Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1918)
10 TITE 3I0RXIXG OREGOXIAX. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1918. (Stye (Droromnn rOKTLAXDl. ORZGOX. IKH mt Partialis rintM Paste irVoa ma .1 -riiM m All matter, aaoacrtpuoa rau lav in-ibly fa advance: H MmtLt rai!r. uaday toclwMla. ana w .......tAO Irniiy. Sua4-y Included, aix month .... 4 23 Xaily. 9jady l:tc!ut-l. t,.r a monlba X-i Iiiy. S'lnda Incluned, aaa Skoal . . . .. .7 j Ii.r. wlfioul SuBd, cnvMr S ImiIj. attboul !l4y, ais mnl ha. . . X laily. without Sanaay. oaa month...... .'U -ly, ana Jar. ............ ......... l.i Maa'l iy, aa Jr ............ ..... SaaUay sad afkiji Ibv firrw.) 2al!-. fua'lBr taciudnl, ona year. . . . . ,f 9 no wi.y, cvnnar tndU'iMi, ana ntnotB lialir. tuhnut und.,y. air y-ar T.' l'aiiy. without tiuciay. Iltraa months... 1 Iei'r. without funUay. ona mnnth...... Haa? la Haaalt t--nrl puatofTics monrjr a -er. espreee or p-raonal chaca an your )jci sank. Htajnra. coin or currem-y ara at ara-r'B rlsa. oiva p..storTtoa mlrmam la lui . inriiuinx eoanty aul stata. fMMa Katea I. lo 14 pas-a, 1 rant ta 3. p-gee. - centa: 3t to 4 pages, S canu M la ail 4 canta; B to a paaea. aaata: TS to SJ paaea. e cents, -orals Soalaaa. uoubla rata - r a'tarai Ha-iBM- Offlta Varraa A Conk' Ira. Hnioialt a puildio. New York; V at Conkrla. Maar buixitnr. Chicago: r-a a) Cnnklln. Kraa fraaa bundles. Detroit. lXMn. : aan rTanriaro r-praeaalauve. It. lMweU. I4J Mai art atrial. a-M klXBCI Or THE AVMX'IATFD PRESS. Tha Aaanrtatad Praaa la aseloaf-ely an tlt)d to tha aaa fr republication of al laws dispatch- credited to It or not ether a rtea erMtitad ta this paper, aad also ttia Baeal iwf paBiished herein. A t nghra af republication f apaclal dls- Ticn aeraia ara a.ao reaarveo. J-OBTLA.ND. FRIDAY. APRIL IS. WIS. It Is herewith seriously unvested that tha voter early make determine tlon to Tote down all tha measures at present offered as a means of re lieving; the sting of the (cent fare. There la now prospect that the measures will number at least tare. There Is ona which, it Is presumed, was drawn carefully In the Interests af persons who would establish Jitney service, it provides an opening; for laxly regulated service alonir the lines of present congested traffic Such service was bat a short time ago put ant of business by the voters. It was a system productive of numerous evils. It yielded deaths from accident: It brought Into the business, long with reliable drivers, others who were of low morals and we paid a cost la the virtue of young girls. It was not a paying business for those engaged in It. but It had an allure ment that cansed lose, of numerous mall aavirgs and created litigation between sellers and buyers of vehicles. The only profits In sight were those of few owners of second-hand cars who sold and resold as fast as buyers could ba found to purchase on the In rtallment plan and face an Inevitable bankruptcy. There waa sever anything about the business as It was formerly conducted that was a benefit to the community or a reason for pride of achievement. It is to this that one measure proposes we shall return. There Is counter measure offered by the street railway company. It goes to the other extreme. Its prac tical result. If adopted, will be no dif ferent from that of the franchtaes granted tha I'ortland Trackless Car Company at tha time the Jitney bond ing measure was passed 1T the people. That result was nil. The measure proposes to keep the Jitneys off the routes of congested travel and to re quire them to give service similar as to length of routes and frequency of cars to that given by the street rail way company. Jitney profits, as demonstrated un der unbridled regulation, are pre carious. They come nearest paying a profit only on short routes and on lines where the street railway com pany has built up traffic Stephen Carver, owner of the Trackless Car Company franchises. Is now permitted to establish such Jitney routes. In order to start the btiesness he has even offered drivers all they can take In and a bonus of fl a day besides. but cannot get men to enter the field. Ills franchises, moreover, cover the choicest of streets noV not served by the street railway. Independent cars were formerly operated on lMvl-ajon street, but no takers now appear for Ills offer on the same route. Another route passes out Alder street to Twen ty-third, through the most congested district of the West Side. But It Is at present unattractive. There Is to be said against the street railway measure that Its regulations would have made It unattractive to Jitney drivers In the palmy days of that traffic and these drawbacks are enlarged by the fact that there Is now leas Inducement to men to engage In precarious business. They can get good Jobs at more money elsewhere. Ko Jitneys would operate with this measure In force and there Is no need for cumbering the municipal law books with It. The third measure Is charter amendment granting authority to the city to eliminate present charter pro visions Imposing certain paving costs. bridge tolls and other extraordinary charges upon the street railway com pany. It is assumed that If these charges were eliminated It would be possible for the company to operate at profit by charging only a 6-cent fare. Ona important obstacle to this measure Is the per rent tax limita tion provision of the state constitution. The city do encounters that limita tion In a desire and a necessity to raise the pay of city employes. Cliy employes are quitting their positions to go Into more remunerative work and administrative operations of the municipality are menaced. The coun cil cannot pay the increase from cur rent funds without exreeding the con stitutional limit of taxation. It must levy a special tax for the purpose anil that tax must ba approved by the people. If the street railway company Is re liever! of extraordinary charges the city will be deprived of certain revenues and those) revenues cannot be made up out of current funds, for hey are In sufficient for the purpose and beond the power of the council legally to enlarge. It may be admitted without i"c tfon that such charges arc ultimately paid by the car-rider and that when there is a single purno to keep down coal or enhance quality of service such charges are a detriment. Hut they kvav a value as a ready means of raising needed revenues and are so recognized by all competent authority. I'ortland needs the revenue they yield. In the light of a strict analysis they are not particularly burdensome upon the public, because when the revenue they yield Is necessary It must ba raised either one way or another. The patrons of the car company con sist broadly or taxpayers and non taxpayers. If there is a sensible r da eon why these non-taxpayers should not Indirectly contribute to the neces sities of the city It has not been ad vanced. As for the taxpayer patrons. If they are relieved of contributing to the city through the medium of their carfares they wl'.l have to pay the same amounts In direct taxes added to their property. They may escape -for classes and in many of the higher ones. Is a waste of time If it is noth ing else, and it is well that it is being discontinued. Pupils have no spare time to spend In absorbing propa ganda or acquiring scattered rudl hold their own while doing so. a while because of the per cent tax limitation, but the city would suffer correspondingly and until a special levy could be voted by the people. The real issue in the (-cent fare la whether or not it is Justified. None of these measures settles that Issue. The first Is an attempt to wipe out the extra cent, whether that course be honest or Just, or neither. The sec ond is a counter-attack to prevent that direct action. The third Is an effort to keep the (-cent fare going In effect, by a method of concealed and there fore less painful extraction. There is one simple and direct way of determining whether the (-cent fare is Justified. It is to pass an Initiated ordinance establishing the (-cent fare. Such an ordinance will take precedence over any ruling by the Public Service Commission. That commission will have nothing to say about It. If the street railway com pany desires to protest It will have to go to the courts and its contest must be on the basis that the 5-cent fare is confiscatory. The burden of proof that It is not confiscatory will be upon the company. The worth of valuations by the Public Service Commission which have been brought into ques tion, will then be passed upon by the courts. None of the other measures Is worth while. There should be a "no" majority cast against each of them. TUB OREGON WAT. Oregon has already gone "over the top" for Its quota of the Third Liberty Loan. There never was a doubt about what Oregon would do. There is not a doubt that the final total will yield a large oversubscription. It Is the Oregon way. The First Liberty Loan waa over subscribed by Oregon 31 per cent. The minimum quota was $9,000,000. The Second Liberty Loan was over subscribed 40 per cent. The minimum quota was US. 000. 000. The same patriotic record has been made in 'the Y. M. C A. funds, the T. W. C. A, the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the War Li brary, the Armenians and Syrians, the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army. Every call to duty the state has heard eagerly., and obeyed generously, ade quately, loyally. But the loyalty of Oregon is not pound of food will count. described alone In terms of money. I Men for work, women for service, and soldiers for war ail these Oregon has I given out of an abounding sense of I duty and sympathy. It has the high- I est proportion of voluntary enlist ments of any state, with no exception. Major-General March have our com plete confidence"; that "the American old Army officer has conquered all our hearts"; that "the young Army and its new officers" make such an impression that "we feel consoled by menta-that will not be followed up. the thought that, if only enough of The proportion of pupils who can j them come, and come in time, the really speak German acceptably after I enemy of civilization will have a very having taken the ordinary course is bad time"; and that the impression not large, as teachers themselves can formed of the American Army in testify. France "is of a wholly favorable The real reason why the German kind." The allies are not disappoint courses are being discontinued in an ed with our accomplishments in the increasing number of American cities first year of war, for the British is that pupils themselves are ceasing "knew with very fair precision what to demand them. They do not "hate" could be expected," and the "mill the language, but they believe they tary forecast" made by the Balfour see better ways of spending their mission "of what could be done has school-time. French, for instance, has been almost exactly fulfilled" and a new appeal Just now, and our re- the "number of divisions expected has cent commercial progress in Latin- been very closely adhered to." He America baa diverted attention to thinks that "the monthly output of Spanish and Portuguese, and we see American divisions in France will be possibilities In Russian, and even Chi- doubled at least" during the Summer, nese, that were not apparent a few and he finds no reason to quarrel with years ago. But it Is also clear that Secretary Baker's statement that the tf these languages are to be made United States will have 600,000 men useful to us a method of instruction I In France this Summer and 1,000,000 must be developed which will turn before the end of the year. This out graduates who can mingle with I means half that number of corn- people who speak those languages and I batants. THRIFT GARDENS. Tha proposal to expand our war gardens into thrift gardens by devoting the proceeds from them, above the needs of the family, to the purchase r f thrift atnmna on4 wot savinrs rpr. tificates. is capable of even further I b f beer vau than three times I f h a f mirrirtai eant thAA m nnrhe nnnrn ' The one fact which Colonel Rep- ington seeks to impress upon the American people Is that, "the crying need of the British and French ar mies is for men, trained If possible." He assures us that "every 100,000 American Infantry sent to France in the course of the current month may that number sent three months hence' and that "it will be quite easy" for the allies "to provide equipment, rifles and even clothing, if these things are short in America." To answer this urgent call we have extension. Where it Is found necessary or ad visable to employ help In these gar dens, and boys, are available for the work, it might be mutually arranged K.m tr tli.li- mr in thrift sumpa. which would be good for the "ea!;-Ji010'0?mTe Z garden, good for the boys and good - , , , " r r, Th. i vn. Kaan our island possessions, of whom all tried in some localities and has been "cept garrisons and training troops , j ,iki t .k ,-n. snouia De avaiiaoie ior service in x,u- Ues patriotic organizations have taken w-- t5he last ,r thee,nhen gardening work as a means of re- h8'14" tho clor last ,otober- ey I Bhniilrl Vi o va nan tha Ti ira mriTiT n o plenishing their treasuries. : , , Z Z i, . - it i. r .h.t th. wnor training at home which is considered the garden shall do less work than he o"eh, and another month in a quiet .... . , k. ,, wh.ro.r r,r,a. sector at the front should fit them sibla he shall' increase the area of his fo5 active fighting. The 800.000 men n.,.,inn- TV,--- ,lv " are 10 oo cuueu m muuuii, 111- be too many food gardens or too crements during the next six months How to Dodge High Taxes. By "K. c B." Dear People: Of course you know that the war is going to be carried through to a successful conclusion whether you buy a liberty bond or whether you don't- And the bills for the payment of everything necessary for carrying on the war are going to be paid. If you buy liberty bonds the bills will be paid from the money giv en by you to the Government in ex change for the bonds. If you don't buy liberty bonds the Government will find it necessary to raise the money through taxation. In the first instance. If you buy liberty bonds you will get the money back with interest. In the second instance, if you fall to buy lib erty bonds and force the Government to raise through taxation all of the money needed there will be no return to you of either principal or interest. From a purely selfish standpoint. doesn't it look to you as a pretty good investment a liberty bond for cash or a little down and a little a week? And besides suppose you were an American soldier in France. And the word came over that back home th third liberty loan had failed of sub scription. Wouldn't it take a little of the heart out of you and wouldn't you feel, as you went "over the top," that tne home folks weren t playing the game on the square? Talk It over with mother, or with your wife, or with whomsoever you talk things over, and see what she thinks about it. "WHAT CAX I DOt" IS APPEAL many persons working In them. Every should be ready to begin crossing the ocean In October, their places to be taken by a third draft to be made in the Fall. It should be possible to add half a million at least to the mil lion whom Mr. Baker has promised before the year ends. Whether that can be done depends nOVSEHOLD HKLF. Statistics showing that the Gov ernment since 1914 has added 214, 000 women to Its payrolls and that some 630,000 more have newly gone I on the number of ships we can com It rava SO nap rent nf Ilia man innnr. I " "" pieie mis year, u urinss u, u. mm inn. t i, h, k. ralU or any observations which every more Impressively than ever the need ri"l-t0J,t. "I" ."7iJd:.b?; citizen is privileged to make in his Lf that "bridge of ships" for which own neighborhood. Indicate that the General Pershing has called. That problem of finding domestic help Is need will grow, for as more men are going to become even more difficult I sent across more ships will be re fore the call came, and It had only 717 to give through conscription Oregon! There she stands! There will she stand till the last man and measure of devotion to country, and the last r 'inr has been given for the cause of ,. .rtv and democracy. V. ? 1. - An ...Up (.nit that I - - - I a . I . 1 1 .1 I ha l. wnmnn ,-,. -l.lHJ h fin.l ""'"HI II. Blu"3 -"J qUlITSU lO SUppiy IUBU1. Him JW HID U , . ., I housewives sooner or later will be Mies' man power becomes reduced compelled to face an unfamiliar situ I more food must be sent from America. tion. I There should be no let-up in our ex There may come a time when it ertions. for truer, more compelling will not be a question of the size of I words were never spoken than these rAsn ioi siiTf-M JisTinr.D. i the wage, but of obtaining help at of Premier Clemenceau: ine reacrai larm loan system nasi any price, in recent years mt hm n. . ,,, -a th.t Justified its existence by the extent to I been no tendency on the part of na- I ia to set on with tha war and nothing but which farmers have resorted to it at I tlve-bom young women to enter do- tha war. Birattns about peaca win not crush time when they are most prosperous mestic service. It has depended to a "" " V" ,r:h, i .n -r n1 therefore in least need or loans. I large extent upon immigration lor its ha is tha conqueror who can believe a quar rtcr heinr In ailitanm a vaar It haa I recruits. This immigration has been tar of an hour longer than his adversary ana , i i...i I ,., rf .nH It ma not ha rosnmori I that ha la not beaten. I shall continue tha for each five counties in the United And there is no certainty that, it it . rter of an hour will h States, with an average of twenty were resumed, the new arrivals would members, a total of about 56.000 mem- follow the old channels. It Is a truly bers. Applications have been received I perplexing prospect, from the house. for over 120.000 loans of about $300.- holders point of view. hour, for tha quarter of an hour will ba ours. Those words should be ever before the mind of every man who works in a shipyard, logging camp, sawmill, clothing factory, machine shop, arms 000.000 In all. About S0.000 loans. It Is easier to offer suggestions and and ammun,tton' factory, on the farm. amounting to over si au.vuu.vuu. nave w mranin me-u it ia iu iuuui.- icu- i ( tha mina Th been approved, and S0.000 loans, pie to agree upon a course of action. ., work determination that amounting to $50,000,000, have been School courses In domestic science are that laBt quarter of nour 8hall be paid, mt f ederal lana DanKs nivt n t ramp mr uuic uu , Kgij,,',, . I Jt a . i a a a. m . . -II .la I . . -a. a. kita-a las, Vi -l aa a Aiir flnMa A I airraaj ai u.or. wipe a qui ina aeucn i o vuoj men - neat-.-, i.- ..kl.k a....a...llu .. -.-...---41 -4 .U. I -!. thalp A urn w - fir at riAma Th ..""i.', : -xr;: k,t;A:n Tnr Th. tax-dodger does not provoke :.7. r.'.. : T f.;,;. ,h much public condemnation in peace a cost of one-half . I per cent on would "tW-Tlt would have been wide- but, ' r will find himself In hot the loan. made. P ly adopted long ago if there were not water being classed as a sicker along No doubt exists that tha benefits of constitutional obUon. tc t it t liberty bonds. If tne new system are not coniinea io wuum awiu m- wo '- , . j ait n. th. farmer, who borrow from the as far as we can toward eating out of he punishment were to m ttj Federal Land Banks, for tha result of cans and bu.ing food at delicatessen crime, he and his Possessions would the system has been to scale down the stores. The country awaits the "c "v" w rata nf intaraat nn fnrm loan. n. I cenius with a practical idea and abil- erally and to cause a change in terms Ity to organize the people and per- The poor record of the submarines of payment which makes it easier for suade them to adopt it. goes far to explain the desperaUon of the farmer to get out of debt. The Meanwhile it is not th. housewife German attacks. The Kaiser realizes Wahln(rton Bureau Advises Mea an Women Seeking to Aid Country As the war casualty lists grow long er and the great mass of peoole bed to realize the Immensity of the struggl oerore us, tne appeal, "what can I do? comes In from all corners of the coun try. Many readers are sending this question to The Oregonian Informatio Bureau In Washington. The hardest problem to meet and yet one of th most difficult to solve is that of the women. Those whose first duty is to stay where they are and yet who want to give every bit of their energy to thei country are daily seeking for some oeiinite answer to tnis question. Worn en who are free from home duties are continually asking how they can get some work which will take them France. The bureau Is trying to inf- press upon these willing volunteers th lolly ol sending untrained women abraad, where every additional perso adds to the problem of transportation, heat, food, medical care, etc There are. of course, cases where professionals and specialists are need' ed, and the bureau is endeavorine to direct them to the proper authorities. Those anxious to enter training schools are given directions in accordance with their requirements. Women of lnde pendent means who are desirous o paying their own expenses are put m touch with the proper authorities. Com petent women are needed to fill the places of men in the Governmental de partments, and the bureau gives in formation In regard to positions open salary, examinations and living condi tions in Washington. Men over the draft age and those exempted for various reasons are con stantly seeking for an opening to give their services so they can have a part n setting the world to rights. The bureau can usually help them with sug gestions when they state their desires and qualifications. The Oregonian's Free Information Bureau is a unique public service in stitution of the widest scope. Summed up in a phrase, the object Is to tell you, without charge, "whatever you want to know." xou are urged to consider the possl bllltles of this service in regard to your own problems personal, household or business. There Is no limit to the number of times you can call on the bureau for service. There Is no charge of any kind, and all Inquiries are held strictly confiden tial. The sole requirement is that you in close a 3-cent stamp for return postage on your query. Readers should distinguish between this service and the questions and an swers published on the editorial page. Questions, sent to the Washington bu reau are answered by mail. Answers to hose sent to The Oregonian at Port and are published. To write to the Washington bureau, address The Port- and Oregonian Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskln, director, Washing ton, u. c. farmer Is proverbially slow to adopt I alone who has reason to view the that ruthlessness at sea will not keep tne Americans out ui me neiM auu that he must win before more of them get there. If he is to win at all. new schemes, but when those who outlook with alarm. The so-called hang back see their neighbors gettlug "head or the house 1. going to sur loans with the aid of the Government I fcr with the rest. Bachelors, of at low Interest rates, making Improve- course, can continue to live In clubs. ments and gradually clearing off the hotels and restaurants. The rapid debt, they are likelv to want their entry of women into industry threat share of the good thing. I ens the home, as we now know t. Perhaps it also menaces the very in etitution of matrimony, which will have fewer inducements to offer if the household of the future is to be TEACHING GERMAN "DKrTNSIVELT." rects!on of the School Board of Butte. Mont to retain German In the onIy a kiud of co-operative boarding iiiku nutiui, uii luo feiuimu ul lb in fers a means of more effective corn- house. petition in the struggle for trade, pre-I sents a side of the question not alto- gether Inconsistent with the determi- AMER1CA IS MAKING COOP. As we read that American troops nation of many other school districts I are being rushed to the battle line in to discontinue teaching of t .e lan- France, it Is refreshing to read from gunge. There are. Indeed, lengths to such an impartial Judge as the Brit which patriotism is not called uponllsh Colonel. Replngton that our allies to go in order to demonstrate its f er-I are not disappointed at t-av extent of vor or Its genuineness. Purely as a our participation in the war at the "defensive" measure. It Is possible close of our first year. There has that German, taught as Butte pro- been disappointment among the poses to teach it. may possess a cer- American people, partly because of tain value. But a good deal depend. I their eagerness to get Into the fight. upon the method adopted, and wheth- partly also because they did not con er practical results ara obtained. I celve fully how Immense was the There Is no doubt, for example, that I work of organisation, preparation and knowledge of German would be ex-1 transportation, but chiefly because tremcly valuable to our officers on the I the flamboyant promises emanating western front that Is. a speaking. 1 from Washington and the official con understanding knowledge of the lan-1 cealment or minimizing of delays, guage. But the propaganda which I difficulties and mistakes had led them has masqueraded in the guise of In-1 to expect more than it was possible struction In German would not be I to perform. The folly of the boaster useful, and an American soldier in a Is that his overstatements of fact listening post would not derive much I bring down condemnation upon him, benefit from previous lesions in the I when the truth would have been good Invincibility of German arms, or the I enough to win deserved praise, or to virtues of Frederick the Great, or I remove obstacles from his path even the heavenly partnership of the I When we turn from the self-praise present Kaiser. The poems of Schil- of our discredited braggarts to the ler and Goethe, the philosophy of expert opinion of a friendly critic Kant and the tediously written dls- like Colonel Replngton, as expressed quisitions. of Froebel would be only in the New Tork World, we find that sn much dunnage In his mental those who have seen our work in cargo-hoIJ. What he needs Is knowl- France, to use the Colonel's words. edge of everyday. Idiomatic German, "resent very much all Insinuations equivalent, sav, to the command of Kngllsh or French possessed by a German soldier who before this war earned his livinr as a waiter In some well-known "bad" or Summer tourist resort. Germsns themselves, for all their hate of England and America, have not. so far as is reported, given up the teaching of the English language where It promised to be useful to them. They are turning their knowl edge to rood account In the examina tion of prisoners, and In other ways. and no doubt will continue to employ It to advantage after peace is de clared. If the Butte schools shall devise a plan for teaching German in the manner, and for the purpose, that Kngllsh Is taught In Germany, and if there ara pupils who want to be In structed, probably no harm will come of the announced policy. But the fugitive teaching, tha mere s matter leg obtained In most primary German that our cousins over the way have not done, or are not doing, all that lies in their power to help the cause." This opinion gives us the best of it. for it Judges by the finishing processes and the finished product as seen across the Atlantic, and the Colonel has not seen the delays In selecting types and ordering arms. In producing and transporting raw material and finished product of ships, aircraft and arms, especially artillery. At thl end of the line we can see how much more could have been done, and we realize that we are Just getting into our stride. The praise of what we have accomplished from a man who has been the most courageous critic of tha British army is moat consoling. Wa ara assured by this writer that General Pershing and Admiral Sims "have proved a real strength to us on many occasions": that every time be has visited France he has "found evidence of marked and continuous Improvement"; that "such men as Greek and other lads of the blood of the South of Europe who are putting their little earnings Into war stamps will be men who make things go In the community before many years pass. Oregon Is not a corn state, but two carloads of corn have been sent to the Middle West for use as seed. For many years Oregon peas have been sent East for that purpose. Quality tells. The couple who seek separation after married life of thirty or forty years emphasize the beautiful lives of those who celebrate golden and dia mond weddings. The case of General Resche seems to prove that, when a man has served In the Prussian army, the virus of Prussianism can never be driven from his mind. A restaurant-feeding public does not object to 7 cents for pie, but is dis posed to roar over Increase on flap jacks by any name. Tacoma shows nerve in trying to recruit municipal employes here. As If a man could live there after awhile in Portland! Of the 600 communities that over subscribed, Oregon has nearly one hundred, and they are increasing the percentages. Cities may have to advertise for men to fill municipal Jobs, but no Senatorships go begging. If your wife has not divorced you since March 5 you have no worry on that account. There is law north of 63 now, for Nome editor has been indicted for sedition. There are no meatless days, but to day would be a good one for a change. General Resche gets a swift kick from the service late but just. The term "fifty-fifty" must have originated in April weather. Every bond buyer is entitled to yell Saturday night. V Heed Hoover's call to use potatoes every meal. Wllhelm must Just naturally hate Oregon. - Provision for Parents, PORTLAND, April 11. (To the Ed itor,) While such noble responses have been made to the call for our boys "over there," there is one phase of this sad calamity that seems to have been entirely overlooked by our gen erous public- Several young men who have been called to the colors have visited the homes for the aged, looking for homes place the aged parent to be left alone and unprotected in case the son should never return. One young man came from Tacoma because he had heard we had such in stitutions here and was anxious to go to the front as soon as he knew his mother was safe. Another son says he and his three brothers will unite in paying the expense of their mother's living if such an asylum can be found before they are separated from her by the Atlantic We have made drives of all kinds and never failed in raising large sums of money in a good cause. Can t we lighten the hearts of our boys still more by providing an Institution where the loved, helpless and aged parents may be left with the assurance they will be properly cared for? Each state should provide such home for its citizens. Our boys have a right to make such a demand. Let us act at once. MRS. ROSA B. ECKENBEEGER. SOLDIER'S FAMILY MAY APPLY. Allowances Are Granted I poa Sub nisaloB of Certata Proofs. PORTLAND, April 11. (To the Edi tor.) Referring to the matter of the lamuy allowance to dependents of sol diers touched upon by J. P. Jaeger, of the Exemption Board, in The Oregon ian, the condition of several families has been brought to my attention, with me result that the matter was taken up by correspondence with Washing ton, and it seems, where the aDolica- tion has not been filed by the soldier, an application can be filed bv the lamuy. Following Is a paraeraoh in a letter from C. F. Nesbit, Commissioner, dated When no allotment of pay has been made, or application received from a man enlisted In the service, after proof of relationship has been established by the wife or other class " oepenaent. which Includes children, and former wife divorced who has" been decreed alimony, but has not remarried, an award will be made tapon the application of such oepenueni. alter the enlisted man in ques tlon has been identified in the service. It Is, of course, necessary that the relation ship and proof should be established by reg ulations which are mado by the Bureau of war U8K insurance. In connection with these instructions he sent me a circular, of which the following is a copy: Treasury Deoartment. W.ahintnn TT..n of War Risk Insurance. Division of Military and Naval Insurance Madam: Herewith is enclosed a blank upon which you may make application ror the family allowance pro vided for by the act of October ft. 1B17. to the wives and children of enlisted men of tne military and naval forces of the United States. Every enlisted man is required to make a statement of his family relations and given au opportunity to apply ror a family allow ance to be paid to them by tha Government. If ho has a wife or children, the Govern ment takes from him a certain portion of nut pay for their benefit. You should not make application unless you believe that your husband will not make a truthful statement of his family relations, because it is prooaoie uiat his statement will be on file here before your aDDllcation can be acted upon. However, should you file an application, the proof Indicated below will be required and should accompany same: 1. A certified cony of your marriaee cer tificate or of tha public or church record of your marriage to the enlisted man. 2. The statement of two witnesses show ing whether you were ever divorced from the enlisted man. 3. If you have any children by the en listed man, the full names of such children, whether they are members of your house hold, under 18 years of age and unmarried. should be shown by the statement of two persons. Every paper which you transmit to this bureau should show your name in full, the full name of the enlisted man. his rank and the particular organization in which he is serving. Very truly yours, , C. F. NESBIT, Commissioner. The application is made on a printed form issued by the department which can be obtained by writing for it.' A supply of these forms has been sent for and if they were on hand in ithe de partment, should be reielved In about ten days, and will be distributed to persons needing them. SANDERSON 1USU, In Other Days. Twenty-Five Years Ago. From The Oregonian. April 12, 1S93. Chicago. All of the workmen em ployed at the World's Columbian Ex position grounds returned to work to day, and in addition to them the force of gardeners and landscape artists was increased by about 2000. , President Cleveland has announced the appointment of C. B. Bellinger as Judge of the United States District Court, .to fill the vacancy made by the death of Judge Matthew P. Deady. His Grace Archbishop Gross has formally notified Rev. E. J. O'Dea of his appointment to the pastorate of St. Patrick's Church,- this city. State Superintendent of Public In struction E. B. McElroy has gone to Pendleton to attend a session of the state G. A. R. encampment. Messrs. E. Cook, W. H. Boyer and Edgar E. Coursen met last night and discussed the advisability of selecting women to play in the orchestra at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chi cago. MARVELS SEEN IX THE MOVIES Provisions of Soldiers' Insurance. PORTLAND. April 11. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly publish information In regard to the insurance which the Government is furnishing our boys. I nave one of the certificates and it is not entirely clear, as It refers to an act of Congress as approved Septem ber 2, 1914, and amended October 6 1917. This certificate reads: "This certifies that has applied for insurance in the amount of 910,000, payable in case of death or total per manent disability in monthly Install ments of 157.50." (1) It does not state how long the monthly payments will continue, and It would appear that the $10,000 is never payable In one sum. (2) Is there nqw any provision for any relief for a soldier who is par tially disabled? (3) Does the beneficiary under one of these certificates have to be a de pendent relative? A FATHER. (1) The insurance is not payable in . lump sum. If paid upon death of Insured the monthly payment con tinues for 20 years. If paid to the nsured on account of total permanent disability it continues as long as he lives. (2) There Is provision made for com ensation of partial disability, but it Is wholly apart from voluntary in- urance and applies automatically to all soldiers and sailors. (3) The beneficiary need not be a de pendent, but must be a relative of the insured or of his wife not farther re moved than grandparent or grand child, although step-parents and step or adopted brothers and sisters may be named as beneficiaries. Sabotage oa the Farm. OREGON CITY, April 10. (To the Editor.) Kindly answer the following question and publish your answer that your readers may all have the informa Farmer Smith has been in the habit of growing more or less wheat for years. This Spring his neighbor Jones came along when he was preparing the ground for seeding and asked him if he intended to sow wheat. He re plied in this way: "I will not raise a spear of wheat until the war Is over. The United States had no business going into this war." Is this sabotage? If not, what Is it? AMERICAN LOYALTY LEAGUE. F. R. Andrews, sec. It is a practical example of sabotage committed In behalf of disloyalty. Word Should Be Barred. PORTLAND. April 11. (To the Edi tor.) 1" note a headline on the edi torial page which says: "Where Do German-Americans Stand?" I wish to file a protest against using this name. There are no German-Americans; the very term condemns itself. As far as I can see we have Ameri cans, friendly aliens and enemies. It is a disgrace to Americans to be con nected with such a word and an insult to place It first. Start a movement to bar it from the dally press and you will be thanked by every true Ameri can. ' 11. ti. Mliji.it. Questions on Tax Title. REDMOND, Or., April 9. (To the Editor.) (1) Is a tax title on unim proved city property any good? If all elinquent taxes, penalties and interest are fully paid for three consecutive years or more and one 1s in possession Of a certificate of delinquency? (2) How, then. Is the title to be per fected, If at all? CONSTANT SUBSCRIBER. (1) Assuming that the question re lates to general taxes: Section 3693, O. L., as amended in 1917 provides that each certificate of delinquency is sued by the Sheriff shall contain statement including, among other things, "a guaranty of the county or municipality to which the tax is due that if for any irregularity of the tax Ing officers such certificate is void, then such county or municipality will repay the holder the sum paid thereon, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from the date of its issu ance." If the tax proceedings are regular and a tax deed is secured the purchaser acquires only such title as the owner himself had. A tax title is subject to defects in the title of the owner from whom the property is secured. (2) Section 3695, L. O. L., et sen. amended, provide the manner of fore closing a tax Hen and should be fol lowed if one desires to secure a deed. Maid Seised by Mounted ViUain Gets Riding Togs From Atmosphere. PORTLAND, April 11. (To the Ed itor.) The writer reads with interest many of the letters from your readers on various topics and considers this" department one of the most interesting in The Oregonian. There is one subject which has not been touched, to my knowledge, in which the majority of people are much interested, L e., the inconsistencies of the movies. Some time ago I saw "The House of a Thousand Candles" portrayed in a movie. Automobiles and telephones were quite freely used in the scenes. Is it possible the director was ignorant of the fact that neither were heard of at that time, or did he think the gen eral public ignorant? In "The Virginian," as presented by the movies, the Virginian is pictured as stalking forth to meet Trampas and engage in a duel, having his hands en cased in a pair of riding gloves. A swell chance a man would have to han dle a hair-trigger gun such as the Vir ginian used, with gloves on. Those gloves spoiled the whole scene for me. In another scenario a girl falls over board, a man Jumps in after her and carries her out and onto the porch of her home (conveniently close to the water). When she revives and stands on her feet she is dressed in a lovely white lace gown, perfectly dry, and seemingly fresh from the laundry, while her rescuer stands beside her. in immaculately white trousers, which show the creases distinctly. Marvel ous, eh! Movie actresses are certainly wonders, but It strains one's imagina tion to believe they can fall In the river without getting wet. The incident which provoked this stricture occurred in a scenario shown at a Portland theater last week. A pretty girl dressed in a light-colored. flowered, fluffy stuff stands by a tree. A wicked Sheriff, pursued by an officer (who is also the girl's lover) rides up, seizes her and pulls he up on the horse behind him (Some feat that if she resisted) to protect him from her lover's bullets. The lover, however, rides the fastest horse, overhauls them, pulls the man from the saddle, knocks him out and rides back with his sweet heart. And now behold: When she dismounts she is dressed in a divided skirt. Can you beat that? W. F. CALDWELL. VOIR VERY OWN. There are many kinds of people that you designate as "friends," And you have a way of meeting each in turn: With the thoughtful, you are serious. then you quickly make amends. As a Jolly pal your searching eyes discern! With a look that's sympathetic, you will listen half a day To that one who always has a tale of woe: Then you'll quickly leave the boredom. with a smile relieved and gay. As you seek some one congenial that you know. You agree with saint and sinner and each gets a smile rrom you: ('Twould be hard to tell which sort you liked the best!) But of all the folks you meet and greet you have a chosen lew That are more to you than millions of the rest. They may not be 'mong the social bees that buzz rrom dawn til nignt; They perhaps are not the ones with wealth and show. But they have the understanding and the common touch that's ngni. And you know they're "for" you, any place you go! GRACE E, HALL. Eagle Is Hashed. Washington (D. C.) Star.) "The American eagle" began the grandiloquent man. "Never mind the eagle now," interrupted Senator Sor- hum. "Let's talk about flying ma chines." Lumber In an Airplane. CENTRA LI A. Wash., April 10. (To the Editor.) Please inform me how much lumber it takes to build an air plane and how long it takes. JOE MULLEN. It requires about 400 board feet of lumber in the rough, or 167 to 200 feet of finished timber, to construct an air plane. It is Impossible to state the time required to make the various parts that go into an airplane, as this natu rally varies greatly. To assemble i machine from completed parts takes only a day or two. The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, Dayton, O- could answer your question more definitely, but it is improbable they would re veal the facts. Military Service and Naturalisation. PORTLAND. April 11. (To the Edi tor.) If an alien coming to the United States and taking out first papers en listed in a military branch of the serv ice and received an honorable discharge the reform would he be a full citizen of the United States? J. M. An alien who has been honorably dis charged from the military service of the United States is not required to make a declaration of intention to be- ,.im. a ftiAn rtnr an hnnarablA riia- charze does not take the place of final! citizenship papers in any instance. I s4 Draft Ellglblea Not Affected. DURKEE. Or.. April 9. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly state If a.British subject who has been called before tne local board of examiners twice and disquali fied each time account having an up per and lower plate of false teeth, but placed in class 6-G, subject to call, can be drafted into the British or Canadian army when the draft treaty has been ratified. Do false teeth disqualify a man from service in the Canadian or British forces? Also state if an Eng lishman with wife and two children, elgible for draft under the selective Army draft law, but not yet called for examination, can be drafted into the British army. SUBSCRIBER. British subjects and Canadians who are already liable to military service in this country under the selective service law will not be affected by the draft treaty. Chamberlain Proposed for President. THORP. Wash., April . (To the Edi tor.) I would like to ask what Is the reason that Mr. Chamberlain (Orgon Senator) don't run for President in the 1920 election?. There is a whole-hearted man, chuck-a-block full of honest cour age, loyalty, patriotism; a fine states- an, one who nas stood rignt by tne people; always for right and justice to all. I have watched his course all through and I honestly believe that there is none better adapted or quali fied to fill the highest office of the land than our Oregon Senator, Mr. Chamberlain. Please help by giving Mr. Chamberlain a big boost through the finest paper published on the "'oast The Oregonian. CHARLES il. DAVIDSON. FREE SERVICE AND INFOR MATION. The Oregonian has established a bureau of information and serv ice at Washington City fo- the benefit of its readers. No charge is made for a reply to any ques tion relating to Governmental af fairs or for procuring any avail able Government publication. For reply send 2-cent stamp. Address Frederic J. Haskln. director Oregonian Information Bureau, Washington, D. C Do NOT write to The Oregonian at Portland.