THE 3I0RXIXG OREGOXIAX, 3IOXDAT, JANUARY 13, 1919.
POKTLAND. OREGON.
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words, and other activities
self-respecting state should
The Oregoniun is not one that lacks
confidence in the good intent and 'high
citizenship of the Legislature. It be
Uevea that the members, almost with
out exception, etrive to ascertain the
true course of public opinion and to
give-The public that which it desires.
It voices herein only that which it
deems to be public opinion and it em
phasizes again that It believes that
the public desires, above all things, a
serious effort to economize, that the
...$9. i) i people may nave witnout unaue nnan
... , I cial burden an improved commercial
"' t Vol and Industrial life, better health, a
comprehensive highway system, ade
quate, not topheavy, educational facili
ties, and proper institutions for those
whose care has been forced upon them
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rOKTLAM). MDAY. JAMARV 1. !
bR.U E PROBLEM.
The Oregon legislature which meets
today has in one respect obligations
that have rarely If eer confronted a
,-lniil.ir body in Oregon. In tho past
is-Mics hac unuaHy been of long stand
ins or hae been propagandized by
Dolilical parties or indnidual poiiU
clans. The members havo had the
lenefit of lornr consideration and much
di.-cusMon. But in tho present, mat
ters of large consequence confront
them and there is littlo in record or
.History for their guidance.
A great war. in which the resources
of the state were suddenly canea
11 Pun In greater proportion than for
any other purpose ever before, har
:is suddenly closed. Oregon contrib
uted something like 30,000 men to the
: riiiics of the Nation. They came
from the offices, tho farms, the fac
tories, the colleges. There was there
upon a labor adjustment In which men
and women from other Mates were
factors, und tho Oregon women en
tered more largely than ever before
into the Industrial and professional
life of the community. '
There must now be a readjustment
The younr men who sacrificed posi
tions, careers 6r study, must be given
the consideration by the state that
every debtor owes his creditors. The
Mate is indeed Indebted to these young
men. . It cannot rightfully receive thorn
, with a mere pat on the back. The
demand Is not for charity, bounty or
award, but for practical legislation
that will enable them once more to
resume as congenial, as remunerative,
and as promising positions in civil life
- as they held before.
Clearly the Government has a larger
duty in the situation than the state.
But if the Federal Government shall
be wholly or partly remiss, the state is
not thereby relieved of its obligation.
-'Kather, its duty is enhanced. As an
" expression of universal sentiment in
" Oregon an earnest memorial to Con
gress for speedier consideration of
" the returned soldier's rights and prop
er expectations would be appropriate.
- The locally practical legislation re
quires its most earnest, thoughtful
- and extended consideration.
Similar in the respect that the is
; sue has been suddenly thrust upon us
without rule or guidance for legislative
action, is that raised by tho influenza
epidemic. There is nothing solm
' portant as the public health The
- ep"mic has revealed a weak spot
In the laws for preservation of the
public's physical wellbeing. Oregon
has its Htate Hoard of Health, the
T counties have county health officers.
and the larger cities have municipal
health officers. But there is no co
. ordination. Kach goes its own way,
t follow ing; its own methods, except
wherein voluntary co-operation may
" be had. The organization in I'ort-
land now combatting ttiV: Influenza is
by agreement and. its work Is promis-
lng. But there are other communi
- ties in which various health agencies
cither arc in disagreement among
themselves or are engaged in heated
- controversies with business dements.
However successful I'ortland's unit-
- ed campaign may he In minimizing
the epidemic in this city the desirable
end has not been reached if, through
lack of co-operation, influenza flour
ishes elsewhere in the state. It will
';be but a matter of time until it is
brought to I'ortland once more. Like
wise every other community that suc
ceeds within itself Is menaced by each
community that does not. The inter
est of one community is thus the In
terest of all. It is a problem so seri
ous that in itself it calls upon the Leg
islature to face the danger of cou
aregating in n Infested city without
thought of adjournment until meas
ures of relief have been devised.
In considering both the problems
discussed herein the Legislature will
be confronted by requests for appro
priations, and these appropriations,
" if granted, must be in, addition to the
ordinary expenditures of the state. But
expenditures of the state raised by
general taxation are limited by con
stitutional provision. The question
therefore arises as to whether the state
. to meet these possible needs and the
enlarged demands upon the state
- treasury induced by the higher cost
of food and supplies, shall seek new
' sources of revenue outside of general
taxation or make reductions in what
. have been the ordinary expenses of
state government. We think that the
answer is plain. So far as It' may be
i possible, without doing injury to the
; welfare of the state, the cost of gov
, eminent should be reduced by elim
inating duplicate work, by consolidat-
ing departments, and by cutting out
fnils and fancies.. Luxuries and cost
ly experiments should not be permit-
ted to harrass tho members, liven
. such a da ions to state service that
would be attractive in other times, yet
are not the height of necessity, should
be put aside for consideration of the
- really vital matters that call for ap
T propriations.
That which has herein been said
' concerning new sources of revenue is
meant to apply only to revenues that
would be muile continuous in order to
sustain a i rmancntly established pol
icy or to maintain duplications or un
necessary departments. Wherein gen
uine emergencies are discerned that
cannot be cared for in any other way
it is not to be bctictrd that the peo
ple will resent adoption of somo new
revenue-producing method. The thing
desired is a cutting to the bone of non
essentials, that there may bo sufficient
means to promote education, road
h'ilt.:ns. public health, industrial and
business readjustment, proper car of
THE ANTI-rNFLtEXZA CAMPAIGN.
The need of the time is a well
organised campaign against the Influ
enza, and the directing force of such
a campaign should be a competent
and forceful physician. So The Ore
gonian said the other day. Now the
city, the county and the school district
have united their forces to fight the
epidemic, and they have chosen Dr.
K. A. Sommer as their director-gen
eral. It. is an ideal choice. He knows
what to do, if any one knows, and he
liaa the courage to sea that it Is done.
The measures already set under
way commend themselves to the pub
lic as both wise and necessary. Dances
are to be prohibited, certain restric
tions are imposed on the theaters, hos
pital facilities arc provided, inocula
tion is recommended, and special em
phasis is laid on the quarantine. Cer
tainly, the patient and not the public
should be isolated.
In spite of warnings and enforced
precautions the public in the pant has
been careless about the dangers of
Influenza. This carelessness has cx
tended to persons convalescing from
the disease and to those who were well
for tho'timo being. Stricken employes.
have been anxious to get- back to
work. Km plovers have bcaji undul
anxious for their return. In sue
cases employers have an absurd ab
sence of forethought. Tho return of
one am ploy e not yet free from influ
enza germs almost invariably means
the absence, within forty-eight hours,
of several other employes because of
illness. The public itself has at eveTry
nvlting opportunity congregated
without apparent thought of tho con
sequences.
.V quarantine, one in which not only
the authorities do their duty, but phy
sicians' are prompt and honest in re
porting cases. Is the only promising
method at present of forestalling the
menace of negligence and Indifference
of patients. The restrictions on
crowding of streetcars, stores and the
aters are a precaution against public
negligence, but these only reduce the
danger If germ carriers are at large
LET THE NEW CONGRESS DECIDE.
Director-General McAdoo shows
undue anxiety for action on his pro
posal that Government operation of
railroads bo extended to five years
fter peace is concluded. - The sub
ject is too controversial to permit of
adequate consideration by the present
Congress, for the life of that body will
end in two months. Nor should a ma
jority party which has been discredit
cd by defeat legislate on so important
matter. '
The matter is one for the new Con
gress to consider. The 66th Congress
is fresh from the people and expresses
the latest phase of public opinion. It
could decide promptly. on the future
of the railroads if an extra session
were called in the Spring, and it would
have ample time for that and other
legislation incidental to readjustment.
for it would have no regular appro
priation bills to pass. " It could pro
vide for the return of the railroads
to their owners or for the perpetuation
of Government operation well within
the limit of II months alter peace
which has been set by the present law,
Tho harm resulting from continuation
of present conditions for a few months
would be far less than that arising
from a hasty decision by a moribund
Congress. The process of scraidblin;
the roads which Mr. McAdoo has be,
gun could not be carried much far
ther during that period, but it ihight
be carried so far in five years that un
scrambling would be most complex, if
not impossible.
Mr. McAdoo's declaration that he
is opposed to Government ownership
does not square with his urgent ap
peal that Government operation con
tinuo for fivo years, nor with his opin
ion (hat adoption of his policy would
keep politics out of railroad affairs
during that period. All that was said
and done with regard to tho railroads,
by their operators, owners, shippers
and the public in general would have
In view its effect on what should be
done at the end of that time. We
should bo doomed to five years of-de-bate
on railroads, compared with
which an old-fashioned tariff contro
versy would, for fury, resemble an old
ladies' tea party. Already some of Mr.
McAdoo's chief subordinates have
used tho results of Government oper
ation as an argument for Government
ownership and have done much to
align the employes in favor of that
policy. That campaign would be con
tinued throughout the five years, ap
pointments and employment would be
governed by the question whether the
man seeking a job was for or against
Government ownership, and every of
ficial act would be colored with a like
motive. At the end of the five years
skilled political manipulators ' might
have organized the vast railroad army
Into a compact machine for the pur
pose of swinging the election of 1924.
The way to get the railroads out of
politics and to get politics out' of the
railroads they are already in is to
thresh the matter out and decide it
next Summer at a session to be devoted
to readjustment for peace, as that of
1917 was devoted to legislation for
war.
twenty-four varieties of fish and three
varieties of sea mammals were sold in
considerable quantities which for
merly had been ignored or neglected.
The expedient of changing the names
of certain varieties, such as those now
known as grayfish and tllefish, was
justified by results. But wider use
of the carp, which had been fllscred
Ited by incompetent cooks, and of
Alaska herring, red fish, sea robins,
certain kinds of sharks and numerous
other fishes which had rested under
a ban, was also promoted to an extent
that gives encouragement for the
future.
It is significant that on the Pacific
Coast alone some 33,500.000 pounds
of burbot, grayfish, sablefish and
whiting were marketed largely as the
result of educational campaigns. These
represented a clear gain to the food
supply, in addition to some 600 tons
of whale meat. It will be remem
bered that the whale was unfamiliar
to Americans as a source of meat as
recently as two years ago.
Important progress made 'in the
utilization of fish waste and in devel
opment of aquatic sources of leather
is interesting, but not eo significant as
increasing use of fish directly as hu
man food. Interdependence of sea
and land industries, however, is illus
trated by the estimate that the nitro
genous product known as fish meal.
made from Inedible fishes, can be
utilized by farmers as part of the ra
tion in feeding hogs, to the extent of
3,000,000,000 pounds a year, thus be
coming an important factor in pro
duction of pork and releasing im
portant grains for human consump
tion. Ixiwcr prices of pork may thus
be influenced by the products of the
sea.
The primo economic advantage of
fish consumption is that it makes no
inroads upon the soil. Tho reeding
resources of the sea are practically
illimitable. . The Government ha
done well to foster demand for fish
and its educational propaganda has
been distinctly valuable. The future
of the Industry will depend upon th
thoroughness with which the lesson
has been learned.
?!
THE WOCNOED SOLDIERS KETCRX
The War Department has failed as
completely in providing for the wound
ed soldiers on their return from th
battlefront as it did In providing guns,
aircraft and tanks a year ago. Their
victories were won with French artil
lery and tanks and mainly with
French aircraft, because the War De
partment was slow and blundered in
applying our vast industrial capacity,
which was expected to be our princi
pal means of victory. It has failed as
utterly in providing for demobiliza
tion, and maimed and wounded sol
dlers are coming home, by the thou
sand with no hospitals ready to re
ceive them and without money, their
pay months in arrears. Nor has any
provision been made to release men
in the order in which they are needed
or can find work in civil employment.
or In which they are needed to sup
port their families.
It has again fallen to Senator Cham
berlain, at the risk of drawing upon
himself the wrath of the adminis
tration, to call attention to the degree
to which the War Department has
fallen down. It is a story of shameful
incompetence and neglect which he
told, and it is plain that martinets
and bureaucrats are efficient only in
promptly punishing those who com
plain of their failures. '
A result of the failure to produce
aircraft was that several thousand
young men spent months in France
waiting for training which they could
not get because there were no planes
available. The Senator told of two
young officers who got tired of this
sort of thing and "asked to be trans
rerred to the artillery or to the in
fantry, or to any place where, as red
blooded, splendid, well-educated
Americans, they could do their bit
for their country." The answer was
that "they were sent to one of the
points of debarkation in France, and
In a few days ordered back to America
with their commissions revoked, and
they were relegated to private life"
by their personnel officer. Fortunate-
the Senator had an opportunity to
bring their case before General March,
the chief of staff, who secured the
restoration of their commissions and
tlirir transfer to the tank corps. They
hud not been paid, either, and were
doWn to bedrock" in funds. Tliey
juMisiicu iui ut-'iiig uuijai.ii;iii. iu
fight. No plan has been provided by
which soldiers can obtain redress for
such wrongs, and these young men
obained it only by good luck.
But the wrong which requires imme
diate redress has been and is being
done to thousands among tho 179.000
sick and wounded who are returning
from France. Representative Roval
Johnson, of South Dakota, who
served in the Army as a private and
was commissioned as First Lieutenant
on his return from France, says that
twenty or more officers and men re
turned with him who had not fully
recovered from their wounds. Though
the captain of the ship sent word by
wireless to the hospital authorities at
Camp Merritt that they were coming,
Mr. Johnson wrote:
INCREASING CONSUMPTION OF 1111
From the mass of aMaustics pre
sented In the annual report of the
United States Bureau ot Fisheries wa
gather the significant fact that con
sumption of fish was increased as a
result of the 'to an extent which
is likely to be helpful in the days of
peace. The rcpori-iiould be read in
connection with thoncluions of the
agricultural commission which re
cently visited Kurope and which found
that for several years to come Great
Britain. France, Italy and probably
other countries will need to import
large supplies of meat. This docs not
indicate early return of cheap meat
in America. It Is desirable, therefore,
that tho meat ration shall bo supple
mented so far as practicable with fish.
The part which prejudice played In
restricting our uso of certain fishes Is
well illustrated by the results of the
campaign of education conducted by
the fisheries 6taff. No fewer than
They were put on a train at Jersey city
on the day of our arrival and were irlven
no nourishment until 10 p. m., althojuirh
tbey reached Camp Mcrrltt In a few hours.
At camp Merritt the sick men were
placed In ordinaay barracka. Those who
ere able to ret about skirmished around
for blankets and other bed clothina; for
themselves and the others.
Theae men were kent in barracks for two
ays before they were removed o the camo
hospital.
The Senator read from the New
Tork Times a statement that in the
eek endinsr December 20. 7000 sick
or wounvfed soldiers landed at New
York and that "from a large number
of them are coming complaints, often
bitter, that their pay is far in arrears."
Some have been unpaid for "as long
as ten months, and a delay of four
months is almost the common rule."
Mr. Chamberlain also read a letter
from Mrs. C. P. Farrell, of New York,
in which she said:
Mr niece. Mrs. "Walron Brown, and T are
In dally touch with our returning- eoldlers
nd we havo yet to aee one who hua re
ceived any pay for months beginning as
far back as February and the majority In
April. They come to us and- to Pershing
House, next door, in large numbers every
day from tue (reeiihut Hospital and from
Kills Inland. Their spirit Is wonderful no
complaints of any description but their po
sition la & vry difficult one. The majority
were aeverely wounded, having- lost lees',
arms, and eyes..
Attention of Brigadier-General H.
M. Lord was called to public criticism
on this subject and he explained the
delay in pay by saying that:
The resultant condition Is a necessary out
come of actual conflict, where troops are
fighting and advancing day and night and
are neceaaarlly separated from their records,
and .Uen wounded separated entirely from
their eytnmands. never again to get In
touch with them.
Ho tells of "revolutionary proce
dures" by which "these casuals on
their arrival in this country are given
something on account." He says that
last Juno "a paycard' was instituted
which would serve, when a soldier was
separated from his command, as an
identification card and would contain
enough of his military history to pro
vide for his. payment." The officials
France thought "a more durable doc
ument would be necessary, and a pay
book which the 6oldier should carrj
with him was prepared, but this was
not put into effect until November."
These explanations Instantly suggest
the thought thaf the administration
was getting in good shape to fight
the war when it ended. Any person
with any more foresight than a bat
should have known on April 6, 1917,
that men would come home sick- and
wounded, and would need hospitals,
and he would have provided them be
forehand. Such a person would have
foreseen that men .would get sep
arated from their units in battle and
would need their pay, and he would
have provided against that contin
gency. He would have known that
some sick and wounded Americans
would be scattered among British and
French hospitals, and would have
provided for their being paid and sent
home. But the war Department did
not arrange such a system till the
armistice had been signed and the
fighting stepped. It could hardly have
been more deliberate if it had been
arranging for a war to be foiight in
the 21st century.
Kqually heartless and branded with
bureaucratic tyranny not far inferior
to that of Prussia have been the
court-martial sentences. The Senator
told of one man who had been sent
to Fort Bayard, X. M., suffering from
tuberculosis. He did not believe he
could get well there, so asked for dis
charge. His application was turned
down, so he wrote to Senator Chamber
lain for aid, saying:
There Is an outstanding order against a
soldier aslfHaff outside aid for a discharge
and a letter being written.
By some slip that letter got to the
War Department, and the soldier was
called before a board of inquiry and
his pay for fifteen days was forfeited
as punishment for "having had , the
temerity 'to write to his Senator." The
Senator took the case up with Secre
tary Baker himself and was informed
that the man could not be relieved of
the penalty, but that he had ordered
tho obnoxious rule revoked.
Other cases of court-martial were
cited which go to show that excessive
sentences are Imposed at the dictation
of commanding officers. In one case
a commanding officer demanded a
sentence of six months in the guard
house and, because the sentence given
was only five days, a young officer
was removed from detail to the court
martial. For going home to see his
mother, who was, ill in hospital, just
before going overseas, a private was
Your Boy in France.
What He la Dolnr and Thinkiac
A boot, as GleanedProm The Stars
and Strlpea, Official Newspaper of
the A. K. h
Coblenz, the principal town on the
left bank of the Rhine, occupied by the
American Third Army, lies at the junc
tion of the Rhine and the Moselle, the
latter being by now almost as familiar
to the Yanks as the Mississippi or the
Missouri. In peace times Coblenz had
a population of about 50,000, and the
fortress of Ehrenbreltenstein, which
lies Just across the river, is capable
of housing a garrison of 100,000 men.
The city is situated on a sort of tri
angular peninsula, formed by the junc
tion of tho two streams. In the early
days of the Roman army of occupation,
not much store was set by the site,
and 'instead of being elevated to the
dignity of a "castrumrit "cVmp" or
"oppidum," Coblenz was merely a post
ing station on the Rhine road.
"Ad Confluentes," Caesar called it
"at the confluence" wltlch the later
Germanic tribes shortened and rough
ened, as is the way with things Ger
manized, into Koblentz.
Coblenz, during the Thirty Years'
War, was alternately besieged and
garrisoned by Swedish, French and
Prussian troops. In 168$ the town was
nearly destroyed by French cannonad
ing, but successfully resisted the siege.
After the rise of the French republic
and the defeat of the Prussian army
at Valmy, the city passed into the
hands of the French, but with the
downfall of Napoleon it became Prus
sian again, remaining so until occu
pied by the American.
It was the birthplace of Metternlch,
that famous statesman, who declared
that Italy was "only a geographical
expression."
sentenced to dishonorable discharge,
forfeiture of all pay, and 25 years' im
prisonment, while for a like offense
another was given only 15 years.
though both returned Voluntarily.
Both sentences were excessive, but
why the difference? Because the
commanding officer practically die
tates to the court-martial, and his
opinion of the sentence merited is
decisive. In these respects, American
military law is more autocratic than
that of either France or Britain, and
it needs radical amendment.
The Government has been guilty of
culpable incompetence, neglect and
petty tyranny in caring for the Ameri
can soldiers, in supplying his needs
and in securing his rights to prompt
payment and just treatment. It has
failed of its duty in this respect as it
failed in providing the instruments of
victory. The President and his lieu
tenants talk much of justice and hu
manity for the whole world, but they
have not practiced those virtues in
their treatment .of the American sol
diers. Justtce and humanity, like
charity, begin at home. We need
more of them in the American Army.
.
What is there about a wrist watch
that makes it unbecoming for a law
yer, or about a lawyer that he is un
worthy to wear oner Judge Landis
should have explained farther. A sol
dier needs it because his hands are
always full and he needs to know when
to go- over the top. The principal use
a lawyer has for a wrist watch is to
see how long he has talked without
stopping gesticulation with both hands.
though this is hardly necpssary, for
every courtroom has a clock. Still, it
is nujohvious convenience for any per
son, soldier or not, to learn the time
at a glance without putting his hand
in his pocket. Tho judge seems to be
over-fanciful.
Old John Alcoholism, gasping his
last in the States, after a body blow
calculated to put him down and out.
Is also on the mat in France. The
French Minlsterof War recently issued
a circular declaring "flho consumption
of alcoholic drinks has now become a
menace to the country," and the Amer
ican G. H. Q. also takes a few punches
at him in G. O. 213. , which calls upon
C. O.s to aid in the enforcement of
French laws as well as rigidly to en
force the Instructions of the Amer
ican commander.
All alcoholic liquors aro prohibited
to soldiers under French law. The
sale is permitted only of wine, beer,
cider, pear cidett and hydromeL Amer
ican officers arelnstructed to consult
local French authorities as to the best
means of co-operating in the suppres
sion of the drink habit.
A published "letter is typical of the
thoughts of 2,000,000 other American
mothers who offered their greatest
treasures to the righteous cause. It
wa written in America, November 11:
, My very dear boy: The days wa have
longed for and prayed for are here the
days of peace and I for one do not realize
it. There must be milllona of ua who wake
with the old horror still heavy on our hearts.
and win for many days to come. . . .
When we think of what the young, un
tried, boyish, buoyant Army of ours has
done, our heads go up with a toss, 1 assure
you. How we long to show every man of
you the tender pride our country holda for
our ooys. . . .
You speak of the anniversary of the day
you left and went out where our arms could
no Ion gem enfold you, and when we suffered
not only all the perils and dangers you met.
but all that had ever been told or written.
But -.peace has come! What a birthday this
has been for me! What a Christmas this
will be for everybody! ....
We will all have some dinner parties som
day, and you shall all sing of the arms and
the men at my fireside. r . . I shall for
get no, never forget but cover up all this
last year s agony and hear young, happy,
exultant voices and laughter, and know thai
youth has come into his kingdom again,
(Jod bless my son, above tnem all, lor
all his brave, steadfast confidence that this
day would come, as It has come.
"Belgium's Destroyed Art" is the
title of - a eonnet modestly signed
H. T.":
Here lieth Beauty In the Belgian gate,
Done to Jier death by yon distempered
host: "
Here in the dust of slaughter havo men
lost
A loved form, child of the pregnant weight
Of centuries, born of no sudden fate,
But like a babe with travail and great
cost
Brought in the world, nourished amid the
frost
And flame of time and reared to ripe estate,
CITY SCHOOL COSTS COMPARED.
Portland Next to Lowest of Slxteea
Western Cities.
PORTLAND, Jan. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) In these days when budgets, tax
payers' meetings, and expenses aro in
the air, it is Interesting to note these
facts published in 1916 by Dr. Cubberly
of Stanford University, and his asso
ciates in a survey of the Salt Lake City
schools. In tho tables showing rela
tive expenditures for school purposes,
Portland is compared in each caso with
other western cities.
Cost per capita for schooles, based on
the total population:
San Francisco. Cal S
Portland, Or -t-'j
Tacoma. Wash 4.9o
Seattle. Wash 0.00
Kpokane. W ash n"
Butte. Mont ".71
Denver. Colo
. Sacramento. Cal '-
Oakland. Cal .'
San Diceo. Cal .' 1
San Jose. Cal u '-'6
Salt Lake Citv. Utah r... G.
Berkeley, Cal, T.UO
Colorado SDrinas. Colo .U
Los Airkelcs, Cal S-1'
Pasadena. Cal 10.11
Rates of tax on each $100 of actual
wealth necessary to produce estimated
per capita support for schools:
san Francisco. Cal .20
San Dleto. Cal '-"J:
Portland. Or. --'9
Sacramento. Cal. -S!
I.os Angeles, Cal -SO
Pasadana. Cal "-'I
Seattle. Wash ":."
Spokane,' Wash
Oakland. Cal 41
Berkeley. Cal !
Salt Lake City, Utah ":i
Tacoma. Wash
San Jose. Cal Mil
Colorado Springs, Colo. 57-
Denver. Colo 3S
Butte, Mont UU
Since there has recently been a great
increase in our school population and
but few additional teachers employed,
the comparative cost of schools In
Portland at present, is, in all probabil
ity, even-lower than these tables indi-
tate. A TAXPAYER.
In Other Days.
Fifty Years Ago.
From The Oregonian of Jan. 13, 160.
Washington, IX C. A bill to regu
late the prce of cotton and so encourage
Its growth xvu introduced In the Sen
ate today.
Paris. Aetna continues to emit fire.
Paris. It is rumored that an insur
rection has'broken out in Milan. Mad
rid dispatches report that much uirila
tipn has broken out in all Spain.
Many of the pupils in the Salem
schools are being kept at homo tor
fear of smallpox. The. Roscburg paper
says no more smallpox cases hav
broken out in Canyonville.
BIG WOOD DOCK IS .NOT SEEDED.
Mr. Supple AdTofatcs Concrete Dock
- of Half the Capacity.
PORTLAND. Jan. 11. (To the Edi
tor.) I notice that the Dock Commis
sion has decided to bulid another
wooden drydock, capacity 12,000 tons,
to cost over a million dollars. The cost
ffigure is no doubt the estimated cost
of the dock alono. Adding lh ncces
sary equipment to carry on the work
at such a dock would raiso the cos
to not less than a million and a ha
before ever a ship was docked, and
this, too, for a wooden dock.
As I see it, this dock Is not no
necessary. what we need Is a dock
with a capacity of 6000 to 7000"ton
nd built of concrete, at a cost not
exceed $200,000. Such a dock would
take care of 95 per cent of the require
ments of all the ships that come into
this harbor and the old dock at i
Johns would easily handle the balance,
If the Dock Commission wishes
relieve the congested condition of th
lumber market I would suggest tha
some means be found to use tha
money to build lumber carrying ves
sels. This would use considerable lum
ber in hull construction, would pro
vide means to carry lumber to market
where it Is badly needed, would giv
work to many returning soldier boys,
and would give us a start toward
Portland-owned merchant marine.
The only way we can be assured of
steady business for our dry docks Is to
own some ships to carry our produce to
market and not wait for some tram
vessel to enter our harbor in distress
and then possibly take a load to mar
ket after she Is repaired.
JOSEPH SUPrLE.
Twenty-five Tears Ago.
From The Oregonlan of Jan. 13, 1MM.
Chicago. The trench exhibition at
the World's Fair now place loeses at
Monday night's fire, at $S0,u0O.
Washington, D. C. The executive
committee of the Republican National
Committee today did what it considered
a fine stroke of policy by adopting
resolutions, first, for the admission of
Utah to the Union: second, for the ad
mission of all territories Into the Union
as states.
An eight-foot vein of steam coal, sep
arate from a six-foot vein of thin slate,
which latter vein has been worked
500 feet, .has been discovered In tho
Blue Cayon mine In Whatcom County,
Washington.
The market was overstocked with
eggs and poultry yesterday, and prices
weakened very much.
Why could not the New York water
ransport men's strike have been arbi
trated before it began? That ques
tion arises after almost every strike
which ends in an arbitration agree
ment. The explanation seems to be
that somebody is stupid or obstinate
or thinks he can win something by a
strike which he courtt not win by arbl-
ration. The belief that might is right
did not die when Germany surren
dered.
Portland lias plenty of parks, at
more or less distance, but few handy
for leisure moments. "Whether It be
wise to vacate tho little breathing
spots is debatable.
The hUef-allicd conference sets su
perstition at defiance by holding its
first meeting on January 13. Perhaps
the allies think the hoodoo will at
tach to Germany.
Millfeed suffers another advance to
day and it's a long time to new grass
Alas, the poor cow, and alack, the
worse dairyman not to mention the
consumer!
Though he left an estate of half a
million, Roosevelt carried heavy life
nsurance. Like other men of affairs.
he realized the value of cash in emergency.
The 36-inch gamecock at the Chi
cago show is a grand bird to exhibit.
but unpractical in the yard for his
immensity.
It is easyfor tho soldier with little
money and no prospect of work to
drift into the welcome of tho Bolshevik!.
Jlore deadly germs than of influ
enza threaten the session that begins
today. Freak laws are the worst.
When the Grant Highway is open
from Portland to Boston, the webfoot
flivver will become famous.
Machine guns have the casting vote
against Bolshevism In both Berlin and
Buenos Aires.
Under
job maj
of yore.
"flu" conditions, a legislative
not bo the easy picking as
Brisk, not moderate, southerly
winds are needed to revise "flu" to
floe."
Masks would hinder the kissing buff,
but, happily, two are not a crowd!
And shall the Butcher pay? Aye, even now
Tho bloody cleaver from his hands we
wrench :
Gold shall lie give and the labor of Ms
day:
G en though he sorrow In his time, and bow
In penitence, still shall ne Dear me stencil
Of his own murder while he fully pays!
This brief editorial, which bears the
caption, "For France's Critics," may
not be altogether new, but neverthe
less is quft as timely as when first
written:
Judge not, that ye be not Judged. For
with what judgment ye Judge, ye shall be
judged; and with what measure ye mete,
it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that
is In thy brother's eye, but considerest not
the beam that Is In thy own eye
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, "Let
me pull out tho mote out of thine eye , and,
behold, a beam is In thine own- eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam
out of thine own eye: and then Shalt thou
see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy
brother's eye.
French-speaking officers of units or
dered back to the United States are to
havo a chance to remain in France a
few months If they desire. Upon ap
plication, if qualified, they will bo as
signed to the renting, requisition and
claims service to assist in disposing of
claims from French inhabitants.
Each soldier will be allowed to keep
and take back to the States with him
his old tin derby (Yank for steel hel
met) and gas mask to prove that he
really has been a soldier. A recom
mendation that he be allowed to keep
these two pieces of haberdashery after
demobilization has been forwarded to
the United States War Department.
Most of the Army in France sees
most of the country, or at least much
of it. But in the base ports you will
find men who got off the boat there,
have been on duty there up to 1"
months ever since, and who are now
looking forward to the day when they
will set sail from there for home. Some
of them have not even been outs'.fle
the city limits of the port they were
set down in. The war has been no
tourist jaunt for them.
f
The A. E. F. .has not beeifsmall town
stuff for a long while. Also, France
Is as big as Texas. Yet there are peo
ple who forget the boys were 2,000.000
strong. A woman who had just arrived'
in a base port as a member of an aux
iliary organization inquired of an
M. P'
Have you seen Private Brown, of
the Umpth Division?"
"Don't know him, ma am, said the
jr. p.
'That's funny." said the woman. "His
division landed here three weeks ago."
. a
Some A. E. F. "brigs" are notoriously
comfortable and the prisoners are
messed accordingly. Officials in one
port woke ap to this fact when a man
attached to a neighboring hospital
where the living conditions were not
to his liking, got himself arrested six
times.
He rather gave things away tho last
time by calling up tha M. P. offict.
from the hospital.
"I'm going AWOL (absent without
leave) again." he said. "Send up a
couple of guards."
Atiout Colonel House and Othera.
PORTLAND, Jan. 11. (To the Edl
tor.) (1) What position was held by
General Eagan during the Spanish
American War? What charges were
preferred against hiin and what sen
tence did he receive?
(2) Who is the President pro tern, o
the U. S. Senate? Does he receive
higher salary than other Senators?
(3) In. Charles E. Hughes' report
31,500 were declared to be guilty o
profiteering Or grafting. What action
was taken against them, if any? Is any
effort being made to bring them to
trial?
(6) Has Colonel E. SI. House any rec
ord as a statesman? Did he ever re
ceive any military training? How did
he get the title of Colonel?
A CONSTANT READER
, - . . ...... T 1.. u n Tri Kra rlini-
General and Commissary-General. In
1899 lie was tried by court-martial for
using violent and abusive language
before the war Investigation committee
regarding General Miles and 'cas sen
tenced to six years' suspension from
military duty and honors.
(2) Saulabury of Delaware Is Presi
dent pro tem. He receives no additional
alary.
(3) The Hughes aircraft . report
charged only waste and incompetence.
and held that, except as to four Army
officers, technically guilty, no acts had
been committed In violation of law or
military regulations.
(4) Colonel House has never held
public office, if that Is what you mean
He has bad no military training and his
title is said to have no other basis than
Southern courtesy.
More Guides for Jar Walkers.
PORTLAND, Jan. 11. (To the Ed
itor.) I have thought of something
new to educate the Jay walker. Whfle
the city is chalking the streets why not
chalk arrows as well? The arrows will
show that pedestrians must keep" to the
right. .
This method will be no additional ex
pense to the city and will cause the
outside world to talk about th) Rose
City. " ,
Let us be original.
JAMES HENRY NIXON.
Co. C, 144th Machine Gun Battalion.
COTTAGE GROVE. Or., Jan. 12. (To
the Editor.) Please tell me the where
abouts of Company C, 144th Machine
Gun Battalion, of -Washington. Were
in France November 1.
AN ANXIOUS MOTHER.
Tho 144th Field Artillery has been
returned, and there is reason for ex
pecting that the machine gun battalion
will follow, though it had not been
isted up until January 10. What re
mains of the 40th Division, embracing
the unit, was last reported at Revlgny,
France.
Battery' V, 58th Artillery.
REDMOND, Or., Jan. 11. (To the Ed
itor.) Please tell me the whereabouts
of the 5Sth Artillery, Battery D. Is It
still in France? My mother is very
worried, as she has not heard from my
brother for a long time.
ANXIOUS SISTER.
The 58th Coast Artillery, if that is
what you mean, has not yet been as
signed for return from France. The
Field Artillery of this same number
has obviously not been in France.
Expenditures I'roni Highway Fond.
McMINNVILLE, Jan. 10. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) How many miles of hard
surface road has been completed, up
to this time, from the funds of the
J6.000.000 bond issue?, .
Kit now many out oi tnc tscaii-tjar-
rett bill?
(3) How much money has been spent.
by tha State Highway Commission ?
A SUBSCRIBER.
(1) Four and eight-tenth miles, con
crete; 43.2 miles, bituminous; 79.S miles.
macadam; 32.2 miles, gravel roads con
structed; also grading in Hood J'.lvcr,
Clatsop, Jackson and Columbia Counties
as provided for in $6,000,000 bond iusuo
bill.
(2) Only $28,539 bo farexpendcd un
der Bean-Barrett bill, and that for
grading work only.
(3) $2,288,257.
ti-d Engineers.
HOSK1NS. Or., Jan. 11. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) Why did our Government buy
the Danish West Indies, and what is the
actual value of them?
(2) Did England ever get a tariff
from other countries for running on tho
high seas, If so how long ago?
(3) Aro the 62d Engineers slated for
early return, and are they attached to
some division? M. A. KOPPLIEN.
(1) Because they were for snle and
this Government deemed It wise that
they should not fall into the hands
of another nation. Their actual value
to us is probably the amount paid for
them $25,000,000.
(2) No.
(3) It is not part of a division, nor
has it been listed for return.
110th Regiment, SKtb Division.
WALLA WALLA. Wash., Jan. 10.
(To the Editor.) Kindly tell me If thn
110th, 28th Reg. Is scheduled to comti
home or has already arrived in soma
Eastern port. AN ANXIOUS MOTHER.
PORTLAND, Jan. 10. (To the Ed
itor.) Please tell me If Company K,
110th Infantry, Is listed for early la
tum or are on their way now.
MISS GRAFF.
Anxious Mother" undoubtedly refers
to the 110th Regiment of the 2th Divi
sion. The unit and division, is a part
of the army of occupation and not
billed to come home. Headquarters
three wuk ago was Hcudicourt,
France.
,
Batterr D, fourth Trench Morlar.
POWELL BUTTE, Or., Jan. 9. I To
Uhe Editor.) Tell me. please. If Mat
tery D, Fourth Trench Mortar Bat
talion, has been ordered home. If f.
when are they to arrive and at what
camp will they be mustered out?
II. W. WELLS.
It is sailing homeward aboard tlm
Montana, duo to arrivo tit New York.
January 17. according to announce
ments. Nothing said as to where if.
will demobilize, but this Is generally a".
or near the place or mobilization.
m. n. v. :too.
PORTLAND, Jan. 12. (To tho Edi-
or.) We have a boy with the Army in
France and are unable to tell Jua
where. We address his letters "M. It.
U. 309. ST. T. C, A. E. F., France," ari
e gets them. Can you tell In what
division ho belongs and at wllnt plaon
ho is. also if that unit Is coming home
soon? HIS PARENTS.
The repair unit has not been locate
nor assigned for convoy in announce
ments to date. It is not a part ot a
division.
Company I 305tb Infrutry.
GOLDENDALE, Wash.. Jan. 10. (T
the Editor.) My husband went over
seas with company u, laitn infantry.
40th Division, but is now with Com
pany L. soatli iniantry. wnere aro
they stationed at present ana wnat
nformation have you relative to tlia-r
return?. What division will they re
turn in? ANXIOUS WIFE.
He Is now in the 77th Div'sion, Lt
Vignettej, France, and will return
with it unles transferred again. Tfca
7th is not yet on the sailing list.
Lonesome Club In Portland.
PORTLAND, Jan. 11. (To tho Edi
tor.) Kindly tell me if there Is a
Lonesome Club In this city. Am a
tranger here and rather lonely. Kindly
give the address and name of club.
E. B. u.
There is a Lonesome Club, organize.!
ast December, In Portland. No mcct
ng for the future has been scheduled.
ut you may learn of tho organization
by Inquiring of Mrs. Roa Bunn, 129 '-j
Twelfth street.
I'urrhnaing Agents In France.
OREGON CITY. Or., Jan. 11. (To the
Editor.) My son's address Is "general
purchasing agent, care Adm. 116, A. p.
O. 717, France." Can you tell me where
he Is and wbcther he will start home
soon or not? W. II. C.
Army Postofflco 717 is at Tours,
France. We have no Information as to
when purchasing agents may end their
work and be returned.
13th Ammunition Train.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. Jan. 11. (To tlio
Editor.) My brother was lust reported
San Antonio, Texas, Stanley B., ljin
mmunition Train. When and wheio
will he be mustered out?
SOLDIER'S SISTEn.
It is impossiblo to say, but more than
likely will bo sent to Camp Lewis for
release.
Tenth Balloon Company.
NEWBERG. Or.. J.in. 11. (To th-
Editor.) Kindly inform mo If thu
Tenth Balloon Company, now In France,
h listed for early return and if tlio
lalloon companies are listed as ncro
uiuadrons. P. H. M
The unit has not been listed for ff
turn. Balloon companies aro distinct
orjirnizalions and are so referred to.
i