Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, August 26, 1919, Image 1

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VOL. LVIII. XO. 18,330
Entered at Portland (Orefon)
PoRtnfrice as Scond-Ciaas Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1919.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
AMERICAN IN LEAD
IN AIRPLANE RACE
500-MILE FLIGHT TAKES 3
HOURS 85 MIXCTES.
BELGIUM TAKES OVER
STRIP OF TEUTON SOIL
WILSON ASKS CHECK
SPRUCE INQUIRY
ON INFLUX OF ALIENS
MTES-XillCTED
o
-
TO BE IN COMBINE
V
1SICLUDES PLANES
POSSESSION' OF MALMEDY IS
OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED.
CONTINUATION OF PASSPORT
LAW ONE TEAR REQUESTED.
PHEM
LABOR TO HIT
HIGH
DECLARED
t
Delay of Wage Advance to
Normal Times Asked.
GENERAL TRUCE REQUESTED
Shopmen's Demand for 25 Per
Cent Increase Denied;
Smaller Rise Given.
LOWER PRICES EXPECTED
Government Policy Announced
Is Delay for Restoration
of Stability.
WASHINGTON', Aug. 25. Post
ponement of the settlement of wage
demands until normal economic con
ditions are restored, was announced
today by President Wilson as the pol
icy which the administration will pur
sue in dealing with such questions,
particularly those affecting railroad
workers.
The president announced also that
it was neither wise nor feasible at
this time, when the most important
question before the country is a re
turn to a normal price level, to at
tempt to increase freight rates to
provide funds for higher wages.
Appeal Made for Trace.
"We ought to postpone questions
of this sort until we have the oppor-J
tunity for certain calci'ation as to
the relation between wages and the
cost of living," the president de
clared in a statement to the public
explaining his decisions as to wages.
It is the duty of every citizen to in
sist npon a truce in such contests un
til intelligent settlements can be made
and made by peace and effective com
mon counsel. I appeal to my fellow
citizens of every employment to co
operate in insisting upon and main
taining such a truce."
Mr. Wilson's statement was issued
In connection with the decision of
himself and Director General Hines
on demands by railroad shopmen for
a 25-per cent advance in wages, but
the general policy pronounced covers
also the wage demands of other hun
dreds of thousands of railroad work
ers, which are pending before the
director-general or about to be pre
sented. Others to Be Asked to Act.
It is to be expected that other
unions trying to obtain more pay will
be asked, as the shopmen, to play
their part with other citizens in re-more conspicuous than the first. He
ducing the cost of living by fore-said it could be seen with a small tele
going a temporary advantage which I cope.
would add to transportation costs. j '
The decision of the president and'
the director-general was announced to
a committee of 100, representing the
shopmen. In reply to their demands
for a 25 per cent increase, the shop
men were asked to accept an adjust
ment of their pay to the basis of 10
hours' pay for eight hours work,
which they contended was given
other employes and denied them when
the Adamson law became effective.
This means an advance of the basic
pay from 68 to 72 cents an hour,
whereas an increase of 17 cents to
So cents an hour was demanded.
New Rate to Be Retroactive.
In view of the delay of the railroad ;
administration board on wages and
working conditions in reporting on
the demands of the shopmen, Director-General
Hines recommended that
the new rate of pay be made retro
active from May 1, although the
board's report was made July 16, the
date of report generally being taken
as the retroactive date.
Under the new scale of wages, ma
chinists, tool makers, boiler makers.
riveters, blacksmiths, sheet metal
workers and electricians, all of whom
now receive 63 cents an hour, will re
ceive 72 cents. Helpers will receive
49 cents an hour instead of the pres
ent wage of 45 cents.
Unions to Make Decision.
Acting President Jewell of the
railway employes department of the
American Federation of Labor, his
advisers said, would communicate
the decision to the union locals
for acceptance or rejection. A strike
Tote completed yesterday, but not yet
tabulated, was on the question wheth
er the men should quit work to en
force consideration of their demands
tCoacludcd on Page 3 Column 3.
Two V. S. Aviators Close Behind In
First 1-eg of Toronto-Mineola
International Derby.
MIXEOLA. N. Y.. Aug. 25. Three
fast airplanes swooped down on Roose
velt field here tonight, completing the
first leg of their round trip flight be
tween Toronto and Mineola, in the first
International aerial derby.
Sergeant C. B. Coombs, a Canadian
aviator, flying a DH-9, with 400 horse
power Liberty motor, was the first ar
rival, landing at 7:11 o'clock Just six
hours and 11 minutes from the time he
started on the 500-mile course at To
ronto. His actual flying time, how
ever, was only three hours and 35 min
utes, stops having been made at Buf
falo. Syracuse and Albany.
Roland Rohlfs, famous American test
pilot, who was the first filer to "hop
off" at Toronto, despite the fact that
he had previously suffered a spill when
bis plane turned turtle, landed at 7:18
o'clock and Major R. M. Schroeder, an
other American flier, arrived four min
utes later. Rohlfs gave his time irom
start to finish as six hours and 28
minutes and Major Schroeder gave his
as six hours and 22 minutes.
The three filers hope to start the
return trip to Toronto between noon
and 1 o'clock tomorrow.
A large crowd which had turned out
to greet the racers, remained for sev
eral hours after their arrival, hoping
to witness other arrivals or to get
word of the landing at Toronto of
some of the 28 planes which left here
during the afternoon on the Mineola
Toronto leg of the race. Up to a late
hour, however, no more fliers had put
in appearance, nor was any report re
ceived of landings at Toronto.
Lieutenant H. P. Logan was the first
to get away here, being followed at 2
o'clock by Captain J. H. Footes. who
bore a letter from President Wilson to
tte prince of Wales; 2.04 by Major
Elliott Springs: at 2:07 by Lieutenant
Colonel H. E. Hartney and at 2:10 by
Colonel H. U. ClagetL The other 2:
fliers got off at one to five minute in
tervals.
$10,000,000 SUIT SETTLED
Elm Orlu and Butte and Superior
Litigation Closed.
BUTTE. Mont, Aug. 25. Mining
litigation involving claims variously
estimated at from $10,000,000 to 1S
000.000 waa terminated here today
when Judge George M. Bourquin. in
United States district court, approved
the formal decree of settlement In a
suit between the Elm Orlu Mining
company, owned by the interests of
former Senator W. A. Clark, and the
Butte & Superior Mining company.
The Elm Orlu company Is decreed the
owner of the "Rainbow Lode," while
the Butte A Superior company receive
certain ore bodiea within the El Orlu
claim.
SECOND COMET PICKED UP
Rev. J. II. Met calf Finds Celestial
Wanderer in Bootes.
CAMBRIDGE. Mass., Aug. 25. Dis
covery of a second comet in three days
by the Rev. Joel H. Metcalf was an
nounced today by the Harvard college
observatory.
After picking up In the eastern sky
on August 20 the first of the year's
new stray stars, he reported that on
the nitrht of the 22d at 11 o'clock he
found in Bootes constellation in the
I western sky, another uncharted bodv
ARMS SHIPPED TO MEXICO
Gunboats Expected to Intercept
Steamer Carrying Goods.
NEW YORK. Aug. 25. Ten trunks
containing arms and ammunition were
shipped from this city to Mexico on
the steamship Morro Castle, which
sailed Friday for Havana, Progreso
and Vera Cruz, according to informa
tion obtained today by detectives at
tached to the bomb squad. The trunks
were shipped from a Broadway hotel.
The department of Justice and navy
department have been notified and it
Is expected that gunboats will be sent
out to Intercept the steamship.
PRISONERS GET BONDS
Utah and Oregon Members of I. W.
W. Released Pending Appeal.
CHICAGO. Aug. 2S. Bonds were ap
proved today for the release of Charles
McKinnon. Salt Lake City, and Harry
L. Lloyd. Multnomah, Or., members of
the Industrial Workers of the World,
convicted "before Federal Judge Landta
last fall. The bonds consisted of $5000.
worth of liberty bonds In each case
and were, furnished by Robert H. Howe
of Chicago.
The men were sent to Leavenworth .
penitentiary and will be released peud
ing appeal of their cases.
PITTSBURS CARS STONED
Twenty Injured in Riots; Effort to
Ron Is Failure.
riTTSBURG. Aug. 25. After the first
three car they operated were stoned
and one wrecked in a downtown .treet.
the receivers of the Pittsburg Railway
company made no further effort late
today to break the strike of 2000 motor
men and conductors which has tied up
trolley transportation here for the last
11 days.
More than a score of persons were In
jured la rioting.
25 Per Cent More Said to
Be Needed.
HOWARD ELUOTT GIVES VIEW
Increased Revenue Mecessary
Under Private Control.
GUARANTEE NOT EARNED
New England Roads Declared in Bad
Shape Regulation of Labor
Unions Suggested.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25. Increase of
at least 25 per cent in railroad rates.
provided there are no more wage in
creases or higher material costs, will
be necessary when the carriers are re
turned to private operation, the house
interstate commerce committee was told
today by Howard Elliott, president of
the Northern Pacific
"Would 25 per cent Increase solve
the problem for the whole country?"
asked Representative Sims, democrat.
Tennessee.
"I think it would." responded Mr. El
liott, adding that he preferred the rate
increase to the continued payment of
the government guaranteed compensa
tion. New England roads, he asserted,
were In bad shape and were not earning
the government guaranteed compensa
tion. Living Coats Affected.
Asked if a 25 per cent increase of
rates would hamper business or in
crease the cost of living, Mr. Elliott re
plied that the effect, in his opinion, had
been exaggerated, but he did not want
to give the impression that it would
have no effect on living costs generally.
In advocating wage legislation, Mr.
Elliott said:
"Let the wives of the men vote on
the strike; they are the most affected."
The great majority of railroad em
ployes, he said, do not want to strike.
and he urged some legislation for the
adjustment of disputes.
He suggested that labor unions be
required to Incorporate and file reports
like business corporations, and that
employes be compelled to serve notice
before quitting work.
Early Federal Ownership Feared.
Alba B. Johnson of Philadelphia, for
mer president of the Baldwin Locomo
tive works, urged the preservation of
the Interstate commerce commission as
a Judicial body. He appeared before
the committee as spokesman of the
Railway Business association, an or
ganization of manufacturers of rail
way supplies.
Mr. Johnson advocated creation of a
federal transportation board to certify
to the commission the amount of rev-
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.)
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Inhabitants to Take Vote Within Six
Months on Permanent Fate -of
Territory.
PARIS, Aug. 25. (Havas.) Belgium
authorities today took official posses
sion of the district of Malmedy, which
was ceded to Belgium by Germany un
der the peace treaty.
The Malmedy district is a small strip
of territory near the southern end of
the boundary between Belgium and
Rhenish Prussia with Its western ex
tremity forming an indentation in the
Belgian province of Liege. The peace
treaty provided for the renunciation by
Germany of all rights and title to this
territory as well as the district of
Eupen, farther north along the Prus
sian-Belgian boundary. The treaty
stipulates that during the eixth month
after the document comes into force
the Belgian authorities at Eupen and
Malmedy shall open registers in which
the inhabitants of the territories in
question will be entitled to record in
writing a desire to see the whole or
part of them remain under German
sovereignty. The league of nations is
to review this public expression of
opinion and decide as to the disposi
tion of the districts.
The territories of Malmedy and
Eupen were separated from Belgium in
1814-15 and were assigned to Prussia.
HARRY ALLEN LOSES LIFE
While Watering Horse in Rivef Cot
tage Grove Youth Drowns.
COTTAGE GROVE, Or, Aug. 25.
(Special.) Harry Allen, 10-year-old son
of Mr. and Mrs. Judson Allen, was
drowned at noon today In the coast
fork of the Willamette, a mile north of
here, where he was employed by Con
tractor Ryan on Pacific highway Im
provements.
The boy, who had been driving a
tramcar, had taken his horse to the
river for water. The horse sank In
the mire and, in struggling, got out
nto deep water. The lad, unable to
swim, stuck to the horse's back until
the animal, blind and unable to save
tself, went down. His younger brother.
Donald, called for help and swam out
to his brother's aid, but reached him
Just too late.
PITT0CK TAX IS $226,326
Attorney fop Estate of Publisher
'' Files Report With' State.
SALEM, Or., Aug. 25. (Special.)
Based upon tentative valuations fur
nished to the state treasurer by D. P.
Price of Portland, the estate of the late
Henry L. Pittock, publisher of The Ore
gonian. will pay the state an inheri
tance tax amounting to S226.326.80.
The estimated total tax is J238.238.98.
according to State Treasurer Hoff, but
in case payment is made, within eight
months from the date of Mr. Pittock's
death a discount of 5 per cent, amounting-
to $11,911.94. will be allowed. Mr.
Price appears as attorney for the es
tate. Money derived from inheritance taxes
eventually goes into the general fund
of the state. I
SHE WANTS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRICE -
Conspiracy to Lift Bread
Prices Scented.
MATTER NOW BEING PROBED
Deputy City Attorney Asserts
He Has Evidence.
PROSECUTION IS POSSIBLE
Advance of 12 Hi Per Cent in Price
Said to Have Been Purpose of
Alleged Combination.
Evidence that leading bakers of
Portland have entered into combination
to increase the price of bread 12 per
cent, it is said, is in the hands of
Deputy City Attorney Hindman and
will be used by the city in prosecution
of the bakers in the event the agree
ment goes into effect.
Attorney Hindman was recalled from
vacation by Mayor Baker to probe
the bread situation and to ascertain if
the bakers of the city had entered into
an agreement to increase the price
of bread in violation of a city ordinance
governing price-fixing.
Evidence Held Conclusive.
In a report to the mayor filed yester
day Mr. Hindman explains that he has
evidence in his possession which in
dicates that the leading bakers of the
city have entered into an agreement to
increase the price of bread from to
9 cents a loaf. Putting of such a price
Into effect would tend to corroborate
the evidence already collected, accord
ing to Mr. Hindman, and making con
viction of the bakers concerned vir
tually certain.
If the report of Mr. Hindman is
accepted the city will not attempt to
prosecute the bakers unless the price
of bread is increased. It the price is
raised as contemplated Attorney Hind
man says he will be ready to present
his evidence in court.
Bakers Reported Preparing.
It is understood that the leading
bakers of the city yesterday retained
an attorney to represent them in the
event the city institutes proceedings
against them.
Attorney Hindman, acting under di
rection issued to him by Mayor Baker
last week, will continue his Investiga
tion, gathering such data as may be
required in the event bread prices are
increased in the future and the city
desires to bring suit against the
bakers.
FIXING -
Removal of Restrictions Expected
to Bring Heavy Flood of
Undesirables.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 25. To prevent
an influx of aliens into the United
States after peace is declared, Presi
dent Wilson In a message to congress
today asked that the passport law in
effect during the war be continued for
one year after the proclamation of
peace.
The president asked for an appro
priation of $750,000 for the use of the
state department in administering the
law during the remainder of the fiscal
year and to enable it to increase Its
organization abroad. The present or
ganization, the message said, now is
overwhelmed with applications for
passports.
"Information from the agents of the
government in foreign countries," the
president wrote, "indicates that as soon
as the existing restrictions upon travel
are removed many persons will seek
admission to this country and that
among the number are not only per
sons undesirable from the point of
view of becoming future citizens, but
persons whose origin and affiliation
make it inadvisable that they should
be permitted to enter the United States.
"Tne experience gained during the
war shows that an efficient systm of
passport control administered by the
department of state through the diplo
matic and consular offices in foreign
countries, can be depended upon to ex
clude practically all persons whose
admission to the United States would
be dangerous or contrary to the public
Interest."
$1 REMORSE DEBT CLEARED
Portland Ccmvert Offers to Pay for
Flowers Taken in Childhood.
TACOMA, Wash., Aug. 25. (Special.)
After "Accepting God," Mrs. M. H.
Watson, 449 East Couch street, Port
land, became remorseful over picking
a small geranium, some honeysuckle
and a bit of wandering Jew at Point
Defiance park in Tacoma, when she
was a little girl and today she sent the
Metropolitan park board Jl to pay for
what she took. The board returned
Mrs. Watson's money with the sugges
tion that she donated it to some worthy
charity.
"I never dreamed of the wrong I was
doing then," Mrs. Watson said in her
letter of reparation. "But after I grew
older and God came into my life those
things were bitter to my memory and
surely want to make it right. I am
glad that God has saved me and that I
have an opportunity of making the
wrong right."
WHISKY SHIP IS REROUTED
Orator for England to Go to Van
couver, B. C, Not Seattle.
SEATTLE, Wash., Aug. 25. The liner
Orator, en route from England with a
full cargo, will not land at Seattle but
will go direct to Vancouver, B. C, her
owners announced today.
The reason for the change in the
ship's destination Is the nature of her
cargo, which consists of whisky ana
Jam. Trouble with customs officers
and the Seattle police dry squad was
feared if any attempt was made to un
load the ship's whisky cargo at this
port.
INDEX OF JODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 82
degrees; minimum, 5tf degrees.
TODAY'S Fair and cooler; en tie- winds,
mostly northerly.
Foreisrn.
Belgium takes ovor strip of German terri
tory. Page 1.
American doctrine of human rights sweeps
near east. Page 15.
Archduke Josph lava Hungarian port
when allies give him two hours to quit.
Page 2.
Denikine captures another town from bol
sheviki on Dniestet. Page 3.
Britain's new rules for visitors may bar
United States dollars. Page 2.
National.
President asks for continuation of passport
law to check flood of undesirables.
Page 1.
Higher railroad rates predicted by Howard
Elliott, rage l.
Fight to save timber of northwest seems
hopeless one. rage i.
Packers' representative attacks report of
federal trade commission, rage o.
Senator Chamberlain to continue fight on
court-martial system, rage .
Domtwtlc.
President asks workers to delay wage de
mands until restoration ox staDiiuy.
Page 1.
Canadian leads first leg of airplane race.
Page 1
Pacific North went.
Spruce inquiry broadens to include manufac
ture oi aircraiu rage a.
Woman editor of Astoria News admits false
hoods about legion. Page 7.
Commercial and Marine.
All dealers in wheat required to have
licenses. Page 21.
Chicago corn closes strong after wide fluc
tuations. Page 21.
Railway issues are strong feature of Wall
street market. Page 21.
Lower freight rate on ship steel held urgent
necessity. Page 20.
Sport.
Mike McTague's manager denies his man
fought Ortega above weight limit. Page 13.
Recruits Schroeder and Kingdon cause
Beaver manager to see- better times
ahead. Page 12.
Bertha Blancett, famous cowgirl, is feature
of wild-west show at speedway, opening
Saturday. Page 12.
Weak team batting average explains why
Beavers drop many ball games. Page 13.
Portland and Vicinity.
Plans for Roosevelt memorial drive under
way. Page 10.
County commissioners urged to reopen Kelly
Butte quarry. Page .
Fair-price committee upheaval is begun.
Page 10.
Bakers combine to raise bread prices, says
deputy city attorney, rage l.
Pacific coast faces sugar shortage until
new crop, dealers assert, rage i.
Keep clothing prices down, says clothiers
association oiiiciai. rage i.
Longshoremen's minimum wage is fixed at
89 cents an nour. rage -u.
Seattle Committee Shows
Interest in Aviation.
U. S. AIRMEN ARE SHED
Congressmen Evince Desire to
Trace Timber Output.
ALLIES RECEIVE SHARE
Probers Display Intention to Find
Oat What Proportion of Supply
Got Into Aircraft.
BT BEN HUR LAMPMAN.
SEATTLE, Wash., Aug. 25. (Special.)
Not only is the congressional sub
committee hearing the probe of spruce
expenditures keenly interested in the
actual operations of the government
extensive logging projects in Oregon
and Washington, but its members are
manifesting an almost equal interest
in any stray bits of information that
may concern the aircraft programme
as a whole. The present hearing In
Seattle has demonstrated that the com
mittee is on the alert for testimony
ranging in scene from the forests of
the northwest to the fields of France.
To glean actual first hand evidence
of the lack cf American planes on the
fighting lines in France, one officer.
Captain McKey of Seattle, who fought
with a unit of the 91st division, has
already been interrogated. In this ex
amination Chairman James A. Frear
requested the witness to provide the
committee with the name of at least
one local airman who saw active serv
ice overseas.
Other Filers to Be Called.
As the result of the information fur
nished by Captain McKey, it Is entirely
probable that Lieutenant Paul Colea
of Seattle and other veteran battle
aviators of the western front will be
summoned before the committee to
morrow mdVning, when its Seattle hear,
ing is resumed, to testify from their
own knowledge regarding the Ameri
can air service.
Inasmuch as the records of the sprue
production division show that from Au
gust, 1917, to the signing of the armis
tice, 87,715,319 feet of spruce airplaiM
stock was produced, and as It has been
testified that not a single American
battle plane was in action up to the
close of the war, the congressional
committeemen have declared their in
tention to follow the trail of the van
ished stock.
Sixty-five per cent of the finished
spruce stock, when it left the cut-up
plants, was consigned to the three
allies Great Britain, France and Italy.
But, as the chairman of the sub-committee
points 6ut, there is nothing to
indicate that the remaining 35 per cent
in planes of American construction ever
swooped over the lines to protect the
doughboys or to harass the enemy.
"What became of the spruce?" is the
query of the committeemen.
Waste Testimony Heard.
Thus far the congressional committee
has devoted almost its entire sessions
to direct consideration of testimony
relevant to the actual production of
spruce, and to the many charges of
extravagance, favoritism, waste and in
trigue, that have been lodged against
the spruce production corporation and
its former president, Brigadier-General
Brice P. Disque.
The latter will himself have an op
portunity to explain his policies to the
committee when it returns to the east.
The former spruce division commandant
is now engaged in business in New
York.
Records to Be Scanned.
When the committee turns to the
Portland phase of its inquiry, as it will
upon the conclusion of the Seattle hear
ing, the entire records of the spruce
production are to be laid before it.
Charges of waste and extravagance,
similar to those already filed with re
spect to the Olympic peninsula spruce
operations will probably be made con
cerning the cost-plus operations in Lin
coln county, where two lines of rail
road were constructed, and where the
Warren Spruce company operated.
The Portland hearing will be of
longer duration than that held here
owing to the mass of detail which is
available only in the records of the
corporation at its headquarters in the
Yeon building.
Two Days More Required.
The sub-committee, comprising Rep
resentative James A. Frear, Wisconsin;
Representative W. W. Magee of New
York, and 'Representative Clarence F.
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.)
LUDENDORFF WAR STORY
CAIS'CELED.
The Oregonian has received,
and has examined, the advance
sheets of the first installment of
General Ludendorff's Story of
the War. It is sufficient to say
that the first chapters are not
in accord with the preliminary
announcements of the proposed
serial. The Ludendorff Story of
the War will not be printed in
The Oregonian.