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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1919)
Jftwiiiii Jj ttpriiim VOL. jLTX. NO. 18,1GG. PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1919. PRICE FIVE CENTS. PASSAGE OF WAR-TAX BILL EXPECTED TODAY CONFEREES AGREEMENT DE BATED LONG IN SENATE. EBERT HEAD NAVAL EXPANSION IS .APPROVED IN HOUSE THREE YEARS' BUILDING PLAN VOTED AFTER DEBATE. LEGISLATORS FACE BIG POST-WAR TASK GOVERNOR LISTER MAY QUIT STATE FOR TIME CHANGE OP CLIMATE ITRGED FOR SAKE OF HEALTH. MALIGN FORCES IN PUBIS STIR STRIFE TO JAPANESE YOKE OF STATE i GH NATQLDTOBQW MAD GERMAN ' V 5 V War Threatened if Chinese Bare Secret Treaty. PEACE DELEGATES WARNED U. S. and England Too Busy to Aid China, Nipponese Say. MILITARISTS SAID TO RULE ,TapanC5C Newspapers Point Out That Action. Toward China Will Bar Japan From Fcace League. LONDON, Feb. 10. The correspondent f Reuter's Limited at Pekin sends the (following under date of February 3: "The Japanese on Thursday, January SO. informed the Chinese Minister at Tokio that change in the attitude of the Chinese delegates in France was desirable. The Chinese should, he eaid, be guided by the Japanese in all questions of policy. 'The Japanese Minister at Peking on Saturday, February 1, informed the Foreign Minister that a change of front on the part of the Chinese delegation was necessary and that Japan desired China to undertake that she would not reveal at the peace conference the secret Chino-Japanese agreements. The Chinese delegates, he said, should work in the closest harmony with the Japan ese delegates upon all questions fcrought before the peace conference. China Told to Choose. "The Japanese minister added that Great Britain was so disturbed with strikes and financial troubles that no definite political or financial help could he expected from that quarter. Failing to receive such assurances, Japan would Immediately exercise effective financial pressure upon China. "The Japanese minister demonstrated that China was in a position to choose between returning Japan's friendship or meeting Japan's opposition. "Simultaneously the Pekin militar ists brought great pressure to bear in presidential quarters with a view to securing the adoption of the Japanese viewpoint. 'Following numerous evidences of Japanese pressure upon China in con nection with the peace conference, this revelation of Japan's determination permanently to secure privileges gained during the European war created as- T,ihment throughout China, espe cially as a section of the Japanese gov ernment is known to be opposed to me policy of force against China. Militarists) In Control. "The newspapers, however, empha eize Japan's latest and greatest diplo matic blunder as proving that the Japanese government is still tied to the wheels of the military chariot whose purpose is to destroy China, re gardless of the fact that its action is calculated to force Japan outside the league of nations." WASHINGTON. Feb. 11. (By the .Associated Press.) Japan's attitude toward China in the peace conference is causing grave apprehension among the representatives of the other asso ciated powers. According to official diplomatic irLformation reaching here, Japan virtually has threatened war if China makes public secret treaties be tween the two countries and fails to carry out an agreement to make Japan the successor of Germany in rights, property and concessions held by Ger rnany at the outbreak of the European war. China Hopes for Aid. ' China is relying on the peace con ference, where her delegates are said to have made an excellent impression, and is seeking support from the United States and Great Britain. Advices from the orient through dip lomatic channels say American Min ister Keinsch at Pekin, seeking to re assure the Chinese foreign minister with statements of the friendship of the United States government, was told frankly that the foreign minister did' not see how at this time the United States or Great Britain could divert their attention to the orient when fhe jLF.uropean Ts"T..!.tev.tim. situation demanded much When the Chinese peace delegation arrived in Paris, the information now available discloses they renorted that their copies of the secret treaties were stolen from their baggage while they were passing through Japan and con eequently they were unable to carry out their purpose of making them pub lic at the conference. U. S. Officials Silent. Officials of the state department de clined to make any formal comment to day on the situation. The Impression was given that the whole matter was being handled in Pans. , As regards the Pacific islands claims of Japan, the American position at the peace conference has been unofficially represented as one of the opposition to annexations and of insistence upon the internationalization of all Pacific islands taken from Germany. The Mar shall and Caroline group lie directly .east of the Philippines. According to the reports received ere. the tnreats against tnnia were conveyed to the Chinese foreign min jbier by the. Japanese minister in Pekin jiinister is said to have pointed out tinat Japan had an army of more than a 'million rne.i idle at home, fully auppod and to have pointed out that Jrtpa'n had more than a half million tons' of shipping with the intimation ..v.o a eluded oil Pago Column 4. Democratic and Republican Leaders Predict Overwhelming Vote of Approval for Measure. AVASHINGTON. Feb. 11. Final ac tion by congress tomorrow on the 56, 000,000,000 war revenue bill appeared assured tonight after several l.ours of debate in the senate on the conferees' agreement, which the house adopted last Saturday. After some difficulties and delay in taking up the bill today Chairman Simmons, of the senate managers, ad dressed the senate for about two hours on the conference report, while Sen ator Thomas, of Colorado, democrat, sharply criticised elimination of his amendment to tax campaign contribu tions of $500 or more 100 per cent. Both democratic and republican lead ers predicted that an overwhelming vote of approval would be given the bill before adjournment tomorrow. Sen ator Simmons said that it necessary a night session would.be Leld. At the outset today republicans de layed action on the bill, demanding that the lengthy formal conference report be read. Its reading took more than an hour, with the senate virtually de serted. An incident enlivening the pro cedure was the inadvertent adoption of the conference report, but upon ob jection by Senator Simmons the action was set aside. Senator McKellar, of Tennessee, democrat, who was presid ing, hastily put the question on the report and formally declared the te port adopted, but Senator Simmons, who had not spoken, induced him to annul his decision. IDLE CAR LINES TARGET Spojinc Orders Resumption of Serv ice Within 2 1 Hours. SliKANE, Wash.. Feb. 11. (Spe cial. J Street car service on all of the abandoned lines of the Washington Water Power company was ordered re sumed within 24 hours by the city commissioners this morning. If the order is not complied with by the com pany the city will at once start suit in the superior court to have its demands enforced. The action was taken at this morn ing's session of the council, after the commissioners had received an opinion from Corporation Counsel Geraghty, "that the street railway company may not, without the consent of the city, abandon service on any of the lines on which they fold franchises." LUMBER PRICES GO DOWN Twenty Per Cent Drop Is Regis tered at San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11. (Special.) The cost of lumber tobogganed Mon day. Wartime prices went into the dis card with a rush when the lumber deal ers of San Francisco announced a 20 per cent lop-off in the price of all lumber used in ordinary building construction. At the headquarters of the lumber men, it was stated that the reason for the drop in prices Is the desire of the dealers to encourage a revival of the building industry and conserve the mutual interests of owner, builder and dealer. The further announcement is made that the prices fixed today are as low as they can ever be under existing conditions. HAWAII TO COAST IN DAY French Aviator Says Powerful Ma chine Could Make Trip. HONOLULU, T. H., Feb. 11. (Spe- I cial.) Honolulu to the coast in 24 . hours is the plan of Sergeant Jean Servantie, maker of 200 ascents on the battle front and memoer or me r rencn flying corps, who is in Honolulu to gether with 40 other French soldiers awaiting return transportation to San Francisco. , In an address before the Pan-Pacific club the other day the aviator de clared that with a 450 horse power ma chine he would undertake the flight from Honolulu to the mainland. The French soldiers are a part of the 500 who came here on the way to Siberia a few weeks ago. LESS TALK WILL BE RULE Ten-Minute Limit on Speeches to Be Strictly Enforced. STATE CAPITOL, Saiem.Or., Feb. 11. (Special.) There will be less talk and more speed in the house in the future and every effort will be made to expedite b;siness. Speaker Jones stated tonight. The rule providing for a ten-minute limit on speeches will be strictly en forced, he stated, and it is possible the house will be asked to amend the rules to set a five-minute limit. The house only passed four bills today and the business of the body is becoming con gested. DAYLIGHT SAVING PLAN UP Ordinance Prepared Setting Clocks Ahead in Portland. The daylight saving plan introduced throughout the United States last year will be in vogue in Portland during the summer months if an ordinance which will be presented to the city council tomorrow by City Commissioner Bigelow is approved. Under the pro visions of this ordinance the official time in Portland will be advanced one hour beginning at 2 o'clock A. M of the last Sunday in March and continuing until 2 o'clock A. M. of the last Sun day in October. The ordinance provides that this plan continue automatically each year. President Chosen by Vote of National Assembly NEW MINISTRY IS ' BUNGED Provisional Constitution Is Adopted After Long Wrangle. HOUSE DEBATE IS EXCITING All Agreements With Nations in Allied League Must Have Sanc tion of National Assembly. BASEL, Feb. 11. The German na tional assembly today, elected Fried rich Ebert president, of the German state by a vote of 277 out of 379 votes, a majority of 102. Herr Ebert accepted the election. Count con Posadowesky Wehner received 49 votes. COPENHAGEN, Feb. 11. According to a dispatch from Weimar an agree ment has been reached by the German national assembly on the composition of the new ministry, which will consist of 14 members. Philip Scheidemann has been selected chancellor; Dr. August Mueller, minister of economics; Herr Bauer, minister of labor, and Herr Landsberg, minister of national defense and justice. Socialists Have Severn Seats. Another portfolio will go to Dr. Eduard David, who resigns the presi dency of the national assembly at Weimar, which position will be taken over by Konstantin Fehrcnbach. The socialists have seven seats in the cabinet, the democrats have three and the centrists have three, including Mathias Erzberger, who will hold the post of minister without portfolio. Count von Brockdorff-Rantzau, anti socialist, will be foreign minister. WEIMAR, Feb. 10. (By the Asso ciated Pre ) The na tional osser.ibly unanimously adopted a provisional con stitution at 6 o'clock this evening after a three-hour wrangle between the In dependent socialists on one hand and all the rest of the house on the other, over a eingle point the question of scret agreements. Independents "Won Over. Although the independents lost in their contention that Germany should pave the way for the entire world in going definitely on record in favor of open diplomatic agreements, they arose belately to make the acceptance of-the constitution as whole unanimous, de- (Continued an Page 4. Column 2.) ETjsiHEST partners Dtvisrox Programme Carries Construction of n Battleships, Ten Cruisers, Appropriation Legislation. WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. Adminis tration leaders in the house won their fight for a declaration by congress of a policy of naval expansion unless lim itation of world armament is agreed upon at the peace conference. Afftr an all-day debate ti'e house vot'ed, 194 to 142, to approve toe new three-year building programme of ten battleships and ten scout cruisers and immediately afterwards adopted the entire naval appropriation bill. Legislation for the n-sw programme was voted in order as a part of the annual appropriation bi!l today by the house, which adopted, 205 to 14 8, a spe cial rule to restore provisions stricken out yesterday on points of order by Republican Leader Mann. One hundred and thirty-one republic ans, wth 14 democrats, an independ ent, a socialist and a prohibitionist, joined in opposing the rule, while 172 democrats, with 32 republicans and an independent, cast affirmative votes. With the adoption of the rule the House rejected various amendments framed yesterday to save the building programme from Mr. Mann's parliamen tary coup and debate began on original building provisions under an agree ment for a final vote at the end of two hours debate. SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED Denver Finds It Impossible to Fill Places of Strikers. DENVER, Feb. 11. The 23 public schools closed yesterday by a strike of the stationary engineers remained clostd today, despite efforts of school officials to fill the places of strikers. Seventeen thousand students and 425 teachers at the schools are affected by the strike. "It is impossible to tell when the schools will reopen," said Carlos M. Cole, superintendent of schools, today. FEATURES OF THE OREGON LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY. Senate. Differences settled on bill cre ating court of domestic relations for Multnomah County and bill reported for passage. Multnomah delegation decides to elect Lieutenant-C ilonel George H. Kelly as - commissioner for port of Portland. Boiw. Kills bill to regulate social evils on plan used by war department in cantonments. Copies of proposed constitu tional amendment appear among members for merging of ports of Astoria and Portland and 16 Co lumbia river and Willamette val ley counties into proposed port of Columbia. WHILE THE SOURCE OF BOTH THEIR PROFITS Measures Asked on Five Reconstruction Phases. ACTION WILL BE EXPEDITED Lkck of Unity Feared as End of Session Draws Near. EXPERIMENT TO BE MADE Transportation, Forts, Irrigation, and Building Work Outlined. STATE CAPITOL, Salem, Or., Feb. 11. (Special.) Five phases of reconstruc tion legislation will -be submitted to the legislature by the end of the week, or early next week at the latest. These are transportation development, port development,- irrigation, cultivation of logged-off lands and a building pro gramme. To expedite action several lawyers in Portland will be asked Wednesday to prepare measures and send them to Salem. It is believed that this action will simplify formation of the plan and enable members of the senate and the house to grasp the scope of the re construction problem. Legislators to Know Tink. There is a sentiment among some lawmakers against holding a special session to consider measures prepared by the reconstruction commission. These insist that the present session can deal with the subject. Others want to name the personnel of the commis sion. Friends of the reconstruction plans have mapped out the five points indicated and hope, by having measures on these topics prepared and submitted as quickly as possible, that the legis lature will have an inkling of the task and be willing to come back in about three months to consider completed bills. Han4liwa; f Mraiuni l'rublesu. How these five measures can be best handled is a problem. It is feared, for instance, that if the Burdick element is identified -ith the bills some of the Jones supporters will be antagonistic, and vice versa. The suggestion has been advanced that the measures bear names from both camps, such as Burdick, Gallagher and Smith from Baker, and Gordon, Sheldon and Bean. By such a method it is hoped a unity of action can be obtained. With the exception of about $1,000, 000, or J2.000.000 at most, the recon struction programme can be carried out. it is argued, without additional (Concluded on Pace 7. Column 4. ) IS NEGLECTED. Washington Executive Expected to Go to California, as Improvement Is Not as Fast as Desired. OLTMPIA, Wash., Feb. 11. As a re sult of recent conferences of Governor Lister's immediate friends, it is be lieved he can be Induced to try a change of climate within the next two weeks, following the full enactment of legislation in which he is particularly interested. Medical opinion is said to be that the governor's chances of rspid recovery will be greatly increased by this move. If the governor decides to make the change, it is believed he will go to California. His condition is reported as no worse, but signs of decided im provement are what his friends desire. With the capitol building bill signed and the Columbia river basin project appropriation disposed of. it is believed Governor Lister may revoke his pre viously expressed determination not to leave the state while the legislature is in session. Settlement of the general strike Is another factor urged as justi fication for relaxation at this time. "CO-EDS" RIVAL DIANA Deep Breathing Improves Stature of Girls at University. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene. Feb. 11. (Special.) The average chest expansion of 200 women of the uni versity is 3 inches, according to rec ords just compiled from the examina tions given by the physical education department. The ninth rib expansion average is 3.1 inches. ' These figures show that there is a tendency among the girls to breathe more deeply, says Miss Harriet Thom son, instructor in the department. This is due. she asserts, to the fact that physical exercise is becoming more popular and the old manner of c'lest breathing is disappearing. The aver age weight of the 200 girls examined was 119 pounds and their average age, 19.8 years. PAIR, 68, WED THIRD TIME Charity Hope Bride or Robert Tay lor, Klickitat Farmer. GOLDENDALE, Wash., Feb. 11. (Special.) Robert Kerr Taylor, a farm er in the Blockhouse section of Klicki tat county, and Charity Caroline Hope, o Colden.lale, nch embarked on the matrimonial sea for the third time Sunday, both are 68 years old. Mrs. Taylor formerly lived at Co lumbus, where she conducted a hotel for many years and recently has been operating a boarding house at Golden dale. Mr. Taylor was born at Mount Vernon. Mo., and Mrs. Taylor is a na tive of Errold, New Hampshire. KAR0LYI DEMANDS FACTS Hungary's President Insists on Fixing- War Responsibility. BASEL. Switzerland. Feb. 10. A full investigation of responsibility for the continuance of Hungary's participation in the war and also concerning "cruelty and barbarities committed in Siberia, Belgium and France, the ruthless sub marine war, the inhuman war in the air and the use of gases and bombs," Count Karolyi. the president of Hun gary, demanded today at a meeting of the Hungarian constituent assembly, according to a dispatch from Budapest. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS Tbe Weather. YESTERDATS Maximum temperature, 52 degrees; minimum, 37 decrees. TODAY'S Fair; moderate westerly winds. Strike. Machine rung sent to Bptte. Page 7. Seattle industries resume normal stride . Pace 4. Legislatures. Draft of reconstruction measures ordered Pace 1. Port mercer before state legislators. Pace IS. Washington to bar socialist teachers. Page 6. Appropriations total is mounting steadily Page . Foreign. French affrighted at bogey of new German army. Page French press criticism of peace delegates USUI. H . ur. rDfrt eieciw president or uerman re- puDiic. rage l. China ordered to submit to Japanese Joke. Pace 1. Boche plot scented by French military. Page 7. German ships boost to American fleet. Pas 7. King George pleads in behalf of labor. Page 2. National. Approval of war tax bill expected today. Page 1. Naval extension Is approved in hoose. Page 1. Ruin said to mark red rule In Russia. Page 5. Oregon troops sail for home. Page 3. Domestic. Radicals swear at America as deportation boat leaves Now York. Pago 4. Senator Chamberlain and Secretary Baker again amicable. Page 14. Lincoln day to bs widely observed. Page 13. Pacific Northwest. Governor Lister may go to California for sake of health. Page 1. Sports. Boxers on Hetlig programme all eager for gong. Page 12. Multnomah Athletic club closes prosperous year. Page 1-. McCredle signs Schwartz, star pitcher of artillery. Page 12. Commercial and Marine. Big flour cargoes wait for vessels. Page IS. Apples go abroad. Page 19. Livestock prices hold. Page Ii. Corn advances 3 cents. Page 10. Fortland and Vicinity. Judge Stapleton scores unfit husband and father. Page l;i. Mayor Raker seeks law against bsrred doors in Chinatown. Page V. Mr. Bruce Scott slated for state director. Page 1:1. Portland complains of unjust rates to inter state commerce commission. Page Is. Wives of Rotarians to share In frolic. Pag 1U. French Slurs of Motives of Peace Delegates Roil. WILSON MAY MAKE PROTEST Peace Conference Gossip Like That in Vienna Century Ago. FRANCE EXTENDS DEMANDS Further Occupation of Rhine's Left Bank and Extension of Military Zone on Right Bank Asked. BT HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE (Copynght ly the .New york World. Pub lished by Arrangement. PARIS, Feb. 11. (Special bt Wire less.) Sharp dissent is likely to be registered almost any day by the Amer ican mission to the peace conference against the methods in use here to influence public opinion in France and other countries in regard to conference measures. Americans feel that unless a halt shall be called in these methods the majority of the delegates will in sist on transferring the sessions of the conference to another place than Paris. Objections are directed against the programme of publication and publicity adopted by the French press whereby there is distributed throughout the world matters of a nature to disturb public confidence in the deliberation' and to block their progress. M llaon Mi? Protest. The thing has reached such a pass that any development or view that does not chime with certain French opinions is insidiously branded as pro German. This has become specially true In strictures upon the attitude of American and British delegates. There is reason to believe that Presi dent Wilson will protest against the continuation of propaganda which casts doubt on the motives of delegates and which com'ues the activities of the sessions of the conference. Perhaps in this way the atmosphere may be cleared. It cannot be denied that the situation has become tense. Gonaln) Doing Harm. Paris is more and more taking on a resemblance to Vienna in the peae congress there of 100 years ago in te matter of backstair gossip, and in re spect to the methods of imputing questionable motives to dissenters from the views of a single "faction. Such action now rules, by reason of the practices now criticised. Where truth and candor should prevail it has be come increasingly difficult fop the del egates to maintain a disinterested at titude. Unfortunately this environment is not without effect upon the weighty considerations regarding further exten sion of the terms of armistice, which must be renewed on February 17. The French arc insistent that new condi tions be added to the rigor and se verity of the terms. Americans and British do not wholly sympathize with this demand. The compromise of views seems probable through the medium of a new clause v. ith compensation features. New Terms Proposed. The plan is to frame the new armis tice so that its terms, at least partial ly, may be afterward embodied in the final peace treaty. This may be done to the extent of including in the docu ment certain regulations to assure Ger man good conduct, in return for which the blockade will be lifted and food and necessary supplies will flow Into Germany. The French have been always op posed to lightening the blockade. Now they seem willing to permit that course if certain military concessions shall be made, such as the occupation of Essen, of the Krupp properties and possibly other plants. Their further demand is for further occupation of the left bank of the Rhine, the extension of their military zone well over the right bank and the dismantling of all the forts . along the western border of Germany. Still more important is their demand for the demobilization of the German armies, which they would reduce to a force of 25 divisions or less. Police Force to Be Allowed. The supreme council gave three hours yesterday afternoon to discussion of this highly significant project. It has been virtually agreed to submit it to the German commission at the meeting next week. President Wilson is understood to feel that German sincerity -will be put to a thorough test at the meeting, for the conditions' to be imposed cannot unfavorably affect a country which Is not bent upon war. However far the conditions may be pressed, the Ger mans will certainly be left with sua ficlent army to police their territory. Bernard Baruch and Vance McCon mick probably will accompany the armistice commission to Spa as the American civilian observers of the meeting. Should the Germans accept the new terms a long step will have -been taken toward erecting a perma nent peace structure, of which the armistice will be the foundation. ALLIES TO KEEP GRIP OX FOE Armistice Periods May Be Shortened to Ten Days, It Is Said. PARIS. Feb. 11. A proposal to change the allicdt armistice policy and greatly (Concluded on Pan -1, Column 3.) ..HI 108.2