Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, December 11, 1916, Page 8, Image 8

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    TIIE MORNING OltEGONIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1916.
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PORTLAXD, OHEOOy.
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Eastern Business Office A'erree A Conk
11 a, Brunswick building. New York; Verree
Conklln, Sieger building, Chicago. Sau
Kranclsco representative, K. J, Bidwell, 742
Market street.
PORTLAND. MONDAY, DECEMBER 11. 1916
TAKE AW AT POSTOITICE SPOILS.
One of the most Important recom
mendations In the report of the Postmaster-General
is that the classified
civil service be extended to include
first, second and third-class postmas
terships. This recommendation has
received the support of President Wil
son, and Is the outgTowth of the con
troversy between the Civil Service Re
form League and the Administration
regarding fourth-class postmasters.
Fourth-class postmasters were cov
ered Into the classified service by
President Taft, who thus gave Repub
lican Incumbents permanent tenure. A
demand for their displacement by
Democrats arose upon the advent of
Mr. Wilson to office. Postmaster
General Burleson held that the spirit
of the civil service law required that
these offices be filled by competitive
examination, and he arranged that the
Incumbents should stand this test
along with other candidates, one of
the three receiving the highest rating
to be appointed. It has been repeat
edly charged that, whenever a Demo
crat was among these three, he was
appointed, no matter what his rank
among the three. Circumstantial evi
dence corroborates this charge, for the
requests, of the Civil Service Reform
League for opportunity to verify or
disprove it by eamination of the lists
were refused by the Civil Service Com
mission with the approval of the Presi
dent, and one reason given by the
Commission was that the publication
of the report might embarrass the
Administration. Mr. Burleson denied
the charge, saying that Information is
"Immediately available here and now"
that 60 per cent of the "incumbent
fourth-class postmasters were not dis
turbed." Still the League is denied
access to the records, and the entire
course of the Administration and of
the Democratic party In Congress sup
ports the belief that It fears to make
known the facts, and the League in
its annual report says that Mr. Bur
leson's utterances "do not appear to
agree with the results of the exami
nations." They certainly do not agree
with this remark of Vice-President
Marshall:
Did 1 say jtvll service or "snivel serv
ice" T We found the offices guarded by
snivel service and our only regret was that
we couldn't pry more of the appointees loose
and fill their plaoea with Democrats. If
there la any office under, tho (government
that a Democrat can't fill. I believe that
office should bo abolished.
If the policy of requiring Incum
bents to stand examination along with
other candidates when a new class of
offices Is covered Into the classified
service were followed impartially,
there would be no serious objection.
The spirit of the law demands that
the best among the successful candi
dates be appointed, be he Democrat,
Republican or of any other party.
Ordinarily he would be the one with
the highest rating, though occasionally
one with a Blightly lower rating might
be preferable on general grounds. But
the course of the Administration with
regard to fourth-class offices causes
apprehension lest the law would be
used purely to confirm In office Demo
cratic Incumbents of first, second and
third-class postofflces. Just as it ap
pears to have been used to crowd Re
publicans out of fourth-class offices
and to supplant them with Demo
crats. There seems to be no way of avoid
ing this perversion of the law under
our custom of treating public office
as spoils, but having once been placed
tinder the merit system, the postofflces
would not be spoils upon the next
change of Administration.- We should
be obliged to trust to such organiza
tions as the League to keep the greedy
fingers of the spoilsmen off by con
stant vigilance and the widest pub
licity for the workings of the law. Not
withstanding the reaction toward the
spoils system which has marred the
Wilson Administration, the general
trend of public opinion favors the
merit system, and those who look for
progress toward efficiency, will rely
upon a public enlightened by knowl
edge of the facts and results.
A campaign In favor of the change
proposed by Mr. Burleson Is being or
ganized by the League. It Is encour
aged by the growing belief among
Senators that "patronage Is a liability
and not an asset." It has already ob
tained pledges of support from many
Representatives-elect In nine Eastern
and Middle Western states which It
has canvassed. It will strive for ex
tension of the reform to collectors of
customs and internal revenue, district
attorneys and marshals, whose "use as
political agents of the party In power
Is a prostitution of the civil service."
The more success attends its efforts.
the more will politics become a mat
ter of principles, not of spoils.
"LOOK TO QUALITY IX IMMIGRANTS.
One result of the decrease In imml
gratlon produced by the war has been
that much closer inspection of lmml
grants has been possible, and that the
percentage of rejections has been
greatly Increased. Total arrivals fell
from 1.218,480 In 1914 to 326,700 In
1915 and to 298,826 In 1916. At the
same time, the percentage of rejec
tlons increased from 2.3 In 1914 to
6.3 In 1916 and 4.9 In 1916. A more
intensive physical examination of de
fectives was possible, and 9.37 per cent
of those who were thus examined were
rejected.
The entire report of Commissioner
Camtnettl abounds In evidence that no
further delay should occur in passage
of the Immigration bill now pending
cerore uongress. -This bill strength
ens all the weak points in existing law
which hae been revealed In Its admin
istration and by court decisions. The
only serious point of disagreement be
tween the President and Congress re
lates to the literacy test. This test
has been approved by Congress three
times and has been the cause of vetoes
by. three Prsidenta Cleveland, Taft
and. Wilson. Since CongTess has re
mained of the same opinion through
the changes of twenty years, either
the President should withdraw his ob
jections or those members of Congress
who have already passed the bill by
more than a two-thirds vote In the
first instance should stand firm and
should override the veto.
A revised immigration law is one of
the necessary measures of prepared
ness for after-the-war times. A large
number of persons who have been
physically or mentally crippled by war
Is likely to seek admission. There are
prospects of a rapid Increase In Immi
gration from Western Asia, where the
population has been debased by Turk
ish tyranny and neglect of medical
and sanitary laws. The settlement
and development of our country has
reached the stage where we should
pay more attention to quality and
less attention to quantity of Immigra
tion. Our aim should be no longer
to acquire mere human units; it should
be to acquire people of economic val
ue, who will be good raw material for
citizenship.
OTHER DATS.
Warner Miller, writing to the New
Tork Times, recalls that In the 40s
the farm on which he lived produced
practically everything that was worn
as well as eaten. Wool was carded
at a nearby fulling mill and mada into
rolls, being spun and woven at home.
Caps were made from rabbit and other
skins. When cattle were killed the
hides were tanned at a tannery in the
neighborhood and a community shoe
maker made boots usually too small.
Linen was made from flax grown on
the farm. For food, there was every
thing needed. Vegetables were stored
for the Winter. Meat was smoked and
"corned." Cheese was made at home.
Even soap was a home product.
That was before the advent of labor
saving devices on the farm. Farming
has been speeded up since that day,
for the farmer has a larger city popu
lation to feed, and there is scant time
for him to stop to make his own cloth
ing and boots and implements. The
situation grows more and more com
plex. Solution of the problem of high
living cost bids fair to require the time
and efforts, as Mr. Miller says, of our
"greatest minds."
IF SHE SHOULD YFESD!
Steady. Reader, who lives in Ho-
quiam, Wash., has hit upon an .issue
which to some may represent a
hypothetical crisis In National affairs.
He presents it in the following con
cise phraseology:
Hoquiam. Wash., Deo. 9. (To tho Editor.)
I have been a reader of The Oregonian for
years and have seen many questions an-
ewered. I have one I would like to ask.
Can tho name of a member of Congress be
changed while representing a district from
which he or she was elected 7 If not. what
would happen If Miss Jeanette Rankin were
to marry while representing her Montana
district as a member of the House of Rep
resentatives? Steady Reader, obviously, has not
had the advantage of that Interchange
of ideas on weighty subjects which Is
common In smaller communities.
It is a safe guess that the question
Steady Reader propounds would not
hold the attention of philosophical
Antelope more than a minute. The
village of Antelope, as careful readers
know, presents some of our knottiest
problems. It would at once know that
Montana has not elected a name to
Congress, but a person.
But Antelope would doubtless pur
sue the thought. It would Inquire
what would happen if Miss Rankin,
while a member of Congress, should
become the bride of a Prince or Duke.
There Is a real question, pertinent
when the public's interests are con
cerned and impertinent when only
Miss Rankin Is considered.
The constitution provides that no
person shall be a Representative who
has not been seven years a citizen of
the United States. If the lady mem
ber from Montana were to wed a for
eign nobleman she would owe al
legiance to France or Spain or Britain
or some other country, yet she would
still have been a citizen for seven
years of the United States. Could she
hold the Job?
This timely, vital, throbbing issue
13 passed along to the school-debating
societies in the opinion that it is as
good a subject to engross the youth
ful mind as the adopted one pertaining
to the theory known as compulsory
social Insurance.
ONE OF THE "RIO FOTR."
In late years three great livestock
shows have been held in the United
States each yeai" in New Tork, Chi
cago and Kansas City. It is certain
that there will be four great annual
shows of that kind in the country.
One of them will be on the Pacific
slope. Whether it is to be located at
Portland depends very largely on the
interest the people take in the mat
ter. There is one thing certain the
show in Portland last week more
nearly approached the three big shows
mentioned above than any . event of
the kind ever before held on the Coast.
In numbers of animals, in quality of
exhibits, in interest and in prices paid
for animals sold, the sixth annual Pa
cific International Livestock Show has
made a record that no other city west
of the Rockies ever approached.
Hence It may seem that Portland
already has the fourth great show In
the country without going to further
efforts. But it cannot be held per
manently unless it can be properly
housed. Six shows have been held
under tents and, as a rule, have been
fortunate as to weather conditions,
But the limit for outdoor shows has
been passed. The storm last Monday
and Tuesday taught the management
that the show must have permanent
and adequate buildings. If Portland
does not provide them, some other
town in the West will do so and take
the show bodily, for the stockgrowers
will not take the chances of sending
their stock to a show without proper
buildings if good accommodations can
be had elsewhere on the Coast.
The stock show has come to be one
of the greatest events Portland has.
In some respects it outstrips the Rose
Festival. Probably it is a far better
business-getter. If it is continued on
the ascending scale and made really
one of the Big Four, it will bring more
money and more business to Portland
every year than all of the other shows
and festivals held here. It will do for
Portland what the third great show
has done for Kansas .City.
The largest contributor to the show
is the Oregon Bankers' Association
which gives annually $10,000. Is it
not true that that association is made
up of men of high intelligence and
good business acumen? How can the
show help the banks except as It
builds up the farms and enriches the
farmers? In no. other way can it
do so.
If its influence is worth $10,000 a
year to the bankers, what is it worth
to the merchants of Portland? What
is it worth to the state as a. wii&Je?
No man can tell In dollars and cents,
but this is true: We cannot afford to
lose it. ' In some way, through some
method, adequate buildings must be
erected before the time for the next
show, in December of next year.
NEW MILLIONAIRES A NEW POLICY.
The number of rich men in the
United States has doubled during the
last year. That is the outstanding
fact of the Internal Revenue Commis
sioner's report. While the tax paid
on incomes between $20,000 and $50,
000 a year increased 60 per cent, the
amount paid on Incomes from $50,000
a year upwards Increased 100 per cent.
The increase represents the new crop
of ' millionaires and .moderately rich
men which has been produced by war
prosperity.
Coincidence of war prosperity with
imposition of the income tax and other
internal imposts has swollen internal
revenue to such dimensions that the
tariff as a source of revenue is thrown
into the shade. The Commissioner
estimates the total Internal revenue
for the current fiscal year at $687,- ,
000.000, of which $244,750000 will be
derived from taxes on individual and
corporate Incomes and $124,000,000
from emergency taxes, andvhis esti
mate for the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 1917, is $709,550,000. The
people are so prosperous that they
pay this enormous sum in direct taxes
without wincing, and denunciations of
the notorious extravagance of the
Government produced no impression
during the recent campaign.
This financial revolution leads us to
expect a new attitude of the people to
ward questions of taxation. Contin
uation of the present era of prosperity
may make the people increasingly In
different to the tariff, both as a means
of protection to our industries and as
a source of revenue. We may settle
down to study calmly what rates of
duty are necessary to keep alive our
Industries, especially those which we
consider essential to economic inde
pendence and military security, with
out much regard to the revenue to be
derived. We may use the tariff as
a means of international commercial
bargaining and may regard the sacri
fice of revenue by lowering an import
duty as negligible if we thereby in
duce some other nation to open new
markets to our products. We may
throw away the revenue derived from
other duties by making them prohibit
ive, in order to extort some conces
sion from another nation. The tariff
may not be taken out of politics In tlfe
sense in which that phrase has been
used; it may be kept in politics by the
adoption of rival policies on' these
lines by the rival parties.
DENMARK HAD THE SAME EX.
PEKIENCE.
There is some resemblance between
the present position of Greece and that
which Denmark occupied twice dur
ing the Napoleonic wars. In 1800
Denmark Joined an armed neutrality
leagxfe with Russia, Prussia and Swe
den to resist British maritime en
croachments, and Nelson was sent in
the following year to destroy the Dan
ish fleet, bombard Copenhagen and
compel desertion of the league, all
of which he did most effectually.
Again in 1807, after Napoleon had
made peace with Russia and Prussia,
Britain received secret information
that he was about to force Denmark
to place its army and navy in his
service. A British fleet went to Co
penhagen, demanded an open alliance
and surrender of the fleet to British
control, and, on refusal of these terms,
bombarded the city and compelled
surrender of the fleet. Denmark was
driven Into alliance with Napoleon and
remained his ally until his downfall,
just as Greece Is now being driven into
the arms of the central empires.
Though the allies' coercion of
Greece is having much the same ef
fect as had that of Denmark, the
allies have a somewhat better case.
Greece invited their army to Salonikl,
after having refused to live up to Its
treaty with Serbia; pledged itself to
benevolent neutrality and then sur
rendered forts, troops and war mate
rial to the Bulgarians. Its independ
ence and the form of its government
being guaranteed by Britain, France
and Russia, those nations have a col
orable case for interfering in its in
ternal affairs. But-the result of their
interference has been the same as that
of British coercion of Denmark to
add one more to the number of their
enemies. Though Greece is small, it
is important, for its ragged coast af
fords many hiding places for German
submarines.
The allies now face the necessity of
reducing Greece to absolute subjec
tion before Von Mackensen's army ap
pears on the Macedonian front and
puts their army between two fires.
PRODUCTION OF FOOD.
The problem of making the food
production of the United States suffi
cient for the needs of the American
people and for a large export trade
Is shown by the report of the Secretary
of Agriculture to be one mainly of
fully using our resources in produc
tion and of getting into the hands of
consumers the largest possible pro
portion of what we grow. We can grow
a surplus of meat, wool, cereals, fruit
and vegetables if we put each acre of
land to the use for which it is best
adapted, and if we organize our dis
tribution and marketing systems so
that the product can be sold at a fair
profit.
In solving the problem of accom
plishing these ends, we find a close
relation between several other prob
lems leading up to it. Production of
the largest output from each acre of
which it is capable without exhausting
the soil requires diversified and ro
tated crops and the growing of cat
tle, sheep or hogs, or all three, on
a large majority of farms. By these
means the fertility of the land would
be maintained and increased. But a
high price for any one crop in one
year tempts the farmer to plunge on
the speculative growing of an undue
proportion of that crop the next year
and to depart from his plan of diver
sification and rotation. Thus the whole
scheme of proportioning proAuct to
needs may be thrown out of gear.
Speculative farming can best be pre
vented by stabilizing prices, and sup
ply and demand. Stability requires
that the farmer be solvent, in
order that he may not be com
pelled to sacrifice his crop in haste
to raise money. That end is served
by the rural credit law, which gives
him long-time credit; by the Federal
reserve law, which gives him short
time credit, and by the warehousing
law, which makes his warehouse re
ceipts negotiable. Stability also re
quires that prices accurately reflect
supply and demand, whereby sudden
fluctuations are prevented. That end
is served by wide dissemination of cor
rect and timely information as to mar
ket conditions, and by co-operacive
marketing, for then the market is urt-
likely to be either starved or over
loaded. Mr. Houston shows that prevention
of waste is one means of maintaining
full supply. Waste of cattle is caused
by disease and by wild animals, the
war on which by the Government has
saved many millions. It is also caused
by destruction of grazing land. This
has been stopped in the National for
ests and their productive capacity in
livestock has been increased 15 to 30
per cent, but it still continues on the
open range. War on insect and small
animal pests, prevention of decay in
transit and expansion of the canning
Industry have stopped much waste of
cereals, fruit and vegetables.
An important point regarding our
economic independence is made in
the Secretary's reference to the sheep
Industry. He says that only one In
seven of the farms of over 20 acres
raise an average of one sheep to three
acres, and we Import 300,000.000
pounds of wool a year. If one-fourth
of the remaining farms raised a sheep
to every three acres, the total In
crease would be 60,000,000 sheep, pro
ducing these 300,000,000 pounds of
wool.
As we approach more closely to the
Ideal in production and distribution of
the various .food products, we sh.all
approach solution of the problem of
the high cost of living. This Is due
as much to ill-balanced production of
various foods, and tq, a machine for
distribution which works with much
jar and friction, as to any other cause.
The President of the United States
has, in addition to his salary of $75,
000 a year, an allowance of nearly
$200,000 for various purposes .con
nected with the maintenance of the
Kxecutlve Office and Mansion, but not
all for his personal use. The appro
priations made by Congress for the
year ending June 30, 1917, according
to the report of the Treasury Depart
ment, included $76,780 for salaries
for the Executive Department, which
includes the President's private secre
tary, his clerical force and other as
sistants; $25,000 for traveling ex
penses, a comparatively recent Inno
vation, and $3000 for printing and
binding records of the office. There
are, in addition to these, appropria
tions of $5000 for improvement and
maintenance of the White House
grounds, $53,000 for repairs, fuel, etc.,
for the White House and $8600 for
lighting the house and grounds. The
White House is formally known as
the "Executive Mansion" for appro
priation purposes. The last three ap
propriations mentioned are expended
under the direction of the Secretary
of War as part of the cost of keeping
up the public buildings and grounds
in Washington.
The world supply of food is such
that the American farmer could great
ly increase his production without
causing a serious reduction In prices,
but the same causes which bring this
about stand in his way. The war,
which has made prices high, has made
labor scarce and high also. He Is
restrained from enlarging his crop
acreage and from intensive cultiva
tion by the fear that he may not be
able to get labor at any price next
harvest. There would be no Joy "for
him In having a large crop of $2 wheat
if ho could not harvest it.
Accordlng to a New Tork grocer,
the food investigators are playing into
the hands of the bear speculators. He
says a butter company's agent told
him butter- was down four cents and
would stay down while the investiga
tions continued, then would go up.
The agent's advice was to "buy now."
Why should not the consumers take
the hint and buy now any commodity
which has depreciated under the in
fluence of the outcry?
The Federal Trade Commission
makes out a clear case for permitting
export lumbermen to do that which
the law forbids them to do. However,
the Webb bill was talked out of the
last session of Congress by Senator La
Follette, and unless the Senate wears
him out with long sittings he is apt
to do the same at this session. He
sees a trust behind every bush and will
riot rest until he swats it.
Funston asserts the morals of his
men are as good and a little better
than those of most men who do not
enlist and there Is no need of revivals
on the border. As Funston is in posi
tion officially to know, he must be
right.
Six inches of snow in Eastern Ore
gon point to a bumper. wheat crop. If
the price a year hence should be as
high as it now is, the farmer would
have nothing left to desire.
Richard Crocker has come to Amer
ica to remain until the end of the
war and indicates how far ahead he
thinks that is by arranging to stay
two years. -
A McMinnvllle boy fighting abroad
has been wounded on the "French
front," which must be a more danger
ous zone than the German rear.
Roosevelt will seek the devilfish in
his lair and not go to the isles where
prospects - are pleasant - and beach
combers are vile.
Comparatively he is an honest man
who pleads guilty to committing bur
glary at the time he is suspected of
wife-murder.
If the meetings on the high cost of
living accomplish little, they. at least
serve as a safety, value for feminine
indignation.
Pedestrians who observe the new
traffic rules cannot get hurt, provided
drivers of vehicles are equally cau
tious. Two weeks to Christmas and, as
about all the children, have seen Santa
Clause in multiple, now is the time to
buy.
General Funston would probably
rather chase another Aguinaldo than
jangle with a revivalist.
Portland has 1314 miles of streets,
but the oldest inhabitant does not
know the names of half of them.
If the leather trust does not get con
trol of the supply of shark leather, its
stock is due for a tumble.
Such of the male sex as is not tied
to the place will see the town of Uma
tilla once.
Must be another sign of a hard
Winter when a. horned owl raids a
henijery.
The German cruiser is at large in
opportune time. The first pages need
her,
How o Keep Well.
BY DIU W. A. EVANS,
tf-kM4(Ana n.n,nt tn hvclcne. SO-hltatlOll
and prevention of disease. If matters of gen
eral Interest, will be answered in this col
umn. Where space will not permit or i"
subject is not suitable, letter will be per
sonally answered, subject to proper limlta-
.-h.ra atamneri addressed envelope
Is Inclosed. Br. Evans will not make diagnosis
or prescribe for Inulviaual diseases. -requests
for such services .cannot be answered.
tcopyngnt. Dy . v.
Published by arrangement with the Chicago
Tribune.) .
OPIUM.
OPIUM la the dried milky exudate
from the white poppy, a perennial
indigenous to Western Asia but cap
able of cultivation In many parts of
the world. The medicinal properties of
opium are due to the 20 alkaloids con
tained in it. The best known of these
Is morphine. Others well known are:
Codeln Combined with the morphine
and codeln. calming agents in opium.
Is the bane which is capable of pro-,
ducing convulsions, much as strychnine
Is. From morphine is made apomor
phlne, which Is an emetic, and heroin,
which Is a calmative agent even more
poisonous than morphine.
From opium paregoric, laudanum
and Dover's powders are made. Opium
stops spasms, fluiets pain, calms the
mind, produces sleep, stimulates the
heart, causes sweating, induces Itching,
checks the intestinal secretions and
contracts the pupils.
Morphine acts more quickly than does
opium. It is more sedative, more ano
dyne. On the other hand, it Is less
constipating, less stimulating and
causes less Itching.
.Opium is at once the most valuable
and the most harmful of all medicines.
This statement applies also to the alka
loids from opium, and especially mor
phine, codeln and heroin. It checks
coughs, lessens diarrhea, eases pain,
quiets the mind, controls convulsions.
and, where a nerve element is a promt
nent factor, it lowers fever. It Is in
finitely the best controller of symptoms
known.
As people know disease by symptoms,
opium, which is essentially a symptom
controller, looms large in the public
mind. The physician anxious to stop
a disagreeable symptom gives opium.
A patient tired of a symptom takes
opium from his physician, in a patent
medicine, or from some other source.
High strung, on edge, neurasthenic per
sons, devoid of stoicism, demand opium
for the ease, physical and mental, it
brings.
Opium does not cure the underlying
causes. At best it only relieves some
contributing cause. As such it is at Its
maximum of value. A hacking -cough
will prevent a lung ready to heal from
healing. A dose of opium will give it
the chance. A bowel needs a little quiet
to get back its balance and permit
nature to cure. A dose or two of opium
will give it the chance. An agitated
mind will regain its poise If it Is held
in .check for a few hours by a dose of
opium.
Note that tn each of these cases a
few doses of opium are beneficial. If
more than that is given, gain no longer
follows I presume we must continue
using opium to relieve symptoms, pure
and simple. As to nine out of ten cases
where it Is used we would be much
better off If we had more stocism or If
we relieved the symptoms by heat, mas
sage, electricity, baths or by the use
of phenacetln or other simpler drusrs.
Where a pain Is long continued opium
Is almost powerless for relief. It is
only good for a few days or a few
weeks at best. It is In every sense a
quarter horse, in no sense a distance
runner.
Opium is, of all remedies, tho most
aDused. tho one most frequently
wrongly used, both by sufferers and
by the medical profession. As we come
to be more intelligent we will use it
less and less.
BABY COLIC.
C. F. T. writes: "Will you kindly
advise a remedy for baby colic? Baby
ooy was 4 weeks old the 21st. Is th
child's condition natural and is it any
thing serious enough to cause worry?
w e are reeding the child certified milk
as well as mother's nurse, alternating
first certified milk and then mother's
nurse.
REPLY.
Yon are feeding the baby too much or
else the food Is too rich. Possibly the mother
could supply all the milk needed by the
oaoy. -o relieve tne colic give warm aro
matic teas, also plain warm water. To
place the baby against the shoulder and
walk him or rock him sometimes helps to
get no. oi tne gaa.
HYSTERIA.
T? TW 13 , A
healthy girl of 22 loses her voice every
t. .iluuluo, bv, q. i. aiio isiKs in wms
pers for a few days, after which she
o - - - " -- .j .v. Butua L11UC, US
thniich nflllv7oH Who n a I. . V.
CP-- , ' - u . u.u (il a JIUU
able causes and prognosis?"
REPLY.
Li i i ii n. duo is Hysterical. XI BO, Tne young
lady can be cured through training In emo
tional control
ORGANIZE WITH, NOT AGAIXST
Egg Producer Makes Practical Sugges
tion for Reducing Living; Coat.
DALLAS. Or., Dec 9. (To the Edi
tor.) We have been in the chicken
business for the last five years, keep
ing about 400 laying hens. Have sold
our eggs on the Portland market wher
ever we could sell to the best advan
tage by the case. Have always endeav
ored to produce the best and our eggs
grade as extra selects.
In November 1912. our average price
was 45 cents per dozen.
In November. 1913, our average price
was 48 cents per dozen.
In November, 1914, our average price
was 45 cents per dozen.
In November, 1915, our average price
was 44 cents per dozen.
Average for the four years, 45
cents per dozen.
In Noverhber. 1916, our eggs averaged
51 cents per dozen, or 5 cents more
than during the previous four years.
Now. in looking over our feed ac
counts Ve find It has cost us eight
cents per dozen more to produce the
eggs this year than our average "Cost
of production for the previous four
years. So. while on the surface It looks
as If we were receiving 6 cents more
per dozen for our eggs, in reality we
have been forced to take 2Vi cents per
dozen less on account of the increased
cost of feed.
Housewives of Portland be fair. You
are having a hard time to make ends
meet these days, we know, but It i
not all in the price of eggs. Look at
flour and sugar. The poor poultry man
must buy these as well as you.
The remedy lies in co-operation, and
since you have shown your ability to
co-operate against us. why not co
operate with us? Here is the plan:
Form yourselves Into unions of from
20 to 25 itimilies as nearly adjacent as
possible, to avoid delivery charges and
buy direct from the producer. Twenty
to 25 families would use two cases of
eggs per week, and two cases shipped
together take a very low express rate,
Hogs. veal. beef, potatoes, apples all
could be bought at wholesale prices di
rect from the producer, if you would
arrange to be your own retailers. The
producer hasn't time to sell in small
lots, and that is why the parcel post
and free markets have proved failures.
Put your minds to work and use
business methods, and you can solve
this problem to the mutual benefit of
all concerned, whereas if you continue
the boycott very long the few of ua
who have had the courage to stay In
the chicken business will have to give
up and leave you to the mercies of the
unsanitary Chinese egg rorever.
PHINETTA B. GAINER.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oregonlan Deoembar 11. 1891.
Washing-ton Senator Dolph will
soon introduce a bill for the establish
ment of a gun factory on the Pacific
Coast.
Valparaiso President Harrison's
message on the Chilian affair is looked
on here as a decidedly menacing rup
ture between the two countries.
Charles Y. Lamb was one of the hits
in the Company O minstrels at the Mar
quam Grand Theater last night.
The steamship Zambesi, of the Up
ton line, which left Victoria for Port
land last Sunday, arrived here late yes
terday alter Weathering a dreadful
gale and picked up the disabled whale
back Charles W. Wetmore, which lost
her rudder.
J. H. Harrington, of the East Side.
has Just returned from San Francisco,
bringing with him a bride.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregonlan December IX. 18.
The French Charivari has called at
tention to the financial feat of the
United States in paying off $15,000,000
of debt one year after the war and
says It will take off its hat to any
European nation that can duplicate the
accomplishment.
James Steel and Miss Mary F. Ladd
were married November 29 by Rev.
Dr. A, L. Stone in San Francisco.
t
Major Davenport., of this city, has
been made foreman of the work at
the paper mill in Oregon City.
Jacksonville, Deo. 10. Rich gold de
posits have been found at Randolph,
near the mouth of the Coqullle River,
and about 40 miles north of the fa
mous Oold Beach.
BOND DEBT AND CITY SALARIES
Portland's Financial Status and Pny
of Important Officials Given.
PORTLAND. Or.. Deo. 9. (To the
Editor.) Please give the following
data: (1) Bonded Indebtedness of Mult
nomah County; (2) bonded indebted
ness of City of Portland; (3) bonded
indebtedness of Port of Portland: 4)
bonded indebtedness of School District
No. 1; (5) average rate of interest on
these bonds; (6) salary of the private
secretary to the Mayor and each City
Commissioner: (7) salary of eacit
bureau head tn the city service; (S)
salary of other' city employes drawing
$150 per month and over; (9) must all
bureau heads take a civil service ex
amination before appointment?
TAXPAYER.
The foregoing questions call for a
more extended answer than ordinarily
Is given on this page. But the ques
tions are asked evidently in good faith
.nd the inquirer, a woman, has sup
plied The Oregoaian with her name
and address. The subject, also, is one
'n which there is more than incidental
interest at this time:
(1) Bonded debt of Multnoman
County, rate. 5 per cent $ 2.500,000
(2) Bonded debt of city of Port
land, rate 4.3 per cent 17,748,500
(3) Bonded debt of Port of Port
land, rate, 4H per cent T04.000
(4 Bonded debt of School Dis
trict No. I, rate. 4 per cent 818.50O
(5) See answers to preceding
questions.
(6) Mayor's secretary salary 180
Secretary to Commissioner of
public Utilities 123
Secretary to Commissioner of
Public Works 125
Secretary to Commissioner of
Public Affairs 143
Secretary to Commissioner of
Finance 95
(7) Bureau Chiefs" salaries
Chief of Police 20
Chief Bureau of Fire 1!-K
Health Officer 8K
Municipal Judge 273
Secretary Motion Picture Censor
Board SO
Supt. street-cleaning department. . 205
Supt. garbage Incinerator 14G
Supt. water works 20O
City Treasurer -"')
Market Master 110
License Inspector 130
City Attorney 400
Supt. Public Employment Bureau . ISO
Supt. City Hall 110
Sealer Weights and Measures .... 150
Supt. of Parks 175
Secretary Civil Service Commission ISO
Chemical Laboratory Chief 150
Chief of Bureau of Buildings "60
Chief of Bureau of Surveys 175
Chief of Bureau of Sewers 200
Chief of Bureau of Highways and
Bridges 200
Ciller of designs and construction,
-limination grade crossings .... 200
City Engineer 8
City Auditor 3uo
S) Employes drawing $150
per month and ever:
Bureau of Police
Two Captains of Police 10
Two Captains of Police 153
Harbor Master 215
Superintendent Women's Division 153
Bureau of Fire
First Assistant Engineer 203
Socond Assistant Enelneer 1!3
Two Hattallun Chiefs 173
Chief Clerk 173
Supt. fire alarm telegraph ....... 15
Master mechanic ............ 153
Bureau of Health
Bacteriologist 150
Chief Meat Inspector
Public defender 150
Chief clerk Department of Public.
Utilities 173
Bureau of Water Works
Engineer JJnO
Assistant engineer -00
Draftsman ISO
General foreman lto
City Treasurer's Office
Chief deputy If 5
Cashier !
Two Deputy City Attorneys
Three Deputy City Attorneys 175
Engineer JO
Playground supervisor 150
Auditor's Office
Chief Deputy Auditor ............ 8O0
Deputy Auditor 170
Four Deputy Auditors 150
Accountant ......... 153
Public Works
Chief clerk lg3
Structural Engineer 1 3
Plumhing Inspector !
Assistant City Engineer loo
Structural draftsman 150
Three district engineers 1!0
Gen Inspector Public Auditorium 200
Asst. inspector Publio Auditorium 130
In addition to the $17,748,500 general
bonds outstanding, there is $12,861. 349.SS of
improvement bonds which, according to our
charter. Is not included in our 7 per cent
debt l,mlt. " . .
Included In our general bonded debt Is
$7 310 000 water bonds, payable from water
receipts, which leaves $10,429,500 payable
from taxation.
(9) Section of the city charter reads
as follows:
Section 97. AH appointments to and pro
motion In the subordinate administrative
senlce of the city shall be made solely ac
cording to the fitness which shall be ascer
tained by open competitive examination,
and merit and fidelity In service, as pro
vided for In this article. The provisions of
this article shall apply to the Incumbents of
all offices, places and employments in the
public service of the city except the follow
ing: All officers chosen by popular election
or by appointment by the Council, the mem
bers of all boards and commissions, the
ludges and clerks of elections, the deputies
of tho City Attorney, the chief deputy of
the City Treasurer, the City Engineer, the
Chief of Police Department, the Superin
tendent and the Chief Engineer of the Water
Depa-tment and the secretary of the Civil
Service Commission, the Mayor's secretary,
the members of the Health Department and
the Librarian.
Information on South America.
PORTLAND, Dec. 10 (To the Edi
tor.) Please advise me where I could
get (1) Information regarding the
cllmatlo conditions, agricultural Indus
tries and (2) the names of our Min
isters to Braill and Argentine Re
public S. I. NEWELL
(1) "Write to Director Pan-American
Union, "Washington, D. C, or ask Rep
resentative McArthur to procure for
you Consular reports on subjects in
which you are interested.
(2) Apply to reference department,
.Public Library,
Foreig-n War Primer.
By National Geographic Society.
What manner of people constitute the
"body politic" of the world's newest
kingdom, that of Arabia? Of the
Bedouins and the Fellahs (th settled
agricultural class) the former are the
more numerous people and by far the
more interesting. The Bedouin pities
the city dweller because fate has de
creed that he must pass his days In
the confinement of a house or enclosed
city, while the city man congratulates
himself on his good fortune in being
spared the dangers, inconveniences and
exposures that are the lot of the tent
dweller. The life of the latter Is an uncer
tain one. His tent is homemade, spun
and woven by the women of his harem
from goats' hair, the accumulation of
many years. This tent cloth is water
proof and a good protection against the
fierce sun of the desert. It Is very
portable and serves for many genera
tions. Each camp has its chief, part of
whose tent is set apart as a guest
room in which visitors are entitled to
three days hospitality.
The chief gives the order to move
camp and decides on the new pitch.
Local disputes are referred to him for
settlement and, in the event of his be
ing unable to adjust the matter, th
disputants must go to the capital and
present their case to the Emir. This
they are slow to do, for it means a
long Journey and absence from home
for an uncertain time, as well as soma
amount of expense. The chief, too, is
responsible tor the good behavior of
the people in his district and for th
return of the tax due from the tribe.
The desert which the Bedouin calls
home, has tj be lived In. crossed, slept
on, made one's abode for a time before
It can be thoroughly appreciated and
enjoyed. The boasting of the Bedouins
about the free life they enjoy, and their
pity for their city neighbors, confined
in their close and dark dwellings, can
be excused after a sojourn in their
tents. But the desert life. Is not all
honey by any means, for is there not
always the danger of attack from th
nothing - to - lose-and-all-to-galn mem
bers of society, or the risk of perish
ing for want of water, or the giving
out of one's food without the possi
bility of being able to replenish the
supply?
When traveling through Inland
Arabia the routine of travel Is some
what arduous. Up with the daybreak
and as soon as possible load th
camels, ride for some four or five
hours, then put down for the first
morning meal, which usually constats
of dates and water; then off again
until late in the afternoon, when halt Is
made for the night. Supper usually
consists of warm bread with an onion
or dates as a relish. Bread is prepared
tn as simple a manner as possible.
While the coarse flour and water are
being kneaded Into dough a large fir
is made which provides a good heap of
hot ashes. On part of these the flat
tened dough Is laid, then covered with
the remainder of the ashes. In about
15 minutes the dougrh is sufficiently
baked. It is then well beaten to free It
from the ashes, broken In pieces and
divided among those who from their
bags have contributed to the meal.
After the evening feast coffee is
made by some member of the party
and, in tiny cups, handed round to
each one, as much regard being paid
to etiquette as If all were assembled In
the .most spacious guest room in the
largest city In the country.
Conversation never lags, and until
late in the evening the men talk, some
telling imaginary stories, others recit
ing impromptu poetry "until, tired out,
all, except those designated to keep
watch, roll up in their large cloaks
and are soon asleep.
Most of the houses of Arabia ara
built of sun-dried bricks; many of them
are three stories high, and all have flat
roofs. As a rule the Interiors are quit
devoid of furniture, the coffee roaster,
pounder, pots and cups being about all
that Is visible that savors of dally Ufa
and needs. Many of the houses ara
doorless, accounted for by the scarcity
of suitable wood.
FLORIDA LAW IS HECOMMEXDED
State's Blethod of Preserving Parity of
Primary Suggested for Oregon.
PORTLAND. Dec. 9. (To the Edi
tor.) It Is a noteworthy fact that
states In the "Solid South," with Dem
ocratic pluralities' equaling the Repub
lican pluralities in Oregon, never send
Republican Senators to Congress by
Democratic votes. Tne Democrats of the
South are too shrewd In politics to per
mit Republicans voting In their pri
maries to nominate weak candidates
against strong Republican candidates,
resulting In final Republican victories
in the general elections that follow.
That game, however, has been success
fully worked in Oregon for many years.
To show how the states in the solid
South prevent debauchery of majority
political interests. It might be of In
terest to the Oregon Legislature to
consider the current Florida law,
which, briefly stated. Is as follows:
A voter to vote In the primary elec
tion must be able to take oath that he
voted for the party of his choice In the
last general election. Under the law &
person wanting to vote in the primary
election for either a Republican or
Democrat, or other political party,
would be required to take an oath that
he supported the ticket or the party In
the last general election for which h
now desired to vote In the primary. As
elections in Florida are held every two
years, as they are in Oregon, It neces
sarily follows that anyone voting for a
Republican candidate in the general
election, saj 1916, could not vote In &
Democratic primary In 1918, but he
could vote as he pleased In the general
election. Th same thing would be
true of a person who voted the Dem
ocratic this year and wanted to vot
In the next Republican primary. In
other words. It is assumed that anyone
desiring to vote In a primary election
for the nomination of a candidate,
which has not been the case In Oregon,
would be willing to support the nom
inee of the party of his choice. He can
vote in the general election for anyone
or any party he pleases, but he cannot
thereafter vote in a primary for any
party until he has voted at least one
time for the regular nominee of the
party of his choice, be It Republican,
Democratic or other party.
If that law Is good and works well
for the Democratic party In the South,
giving the majority political party rep
resentation in the upper house of Con
gress, why would It not .work equally
as well In Oregon? Oregon, under this
law, would be represented in Congress
by the dominant party, as it is In the
South. The state of Oregon Is Repub
lican and so are both houses at Salem,
the same as the Southern states are in
relation to the Democratio party, and
what objections could the good Demo
crats of Oregon have to the Florida
law? Would it not be a wise plan for
the approaching Legislature-to give this
matter careful consideration with a
view of restoring to Oregon what is
due her in the United States Senate?
,W. J. JONES.
413 First street.
Present of Pint of Llauor.
PORTLAND. Dec 9. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) A receives his regular allow
ance of two bottles of whisky In the
month. Can he present B with a pint,
though the latter has also received his
regular allowance?
(2) The question is. can X ha pun
Ished'for a violation of the law where
there is no sale or barter Involved?
PAUL KEU'ALLE.
(1) Tes.
U) No.