VOL,. X.IX NO. 18,524
Kntered at Portland (Oregon)
Postoffice a? Second-CIassi Matter.
PORTLAND OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1920
PRICE FIVE CENTS
50,0011 WALK OUT
ON ILLEGALSTR1KE
Railroads Crippled by
Outlaw Organizations.
UNIONS TO SUPPORT ROADS
Effort to Be Made to Break
Campaign of Rebels.
EMBARGOES ARE PUT ON
Shipments of Freight Arc Halted
and Packing Plants Arc Short
of Meat Supplies.
CHICAGO, April 7. An unauthor
ized strike of railroad employes which
started a week ago In the Chicago
switching district by the discharge
of a yard conductor tonight had
spread until it had affected 25 rail
roads and in Chicago had thrown
more than 50,000 men out of work,
either directly or indirectly.
More than 10,000 union railroad
men in Chicago and several hundred
at Buffalo and at Champaign, 111.,
were on strike. Hundreds of Chicago
packing house employes were Idle for
lack of livestock.
Two "outlaw" organizations, brand
ed by the established brotherhoods
as "rump" unions, had sprung up
challenging the right of the labor
heads to lead their men.
I nlooa I'lam to Break Strike.
In the face of this opposition from
within, the br6therhoods of engineers,
railway trainmen, firemen and en
ginemen and the Switchmen's Union
of North America pledged their sup
' port to railroad officers in breaking
the walkout and union railroad men
throughout the country have been
urged to report to Chicago to serve
as strikebreakers.
Managers of the roads affected by
the strike, who today agreed to give
brotherhood officers at least another
day in which to restore normal con
ditions, declared themselves confident
that the unions would succeed.
Some union leaders voiced the same
confidence, but others declared the
strike fever was "in the air," that
even the most conservative men were
quitting work and that the task of
keeping the trains moving appeared
difficult.
figures at Variance.
Wide differences of opinion existed
as to how many men had joined the
walkout. Charles Riley, vice-president
of the Chicago Yardmen's asso
ciation, which called the original
strike, said 14.000 switchmen and 3000
engineers were idle, but railroad of-
ficials and brotherhood heads scouted
his figures as far too large.
W. J. Trost, vice-president of the
Switchmen's Union of North America,
said approximately 2000 of that or
ganization's members had struck and
that the Soo line was the only rail
road entering Chicago the union had
been able to keep open.
Secretary Snyder of the Railroad
Managers' association announced af
ter a conference of road heads today
that between 40 and 50 per cent of
- normal freight traffic was being han
dled. Sufficient crews to operate
about 300 locomotives had been re
cruited in the Chicago area, he said.
The Brotherhood of Engineers and
the Brotherhood of Firemen and En
ginemen entered the struggle today
as a result of the walkout of engi
neers and firemen.
Worker Support Itoad.
The Brotherhood of Railway Train
men declared in a statement that the
railroads could not grant wage in- I
creases demanded by the strikers be- I
cause the Cummins-Esch transporta-
tion act prohibits increased compen
sation to employes without approval
of the railroad board, to be appointed
by President Wilson.
One of today's developments was
me lurmaLion oi a new outlaw or
!.,, . w x- , .
ganization, the National Enginemen s
association, by striking members of
the Brotherhood of Engineers and
Brotherhood of Firemen and Engine
men. Announcement was made by the
striking engineers and the Chicago
j aroinen s association, which enei.
neered the strike of switchman
branches of the two new unions
would be formed throughout the
country and that strikes would . be
called elsewhere in sympathy with
the Chicago movement and an effort
made to enforce wage advancements
which the railroad men had demanded
since last August.
95 a Day Wanted.
"Five dollars a day is the minimum
which will support a man and his
family," the strikers said in a state
ment today. Demands they made to
the ' General Managers' association
were:
Conductors $1 an hour, present scale
66 2-3 cents: switchmen 93 cents an.
hour, present scale 62 cents; switch
tenders $5 a day, present wage 50
cents an hour.
From 25,000 to SO. 000 workers at
the stockyards were idle today. Re
ceipts of cattle, hogs and sheep were
small.
The tie-up was said to bs responsi
ble for a record price of potatoes,
which sold today at $7 a hundred
pounds on the track. V
BUFFALO, N. YTApril 7. An em
bargo on all freight entering, leav-
Concluded on Page 9, Column 2.)
ITEMS IN NAVY BILL
INCREASED 39 MILLION
SENATE COMMITTEE ALLOWS
MORE FOR SPEEDING WORK.
One of -Largest Items Is That for
Aviation Section and Tenders
Xow . tTnder Way.
WASHINGTON. April 7. Although
standing on the 1921 naval-buifding
programme as authorized by the
house, the senate naval affairs com
mittee will recommend an increase of
$39,000,000 over house appropriations
to enable quick construction. The
house bill authorized a total of $424.
500,000. The senate committee, which vir
tually completed the naval bill today,
and plans to' report it to the senate
late this week, also granted liberal
increases for other naval enterprises,
including an increase of nearly $10.
000,000 for aviation.
The largest single increase was
$11,700,000 for completing aviation
tenders, for which material already
has been fabricated. The house omit
ted this item.
To complete the 1916 building- pro
gramme as decided on by the house,
the senate raised the appropriations
from $48,000,000 to $52,000,000. Items
of $11,000,000 for torpedo-boat con
struction and $45,000,000 for armor
plate were left unchanged.
In providing additional funds for
naval aviation the senate committee
increased the house item for naval
aircraft from $3,464,000 to $6,500,000,
and that for new" aviation stations
from $1,257,000 to $5,400,000. Funds
for experiments and developing all
types of aircraft were increased from
$2,935,000 to $3,700,000.
Admiral Hurh Rodman, commander
in chief of the Pacific fleet, testi
fied at an executive session of the
committee today regarding conditions
on the Pacific coast. Members in
dicated that the admiral discussed
personnel increase for the Pacific
fleet, difficulty of obtaining recruits.
serious shortage of skilled men due
to rapid resignations of petty of
ficers and questions relating to
morale.
Other increases voted by the sen
ate committee included:
Rhode Island naval training: sta
tion, from $250,000 to $300,000; Great
Lakes training station, $500,000 to
$600,000; for the naval reserve force,
$50,000 to $500,000. A new appro
priation of $200,000 for the Newport,
It. I., torpedo station was inserted in
the bill and for the Boston navy yard,
for which the house made no provi
sion, the senate committee recom
mended $300,000.
Funds for the New York navy yard
were increased from $297,000 to $397,
000; for the Philadelphia yard, from
$1,100,000 to $1,200,000; for comple
tion of the Norfolk navy yard's steel
storage plant, from $220,000 to $520,
000. The principal new work authorized
were the new naval bases on the Pa
cific coast, including that at San
Francisco.
In addition to authorization of
$1,000,000 for the new Pacific coast
base the committee voted $1,050,000
for a coal depot in Puget sound and
$1,000,000 for another coaling station
at Pearl Harbor.
New appropriations of $500,000 and
$100,000, respectively, for submarine
and destroyer bases at San Pedro and
Port Angeles also were written into
the bill.
The committee increased the Yerba
Buena island naval training station,
California, appropriation from $125,
000 to $225,000. It also voted $1,000,
000 for docking and repair work at
the San Francisco yard and increased
the appropriation for the Pearl Har
bor naval station from $890,000 to
$1,080,000. A new appropriation of
$50,000 for the Olongapo, P. I., naval
station was proviaeu.
SHAVES WILL COST MORE
Labor Council Flatly Refuses to
Indorse Increase.
KLAMATH FALLS. Or., April 7.
(Special.) Barbers have advanced the
price of hair cutting from 50 to 75
cents and shaves from 25 to 35 cents,
effective April 5. Shampoos have
gone up from 50 to 65c and bathe,
which were 25 cents, now cost a dime
more.
j The' increase was made necessary.
allege the proprietors, by higher cost
! . , , j
i of materials and increased wages. An
attempt was made by the barbers'
union to secure the endorsement of
the central labor council for the in
crease, but the council flatly refused.
! The refusal was based on the ground
that the advance in prices equals
I about 50 per cent, while wages paid
' by the masler barbers have" advanced
' only about Per cent.
1
pj F M F N TF A 1 1 K RFTTFR
LLIVItlllUCAlJIO DC I I tri
Agcd French Statesman Goes Out
for First Time Since Illness.
CAIRO, Egypt, April 7. (Havas.)
Georges Clemenceau, former Franch
premier, since his return here from
Luxor has been suffering from bron
chitis but is now somewhat better.
The aged statesman went out for
the first time since his illness Tues
day. He is Btill very feeble and his
breathing causes some anxiety.
1
! M. Clemenceau is 79 years old.
PROSECUTION NOT ASKED
Criminal Action Not to Be Taken
. Against Socialists.
ALBANY, N. Y., April 7. The New
York legislature will not request
criminal action against the five
ousted socialist assemblymen.
Speaker T. C. Sweet made this an
nouncement tonight.
FRENCH TROOPS
FIRE ON GERMANS
Machine Gun Turned on
Crowd at Frankfort.
9 KILLED, SCORES WOUNDED
Protest Against Invasion of
German Towns Forwarded.
LAND ASKS FOR QUIET
Government Declares Conditions of
Peace Cannot Be Met Tnless
Order Restored.
PRAXKFORT, by Courier to Co
blenz, April 7. (By the Associated
Press.) Colored French troops turned
a machine gun on a crowd in the
Schlllerplatz today, killing a man and
a child and wounding eight women
and 44 men, some of them seriously.
Six Germans were killed and 35
wounded in another affray here today.
Order finally was restored.
MATEXCE, April 7. (By the Asso
dated Press.) Disturbances broke
out in Frankfort today but energetic
intervention by the French troops
restored order. From German sources
it is learned that six Germans were
killed and 35 wounded. It is report
ed that the manifestations which gave
rise to these incidents were due t
an order originating in Berlin.
Trouble Laid to Berlin.
'The first day of the occupation of
Frankfort passed without incident.
The reception by the population was
aljpost cordial." said General De
Goutte, the French commander, on
his return from a tour of inspection.
"Then, suddenly, on orders from Ber
lin, a certain ferment seized the pop
ulation. This ferment degenerated
into aggression and our soldiers in
self-defense were obliged to use their
arm?. So far as I know we had no
losses."
General De Goutte was asked if he
did not think Berlin would withdraw
the troops from the Ruhr after the
French occupation of Frankfort, and
he replied: "Most certainly not."
Speaking of the economic effects of
the movement. General De Goutte de
clared: "Here Is a single figure, but
an eloquent one. Yesterday the Ruhr
oeuverea us lo.uuu tons of coal; today
not a single ton crossed the frontier.
I leave you to draw your own con
clusions."
PARIS. April 7. (Havas.) The
newspapers of Berlin say today that
news received from all parts of the
Rhine provinces indicates the proc
lamation of a Rhine republic is immi
nent, according to dispatches from
the German capital.
PARIS, April 7. (By the Associated
Press.) Considerable reaction was
noticeable today in French public
opinion, which was unanimously fa
vorable yesterday regarding the ad
visedness of the occupation of the
Rhine cities. Official circles were
silent.
The failure of the American am
bassador Hugh C. Wallace, the Brit
ish ambassador, the Earl of Derby,
Baron Matsui, representing Japan,
and Count Bonin Longare, Italy, to
express an opinion concerning Pre
mier Millerand's note is not inter
preted as unfavorable, but as merely
pointing to the fact that none of
them has yet received instructions.
The attitude of i government offi
cials is one of expectancy and there
(Concluded on Page 2, Column l.
STAKING ADVANTAGE OF LEAP YEAR.
I CH-TrVAT i
UNIVERSAL TRAINING
LIKELY TO BE KILLED
N
REJECTIO . VOTE TODAY IS
IND iSD IN SEXATE.
Seir j? tVadsvtorth, Author of Bill,
sgues Economy and Safety
O of Systm.
WASHINGTON, April 7. The big
fight against universal military train-j
ing opened late today In the senate,
with indications that the final vote,
probably tomorrow, would result In
its rejection.
Leaders on both sides refused to
comment on the probable outcome. It
was said, however, that 40 democrats
and 13 repuKlicans were against the
training plan. In this situation a
movement was begun aiming at the
substitution of voluntary training.
There was sharp debate, but the
only action was the decision to post
pone from 1921 to 1922 the date on
which the plan would be effective.
This was done with less than a dozen
senators in the chamber.
Senator Wadsworth, republican of
New York, in charge of the bill, de
clared the regular army would never
be big enough -to defend this country.
Urging adoption of the training plan
he contended the senate bill, includ
ing the training scheme, would cause
an annual maximum expenditure of
$700,000,000 or "but one-twentieth as
much as spent for the army alone
during the 18 months of the world
war."
Citing instances of untrained Amer
icans being sent into battle. Senator
Wadsworth asserted It was an "in
dictment against America" to ask
such men to fight.
Senator Pomerene, democrat of
Ohio, opposing immediate adoption of
the plan because of the expense, de
clared the "tragedy of untrained men
being sent into battle was not due so
much to unpreparedness as to the
negligence of officers who sent them
into the fight."
His answer brought a ripple of ap
pl&use from gallery spectators.
WILSON PARDONS GORMAN
Federal Prisoner, Released, Now
Faces Deportation Action.
TACOMA, Wash., April 7. Max Gor
man, a federal prisoner, sentenced
from California and due to serve un
til August o, 1924, has been pardoned
by President Wilson, according to
word received at Tacoma. today.
Gorman is serving his term at Mc
Neil's Island penitentiary near here,
and with the announcement of the
pardon It was also given out that a
deportation warrant had at once been
icsmiArf
The charge on which the warrant j
was based could not be learned here,
local federal officers stating that they
understood It to be in connection
with an alleged offense in California.
GUESTS GREET DE VALERA
Senators Epeak at Banquet to Pro
visional Irish President. .
WASHINGTON, April 7. Senators
and representatives were among the
guests at a dinner given here tonight
for Ea'monn De V alera, provisional
president of the Irish republic, prior
to his departure for a tour of the
south.
Senators Phelan of California, France
of Maryland and Norrls of Nebraska,
and former Governor Folk of Mis
souri spoke.
DENIKINE'S AIDE IS SLAIN
General Romonovsky Reported As
sassinated by Russians.
LONDON, April 7. A dispatch to
the Evening News from Constanti
nople dated Monday says General
Romariovsky, who was General Denl
kine's chief of staff in the south Rus
sian army was assassinated Monday
night in the Russian embassy in Con
stantinople. Two Russian officers are said to
have been the assassins.
PETITION FOR WOOD
BEARS 2000 NAMES
DOCUMENT ASKING GENERAL'S
NAME ON BALLOT FILED.
Lowden to Withdraw From Oregon
Primary In Few Days, Accord
ing to Information.
SALEM. Or., April 7. (Special.)
Petitions asking that the name of
Leonard Wood be placed on the re
publican preferential ballot at the
primary election to be held on May
21 were filed with the secretary of
state here today. The petitions were
signed by more than 2000 voters of
Oregon and were brought to Salem
by Dow V. Walker and J. D. Zur
cher. both of Portland.
"In placing the name of Leonard
Wood on the ballot In Oregon," said
Mr. Walker, "we are not only asking
the voters to elect a real American
as president tlris year, but also to
bring into being a real American
government, which would accord with
the highest American conceptions,
and which would carry out the spirit
of the American constitution.
The American government for
which we are working should be
based upon sane, constructive liberal-
Ism, conducted by the best American
leadership, and headed by a man of
superlative administrative ability.. It
will be a government in which the
voice of the American conscience will
be heard, and in which the genius of
American statesmanship may be fully
utilized: a government in which
American conception of international
obligation shall be definitely estab
lished for the safety and guidance of
future generations. ,
"In accepting Leonard Wood as
their leader, the American people will
express their pride in the distinctive
national characteristics of which he
is personification. Physically robust,
mentally alert, and morally sound,
he is In every way fitted to bear tre
mendous responsibilities, for In serv
ice he is untiring. He is not a fa
vorite son of any one Btate, for he is
a composite American whose life has
been spent In serving the whole
United States and only the United
States as a whole may properly claim
him as its favorite son."
OREGON IAN NEWS BUREAU.
Washington, April 7. Governor
Frank O. Lowden wHl withdraw his
name from the contest for the repub
lican nomination In the Oregon pri
mary, it was learned positively today
from persons in authority in the
Lowden campaign management. An
official announcement of his , with
drawal is expected to be made within
the next few days.
OCEAN RATES TO ADVANCE
America Likely to Meet Rise From
United Kingdom.
LONDON. April 7. Increases in
ocean freight rates from the United
Kingdom to North America will take
effect on April 19 and will range
from 25 per cent on lower classes of
goods to 50 per cent on more valua
ble articles, according to the London
Times.
WASHINGTON. April 7. An in
crease of freight rates to England
on American ships is under consid
eration by the shipping board as a
result of the announcement from Lon
don that Great Britain will advance
rates to American ports from 25 to
aO per cent on April 19, to be decided
upon by ship owners here Friday.
MORMON MEETING ENDS
AH General Authorities Adopted
Without Dissenting Voice.
SALT LAKE CITY. April 7. With
out a dissenting voice, all the general
authorities of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
were "proposed and sustained" as the
final act of the 90th -semi-annual
three-day general conference of the
church which came to a-close here
last night.
This conference, according to of
ficials, has been one of the greatest
In the history of the. Mormon church
and it Is estimated approximately
iO.OOO attended.
PIGKETERS FLAUNT
SAYINGS OF COLBY
Colleens Shift Attack to
State Department.
SECRETARY IS BLOCKADED
Banners Record Words Taken
From Speech in 1916.
SENSATION
IS CREATED
Some in Washington Think Wilson
Should Pick His Statesmen
AVith Greater Care.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, April 7. "There Is not
even a scintilla of legality in Eng
land's claim to rule Ireland."
i he foregoing language must have
had a ring of familiarity to Bain
bridge Colby, new secretary of state.
lr he chanced to gaze out of the
window of the state department late
this afternoon as three plainly
dressed, earnest-looking colleens
moved slowly up and down the side
walk in front of the establishment
where all of Uncle Sam's diplomatic
organization is concentrated.
The rather undiplomatic quotation
heretofore cited and others from
speech delivered by Mr. Colby in New
York in 1916, at a time -.-hen he may
not have suspected that some day
ne wouia De the director of Ameri
can diplomacy, stood out In bold let
ters on banners carried by the three
Irish women. They were picketers,
no, unuer tne command of Miss Mol
lie Carroll of New York, had trans
ferred their activities in behalf or
Irish independence from the Irish
embassy to the American state de
partment.
Attack Winrly Shifted.
mere was wisdom in shitting the
attack because the law under which
they had been dragged off the scene
at the British embassy does not run
against such operations in the vicin
ity of a department of the home gov
ernment. And, moreover, the ' fair
picketers, perhaps, could see no harm
In giving the widest publicity in front
of the state department to words of
wisdom that once fell from the mouth
of the man not so long ago called by
the president to the task of adminis
tering that department.
The banners carried by the picket
; s did not go beyond the records of
a speech delivered by Mr. Colby in
Carnegie hall. New rk, on the night
of May 14, 1916, when he introduced
Mrs. Sheehy Skeffington, widow of
one of the so-called martyrs of the
Dublin uprising who came to death
rather abruptly aome time in advance
of his leader. Sir Roger Casement.
Other passages from the same speech
appearing on banners were:
"The death of your martyrs has
called into existence millions of Irish
men by principle."
"I cann.t stand by mute and pas
sionless as these native offerings of
human lives are laid on the altar of
patriotism."
Kormer FrieadMhlp.
As Secretary Colby was so prompt
to find a provision in international
law to pull the picketers off the
British embassy, it appears they de
cided that it would not be bad form
to impress upon Mr. Colby that he
had once been their friend in terms
probably as Insolent to a foreign
state as any of their recent acts.
The new attack was carefully
(Concluded on Page
Column 3.)
SPUD STILL GOESJJP, '
DESPITE CRUSADERS
i
SAN FRANCISCO REPORTS BIG
JUMP IN PRICES.
Once Common Tuber Now in Lux
ury List $10 Market Before
New Crop Comes In Likely.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 7. (Spe
cial.) While the fair price commis
sion, assisted by United States Dis
trict Attorney Annette Adams, is delv
ing into the exorbitant prices charged
for potatoes, the spud market of San
Francisco witnessed another big jump
today which placed the erstwhile
"lowly" potato in a class with the
war babies" of recent fame in the
stock markets.
Oregon Burbanks and Gems went
up 2a cents per hundredweight to
$8.25 in the wholesale market, and
fancy Rivers sold at $7.75 at the cold
storage plants, making them available
to the consumer at not less than $8.
Jobbers and retailers predicted to
day that the market would go to
10 cents a pound before the new crop
comes in, making spuds almost pro
hibitive to the average family of
moderate means.
As the result of the investigation
today, housewives who are watching
the market columns In hope of seeing
the price of potatoes return to normal
are offered no encouragement.
State Market Director Daniels says
the situation is little worse here than
elsewhere in the country so far
potatoes are concerned.
"With the price of seed potatoes
running from 6 to 7 cents a pound.
many ranchers are afraid to plant
their usual quota for fear that the
market price next year may drop to
2 or 3 cents and leave them stranded,"
said Daniels today.
"Every effort will be made by the
commission to invoke the law against
the hoarding of potatoes, that the
warehouses throughout the state may
be forced to open and their surplus
supply thrown "into the market."
CHURCH RALLY IS HELD
Team of Ministers at Riierside iu
Bchair of World Movement.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. AjJril 7. (Spe
cial.) A team of ministers, working
in behalf of the Interchurch World
movement and accompanied by Dr.
W. T. McElveen, participated in an
all-day meeting at Riverside commu
nity today. Rev. McElveen, pastor of
the First Congregational church of
Portland, was here as the special
guest of the community church. He
was guest of honor at. a luncheon
tendered by the directors of the Com
mercial club. Member of the Inter
church team are Rev. Oliver of Tilla
mook, Rev. O. L. stone of Olympia,
Wash., and Mrs. A. J. Sullens of Port
land. Rural church people from all
parts of the valley were present.
This afternoon Rev. J. W. Mahood,
Methodist evangelist, accompanied by
his daughter, the latter delivering
daily health lectures, began a series
of meetings at Asbury church.
BIG DIVIDEND DECLARED
Honolulu Iron Works Increases
Capital Stock by $2,000,000.
HONOLULU, T. H., April 7. (Spe
cial.) The biggest stock dividend
ever issued in Hawaii will be re
corded this month when the Hono
lulu Iron Works company declares a
stock dividend of 140 per cent, or $1,
400.000, on a capital of $1,000,000. The
capital stock of the company will be
Increased from $1,000,000 to $3,000.
000. Stock to the amount of $100,000
wilt be sold to the present stock
holders at par.
The remainder of the new stock
will be sold to old-time employes of
the company. The corporation Is
erecting a branch foundry in Man
ila, Philippine.!.
IDAHO NAMES SENT IN
Postmasters for Genesee, Grangc-
ville and Orofino Nominated.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, April 7. Arthur H.
Potsch was nominated by the presi
dent today for postmaster at Genesee,
Charles J. Simmons for Grangeville
and Robert N. Molley for Orofino, all
in Idaho.
Lieutenant John E. Mori, field ar
tillery, stationed at Camp Meade,
Maryland, has been detailed to duty
as inspector-instructor of the Wash
ington National guard, with station
at Walla Walla.
JAPS BLAME BOLSHEVIKI
Attack Made, Tokio Cablegram
Says, Prior to Occupation.
HONOLULU, T. H., April 7. (By
the m Associated Press.) Japanese
forces at Vladivostok were attacked
by the bolsheviki prior to their occu
pation of that city April 5, according
to a Tokio cablegram to the Hochi,
a Japanese vernacular newspaper
here. The attack, the advices said,
was made in an effort to prevent the
signature of an agrrement between
Russian forces there and the Jap
anese, which had been set for April 5.
. Japanese Float Rejected.
HONOLULU, T. H., April 7. (Spe
cial.) As a body, the Japanese Fed
eration of Labor has not been invited
to take part in the celebration, April
11 to 19, marking the 100th anniver
sary of the landing of Christian mis
sionaries in Hawaii. The( federation
had planned to put a float in the
parade, but the offer was rejected by
the heads of the centennial celebra
tion committee.
Corvallis Instructor Named.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington. April 7. Captain Cush
man Hartwell, now with the Elev
enth cavalry at Monterey, Cal., is de
tailed as assistant military instructor
at Oregon Agricultural college, Corvallis.
PORTLAND
MGHT
SHOULDER BURDEfJ
Relief of Car Company Is
Held Possible!
CITY ATTORNEY GIYES VIEWS
Alternative to Eight-Cent Car
fare Suggested.
BRIDGE TOLL CUT LEGAL"
Other Remissions, It Is Il.!t!f
Could Lawfully Be Made Tin -uih
Action of Taxpayers,
Voters of Portland can lega !y i -move
most of the so-called "buvdcr.f"
of the Portland Railway, Li?tu .
Power company through action rec
ommended by members of thi- pu
lic service commission as a p - t;
alternative to an 8-cent carf.ire i:
Portland, according to an opln : r
C'ty Attorney La Roc he filed wi u i
city auditor yesterday.
Assumption by the city of the lot fl
ed assessments charged again.' t t.-e
traction company would not be
however, according to this oj ;ni i .
This charge amounts to $470,000 ai.d
was considered at the joint crier
ence in Salem Monday as a posiiv-
item which could be taken ov r i y
the city to aid the company xi "'
financial difficulty.
Of the suggested items includ o !i
the order signed by the majority
members of the public service com
mission. City Attorney LaRoche con
tends that the supreme court of the
state would uphold the action of the
voters if they should authorize the
transfer of certain traction company
burdens to the taxpayers.
II ridge Relief Suajsested.
Using figures compiled by engi
neers of the public service commis
sion. City Attorney LaRoche believes
that about $45,000 now paid by the
company for bridge tolls could be
excused. The amount now paid by
the company for the privilege of oper
ating cars over the bridges of the
city amounts to $65,000, and of this
amount City Attorney LaRoche be
lieves that $20,000 should be charged
as a fair rental for the tracks and
trolley wires on the bridges, equip
ment supplied by the city.
Maintenance of paving already laid,
maintenance of future paving, all fu
ture street improvements, free car
riage of city employes, franchise and
license taxes are all items which City
Attorney LaRoche believes could be
transferred to the general taxpayers.
He cites decisions of the supreme
court of Ohio holding that the remis
sion of such Imposts would be un
lawful, but says he believes the
supreme court of Oregon would hold
the remission of such charges law
ful, if the record in the case
showed conclusively that the imposi
tion of these charges was either un
fair or resulted to some appreciable
degree in increasing burdens of the
car patrons and preventing adequate
transportation service.
Committee 3Ieetr Today.
Members of the special committee
appointed by Mayor Baker, including
Commissioners Bigelow, Barbur and
Mann, will meet today to study the
opinion and formulate a report to the
entire council. The submission of the
report by the city attorney resulted
because of the ner-essiy of Vr Icav
ing last night on an caslein t:
The opinion a dure is to t r.e city
council in full if as follows"
'You have asked to be avtstil as
to the legal ,ower of tiia c .. u :: '.
certain impc: ts or charg' S n.'W Voi.m
by the Por-.iand liiiilw:, i.iht "i
Power company anil htch
forth on pane 11 of the opinion f tlv.
public service commission of OngoM
in the matter of the application of the
Portland Railway, Light & Power
company for increase in fares on
street railway lines in the city of
Portland order No. 581.
"These imposts, as set out, are the
following:
Maintenance, paving already laid. .
.$ 47.0O0
65.000
1.0, MM)
Hridfre rentala.
Franchise taxes
Car lice,ees
Ki--c- transportation, city employes. .
,ri.io
:.uui
Maintenance, aepretialion. taxes
and interest on prospective pa v-
tns (average six moruha.. 13,000
$170,000
"Bridge Rentals. Under the law, as
we understand it, the city is prohib
ited from giving or lending any of
its money or credit to any company
and would, therefore, according to
the almost unanimous opinions of the
courts, be precluded from construct
ing any track or trolley or other
necessary operating -unit of the street
railway A public expense and after
such construction allowing the rail
way company to use it without fair
and just compensation for such use.
The tracks and the trolleys across
the bridges have been laid and con
structed by the city with its money
for the sole and exclusive use of the
street railway company, and the city
should receive a fair rental for such
use. If, therefore, the present tolls
are more than the fair rental for tire
property of the city on the bridges
constructed for the exclusive use of
this utility, the city would have the
power to modify the existing con
tract so as to eliminate the unfait
portion of the charge.
"Bonded assessments for pavements
heretofore laid
"We advise that in our Judgment
iConcluded on Pass 9, Column
98.0v