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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1917)
VOL. LiVIJ NO. 17,625. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY , MAY .18, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. $6,000,000 SHIP JOB LET IN OREGON WAR BONDS DEFEAT 8 PER CENT MONEY crisis in IS PASSED ROADS ASKED TO READJUST SERVICE TAX ON BIG INCOMES SHIP IS REPORTED LOST; 120 MISSING ARMY BILL READY FURTHER INCREASED FOR WILSON'S NAME PATRIOTIC PLEA OF THOMAS ROBERTS IS GRANTED. WAR BOARD OUTLINES FLAX OF OPERATION. STANDARD GOES AGROUND OFF ALASKAN COAST. MILITARY RUSSIA t a. 1 v 1 Portland Yards Will Build Ten. 2 CONTRACTED AT COOS BAY Wooden Vessels Will Cost . About $500,000 Each. I SEATTLE OBTAINS ONLY 2 .Facilities Here Are in Shape to Rush Government Orders as Soon as Expected Work Is Awarded. Some Already ITndcr Way. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, May 17. Contracts for 14 wooden ships to cost in the -neighborhood of $500,000 each -were let on the Pacific Coast today. 12 of them going- to Oregon yards and involving an expendi ture of about f6.000.000 in Oregon alone. Six will be built by the Peninsula Shipbuilding Company, of Portland; four by the Coast Shipbuilding Com pany, of Portland; two by the C. A. Smith Lumber Company, of Coos Bay, and two by the Sandstrom Company, of Seattle. The vessels are not to be built along the Government plans that have not yet been approved, but will follow the general lines desired by the Shipping Board. The ships will average about 8000 tons burden. The shipping board declines to give specific information regarding these contracts but it is understood that eome of the ships contracted for are already In course of construction. The vessels assigned to the Coast yard, at the foot of Woods street and formerly the Heath plant, are of a type that the Shipping Board has se lected, though they conform to a large extent with plans submitted by H. E. Pennell, of the company, who has been at Washington. Guy M. Standlfer, of the Standifer Clarkson Company, who has been East for a lengthy period, is due home to morrow and. as that company has of fered to place its facilities at the dis posal of the Government, contracts are expected immediately. F. C. Knapp. president of the Penin sula Shipbuilding Company, was In the East at the time the wooden ship pro gramme was tak-en up, and he has Bince spent much time In conference with members of the Board in the in terests of the use of Douglas fir in the construction of wooden vessels. Recently Mr. Knapp Instructed Theo dore Knudson. superintendent of the yard, to lay the keels for two steam ers. That, coupled with the fact he had been In close touch with develop ments at Washington, was regarded here as certain that the company would soon be building for the Gov ernment. The Peninsula interests submitted their own plans to the Shipping Board, the type being a ship 300 feet long and designed for either oil engines or steam. Advance preparations of a ten tative character are said to Insure ma terial being turned out rapidly for the fleet, and four building bertha at the yard will be augmented by at least two more sets of ways at once. The Peninsula type of vessel will be steel strapped and strengthened throughout and the probabilities are the Government will provide the ma- cninery, at least for motive power, a auxiliaries being obtained here. Th auxiliary schooners Alpha and Beta a reaay nave been launched there, an two other ships of the auxiliary ri are well along. Work will h hnrri on them and as ranidlv as nnxsiiii. u ways will be given over to the emer gency construction. Mr.. Pennell departed for Washing ton early in the month, and in a tele gram received here yesterday he an- nouced that four contracts had been successfully negotiated. The company has three sets of ways practically ready, the fourth can be started at once and grading, will be ordered to day for the fifth. Piling and other ma terial was ordered yesterday for the fourth and fifth ways. The mould loft there is under way, and other structures have"- been begun. In a short time the company will be rushing operations. Every wooden shipbuilding plant on the Columbia and Willamette rivers is ready to accept one or more ship eon tracts from the Government. At the Supple & Ballin yard, at the foot of East Oak street, plans are ready for the building of four more ways, pro viding six in all. The Standifer-Clark-eon plant can expand. The Vancouver plants of the Columbia River Shipbuild ing Company and Motorship Construc tion Company are under way. The St. Helens Shipbuilding Company can more than double its facilities; Somarstrom Brothers are starting their yard at Co lumbia City with five ways; Wilson Bros, and the McEachern Ship Com pany, at Astoria, are ready to increase. Not only that, but there is additional capital available for more plants if the Government will promise contracts. "lilfe Problems to Be Topic. "Life Problems" will be the subject of a lecture to be delivered Saturday evening at 8:15. room A. Central Library, by Dr. V. B. De Lory. There will be good music by a string trio, and Miss Vivienne De Lory will play a violin solo. The public is invited. Guardian Says Greater Interest Could Be Realized, but He Pre fers to Assist Government. The Nation's war . coffers were en riched by 110,000 yesterday when County Judge Tazwell granted the pe tition of Thomas Roberts, of Roberts Bros., to invest that amount of money, belonging to the estate of his brother, Henry Roberts, for which he Is guar dian, in the "Liberty Loan." J. E. Bronaugh, appearing for Thomas Roberts, represented that there were funds in excess of $10,000 available in the estate of Henry Roberts, and that they should be invested in interest bearing securities. He said that it would be possible to invest the money at 8 per cent, but that Mr. Roberts felt a desire to assist the Government in the flotation of the war bonds. Mr. Roberts declared in his petition that. Inasmuch as the estate of which he is guardian has had the protection of the Government, he felt the reci procal duty to furnish funds to the Government to carry out Its purpose. STOCK SUPPLYJS GREATER Lane County Farmers Report Great Increase In Number of Calves. EUGENE. Or., May 17. (Special.) Despite the high cost of feed and the top prices offered for livestock, an increase in the number of cows, pigs and sheep actually on the farms of Lane County Is shown by returns made In connection with the farm survey. On 1345 of 2836 farms reporting the.re are 4680 dairy cows as com pared with 4197 for the average year. Beef-breeding stock on the same farms shows an increase of 400 head for the year. A great increase In the number of calves is also shown, indicating that fewer calves are being slaughtered for veaL Brood sows Increased 450 head, feeding hogs 400 head and ewes more than 600. $35 SPENT; JO ENLIST C. F. Elliott Pays Expenses for Two From Oak Point to Cottage Grove. COTTAGE GROVE. Or.. Mav 17. (Special.) One man was so anxious to become a member of Sixth Cnmnanw lOregon Coast Artillery, that he took several days and spent $35 to get here to enlist. He is Charles F. Elliott, a timekeeper for the Hammond Lumber Company at Oak Point, Wash. Mr. Elliott not only paid his own ex penses but also the expenses of Dan Welch, of Kelso. Wash., already a mem ber or the company. He wished to have Welch along to make certain that no slips occurred in his getting to be a member of this company. OLDEST NATIVE SON DIES J. H. Bristow Ijlvoil on Sumo T.nn County Farm 68 Years. EUGENE. Or., May 17. (Special.) J. H. Bristow, probably Lane County's oldest native son and one of the first white children born in Oregon, died to day at his home on the farm .where he was born 68 years ago. He was a son of A. K. Bristow, who headed one of the early immigrant trains and who settled on this farm in 1848. His mother, Almira Bristow, who held the distinction of having resided in Lane County longer than any other resident, died two months ago. He Is survived by his wife and four children, all of Pleasant Hill. STOWAWAY SEALED IN CAR Escape Effected by Cutting Hole In Side of Freight Carrier. EUGENE. Or., May" 17. (Special.) A stowaway arriving in Eugene last night in a sealed car of lumber from Coquille, after appealing in vain to the freight clerk to release him from his prison, cut his way to liberty, apparent ly with a Jackknife through the side of the car. He had been in. the. car two or three days. While a freight clerk was seeking a policeman to arrest the man and co lect passenger fare,, if possible, he es caped. PASTOR TURNS BARBER Scio Man Will Preach Sundays and Work Rest of Week. A LB ANT, Or., May 17. (Special.) Rev. H. B. Her. pastor of the Fed erated Church of Scio, has purchased a barber shop in Albany, and will work at this trade during the Week besides preaching regularly on Sundays. Rev. Mr. Her was a barber before he entered the ministry. The church at, Scio is one of the few leaerated. churches in the state. It is the only Protestant church in. that city. BOTTLE COSTS $200 FINE Possessor of Liquor at Marshsfleld Also Gets SO Days In Jail. MARSHFIELD. Or.. Mav 17. tstnr, cial.) Will Ferry, after two trials in the Recorder's Court, was acquitted on a cnarge of selling liquor. Peter Skanson was convicted in th Justice Court of having liquor in hi possession and fined $200 and sen tenced to 80 days in Jail- Albert Ahlqulst was convicted of naving liquor ana lined J 100, Generals Agree to Return to Front. RESIGNATIONS ARE WITHDRAWN Coalition Cabinet Also Solves Situation at Home. ARMY DISCIPLINE HURT Commanders Complain That Sol diers Misunderstand Peace Talk and Object to Offensive 1Tar. ' Council Adds to Powers. PETROGRAD, via London, May 17. As a result of a meeting in Petrograd of the commanders-in-chief from all the fronts except the Caucasus, Gen erals Brusslloff and Gurko have with drawn their resignations, and reports of further resignations are refuted by the definite announcement that all the commanders have decided to remain at their posts. Thus, the crisis in the army, which formed an alarming accompaniment to the political crisis, has been averted. - Discipline at FToat Lost. Discussing with the temporary gov ernment the serious condition of affairs at the front, the commanders declared the unfortunate phrase "peace without annexations" had found its way to the army and was there translated into an argument against offensive warfare. This and other harmful doctrines pervading the army and the inability of the officers satisfactorily to explain them had ruined discipline and de stroyed the authority and prestige of the officers. The discord in Petrograd had nat urally found an echo everywhere at the front, but the spirit of the soldiers was slowly recovering and the power of the Russian, army was by no means lost. laterfmare Causes Trouble. General Alexleff, commander-in-chief of the Russian armies, said: "The whole gist of the new idea re forms . cannot be . properly understood by the Army- and this has brought about dangerous results. We can over come the consequent loss of authority if irresponsible persons and organiza tions will cease further to interfere with our work. "I feel assured that under the new coalition government it will be pos sible to conduct military affairs in a more energetic manner. " It is time to wake up and stop shouting 'peace with out annexations.' Let us leave peace negotiations to the government." Cabinet Crista Also Settled. The Cabinet crisis has been settled. A declaration of the ' government's policy has been accepted by the rep resentatives of the Council of Work men's and Soldiers' delegates with (Concluded on Pas 3. Column g.) THfc ONLY EFFECTIVE WAY I; 1 TWO TO BE ELECTED T ' ' II 7 Wl 1 t VOTE SINGLE SH0&tt j Consolidation of Some Runs and Abandonment of Others Arc Suggested. WASHINGTON.'' Uy 17. All rail roads have been-called upon by the war board of the American Railway Association to readjust their service immediately so ' as to make - available the maximum transportation energy for moving fuel, food, material and troops. A notice to the roads, announced to night by Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the board, says: "First Consolidate where practica ble through passenger train service and eliminate those trains which are not well patronized. "Second Reduce the number of spe cial trains and give up running ex cursion trains. "Third On branch lines where two trains are operated try to reduce to one train a day. "Four Where practicable substitute mixed train service for separate pas senger and freight service on branch lines. Closely review number of schedule freight trains whiere tonnage is insufficient to load them fully, with a view to reducing the number of trains. . "Fifth Where passenger trains are double-headed for speed, a readjust ment of schedules or cutting off cars where possible will release locomotives for freight service. "Sixth Reduce as far as practica ble luxuries such as observation cars. In the interest of economy reduce the present rather elaborate and luxurious bills of fare on many dining cars. "Seventh Move 'company' freight on underloaded trains. Operate work trains as far as possible in slack times. Store coal in slack times. "Eighth Make proper train loading of primary importance with officials and train crews. Give publicity to those making good and poor records." In connection with his announce ment Mr. Harrison said the war board finds it inevitable that from time to time It must recommend the adoption of policies which may prove Incon venient to the public In doing so. however, the board will rely upon the support of public opinion, he asserted. NINE CUTST0 PIE. PLAN San Francisco Cafeterias Meet In creased - Cost -of Food,. "- - ' SAN FRANCISCO. May 17. Increased prices and decreased portions have been decided upon by local cafeterias to combat the high cost of food, it was announced here today. Pies, a year ago cut into five pieces, will be divided Into nine hereafter, it is said, and like economies will be ef fected with other items. NIPPON BOATS IN FRANCE Japanese to Aid In War on Ger man Submarines. PARIS, May 17. A number of Jap anese gunboats have arrived at Mar seilles to aid in the war on German submaralnes and convoy French mer chantmen. If the experiment has satisfactory results It will be extended. TO BEAT THE UNFIT CANDIDATE IN THE CITY ELECTION. House - Levies 45 Per Cent on $1,009000. WAC ot !. cSTlMATE RAISED Half of First Year's Need Put at $2,245,000,000. ANOTHER BILL TO FOLLOW Changes In Measure Are to Be Con sidered Beginning Today Pro posal to Raise Exemption Lost. Stamp Tax Is Suggested. WASHINGTON. May 17. Further drastic increases were written into the Income surtax schedules of the war revenue bill by the House in the com mittee of the whole today after an nouncement by Democratic Leader Kitchire that Secretary McAdoo's latest estimate of or.e-haif of the cost of the first year of the war. which the bill is intended to cover, would be about $3,245,000,000. The increases, 25 per cent on ail the proposed surtaxes on incomes between $40,000 and $1,000,000 as reported by the committee and a 45 per cent sur tax on Incomes in excess of $1,000,000 as proposed by Representative Lenroot, of Wisconsin were Included by a vote of 146 to 107. Another Bill May Follow. No attempt will be made in the House. Mr. Kitchin announced tonight to raise the total of the bill to $3.245.00T.. 000. It is probable, however, he added that the total will be larger than the $1,800,000,000 contemplated in the orig inal measure, and if it Is found that more money is needed another bill will be drafted at the next session of Congress. Many members believe further ef forts to make the bill total $2,345,000. 000 will be made on the floor or in the committee. t The committee meets tomorrow and daily thereafter to consider changes In the bill. Increases Add 8,0OO.OO0. A statement prepared by a commit tee expert tonight said that the sur tax increases would add about $66, 000,000 to the total Vf the bill during the coming year. Statements on the floor as to the amount they would raise ranged from $100,000,000 downward. The surtaxes, which would be added to the normal taxes provided by the old law under the Lenroot amend ments, would be as follows: Between $40,000 and $60,000, 10 per cent; $60,000 to $50,000, 134 per cent; $80,000 to $100,000, 17 V4 per cent $100, 000 to $150,000, 21 Vi per cent; $150,000 to $200,000. 25: $200,000 to $250,000. 30; $250,000 to $300,000, 33; $300,000 to $500,000. S7H; $500,000 to $1,000,000. 4 Concluded on Paso 5, Column 1.) Twenty-Nine Men In One of Five Lifeboats or Libby, McNeill & Llbby Vessel Picked Vp. SAN FRANCISCO. May 17. The three-masted ship Standard, owned by Libby. McNeil & Llbby. is a total wreck off Cape Constantlne, in Bering Sea, according to a message received here today by the naval radio station. Of nearly 150 men aboard the vessel, only 29 have been rescued, according to the report- The vessel, which carried a large crew and many men for the Alaska canneries, stranded at 11 "o'clock at night on May 14 and was abandoned by the crew a day later, when the heavy seas had begun to pound her to plecea Five lifeboats, each crowded to ca pacity, were launched. One was picked up a few hours later, containing 29 men. So far, according to the message received today, none of the remaining boats have been sighted. The Standard, a ship of 1461 net tons, left San Francisco April 7 for Bristol Bay. Alaska. The message received here was sent out by the naval radio station at St. Paul, Priblloff Islands, in Bering Sca- SEATTLE. May 11. The Standard lert San Francisco 38 days ago with supplies and workmen for the Libby. McNeill & Llbby salmon canneries on Bristol Bay. Cape Constantlne is the western point of the entrance to the estuary at the mouth of Nushagak River. Bristol Bay. A message Just received by Libby. McNeill & Libby from the manager of the Nushagak cannery says the Standard went on the Cape Constan tlne flats Monday night. The local office says the vessel un doubtedly got off the flats and pro ceeded without serious damage. The message contained nothing to indicate loss of life or property. HIGH FOOD PRICES HIT Seattle Port Commission Plans to Wholesale Foodstuffs. SEATTLE. Wash.. May 17. Robert Bridges, president of the Port Con, mission, announced today that he is working on a plan by which the Com mission will engage in the commission and wholesale business In food urod ucts, acting as a selling agency for the farmers who store their products in the public warehouses. The object, he declared, is to regulate the price of food products brought here for local consumption. The Commis sion will not enter the retail business, but will leave that field to the grocery stores. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum Kmswiturc S4 dsre; minimum. 47 degree. TODAY'S Unsettled, probably showers; rie- i.iuinrtiuiii westerly Wlnag. War. Military and Cabinet crisis In rtussla passed Pace 1. Railmfnt of foresters to so to France. rt( i. Army bill ready for President's signature. rase Liberty loan subscribers must hasten to com plete tasa in XT a a j. race . Thirty-two military camps each will be com plets town of 1000 buildings, rase 6. British rapture all of Bullecourt. Pa 4. unitea Plate steamer Hllonlan torpedoed ana lour iiv lost, fs 2. Germany able to fight until IBID. Pare . Oreson sets $4,000,000 In Government ship contrail. raft 1. Grind of training for officers takes hold at tn freaiaio. I'as t. Different, but better business Is foreeast by New York banker. Pas 3. Foreigw. Nationalist oppose Lloyd-George's horn nil plan. Pas 2. Domestic Ship Standard lost off Alaska; ISO men mlss-lns- Pas 1- P porta. Pacific Coast Lessu results: Portland 5. Fan Francisco 3: Oakland S. Salt Lak 6; Lm Angeles T. Vernon 0. Pas 14. Red Cross to benefit from championship golf tourney. Pas 14. Dr. Leslie Cloush realms as physical In structor at Multnomah Club. Pas 14. Trambttas will meet nesro In ten-round bout tonight. Pag 14. Pacific Northwest. Secret census rveal sreat quantity of stored food In tipokane. Pas 1. Many Portland people on second day's pro gramme of Sunday school convention. Psg 6. ' Governor names thro for Stat Lira Board. Pas 0. Bids for psvtns Siskiyou Highway to be called for. Page 7. Commonwealth conference considers labor mobilisation. Pag 3. Commercial and Marine. Lars clip of Baker wool sells at 60 H cent. Pag 19. Sailors listed for exemption from draft. Pas IS. News that allies win resell wheat causes slump at Chicago. Paso IS. Stock prlres continue to advance, led by metal shares. Pas 19. Allies to unload wheat previously purchased her. Page 19. Wall-street market continues advance. Page 19. Shipyard with sis wars being built at War ronton. Or. Pag 16. Portland, and Vicinity. Estat will boy S10.000 war bonds. Pag 1. Western shippers to protest rat Increase. Pas Portland bankers ready to accept liberty loan subscriptions. Page 8. Mr. Bsker. If elected Mayor, to fight In flated food prices. Pag 20. Head of Chines Peac Society resigns. Psg 8. Labor day will b school holiday. Pag 0. Railroad workman enlist freely In engineers' regiment. Pas 1 St. Plans for .war census la Oregon stad. Pag 20. Circuit Conrt holds Bean bill passed legally. Psg 13. Trafflo manager warns farmers to prepare to store large part of their food crops. Pag IS. West her bureau records show Oregon short 23n degrees of warmth. Fagev. .Weather report, data and. forecast, face 29.. Senate Adopts Confer. ence Report, 65 to 8. SIGNATURE PROBABLY TODAY 10,000,000 Men, 21 to 30 Years, Liable to Service. ROOSEVELT PLAN CARRIED Matter of Colonel's Proposed Vol u nicer Force Is Vp to President. War Department Is Ready to Register Ellglbles. CHIEF" PROVISIONS OF ARMY BILL AS KIXALLV PASSED. Selective draft of men between ages of : 1 and 30 years; 500. 000 at time; 10,000,000 men af fected. Regular Army increased maximum -war strength. National Guard units to to bo drafted Into Federal service President authorized to raise, four divisions of volunteer in fantry (Roosevelt army). Pay of enlisted men increased. Sale of liquor at or near Army camps prohibited. WASHINGTON. May 17. Final action was taken by Congress today on tho war Army bill, the second of the ma Jor measures of tho war. The Senate, by a vote of 65 to 8. adopted the conference report, ac cepted yesterday by the House. Vice-President Marshall and Speaker Clark will sign the bill tomorrow ana send it to the White House. It prob ably will bo law before tomorrow night. As finally approved, the bill pro vides for raisins; by selective con scription a war army in Increments C 50.000 men from 21 to 30 years of age. It also authorises, without directing;, the President to raise volunteer force which Colonel Roosevelt desires to take) to France, and greatly increases tha pay of all enlisted men. Var Departatest Ready. Machinery to register and draft tha first 500.000 men already has been set up by the War Department. Imme diately after the President slCns th bill he will by proclamation designate, the day for registration of the 10.000. 000 or more men of the prescribed age. Registration books will be in the hands of state and local authorities who are to co-operate in the work, ana Brigadier-General Crowder. the pro vost marshal general, expects to have his complete lists in Washington within five days after registering begins. Then will come the task ot selecting the first half million, exempting tha physically unfit, those with dependents and men who are needed on tha farm a and In Industries. Call Probable la Septestker. The process of selection probably will be completed long before the men ara wanted. Secretary Baker aald today that, because of lack of supplies, tho new Army would not be called to tha colors for training before September. Whether Colonel Roosevelt shall be permitted to raise an expedition now rests with President Wilson. HI views) have not been disclosed. Today's cloy ing debate centered upon the so-called Roosevelt amendment- Colonel Roose velt was vigorously attacked by Senator Stone, of Missouri, and as ardently de fended by his friend. Senator Johnson, of California. Cbaaaberlala Makes Appeal. The Senate's approval of the mess ure agreed upon by the conferees and accepted by the House came late la the day after attempt to send it baric to conference and an earnest appeal by Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the military committee, for final ac tion. The eight Senators who cast the neg ative votes are: Democrats Gore, of Oklahoma t Hardwlck. of Georgia: Klrby, of Arkansas: Stone, of Missouri, ana Trammel!, of Florida. Republicans La Follrtte. of Wiscon. sin; Gronna. of North Dakota, anJ Norrls, of Nebraska. Bill 1 ' early Moat a. The bill, backed by tha Adminljtra tlon. was introduced la the Senat April 19, was passed April 2S in the Senate by a vote, of 81 to S and In tho House 397 to 24 and since has been tied-up in conference, returned there twice by the House to Include tha Roosevelt volunteer provision and fur-, ther pay increases for enlisted men. Its chief provisions are: . Raising of armed forces by tho se lective draft system. Imposed upon alt males between the ages of 21 and 30 years, inclusive, subject to registration, and certain exemptions from service. Increasing the regular Army to max imum war strength. Drafting into the Federal service of National Guard units. Raising an Initial force by con scription of 500,000 men. with addition of 500.000 if deemed necessary. Raising, if the President sees fit. of four divisions of volunteer Infantry (the Roosevelt amendment). Increasing tho pay of all enlisted men as follows: Fifteen dollars additional monthly lCoaciuuj.4 oa race 2. Column s.j.