K
VOL. LIX. XO. 18,473
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
Poatofffce as Second-Clans Matter.
PORTLAND OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1920
TRICE FIVE CENTS
I
1ST
'S FORCES
El
FS TODAY
Treaty Line-Up Expected
to Be Portentous.
BABY, DISCLAIMED BY
TWO. MOTHERS, DIES
OTHER CHILD, WAITED BY
EACH, IS BADLY BCKXED.
I I
GAINS DFtVlUGRACY
STORM DEMORALIZES
WORK IN NEW 'YORK
FRIENDS TO HOLD SESSION
23 Senators Needed to Block
Reservations.
FAITHFUL REJOIN FOLD
President's Attitude on Grey's Let
ter Causes Some Followers to
Return to Opposition.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU.
Washington. Feb. . The conference
of the democratic "friends of th
treaty," called by Senator Hitchcock
for tomorrow, is expected to show
whether the president can comman
nnnirh vnton in defeat ratification
I y with the Lodge reservations.
After the publication of the letter
of Lord Grey. British ex-amDassaaor
to the United States, it was said tha
there were ' only ' two democrats
standing out against swallowing the
Lodge programme.
The revelation yesterday that th
president's attitude was not altered
by the Grey letter, it is found, has
caused some of his faithful followers
to return to the opposition side.
23 Senators Weeded In Llnenp.
To defeat the Lodge reservations
Mr. Wilson must be able to hold in
line approximately 23 senators, which
is a greater number than heretofore
had been thought necessary. The dif
ferent computation Is due. however,
to a report that the irreconcilables
have lost three of their 14. thereby
reducing the number to 11, all repub
licans except Reed of Missouri.
The identity of all of the alleged
deserters from the battalion of death
could not be learned, but one name
mentioned, was that of Senator Sher
man of Illinois.
It would not seem possible that the
president can regain 23 votes to op
pose the Lodge reservations, but to
morrow should tell. Although Sena'
tor Hitchcock announced that tomor
row's democratic caucus was for the
"friends of the treaty," Senator Hoke
Smith of Georgia, who voted for the
Lodge reservations last November,
said he would attend.
Reed Not Invited.
Senator Reedt democrat and irrec
oncilable, has not been invited.
Democrats who have been delving
into the sudden switching of David
F. Houston from the agricultural to
the treasury portfolio and the unex
pected appointment of E. T. Mere
dith of Iowa as secretary of agri
culture, have ascertained that at least
one other man besides the president
knew something of the appointments.
Attorney-General Palmer is held
responsible for both selections. The
story is that Carter Glass, as secre
tary of the treasury, urged the ap
pointment of R C Leffingwell as his
successor. Formerly Secretary Will
iam G. McAdoo also asked the presi
dent to appoint Leffingwell. Palmer,
being strongly opposed to Leffing
well, suggested shifting Houston to
the Job and the appointment of Mere
dith In his place.
Choice Made Accordingly.
This suggestion pleased the presi
dent and the appointments were made
vu uvuio uuiiue wiiuuut cunsuil
I lng anyone else.
I v . tit: i i, . .
wi nuwuB bcuuq on uiese ap
pointments has taken the heart out of
those who are asking the appoint
ment of James H. Hawley, ex-Governor
of Idaho, as secretary of the
interior. The strong Indorsements
given to Hawley would ordinarily
win any kind of an appointment for
anyone, but Hawley's friends fear
that some day they will wake up to
find another man has been named.
For secretary of the treasury it
was said that Joutt Shouse of Kansas,
one of the assistant secretaries, had
a. most formidable array of indorse
ments, but that they were never con
sidered. It is to Hawley's advantage,
however, that he has the Indorsement
of Palmer, who seems to have influ
enced the other selections.
Palmer's Entry Portentous. ,
Attorney - General Palmer's an
nouncement of his candidacy for the
democratic presidential nomination is
expected to open the contest on the
democratic side In earnest. Much de
pends, however, on how much the
attorney-general can make good on
Ills promise that the cost of living
will begin to come down this month.
It will be recalled that Mr. Palmer
promised greatly reduced prices three
months ago, but failed to make good,
which caused some thoughtful per
sons to remark that economic changes
cannot be wrought through the ap
plication of police powers.
There were several handicaps at
the time of Mr. Palmer's earlier prom
ise that will be removed this time,
however, it is pointed out. For ex
ample, the molting season is over and
the hens of this country will be mobi
lizing In a few days to force down the
price of eggs. And so with the cows,
as Bpring rains conspire with green
pastures to increase the supply of
milk.
Owen Cannes Xot One Ripple.
The announcement of Senator Rob
ert Owen of Oklahoma that he Is a
(.Concluded on Fag 3, Column 2.)
Fate Takes Hand In Unusual Tangle
About to Be Heard in Court
Both Born Same Day.
ATLANTA, Ga.. Feb. 6, Fate took
a hand today in the tangled claims to
blue-eyed Mary Elizabeth and brown
eyed Louise Madeline. 8-months-old
babies, over whom two mothers were
going to court tomorrow. Pneumonia
claimed Mary Elizabeth, whom neither
mother wanted, and the other child
fell into an open grate, sustaining
burns to her face that physicians said
tonight might prove fatal or mar her
looks for life.
The children were born the same
day in a hospital and recently Mrs.
John C. Garner announced that the
blue-eyed child was not her own. but
that Louise Madeline, the brown-eyed
girl, was hers. Mrs. Daniel L. Pitt
man, to whom nurses gave the brown
eyed child, maintained It was her very
own.
Mrs. Garner offered to take both
children and later sought habeas cor
pus proceedings, hearings on which
were set for tomorrow. Counsel for
Mrs. Garner announced that her ef
forts to obtain possession of tha
brown-eyed child would continue.
Successful Transition
Predicted, However.
Is
PEOPLE SEEK OWN SALVATiO
New Constitution Being Stud
. ied Assiduously.
SCHOOLS HOLD REACTION
J. L. LEWIS HEADS-MINERS
Frank J. Hayes Resigns Presidency
of International Union.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. At a meet
ing of the International executive
board of the United Mine Workers
America today, Frank J. Hayes re
signed as international president of
the miners' union. The board ad
vanced John L. Lewis, vice-preslden
to the office of president, and Phillip
Murray, president of the Pittsburg
district, was chosen vice-president
Hayes has been in poor health for
more than a year.
Murray is rated as one of the con
servatlve leaders of the miners. He
has been president of the Pittsburg
district for four years and in. that
time his district has shown a smaller
percentage of local strikes than any
other district.
LEGION OUSTS DEMPSEY
Post Finds Honorary Membership
Contrary to Constitution. ,
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Feb. 6. Gor
don Barber Post of the American
Legion, which recently brought upon
itself a storm of mingled protest and
approval . by making Jack Dempsey
an JrSnorary life member of the post
and declaring the slacker and draft
dodger charges against him to be
false,, voted tonight to nullify the
heavyweight champion's membership.
The resolution praised Dempsey's
character and war record and stipu
lated that the retraction was due not
to any change of mind on the part of
the legion members, but because of
the discovery that honarary member
ship in the legion is unconstitutional.
NSECTS EAT UP TIMBER
Ranger Finds 1,000,000 Feet Is
Ruined in Sinslaw Forest.
EUGENE, Or., Feb. 6. (Special.)
Approximately a million feet of tim
ber in the Siuslaw national forest,
in the vicinity of Yachaats and Cape
creek, on the coast, was destroyed
by insects during the past year, ac
cording to a special report Just 'lied
n the office of the Siuslaw forest
here.
The investigation was made by one
of the rangers who found that the
ravages of the insects, the nature of
which he was unable to determine,
covered a strip about a quarter, of a
mile wide and SO acres in extent, near
the coast.
WEATHER MEN ASSAILED
Frequent Errors in Bnrean's Fore
casts Told in Congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. Attacks on
the weather bureau were made in the
house today by Representatives Mann,
republican, Illinois, and Bee, demo
crat, Texas.
Frequent errors In the bureau's
forecasts last summer, Mr. Mann said,
led him to conclude generally that the
weather would not be according to
predictions, while Dr. Bee cited the
death list resulting from the storm
in the gulf last summer as partly due
to lack of warning by the bureau as
to the course of the storm.
DROP IN PRICE PREDICTED
High Rate of Exchange Causes Sus
pension of Exports.
MONTREAL, Feb. 6. A sharp de
crease in the cost of living was pre
dicted today because of the virtual
suspension of exports resulting from
the high rate of exchange.
Canadian exporters have on their
hands large quantities of foodstuffs
designed for shipment to foreign
countries and the only markets J.eft
for them are those in the Dominion.
MESSENGER, BONDS LOST
Chicago Bank Employe Missing
With $38,000 Parcel.
CHICAGO, Feb. 6. George Franze,
25 years old, bank messenger for the
Harris Trust & Savings bank, disap
peared today, after leaving the fed
eral reserve bank.
He had exchanged liberty bonds
valued at 138,000 for bonds of larger
denomination.
Books Ordered Rewritten and Ex
purgations Made to Purge
Minds of Imperialism.
BY CYRIL BROWN.
rcnnvrizht bv the New York World. Pub
llshed by Arrangement.1
BERLIN, Jan. 1. Bankrupt Ger
many Is passing through a painful
transition period of ruthless reorgan
ization and haphazard reconstruction.
But economic, social and political
conditions are very appreciably bet
ter than one year ago. The German
people are beginning to work out
their own salvation. by working hard
harder than they have worked at
any time since the outbreak of the
revolution, and with every evidence
of being able to keep up the pace.
The new Germany, successfully
fighting off red radicalism and reac
tion, is developing' slowly but safely
along the broad lines of democracy,
with a tinge of socialism and soviet
ism. There Is a fair prospect that.
given half a chance, the German peo
pie can come out of the reconstruo
tion period as a real republic.
Old Methods Dying.
It Is easy to be fooled about the
Germany of today. It still looks and
acts very much like the old Germany.
Most of the machinery of the old lm
perial state is still intact and func
tioning, because there has not been
time to substitute a brand new set of
democratic works all along the line.
The old men and methods are pe
slsting under the near-republican
regime with the vitality of nine-lived
cats.
The old men and methods must be
rooted out patiently one by one. The
job of democratizing Germany is too
big to be done all at once and quickly.
But the fact remains that Germany is
democratizing itself with painstaking
slowness and thoroughness. Out ot
the wreckage of the old empire a new
democratic Germany is pulling itself
together and arising.
Many little signs indicate the
change that is coming over Germany.
One begins to meet the phrase "Ger
man republic" oftener. The new con
stitution is being more frequently in
voked and cited. Incidentally, the
new constitution is one of the sea
son's best sellers in the book market
Election Interest Big.
A suggestive small sign of the
changing times Is the cropping up of
popular interest In Germany's first
presidential election. A popular
weekly has found It worth while to
offer prizes to Its readers Tor the
correct answer to the question: "Who
will be the next president of the Ger
man reich?"
Hindenburg Is being seriously dis
cussed as a presidential possibility.
Democratic politicians, however,
TRANSPORTATION' STOPPAGE IS
ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED.
Mayor Issues Proclamation Calling
for Trucks and Laborers to
Meet Emergency.
NEW YORK, Feb. 6. New York still
was storm bound late tonight and
there was small prospect of relief.
Demoralization of transit lines of
all kinds was almost unprecedented.
Surface cars had almost ceased to
operate. ,
So serious was the situation that
Mayor Hylan issued a proclamation
late today .calling upon all persons
engaged in the transportation busi
ness. except in the delivery of food
stuffs, coal and milk, to turn their
trucks and laboring forces over to
the city to meet the storm emergency.
The street cleaning department ad
mitted that it was virtually' helpless
because of its inability to hire men,
From 75 cents to $1 an hour was of
fered for snow shovelers, but only
3C00 of the 14,000 men needed could
be recruited.
The problem of distributing the
city's food supply also had become
serious.
Dozens or persons were Injured 'to
day, many seriously, by falling cop
inga, swnmga, cornices and mar
quises carried down by weight of
snow. Liautenant-Colonel Frederick
Dawson, stationed at Governor's
island, died today from a fracture of
the skull suffered when he - was
struck by a glas3 canopy.
Conditions on tha harbor were little
improved, although it has been hoped
shift of the wind mieht release
some of the boats held fast in fields
of ice.
Eight steamers were fast In Long
Island sound, and tugs sent to their
relief were bucking vainly against
the ice. Trans-Atlantic ships were
held in port and wireless reports
from vessels at sea told of, high
winds and raging waves.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. Severe
storms, raging over practically the
entire eastern half of the United
States have cut seriously Into opera
tion of the railroads, Director-General
Hines reported tonight. Trains
were running late on nearly every
division east of the Mississippi river.
Coastwise shipping, a necessary link
the railroad transportation chain.
was demoralized, traffic being com
pletely tied up in some instances.
These conditions, Mr. Hines said.
have been further complicated by the
spread of influenza among railroad
employes. The New York Central
lines alone, reported today more than
000 employes ill.
Maintenance- of passenger train
schedules has been increasingly diffi
cult, trains being forced to reduce
speed to avoid accidents and plow
throigh snow drifts. Tracks have
been washed away iu many places.
Reports from the middle west in
dicate improvement in traffic move
ment, although it Is still admittedly
low. Recent storms which covered
the territory from the Canadian bor
der, as far south as Kansas and Colo
rado wrought havoo with, the whole
transportation' system, but abatement
of the storm has permitted mainte
nance and repair work to be resumed.
Delayed trains, however, tied up hun
dreds of cars of freight and the extra
burden of moving them out, it was
xplained, has delayed shipments
generally to some extent
HAVANA IS SWEPT
BY $10,000,000 FIRE
BLAZE SPREADS FROM WOOD
EN FREIGHTER BROOKLAND.
JURY ISSWQRN IN
American and Agricultural Chem
ical Company Buildings Are
Total Loss. .
HAVANA, Feb. 6. Fire destroyed
the principal buildings of the Amer
ican Agricultural & Chemical com
pany and their contents at Regla,
near here, totfay with a loss esti
mated at more than 110,000,000. '
The flames are said to have orig
inated on board the American wooden
freighter Brookland, laden with ni
trate, which was moored at the Regla
docks, in Havana harbor. The Brook
land Is 'a total loss. Numerous ex
plosions spread' panic among the in
habitants of the vlllago of Regla.
Several firemen are reported to have
been injured.
All the members of the crew of the
Brookland escaped. . Several vessels
docked nearby were able to get safely
out of danger, but the Brookland
burned to the water's edge.
Spectators who lined the docks on
both sides of the harbor or were on
board sight-seeing vessels applauded
lustily when a member of the Brook
land's crew, at great personal risk,
returned to the vessel and saved the
American flag floating at its stern
and then leaped to safety in a small
boat.
FOR LJJV. TRIAL
Vanderveer Quits Quiz
Much in Anger, v
LINER IN DISTRESS
IN FURIOUS STORM
WILD SEA HALTS ATTEMPTS TO
RESCUE 104 PERSONS.
COURT'S RULING IRRITATES
Attorney for Accused Refuses
to Examine Further.
NOTED RAILWAY MAN DIES
William van Schoonhoven Thome,
Director of Northwest Lines.
NEW YORK, Feb. 6. Willian van
(Concluded on Page 6, Column 1.)
Flora Whitney to Marry.
NEW YORK, Feb. 6. The engage
ment of Miss Flora Payne Whitney,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Payne Whitney, to Roderick Tower of
Philadelphia, son ' of Charlemagne
Tower, former Un ied States ambas
sador to AustriayGermany and Rus
sia, was announced tonight.
Schoonhoven Thorne. railroad direct
or and financier, died at his home to
day after a short illness with pneu
monia. He was 55 years old. Mr.
Thorne was born in Millbrook, N. Y.
He 'was graduated by the Sheffield
scientific school at Yale in 1885, and
entered railroad work as an assistant
engineer on the Great Northern rail'
way.
He later became an assistant to Ed'
ward H. Harriman of the Southern
Pacifio systems. At the time of his
death he was director of the Union
rPaeific and Oregon Short Line rail
roads, Oregon-Washington Railway
and Navigation company and several
other corporations.
WEALTH PILES UP FAST
Low Exchange and Gold Exports
Make Argentina Prosperous.
BUENOS AIRES, Feb- .-rTher- is
a heavy speculation in international
exchange In Buenos Aires, the brok
ers virtually having formed a curb
market where the turnover amounts
to a million daily. Intense excite
ment is shown over the receipt of the
daily exchange rates from New York.
- Meantime the wealth of Argentina
is growing by great leaps, as is evi
denced by estimates of her exports
for January as 90,000,000 gold pesos
as against imports of 30,000,000 pesos,
enhanefng the nation's already favor
able trade balance and maintaining
the high value of the Argentine gold
pesos in international exchange.
VIRGINIA HITS SUFFRAGE
Legislature Refuses Women Vote
After Stormy Session.
RICHMOND.Va., Feb. 6. Virginia
tonight rejected the federal suffrage
amendment by. a vote of 24 to 10.
The action followed an all-day ses
sion marked by stormy debate. This
makes the second defeat of the suf
frage question in the Virginia legis
fature. I
BAILIFF IS SUSPECTED
Court Excuses J., H. Plttinger on
Representation That He Is Ex
' Employe of Prosecutor.
BY BEN HUR LAMPMAN.
MONTESANO, Wash., Feb. 6. (Spe
cial.) Abrupt termination of the
questioning of a venireman by the de
fense came this afternoon In the Cen
tralia Armistice day murder case, on
trial in superior court for Grays Har
bor county, when 'George F. Vander
veer, counsel for 11 I. W. W. de
fendants, clashed with the court and
declined to proceed with the exami
nations under Judge Wilson's ruling.
On objection from W. H. Abel, spe
cial prosecutor, the court had ruled
as involved and Improper a question
put to A 'R. Johnson, venireman of
Hoquiam, when the latter was being
examined as to his qualifications to
serve as an alternate juror.
Vanderveer Is Angry.
The state held the question to be
obscure and argumentative and en
tered an objection which was sus
tained by Judge Wilson. At the rul
ing Vanderveer turned and walked
back to his seat, flushing angrily.
,uo you pass for cause: queried
the court.
'No, I do not pass the Juror,"
snapped the I. W. W. counsel. "I am
evidently unable to conduct this ex
amination in accordance with your
honor's wishes. I decline to question
further." s
With the regular panel of 12 jurors
completed yesterday and sworn in
when convened again this afternoon,
the selection of the two alternate
jurors, who are to serve in the event
death or illness shall cause vacancy
in tne panel, proceeded as slowly and
wnn as much friction as did the pre
vious examinations.
. One in 13 Is Seated.
An entire afternoon was spent in
the examination of 12 talesmen with
but one alternate juror seated at the
close of the session. He is A. R.
Johnson, former cigar dealer of Ho
quiam, whose selection was prefaced
by the spoken dissatisfaction of the
defense with respect to a court
ruling.
Dissension arose among counsel at
another period, when the regular
panel of jurors had been sworn in and
special bailiffs appointed by the court
to take charge of them. The defense
claimed the privilege of investigating
the bailiffs to be named. At a con
ference with Judge Wilson and coun
sel for the state, Vanderveer opposed
the appointment of J. H. Plttinger of
Montesano, asserting that the bailiff
was the personal friend and former
employe of W. H. Abel, spe'clal prosecutor.
Pittinger, with three other bailiffs.
already had been ' sworn in. Judge
If Efforts to Shoot Lines Aboard
Fall, Naval Dirigible May
Try to Carry Cable Out.
NEW YORK, Feb. 6. Baffled by a
blinding snow storm and the tower
ing waves of a furious -sea, all at
tempts of rescuing vessels to reach
the Old Dominion liner Princess
Anne, aground, off Rockaway Point,
with 104 persons aboard, had failed
tonight. More than a half dozen
sea-going tugs, a coast guard cutter
and a police boat were unable to get
within hailing distance and shortly
after nightfall temporarily abandoned
their plans to take off the 32 pas
sengers. The distressed vessel, which Is about
a half-mile off shore, could' not be
discerned through the darkness to
night because of the thick weather.
She Is apparently resting easily on a
sand reef.
If the weather continues rough to
morrow and the stranded steamer Is
endangered by the heavy seas, it is
planned to attempt the rescue of the
passengers by breeches buoy. If It is
impossible to shoot lines aboard, it
is stated, the naval dirigible B-10 may
be used to carry a line to th,e vessel.
TEST MESSAGE PROMISED
Naval Radio Stations to Try Ou
Amateurs Sunday Night.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6. Amateu
radio operators throughout the Pa
ciflc coast will have the experience o
testing out their abilities with the
United States navy radio stations
Sunday night, according to an an
nouncement from the Twelfth nava
district here today. Instructions have
been issued to ull radio stations of
the district to broadcast a test mes
sage at 9:30 o'clock Sunday, night,
February 8.
The message will be sent on 600
meter wave length spark transmit
ters, and should bo received several
hundred miles distant from transmit
ting stations.
SHIP CALLS FOR HELP
8CENT CAR
APPEARS
PARE
LIKELY
Decision in 30 Days, if
Possible, Is Promised.
HEARING BROUGHT TO CL0E
Removal of Paving Charge
and Tolls May Be Urged.
CUT WOULD FOLLOW
Under New Rate Hook Would Av
erage Seven Cents Ride With
Transfer One Cent.
Steamer Polar Bear Adrift 600
Miles Off New York.
. BOSTON, Feb. 7. The steamer
Polar Bear, In distress signals which
were intercepted here early today,
reported that she was disabled 600
miles southeast of New York and re
quested assistance.
The message said she was drifting
eastward at the rate of one-half knot
an hour. The coast guard station
at Norfolk was said to be sending
assistance. The Polar Bear, which
registers 2600 tons, sailed from Dakar
on January 5 for New York.
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 3.)
.......... . ,
I ISNT THIS LIABLE TO START A KOWT ' I
, i . ,-. - - , '
X ,,,,,,,, , ,,,, ,,,,,,,, -v
RAILROAD TO PAY TRIBUTE
All Activities on Santa Fe to Cease
for Five Minutes.
TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 8. For a
period of five minutes tomorrow all
activities on the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe will stop as a tribute
to E. P. Ripley, for many years presi
dent of the Santa Fe.
Funeral services will be held for
Mr. Ripley tomorrow at 12 o'clock at
Santa Barbara, CaU
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
62 degrees; minimum, 40 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain, southwesterly winds.
Foreign. '
Germany is achieving democracy slowly.
Pago 1.
Soviet envoy denies Intent to attack Po
land. Page ljt.
Havana swept by $10,000,000 fire. Page 1.
Lord Grey letter on treaty big influence
in France. Page 4.
Prance to demand full pay ot Germany.
Page 2.
Rational.
Republicans will lead treaty fight. Page 3.
Labor to make national campaign to elect
friends to office. Page 2. .
V. S. treasury closes role of certificates of
indebtedness. Page 7.
Storm demoralixea work in New York.
Page 1.
Domeatle-
Conferees lower short haul rate. Page 3.
Fata takes life of baby, disclaimed by two I
After a hearing, continuing for a
period of four full days, the state
public service commission yesterday
afternoon at 5 o'clock took under ad
visement the case of the Portland
Railway, Light & Tower company,
which operates street cars In this
city, In which an order Is sought fix
ing a rate of fare for passengers suf
ficient to pay expenses plus 7 per
cent Interest on the Investment.
Fred O. Buchtel, chairman, said the
members desire briefs from all
parties concerned as soon as possible
and that they want to announce a
decision within 30 days if such action
Is at all feasible.
Judging from questions propounded
by Chairman Buchtel and Commis
sioner Corey Commissioner Will
iams being absent because ot death In
his family It seems evident that the
commission Intends to make a stren
uous effort to arrive at some de
cision whereby adequate relief for
the company may be provided wltn
out Increasing the fare beyond pos
sibly 8 cents straight, with all trans
fer privileges on this basis and book
at 7 cents ;or a 7-cent rate, with an
extra cent added for transfers.
y.ni of Tolls May lie A liked.
In ca3e of a straight eight-cent flat
fare and the seven-rent rate for a
book, it would not bo surprising
should tho commission, In Issuing Its
order, make recommendation to the
people, through the city council, to
the effect that, should relief from
brldre tolls, paving charges And free
rides for policemen and firemen In
Portland be afforded the company, a
decrease In the fare would follow In
proportion. In fact. It seems reason
ably certain that something like this
will be nred by the commission,
whatever its decision as to the rates.
Members of the commission are not
vested with power to Issue arbitrary
orders on any of the points suggest
ed as remedies for the relief of the
company, except as to fares. In that,
they have absolute, authority, subject
only to court review. It is believed,
however, that they are convinced ot
the reasonableness of assertions that
there chould not only be adequate
revenue to keep the cars running at
least as. good as at present, but that
a portion of this should come front
other than fares.
Taking that view of the situation
It is believed, they will at least make
the effort to bring about action that
will eventually'brlng again to publi .
determination the question of remis
sion of bridge tolls, paving charges
and free rides for municipal police
and firemen.
Connrll Mast Art First.
This would first be taken up with
the Portland city council, which. If
its members should see fit, has au
thority to refer proposed charter
amendments on the subject of remis
sions to a vote, of the people. The
earliest feasible time for this would
be at the primary nominating election
May 21. It could be done at that time
Ithout additional cost to the tax
payers of the city.
Figures have not been presented to
show Just what difference remission
of those charges now levied against
the company would make In the rate
of fares necessary to enable the com
pany to operate its system at Its pres
ent efficiency, but It would be an Im
portant factor, as shown by the fact
that, the city's pav(ng programme
mnlhf.I1. Pare 1
Conditions in Mexico branded intolerable ' alone, as now outlined for 1920. will.
by General Howxe. Page 6.
South Dakota primary expected to teat
Wood boom. Page 3.
Wilson to muster forces for treaty fight
today, fage l.
Liner goea ashore, but wild sea halts ef-
forts to rescue 104 passengers. Page 1.
Funds for further credit to Europe are de
clared unavailable. Page 4.
- Paeiflc Northwest.
Jury is sworn in for L W. W. trial. Paga 1.
R porta.
U. S. will challenge Australia for Davla
tennis cup. Page 12.
Light-heavy boxers Issue defis to winner
of Glbbons-Mccormlca. go. fage 12.
Judge McCredle has plan to help Beaver
outfield, i-age 12.
Acorn basketeri defeat Arleta 40 to 22.
Page 12.
Commercial and Marine. '
Wheat trading cornea to atop In north
west. Page 19.
Canadian oats freely offered at Chicago.
Page 19.
Early losses In stock market are generally
regained. Page 19.
Louis Titus of San Francisco nominated
aa shipping board member. Page 13.
Two more lumber vessels are chartered.
Page 13. .
Portland and Vlrlnlty.
Decision for 8-cent carfare appears to b
likely. Page 1.
Work on five state highways ordered by
commission. Page 11.
Lease held on Sunset theater property re
quires erection of six-story- building bj
1933. Page 20.
Realtors approve state license law. Page 10.
Women are aroused by vaccination order.
Page 19.
$200,000 to be spent on Multnomah county
market roads. Paga 9,
If pushed through, require for th
company's share, approximately $600.-
000.
Two outstanding features of th
afternoon session yesterday were the
showing by J. F. Newell, consulting
engineer for the city, by direction of
Stanley Myers, assistant city attorney,
that a 7-cent fare with a cent fox
transfers would "get the company by,"
and the placing of a tentative value
on tracks of the company of $4,400,000
by Engineer Clarke of the commis
sion. Both Incidents were noteworthy
and caused considerable comment.
Original Iteport Explained.
Originally, Mr. Newell had given
figures indicating that no leas than
an 8-cent fare, with 7-cent book tick
ets, would afford relief. His original
report, it was explained, mas based
upon last JulyJ Traffic conditions of
the last four months ot 1919, how
ever, showed a deelded turn for the
better. With this as a criterion, Mr.
Newell 'stated it as his opinion that
fare of 7 cents, with a 1-cent charge
for transfers, or an alternative of an
8-cent with tickets sold seven for SO
cents would, during 1920, provide suf
ficient revenue to meet all expenses
and give a reasonable return on In
vestment. This would leave school
tickets at 4 cents, as now.
These revised figures were Intra
it'oncludtu. on Page 3, Column 4.)