Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, February 17, 1917, Image 1

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VOL. L VII. NO. 17,548.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
V
CABINET DISCUSSES
SUBMARINE ISSUE
What to Do and When
Only Questions.
DEFINITE ACTION DUE SOON
.Acquiescence by Detaining
Ships Not to Continue.
WILSON'S OPINION FORMED
President- Has Not Decided Time
. Has Arrived British Moves to
Combat Menace Announced
as Coining From London.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. Tho ruth
.. Jess German submarine campaign and
its effects upon the United States were
discussed late today by President Wil
son and the Cabinet. The meeting
lasted only an hour, and afterward It
was said no new steps had been de
cided on.
Arming of American merchantmen
and the economic effects of the partial
tie-up of shipping out of American
ports were the subjects on which the
Cabinet centered attention. Secretary
McAdoo is compiling a list of vessels
held in port, and Secretary Redfield is
making a comprehensive analysis of
the inroads submarines are making on
shipping generally.
Acquiescence Not to Continue.
Consideration is given by the Gov
- ernment to all the different phases of
the situation that have developed since
the break in relations with Germany.
High officials took pains today, how
ever, to emphasize that tlfe great fun
damental problem before the Nation is
the illegal submarine campaign Itself.
Against this campaign the . United
States has made the most vigorous pro
test possible short of war, but the Ad
ministration realizes that so long as
It permits American ships to be held in
port for fear of attack by submarines
it In effect is acquiescing in. the Ger
Juan policy.
This state of affairs. It is admitted,
Cannot be permitted to continue indefi
nitely. " Wilson Has Definite Opinion.
What the United States must do to
end it and when are the only questions.
The President is understood to .have a
definite opinion as to what should be
done but he has not yet decided that
the time to do It has come.
Press dispatches from Berlin an
nouncing the 12 American seamen
brought in by the Tarrowdale had been
released caused the demand that the
men be freed to be withheld, pending
official advices on the subject. A
cablegram was sent to the Spanlsn
Ambassador at Berlin asking whether
the report was true. It is not doubt
ed, as it has been assumed from the
first that Germany would not hold the
men alter- rumors reaching there of
the imprisonment of German sailors in
the United States had been cleared up.
88 Consuls Inquired After.
Another inquiry was sent the SDan-
leh Ambassador to ascertain the cause
of delay in the departure of the Amer
ican train from Munich, which Mr.
Gerard previously had reported would
leave "some day this "week" with 86
Consuls and their families and an un
known number of other persons.
An earlier dispatch from the Span
lsh Ambassador said Germany had
promised to facilitate the Consuls' de
parture as much as possible. No doubt
is felt here that they will arrive at
Berne shortly.
Two important moves by Great Brit
ain to meet the submarine menace were
announced in the course of the day.
A new danger zone was proclaimed,
seeking to block practically the whole
route of exit toward the Atlantic of
the German U-boats from their bases in
Germany and Belgium. With the Eng
lish Channel practically closed by an
rtaborate system of nets, mines and
patrols, the means of exit for the sub
marines has been throdgh the route
north of Scotland and down the Irish
coast.
The new danger zone, designed to
close that way out, is understood to
have been liberally strewn with mines.
Examination System Changed.
Details of plans for changing the
port of call and examination for boats
between this country and the North
ern European neutrals from Kirkwall
to Halifax were made public. A sec
ond port of examination of Southern
commerce may be established later at
the Bahamas or Bermuda
American exporters will still be af
forded the opportunity of securing "let
tens of assurance" from the British Em
bassy here that their goods are not
consigned directly or indirectly to Eng
land's enemies. The British blockade
and the "rationing" of Holland and
Scandinavia will continue as before and
a new list of articles which cannot be
Imported into England will be pub
llshed shortly in order to save cargo
space and prevent unnecessary expendi
turee.
The falling off in the rate of daily
destruction by submarines to a few
thousand tons has made a great impres-
sion here and given rise to speculation
as to whether the return of submarine
fleets to base or the siKcese of British
precautions is chiefly responsible.
Dispatches rrom Ambassador Penfield
at Vienna are awaited with particular
Interest because of press reports saying
Continued oa P age 2. Column St
GERMANS SMASH
LINES OF FRENCH
nALf.'MILE GAINED ON MILE
AND HALF FRONT.
More Than 850 Captives and Four
Lines of Trenches Taken by
Crown Prince's Force.
BERLIN, Feb. 1. (By wireless to
Sayvllle, N. X.) Troops of the German
Crown Prince, In an attack against
French positions south of Ripont, In
the Champagne, yesterday, the War
Office announced today, on a front of
about a mile and a half, captured
ground to a depth of half a mile. The
Germans took 858 prisoners, including
21 officers.
The attack, which was preceded by
Intense artillery fire, was made mainly
against French positions at Malsons de
Champagne and hill 185. about one
third of a mile south of the farm. Four
lines of French positions were stormed
in the attack.
The French made counter attacks
last night and this morning, but were
repulsed with losses. The German
losses are said to have been snxo.lL
The Malsons de Champagne Farm
and Hill 185 are about a mile and a halt
south of Ripont, which Is on the main
road between Tahure and Cernay.
Ripont Is about 33 miles west of Ver
dun and about the same distance east
of Rhelms.
The official statement Issued by the
French War Office Thursday night re
ported that German artillery had vio
lently bombarded French positions in
the sector of the Maisons de Cham
pagne Farm. The communication also
mentioned a successful surprise attack
by the French west of Butte de Mesnil,
about 17 miles southwest of Hill 185.
SELLER OF "CURE" GUILTY
Habit-Forming Drag Sold in Guise
of Remedy for Addiction.
NEW TORK. Feb. 18. William N.
Ritchie, 71 years old, a former Pres
byterian clergyman, pleaded guilty in
Brooklyn today to having sold a habit-
forming drug under the guise of a cure
for drug addicts. The police asserted
he had made large profits from his
business. He will be sentenced Feb
ruary 23.
Ritchie's attorney declared heflld not
sell the "medicine" with the intention
of violating the law, although he had
dispensed his cure for 20 years, adver
tising it extensively.
URY HAS MURDER CASE
Sir. and Sirs. Hobbs Await Verdict
in Klamath Falls.
KLAMATH FALLS. Or.. Feb. 16.
(Special.) The Hobbs murder case
went to the jury at 4 o'clock this morn
ing. It was believed that a verdict
might be reached tonight.
Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Hobbs were trledj
for the alleged murder of E. C. Way,
who was foreman of the Algoma log
ging camp, 12 miles from here. The
shooting took place October 14 last, at
the Hobbs' home. The defense charged
that Way had. visited the home and
mistreated Mrs. Hobbs.
YOUTH HOLDS UP BANKER
Head of Lincoln Institution Locked
in Vault; $2 500 Taken.
LINCOLN, Ileb.. Feb. 16. A stranger
strolled leisurely into the First Na
tional Bank at University Place, a Lin-
coin suburb, today at noon. There was
no one In the bank but the president.
The young mar, about 23 years old
flashed a revolver in the officer's face
and ordered him to retreat to the vauit.
After locking him In the vault, the
robber picked up $2500 in currency,
scorning a large unt of silver and
gold, and made his escape.
AID OF POLES TO CONTINUE
Break With United States Not
to
Interfere With Relief Work.
NEW TORK. Feb. 16. The Polish
victims relief committee announces re
ceipt of a cablegram from Lausanne,
Switzerland, which states that the work
of the general committee will suffer
no Interference from the diplomatic
break between the United States and
Germany.
The general committee sends word
that it has received assurances to this
effect from all the belligerent powers
occupying Poland.
CHURCHES TO SAVE COAL
Additional " Measures of - Economy
Adopted by Hamburg.
LONDON, Feb. 16. Churches In Ham
burg will not be heated after Febru
ary 17, according to a dispatch from
that city to the Exchange Telegraph
Company by way of Rotterdam.
Museums will be warnned only enough
to prevent damage to collections, and
all schools, theaters and concert halls
haife been closed before they are 'for
bidden to receive coal.
MANY MACHINISTS WANTED
War Department in Market for
Skilled Men and Women.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. The War
Department is in the market for a large
number of skilled laborers, toolmakers
and machinists to do extra work in the
various Government arsenals. Approx
imately 900 are needed In arsenals a
Philadelphia and Dover, Del.
"Women, as well as men, are wanted.
put .all. must be. -American cuizena.
MEXICAN BANDITS
CROSS BOUNDARY
Men Now Being Pur
sued by Troopers.
NIGHT .PATROL IS ORDERED
More Regular Cavalrymen Are
Dispatched to Border.
VILLA LEADER IS SLAIN
Sonora Cavalry Regiment Sent to
Attack Salazar With 1000 Men.
Rebel Force Said to Be
Half That Number.
WASHNGTON. Feb. 16. The War
Department made public today the fol
lowing report from Colonel Taggart,
commanding Fort Ringgold:
"Lieutenant Ayres, Florida troops at
Lopena, reports that last night eight
bandits crossed Into the TJnl-ed States
at Soledad ranch. 15 miles north of El
Tlgre Arroya. One man and seven
horses were captured. Seven bandits
on foot In brush are being chased by
troopers."
HACHITA, N. M., Feb. 16. Lieutenant
Colonel J. C. Waterman, commanding
the Hachlta district, sent orders to his
troops today to maintain day and night
patrols along the Dorder Instead of day
patrols as heretofore.
Cavalry in Readiness.
. At the same time unofficial reports
were received here that all of the cav
alry regiments on the border from El
Paso to Douglas, Ariz., had been In
structed to hold t! emselves in readiness
to movo immediately on instructions
from General Funston. These prepara
tions were believed to be precautionary
against Salazar's threat of another raid.
Two troops of regular cavalry rein
forced th- border patrol today and two
more were to leave for the border to
night. These troops, according to Lle-j-tenant-Colonel
Waterman, are for pa
trol duty only and have no orders to go
into Mexico.
JUAREZ. Mexico, . Feb. 16. Five
more Chinese were murdered at Ma
dera, Chihuahua, when Julio Acosta, a
Villa commander, raided that town on
February 8, according to a message re
ceived here today by a relative of the
Chinese. The Villa followers raided
the nflera stores and carried off much
loot, the message added.
Villa Leader Killed.
At military headquarters today it
was said that Maximano Morquez, In
command of a force of homeguards.
later pursued Acosta to the mountains
and killed the Villa leader In battle.
DOUGLAS. Ariz.. Feb. 16 Colonel
Jesus Cardenas, commanding the Twen
ty-fourth Sonora Cavalry Regiment,
numbarisLsr about 1000 men. was or-
(Concluded on Pace 2. Column 3.
jtJT
tofj) " WASHINGTON
JSSM mid fcA j cfvfei-ys I
-M WMlk'S J- I ABOUT I V,
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, .
49
degrees; minimum, Utt decrees.
TODAY'S Occasional rain; variable winds.
Submarines.
Cabinet discusses submarine Issue. Pace L
British declare new dancer son In war on
German submarines. Pace 1.
Paris report says Americans have been told
to leave Austria. Pace 4.
legislature.
Forbes tax notice measure passes House.
Page 1.
iLegr:'ature to submit several proposed
amendments. Pace Q.
L. I. Mulit and W. H. Gore named today
as University regents. Paso B.
State appropriations kept within constitu
tion si limit. Paso 6. .
Antl-clgarette bill for minors passes Senate.
Pace 7.
Bean saves srant bill from adverse report
on one-sided hearing. Pace 6.
Olympla has rush of new bills. Pas 14.
Senate passes 38 bills. Page 6.
Road bond Issue up today; Legislature will
adjourn tonight. Pago 1.
War.
Crown Prince smashes French Hue la
Champagne. Pace 1.
France's war bill crowing procresalvely.
Paco 4.
German food outlook for 1917 no better
than In 1010. Page 4.
Mexico.
More Mexican bandits cross border. - Page 1.
National,
Senator Stone eharces cabal to get country
Into war. Page 2.
Nation's finances mobilized for war. Pago
14.
News print paper manufacturers offer to let
eaerai
Trado Commission
fix prices.
Page 3.
United States may supervise
election ro-
turns In Cuba. Page 2.
Senate passes postal bill with drastlo liquor
shipment clause. Page 3.
Railroads organize to place resources at dis
posal of Million In event of war. Pago 8.
Sport. I
Eddie Plnkbam misses train for Portland
when pet dog runs away. Page 15.
Jefferson High defeats Benson Tech five.
Page 15.
Portland hockey team defeats Spokane. 9
to 1. Page 15.
Roan Hal, star pacer, onco truck horse.
Page 15.
Bronson loses Northwest lightweight to
Lloyd Madden, of Seattle. Page 15.
Pacific Northwest.
Idaho Legislature will investigate Japanese
lobby. Page 2.
Commercial and Marine.
Large Government order for oats for use
on border expected soon. Page . 19.
Chicago wheat lower on lack of export de
mand. Pago 19.
Captain Archie E. Cann. pilot of Chinook
Page lt.
Stock traders covers short contracts on Im
proved outlook. Page 11).
Portland and Vicinity.
Deputy Prosecutor Ryan has fight with
Chief Clark and Sergeant Sherwood.
Page 8.
Portland brief in rate case la filed. Pace 16.
Weak link found In bone-dry law. Pace .
Two patent Infrtncement suits are filed In
Deoeral CJourt. Page 11.
Campaign In Oregon for Belgian relief
started. Page l.
Council agrees to pay $21,K25 to Audi
torium contractor. Page 12.
Episcopalians to bold final rally tomorrow
for clergy funds. Page 8.
Jobs are sought for about 100 returned
sollers. Pago 14.
Weather report, data and forecast. Pago In.
IRRIGATION CODE PASSED'
Senate Approves Measure Making
Bonds Legal Investments.
STATE CAPfTOL. Salem, Or.. Feb. 1C.
(Special.) One of the Important
measures passed by the Senate today
was the new Irrigation code. It has
also passed the House.
Among other provisions, this code
puts bonds approved by the- Attorney
General, the State Engineer and the
Superintendent of Banks on a parity
with municipal bonds as investments
for banks.
Jay 11. Upton, Prlneville's chairman
of the legislative committee of the
Oregon Irrigation Congress, has been
working day and night on this code
for the past several weeks.
SPEAKING OF GOOD ROADS AND MANY OF
BRITISH DECLARE
HEW DANGER ZONE
All Waters Off Ger
many Incjuded.
ALL NEUTRALS ARE WARNED
Deutschland Said to Be Cap
tive, With Many U-Btfats.
400 ARE REPORTED SUNK
United States Placing Steel Nets
as Protection Against Subma
rines at Entrance of Hamp
ton Roads Harbor.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 18. Notice of a
dangerous area in the North Sea be
cause of operations against Germany
has been given by the British Admir
alty. A copy of the notice, dated Feb
ruary 13, was received at the State De
partment today.
It warns shipping that after Feb
ruary 7 a prescribed area. Including
all waters off Germany and part of
Holland and Denmark, will be danger
ous and should be avoided.
Whole Area Made Dangerous.
The new notice says:
"In view of the unrestricted warfare
carried on by Germany at sea by
means of mines and submarines, not!
only against the allied powers, but
also against neutral shipping, and the
fact that merchant ships are constant
ly sunk without regard to the ultimate
safety of their crews. His Majesty's
government gives notice that on and
after February 7, 1917. the mentioned
area in the North Sea will be rendered
dangerous to all shipping by operations
against the enemy and It should there
fore be avoided."
Boundaries Are Defined.
The notice, which replaces one Is
sued January 25, bounds the area aa
follows:
"Dangerous zone: . The area compris
ing all the waters except Netherland
and Danish territorial waters lying to
the southward and eastward of a line
commencing four miles from the coast
of Jutland In latitude 56 degrees north,
longitude 8 degrees east, and passing
through the following positions: Lati
tude 56 degrees north, longitude 6 de
grees east, and latitudo 54 degrees. 45
minutes north, longitude 4 degrees, 40
minutes east, thence to a position In
latitudo 53 degrees, 27 minutes north,
longitude 5 degrees east, seven miles
from the coast of The Netherlands.
Some Exceptions Made.
"To meet the needs of the coastal
traffic which cannot strictly confine
itself to territorial waters, owing to
navigational difficulties, - it will be
safe to navigate between the coast of
Jutland and a line passing through the
following positions: Latitude 56 de
grees north, longitude 8 degrees east;
- (Concluded on Page fi. CTolumn 1.
THEM.
LEGISLATURE IS DUE
TO CLOSE TONIGHT
HOUSE IS WEUCj XTP OX BUSI
NESS, BUT SENATE LAGS.
Unless Unusual Delay Is I Wi coun
tered Adjournment Is Expected
to Take Place at Midnight.
STATE CAPITOL. Salem. Or, Feb.
OpecIaL) Both Houses of the
29th Legislature probably will conclude
their business and adjourn late tomor
row night.
The House, which, has been running
ahead of the Senate on its business for
the last few days, trot behind tonight
by falling to dispose of the 16.000.000
road bond bllL This measure will come
up . tomorrow morning and may take
considerable time. The House has only
a dozen bills on third reading tomor
row and after It disposes of these and
the road bill It can give all its time to
business coming over from the Senate.
The Senate, on the other hand. Is
heavily loaded with work. The antl-
plcketing bill will be a special order
tomorrow morning and may take some
time, aa many members are preparing
to speak on It, A big grist of appro
priation bills is awaiting action by
both" Houses, but none of these Is ex
pected to take much time.
Unless unusual delay Is encountered
both houses ought to get through
about midnight. It may be necessary
to stay in formal session for a few
hours after that until all the bills are
enrolled and signed.
AMENDMENT IS FAVORED
Senate Commitee Keports Proposed
Federal Reserve Act Change.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18. Federal
reserve banks would be able to In
crease their gold holdings about 8200.
O00.1CO by an amendment to the Fed
eral reserve law which the Senate
banking committee reported favorably
today, with others suggested by the
Federal Reserve Board.
The amendment would modify the
existing requirement of law for col
lateral against Federal reserve notes
of 100 per cent commercial paper and
40 per cent gold so that notes might
be issued against 100 per cent gold
also.
SENATE SITS TILL 12 P. M.
Joint Ways and Means Committee
. Begins Work Afterwards.
STATE CAPITOL. Ealem. Or.. Feb. 16.
(Special.) After working all day. the
Senate worked for four hours tonight
and then did not clean up Its calendar.
It was midnight when final adjourn
ment was taken until 9:30 o'clock to
morrow morning. Seventeen bills ware
killed at the night session and 23 bills
were passed. None of the bills dis
posed of was of especially great import
ance. The Joint ways and means committee
went into session after midnight fol
lowing the adjournment of the Senate.
WAR BILLS INTRODUCED
Measures Would Permit Attacks on
Overmans Menacing Commerce.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16. Three bills
introduced In the House today by Rep
resentative Piatt of New York would
revive, with the name of Germany sub
stituted for that of France, the
statutes enacted in 1T98 when Ameri
can commerce was threatened by the
French Navy. They would empower
the government to prevent commerce
directly or indirectly with Germany,
to seize German ships and' to permit
American warships to attack German
armed veesels which menace American
commerce.
YOUTH WILL STUDY ROSES
Growth of Flower to Be Taught to
Schoolchild ren.
Schoolchildren of Portland will be
taught the art of growing rose bushes
from rose cuttings. Arrangements have
been completed by Park Superintendent
Convlll whereby School Gardener Reed
will give a course of instruction along
this line in all the schools. The city
will furnish the cuttings from the
parks.
The move Is Intended to encourage
the growing of rose bushes among
schoolchildren.
S. 0. S. SENDER ARRESTED
Grocer's Boy With Plant on Roof of
Home Is Accused.
NEW YORK. Feb. 16. On a charge
of sending out a false "S. O. S." mes
sage, "We are sinking," William F.
Eckhoff,a 16-year-old Brooklyn grocer
boy with a wireless apparatus on the I
roof of his home, was arrested today I
and held in $500 ball by a United States
Commissioner. Luis Krumn, chief ra
dio officer of the battleship Arizona,
made the -complaint.
Eckhoff was located as the offender
by 'wireless detective work. He con
fessed. PUPILS TO SALUTE FLAG
Weekly Observance by 375,000 Chil
dren Ordered in Chicago.
CHICAGO, Feb. 16. By order of the
School Board today the salute of the
flag will be a weekly observance by,
the 375,000 pupils in the Chicago public
schools. The first observance will be
next Monday when the children will re
peat: "I pledge allegiance to the American
flag and the Republic for which it
stands: one Nation Indivisible, with
liberty and Justice for all."
FORBES TAX IIOTIGE
BILL PASSES HOUSE
Lewis Substitute Is
Defeated Quickly.
JOURNAL DELAYS LEGISLATION
Measure Provides for Post
card Warnings First.
MARRIAGE TEST IS KEPT
Widows' Pension Act Amended to
Require Longer Residence and
Prevent Some Irregularities.
Money Measures Past).
STATE CAPITOL. Salem. Or, Feb.
IS. (Special.) Representative Forbes,
of Deschutes County, won a decisive
victory In the House today when he
obtained adoption of his amendments
to the delinquent tax list bill.
The Forbes plan provides for a for
mal notice by mall 90 days after the
taxes become delinquent and newspa
per publication of those who remain
delinquent 30 days after the notices
are sent out.
In Multnomah County notices are to
be published In only two . newspapers
with a circulation of at least 10.000
copies each, while in the outside coun
tlet publication Is to be made in pa
pers selected by the Commissioners.
The bill went back to tho Senate to
night for concurrence, and In this form
probably will become the law.
House stronK for Forbes Flam.
The House was overwhelmingly In
favor of the Forbes amendments when
the question came to a vote today.
Through an evident misunderstanding,
the Forbes amendments were side
tracked yesterday morning and a set
of amendments proposed by Represen
tative Lewis was substituted. Aa
amended by Lewis, the bill came up
for final passage today.
Undaunted by the temporary setback
of yesterday Forbes proposed the House
go into committee of the whole. He
carried his point easily and Represent
ative Ritner was called to the chair.
Forbes then offered his amendments,
one after the other, and by his logical
presentation and convincing argument
brought most of tho House to accept
his views.
Few Vote Against Bill.
Representative Peck made some oD
"ectlun. but It waa futile.
As the House was in committee of
the whole, no record was made of the
vote to substitute the Forbes amend
ments for the Lewis amendments, but
the division was decisively with Forbes.
After the committee reported back
to the House all objection ceased and
the rollcall disclosed only a handful
of members voting against the bill.
Thus ended a controversy over a
Concluded on Pasa a. Column 3.
Yesterday in the Legislature.
BY unanimous vote the Senate yes
terday passed the Sweeney-Brand
bill prohibiting use of cigarettes by
minors. This bill, which has passed
the House, does not prohibit use of
cigarettes by grown men.
Other Important bills passed by the
Senate include the irrigation codo and
a bill reorganizing the State Tax Com
mission and eliminating one Commis
sioner. The drastlo sterilisation bill, passed
by the House, and a bill putting up to
the people the problem of whether the
state shall support delinquent, depend
ent and defective children ' cared for
by private Institutions also passed the
Senate. . -
Appropriation bills totaling J70L640
were passed at a night session of the
Senate tonight.
The anti-plcketlng bill will be fought
out in the Senate at 10:30 o'clock this
morning. It was reported back to the
Senate yesterday with a divided re
port from the Judiciary committee, five
members of which recommended that it
do not pass and two recommending that
It do pass.
The House overwhelmingly sustained
Representatice Forbes in his amend
ments to the delinquent tax bill,
which provide for preliminary notices
by mail and subsequent advertising or
those delinquents who don't respond to
the mail notices.
Appropriations ' aggregating lill.
553.58 were passed by the House.
Senator Cusick's bill repealing the
law requiring a health cer'.iflcato from
male applicants for rttrriage - licenses
was defeated In the House.
The amendments to widows" pension
law, carried 'in Senator Huston's bill,
were passe ' by the House.
After a brief skirmish, the Hoj&e de
feat.! the resolution proposing changes
to the Initiative law that would have
required eifht per cent of signatures
in a majority of the counties.
Representative Rimer's bill submit
ting to the people the question of ap
propriating 8100.000 for. a new peni
tentiary was parsed.