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PORTLAXU, 3IONDAT, FEBRCARX SI. !
A ROW OF BRICKS.
The gratuitous opinion expressed
by the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion as a part of the ruling in the
Astoria rate case on an- issue- not yet
formally raised by ''Portland is disap
pointing but not altogether surpris
ing. It was foreseen by The Orego
" nlun. at the time of the Astoria rate
hearing, that the Commission would
do cither one of two things. It would
deny Astoria's petition for a parity of
rates with Puget Sound "or it would
grant that parity and include Portland
in the same rate group. It has done
the latter. Perhaps not conclusively,
' but with a degree of positiveness
.'which will likely make more difficult
' the realization of Portland's ambitions
than if the city had intervened in the
.' Astoria case and there entered a plea
for lower rates on the strength of its
superior advantages over either Asto-
ria or Puget Sound.
' -The conditions that would cause
;the Interstate Commerce Commision
to decide against Portland in advance
involved the unscientific method of
rate adjustments now employed by the
: Commission and the demolishment of
;the entire rate structure of the North
west that would be .presaged by Port
land's claim of right to lower rates
than Puget Sound's. What The Ore
Ionian said in July, 1914, on that
; phase of the issue is reproduced in
'part in another column, to which
'those who are interested may readily
Uurn.
'. Tnose who have read the opinion
of the Commision carefully will have
; observed that it comments upon Port
land's failure to intervene or partici
pate in the Astoria case, although
'Portland was presumably aware of
the pendency of the contest. The
:C'ommission anticipates that it was the
expectation of Portland, in case of a
reduction of the Astoria rates to a
"parity with Puget Sound's, to call at
tention to its closer proximity by 100
miles to the Inland Empire and assert
a claim to rates lower than either
Astoria's or Puget Sound's.
One sentence in the order, taken
it lone, seems to imply a more or less
fpen mind as to the justice of this
anticipated claim. "A reduction in
the Portland rate, to and from the
Inland Empire," says the Commission,
"does not necessarily follow as an
inevitable consequence of a reduction
in the Astoria rates to the basis of the
Seattle and Tacoma rates." But taken
in connection with what follows this
rxpression seems to have been merely
preliminary to a discussion of that is
bue and to the conclusion that Port
land should remain on a common rate
basis with Puget Sound ports and As
toria: A little farther along in the
.order we find this definite ruling:
Tt is clear that the carriers in their pres
ent rate adjustment unduly discriminate
Iscainnt Astoria and unduly prefer the Puiret
round ports. We also conclude and find
Trnm the records that""thcre La such a rela
! tionshlp between Seattle, Tacoma. Astoria
iid Portland as to require them to be con
' tklertd as forming; more or less of a natural
rate proup with respect to much of the laffic
. la question. '
: It is not the purpose of The Ore
;gonian to accept this as a conclusive
finding or as one wholly discouraging
,n attempt to obtain a reduction of
Railroad rates to and from Portland.
.The ruling is based on inaccurate
premises. The Interstate ' Commerce
Commission assumes that the rates to
and from Puget Sound were made to
meet the rates to and from Portland,
jegulated in the latter case by water
grade and close proximity to the In
land Empire. The rates to and from
"Portland were first established be
cause Portland was the first North
west port to obtain rail connection.
These rates may have governed the
irates on the Northern railroads when
ihey were first opened to traffic, but
iin later years the reasonableness of
rates charged on the Northern roads
lias been the basis for rate-making to
and from Portland.
The Washington State Railroad
Commission was the first public body
to inquire into the reasonableness of
grain rates from the interior to the
-oast. After an exhaustive hearing
nd investigation it ordered a reduc
tion in intra-state rates on the ground
of their unreasonableness. The Com
(mission also ordered establishment of
joint rates between competing lines.
Reduction in grain rates to Portland
to the level of the Puget Sound rates
followed as a matter of protection to
the railroads serving Portland and
also as a protection to the shippers to
.this port.
; The basis of grain rates from the
interior to Puget Sound is, conclusively,
their reasonableness, in defining whieh
u longer distance and transmountain
transportation are taken into consid
eration. They are not rates compelled
by competition wtih Portland's water
grade and shorter haul. The contrary
may have appeared in the record as
submitted in the Astoria case, but if
so, the fact that it went in unchal
lenged is due to failure of Portland to
participate in the controversy. It
ought still to be subject to correction.
Once it is corrected one of the chief
props that hold up the Commission's
ruling in respect to Portland rates is
knocked down. There remains little
to support' it other than the wholly
arbitrary assertion that Portland is n
a natural rate group with Puget Sound
ports andVAstoria.
Those who have forecast nothing
but benefits from Astoria's success
have failed to take into account one
condition. The rate structure Is a row
of bricks. Topple one brick over and
It carries down many others. Natur
ally the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion is farseeing enough to foretell at
least approximately the larger conse
quences of any order it may enter. It
will avoid if it can the leveling of the
whole row if that result threatens to
put the Commission into deeper en
tanglements. It has apparently en
deavored to forestall an action that
would cause it future trouble.
But Portland has chosen its road.
It is too late to turn back And let It
not be forgotten that if that road leads
to a stone wall there is still a means
at hand to gain the advantages that
are rightfully Portland's by reason of
its location. The Columbia River can
be. made to wash away any barrier
that the Commission orders or railroad
tariffs erect ahead of its march to
greater progress and greater pros
perity. '
WHO BLOTTED OCR HONOR?
The Colombian treaty is defended
by the New York World as removing
"the only blot on the National honor
within the lifetime of this generation.".
The grievance of Colombia consists
only in the fact that President Roose
velt maintained free transit across the
Isthmus of Panama in 1903 in pre
cisely the same manner as President
Cleveland maintained it in 1885 and
in strict conformity with the treaty
with Colombia as construed by Cleve -
land Panama, an independent state
which had been subjugated by mili
tary force, regained its Independence
The United States recognized it as a
sovereign state and made a canal
treaty with it, ignoring the expelled
conqueror, Colombia, in the transac
tion. That is the extent of our offense.
Panama revolted In order to regain
the rights which had been guaranteed
when it entered the Colombian con
federation in 1861. That agreement
reserved its sovereignty, its autonomy,
freedom from military occupation
without its consent and enjoyment of
its own revenue. In 1885 a military
dictator forcibly transformed the fed
eral union -of Colombia into a central
ized republic, violated this agreement
in every particular and provided that
"the department of Panama shall be I
subject to the direct authority or tne
government and shall be administered
in accordance with special laws." In
1903 Panama threw tiff this oppress
ive foreign yoke and regained its in
dependence. For recognizing this republic it is
proposed that the United States offer
Colombia an, apology and $25,000,000,
in order to remove "the blot on the
National honor." The United States
did not apologize to and compensate
Spain for recognizing the independ
ence of Cuba; why should we com
pensate Colombia when that country
suffered the penalty of its tyranny?
The blot on American honor was put
there, not "by President Roosevelt but
by President Wilson when he permit
ted Americans to be murdered in Mex
ico without bringing the murderers to
justice.
IN THE INTEREST OF ALIENS.
How hollow is the pretense that trie
seamen s law was passed ior me
benefit of American seamen is proved
by the statistics of seamen who have
received certificates of seamen who
have received certificates under that
law Of the total number passed,
9118, only 17 per cent are native-born
Americans, 8 per cent naturalized
Americans and 75 per cenare aliens.
The American flag has been driven
from trans-Pacific commerce in the
pretended interest of a class three
fourths of whom owe no allegiance to
the United States and rely for protec
tion of their rights orj foreign govern
ments. The disparity between the number of
American and alien seamen is still
greater on the Pacific Coast than in
the United States as a whole. Of sea
men who received certificates at Puget
Sound tl per cent are aliens and only
3 per cent Americans, native or nat
uralized. For Portland the respective
percentages are 70 and 24 and for San
Francisco 75 and 25. At all three Pa
cific CoiLst ports combined 81.3 per
cent of the'seamen are aliens and only
18.7 per cent Americans.
Even were the seamen's law bene
ficial to the seamen, there would be
slight obligation upon the United
States to sacrifice its merchant marine
in the Interest of a class three-fourths
of whose members are aliens. Since
the effect of the law is to substitute
for American ships, paying high wages
and affording good conditions of work
as to food and everj-thinc else, Jap
anese and other foreign ships, paying
low wages and imposing more un
favorable working conditions, the
action of Congress in yielding to tho
impertunities of the Seamen's Union,
composed mainly of foreigners, seems
little short of imbecile.
ANNOYANCES OF ILIj BREEDING.
Now that the subject has been
"brought up somewhat forcibly by an
exasperated musician, it is well to note
that these temperamental artists are
not the sole victims of a lack of con
sideration at public- gatherings nor the
only sufferers from ill-bred acts com
mitted in public "places. What serious
or cultivated person has not been
(driven to the point of distraction by
the vacuous chatter and idle commo
tion going on about him in the most
absorbing moment of a public per
formance? Who has not had an even
ing at the theater spoiled by the noisy
comment and gossip in the seats just
ahead or just behind?
There are many varieties of these
boorish disturbers of the peace of mind
of audiences. Perhaps the worst of
fender Is the clownish knave who
persists in interjecting noisy comedy
of his own making at the most se
rious moment of a drama. In a popu
lar election, conducted by well-bred
persons, he might run a close second,
however, to the feminine offender who
gets launched upon some frivolous dis
cussion between acts and continues to
chatter after the play has been re
sumed. No matter how great the ar
tist, how majestic the composition or
how rich the execution, there are
those who will find something to say
in an audible tone at the very moment
when the thoughtful person seeks to
give every bit of concentration tothe
stage. A boor of even worse degree
is found in the person who persists in
whistling or humming an accompani
ment to the orchestra at a symphony
concert or even during the- celestial
rendition of some masterpiece by an
artist of renown.
Such offenders against good tafete
and the common rights of others ate
common. It is next to impossible to
attend a public performance without
suffering at their hands, or rather at
their mouths. The man who sneezes
on the back of your neck is less of an
annoyance because he is less common.'
One may escape with one or two such
experiences in a season. The spectacle
of an artist stalking indignantly from
the stage because of inattention is not
a new one. There are few of our
great musicians who have not done
this. Some of our actors have rebuked
offenders openly. Their powers of ar
tistry may be impaired by such inter
ruptions but the capacity for full ap
preciation on the part of an inte'li
"gent and responsive audience likewise
is hampered. The hopeless aspect of
it is that there is no use scolding. The
offenders are not given to reading.
Otherwise they would know better
than to make nuisances of themselves.
Perhaps the only solution is to .pro
vide monitors in the theaters to sup
press Jiie disturbers. If some eminent
artist should insist upon such a serv
ice at performances given by him the
innovation should spread rapidly.
CONFISCATING STATE TAXES.
Land Commissioner Tallman.'s opin
ion coinciding with that of Will R.
King that states cannot lawfully tax
public land until patent has been
earned is clearly in accord withthe
Supreme Court decisions which . he
quotes. If the leasing bills were
passed as they now read and if these
decisions were strictly applied, there
can be little doubt that the leased
land would be held non-taxable. This
conclusion is supported by the
broad terms of Supreme Court de
cisions in other cases that the states
in which public lands are situated
can in no wise - lawfully interiere
wirn. msium or emoarrass ma vm
States in the administration of the
public land laws.
These decisions, however, relate to
taxation of homstead land prior to
patent. In that case the interval be
tween entry and patent is only five
years, and the settler's rights lapse as
soon as he ceases to occupy and im
prove the land. It Is morally certain
that the land will be patented and
become taxable within a few years..
The law in that case has this result
in view. But if power sites should be
leased, the lessee would have acquired
a definite right in the land for fifty
years, a right far superior to the
homesteader's right of occupancy until
he becomes entitled to a patent. The
law itself would be a declaration that
the Government intended never to
patent the land. -
The Supreme Court might hold that
the act of .admission prohibited each
Western state to tax public land, no
matter what disposal of it the Go-
eminent might make other than ab
solute alienation of title. In that case
It would never become taxable, and
Congress could by a system of long
term leases grant all the essentials of
ownership with the great advantage
of exemption from state taxes. ' The
rent which the Government could ob
tain would then be enhanced by the
amount of taxes which the lessee
would escape. Thus the Government
would in effect appropriate to itself
the annual revenue which the states
could otherwise justly collect in taxes.
The injustice of such legislation is
so monstrous that one would expect
the sponsors of the leasing bills to
hasten' forward with an amendment
plainly declaring that public land
should become taxable upon being
leased. They refuse to do so. In con
tradiction of the opinions we have
quoted, they say leased public land
would be taxable without further
legislation. They propose merely to
confirm whatever right of taxation
the states may already have, that is,
the right which "is in controversy be
tween the states and the Interior De
partment's lawyers. They can settle
that controversy in accordance with
their own contention and with justice.
If their purpose is as fair as their
words, they will do so.- If they con
tinue to refuse, the states will be justi
fied in resisting such outrageous laws
by all conceivable means.
BRITAIN'S COMING MAN.
The one man above all 'others in
Great Britain who has gained reputa
tion through the war is David Lloyd
George. This fact is strikingly illus
trated by the fact that he has become
the idol of the Conservatives without
losing the confidence of the Radicals.
A few months before the war he was
excoriating the dukes on the platform;
now the dukes can find nothing too
good to say of him. Two years ago
he was the particular target ot tne
London Times' verbal assaults; now
the Times acclaims him as the one
Minister who has had the courage to
tell the nation unpalatable truths and
to acknowledge errors, as the one man
who has the insight to see tnat ail me
forces of the nation industrial and
scientific as well as military and finan
cial must be organized to win the
war. He has forgotten all political
differences, all the domesfic contro
versies of which he was the stbrm
center, in tho one supreme purpose
to win.
To him is mainly due the harmon
izing in the national cause of those
elements which two years -ago were
ready to involve the three kingdoms
in social revolution and Ireland in
civil war.1 To the radical working
man he has preached that the war is
between the principles of democracy
and military despotism, and that in
ternal class contests must be deferred
until this' issue is fought out. To the
Irish the same argument appeals, re
inforcing that of John Redmond that
Ireland's interest in this case is iden
tical with England's and that Ireland
must stand by England for the further
reason that she will thereby dis'prove
the charge that home-rulers are dis
loyal to the pritish Empire and that
home rule is but a step toward inde
pendence. He has won th co-operation of the
manufacturers by his persistent and
gradually successful efforts to over
come labor's -dogged adherence to
union rules a task in which probably
no other man could have succeeded.
He has put women and unskilled men
to work beside union men, has con
verted the country into a vast arsenal
and has constantly speeded up the
output of munitions to the point where
it is confidently predicted that in a
few months the allies' supply will ex
ceed the Germans'. His work has
won such unstinted praise in the army
that the little daughter of a Tory
General, home from the front, said on
hearing her parents talk of him Jn a
laudatory strain: "-Mother, is that
the same Mr. Lloyd George you used
to hate so?" He is now hailed By all
parties as the great organizer for war,
and is so -much talked of as a future
Premier that he is accused of seeking
to supplant Mr. Asquith, though no
act or word of his has given cause for
the suspicion".
Mr. Lloyd George's success is the
more remarkable because he is one of
those lawyer-politicians whom H. G.
Wells and other critics chiefly blame
for the allies' egregious blunders and
unreadiness. It has been said that
lawyer-politicians are responsible for
the democracy's inefficiency in peace,
and that in war they have led it to the
brink of destruction; that they may
be merely irritating in peace, but that
in war they are exasperating through
their elocution in place of action, their
flattery, wire-pulling, logrolling, com
promise and above all procrastination,
all of which may sperl irretrievable
disaster. There has been a cry for a
soldier or a successful business man
or a scientist to lead the Efltish nation
in war.
But these types of men also have
their weaknesses. A soldier's reliance
on force without regard to other con
siderations than immediate military
success migiht have drawn the United
Dt.fu ' Afl.n naiifpglc Into WflT
against Britain. Supremacy ' of the
military power in uermany causeu uu
invasion of Belgium,- which arrayed
Britain against the Teutopr ind cause'd
the submarine campaign, which might
have caused a breach with the United
States. Civil control is needed to check
the soldier's propensity to ignore
everything but force. The business
man is apt to look at public affairs
from the narrow viewpoint of his own
class, as when that class demanded
barbarous reprisals for Zeppelin raids
and clamors for destruction of German
commerce after the war, and opposed
prohibition and other efficiency meas
ures, or as when during the Spanish
war seaboard cities demanded that the
Navy be scattered for their protection.
The labor leader would be apt to take
an equally narrow, class view of his
duties, while the scientist is better
qualified to work out problems in the
laboratory than to apply them in the
stress of war.
Government in a . democracy con
sists as "much in harmonizing con
flicts of class and interest, so that
action may Je possible, as in the
preparation and administration of the
measures in which that action takes
form. To a certain degree the classes
must be organized for teamwork. A
member of one class Is not as well
qualified" for this work as is one who
approaches it from the outside, for he
is less capable of adopting the view
point of another class and, if he were,
he would lack the conHdence'of other
classes. Success in this organization
of classes into a team is most likely
of attainment by those arts in which
the lawyer-politician excels and there
fore by a man of that class. If such
a man can recognize his own limita
tions and can be the one who sees the
essentials of problem, who has the
Kdriving force to get his ideas adopted,
while he leaves to others the details
of working out the problem and
putting in practice the idea, he will
succeed. Mr. Lloyd George gives
promise of being that type of man.
Upon him may fall the task of reor
ganizing that nation for peace after
having organized it for war.
By and by the state will fix the age
at which a man shall marry. Then
there will not be such unfortunate
incidents as that of the boy of 18
who committed x suicide because his
sweetheart's mother objected to the
ceremony while he was earning $S a.
week. In this case the boy lacked the
stamina that would have made him a
good husband when older. Very likely
he did not know that a man never
marries his first love and is all the
better for it the rest of his life. The
girl's mother was right. She has been
scraping the bottom of the flour bin,
and no mother wants her daughter to
have that experience.
Voters must heed the advice of Sec
retary of State Olcott and register at
once. Very little time is consumed
possibly a wait of five minutes in line.
The "operation" is simple and easy.
People are asked the names of both
parents and city, county and state of
birth, which may tax the knowledge
a trifle.
"Simple spelling" is at best a fad
and will benefit nobody but the poor
spellers, whose faults shine brightly
in these days of typewriters, for each
can have his own style of doing it
phonetically. The University of Ore
gon can find better business than tin
kering with the work of Noah weD
ster. . It is difficult to sympathize with the
British cartoonist who was heavily
fined for ridiculing Tommy Atkins.
The British soldier may have his
shortcomings, but he is fighting brave
ly under adverse conditions which the
British public created.
A heavy deficit occurred in the Chi
cago grand opera season. But grand
opera deficits are expected and the
public-spirited subscribers make up
the necessary balances cheerfully. One
day grand opera will be self-support
ing in America, w-e hope.
r.ruv to relieve, a national strin
gency of funds, may take over a per
centage of the salaries or an omciaia.
Great idea! Why not try it upon those
Vatinnai office-holders who have
rolled up our own debts and decreased
our Income?
After waiting with more or less pa
tience for fifteen years, an Alaska'
pioneer is about to sell a copper mine
for $50,000. He is fortunate. Many
on viavA heen waiting more than fif
teen years and. cannot see fifty thou
sand cents.
Fortpml relief is due the many thou.
sands of colored people, flood bound
in the Lower Mississippi valley. neir
misfortune is not due to lack of thrift,
and aid should be speedily rendered.
Tntnn,itir nf thn tonff trouble Is
shown by the amount of collateral
$70,000 put up for release on Dan oi
an alleged, gunman. Keep away from
the Chinese district.
Again has a Holsteln broken the
world's record for butter in a week.
The Jersey always will be the family
butter cow, however, for the black-and-white
animal is a wholesaler.
s0!tti, vns the score by giving, a
long penitentiary sentence to the Jap
anese druggist who (sold the wood
alcohol that killed a white man.
For a country not at war this Na
tion is hard put for schemes to raise
money for expenses. "Tariff for reve
nue" is the keynote of "bunk."
An Italian who loses his deposit in
the failure of a bank owned by a
countryman reverts to the primitive in
brooding over his loss.
Woman's screams continue to be the
best burglar alarm. It's a pretty bold
yeggman who does not stampede
when they-begln.
Tf ever thn one-man streetcar gets
into Portland it will require a deaf
and dumb motorman under the pres
ent law.
Washington shingle mills are re
suming operations despite the in
creased trade in patent roofings. -
Thp Marcola lad who swallowed
quicksilver has the making of a good
local forecaster.
The Russians have captured - Mush
and will discuss the rest of the bill of
fire later.
The Willamette is beginning early
to take toll of lives.
Powdered "booze" does not go in
Oregon. '
How to Keep Well
Br Dr. A. Kvans.
Wet Brain.
Thes man who takes a social drink
should know of a new danger that lies
in store for him. It is wet brain. He
has probably heard that drink lowers
the moral tone, that it weakens resist
ance, that if he indulges presently he
will be unable to resist, that it makes
his judgment poor, and that, finally,
he develops delirium tremens. De
lirium tremens was the veil beyond
which nothing lay.
Drs. Sceleth and Beifeld now come
forward with the warning that beyond
delirium tremens lies Vet brain and
that only one man in four attacked by
wet brain recovers. And Drs. Sceleth
and Beifeld ought to know, for the
former has been physician to the bride
well for many years and he has cared
for about 2500 drunks a year during
all of that time. A great many of these
iin.in iai delirium tremens.
Uluuno Hi ' - - " -
Many of them have had wet brain.
onq autnnav hast heen made on them
ing
rtl LCI a j.i .1 1. uu... - -
whisky for seven years he becomes
suhiect to delirium tremens, j. u
intend to use space describing deliriu
1UICUU t,J woo jn.vi. . ( i
tremens, for many have had the mon-
m
ircuiua, mi uiauj - - --
keys, and practically all the remamd
. .. minlfAtl TTln
nave seen one ur yiuio --
women fighting off the demons which
haunt people with the D. T.'s.
For a while before D. T.'s develop the
i . . i ; . .1. J .. rt- nnt ni All. Dur-
naker cava " -
ing the attack of D. T.'s he does not
eat. As the wild delirium or tne u. i.
passes off the long continued heavy
drinker is liable to develop symptoms
of wet brain.
Delirium tremens lasts from three to
eight days. Somewhere between 10 and
15 per cent of people with delirium tre
mens develop wet brain. The man lies
i o ,.; cinnnr Mia pvps are closed.
He mutters meaningless. Questions are
not answered. He Jias delusions nun
hallucinations, but he is not wildly
afraid of his visions as in deiirium tre
mens. He may swallow food, water,
and medicine, but he does so without
rousing. His muscles are stiff. In
some cases the neck is so stiff thai
meningitis is suspected. The patient
may be limp in mind, but his muscles
are not limp. His skin is very sensi
tive. Pinching causes the patient to
frown and draw the pinched arm away,
but he does not wake up.
In the qondition of stupor, similar to
what the old-time "beople called the ty
phoid state, the man lies from two to
12 weeks, if he does not die from
pneumonia or some other disease in the
meanwhile. Seventy-five per cent of
those who develop wet brain die, many
from pneumonia, some from Bright's
disease, and some from other condi
tions. Every drink is a mixed drink. There
are no other kinds. When a man takes
a drink,, however simple it may be. ho
mixes in some degeneration of his
nerve cells, some chance of delirium
tremens, and a few other ingredients.
Let him understand that he also pours
into the glass about one finger of wet
brain.
Contracting; Pyorrhoea.
Mrs. L. A. writes: ."I never fall to
read your articles and interesting' an
swers and always notice you are not
afraid to speak the truth.
"I was dumfounded this morning
when I went to the dentist to have
him tell me I had pyorrhoe.. Have al
ways taken care of my teeth.- Have
neglected one tooth the last few years
on account of not recovering rapidly
from an operation; could this be .the
Miiao nt- fonlrl I have causht it from
my husband, who neglects his teeth, and
they are very bad? Seems I have read
that the only cure is to reinovu mr
teeth. As I am a little past 33 and only
lost a few, I hate to lose thera. ,If this
is true, by treating the gums and fill
ing teeth, how long will they last?
'Hope you will answer soon and tell
me more about it and what to do. You
will never know how thankful I am."
REPLY.
It is almost impossible to tell where pyor
rhoea start or from what. The moat im
portant thinB 1 to secure a complete cure,
even If you have to sacrifice your teeth.
No two cafes Ret well in the same lensta
of time. He sure you go to a competent
dentist, and then do Just as he says. For
the remainder of your life keep Hose watch
of the condition of your gums. Vse thought
and will power in daily life. Proper exer
cise, diet, and rest will hasten the cure
very greatly.
Incufnal Hernia.
E.H. H. writes: "I wish to ask your
opinion concerning my 3 months' old
boy baby, who has an inguinal and um
bilical hernia. He has quite a good deal
of trouble with the inguinal hernia. It
seems to become strangulate,d. Would
it be practical to operate at this age?"
REPLY.
It Is practicable to operate on a haby 3
months old. If you are riBht in your opinion
that the hernias Ket cauKht In the sac and
do not slip back readily, operation should !,e
done. In manv cases hernia can be held
back bv binders, but this is not easy with
an inguinal hernia In a squlrminK baby.
RIGHTS OF THE FOREIGVBORX
Principles Governing Status of Nat
uralized Citizens In Knrope.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. To the Edi
tor.) (1) If I am a naturalized Amer
ican of German birth and of military
age and should return now to Germany,
can the German government, by law or
custom of theirs, force me to do mili
tary service for my fatherland?
(2) If so, would the same law or cus
tom apply to a son of mine born here
either before or after I took out nat
uralization papers?
(3) Has France or England such a
law or custom?
(4) If so, in what way did such a law
or custom affect the relations of Eng
land and the United States about 1812?
B. L.
,(1) If he came to tho United States
before he became - liable to mllitary
service in Germany, his naturalization
would protect him from being com
pelled to serve. If he emigrated after
attaining military age or in order to
evade military sgrce, he may be com
pelled to serve on returning to Ger
many and may be punished for the
evasion.
(2) No.
(3) The same statements apply to
British subjects, but not to French
citizens, i France maintains that a man
born a Frenchman is always a French
man and that his children are French,
though he may have been naturalized
in a foreign country; hence both father
and son are liable to military service
in France. Though it is French law, it
oiwava Rtrintlv enforced, if a
is
naturalized citizen protests and in
vokes the aid of the' State Department.
(4) One cause of the war of 1812
wa3 Great Britain's refusal to recog
nize the right of its subjects to re
nounce their allegiance and to become
citizensof the United States. Persons
of British birth who had been natural
ized were forcibly taken from American
ships and compelled, to serve on British
ships.
Imports of Batter.
SHEDDS. Or., Feb. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) Please tell me how much butter
fat Is imported yearly 'to the United
States. LESTER H. JACOBS.
i The imports of butter and butter
substitutes for the past four years
were as follows:
Pounds. Val-ie.
1915 J-ll4I.r,S -1-16.-T-1
inil 7,1'Oo.Ot;!) 1. (170,522
51- 3.72B.4-17 811,712
1912 S75.8.;.T 2oj,804
The large Imports for 1914 were due
largely to shipments received from
Australia,
POINT "OT IX ISSl E DECIDED.
Interstate Commission Roles The
Orec;onian Predicted in 1014.
- Following the Astoria rate hearing
The Oregonlan published an editorial
in which the prediction was made that
the Interstate Commerde Commission
wouid either deny Astoria's petition or
grant it and include Portland in the
same rate group. The Commission has
now granted the AstoKa prayer and has
sought to determine Portland's rate po
sition although that was not in issue
in the case. In the light of results, the
following from The Oregonlan, pub
lished July 16, 1914, is deemed worth
reproducing:
If the decision by the Interstate Commerce
Commission accords with the strict letter
of Astoria's application. Astoria will have
the same rates as Puget Sound. It will fol
low almost without question that Portland
will then have acquired a basis on which
to demand and obtain lower rates than elthr
Puset Sound or Astoria. Portland has every
reason to hope that the decision may be so
worded, but hope and expectations are not
one and the same.
The outcome of the latter order la obvious.
If the northern raiiroaJs made the rate to
PiiE-pt sound the'same as the new rate to
Portland, they would automatiaally reduce
Astoria's rate and in turn reduce Portland'
rate, leavine the relative positions of the
several ports the same. Portland would,
thus having; an unassailable lower rate than
any rival, ultimately Ket all the traffic from
the competitive territory.
But this possible result. It Is reasonable U
suppose, will be considered by the Commls
sion. Volume of traffic affects the cost ot
haul. The mountainous railroad with a
heavy traffic may find its cost of operation
per average train lower than the water
grade road with light traffic. Just now the
mountainous northern railroads have a
greater volume of traffic than the water
grade Columbia Valley, roads. A lower
rate on the latter would doubtless Increase
the traffic of the water-grade route to the
further loss of the northern railroads. Tho
ability of water-grade roads to reduce rates
without Impalrmt-nt of profit would Increase
progressively, while the ability of the north
ern roads to handle traffic at the ratea now
in force would diminish progressively. The
potential effects of the Astoria rate ou
traffic and railroad securities and upon the
prosperity of localities are enormous. It is
likely that not only the earning power or
the northern raluroads, but the probable re
sults to shippers who do not have access to
the water-grade railroads will be considered
by the Commission. '
Two elements now prevent both Astoria
and Portland from acquiring the full benefits
of the water grade. One Is the ensting
method of fixing railroad rales which takes
small or no account of the cost of haul and
the other is the lack of water competition.
Wo think water competition is nearer than
If reformation of ratcmaklng. What tne
Interstate Commerce Commission may seek
to avoid In making rate orders, the opening
of the Olilo Canal and the encouragement
of river transportation will forcibly accom
plish The Oregonian expects to see the day
when both Astoria and l'ortland shall have
lower rates than Puget Sound, at least on
grains and other bulk freights.
It Astoria obtains terminal rales. It i
altogether probable that the Commission
will see to It that the order puts Portland on
the same plane as Asloria and Puget Sound.
As heretofore observed, w hat Is Astoria
gain will lhn be Portland's loss, for Astoria
will get no new business except that n'"n
otherwise would have been Portlands. 1 no
last is a plain statement of fact, not an ar
gument against Astoria's petition.
NO MORE OF ROOSEVELT FOR HIM
Candidate Must Be True Blue Repub
lican or "All of t's'for Wilson.
PORTLAND, Fc-b. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) I heartily indorse tlio senti
ments of W. G. Young, published in
The Oregonian February IS, as to the
unfitness of Theodore Roosevelt as a
Republican standard - bearer. Surely,
out of a population of over 100,000,000
people the party can find for President
a capable, deserving, available, true
Republican, and one worthy of the
name. I have not been voting for
President as long by several years as
has Mr. Young, but, like him, I have
never voted for other than a Repub
lican for President, with the possible
exception of when I cast my vote for
Roosevelt. There is not one good rea
son why he should ever asitin bo rt-cos-nized
as a Republican, but, on tho con
trary, many why he should not. and
his nomination as such will insure
another Wildon Administration. Real
Republicans will not stand for Roose
velt after his selfish bolt of l'J12. even
as a compromise, and why should they?
He has already indirectly compromised
us 'all far too greatly.
I have never favored Bryan, nor
, t , : n,.nt with him from
nave i uecu nm " . ... - --
any standpoint, but as a Democrat he
is certainly neaa nu bhuuiu'-i
Koo.sevelt as a Republican. Then, too,
compare the men as to greatness; the
one sidestepped the perpetual, as it
were, desire of his life, doubtful of
his own ability to win, and. seeing an
i j... v,;a ntiplv Irk nfiwer.
opportunity iu jjia.t ". H"- - , J,
named a compromise candidate in tils
party and personally gave iv
his election. What of the other, who
had already enjoyed the honor Bryan
. 1 . . ,1 , V. nranlPUt COTl-
SO 10n L'UVflCU
sideration within the gift of his party,
when told that his stand spelled Re
publican, defeat and that we must name
a compromise cnmuiic; ---'
tude and appreciation was evidenced in
his reply, "I'll name the compromise
candidate; he will be me." In other
words, I'll rule or ruin; selfish, ambi
tion placed before party fealty.
There is not the slightest doubt but
that Roosevelt firmly believed he could
make new history by starting a new
party and being made President by de
feating all other candidates collective
ly regardless of the old-established
parties. He did just not! And we
are enjoying (?) a Democratic Admui-
.. .. A a u rourn rfl for
lstranon tus i ' " ' -- y ,
this Roosevelt may deserve the Iron
cross or the glassy stare, but, surely,
not another Republican nomination for
President. If measured by selfishness
. j i f rrvaotnnn l?nnseVlt
as a Biaiiuaiu i j,.-- . .L
has Bryan outclassed, even though the
latter should become rreiuuu Hun
dreds of thousands of voters feel as I
do and Roosevelt's nomination simply
means another Democratic victory.
It !s of infinite moment that a true
blue Republican become our standard
bearer or all of us for Wilson as the
lesser eviV A. L. MacLLOD.
Increase In Land Valncs.
L.A GRANDE, Or., Feb. 20. (To the
Editor.) To settle a dispute, will you
kindly publish in your columns the
value of vacant property at Tent'i to
Fourteenth streets, on Washington
street, 10 years ago and today? Of
course there is no vacant property
there today, but I desire the value of
the lots without the improvem
O. H. C
- The inquiry apparently relates to the
value of land fronting on Washington
street on its north and south sides
and 100 feet deep, and extending from
the west line of Tenth to the east line
of Fourteenth. Such land was assessed,
without improvements, at f "".000 in
1906, and $2,296,000 in U915, the year of
the last assessment. Its actual value
would be $1,450,000 in 1906 and $3,061.
000 in 1915, when based on the relative
dffferences in those years of tax and
true values on business property in
general. .
Fine Class Record.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Ed
itor.) Three years ago there were 38
children in the sixth grade at the Fail
ing School. Miss Kate Porter was
their teacher. As the grade advanced
Miss Porter was advanced with them
and has been with them for the entire
three years, according to the plan ot
rotating teachers now practiced in the
Portland schools. The class graduated
the other day with 38 pupils, one hav
ing dropped out and another having
come . in. A happier class you never
saw. Every one of them Is now in
hi"-h" school. School was real to every
one of these pupils. They are making
sacritices to fit themselves for real life.
CITIZEN.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Abo.
From The Oregonlan of Keb. 21. 31' I.
P. R. Whitney, claim agent for the
Southern Pacific Company, Is very ill
at his residence, 3i Eighth street.
A committee of the Grand Army of
the Republic, having in cliargo the
arranging for the memorial exercises
in memory of the late !eneral Sher
man, have arranged to hold the samo
in Grace Methodist Church, corner of
Tenth and Taylor streets, on Sunday
evening next, at 7:l0. Dr. Houghton
and George II. Williams have kindly
consented to speak.
The Oregon Improvement Company's
coal mine at Newcastle is putting out
about 18.000 tons per month.
The Terminal Company has let a
contract to the Oregon Paving & Con
tract Company for the improvement of
G street from North Front to Third
street, by macadamizing.
The pipe foundry of the Oregon Iron
& Steel Company at Oswego is running
full blast on water pipe and "spe
cials," and is turning out 2u tons per
day . and also three tons of snsh
weights.
Mrs. S. M. Kern, president of tho
Baby Home, has made a public appeal
for blankets, flannel for infants' cloth
ing, table linen and towels.
If. C. Rreedon. of the well-known
firm of Forbes & Rrceden, is back
from r six weeks' business trip
through the East.
Half a Century Abu.
From The Csccgonlau of February -1,
The executor of .Abraham Lincoln's
estate reports that Lincoln left about
$85,000, $75,000 ol which Is in 5-2H
stocks, lie left about $4000 worth of
real estate in Springfield.
Elwood Evans, secretary of Wash
ington Territory, is nt present in tho
city.
The semi-annual examination at tho
School Belli Israel will ttiko plr lo
day and continue through tomorrow.
Tho friends and guardians of tho
pupils are Invited to attend.
Yesterday a farmer appeared on tin
streets of tho city with u wagon said
to be the first one ever built In Oregon.
The end-gale bore the maker's nam
and the date 1S49.
A number of Portland firemen, ac
companied by Chief Engineer Young,
yesterday paid a visit to Ynnconvcr l
witness the first trial of the new n
glne imported for the uso of the l!o -ernment
troops ul thut post.
Our readers will remember (he leriure
this evening at the .Methodist Chui'ih
hy Dr. ltcnson. His subject is "The
War The Evil and the. Good." The
theme Is Important and will be han
dled in a dispassionate way.
In 165.1 there were 4011, 7S4 Indians i"
the Vnited Slates nnd territories. In
1S56 tho number w:s rstlninted at but.
307,800. of which number 111, 500 wero
warriors.
HAW aiijiem i:s l)iin'im:oi s
Admonitions to He Polite ueserd as
Result of I. Ind Incident.
PORTf.ASl), Feb. '.'O.tTo the Ed
itor.) livery music lover in the City
of Portland should stud to YViildemiir
Lind a voto of thanks for the display
of couriiRO shown by him nt the music;
recital Monday afternoon in Ihe par
lors of the Portland Hotel, when ho re
fused to continue an encore owing to
tho discourtesy on tho part ot some of
his audience.
It is indeed hard to nn arllst. with
out mentioning the net of discourtesy,
to have interruptions occur and mar
the pleasure of those appreciating mu
sic and tho atmosphere with which t'ley
are surrounded. Mr. I.lntl showed 'nre
judgment and his ionise lonvr ago
should have been adopted by uiuiiy
more of our artlsls.
Along the subject of Interference It
would be a rare treat if tho managers
of our theaters could In some way
bring to tho attention of the. audiences
the fact that there are present others
who do enjoy certain numbers nnd cer
tain parts of plays. The Idea seems to
be in the minds of a majority of the
people who attend conceits and thea
ters that they Hie on the same par
with picture houses where the audience
can talk nt will and pleasure. In near
ly every theater In the city there has
been installed a lantern of some kind.
Would it not be a good sug Jestlon to
have the theatrical managers advise
their patrons hy use of these machines
that they should kindly consider thu
feelings of their neighbors and lot
them enjoy the performance with com
fort. -Jit'1- v- M- K IKK. WOOD.
Authorship Freely IXahllsbed.
ASTORIA. Or.. Feb. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) The writer bus noted with in
terest the discussion in The Ore:-onl:in
of the authorship of the poem variously
entitled "The Slieepfold." "IV Sheep
fol' Lin" and "Do Alassa ob do Sheep
fol'." When beautiful fugitive verses urn
given to the world, it Is. pcih.ips. im
material -who tuny nave pennen .r.e
lines, but since the question as to the
author of these pailicuhir lines has
arisen, it might be wejl to definitely
settle it.
Glenn N. Ranek's interesting letter
last Sunday names the real author, hut
leaves some doubt as to finality.
Tho late Edmund Clarence St.-dmnii
was doubtless us high an authorlty
upon American verse and the author
ship thereof bs has lived In this coun
try. In his "An Amerlcun Anthology"
(1900) this poem occurs, together wu.li
the following brief biographical tkctch
of Its author:
Sarah l'ratt (Mcl.erin) Greene; horn slmp
hurv. Conn.. ls.Vs K.lucsted at " " k '
Macs. Taught school near Plymouth .Mass..
where she ohtamcd the material for her
"Cape Cod FoIks." ISM. M,, was u,ar.1e,l
to y I.. (Sreene and removed to the si.
Since his death she has resided In N. Koa
la nd. Amonir her books aru low head.
1SN4, enntalnlnr her hot-known poem Do
Sliecpfol' ".Laat Chance Juuollen. issj.
She (fond of ragtime) Now that you
have looked over my music, what
would you like to hiiyo me play?
He Whist or casino. Boston Tran
script. Paying the Other
Man's Bills
Sometimes you sec la a store,
window a sign liko this:
WE DON'T ADVERTISE. ':
: HENCE OUR :
: LOW PRICES. :
Of course, the sign is advertis
ing and If the low prices ore true,
they, too, are advertising.
But generally the low - are
not.
As a matter of fuct. this store Is
helping to pay the bills for the
merchants who do advertise.
It pays them by losing trade,
lowering volume of business, and
increasing overhead. -
While the advertising stores, by
increasing volume, are cutting their
percentage of fixed charges to a
healthy and profitable basis.