Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, November 13, 1920, Image 1

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VOT,. IjIX NO. .18713
Entered at Portland Oregon )
Potofffre a Spcoml-Cias Matter
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOVE3IBER 13, 1920
PRICE FIVE CENTS
BABY IS DESERTED
AT STRANGER'S HOME
E-BREW BEER
WILSON PROCLAIMS
"DAY OF THANKSGIVING
HARDING WILL SPEAK
ON NEW ERA IN SOUTH
i '
PRESIDENT - ELECT ACCEPTS
NEW ORLEANS- INVITATION.
M'ADOO IS NAMED
IN5HIPPING PROBE
CHEAP THANKSGIVING
TURKEY NOT EXPECTED
L BASE
LiOIS DICTATOR
IS HELD ILLEGAL
TO BE UNDER WAY
MARY LOU - FIXDS FRIENDS
AT POLICE STATIOX.
PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF
If ATI OX HELD BOCXTEOCS.
CONSUMERS LIKELY TO PAY
40 TO 45 CENTS POUND.
MAJORS EriD
WAR
OM
ON
V
Proposal for Civilian Tri
bunal Is Rejected.
JUDGE TO STAY ON - BENCH
Administration of Both Big
Leagues Is Accepted.
SALARY TO BE $42,500
Representatives of 16' American
and National Clubs Agree
After 3-Hour Session.
CHICAGO, Nov. 12. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Peace settled over pro
fessional baseball today .when the
opposing- faction: in the reorganiza
tion of the game reached an agree
ment on every point at issue and thus
ended a war which for five days ap
parently had disrupted both major
leagues.
Three hours of argument and verbal
battles which, although rather warm
at times never were bitter, found the
magnates emerging from their coun
cil chamber arm in arm, calling each
other by first names and laughingly
referring to the threats each side had
made a few days ago.
The end of the fight came when the
IS clubowners voted unanimously to
make Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lan
tlis "chairman of baseball" and a
committee of one to act as a final
court of appeal in all matters of dis
pute between the two major leagues
and any minor leagues which may
Join the majors in reorganizing the
game,
Judge Landls Accepts.
Judge Landls accepted the proposi
tion, but It was stipulated that he
ehould remain on the bench and han
dle both positions.
Kach side made concessions to the
other before an agreement was
reached, but the meeting unanimously
went on record as favoring "the prin
ciples of ethical control of baseball"
included In the Lasker plan which
was fostered; by the eight National
and the Chicago, New York, and Bos
ton American league clubs and which
started the fight. This plan orig
inally was bitterly opposed by Presi
dent Johnson of the American league
and the Philadelphia, Washington,
Cleveland. St. Louis and Detroit clubs
which sided with him.
- In other matters, however, the 11
clubs favoring the Lasker plan con
ceded points to the five opposing it.
Instead of a civilian tribunal as the
governing body of baseball. Judge
Laudis probably will remain the final
judge, although the club owners may
decide later to appoint two civilian
associates to act with him.
Special Pleader Provided.
If the one-man commission is re
tained, the president of the National
league shall be a special pleader for
clubs under him and the president of
the American league shall represent
the clubs under him. All matters will
be taken up at joint meetings of the
two leagues, where the vote will be
cast by clubs. If there Is a division
a. vote then will be taken by leagues,
each organization having one vote. If
they cannot agree, the two presidents
then will appear before Judge Landls
and his decision will be final.
This arrangement is a compromise
between the plans suggested by the
two sides. The eleven clubs wanted
the vote to be entirely by clubs, -while
the Johnson faction held out for a
vote by leagues. The two plans were
combined.
Immediate attempts will be made to
bring the minor leagues into the plan.
A committee of six, three from each
league, will confer with a committee
of six from the minor leagues. If the
minors come in they will be given
the right to appoint a special pleader
to appear before Judge Landis when
matters involving them are con
sidered. Tern Is for Seven Years.
Judge Landis" term is for seven
years and then an election will be
held by all leagues in the plan to de
termine who shall be commissioner.
He will have power to question any
player, clubowner or league president,
and to take any action he sees fit in
all cases. The leagues agreed to sign
a contract to abide by the judge s de
cisions regardless of what they
may be.
Chicago will be headquarters for
the baseball commissioners and of
fices will be opened here Immediately.
If second and third members are
chosen for the commission, it is vir
tually certain, according to the club-
owners, that Judge Charles A. Mc
Donald of Chicago will be one.
Judge McDonald indirectly brought
on the baseball war, for he started
the baseball scandal Investigation
which brought about the proposals
for baseball reorganization.
Former Plan Abandoned.
Judge McDonald is known to be ac
ceptable to the Johnson faction and
also is well thought of by the other
11 clubs.
After the grand Jury baseball In
vestigation had developed so that it
took in prominent men in many sec
tions of the country, A. D. Lasker, a
stockholder in the Chicago National
(.Concluded en rut 3. Column x.).
Wife of Chief Jenkins Assumes
'Charge and Orders ' Desk Off
icer to Heat Milk.
Mary Lou found friends last night.
We'll call her Mary Lou because
someone forgot to leave her name.
They left Mary Lou, however, kick
ing her heels in a shabby baby car
riage on the front porch of the home
of Mrs. Ollie Thomas, 612 Third street.
Mary Lou Is young to travel, being
just about six months old. Neverthe
less, someone last night bundled the
baby in the old cab, together with its
sole worldly possessions, and trun
dled it to the Thomas residence. One
of the family left for the public li
brary at 7:30. returning ten minutes
later to find Mary Lou. She was
taken in out of the cold and a call
sent for the pofice. ,
Motorcycle patrolmen Atkinson and
Riley answered the call. They ac
quitted themselves nobly, with the
result that the baby was cheerful
when brought to police headquarters.
Luckily, Mrs. Jenkins, wife of the
chief of police, was in the. lobby.
Mrs. Jenkins took command of the
force front her spouse. She ordered
Desk Officer Drapeau to heat some
milk, which the officer quickly ac
complished by holding the bottle over
the radiator. Other police stood about,
awaiting orders, but received none.
After Mary Lou had been fed and
again was happy, although so many
strange persons brought a few tears
at intervals. Chief and Mrs. Jenkins
took her to their home, to be properly
fitted with clean clothing and to re
ceive tender care until Fate permits
the thread of her destiny to be fur
ther untangled.
The baby is blonde, attractive from
a woman's point of view, at least
and seems to be healthy and full of
vim. It is feared that a poor mother
might have been forced to part with
the child for some unknown reason,
and every effort will be put forth to
ascertain the baby's parentage.
BOLSHEVIKS OVER SIVASH
Red Army Enters Crimea and Vio
lently Attacks Enemy.
LONDON, Nov. 12. A bolshevik
army supported by heavy artillery has
crossed the frozen Siyash sea and
entered the Crimea and is violently
attacking General Wrangel's last line
of .defense on tho east, says a dis-
stantinop
pTe.
The dispatch says the fate of the
Crimea depends upon the results of
the fighting. At the time the dis
patch was filed the situation was re
garded as most critical and prepara
tions were being made to evacuate
the population.
POLICE ARREST BROTHER
Death, of World War Xurso at Salt
Lake Mysterious.
SALT LAKE CITT, Nov. 12. Y. E.
Korous, half brother of Miss Frances
Korous of Salt Lake City, world-war
nurse, whose dead body was found in
a city park lake here last Saturday,
was arrested by the police today. No
formal charge has been placed against
Korous, but he will be held pending
investigation.
Nurse Korous disappeared October
17, while going from her brother's
home to the Y. W. C A., where she
lived. Korous, according to the po
lice, is the last person known to have
seen her alive.
CHAPLINS ARE DIVORCED
Movie Comedian Said to Have Set
tled $200,000 Out of Court.
LOS ANGELES, Cal.," Nov. 12. Mil
dred Harris Chaplin and Charley
Chaplin were divorced In the superior
court here late today.
Mr. Chaplin, whom Mrs. Chaplin
charged" with cruelty, was not in
court but was represented by at
torneys. It was stated a property settlement
involving about $200,000 had been
made out of court and an agreement
reached by which Mrs. Chaplin would
not use the name of Chaplin profes
sionally. SUGAR AGAIN TAKES DROP
Break in Prices of Raw Prod net
Foreshadows Further Cuts.
NEW YORK, Nov. 12. Plunging
down another half cent today, the raw
sugar market settled into new low
ground for the season. There were
sales of Porto Ricos at 6.51 for cen
trifugals and at the close both Cubas
and outside sugars were offered at
this level without being taken.
While no further changes occurred
in refined sugar from the 10-cent
level established yesterday, a decline
is expected by traders, owing to the
further break in raw sugar prices
today.
DEMOCRAT RESIGNS PLACE
Verdict, of People at the Polls As
signed as Reason.
CHARLESTON, W. Va.. Nov. 12. C
H. Christy, democrat and member of
the Kanawha county court, announced
his resignation today because of the
"verdict of the people "at the polls,"
Nov. 2, when a republican was re
elected to the court.
A third member of the court is a re
publican also, .
Extreme Step Taken by
Revenue Bureau.
MATERIALS ALSO OUTLAWED
Sale of Malt and Hops Re
stricted Under Law.
INTENDED USE DECISIVE
Action of Authorities Follow Re
ports of Increase in Homo
Brewing in Country.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12. CBy the
Associated Press.) The internal rev
enue bureau, informal statements to
day confirmed, reports that a crusade
against home-brewing of alcoholic
beverages is planned by the govern
ment's prohibition enforcement
agencies.
The bureau did not reveal, however,
the means it proposed to employ in
the campaign, nor admit that it had
approved preliminary instructions is
sued by Prohibition Commissioner
Kramer, directing that sales of malt
and hops be restricted to bakers and
confectioners. ;
Offenders) Be Prosecute.
"If malt extract, hops, isinglass,
gelatine, or other materials are sold
or advertised for sale for use in the
unlawful manufacture of intoxicating
Ilauor." eaid a statement issued to-
nlirht Viv Commissioner Williams of
o .
tho internal revenue bureau, "it is the
purpose of the bureau to presecute
persons so offending.
The so-called home-brew ' Beer
manufactured in the home for bever
age purposes, even mougii iur mo
sole use of the family and bona fide
guests, is, under the bureau s con
struction of the law, illegal ana me
sale of materials for such manufac
ture likewise is illegal."
' - Different Opinions Neted. ' -
The statement of the federal prohi
bition director of Ohio that be Bad
received instructions from Mr. Kramer
to prevent sales of malt and hops ex
cept to bakers and to confectioners
has not been denied by the Internal
revenue bureau, although it is under
stood that Commissioner Williams has
not yet approved these specific orders.
There was an apparent difference
of opinion between officials of the
bureau of internal revenue and Com
missioner Kramer's staff of advisers
as to the powers granted under the
Volstead act with respect to prohib
iting the sale of articles employed in
the manufacture of beer at home.
Commissioner Williams conferred
(Concluded on Pago 2, Column 1.)
t A SIX-FOOT TARPON WILL LOOK LIKE A MINNOW LATER ON. I
' -"r
Return of Victorious Army to
Every-Day Pursuits Is Declared
Reason for Gratitude. "
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12. President
Wilson issued his Thanksgiving proc
lamation tonight, saying that "in
plenty, security. and peace, our vir
tuous and self-reliant people race the
future," and setting aside Thursday,
November 25, for the usual observ
ances. The text follows:
"The season approacnes when it be
hooves us to turn . from 'the distrac
tions and preoccupations of our daily
life, that we may contemplate the
mercies which nave been vouchsafed
to us and render heartfelt and un
feigned thanks unto God for his
manifold goodness.
"This is an old observance of the
American people, deeply imbedded in
our thoughts and habit. The burdens
and the stresses of life have their
own insistence.
"We have abundant cause for
thanksgiving. The lesions of the war
are rapidly healing. The great army
of free men which America sent to
the defense of liberty,' returning to
the grateful embrace of the nation.
has resumed the useful pursuits of
peace, as simply and as promptly as
it rushed to arms in obedience to the
country's call. The equal justice of
our laws has received steady vindica
tion in the support of a law-abiding
people against various and sinister
attacks which have reflected only the
baser agitations of war, now happily
passing. , .
"In plenty, security and peace, our
virtuous and self-reliant people face
the future. Its duties and its oppor
tunities. May we have vision to dis
cern our duties; the strength both of
hand and resolve to discharge them,
and the soundness of heart to realize
that the truest opportunities are those
of service.
"In a spirit, then, of devotion and
stewardship we should give thanks
in our hearts and dedicate ourselves
to the service of God's merciful and
loving purposes to his children.
"Wherefore, I, Woodrow Wilson,
president of the United States of
America, do hereby designate Thurs
day, the 25th day of. November next,
as a day of thanksgiving and prayer
and 1 call upon' my countrymen to
cease from their ordinary tasks and
avocations upon that day. giving it
up to the remembrance of God and
his blessings and their, dutiful and
grateful acknowledgments."
SACRAMENTO HAS BIG FIRE
Flames Early Today Sweep Large
. Business Block.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Nov. 13. Fire
early this morning had swept one of
the largest business blocks in Sac
ramento. The entire fire department
of Sacramento and that of Oak Park,
a suburb, were called out and there
was no indication when the flames
would be controlled. A large de
partment store and a men's clothing
store had been destroyed at 1:30 this
morning.
Fanned by a strong breeze, the
flames spread' with great activity.
SIX-FOOT TARPON WILL LOOK LIKE A MINNOW LATER ON.
Address In Golf Metropolis Will
Deal. With Obliteration of
Sectionalism.
POINT ISABEL, Tex., Nov. 12. (By
the Associated Press.) President
elect Harding, whose outing at Point
Isabel ends next Wednesday, has
agreed to deliver an address in New
Orleans on the following day Just
before he sails for his voyage to Pan
ama. He will speak at a luncheon
of. the New Orleans chamber of com
merce, and Is expected .to discuss In
particular the economic possibilities
and requirements of the new south,
and the need for a national Industrial
policy uninfluenced by sectional inter
ests. Many Invitations to speak at other
places in the south and southwest
have come to the president-elect, but
he is declining all of them. Leaving
Brownsville at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning1 on a special train, he will
try to avoid rear platform speeches
on the way northward, along the gulf
coast, and by a fast run will reach
New Orleans Thursday morning. His
steamer sails that afternoon.
Senator Harding's decision to. ac
cept the New Orleans speaking invi
tation means that in consonance with
his oft-repeated ambition to obliterate
sectionalism, his first three formal
addresses as president-elect are to be
delivered within the territory of the
old confederacy and in states that
long have been pillars of the demo
cratic solid south. The first of these
addresses was delivered in Browns
ville yesterday and the third bs been
scheduled for December 5 at Bedford,
Va.
Speeches outside American terri
tory are to be avoided and Mr. Hard
ing indicated today that he did not
expect during his Panama trip to go
within the boundaries or waters of
any foreign country. Among other
invitations he has received one from
Preston McGoodwin, American min
ister to Venezuela, asking that he go
to Venezuela and Colombia and during
his stay here he has been asked in
formally several times to pay a visit
to northern Mexico. He is said by
those close to him to feel that such
visits now would be inadvisable.
Most of today the president-elect
devoted to golf, motoring the 20
miles to the Brownsville links through
a cold, damp norther that bad
broken up his tarpon fishing off Point
island. . Despite the disagreeable
weather he tramped over the muddy
course for 18 holes.
HOTELS CUT FOOD PRICES
Ten Per Cent Reduction Follows
Session With Investigators.
NEW YORK, Nov. 12. An average
reduction of 10 per cent in food prices
was announced today by several large
hotels after conferences with federal
food investigators.
The number of items on the menus
on which decreases had been made
varied from 16 in one large hotel to
172 in another.
The new prices will go into effect
Monday.
JL . ... . - JL)U
Complaints of Political
Influence Related.
GUARDED TESTIMONY GIVEN
Criticism Is Declared Only
That Made by Others.
BOARD AGENT ON STAND
John T. Median, Deputy Chief of
Investigation Department, De
nies Irregularity by Officers.
NEW YORK, Nor. 12. Alleged "po
litical activity" previously referred to
in testimony and reports before the
Walsh commission investigating fa
cilities of the United States shipping
board was again touched upon in tes
timony presented here today. Repre
sentative Foster, questioning John T.
Meehan, deputy chief of the board's
bureau of Investigation, asked if
there had been any loss to the gov
ernment through "political influence."
The witness replied that he could
not say that there had.
Asked if there had been any com
plaints of such influence, the witness
said that he had heard some criticism
of William McAdoo after he had re
signed as secretary of the treasury.
Morse Interests Mentioned.
It was charged or .rather com
plained of he added, that Mr. Mc
Adoo had appeared before the board
on behalf of the Morse interests.
"I do not want to be understood,"
he continued, "as saying that it is
even Inferred that Mr. McAdoo has in
terfered with or has been harmful to
the board in any way." He explained
he was testifying only as to criticisms
he had heard.
Meehan also said that vhU most
of the investigations of his depart
ment had been of the ' activities of
minor employes, his department had
not overlooked officials. " He added
they had gone "very high". In tho
board's personnel. He repeated pre
vious testimony that no irregularities
had been discovered among the
board's officers.
Department Rends Mentioned.
References were made, however, to
department heads particularly in
southern district shipyards, where dis
missals had been made at his recom
mendation. . One of these dismissals
was broughta bout, he eaid, by what
he termed undue and unnecessary de
lay as well as exorbitant expense in
repairs to a wooden ship. The final
repair bill on this ship, he Said,
amounted to fully $200,000 and the
ship could not be sold today for
J75.000.
Going into details of alleged graft
among ship officers, he related details
of a case on the steamship Dio. On
this vessel, he testified, three of its
officers, including the captain, had
managed to conceal the presence of
400 tons of fuel oil when it arrived
from Rotterdam. At Norfolk more
oil was taken aboard for a voyage to
Rio de Janeiro.
Difference Declared Split.
At this port the officer paid for
the delivery of 1000 tons of oil, the
witness asserted, but through con
nivance with an employe of an oil
delivery company, only 600 tons were
delivered.
The difference between the value
of the 600 tons delivered and the
1000 tons paid for amounting to
about $9000 was "split" between the
parties concerned in the transaction.
The officers of the ship, in addition
to the split, also took file usual "per
centage" of the sale. The captain,
it was alleged, also connived with
the repair company for certain alter
ations to the ship for which the
board was charged $11,000.
. Officers Are Indicted.
The captain, the witness added, re
ceived $500 from this contract as his
"bit." It was afterwards ascertained
that a reasonable price for the "re
pairs woulud have been about $2000.
Also before sailing the ship took
aboard sufficient beef to last nine
months, much of which was later
thrown overboard, he said.
Meehan testified that the captain,
chief engineer and another officer
were indicted. The latter two con
fessed and received light sentences.
The captain was released on bond
and he is due to appear here for trial
November 15.
The witness said he had been in
formed,, however, that the captain and
his wife and "14 trunks'" had sailed
from Key West for Buenos Aires. The
shipping board is now seeking him.
Some Cases Prosecuted.
. Details of alleged irregularities in
overcharges to shipping board ves
sels, collection of double fees and
many other offenses have been run
down, Meehan asserted, and in some
cases restitution made and in others
prosecutions instituted.
- Testifying as to the commissions
paid ships' officers, he said that the
majority of these were small what
he termed "petty grafting." One firm,
however, refunded to the board $76,-
000, which it had paid in "commis
sions" in one year and in turn had
charged to' the board as "supplies."
He testified that, in addition to
prosecutions, it had "broken" large
numbers of officers, meaning they
jt.Conciu.dcd. oa fw 2, Column 2
Roseburg Market Opens This Week
and Report Is That Supply Will
lie Rather Limited.
ROSEBURG. Or.. Nov. 12. (Spe
cial.) The turkey market will open
in this vicinity early next week, prob
ably Tuesday. A number of outside
buyers already are bargaining for a
part of the output but have not made
known the prices that will be offered
for this year's birds. Turkey-raisers
say the supply will be limited for tho
Thanksgiving trade, many of the
large producers preferring to hold
their turkeys for the Christmas and
New Year's demand.
Owing to the cold, wet weather the
past month it has been a hard prob
lem for many of the farmers to keep
their birds in prime condition and it
is thought that a large number will
reach the market underfed. ,
Prime birds were bringing G5 cents
a pound here 10 days ago, while pre
vailing prices today were 40 to 45
cents for the best quality. Local
buyers are of the opinion that the
peak already has been reached. Last
year there was considerable rivalry
between outside and local buyers and
a few choice turkeys brought 46 cents
a pound, but the bulk of the consign
ments were sold at 41 to 43 cents.
Buyers believe the.e prices will pre
vail this season, though many of the
large turkey-raisers expect better
figures.
GOLFERS RESIST ROBBERS
Police Find Burglar" Wood Pile
Fallen Over.
A game of golf on the Waverley
club links, Seliwood, was interrupted
shortly before dark last night, when
tho players, K. B. Ivumpe and A. E.
Peterson, were oredrcd to put up
their hands. Tho order came from one
of two men who had them covered
with revolvers. When the golfers
showed indications of resisting the
men fired thrco shots in the ground
near them and retreated into the
brush.
But one "burglary" was reported
to the police. The call came from the
home of A. K. Isensee, 8GS East lloyt
street. When motorcycle patrolmen
answered and investigated, they found
that the "burglar"' was a pile of wood
in the kitchen, which had fallen over.
Eight negro women were held last
night for investigation. They aro
thought to be members of tho gang
which has been robbing citizens dur
ing the past two weeks.
Numerous individuals found on the
streets after midnight, who could not
give a. satisfactory account of them
selves, were taken to headquarters
for investigation.
PTOMAINE KILLS RANCHER
Canned Corn Merely Tasted Fatal
to Christian Guinther.
THE DALLES, Or., Nov. 12, (Spe
cial.) Ptomaine germs lurking in a
dish of canned corn tasted by Chris
tian Guinther of Gateway, a week
ago Thursday, today caused his death.
According to Fred Guinther, the
dead man's brother, Guinther ate only
three spoonfuls of the fatal corn,
pushing it away from him with the
remark that it "tasted queer." He
was taken violently ill shortly after,
dying this .morning at his ranch at
Gateway.
The body is in The Dalles, awaiting
funeral arrangements.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximlum temperature,
' 42 degrees; minimum, 36.
TODAY'S Rain, southerly winds.
Koreign.
Cork prisoners take food on 04th day of
strike. Page 4.
Treaty between Italy and Jugo-Slavla de
clared great diplomatic victory. Page 2.
Home-brewed beer illegal product, de
clares internal revenue bureau. Page 1.
Wilson proclaims day of national thanks
giving. Page 1.
League substitute declared childish. Page 3.
, Domestic.
Flour millers in Kansas facing shut-down.
Page 2.
Strike insurance" tol'd of In New Tork
building probe. Page 4.
President-elect Harding accepts Invitation
to address chamber of commerce of
New Orleans. Page 1.
McAdoo's name mentioned in shipping
board probe. Page 1.
Leaders in New York labor war quizzed
regarding Wall s-treet explosion. Page 6.
Pacific Northwest.
Seattle mayor may be cited on contempt
charge. Page 3.
Washington estimates needs of state In
stitutions at 8.30l,765. Page 7.
Development of Tongue Point naval base
expected to begin early In 1U21. Page 1.
Cheap Thanksgiving turkey not to be ex
pected this year, say reports. Page I.
Sports.
Washington In fine fettle for gam. with
Oregon at Eugene today. . Page 14.
Major leaguers end war and agree on
Judge Landls as dictator at salary of
J42.500 year. Page 1.
Yale-Princeton game draws most Interest
in east today. Page 14.
Leonard-Welling bout stirs boxing fans.
Page 15.
James John defeats Lincoln eleven, 7 to 6.
Pag. 15.
Commercial and Marine.
Plvty-five per cent of northwestern wheat
crop, still unsoia. I'age 21.
Wheat at lowest price since 1916 in Chi
cago market. Page 21.
Severe reversal In stock market. Page 21.
All bids for construction of shed at mu
nicipal terminal rejected. age 20.
Portland and Vicinity. .
University of Washington's big stick is re
covered in Portland. Page 16.
Cost of operating city is over four millions.
Page 8.
Tenth annual Pacific International Live
stock show opens this morning. Page 21.
Stefansson upsets many Arctic theories.
Page 6,
Deserted infant makes friends at police
nation. Page 1.
Early Start at Tongue
Point Assured.
COMMITTEE INSPECTS SITE
Only Preliminaries Now Await
Actual Construction.
LIVELY INTEREST SHOWN
Deed to Property to lie Frcf-cncd
to FncTe Sam About January 1.
Funds Xovr Available.
BT JAMES D. OLSON.
ASTORIA, Or., Nov. 12. (Special.)
Development of Tongue point as a
submarine and destroyer base and
aviation station will begin as soon aa
the deed to the properly has been
approved by the United States attorney-general,
according to information
given out by the joint congressional .
committee which spent today in As
toria. This means that work on the proj
ect probably will begin shortly after
the first of next year. According to
members of the Astoria entertainment
committee, which welcomed the con
gressional party to the city, the
Tongue point property, including ap
proximately 2200 acres, has been pur
chased and the deed will be presented
to the government about January 1.
Fund Already Available.
The government already has appro
priated $250,000 for preliminary work
on tho project, which incidentally
was the only new project provided for
in the appropriation bill passed at the
lat cession of consress. Credit for
this item is given by members of tho
congressional committee to C. N. Mc
Artnur, representative of the third
Oregon district, who worked ardently
for a submarine base at the mouth ot
the- Columb1a river.
The congressional committee ar
rived in Portland today and boarded
a private car almost Immediately for
Astoria. In the party are Admiral
Robert Koontz, chief of naval opera
tions; Bear-Admiral Charles Parks,
chief of the bureau of docks and
yards; Rear-Admiral Washington L.
Capps, who accompanied the Helm
comniissin to the coast several
years ago, and Lieutenant-Command
er Hill, aide to Admiral Koontz. These
officials, although attached to the
congressional party principally to
supply information required by the
commission, also are gathering data
on improvements planned by the navy
department.
Columbia Claim Presented.
Incidentally the presence of the con
gressional delegation In Astoria gave
citizens an opportunity to call atten
tion to the claim that the Columbia
river is the only truly American har
bor available for development in fu
ture emergencies.
"It is well known that Puget sound
cannot be classified as solely an
American harbor for the reason that
it has the Canadian border to the
north." said R. R. Bartlett, chief en
gineer of the Astoria port commis
sion. "The San Francisco bar allows
a draft of but 28 feet and cannot be
made deeper because of a rock bot
tom. San Diego and Los Angeles
harbors are' not large enough to de
velop. The Columbia river la the
only deep-water harbor available for
the government in case of emer
gency. The entrance to the Columbia
river affords a depth of 40 feet at
low tide mark and can be deepened
if necessary to 60 feet."
Visit First for Two.
Two of the members of tho joint
commission representing the United
States senate and house of represen
tatives have never before visited Port
land or Astoria. These two are Sen
ator . Keys of New Hampshire and
Representative Stephens of Ohio.
Senator Ball of Delaware, chairman
of the present commission, was In
Portland in 1905, wl)en he was a mem
ber of a senatorial commission ap
pointed to visit the Lewis and Clark
fair.
Representative Brittan, ranking re
publican member, of the naval affairs
committee of the house, who repre
sents an Ohio district, has visited the
northwest several times and was a
member of the naval affairs commit
tee which inspected the Tongue Point
site in March, 1919.
Representatives Hicks and Rlordan,
both of New York, also have visited
Portland and Astoria several times
and are thoroughly familiar with the
Columbia river submarine project. L.
P. Padgett, representative from Ten
nessee, also is familiar with the Co
lumbia river and the opportunities
offered through the use of this river
for protection of the entire north
west. McArttanr Gets Credit.
Representative McArthur, a mem
ber of the naval affairs committee but
not a member of the joint commis
sion, accompanied the party to As
toria and will remain with the com
mission while it is in the Oregon ter
ritory. Admiral Koontz, chief of naval op
erations, last visited Portland 24
I years ago, when- he was a junior of
ficer on the old cruiser Philadelphia,
1 Bear-Admiral Parks was a Port-
tCoaduded. on, Pag 2, Column 4.)