K
PORTLAND OREGON,. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1020
PRICE IIVE CENTS
VOL. 1AX.XO. 18,470
Entered at Portland ("Oregon)
Pnrtnfflc as Second-Class Matter.
REPUBLICANS ABE
PALMER FOR MORE I IfT
Mil n AMTI ocn I AMI ull I
LINE-UP
EXCHANGE COLLAPSE
GET
NOTE
FARM LOANS . WAIT
RULING ON VALIDITY
HOMESTEADING RIGHT
WORST IN HISTORY:
LOOMS FOR VETERANS
FIRST CHANCE AT LAND
, GRANTS MAY BE GIVEN.
IVIILU nil I ITVL.L LM
M TRAINING BILL
HOT WILSON
PROPOSED LEGISLATION DE
CLARED TOO DRASTIC.
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SIT
UATION' IS OMINOUS.
FURTHER APPLICATIONS W ILL
' BE REJECTED BY BOARD.
IN CARFARES
COM No
BRITAIN
MAY
MAKING PLATFORM
SEEMS NEV1ABLE
Kahn Will Not Let House
Dodge Issue, He Says.
FOES OF DRAFT STILL BUSY
Same Brand of Opponents
Are Fighting Measure, View.
MONDELL PROVOKES FIRE
Chamberlain Also Takes Rap at
Those Who AVould Increase Pay,
Avoiding Duly of Service.
OREGON IAX NEWS BUREAU.
Washington, Feb. 4. Congress and
the country are about to be precipi
tated into a discussion of the ques
tion 'of universal military training
-. , , -.-. . i.. tnfa..oHv Hip heated
controversy waging for several weeks
Now that the issue has been in
jected into the presidential contest
In some of the middle western states
by opponents of General Wood, chair
man Kahn of the house military af
fairs committee has decided that this
is the time to have a showdown in
congress. The house will not be per
mitted to dodge the issue, campaign
or no campaign.
Representative Kahn declare! to
day that it had been determinc:l to
report the army bill with a universal
military training provision, ami he in
dicated that he was prepared to go to
the mat with those republican lealera
in the house, particularly leader
llondell, who are so emphatically op
posed to universal service.
Opponent Bitterly Attarked.
"Universal military training is op
posed by the same sellouts who op
posed the selective draft." said Chair
man Kahn, "and if the rest of us had
followed their lead at the outbreak
of the war the republican party would
now be a minority party in congress.
The republican party won in spite of
them by not permitting them to shape
the party's policy.
"An examination of the records of
these who are most bitterly opposed
to universal military training will
disclose the exact truth of all 1 have
said, together with other equally sig
nificant facts."
Senator Chamberlain reproached the
enemies of universal military training
yesterday In the senate. Senator
Fletcher of Florida had followed
other senators In a speech favoring
greatly increased pay for the enlisted
inn of the army which caused Sena
tor Chamberlain to say:
"I have always opposed these in
creases. I opposed the increase when
the national defense act of 1916 was
lip for consideration. The proposal
does not recognize that any duty at
all devolves upon the young men of
the country to serve the country's
need without payment of a large com
pensation therefor.
Bunis" Not Wanted.
"It will be found that the senators
who are so strenuously insisting upon
Increasing the enlisted men's salary
will be denouncing anything that
looks like universal military training
because it costs so much and tends
toward militarism and the Prussian
izing of the American army."
r Senator Chamberlains contention
was that to increase the pay of en
listed men to such a figure as was
proposed would attract the ne'er-do-well
into the army and create in this
country a proiessionai soldiery.
Demand Sterling Falls to $3.19, a
Ieclinc of II Cents From
Tuesday's Low Mark.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4. The most dis
astrous collapse in the history of the
foreign exchange market in- New I
York, a 25 per cent rate for demand i
loans, time funds reduced to tne van
ishing point and further withdrawal '
of government deposits, summarized
today's serious disturbances on the
stock exchange and tUe leading com
modity markets.
Demand sterling fell to $3.19, a de
cline of 14 cents from yesterday's
low and 31 cents under list week's
final quotation. Translated into the
American dollar, the pound sterling
showed a loss of considerably more
than 33 per cent rrom its normal or
pre-war price of J4.SlH.
French, Belgian and Italian lemlt
tances at new low quotations of 15.1",
14.82 and 19.10, respectively, were at
discounts extending from 6S to 77
per cent of their normal quotation of
5.18H to the dollar.
Counter movements which reflected
these local conditions included new
high premiums for bar gold and sil
ver in the London market and a
higher quotation for New York ex
change at Canadian points.
Bankers and international finar.
ciers as a whole declined to discuss
the more ominous aspects of the in
ternational credit situation, bu
seemed hopeful that the s-everal gov
emnmental investigations, now unde
way abroad might be productive of
early results.
In the stock market the movemen
was one of almost continuous decline.
leaders sustaining extreme losses of
2 to 17 points with a few unimport
ant rallies in the later dealings.
The 25 per cent rate for call money
represented the maximum quotation
for that form of accommodation since
November 12, when as much as 28
per cent was paid.
Liberty bonds and victory notes
suffered with the stock list, some of
them falling to the lowest levels since
their offering. International bonds,
including Japanese issues, also weak
ened.
Chief Reported Enraged
Over Grey Letter.
PROPRIETIES HELD VIOLATED
Requests on Hand to Be Granted
and Transactions Under Way
to Be Completed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. Pending a
decision by the supreme court of the
United States on the constitutionality
of the farm loan act, all future appli
cations for loans from federal farm
loan banks will be held in abeyance,
Farm Loan Commissioner Norris an
nounced tonight. The policy of the
board to ' susoend teir.Dorarilv the
Addressing Senate Over Pres- making of loans does not affect loans
ident's Head Too Much.
MR. WILSON INACCESSIBLE
Much Made or Fact That It Is Dif
lieu It Now for Anyone to
Reach President.
LIVERPOOL. Feb. 4. The deprecia.
tion of exchange has brought cotton
imports to a virtual standstill.. There
is no Immediate prospect of a short
age, there being about five months'
supply of American cotton In England,
but the trade is emphasizing tho ur
gentfTTof relieving thef exchange diffi
culty.
I A very large section of the govern
ment of the United States will be
transferred in the next few days to
the third congressional district of
Missouri, and Washington may for
the time being be of only temporary
importance in the news of national
doings. A contest to fill c. vacancy in
congress from that district is the
cause.
The situation has been created
largely by the speaking tour of Sena
tor Hiram Johnson, who is said to
have left one of the strongest of
democratic strongholds In America
shaking on its foundations. Johnson
covered the district for a week with
the most intensive siege of cam
paigning that that corner of Missouri
has ever known.
Republicans See Good Chance.
Prominent aemocrats took seats on
the platform and applauded his pe
riods with such zest and enthusiasm
that it looks like this district, which
has elected only one republican to
congress in 60 years, may reverse its
form. The one successful republican
was elected in 1894 and he only re
mained In congress one term.
Breckenridge Long, third assistant
secretary of state. Is already in the
district campaigning, and it was de
termined today to send the following
formidable battery of national demo
cratic leaders out, one after another,
to stump for the democratic candi
dates: Attorney-General Palmer; Joshua
W. Alexander, secretary of commerce;
ex-Governor Dockery, now third, as
sistant postmaster-general; Champ
Clark, a democratic floor leader of the
house; Senator Owen of Oklahoma,
S and Representative Heflin of Ala
bama.
Secretary of Commerce Alexander
has represented the district for many
iCuauiutUd on Pa 2, Colunu
BRIDGE SITE FIGHT BEGUN
The Dalles Business Men Want
Structure Over Narrow Channel.
THE DALLES, Or., Feb. 4. (Spe
cial.) "Place the proposed mid-Co
lumbia bridge where one span will
reach across the river," Is the slogan
adopted by The Dalles Chamber of
Commerce in their fight to obtain the
construction of an Interstate bridge
over the Columbia river at the nar
rows, near Senfert, where the Co
lumbia passes through a chasm less
than 200 feet wide.
A, committee of nine members was
chosen at last night's meeting of the
chamber to carry an aggressive drive
for the structure at the Senfert site.
The committee consists of Frank Seu
fert, chairman; L. Barnum, mayor
P. J. Stadelman, Edward C. Peace, W.
H. Wilson, E. O. McCoy, J. T, Rorick,
L. A. Schanno and N. A. Bonn.
TACOMA MAYOR AROUSED
War on Street Railway Declared if
Ten-Cent Fare Secured. .
TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 4. (Special.)
"If a 10-cent fare Is secured by the
street railway company I will do
everything I can to start every bus In
the city running and make it as easy
as I can for them to run," declared
Mayor C. M. Riddell in an address be
fore a public club here last night.
"We have bow reached the maxi
mum fare as far as I am concerned.
Under the 7-cer.t fare we have force 1
many people to walk. The only rem
edy I can see for the situation is for
the company to cut operating ex
penses to minimum, to quit paying
tribute to highfaluting officers in
Boston."
KERENSKY OPPOSES REDS
Former Premier Off for Prague to
Stir Up Feeling.
PRAGUE, Feb. 4. (Czecho-Slavok
government, cable.) Former Russian
Premier Kerensky and former War
Minister Savinkov are on their way
to Prague to inaugurate a new policy
founded on an understanding between
Czecho-Slovakia and Russia.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. The pur
pose of Kerensky's visit to Prague Is
to stir up the Czecho-Slovaks, Poles
and Roumanians to take military
steps against the bolshevik!, it was
said today at the Czecho-Slovak of
ficial information bureau here. Both
Kerensky and Savinkov had been in
London for some time.
LABORER EARNS $5527
Illiterate Austrian Fined for Mak
ing False Income Return.
ST. CATHERINES. Ont. Feb. 4.
An Illiterate Austrian earned $5527
In Canada during a single year of the
war as a laborer at the Welland steel
foundries.
This was learned today when Mike
Ennis was fined for making a false
intern tax return.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. (Special.)
Angered by publication of the letter
of Viscount Grey, British ambassador
to the United States, announcing the
willingness of Great Britain to accept
the Lodge reservations to the peace
treaty, President Wilson, It was relia
bly reported tonifiht, is considering
informal representations of protest to
the British foreign office.
It Is asserted in quarters close to
the president that he regards the pub
lication of the Grev letter a gratui
tous attempt on tho part of the Brit
ish authorities , to inject themselves
into the political situation in the sen
ate growing out of the peace treaty
fight.
LanHlngr nemmlttl.
Secretary of State Lansing when
approached on the master today re
fused to' affirm or deny that the inci
dent had provoked the president or
that the matter had been or will be
taken up informally with the British
government.
If made, these representations, it is
indicated, will leave the way open for
Premier Lloyd George to announce
uubliclv that the statements of Lord
Grey were not authorized by the Brit
ish government and cannot De con
sidered in the light or an omciai
statement of that government's posi
tion. "
Embarraunent Is Possible.
Admittedly such a suggestion might
. - . 1 Tl.Uliiti
Drove embarrassing id i"
premier if, as reported in senate cir
cles, a personal cablegram from Lloyd
George addressed to Senator Lodge
and conveying virtually the same as
surance as that contained In the pub
lished letter of Lord Grey has been
shown by Senator Lodge to colleagues
of his in the senate committee on
foreign relations.
President Wilson is said to feel
that Lord Grey committed a gross
breach of the proprieties and that the
silence of the British government in
face of the publication of the Grey
letter merely tends to confirm the In
ference that the British authorities
deliberately adopted this method of
approaching the senate and the peo-
for which applications already are in
the hands of farm loan representa
tives, however, Mr. Norris said, add
ing that such transactions would be
completed under the regulations in
effect since the system was created.
Officials explained the adoption of
the new policy as having been due to
a desire on the" part of the farm loan
board not to defeat plans of individ
ual borrowers if, In any event, loans
cannot be made. Should the act be
held unconstitutional, applications for
loans necessarily could no longer be
considered. In issuing the general
instructions to both joint stock and
farm loan banks to hold up actual
closing of further loans, the board
advised them that prospective bor
rowers must be informed of the pos
sibility which centered in the legal
decision as a measure of protection
to them.
"DRY" LINERS DO NOT PAY
Shipping Board Forced to Sell Ger
man Passenger Craft. ,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. Sale of the
former German passenger liners
seized at te outbreak of the war was
forced on the shippin..- board by the
operation of the national prohibition
law, Chairman Payne is understood to
have told President Wilson.
Mr. Payne was said to have written
the president that the government
could hot operate the liners on which
Intoxicants were not sold in com
petition with privately-owned ships
on which wine and other liquors' were
servid.
HUNGRY CHILDREN AIDED
Train Brings 250 0 From Vienna to
Milan to Recuperate.
VIENNA, Feb.! 4. An Italian train
has Just arrived to take 2500 starv
ing children of Vienna to Milan for
tthe remainder of the winter. The
train brought several carloads of
badly needed American Red Crosr
supplies.
The departure of the children com
pletes the tenth consignment sent to
Italian towns to recuperate. Thou
sands of children, too feeble to un
dertake the long Journey, have been
assembled in hospitals.
Resolution Scheduled to Go Before
Senate to Supplement For
mer Legislation.
ROSEBURG, Or., Feb. 4. (Special.)
According to a telegram receive
from Senator McNary last night
by District Attorney Neuner, pref.
erence right allowing soldiers to
settle on Oregon & California and
other land grants will be provided
in a. resolution scheduled to go be
fore the senate In the very near
future. The Oregon & Caiiforni
grant lands have been classified and
are practically ready for settlement
as soon as congress gives the order,
but no provision was embodied in
the original measure for soldier pref
erence right to settlement.
In an endeavor to give ex-service
men the privilege. Attorney Neune
took up the matter with Senator
McNary and other members of the
Oregon delegation at Washington
suggesting that something be done.
Fortunately, it is stated, press of
other matters under consideration
caused the grant land bill to be
tabled so that opportunity might be
given for getting the resolution sup
plemented and a clause incorporated
allowing soldiers priviiegs in filing.
Senator McNary was asked by wire
to give the issue personal considers
tion, and in the reply received he
stated that favorable action had been
taken by the senate committee on
public lands, and that the supplement
to the original resolution would be
preserved by Senator Chamberlain,
and doubtless early action would be
taken in the matter.
Commenting upon the messag
from Senator McNary, the district
attorney expressed himself as well
pleased with the action promised, and
feels sure the soldiers' preference
clause is an assured fact.
(Concluded on Page 2. Column 8.)
4000 TROOPS WITHDRAWN
Half of American Force In Siberia
Now Out or Country.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. Half of the
8000 American soldiers In Siberia
have been withdrawn.
The war department announced to
day that on January 27 there re
mained 271 officers, 4910 enlisted men
land 500 civilian welfare workers.
FOOD' RELIEF LOAN URGED
Republican Members of House
, Rules Committee Favor Action.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4. Republican
members of the house rules com
mittee today decided to give early
consideration to the bill authorizing
new government loans of $50,000,000
to European countries for food relief.
The secretary of the treasury Is
asked, in a resolution adopted today
for information regarding loans made
by the United States to foreign gov
ernments and what interest has been
paid or is due.
BIRD HEROES DISPLAYED
Pisreons Which Won Decorations
in .War Appear in Bird Show.
PARIS. Feb. 4. (French wireless.)
Several feathered heroes of the war
are on view at the annual bird show
organized by the Societe Centrale
D' Aviculture de France at the Grand
Palais. These tiny aviators are the
carrier pigeons which have the honor
of wearing decorations awarded in
recognition of their valuable service
not in the ordinary form of ribbons,
but rings attached to their legs.
Their special citations also are of
ficially recorded.
GOING DOWN.
v " -
i 'mSSkm'M I wlii',,, "
1 11 Ml Will. V q- T M , M ,'11 ' 7 I . Ill 1 III It.
Chairman Hays Confers
With Leaders.
PARTY PLANS ARE OUTLINED
Foreign Relations Passed
Over for the Present.
TREATY TREND AWAITED
Business Rehabilitation, Tariff
Changes, Readjustment of Com
merce and Labor Included.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4. Plans for
the. work of the committee of 171
which Is to formulate lecommenda
tlons for this year's republican na
tional, platform, got under way today
with the return to Washington of Will
H. Hays, the party's national chair
man. after a two months' swing
around the country.
The committee's immediate task, as
mapped out by the party chiefs, is the
collection of opinions of more than 20
matters of domestic concern, with
probable creation of a number of sub
committee to deal separately with the
various proposed planks. Foreign re
lations will be passed over for the
present as a possible factor In the
campaign, the committee waiting on
the trend of the peace treaty fight to
develop what part of the platform Is
to be devoted to that subject.
Leaden Hold Conference.
These plans have been put into con
crete form in a memorandum to com
mute? members and were outlined at
a conference between Chairman Hays
and more than a score of senators and
representatives.
At the same time, there was some
discussion of the legislation situation.
the party leaders in senate and house
outlining what they hoped to accom
plish by convention time.
The meeting, which took place in
the office of Senator Lodge, majority
leader of the senate, was accompanied
by a renewal of the opposition to the
committee plan which developed In
some quarters when it was announced
several weeks ago.
Two Senators Decline to Serve,
It became known .that two senators,
Moses of New Hampshire, and McCor
mick of Illinois, had declined to serve
on the committee, because they were
out of sympathy with that method of
preparing platform recommendations.
As outlined, the work of the com
mittee does notcontemplate that the
full membership shall be assembled at
any stage of the pre-convention work.
Most of its deliberations will be car
ried on by correspondence through
its executive secretary and through
the heads of separate groups if it Is
decided to create them to deal with
special subjects. It is emphasized that
the most the committee or its groups
will do is to recommend, and that the
recommendations will not be binding
on the committee.
Platform Material Chosen.
Among the subjects selected as
possible platform material and on
which opinions will be collected and
tabulated, are business rehabilitation.
tariff changes, readjustment of for-
Ign and domestic commerce, postal
reforms, better labor conditions and a
review of the democratic administration.
After the conference Chairman
Hays said there had been no attempts
far to reach definite conclusions
and that the whole work of the com
mittee still was in a formative stage.
Five Purposes Outlined.
In a statement regarding his trip
to the Pacific coast, Mr. Hays de
clared: "Everywhere I find the people, re
gardless of past party affiliation,
seeking republican success, moved
with the conviction that by such suc
cess they will make certain:
"First An honest, efficient, eco
nomical business administration of
the country's affairs.
"Second That there will be devel
oped and executed a plan for the re
duction" of taxes with the repeal of
taxes which kill initiative and the
spreading of the war debt over a
large number of years,
Attorney-General Believes, How
ever, in Handling Agitators
With Firm Hands.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. Additional
anti-sedition legislation, simple In
character and guarding the guaran
tees of the bill of rights but covering
the "hiatus In present statutory laws."
was urged by Attorney-General
Palmer today before the house Judi
ciary committee.
Upholding the right of free speech
and constructive criticism, the attorney-general
protested against pending
measures, which he said were "too
drastic and far-reaching and so
searching that they overreach their
purposes " More harm than good
would come from repressive lcgisla
tion, he added.
"But there !s no existing statute
adequate to moet the present eltua
tion," Mr. Palmer told the committee.
"There Is a condition of revolutionary
intent In the country on, the part of
both aliens and citizens which is suf
ficiently widespread to merit serious
consideration of congress. This revo
lutionary Intent is manifested chiefly
by threats both written and spoken
by persons who would Injure, destroy
or overthrow the government by
physical force or violence."
Citizons' rights should always be
guarded. Mr. Palmer said, adding that
he agreed with these who criticised
the Graham-Sterling bill on this
ground.
"But I do not agree with those who
object to the bill because they believe
that acts of violence should be met
with argument only and not by the
firm hand of federal statute," he as
serted.
Other Way Out of Diffi
culty Held Doubtful.
STREET CARS ARE NECESSITY
Motor Buses Shown to Be No
Solution of Problem.
BRYAN'S NAME PROPOSED
North Dacota Democrats Suggest
Commoner as Candidate.
FARGO, N. D., Feb. 4. A resolution
indorsing William J. Bryan for the
presidential nomination on the demo
cratic ticket was Introduced at the
democratic state convention here to
day.
When returned to the convention
from the resolutions committee, to
which It was referred. It declared the
pleasure of the democrats In 'the
leadership of Woodrow Wilson and
William J. Bryan."
NEGRO ESCAPES LYNCHING
Alleged Murderer Taken to Pen
itentiary for Safekeeping.
LEXINGTON, Ky Feb. 4. Will
Lockett, negro, charged with the
murder of 11-year-old Geneva Hard
man, a school girl, was rushed to the
state penitentiary tonight for safe
keeping shortly after he had been
placed in the county Jail.
A mob of angry farmerj coming to
this city, bent on the lynching of the
negro, who has confessed his guilt,
according to officers, arrived too late.
MISSIONS BELIEVED SAFE
Allied Envoys In Russia Thought to
Have Escaped.
LONDON. Feb. 4. Dispatches from
Vladivostok dated January 31 report
that after the peaceful occupation of
the city by the revolutionists the al
lied missions proceeded westward.
It is believed they are sife.
COST IS STUBBORN FACT
Service Charge to Merl x-rn 1 1 it s
Expenses and Yield Fair Iteliirn
Seems Only Coure.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
61 degrees; minimum, 38 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair; winds mostly southerly.
Foreign.
List of war criminal! goes direct to Ber
lin after German delegate refunes to
transmit It to hi! government. Page 1
Premier' Nlttl pleads for economic stability
of world. Page .
Three American relief workers murdered
in Syria by brlgunris. Puge 2.
National.
Future farm loans to wait pending ruling
on constitutionality or art. Page I.
Senate cloture on treaty debate held un
likely. Page 4.
Substitute for antl-strlke clause In Cum
mins railroad bill agreed upon. Puge 4.
Republicans start platform building
Page 1.
President Wilson reported enraged over
, publication of Grey letter. Page 1.
Kahn declares he will force showdown oo
army training bill soon. Page 0.
"Bob" I.aKollette storm cc.iter tn Wiscon
sin politics. Page 3.
Ihmientlc.
palmer urges milder anti-red law. Page 1
Newberry In grip of testimony net. Page S.
Exchange collapse worst In history. Page 1.
Pari Tic Northwest.
Homesteading right looms for veteran.
Page 1.
L, , t . . ... . - . Illness of prisoner causes adjournment nf
Third That there will be devel- j "m, w, W. trial at Monteaano. Page ft.
k , ii
. (II- 1.
oped a better relation between labor
and capital, with justice to both and
with justice to the public, the third
side of the triangle, which must not
be forgotten..
"Fourth That there shall be an
administration of law and order
everywhere in the nation.
"Fifth That the party will meas
ure Its steps forward by the new
needs of the nation, with its eyes al
ways ahead, but with its feet always
on solid ground."
H. C. L GETS BODY BLOW
Demoralization of Foreign Ex
change Will Cut Down Expolrs.
NEW YORK. Feb. 4. The demor
alization of foreign exchange may
deal a blow to the high cost of living
in America In the opinion of Percy
Johnson, president of- the Chemical
National bank.
"It will cut down our exports," said
Mr. Johnson today, "thus throwing
large quantiel of American goods on
4 the local markets.
Blind school Mipertntennent oppoa new
law. page 13.
Sport t.
Maxlne Demptey rppudlmea charge Jack
was slacker. Page 12.
Portland boxr prove popular In S-'ao
Franclicoaecto I'aite 12.
Parkway acalp la sought by Chemawa
Indians. Page 12.
(ommerrlal and Murine.
Wheat prices slump with other cereals.
Page 1.
Sharp break In corn at Chicago with heavy
elllng. Pag 10.
Fall In Wall-street atock market continues.
Page 1W.
One hundred and sixteenth wood ship to
be launched today. Page 13.
Portland and Vlrlnlty.
Increase In farea seems only way out of
streetcar difficulty. Pago 1.
Jfew automobile row favored by dealers
associations, page 10.
Zoning ordinance. C'ommlsloner Pier says,
should go to voters. Page ".
F. S. Myers announces that he will carry
his fight to senate. Page 11.
Lee Roy E. Keeley denied divorce by Judge
McC'ourt. Page, 20.
Medical society adopts resolution against
employment of solicitors. Page 7,
Boy scouts shrill welcome to chief.
Page i.
Misuse of dealer license tags charged by
police In raids which catch a.v.ra.1
salesmen. Pag 4.
There is nothing In .IkIiI at preent
to replace street cars as public, con
veyance, flinty motor buses are
shown by actual figures to be rut
of the question as a solution, lenre
the problem of flnanrl'ig the I'ortland
Railway. Light Tower company
comes down to a proposition of how
much the service costs and how
much Is necessary per 'mts to meet
operating expenses, and whether any
thing may be done .to tulnlmlxe the
present operating cost through one
way traffic or other expedient.
Such, In substance, Is the showing
made by the testimony of J. P.
Newell, consulting; engineer f"r ll.n
city, before the state public service
commission yesterday sfternon In the
case of the rort!;ind street car com
pany, which Is seeking n order I"
increase Its revenue siiff kently to
cover expenses and yield a rniirn of
7 per cent on Its Investment as fixed
by the commission.
Mnny f omnUinf lona Annrnr.
Beyond a straljrht Increase In fares.
which. It appears would necessarily be
on an I -rent basis, with honks of 61
rides selling at 7 rents, thus jlcldiiip.
on present business, sufficient for a
return as stated, all manner of oni-
plicatlons present themselves, t'harsret
for transfers, a gone system, abol
ishing certain lines "built for realty
purposes, rhnnglng to onr-wny traf
fic and shifting of loops with or with
out the one-way plan, all have their
drawbarks whether fatal or not is
for the stale commission to decide.
After an all-day sitting, with Mr.
Newell on the stand all of the time,
there seemed practically no way out
except through a stralKlit fare In
crease, especially if the situation
faced by the company rvllef or bank
ruptcy, as declared by Franklin T.
Crlfflth, president Is to be rellovsd
without undue dnlay.
Trnfflc Flicurea l.hra.
Fred O. Ituchtel, chairman, and
Commissioner Corey, sitting without
Commissioner Williams, who was
called home because of the death nf a
sister, manifested great Interest In
nything having the slightest pos
sible value as an alternative to higher
fares, and both asked numerous ques
tions of Mr. Newell and of others con
cerned, but no comment was forth
coming from either as to the impres
sions made by replies.
Mr. Newell gave fresh figures on
street car traffic, gleaned for tho oc
casion, but all figures used by hlin
yesterday show that. If the company
Is to be granted full operating ex
penses plus a return of 7 per cent on
the state commission's valuation of
its property, the cost of service per
passenger would be 7.677 cents.
C'lly Attorney Ylullnnt.
Stanley Myers, assistant city attor
ney, was equally vigilant and Imme
diately took notice whenever any
thing was said that seemed to Indi
cate any relief from higher faers, but
always when explanations followed It
was shown that this or that feuture
had to be taken Into cotiFidcratlon and
that there seemed to be no other way
out.
Mr. Newell, after presenting new
figures, which, he testified, show .s
economical an operation of the sys
tem as In former years, submitted
data as to motor bus lines and
howed, by taking flKurcs of the most
favorable kind, as he staled It. that
these would be able to earn on In
vestment and operation not to exceed
62 per rent of operating costs. There
fore he ruled thee out as a means of
overcoming the transpnrt.il Ion illffl-
cullles that would be offered were the
street rar company to cease operation.
Considerable t line w as spent discuss
ing charges for transfers, a'pnssiM
xone system, etc., but tio ron-lMMns
were reached. In fact, Mr. NeweM
frankly said that. In his opinion.
charges of this kind mlcht pmve t
troublesome and expensive that tlu-v
ould yield nothing In the way of so
lution of the problem.
Mr. Newell showed that I l.tV'i.'i"
transfers per year now are laajed end
entlmeUd that, with tharae f 1
cent for transfers, this mihi drop to
16,000.1100. thereby yields J16 . .
per year; If X cents, tnen, or courte,
the revenue from this fcource wmi'd
be doubled.
Mr. New ell expressed tSe enpliatl j
belief that any lines "built for th
purpose of promoting re-il estate'
hould be assessed on caira-es auf-
flclent to maintain them, or be aban
doned.