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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1917)
VOL. L.VII NO. 17,661. PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENfS. GENERAL RISE II! RATESJSJjEHIED Roads Prosper, Says In terstate Commission. GLOOM GEIS NO SYMPATHY One Member Hints at Unrea sonable Profits, Suggest ing Congressional Probe. FEW CONCESSIONS MADE Higher Class Tariffs in East and on Coal and Iron Elsewhere Allowed. WASHINGTON, June 2D. The In terstate Commerce Commission today denied the plea of the railroads of the United States for a horizontal in crease of 15 per cent in freight rates. In its decision the Commission in dicated . its willingness to increase class rates in the Eastern district ap proximately 14 per cent. Since about one-fourth of the freight handled is moved under class rates, the decision virtually allows the Eastern lines about 4 per cent increase in gross freight revenue. Increases sought in rates on coal, coke and iron ore will be granted. . Roads Held Prosperous. The Commission found, as a result of extended hearings, that the carriers generally show a substantial and in- creasing financial prosperity, and that they have ample resources with which to conduct transportation. Little sympathy was given the ar guments of the roads that they were victims of war conditions, the Com mission holding that the carriers have profited by the mobilization of troops. The. Commission suspended the pro posed tariffs until October 28, but it indicated that no rehearing of the case would be of value at this time, and suggested cancellation of tariffs. Gloom Not Justified. The Commission finds that the gloomy forecasts of jeopardized in comes, seen by railroad officials early in 1917, have not been borne out by the figures available for later months. The proceedings were brought in March, when the returns from Feb ruary were just being made. Feb ruary was one of the worst -months in railroad history. The subsequent months have shown increasing rev enues, while expenses have in many cases failed to mount to the extent the carriers' officials feared. The decision points out that the carriers' comparisons have been made largely with those of 1916, which was the banner year in railroad earnings, and adds that the 1917 income might be considerably diminished without necessarily indicating a danger point in earnings. Better Service Asked. Commissioner Harlan, in a con curring statement, declared that, should the next few months show that the railroad men's fears were well founded, the Commission would be ready to grant relief. He also made a plea for better equipment and service. Commissioner Meyer, dissenting in part, disagreed with the Commission's holding (hat an emergency exists for Eastern railroads of such character as to make it imperative to authorize even the increased class rates sanc tioned by the majority. He stated that there is no proof that the returns of the carriers of the East for this year may not be more favorable than the net returns for all but a small number of years in their entire his tory. Congressional Probe Wanted. Commissioner McChord, also dis senting, urged that the Commission report to Congress the essential facts disclosed, and ask that an investiga tion be made to determine whether prices demanded of the carriers for fuel and supplies are reasonable under present conditions. He also intimated that Government control of these com modities might afford relief. The Commission authorized the fol lowing raises in class rates for points north of the Ohio, east of the Mis sissippi: First-class, from 78.8 to 90; second-class, from 68.3 to 79; third- (Concludeii on Pag, 5. Column l.t DUMA OBJECTS TO BEING ABOLISHED SOLDIERS' -WORKMEN'S RESO- IXTIOX SfOT TO BE OBEYED. Body Cites Its Part in Dethroning Czar and Forming Provi sional Government. PETEOGRAD, June 29. The Russian Duma will not abide by the recent resolution of the Congress of Soldiers' and Workmen's Councils calling: for its dissolution, says a resolution adopted at a private meeting; of the members of the Duma. "The Duma," says the resolution, "having; powerfully contributed to the abdication of Nicholas and the forma tion of the provisional revolutionary government, which the entire country immediately recognized, thus showing Its confidence in the Duma, and having in the manner acted as a. revolutionary institution independently of Its posi tion during the old regime, is of the opinion that it cannot cease to exist as an organ of national repre sentation and will adhere -to its- pa triotic duty of raising its voice if necessary to preserve the fatherland from the '.dangers which threaten it and guide'it In the right path." RANCHERS BUY RAILROAD Syndicate of 55 Pays $200,000 for Idaho Line. LEWISTON, Idaho, June 29. (Spe cial.) A company of 55 ranchers of the Nez Perce - prairie has purchased the Johnson railroad, operating be tween Vollmer and N Perce. The purchase price was $160,000, and new equipment will make the total invest ment $200,000. Z. A. Johnson, former president of the road, is extensively interested in thV construction of a railroad from Lewiston to Vollmer, several miles of which have been built. The proceeds from the sale of the line from Vollmer to Nez Perce will go Into this road. PROJECTS FIGHT RENEWED Senator McXary to Offer Sinnott Amendment for Irrigation. OREGONIAN NEWS BI7REAU, Wash ington, June 29. After conference with Representative Sinnott today. Senator McNary decided to offer in the Senate the amendment which failed in the House, making available for building new irrigation projects $20,000,000 of the $150,000,000 carried by the bill to Increase the food supply. - The Senator Is convinced that through such legislation the crop yield of next and subsequent years can be materially increased in Oregon and other Western states. 0LYMPIA IS HELD FAST Rock on Which Cruiser Rests Is Not Charted. NEWPORT, R. I., June 29. A report received today from naval officers In vestigating the grounding of the United States cruiser Olympia in Block Island Sound said that warship struck an un charted rock 500 yards south of Cer berus Shoal buoy and that a court of inquiry probably would show that the navigator was not at fault. Although the Olympia remains hard aground, there still is hope that she will be saved. PRICE OF COAL ADVANCED Rise Precedes Reduction Promised at Washington. DECATUR, I1L, June 29. Local coal operators today increased the price of coal 55 cents a ton at the mine. This makes the price $3.90 per ton. According to word from Washington, the local operators were a party to the recent price agreement and the Fed eral Trade Commission is expected to demand an explanation of the rise in prices. - - ORDER OFFERED WHITLOCK Congress Asked to Pass Law to Per mit Acceptance of Decoration. WASHINGTON. June 29. Today President Wilson asked Congress to pas3 a law to permit Brand Whltlock, American Minister to Belgium, to ac cept a decoration from King Albert of Belgium. It has been offered In recognition of his marked services to the little king dom. DUTCH CRUISER VISITS U. S. Warship Is En Route to East Indies to Patrol Possessions. NEW YORK. June 29. The Dutch armored cruiser Zeeland put in here to day on her way to the Dutch East Indies by way of the Panama CanaL She will assume a period of duty as a patrol ship in waters of Holland pos sessions. IRATE COLLECTOR IN JAIL La Grande Woman Says Door of Her Some Was Kicked Off by Agent. LA GRANDE, Or.. June 29. (Special.) A magazine collector who gave his name as Ford, is out on bonds tonight, following charges preferred by a La Grande woman. She alleges that when she disputed a bill he kicked the front door off its hinges. 'PRESIDENT STOPS BONE-DRY CLAUSE Prohibition of Beer and Wines 0ppj HASTE ON FOOD BILL IS URGED Restriction of Manufacture of Liquor Held Enough. SENATORS ARE CALLED ON Drys Are Told That Prolonged Eight Over Act Would Be Dan gerous to Safety of Country and Are Asked to Walt. WASHINGTON, June 29. Interven tion of President Wilson today checked the bone-dry National prohibition movement in Congress. Confinement of prohibition legislation to distilled beverages without Interference with the manufacture of beer and wines, it is generally agreed, will result. Prohibition leaders were asked by the President to drop their fight against the manufacture of beer, wines and other light intoxicants. With a formal response from the "drys" de ferred, Senate leaders of all factions quickly reached an understanding to limit absolute prohibition to dustllled spirits. Senators Called to White Ronae. President Wilson exchanged letters with Rev. Dr.- James Cannon, chairman of the National Anti-Saloon League's legislative committee, and called Senate leaders to the White House in his effort to smooth the way for final enactment of the food measure. Bone-dry legislation was written into the bill before it passed the House and the Senate agriculture committee amended the provision to prohibit the manufacture of distilled spirits, but empowered the President to permit the making of beer and wine. Hute Vrged for Dill. In his letter to Dr. Cannon the Pres ident said Senator Martin, Democratic leader, had asked him to express his views -on the food-liquor agitation re garding "the wisest and most patriotic policy to be pursued," and added: "I regard the Immediate passage of the bill as of vital consequence to the safety and defense of the Nation. Time is the essence and yet it has become evident that heated and protracted de bate will delay the passage of the bill Indefinitely if the provisions affecting the manufacture of beer and wines are restrained and Insisted upon. Opposition Culled Off. "In these circumstances I have not hesitated to say to members of the Senate who have been kind enough to consult me that it would undoubtedly (Concluded on Page 2. Column 3.) NOT DRUGST0RESST0CK UP FOR ARID STATE SPOKANE IMPORTING LARGE SUPPLIES OF LIQUOR. e Overnight and Get . Approach of Drouth Midnight Tonight. iter SPOKANE Wash., June 29. (Spe cial.) Spokane, with the rest of the state, will be bone-dry after midnight Saturday; but the drug stores of the city will not. This week there has been a rush for drug store permits, 17 proprietors hav ing obtained them from Auditor Ander son. And they have not been stinting in their orders. In instances, according to applications on file in the Auditor's office, small drugstores have obtained as high as two or three barrels of whisky. The Incoming liquor to drug stores will total several thousand gallons this week. Some of these shipments can not be received until after the state has been declared bone-dry by Federal enactment, and a question is to be raised as to whether it can legally be shipped into the state after that date. The records show that the 17 drug stores ordering- this week called for a total of 140 cases of whisky, 9 bar rels of whisky andISS gallons of spe cial brands of whisky. In addition to this 10 gallons of wine and five bar rels and four cases of beer were or dered. At 1 P. M. today 170,939 liquor per mits had been Issued by County Audi tor Anderson since the opening of the department in January, 1916. This brought the county a revenue of $42, 734.75. Of this number 9504 were is sued since the permit room was opened by a writ of mandamus. 45 were Issued today. The department will close its doors tomorrow noon. GRAIN IN FINE CONDITION Hot Wind Brings Rain and Cloudy Day and Is Beneficial. PENDLETON, Or.. June 29. (Spe cial.) So far from damaging the crops of this section, the hot wind of yes terday proved beneficial. Had it con tinued for another day damage might have been wrought, is the opinion of farmers, but it ceased in the middle of the afternoon and was followed by a' light rain and a cloudy day,' much to the relief of the growers. A similar wind of a week ago burned the grain very slightly where the soil is shallow but made the farmers ap prehensive. .The- grain here at the present time, both Fall and Spring varieties, is In fine condition. DETECTIVE PLOT CHARGED Men With Bomb Say Slenths Sought to Win Praise. NEW YORK, June 29. Charges that a police headquarters "bomb squad" member instigated a plot to place a bomb before J. P. Morgan & Co.'s bank so that detectives could win praise by arresting the plotters were ordered in vestigated by a court today.. The accusation was made by Isadore Scherer, counsel for Wolf Hlrsch and George MIerlnger, who pleaded guilty to having a bomb in their possession. EVEN A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. ' : : I 1 is IT ir? I NEW CITY COUNCIL NAMES APPOINTEES Sweeping ChangesAre Made at City Hall. GEORGE ROSSMAN IS JUDGE Commissioner Bigelow Presi dent of Commission. G. R. FUNK NAMED AUDTIOR O. Laurgaard Will Become Engi neer and Treasurer Adams and City Attorney LaRoche Will Be Retained in Office. NEW CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES CHOICE OF" OFFICIALS FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION. George R. Funk appointed City Auditor filling vacancy caused by election of Auditor Barbur to City Commission. City Commissioner Bigelow elected president of the City Council. O. Laurgaard appointed City Engineer, replacing Philip H. Dater. George Kossman appointed Mu nicipal Judge, replacing John H. Stevenson. Dr. M. B. Marcellus retained as Health Officer, and Dr. L. J. Wolf as assistant until close of war. Dr. George Parrish appointed Acting Health Officer, and Dr. John G. Abele, acting assistant. William Adams retained as City Treasurer. W. P. LaRoche retained as City Attorney. , At an executive session of the new City Council held yesterday the ques tion of appointments to the higher positions in the city service was dis posed of and sweeping changes made. City Commissioner Bigelow, the only hold-over Commissioner, was elected President of the Council to take the palace formerly held by Commissioner Daly, whose term expires today. George Rossman, an attorney, was appointed Municipal Judge, replacing John H. Stevenson. O. Laurgaard was appointed City En gineer to take the place of Philip H. Dater. George R. Funk la Auditor. George R. Funk, chief deputy in the office of County Assessor Reed, was appointed City Auditor in place of A. L. Barbur, who becomes City Commis sioner tomorrow. William Adams was retained as City (Concluded on Pafre 4. Column 3.) : RELATIONS CUT BY GREEKGOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONSIDER STATE OF WAR EXISTS NOW. Ministers . to Berlin, Vienna, Sofia and Constantinople Ordered to Return to Athens. ATHENS, June 29. The Greek gov ernment has broken diplomatic rela tions with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. Though war has not yet been de clared, the Greek government considers that a state of war exists since its ad vent to power yesterday. PARIS, June 29. Telegraphing from Athens under todays date, the corre spondent of Le Temps says that the Greek Ministers at Berlin. Vienna, Sofia and Constantinople have been instruct ed to leave their potts with their staffs and to place their archives with The Netherlands Legations. The rupture Is based on the Incom patibility of maintaining diplomatic re lations with governments that are carrying on war In Greek territory," adds the dispatch. PLOT TO KIDNAP ADMITTED Man Charged With xKilllng Keets Baby Confesses Lesser Crime. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., June 29. Dick Carter, arrested at Hutchinson. Kan., last week on a chares of murder In con nection with the kidnaping and death of Baby Lloyd Keet. has confessed, im plicating In the alleged plot to kidnap C. A. Clement, a wealthy Springfield Jeweler, Prosecutor Paul O'Day said today. According to O'Day. Carter said Claude Plersol, who also is charged with the Keet baby murder, offered him 750 as a share of any ransom paid for Clement's release. 4 BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK Destruction by U-Boats Revealed in Reports to Insurance Offices. BOSTON, June 29. The torpedoing and sinking of four large British Cargo-carrying steamers was announced in advices to local insurance offices to day. The steamers wert the Ultonia, of the Cunard line, 659S tons; Haver ford, of the American line, 7493 tons; Buffalo, Wilson liner, 2583 tons, and the Manistee, another Cunard vessel. No details of the losses were given and no mention was made of the fate of the crews. TURKS DEFEAT RUSSIANS Superior Forces Force Retirement on Mesopotamia. PETROGRAD. June 29. (British Ad miralty per Wireless Press.) Fight ing broke out yesterday between Turks and Russians on the frontier between Persia and Mesopotamia. After - two attacks by superior Turkish forces the Russians, according to today's official statement, retired to the northern bank of the River Abls Tirman. south of Baneh. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 68 degTees; minimum, 55 degrees. TODAY'S Fair, YarmerI westerly winds. . War. Greece breaks relations with central powers Page 1. Two hundred sailors offer lives to revive spirit of Russian army. Page 2. Lloyd George declares Prussian power must be broken before allies can consider peace. Page -. BrtMsh pain oh 2000-yard front. Page 5. War Department hurries preparations for reinforcing Pershing:. Page 4. Export policy studied with care to avoid injustice to neutrals. Page 7. Foreign. Duma objects to proposed abolishment. Page L National. National Guard to be sent to Southern camps soon. Page 4. Interstate Commerce Commfftston denies gen eral freight rate rise. Page 1. President stops debate over liquor provisions of food bill. Page 1. Sports. Pacific Coast Teague results: Portland 4. Vernon 5; Salt Lake 9. Oakland 4; San Francisco 7. Los Angeles 0. Page 15. Miss Agnes Ford and Mrs. C. F. Ford to play for women's rolf championship of Northwest today. Page 14. Wilhelm to meet Seattle star for Northwest golf title. Pare 14. Pacific Northwest. Spokane drug stores stock up for arid state. Page 1. Farmers return to fields swept by flood. Page 7. Highway Commission gives first contract for paving under new law. Page 8. Al Kader Temple. Nobles of Mystic Shrine, to make pilgrimage. Page 15. Commercial and Marine. Oregon hopgrowers expect favorable legis lation by Congress. Page 19. Wheat trade a Chicago awaits action on food bill. Page 19. Substantial rally In Wall-street stock mar ket. Page 19. Western builders pick flaws In Government ship plans. Page 16. High price of fuel oil seriously affects ma rine operators. . Page 16. Portland and Vicinity. Federal Lumber Commission speaks cheering words to Northwest producers. Page ft. Portland enlists 83 men in various branches this week. Page 11. West Coast Lumber Association considers problem of caring for big Federal orders. Page 6. New City Council names appointees. Page 1. "Open door" policy pledged by incoming city officials. Page 12. Timber deal Involving $4,000,000 to be con cluded. Page L Belgian war mission wfll be entertained by Portland July 10. Page 9. Divorce decree awarded Mrs. Dorr E. Keasey. rage v. Committees of bankers named to pass on candidates for training camp. Page 16. Southern sweetheart waits while R c. Casey pays penalty for forgery three years ago. Page 8. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 19. 34,000,000 TIMBER SALE TO BE CLOSED Eccles Company To Ex ercise Dubois Option. TRACTCONTAINS 27,325 ACRES Shipbuilding Among Proposed Activities of Purchaser. NEW MILL CONTEMPLATED Holdings Contain 2.500,000 KccC In Four. Oregon Counties' and $1,000,000 Logging Road Will Have to Be Built. The culmination of Oregon's largest timber land deal of recent years, grow ing out of the option on the $4,000,000 holdings of the Dubois Lumber Com pany, granted to David C. Eccles., head of the Oregon American Dumber Com pany, on January 24, awaits only the return of John Dubois, head of the selling company, from the ast. Official notice that the option, which, is to expire July 1, was to be concluded by purchase has been given by Charles T. Early, of Portland, manager of tha Eccles timber interests in Oregon, to J. K. Gamble, necretary of the Duboia Lumber Company. Mr. Dubois Expected. Rey B. Early, sales agent of the Ore gon American Lumber Company, left for an Eastern trip a week ago and it is understood that his conference with, Mr. Eccles In Salt Lake City marked the decision of the option holders to make tho purchase. Mr. Dubois is now at Atlantic City, N. J., and Mr. Gamble said last night he was not certain when Mr. Duboia would return, though he expected him within two or three weeks. Just when. MY. Eccles will come to Portland to conclude his share in the transaction, whether he will precede or arrive con currently with Mr. Dubois,' is not yet known. President's Signature Necessary. The fact that the Dubois Company is an Oregon corporation will necessi tate the signature of its president be fore the transaction can be terminated, but in view of the fact that the op tional decision is on the Eccles side of the deal and that Mr. Dubois is ob liged to accept the tender the signaturo of Mr. Dubois is, in effect, " a niert formality. ' Insofar as practical effect is con cerned the' deal was closed when Mr. Early notified Mr. Gamble that the Eccles interests expected to exercise the option and that the money was ready to be paid over. Market Plana K.t Made. The lands involved in the big deal embrace 27,325 acres located in Clatsop. Tillamook. "Washington and Columbia counties, most of the acreage being on the Clatsop County side of the inter secting boundary lines. By the Dubois cruises the entire holding includes 2. 500.000,000 feet of. yellow fir, Fpruce, hemlock and cedar, the yellow fir be ing the predominating variety. Just how the officers of the Oregon American Lumber Company expect to get their timber to the market is yet undecided. Mr. Early said last night that half a dozen different routes are possible, and that any one of them may be chosen- Logging: Road Needed. During his last visit to Portland Mr. Eccles estimated that it would cost be tween $1,500,000 and 12.000,00 to build the logging road that is to make the rich timber belt accessible, and that it would require about one year to build that road. Mr. Early last night con firmed the report that the purchasing company contemplated the utilization of some of Its newly acquired timber for shipbuilding purposes. The Oregon American Lumber Com pany now operates several sawmill properties in Oregon, the main plants being at Dee, In the Hood River Valley and near Baker. This year will see the wind-up of the activity of the com pany mill at Beaver Creek Falls, along the lower Colunrbia River Highway. The location of the mill which Is to saw the timber from the new holdings has not yet been made public if it has been determined. The final papers on the Dubols-Ec-cles deal are being prepared and will be ready for signature upon the arrival of Mr. Dubois. 15 SLACKERS SENTENCED Terms in County Jail at Yakima Follow Pleas of Guilty. NORTH YAKIMA. Wash.. June 29.' (Special.) Eighteen indictments were returned Thursday by the United States grand Jury here against men charged with failing to register under the con scription act. In 15 cases pleas of guilty were made and these sentences were Imposed: J. L Bates, Harold Masoli, Frank Henderson, Wendell Reis, Albert Soder, seven months in the Yakima jail; Thomas H. Dunning. W. Freer, six months; Paul Hebner and E. L. Butler, one month; Earl Knight. P. R. Rice. George Murray, S. E. BenorT, Steve Polouvlck and Ed Richeson. ten days. Jules Miller pleaded not guilty.