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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1916)
IS TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAT, DECEMBER 1G, 1916. BOTH SIDES FIRM If SHIPYARD TROUBLE President Ball Says That Issue Might Just as Wei! Be Met Now as Later. REPLY BY JANUARY 1 ASKED While Unions Have Not Actually Threatened Strike, Such Action Regarded as Probable and Would Involve Others. Unless the . employing: shipbuilders and their employes get together within the next tew weeks and thrash out their differences it is possible that a strike will ensue and menace the fur ther development of the steel ship building Industry. Neither side yielded an inch yester day. The employes, through the heads of their organizations, issued a decla ration reiterating their demands of the previous day and expressing their in tention of insisting to the end for "closed shop" conditions in the Bteel shipbuilding plants. B. C. Ball, president of the Wil lamette Iron & Steel Company, and "Walter B. Beebe. vice-president of the Northwest Steel Company, in formal declarations on the other hand, made it plain that the employers are just as determined to retain the "open shop." Employer Issue Statement. Mr. Ball's statement ii full follows: "We have always conducted our plant on the -open-shop" policy, and will continue to do bo. , . If the unions attempt to force the "closed, shop" conditions upon us, we will resist, oven to the extent of a complete shut down of our plant until such time as we can reorganize our force and operate on a strictly "open-shop" basis. If the unions Intend to force this issue under the present conditions of prosperity It will mean a seri ous Iosb to the city of Portland. We have endeavored to learn the atti tude of our employes on this question, and we have reason to believe that fully 75 per cent of our men are opposed to the present labor agitation, and if a strike is forced upon them it will be entirely due to the Influence of labor agitators, who have been sent hero from other districts for that purpose. These International agitators have no In terest in Portland prosperity, and if trou ble comes will not In any way share the hardships and privations which the em ployes and business interests will be forced to endure Realizing from past experience that con ditions of prosperity are generally accom panied by labor disturbances fomented in tills way. we have fully protected ourselves In our contracts against delays due to strikes or other labor disturbances. The publlo 1 therefore should be quite as much Inter-1 ctted In this labor disturbance as w ar I Xf the professional agitators are deter' mined to force the "closed-shop" issue against the wishes of the real worklngmen, whose homes and Interest!! are here It mav be well to face it now as later, for the sooner the agitation and unrest ceases the . sooner we will get down to a permanent basis of prosperity. Mr. Beebe's statement is as follows: Referring to the situation covered by re cent articles In the daily press, it Is probably not amiss at this time for us to state a few facts as to the policy of our institution. Investigation Is Invited. Local prosperity is being promoted by present shipbuilding operations, and the Dublin Is consenuen 1 1 v mnrh tnte-e.r In .' the general situation relating thereto. We have always conducted and will continue to operate our plant as an "open shop" where individual merit determines a man's com pensation. Any employe of ours faithfully performing his duty is a. part' of our busi ness fumily, whether he belongs to a union or not. No one need belong to any organ ization to secure or retain employment with us. Our men are at liberty at all times to treat with us direct on all matters pertain ing to plant conditions, and can always feel assured of our sincere interest and co operation. We welcome an opportunity to place be fore the public our policy as stated above in view of the general interest of the com munity, as jve are honestly trying to con duct our affairs along lines fair and profit able both to our men and ourselves. All we ask of anyone, before passlna- Judgment upon rumors or reports that may be circulated, is that full Investigation be made to obtain the entire truth, when we would invite any criticism tendng to better conditions exist- lng in our work. We have not had a strike, as reported, nor do we expect one unless caused by outside Influences, as we do not know of any dif ferences between us and our men. Chamber Backs Employers. Tho Chamber of Commerce hn in dorsed the employers' stand for the "open shop," but is not a party to the present controversy. The union officials have asked fhm, - employers for a reply to their proffered agreement n,ot later than January 1. They do not declare, however that - they will call a strike on that date if a, repiy is not forthcoming. Thev inti- mate that they are ready to enter into - negotiations in the hope of reaching a muiua.1 unaerstanaing. The employers thus far hava lmnr.H the communications of the union or- : It is probable that other concerns affiliated with the Metal Trades Asso ciation will be drawn In if It develops into a fight. The Metal Trades Asso ciation is an organization of emnlovers ui utucr picinis employing machinists, boilermakers and other "asses ot SKiuea mechanics are operat ing on the "open shop" basis, and it is - possible that their union employes will . cauea out ii uje .men In the ship yards go out. v. ' WATiTOTTT' TCI VnTTrt-D ivtito - Union Does Not Recognize) Action of HnSSlan Bollermsl-eni The walkout of a small group of men at the Northwest Steel Comranv' plant on Thursday is in no way related to the threatened difficulty involving all the steel shipyards. ui txiu men involved in tnls walkout are Russian boilermakers. Three of their number were discharged on account of some difficulty with a ioreman. adoui 40 of their countrv men went out in sympathy. About IS or them later returned to work. The others, it is understood, intend to leave Portland. Their places will be filled. Although the Russian boilermakers are members of the union, the union did not take official cognizance of the incident, inasmuch as it did not in volve any rules or principles of the organization. REALTY 3LEX OPPOSE STRIKE Offer of Help Against Unions Is Left In Hands of Committee. Members of the Portland Realty Hoard at yesterday's meeting at the - Hotel Benson expressed sympathy for . the shipbuilding- companies in the threatened labor troubles, although they were not allowed to adopt a reso- lution to that effect on account of con stitutional limitations requiring .that all resolutions be considered by com mittee before being passed upon by the ; general body. Following short talks by G. G. Rohrer - and Leo Friede condemning "labor agi tators" for their threats, a motion of fered bv Frank McCrillls was carried instructing the executive committee of the Board to co-operate Immedlateiv with the Chamber of Commerce In up holding: the shipbuilding industry, pro viding tha committee considered such action proper after making an investi gation. The resolution of C. Lewis Meade, thanking the Interstate Commerce Commission for removing the discrimi natory passenger rates, was adopted unanimously. In this connection the question of stop-over privileges was discussed. Mr. Meade explained that railroad men had informed him that no request had ever been made to have Coast-bound tickets include' privileges of 10-day stop-over in Portland and suggested that the railroads might be willing to add such a provision to their excur sion and special rate tickets providing all Portland organizations demanded the innovation. Mr. Meade pointed out that new tickets will be issued in Feb ruary and urged hasty action. Marino Notes. Carrying; passengers'and a fall cargo, tha McCormlck steamer Celllo grot away from St. Helens for California ports last night. When ready to assist in turning the liner Beaver at Ainsworth dock yesterday morn ing, the steamer Shaver experienced a de lay when there was a mishap with her steering gear. Repairs were made and she turned the vessel at noon. Fog was so thick on the river yesterday morning that the skipper of the launch Doris, of the Shaver fleet, made his way from St. Johns hero without getting his bearings and he was beneath the O.-W. K. ac bridge before he saw the struc ture. The thick weather did not deter "Captain" Brown, watchman at the Ebaver moorings, from making his customary trips in a skiff across the river. Captain Mason and brother officers aboard the Baver are to play Santa Claus this year to children at San Francisco and San Pedro, a shipment of fir trees, which are coveted in the south, being aboard the ship and with which she salla this aft ernoon. Captain McLellan, of the steamer F. A. Kilburn, greeted old friends at the Custom House yesterday, he having returned after being ashore at San Francisco for several trips because of illness. He aald the run up the coast was under favorable condi tions, the sea being smooth and only a slight fall of rain was experienced for two hours in the vicinity of Cape Blanco. Cool weather has caused the river to fall, the gauge yesterday morning showing a depth of 2.5 feet above zero here, whereas a week ago it was about 5.6 feet. From Victoria, B. C. it was reported yesterday the British steamer Don Benito had reached there on her way to Portland to load wheat. She is to be dispatched from here to the United Kingdom. Pacific Coast Shipping Xotes. COOS BAY, Or.. Dec. 15. (Special.) The steam schooner Hardy arrived from San Francisco last night at 11. The Hardy is loading at the Buehner sawmill. ABE7RDEEN. Wash., Dec. 15. (Special.) The steamer Carlos arrived and is load ing at thrf Donovan mill. The Bteamers Fair Oaks and Grays Har bor cleared for han Pedro, the former from tho National and the latter fom the Ab erdeen Lumber & Shinglo Mill. The schooner Robert Hind got- out yes terday for Callao. The schooner Roy Pom era arrived last night, as days from Port Allen, and will load lumber for a return voyage. ASTORIA, Or., Deo. 15. (Special.) The barkentine James Tuft sailed today for Melbourne with lumber from Westport. The tank steamer Washtenaw Is due from California with oil for Astoria and Port land. The steam schooner Santlam. to load lumber at the Hammond mill; the steam schooner Daisy Putnam, to load lumber at r.J y " load lumber at I, 7 T h i "iu scnooner canta Mon- . ' ........ ' - csipori, ana ma team schooner Daisv t.rm,n tn i.. i ,. ... ber at Portland, are dua tmm son pr.n. Cisco. SEATTLE. Wash.. r,.e 1.1 ic.ui Bringing SoO tons of Oriental cargo, In- v.iuuiug a ji.uim.uw sun shipment. the teamer Canada Maru. of the n v fit arrived tonight from Hongkong and way ports. She had 40 passengers for Seattle. ne steamer AQmlral Schley arrived at 9 . M. from San Pedro and San KmnpLm with passengers and freight. The British schooner Coqultlam City -was towed to port today by the tug Tyee. The steamer Shasta, from Honolulu, touched here today by accident, mistaking this port for Belllngham. J no freighter Eureka arrived from south eastern and Southwestern Alaska at 1 A. M. The steamer Admiral Evans arrived at 9 A. M. with passengers and freight from Southeastern and Southwestern Alaska. The steamer President sailed for San Diego via San Francisco, with 469 passen gers. The oil tanker D. G. Scofleld sailed for San Francisco at 11 A. M. I he steamer Norwood, owned bv the Pa cific American Fisheries, of Belllngham, has ueen cnarxerea Dy it. u. flnneo ana will be turned over to him on her arrival at San Francisco. She sailed from Portland today. She will load wheat for San Francisco from Portland under her new charter. SAX FRANTISCO. Dec. 15. (So'Clal.l riny-tnree days rrom soerabala. the Java Pacific steamer Karlmoen made port late toaay wun a cargo of lO.ooo tons of een eral freight. The turblner Great Northern steamed this afternoon for Honolulu. Leaving Han Fran cisco there were 220 passengers and a full general cargo. On her way from New York to Java the Dutch steamer Veendyk arrived in port this morning for fuel. Two tugboat sales were reported todav and one of the vessels Involved is going to tne Atlantic beaDoard with headquarters In New York. This is tha Red Stack tug Dauntless, which has been taken over by the LucKenoacn bteamshlp company and will be dispatched within a few days for the Last Coast via Panama. 1H other saie reported la of the tua- uaring, oi tne orays fiamor rowboat Com pany. which has been taken over by th Standard OIL. By the purchase ot this tug the company will do much of its own towing up and down the coast, which has been done oeiore Dy tne Ked btacks. It was a happy day in the Pacific Mall offices yesterday, for all officers and em ployes received as a Christmas gift a bonus amounting to one month's pay. This steD of tha new management of the Mail com pany is in line with the policy of practicallv all steamship companies in this and other ports at this season, and is a radical de parture from the policy of the old regime. tjnariera; Chilean schooner Purto Montt. 1430 tans. lumber from Puget Sound to West Coast. South America, 105, by Comyn, Mackall at co. te&riy The American steamer Speedwell. S74 tons, lumDer xrora Puget Sound to Balboa, 16; by W. A. Grace fe Co. The Speedwell has been sold bv the A v Estabrook Company to Parr-McCormlck Company and re-sold to the Frleburg Lum- uer company, or Cincinnati. After com pleting a trip from Puget Sound she will proceed through the Canal and be taken over Dy ner new owners, who paid a hand some prout to the former owners. It is understood. Making her maiden trio, the motorshlo merra, ot tne cj. jv. vvooo. lumDer Company arrived at Han Pedro this morntni a llttl over five days from the Columbia River. ine vessel took i.iuo.uuu feet of lumber on this initial voyage. She was recently aunched at Grays Harbor and is the new type of lumber carrier which is expected to supplant the steam schooners on this Coast. The steamer Breakwater sailed today for Portland via Eureka and Coos Bay ports. The steamer San Gabriel sailed for the TJmpq.ua River this afternoon. The steamer Johan Poulsen also steamed for Portland this afternoon. FLORENCE, Or., Deo. IS. (Special.) The gasoline schooner Mirene arrived at noon from Portland. The captatn reports excellent bar conditions, with 15 feet at low water, sbowlng a gradual improvement since Jetty constructions.- LINE TO ORIENT URGED Captain Chllcotte Says Portland Would Slake Big Profit, Captain Richard Chllcotto was the speaker at the luncheon of the City Club yesterday at the Oregon Hotel, and invited the co-operation of the club in carrying out the movement to in spire Portland to build a fleet of five ships to ply exclusively between this port and Atlantic points. "Such a fleet will earn," he said, "70 per cent per annum on its initial cost When it is put in operation." Captain Chllcotte blamed the unde veloped condition of much of the farm land in Oregon to the fact that the merchants of Portland have not de veloped means of selling surplus prod uct abroad. SHIPYARD UNIONS DEFEND POSITION Demand for "Closed Shop" Is Insisted On and Strike Is to Be Last Resort. OVERTIME PLEA UPHELD Workers Say Eight-Hour Day Gets Best Results Both for Men and for Employer Right to Gain Members Considered Vital. Union labor officials concerned in tho "open shop" controversy with the steel shipbuilding plants of Portland, Insist that their demands for a "closed shop" be met and declare that as a last resort but only as a, last resort they will strike to gain their point. A committee representing tho Metal Trades Council, embracing the 10 labor organizations engaged in the shipbuild ing industry, yesterday prepared a de tailed explanation of their position. This committee consists of Joseph Reed. E. H. Misner and Arthur Burns, who have been active in organizing the men for the last few weeks. Their declaration of yesterday em braces all the contentions-mad in the proposed agreement submitted to the employers on Thursday and is offered as a' justification of their plans for a closed shop. The declaration in full follows: In reply to the article appearing In The Oregonian. December IS, 'Unions Threaten Shipyard Strike." we feci that we should be allowed to answer this attack on our rights as American citizens. The statement is made that "labor diffi culties may prevent further development and progress." We most emphatically deny this. For example, we would refer you to the shipbuilding industries of San Fran cisco and Seattle. The work is going on tVir. unhindered and the companies are making money. The trouble here Is the shop owners have made up their minas, . . . tii. .t . i nf the Chamber of Com merce, to spend their money and waste their time fighting tne unions. Klght to ;dlct Demanded. w have no desire to cet into any trouble, but we will insist on the right to nave some thing to say about tne working ruies iu shop. We are the ones who do the -work a ti H we rieman d the right to bargain for the working conditions under which we have to work. We have heard so much about this "open shop" talk that wo cannot . .v go by without comment. . ,,..1 rirle unions we feel we should i... .uv,, whieh we have not had in "6-- ' - . .. .... ,ih the nactf trt helone to a union 1L ' . . , . i. inln we have never d. riled any man the right to work, and never will, but we will demand the rlgnt to induce him to become a member ot our organization. The kind of -open 'op that has been in force in Portland for long has denied a man that right and has ,,e,l the discharge of men for talking to nl he.- One molder was aiscnarpeu talking to another fellow worker while on the way to cr from work. If this is open v. . ... , ova atrnfnat It Men will join tne union i." i..,u....i v the boss. We know what the policy of the Metal Trade Association C. 1 J- h. j.t we have plenty of evi dence of how men have been kept Ir. ' of losing their J-.bs because or me open shop" policy. The only policy of the T,.d Association is to hire non union men and tire the u"1" fhev the opportunity presents itself. What they want is an ahshlutely nonunion shop. This Is impossible if they expect, la im especially at this time. rvtnriitions Klsewhere tit en. Metal Trades Associations at other P'f" have found it a better Policy tea oea. th union ana wnerever " ' - tne employer knows he ts safe .from trouble and makes his contracts with no fear of trouble from the men. We know it is iar better to have a set of working rules agree oetter w " .d the employe. 8 the onV way This can be done is for both parties to cit down togetner .u r?e.,-r,e. there must be spirit of give and take onttJ: a. lemiory ' . . cord is all foollshneswe or-g .r right, of frea .speecn . X,Bt of a IS ll iref --- - - - - rkman on workman to tarn ..,.. the subject ot unioi.a. -j hVhn".mplokr.Bneed workmen the, get then, wherever' thay can: they are not par ticular where they com. from My cverytn.n? ln papers l.ad- sometlmes P""''" .'her. is plenty of work whence truth" is there are more men than Jo5"- n induce men to Join an or- h. ,in show him that It is rrd"an.age to Join. And men , win not listen to any man the truth. i s.rnvil. They Say. All Tr?Sre"1:7tloWrand' want something r'.'r,,.'.' men are dissatisfied .t'sated nUCc... -- - ,it j 1, natural lor an ing for more P"1 etter condition, healthy men to look Jor d work. - be .'""tafieen made In this me BL."'"- informal negotla- artlcle .hhaloyer for several months. Hons with the mpi workers- rights This is not v.. .nv time. have not refused to meet the conVmnt'e'e thwi. liT- ment 'and " S'H to send a coPy of the agreement through thr anVrnatTs foTboVh "EFX JTiu imXZ-"1 VeS Company is operating on a nine-hour basis. ThT statement that wages were Increased oer cent Is also not true. Any person JS. .P.erc?nl-.J nr himself can ques- EVwTllTndThVTasnTb f-r' ""H SW.e know lor'we hear what the men have to say. Weh.v, the advantage of others, a. we meet th r Z i ht their pay is. It ii all right to make statements for publication, r". .... . rnnflna ourselves to the truth: if we did not. we would soon get ln bad with our members. A nor entices Are "Handy Men The article epeaklng about apprentices is also misleading. we never nave he etrminver the rlarht to advance an ap prentice, but we feel that it is far better to have father working and the boys goln ..hui than to have the boys workln rather ualklner the streets. The ap prentices that have been used here. In most .ae nre not auDrentlces, but are handy men and specialists, and If this condition is allowed to prevail iney win never ue como mechanics and will only learn on branch of the work and always be under paid. We are after a better standard of Itvin and a better workman. We have attempted to handle the situation as we find it. Many of the men now employed are semi-skilled men and are anxious and willing to im prove themselves. We are doing everything possible for these men. We know from experience that it is nec essary for a boy to serve four years at the trade if he expects to learn all branches of it. If he shows that he Is intelligent and learns fast, we have no objections to his advancement. N man can learn any of the mechanical trades in six months. As to overtime, we are only asking for the same overtime as will be allowed other points on this Coast. Overtime something that the unions have tried abolish. We have found that the eigh hour day does more to do away with ove time than any other thing. We under stand that there are times that It cannot be avoided. Men who are continually com pelled to work overtime cannot give th same standard of work and will sooner o later break down and be compelled to lay off for a long time to . recuperate. We are asking no more than what Is paid a other points. The nueFtlon of settling grievaeeen rb be handled by both the employer and era- loye. We. have learned that power is. a angerous weapon in the hands of one man nd there is a tendency to abuse it. Wa feel that wherever a grievance arises in shop it should be. if possible, settled y a committee of the men and the em ployer, Where this Is' done it is settled, but if it is settled by the employer with out consulting the men it is not settled and the men become dissatisfied. Arbitration Not Always Satisfactory. This Is what we call conciliation, and is much better than arbitration, although It Is the general policy of the labor movement to arbitrate all matters that - cannot be settled otherwise. Arbitration has not al ways worked to the entire satisfaction of 11. as it is hard to tell at times what the wards have been. One side claims they mean this and the other they mean that. so we havo always favored conciliation. we are not at all aurprlsea at tne ac tions of the Chamber of Commerce, as it a body composed, almost exclusively, of employers, and one could not expect any thing else from them. The employer de- res to make all the profit be can and the orker is of the same desire, so there is and lways will be dissension so long as men re allowed to make profits out of other men's work. Wo wish to assure the publlo that if there is any strike it will be the fault of he employers. No one knows the evils f a strike , better than the workers. We 111 go a long way to avoid a strike, but it tne only weapon left to the workers, we till have the right to work or not. Just as we please, and we also have the right to ask our fellow workers to refuse to work. We are eolng everything possible to avoid trouDle and are ready and willing to help una up tne industries of this city, but e want our share of the profits, and we are the best Judge as to what that profit nan ue. Jet us get together, gentlemen. and all pull together. It can be done it we will all get rid of some of our ani mosity. MARIXE INTELLIGENCE. Steamer Schedule. DUB Name. TO ARRIVK. From ..San Francisco..., .L.os Angeles. .... -Ban Kranrlseo. . . San Francisco. . Los Angeles. ... TO DEPART. For . fi.F. forL.A.-S.D. ..Los Angeles. .... ,.San Franciaoo. . . . S F. frr L.A.-S.D. . .San Diego . .San rancisco. . San Francisco. , San Diego. ...... . Los Angeles. ..Sen Diego. Date. .In port ln port Dec 17 Deo. 1 Deo. 20 F. A. Kilburn ueaver. .......... Northern Paclfie. . B reak water. . . . . . Koee City Kama. Data Dec Is Dec IS Dec. 18 Harvard. e.7er. r . a. Kllburo.. .... ie Dec 18 Multnomah. ...... Dec -Dec Dec 18 1U 21 .N uthern Pacific. Breakwater. . . . . . tiiamatn. ... Rose Cltv Dec Dec -3 .Dec 28 Wapawa. . . . Marconi Wireless Reports. (All positions reported at 8 P. M. -Decem ber 15. unleee otherwise designated.) Santa Crus. Puget Sound for Peruvian porus. 90 miles south of Flattery. coronado. San rancisco for Aberdeen, miles south of San Francisco. Lewis Luckenbarh, Chile for Vancouver. liu miles south of San Francisco. Decern oer i. City of Para. Colon for San Francisco. 65 miies west or Maxatian, uecemDer J 4. Asuncion, Ketchikan for San Pedro, five miles west or san Pedro. fc.1 begundo. El Set-undo for Portland. 273 mites south of San Francisco. Peru, San Francisco for Balboa, at Ma- zatlan. John D. Archbold. San Francisco for Ken lork, Sis miles south of San Francisco. President. Seattle for Saa Francisco. 29V& miles soutn oi victoria, Jjucas barge 3 in tow. Port Anreles for Kicnn.ona, L-t mnes west or Port Angeles. acoiieia. Seattle lor San Francisco. su miles (rom San J rancisco. Acme. San Francisco for China. 1247 miles from San Francisco at 8 P. M., December 14. Wllhelralna, ban Francisco for Honolulu, 46d miles from San Francisco at 8 P. M., De cember 14. Matsonia. Honolulu for San Francisco, 15S3 miles from San Francisco at 8 P. j3e- cemDer 14. Sheridan. San Francisco for Manila, 22O0 miles from ban Francisco at 8 P. Al.t De cember 1-1 Atlas. Kahulul for San Francisco, 2070 miles from San Francisco at 8 P. M., Pa cefyber 14. Hllonlan. San Francisco for Honolulu, 40 miles from San Francisco. Breakwater. San Francisco for Eureka, 60 miles north of San Francisco. clreat Northern, San Francisco for Hono lulu via San Pedro, 76 miles south ot San Francisco. Willamette, Ban Francisco for Grays Har bor, off Point Bonlta. Wapama. St. Helens for Han Francisco, IS miles north of San Francisco. laaua. Coos Bay for San Francisco, va miles north of San Francisco. Oreson. San Pedro for San Francisco, OS miles south of San Francisco. Toneka. Eureka for San Francisco. u miles north of Arena. I'matllla. San Francisco for Seattle, -1 mllee nnrth of Blanco. Colusa. Belllngham for San Francisco, los mil., north of San Francisco. Adeline Smith, San Francisco tor coos Bay, 305 miles north of San Francisco, Movements of Vessels. UORTLAKT), Dec 15. Sailed Steamer. Colonel E. L. Drake and W. 8. Porter, for San Francisco: Celllo, for San Francisco, San Pedro and San Diego. ASTORIA. Dec 15. Sailed at 1:40 P. M. Barkentine James Tuft, for Melbourne KA-w FRANCISCO. Dec 15. Sailed at 2 P. M. Seamer Johan Poulsen, for Columbia River. Arrived at S P. M. bteamer rsortn- ern Pacific, from FlaveL Sailed at 2 P. M. Steamer Breakwater, for Portland via iSu- reka and Coos Bay. SAN PEDRO, Dec. 15. Arrived Steam er J. B. Stetson, from Columbia River. Sailed Steamer Rose City, for Portland. Arrived Motor schooner Sierra, from Port land. Sailed yesterday Steamers Daisy Gadshy. Klamath and Tiverton, for Colum bia Klver. VICTORIA. Dec 15. Arrived British steamer Don Benito, for Portland. HONGKONG. Dee. 11. Sailed Steamers Gtshun Maru, Vancouver, B. C; Venezuela. San Francisco. ARTCA. Dec 14. Sailed Steamer Colum bia. Seattle. CALLAO, Dec. 14. aa Francisco. Sailed Steamer Cuzco, BAN FRANCISCO, Deo. 15. Arrived Steamers Cauto, Tacoma; Northern Pacific, Astoria; Karlmoen (Dutch), Batavla; Veeu- dyk. New York: Yucatan, New York; Yuca tan. Port Gamble; IT. S. submarines, H-t, 11-2, Bremerton: Sailed Steamers Break water, Portland; Senator, Seattle; Han Gabriel, TJmpqua; City of Corinth (Br), Vladivostok; Johan Poulsen, Astoria. SEATTLE, Dee. 16. Arrived Steamers Canada Maru. from Honskona; Admiral Schley, from San Pedro; Shasta, from Hono lulu ; Admiral Evans, southwestern and Southeastern Alaska; eureka, from south western Alaska: schooner Coqultlam City, sea. via. Fort Townsend. .Sailed Steamers President for San Diego; I. U. bcofield, lor San Franciaoo. IT. S. Naval Kadlo Reports. POINT ABCriLLO, Cal., Dec. IS. espe cial.) U. S. S. Frederick, from San DletfO for San Francisco, passed Point Arguello at b:5 A. M. PAN DIEGO. Cal., Dec. 15. (Special.) S. S. Costa Rica, corlnto lor ban Francisco. . i miles from Guaymai, December 1. CAPE BLANCO. Or.. Dee. 14. (Special.) Gollah, towing Waahtucnaw, for Ludlow, off Cape Blanco 8 P. M. laqua, Coos Bay for San Francisco, SO mile; south of Cape Blanco 8 P. M. Tide at Astoria Satorday. j High. Low. 5:28 A. M 7.2 feetlll:4S A: M.... S.2 feet :ol x . .u....o,4 ieei:j4:a sr. aa.....i. xeei j CITY MAY ASSUME COST Laurelliarst Water -TJsers Hope to Make Sufficient Showing. - Water bonds standing against prop erty in some parts of Laurelhurst will be taken over by the city next month, provided tabulations for this y-ear's water revenue from the district show that the property owners are paying a sufficient amount of revenue to make 6 per cent of the original cost of laying the mains. This was announced yes terday by City Commissioner Daly. It Is not expected that all water users in tho district will be relieved in this way. because thero are some parts of the district where tho mains Will not' tar the S per cent. FOG HALTS SHIPPING Sea Is Reported Smooth, but Vessel Movements Slow. NORWOOD MAKES START Steamers In and Out Unable to Pro ceed and Tie Cp Wherever They Are Overtaken by Un friendly Weather. Fog; had an Innlntr in tho maritime affairs of this port yesterday and scored a delay on shipping;. Thougrh North Bead reported at 8 o'clock in the morning- that there) was a smooth sea on with a southeast wind and the sky overcast, there was such a blanket of fog: over the river from St. Helens as far as this harbor that skippers were unable to tell if it was cloudy overhead, except when the sun managed to penetrate ln "spots. The steamer Norwood, loaded wltn paper for San Francisco delivery, which finished her cargo at Ainsworth dock Thursday night, managed to get as far as the Peninsula Lumber Com pany, where she anchored. The tank ers W. II. Porter and Colonel E. L. Drake, due to leave for San Francisco yesterday morning, held to their berths at Llnnton and Willbrldge. The Drake left late ln the afternoon, but the Por ter was held at her berth all night. Tho steamer F. A. Kilburn, which left Astoria at 3:S0 o'clock Thursday, re ported here at 9 o'clock yesterday morning, ln consequence of which she did not sail last night for the Golden Gate, her departure being postponed until tonight. The Government dredge Colonel F. S. Mlchle. returning from Grays Harbor, which arrived at Astoria at 3:40 o'clock Thursday afternoon. steamed into the harbor at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, reaching here Just as the fog lifted for a short time. She had anchored during the night at Co lumbia. City and Pilot Babbidge got under way again at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The fog was equally thick late yes terday afternoon and last night. No accidents were reported and skippers proceeded cautionsly, following the "rules of the road" to the letter. Mas ters of river vessels reaching here last night said that the fog was decidedly heavy all tho way from St. Helens. FIREBOAT CREW BLAMELESS Inspectors Find Damage to Williams Xot iue to Those Handling Her. Investigation conducted yesterday by United States steamboat Inspectors Edwards and Wynn into the fireboat Geo. H. Williams having been damaged recently. In being struck by tho draw of the Morrison-street bridge when about to pass through in response to an alarm of fire, resulted ln the case be ing dropped, none of her licensed offi cers being held to account for the ac cident. Testimony was that proper signals had been given for the open ing and that, as the boat approached the draw was swung toward her, car rying away the stack and whistle pipe. The Inspectors were to have gone to Marshfield next week to try J. A. Good will on a charge of having carried 86 passengers on the launch Hope when there were only 66 life preservers aboard, but Custom-House authorities on Coos Bay reported yesterday that Mr. .Goodwill could not be located and was thought to have established his residence ln another part of the state. MORE NEW SHIPS PROJOSED Company Selects South Portland Frontage for Marine Plant. Scandinavian residents of Oregon and particularly Portland have banded un der the name or tne scanaioavian American Shipbuilding Company to pro mote the construction of wooden ves sels, and it Is understood the corpora tion is backed by a fund of $200,000. Dr. Elof T. Hedlund. one of tho in corporators, says it Is expected to get started soon after January '1 and a site has been selected in South Port land, beyond tho plant of tho Heath Shipbuilding Company. Besidea Dr. Hedlund. tho Incorpora tors are Claude McColloch. an attor ney, L. R- Bailey and John F. Rose. It Is proposed to turn out ships either under contract or for speculation. First Sugar Cargo at Seatle. SEATTLE. Waeh., Dec. 15. Tho steamer Baikal Maru arrived from the Philippine Islands yesterday with a cargo of 2000 tons of raw sugar, the -- --.m the Islands to New Year's Oregonian Annual Number, Jan. 1, 1917 iWill "be the most interesting and complete edition ever published. You will want to send copies to your friends in the East. On sale Monday, January 1, 1917. Single copy 5c, postage 5c in United States and Pos sessions; foreign 10c - . Fill out blank form and send to Oregonian, office, Sixth and Alder Sts. Name Street Town j State m i THE OREGONIAN, Portland, Oregon. Gentlemen: Enclosed find for which mail The Orejronian's New Year's Annual to each of the above addresses. (Enclose 10c for each address in United States or Possessions, 15c for each foreign address.) (Duplicate blanks may be had by calling, telephoning or writing to The Ore gonian Circulation Department.) EXCURSION FARES between all points in Oregon Washington and Idaho, for the HOLIDAYS CHRIST2IAS NEW YEARS on NORTHERN a Tickets on sale Dec. 21, 22, 23, 24. 25 Return Limit Jan. 3, 1917 reach Seattle. Tho sugar Is being un loaded ln 60 freight cars for shipment to Boston in a single train. OREGOX FOR GRATS HARBOR Mlchie Returns to Port for Repairs and Overhauling Programme. Government engineers have been in formed that the dredge Oregon has fin ished work at Bay City, on Tillamook Bay. as far as funds are available from taxpayers there and she will be towed to Grays Harbor as -soon as a broken shaft is repaired or replaced. Tho dredge improved tho channel inside as far as Bay City, and additional woric desired there was taken care of by local interests. Tho Government dredgd Col. P. S. Mlchle. which has been engaged ln deepening the entrance to Grays Har bor for a few weeks, arrived nere yes terday afternoon and berthed at tne Standard dock, where she will probably remain two months. Llttlo repair work has been outlined for tho vessel, but considerable overhauling will be car ried out. that being assigned to the crew. On being again passed as ship- shaDO tho vessel will bo ordered to Coos Bay, for whien harbor she was specially constructed CAl'LKERS WANT MORE PAY One Branch of Wooden Shipbuilding Craft Seek $6 Scale. That caulkers have given notice an Increase of 1 a day Is desired after January 1, making the scale 6, Is re ported by wooden shipbuilders. Men of that trade have been scarce, as most of them have been given fairly steady work at yards along the river. Skilled carpenters are being paid 15 a day now and in some cases more than tho scule is in force for men more com petent than the average and a few have been drawn to other ports by promises of wages above the scale. It is reported from the plaYit of the St. Helens Shipbuilding Company that there is no friction, though there was a walkout a few days ago. As the hull of tho steam schooner Wakena. built by Wilson Brothers, at Astoria, and towed to St- Helens to bo rigged, is classed as an "unfair" Job because some of those concerned in the construction were not members of tho union, all of the union men . will not "turn to" in finishing her. TTJFT OFF FOR MELBOURNE City of Portland Xot Bringing Cargo From Australia, Christmas will be spent at sea by the crew of tho barkentine James Tuft, which towed outside at l:o o ciock yesterday afternoon astern of the Port of Portland Tug. Oneonta, Melbourne being her destination. For that port she carries a full cargo of fir lumber, taken aboard at Westport. and which measures approximately 1.400,000 feet. She is sailing In the interest ot J. J. Moore & Co. Ijite Information bearing on the five-masted auxiliary . schooner City of Portland, which left Newcastle Monday on her way home, is that she failed to obtain a coal cargo, as first understood It appears that, in addition to a strike there having interfered, tne Australian government placed an embargo on coal. The vessel is proceeding via Honolulu, so that she may obtain oil. if necessary, for her semi-Diesel engines. Vfawels Kntered Yesterday. y. A. Kilburn, American steamer, general carso, from tian Francisco and way porta Columbia Klver Bar Report. NORTH HEAD, Lec. 15. Condition of the bar ac P. M.: Sea, smooth; wind, south - - (nor miles. PACIFIC RY. Per rat era. rte.. apply to City Tteket Office. 255 Morrison Street Mala 244 I'konra A 1244 D. CHAKLTO, A. ti. I". A, Portland. Ore. WHEAT IS HARD HIT German Disarmament Sugges tion Causes Stampede. MARKET DROPS AT CLOSt Minneapolis Flour Prices Follow Grain Down Pit Goes Wild. Washington Crop Intimate Discourages Bull?. CHICAGO. Dec. 13. In a frantic stampede today wheat prices wero trampled down 13'i cents a. bushel. The prime reason for the excited break was a German official smrgrestion of limited but universal disarmament. Almost unanimously, tho suggestion appeared to be accepted in the wheat trade as the likeliest factor j et 'irought to light to lead to a cessation of hos tilities. Initial downturns In wheat values, al though sensational, did not exceed 9H cents a bushel, whereas, the final few minutes of business witnessed the last of a series of additional smashes that carried the market -I cents a bushel still lower. Stock market weakness and reports that the leading neutrals, espe cially the United States, were giving indications of readiness lo assist lu stopping the war, tended materially to keep the wheat market headed rao't of the time for lower iid lower levels. Estimates from Washington thst tho 1918 yield of wheat in the- United States was 32.000,000 bushels mora than was generally supposed, did a good deal to discourage bulls yet further In the last part of the session. Kluctuatlons. nevertheless, continued to depend upon the chances of peace, and there whs a tumultuous close, with Mav at $1.54 to 11.5513 and July at $1.314, to $1.32'i. 10,.c to 12Ho loss as compared with 24 hours before. MINNEAPOLIS, Dec IS. With an other decline of 14 cents in wheat prices here today, making the total de cline since Tuesday morning 22 cents, tho Chamber of Commerce wheat pit was wilder than it has been before in years. Flour prices also camo down today. Tho wholesale prices have been drop ping on the average of 4 cents a barrel for every 1 cent the market decreased, und retail prices responded. The 49 pound sacks of flour that had been selling for as high as $2.60, sold In some of the downtown stores for $2.25 today. PEDDLER LICENSE LIFTED Sellers of Christmas Foliage Receive Special Privilege. Peddlers of holly. Christmas trees and other Christmas foliage are to bo permitted to conduct their business until Christmas without payment of a license. The - City Council yesterday adopted a resolution setting aside the usual license fee required for this sort of peddling. A large number of persons wishinsr to make pin money during the holiday season have asked for permission and have been found to be unable to pay a license for the privilege.