reasons given at another time, we are Inclined to think It will be. But at the present time It Is the latest legal pronouncement on the subject. It is hardly too much to ex pect that it will not be taken ad vantage of and a referendum at tempted if the new tax levy is based on what a large proportion of the people deem to be extravagant ideas and policies. CHANCE FOR SOLID INVESTMENTS: Speculation In war stocks has been practically gambling, for it has de pended for profit on the folly of men who buy on the basis of the temporary prosperity or munition manufactur ers. Dividends derived from that source .are no true index to in trinsic value, for the war will no sooner end than business and profits will drop to their nor mal level. This speculation Is in jurious not only to those who engage in it, but to legitimate investments of all kinds. It diverts from these In vestments money which would ordin arily go into them. The stock exchange renders valua ble service as an open market for securities of the country's great en terprises, where values are deter mined. Amid all the ups and downs caused by manipulators a certain level of price Is reached for each stock, based on its merits. The better the exchange restrains that form of spec ulation, which is simple gambling on the course of prices, the better it will perform Its proper function. If the disturbing influence of war stock speculation were removed, there can be small doubt that capital would turn to those securities which are intimately connected with the coun try's development. Money is abundant. Industry is active, railroad traffic is growing and business confidence is restored. Conditions are favorable for stronger credit of railroads and other substantial enterprises. The upturn and increased activity in railroad stocks during the last week Is a fav- orable sign. We may hope .to see It followed by marketing of new security issues for development work which, is needed more In the West than in any other part of the united States. DIGGING THE CANAL AGAIN. The engineers who dug the Panama Canal anticipated a settling of the hills on each side until they had reached a natural level, but many acres have come down into the canal, completely closing it. Dredging of a channel through the slides, ac cording to practice with smaller, earlier ones, is impracticable, for more earth pours in as fast as ma terial is removed. The only course open is to go back in the hills to points whence slides start and to re move all the earth which has lost its support by the digging: of the canal and by removal of earlier slides. No estimate can be made of the time required for this great task. As Paul Bunau-Varilla, the French engineer who was In charge of the canal when tb French, company col- lapsed, reads of the troubles of his successors, he may smile and say: "I told you so." He warned the Con sulting Board appointed by President Roosevelt that a deep, narrow cut at Culebra, such as was adopted, would cause great slides. He recommended a temporary lock canal, excavated to 130 feet above sea level, which, he proposed, should be excavated later to sea level with a channel 500 feet wide. He submitted a plan for ex cavation which could be followed without Interrupting traffic and which would cut the hills back to such a slope that danger of slides would be averted. 'He maintained that the Culebra hills were earth, but the Consulting Board held that they were mainly rock and would not slide. A permanent lock canal 85 feet above sea level was adopted instead of ISO reet above, as he proposed. In his book on the canal he states that down to June, 1912, the proportion of excavation due to slides was 53 per cent. By the time General Goethals has removed all the slides and, all the ma terial which Is likely to slide, he may have made such progress toward car rying out the sea-level plan as to make it a possibility. SATISFACTION FOR EVERYBODY. Those German - Americans who talked of defeating the Anglo-French loan by placing German -American banks in opposition to it, forget the function of a bank. It Is the steward of American credit, which is the joint property of all the people. If a bank were so far to forget its duty as to refuse participation in the loan lest German-American money be lent to Germany's enemies, that money would be used elsewhere, replacing other money which would probably be lent for the purpose rejected. The only way for a German-American to make sure of keeping his money out of the hands of Germany's enemies is to hoard it. By doing so he would Injure himself more than anybody else. German statesmen are boasting that the allies are doing the empire a serv ice by the very action of which the German-Americans complain. - They say that by cutting Germany off from the world the allies have thrown that country on its own resources, prevent ing It from spending money abroad or borrowing foreiem monpv nn vhi in terest would be drained out of Ger many. The imperial government Is lelliner bonds to ths German n,nni. and the empire Is nirtnrArf n . i a&n. ing Its money at home, as making its own people prosperous, while Britain is borrowing to buy American goods. If that argument is sound, the German-Americans can best serve the atherland bv snnnnrtino- (lia Arvin. French loan, on the theory that the more the allies buy and borrow from us, the worse off they are. WAR ON PROFANITY. Seventeen thousand nersons in lnrv- larid's parade of protest against the use or proramty must have presented a formidable array. The Holy Name Society appears to have flourished in Maryland despite the proximity of Congress andthe halls of Government and we may assume that the monster of profane vituperation has boon ri.nit a fearful blow by the spectacle of such a iorce assembled to do battle. The incident Is refreshing. The disciples of blasphemy and unhallowed have been multiplying almost un- cnecKea unaer the complications and annoyances of modern life. Originally profane invective must havn hn in. spired by boiling passions or incited uy powenui provocation. No doubt the first curses were nDrjlieri in nil tin cerity, although they implied a spirit of venom which rendered the impious practice no more commendable. There after tney became matters ,f hnhif and crept into the speech of peoples. even as rank weeds grew into their garaens, and were transmitted from generation to generation, each genera tion adding a fewrlourlshes of its own until the total product Is now some thing fearful to behold. Profanity has become an nnmm'-m. place In the present day that It Is ut tered in our theaters and homes. Who has not heard the witless .-n.-nerii-n eo his audience In an uproar by s-jme oath which should have won him a shower of decadent fruit? Hero and villain alike may swear with im punity. There are some depraved par ents who carry profanity into their homes and use it in the presence of their children. Some perverse indi viduals are so much the victims of this unholy practice that tence is punctuated by . a profane flourish. Doubtless it is a mere nmt- ter of habit with the average usej- of impious expletives. Possibly uncon scious assimilation has much tn An with the swearing habits of many. But me practice reveals a certain coarse ness of fiber and lack of refinement The Holy Name Society is undertak ing virtuous work when it sets out to strip the unsightly weeds of pro- tamty irom numan speech. FRUITS OF CARELESS SHOPPING. Rather a serious indictment to raA against the women of the land by a -vew xork rood insnectoi- whn h-. become discourager! in sades against dishonest tradespeople. Women, who are the heads of house- noias, may be set down as accesso ries after the fact In the light of the food Inspector's allegations, and he points to a condition which some of our women's clubs might do well to make the object of organized activity. The complaint of this official is that he has sought the co-operation of the women in his crusades without avail. Dishonesty continues to flourish among certain classes of dealers r-.i,t- stcrage eggs are put forth in the guise ui iresn eggs with Impunity and other dire advantages are taken of the un wary. The authorities are able to detect unwholesome food but they are not always able to find where it has been disposed of under false pretenses and so the sharp practice flourishes in defiance of the law. Selling a dozen cold-storage eggs for fresh egg prices is a trifling trans action unless you view the matter In the aggregate. Then It assumes the aspect of wholesale fraud. Nr.r is It enough that when the good housewife discovers ancient edibles that she re turn the food to the grocer and accept an exchange. The crafty sort of tradesman will have a renri,- e- The housewife will be politely told that she is the one and only source of complaint information calculated to silence her instantly. Were the matter reported to the authorities the tscuree or me aecayea rood might be traced ana snut oil Further than this there would be more incentive tr hn., dealing- if honesty were recognized and ft uj women snoppers. As the matter now rests the conscientious dealer receives little credit for . his virtues. It is women who buy the Nation's food, and, when it is taken into account that the major portion of tho country's income goes to the feminine disburs ing agent of the home for distribution the scope which petty dishonesty may assume is truly alarming. Women should view their responsibility more seriously. They should conduct their shopping personally rather than by telephone or through the agency of a small son or daughter. And when discrepancies are found either in price or quality the case should be acted upon In forcible fashion. Here Is a field In which our feminine militants may apply their talents and activities with genuine economic and moral benefit to the country. It develops that a "hostile" Naval force broke through our defenses n the Maryland Coast and successfully "invaded" the United States. All this at maneuvers. Oddly enough, "invad ers" always succeed at American maneuvers. The most stupid com mander in the world would succeed in a simulated attack on some American strategic point. The higher officers see to that. No opportunity must be lost to impress us with our weak nesses. The practice is more or less justified, however, since there can be no doubt of the larger fact of our de fenseless ness. "America first," says the President in a patriotic appeal. Right, indeed. But he should also 'steer the diplomacy of his Administration Into channels which will safeguard Ajn er I c a n s abroad and command the respect, if not the deference, of foreign powers and near-powers. America's standing, tradition and prestige cannot be up held permanently by mere flowery literary efforts. No doubt the vigorous boys and young men who attend the high schools will be flattered by the solici tations of the newspaper which terms them "babies" and wails at the pros pect of having them ta'.cn out of their "cradles" and assembled on the drill grounds for instruction purposes. If it wasn't for the money-borrowing requisites that go with recognition the Mexican factions would not care a snap of- the finger which side we favored. Carranza will be able to feather his nest now before the newest revolutionary movement unseats him. Postmaster-General Burleson's or der to censor violation of neutrality In postal cards and other matter is timely. Only foolish people use such things to express contempt for tho warring nations. It is all very well for Premier BTatlano, of Roumanla, to say his country will join the allies, but In the Balkan states premiers propose and kings dispose. Venizelos has learned that. Bulgars In Switzerland tre refusing to return to the colors and fight the allies. Remoteness from the con tagious war fever doubtless has en abled them to retain their reason. It is better to be clever with a game warden, for he has all the law and . most or the right and might back of him. A Salem hunter paid 50 for the first lesson. The Germans may not be a great success at naval war, but they cer tainly can cross rivers with great agility, as the Serbians have learned. The four games necessary to earn the "velvet" have been played. Further games are for glory, with a little animus to "wipe up" rivals. When teacher and half the scholars get the measles, the immunes enjoy the vacation. That is the case in the Quinaby neighborhood. It seems quite Immaterial to some City Commissioners whether revenue is increasing or decreasing. Salaries must rise just the same. A great and good woman has gone from among us. The world is richer in that she lived and poorer in that she has passed on. Goethals will reopen the canal when it Is ready. Meanwhile Summer Is coming down at the Horn a good time for the trip. Ten miles of paving this year; thirty miles last year. Looks like a good place to cut down the city's engineer ing payroll. If the theoretical Invasion had been actual, the Navy's explanation of why it failed to repel the Invaders would be useless. The person with, the jitney habit Is wise to take a little casualty In surance. This applies as well to the Jay walkers. Nero, the zoo Hon, has the rtcord for longevity In captivity. No end to the good qualities of the Oregon climate. As municipal salary increases go glimmering many cherished future plans of city employes perhaps follow suit. Local teachers desire . to learn Spanish. Principals will continue to make the unruly boys "walk Span ish." Now is the time for officials to make good on the portion of their pre election platforms labeled "economy.' The $500,000,000 prop under the price of sterling exchange seems not to be strong enough. Russia Is about to issue "shin plasters" as did this country during tne Civil war. Automobile runabouts for police men! No limit to the field of the motor car. Italy Is to fight harder. No one was aware she was fighting at all. Greece decides to remain neutral with "No Trespass" sign up. Here la the rain to dress up um brellas and mackintoshes. Princess Pocahontas was prolific in descendants. Hard to get away from a J-to-1 score. Perhaps the Phillies will phool 'em today. These are the days of big banks. Real history-ma king ball! European War Primer By National Geographical Society. The Artois, the region mentioned con tinually in the dispatches as that where the heaviest righting in Norther France is taking- place, includes the territory of an ancient province of France, and corresponds to the present department of Fas de Calais, minus the arondisse ments of Montreuil and Boulogne. Re ports of attacks by the allies lr the Artois mean attacks against the north and south German trench line, on its section extending; from Armentieres, on the Belgian frontier south of Ypres. to the neighborhood of Bapauma, which is about 16 miles southeast of Arras. This line is a little more than 40 miles long. The Artois is a rich, well-watered country, dotted with industrial towns, but chiefly known as a pasture and farm land. Ita larger farms produce an abundance of grain and hops, while the smaller holdings grow great quan tities of the fancy vegetables for which France is famed above every other land with the exception of Belgium. The capital of the old province was Arras, the name being a corruption of "Ar tois." Among the important towns in the region are Bethune, Aire, Ba paume. Lillers. Saint-Pol and Hesdin. The great battle of Agincourt, between the French and English, was fought nere on uctoDer Zo, 1415. The Counts of Flanders ruled the Artois from the ninth to the 12th cen tury. In 1180- the land was bestowed upon the King of France, Philip Augus tus, as the dowry of his bride, Isabella or HainauL In the 14th century Artois passed to the house of Burgundy, and a marriage of a daughter of this house to the Archduke Maxmilllan brought it under the banner of the Habsburgs. The French contested the claims of the Austrlans, and finally conquered the province from Spain, to which It had fallen In 1634, in 1659. The province has since remained in the poasession or tne trench. NATION HAS COMMERCIAL WEAPON We Could Exact Treaty Pledgee to E. elude Vu Prom Forelxa Troubles. VANCOUVER. Wash., Oct. 12. (To the Editor.) We. as a Nation, have settled on two recognized rules of conduct that have received the sanc tion of the entire people to the extent that they are known to the world as our foreign policy. The first and oldest is the acceptance of Washington's advice not to enter into entangling alliances with the nations of EuropiT The second, it need hardly be said, is the Monroe Doctrine. The rivers of blood now flowing through the putrid stench of battle-agonized Europe con vince us more than ever of the wisdom of Washington's sage advice. But let us not be blinded to the fact that if we are not to shackle ourselves with alliances of vastly greater importance It Is for us to use every means in our power to prevent such alliances from being formed against us. The jovial, complacent ariant cannot overlook the hellish menace of the offensive and defensive alliance that has drawn and is drawing the na tions of the earth into a death struggle that is none of their quarrel. Does it not occur to our statesmen that now more than ever before we have a means of excluding ourselves from the opera tion or such alliances? Why are we exporting priceless cargoes of muni tions, life sustaining food, and the gold that is the foundation of our power and greatness without exacting more in return than mere credits of exchange? Not one ounce of powder, not one penny of currency should be allowed to find its way directly or In directly to Europe until a solemn pledge s subscribed in treaty form that every offensive and defensive treaty, as be tween our friends of today, shall be amended specifically to exclude the United States from its scope. In recognition of our well-defined policy that is only asking for the reciprocal courtesy of friendly neighbors. Written nto tne treaties or today it will enter into the policy of those nations to govern their conduct in the future. Those who object to this, those who object" to everything they themselves do not conceive, may say it is no part oi tne iunction or government to in terfere with legitimate commerce and banking exchanges between our in stitutions and those of foreign corpora tions. The Government of the United States can very properly notify J.- P. .morgan & to. that it does not look with favor upon Its operations with the agents of certain foreign govern ments until a number of objectionable differences are cleared awav. No banking institution in the country would have the temerity to challenge the withdrawal of the. support of the State and Treasury Departments. Nor would any -manufacturing concern venture to make delivery in the face of a protest from the Government, There are. other and equally effective means of forcing a line of conduct calculated to further the best interests of the country. But we are safe in assuming a patriotic ap peal from the Administration would bring about cordial co-operation. It is tolly lor us to allow England to flatter and cajole us into disregard of the veiled threat the Japanese statesmen smirk at us through their offensive and defertsive alliance with our false mother. It but too sadly proves the Impotence of our diplomacy. We can protect ourselves from such a proven danger without going counter to our established policy. We must do it or we will spill our best blood as a penalty. Let it be remembered erold does not pass as an exchange of value tor tne precious blood of a nation until that blood Is poison. VAN W. ANDERSON. Who Will Get Bandages? PORTLAND. Oct. 12. (To tho Edl tor.) Through the pages of The Ore gonian we are informed that a club of charitable ladies are gathering: ma terials for bandages for tho wounded soldiers in Europe. An Inquiry to ascertain in what man ner these supplies will be distributed or through what channels In Europe these will be sent to tho proper parties may not bo out of place. The war has produced a condition where the Ameri can cotton, the most suitable material for these purposes, is practically mo nopolized on terms dictated bv Em land, and to the great detriment, finan cially, of the American producer. There can be no doubt that on that side little necessity exists for help, while human ity, which, like Christianity, takes no account of race or National difference, would dictate that those who are pre vented from getting tho supplies be the beneficiaries of this movement- Information about the destination of these donations will be much appre ciated. OTTO SCHUMANN. The Danger. Houston Chronicle. At tho Capitol one day a California Representative was discoursing on the sport of fishing for tuna off the Pacific Coast- "We go out in small motorboats." said the Representative, "and fish with a long line baited with flying fish. Any thing less than a 100-pound tuna isn't considered good sport." Just then a colored messenger, who had been listening, stepped up. . ""Scuso me. auh," said he, wide-eyed, "but did I understand yo' to say dat yo' went fishin' to' 100-pound fish in a lit tle motahboatr "Yes," said the Congressman, with a smile, "we go out frequently." "But," urged the darky, "ain't you' 'feared yo' misrht ketch one?" Locric and Rastns' Marriage. Birmingham Age-Herald. "What did Rastus git married for?" "Lawd only Snows, chile. He keeps riTb,t on workla'," COMPENSATION Fl'ND INADEQUATE Private Company Wouldn't Be Allowed to Operate- oh State's Shewlna;. PORTLAND. Oct. lS.-,-(To the Edi tor.) The Oregon Industrial Accident Commission la their annual report have demonstrated to their own satisfac tion, at least that the imposition of a tax on the general public of over $90. 900 is justified, although no other com pensation law in the United States of the 31 now passed permits of a tax on the people for the benefit of the fund out of which compensation benefits are paid. Oregoniana have no occasion to wonder why taxes are high and remain complacent to subtle provisions of laws of this character passed in this state. Ihe attention of the public should be specifically directed to that portion of the Industrial Accident Commis sion s report, on page 8. in which ref erence is made to an alleged balance at the end of the year of 1179.702. Natur ally we are pleased to learn that the business of ths department of the state has been handled with such fidelity and devotion to the public by the adminis trators (notwithstanding the contribu tion of the public of over $90,000) that there is an apparent balance, if not surplus, of $179,702 on hand. We should not deceive ourselves, however, in the false hope of future dividends in the form of suspension from further contributions to the fund, because this amount will disappear like former high values on Portland real estate if due allowance is made for the unsettled lia bility for payments in real money con tained in the list of unprovided-for ac cidents referred to on page 17, for which private companies would have to set aside reserves. Some of these represent real liability; others for which reserves must be set aside until a statutory limit of liability ceases to exist. I refer to the following, under the head of Disposition": Suspensions (no claim for compensa tion received) 2.17 Claims in process of adjustment. ..... . 42.1 Rejection for cause ..i Ii3 jaontniy pi.yir.ents continued (disabil ity still eilillntl 15 Fatal cases in process of adjustment., li Fatal oases suspended ................. 20 c aiai cases rejected a Total (out of a total number of acci dents, both fatal and non-fatal, re ported of 34ii) 1009 This situation Is further Illuminated by page 43 of the Commission's renort. and their admission that the average reserve for pensions in fatal cases is $4897. which for the 19 fatal cases li process of adjustment would alone con sume $93,043 of the balance on hand. After allowing a reserve of $100 for each of the other 900 accidents (which is not excessive when Judged from the reserves required under the New Tork law ror outstanding accidents), the bat ance in the fund would be minus. Furthermore, wo have made no al lowance for the item of expense, which should be allowed in addition to the above reserves In the administration and final closing of these accidents, as tne income for the twelve months cov ered by the report is presumed at least to provide for the expense thereof, and not future contributions, which I i sume are set aside for the purpose of providing ror future accidents. No private insurance company of anv character would be permitted by an In surance Commissioner of the State of Oregon, or of any other state, to con tinue to transact business in the face or an annual report of this character. and we can see no reason for permit ting the btate of Oregon to indulge In practices which are reprehensible wnen indulged in by privato lnstitu tions. The Commission should be com pelled to make adequate provision for proper reserves, or else admit that this report is more Interesting as fiction than as what it purports to be a solu tion of economic problems not possible by any other agency than the state. PAUL C. BATES. A PESSIMISTIC FALLACV. Jfeodlea and Flu, When a Man Marries His Trouble Begins. So wrote a dyspeptic old son-of-a-gun Who'd scowl at enjoyment and shudder at fun. A cynic whose liver was 'way out o' trim And handing him all that was coming to nim. Despite this wild croaker of "needles and pins. When a man marries his life Just begins Tho life that's worth living, embowered in bliss Beside the fair Mrs. he made from a Miss; A dear little wlfey to lighten his woes And keep traitor buttons sewed onto his clothes; A Jewel to meet him out at the front gate And hand him tho kiss she's been hold ing in wait. And flood him with smiles that soon scatter away The clouds of the business cares of the day; To fetch him his slippers a gift from his hon. Ere yet their two lives had been fused into one; To fill up his pipe with the weed that enchants And scratch him a match on the seat of a chair. Then pillow her head on his shoulder and vow. While smoothing tho wrinkles of care from his brow. That he is the limit of darlings 'mong all The hubbies on this old terrestrial ball. Tho matter of cooking we push to one side. For cooking Is new to the average bride. And. though indigestion with all of its ills May hit him. he'll swallow his wee liver pills And vow that his mother could never prepare Such well cooked, delicious, delectable fare. But the food feature worries not him and his dove While yet they are feeding on kisses and love. Old "Needles and Pins." you sure give us a pain! Go chase yourself off to some Eyeless domain Where never tho voice of a woman can reach Tour ears, you old wilted and worm eaten peach. Thimbles and thread, thimbles and thread, A man's never worth a goldam till he's wed. JAMES BARTON ADAMS. No Place to Meet EllKlbles. PORTLAND, Oct, 12. (To the Edi tor.) N. L.'s article in The Oregbnian on the marriage problem causes mo to sav that I am in the same boat as the writer. I have lived for years in then city, but so far failed to meet the man I would change my name for. The ones I have come in touch with do not appeal to me. ' The subject has been mentioned in this paper a number of times as to forming or organizing a club or society where good, honest people (not adven turers) could come together and be properly introduced. There are many girls and women of high ideals that would gladly and will ingly assume the responsibilities of s home on what X. L. commands and less, providing they were sure of it, with a kind husband thrown in. L. tx. Not the Fall Value. London Tit-Bits. VWers you able to sell old Skinflint a grave?" asked the superintendent of the cemetery. The agent shook hi head. "He was afraid he miirht not get the full value of it, he explained. "But, hang it all, a man has got to dio some time!" excl?.imed ihe superintendent. "That's what I told him, but he only answered, 'Suppose I should be lost at Joar." Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oreconlau of October 13. 1S90. Bar Harbor. Oct. 1!. Professor Aus tin Phelps, tho umoui Andover pro fessor, is dying. Paris. Oct. 12. It is understood that the Colombian government asks tho Panama Canal Company for a very heavy payment for extension of time in Colombia's canal concession, which tho company desires. It is thought if Colombia Insists on the demand tho result will be the final winding up of tho company. London. Oct. 12. The Russian gov ernment intends to construct a ship canal connecting the Dnieper and Dwi nal rivers and forming a line of com munication between the Arctic Ocean and the Black Sea and tho Mediter ranean. Berlin. Oct. 12. Amelia tjir.. tho tho authoress, dropped dead today iii Lyceum Theater. Tacoma, Oct. 13. Both n.rtie. hold conventions tomorrow to nominate city officers. Betting: is Indulged in freely on all candidates, running from $1000 to $5000 on tho Mayor. Postal InSDeetor R. R Mnn,n e c . Francisco, who is now in the citv. is not at all stinted in his praise of the Portland postoffice, which he says, for the allowance made by the Government, is one of the best ho ever saw. Ho says that tho business of this offica is despatched with a degree of celerity and neatness that stands unrivaled. Tho steamer General Miles will n tonight for Shoalwater Bay. Freight win oe received until 5 p. M. Half a Century Ago From Tho Oresonlan of October 13, 1865. i i-utiotu, i. x . a letter was ret-eivea rrom uoionel Drew this morn ins announcing the recovery of the) body of Brldadler-General tvrio-ht tk- body was found floating in the water iy r iat. near Shelter Cove in Men UOCinO COUnty. 150 miles (ir mnr fmm the spot where tho ill-fated steamer as wrecaea. Raleigh. N. C Oct, S. The Consti tutional convention today passed unan imously an ordinance declaring that the ordinance of May 28, 1861 tho ordinance of secession is and always uo ucen nun ana void. It may not be unimportant to know that during the interruption of tho uvenana Alan Wells. Fargo Com pany has not missed a trlD. We re ceived our Sacramento and Marysvllle mail regularly daily. Wo are informed by private note that H. Wasserman, who left this citv on the second of May. last, for a visit to his distant former home in Bavaria, has arrived there safely after a speodv passage. He reached his destination in. July. He was 20 days from San Fran cisco to New York. We are still smok ing his cigars and here's a puff to his health. A new steamboat is about to be con structed at Oswego for the Willamette Steam Navigation Company, similar to tho Senator, of tho People's Trans portation Company. A company of the irrespreesible state troops" lately arrived from tho East, left Portland and Vancouver last week to relievo the garrison at Fort Dalles. The latter go to Colville. near White Bluffs, and the Hayncs Ferry Route. By the fall of a crowded balcony at St, Paul, Minn., while a nrorpssint, corting General Grant was passing, 29 persons were precipitated to the pave ment, 17 of whom were badly, and three fatally Injured. XBW DISIXTECTANT DISCOVERED Government Laboratory Devlxes Cheap 4 bnt Superior Preparation. Xs a result of experiments conducted at tho hygienic laboratory of tho United States Public Health Service it is announced that a new disinfectant, possessing qualities superior to ordi nary disinfectants, has recently been discovered. The announcement is par ticularly important at this time, com ing as it does in the face of the short- flcra nf prtol n - .4.-.1.. i. : . . i. i r- t, naii.ca " 111. II nas resulted from the European conflict. The new preparation is derived from pine oil, a by-product in the man ufacture of turpentine. It is easily prepared by mixing certain propor tions of the oil with rosin and sodium hydroxide solution, tho finished prod uct being a reddish-brown liquid, rather thick and oily In appearance. but free from turbidity. With water it makes a perfectly white emulsion, much resembling milk. It has a pleas ing odor, no objectionable taste and attacks neither fabrics nor metals. It possesses over four times the disinfect ant properties of carbolic acid and ia altogether nontoxic so that it may safely be used as a throat spray or mouth wash In solutions of the ordi nary strength. The cost of the prepa ration is remarkably low. as it can bo manufactured for less than 50 cents a gallon, solely from products which are produced in this country. Many of the disinfectants now on tho market are neither efficient nor eco nomical, it having been demonstrated that a number of the most exnensivo and widely advertised are extremely weak in disinfecting power, so much so that their strength is undetermin able by ordinary methods. The sale of compounds of this nature constitutes a fraud. A second class of proprietary preparations are of guaranteed strength, thus putting a legal respon sibility upon the manufacturer, but the coat of these per unit of disinfect ing power is frequently excessive. Tho householder is therefore often at a loss to select a disinfectant which Is effi cient, economical and of constant strength, and it is believed that this new compound, which is to bo Known as "Hygienic Laboratory Pine-Oil Dis infectant," will become one of the most useful preparations of that character. Wife's Novel Medicine. Farming Business. Patron Can you tell what ails my wife? Doctor She does not take enough outdoor exercise. Patron She does not like It. Doctor True. She needs tontnir up. Patron What have you prescribed? Doctor A new hat. Keeptna; Hla Resolutions. Judge. Hokus What's tho matter with Flubdub? He looks as if he didn't have a friend in the world. Pokm Oh, he's still keeping his New Year's resolutions. Welfare Work When It prints the advertisements of reputable manufacturers and mer chants a newspaper is working for tho welfare of the readers. It Is guiding them to right and wise buying. It la by inference keeping them away from the pitfalls of trade. It is setting up standards of com merce. It is helping to make life more pleasant. Nearly all newspaper readers are advertising readers.