PRICE FIVE CENTS
VOL. LX NO. 18,895
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
Poatofflc if Second-Class Matter
PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY,
JUNE
13, 1921
amplifZ'joms
"sf a over city
UNCERTAINTY RULES
ARMY, SAYS OFFICER
IMPENDING REORGAXIZATIOX
LENDS WEIRD TOUCH.
E
AD CLUB CONVENTION
INVITED TO PORTLAND
POST-WAR ISSUES
TO OGGUPY LABOR
ANKLE PIECE SHAMED
BY NEW CALF WATCH
TO DECIDE POLICY
BY KELSO POSSE
HERE TO REMAIN
.o
ADVERTISING MEX" ASKED TO
THB
PARK HEARS WORD
JHED IX CHURCH.
QUIETLY COW.VED GIRL RE
INDORSE 1925 FAIR.
VEALS LATEST ORX'AMEXT.
SHIPPING
0
OUTLAW
IS TAKEN
1TM
WAGES
Norris Pyron Gives Up
Without Fight.
GARDNER STILL AT LARGE
Clew Resulting in Capture
Furnished by Boy.
FUGITIVE HIDES IN GRASS
W. A. Pratt Covers Escaped Con
Vict With Rifle and Forces Him
to Surrender to Squad.
KELSO. Wash., June 12. (Special.)
Early tonight a man was observed
by L. J. Short, a posseman, sneaking
along in a stooping position from the
hills about a. mile and a half north
of thi city. He passed within 1500
feet of Short, it was reported, and
entered a swamp. Short said the man
answered perfectly the description of
Hoy Gardner. Sheriff Hoggatt was
notified immediately and rushed re
serves from Castle Rock and threw
.a cordon around the swamp. The
swamp is small, but is covered with a
thick undergrowth.
KELSO, Wash., June 12. (Spe
cial.) Norris H. Pyron. confederate
of Roy Gardner In a daring escape
from federal officers at Castle Rock
. early yesterday morning, was cap
tured this afternoon by a posse of
Kelso men. The apprehension of the
fugitive was the result of a telephone
message to the authorities from a
19-year-old boy. Gardner and Pyron
were being taken to McNeil's island
to serve long-terms.
Pyron, declaring that through fear
of Gardner, who, he said, had vowed"
to kill him if the pair was captured,
he had separated from Gardner,
trusting to his own ingenuity to
elude capture, came forth trembling
from a camouflage of grass when
covered with a rifle and ordered to
surrender by W. A. Pratt of Kelso,
civilian member of the posse.
Boy Gives Alarm.
Included in the posse besides Mr.
Pratt were Charles Rankin and Tom
Fannon, deputy sheriffs of Kelso;
Carl Palmer, city marshal of Kelso,
and C. H. Foster.
Knowledge of Pyron's presence in
the neighborhood of Kelso cams
through an alarm telephoned from
Ostrander by Nelson Stock, 19-year-old
son of F. L. Stock, farmer of
Ostrander. The boy saw Pyron. he
said, hiding in the barn on his fath
er's farm. - He observed a scar on
the right hand of the man and im
mediately came to the conclusion
that this was Pyron, a description of
whom he had read. He told the au
thorities at Kelso that Pyron had
left the farm and was skirting the
river in the brush.
The Kelso posse then was formed
and started along the Cowlitz river.
They came on Pyron's trail. The trail
led into the heavy brush and tall
grass about 250 yards north of the
Crescent shingle mill. At thi9 point
a railroad spur runs out to the mUl,
and while Foster and Palmer climbed
boxcars and posted themselves as
lookouts Pratt started through the
brush. He followed the trail and
soon saw where grass had been pulled
un. forming a heap. Another step
and he saw the heap of grass -move.
Outlaw Gives Up.
"Come up out of there and come
up with your arms up," ordered
Pratt.
"I'm not Gardner." came the trem
ulous reply.
"You might not be Gardner, but you
look so much like your partner that
I'm not going to take any chances,"
said Pratt.
"I'm your man," announced Pyron,
as he crawled out, his hands over his
head and his knees shaking. He car
ried a .3S-caliber revolver, fully
loaded. It was one taken from one
of the officers when he escaped.
But he got no chance to use it. He
had been watching the men on the
boxcars too intently to observe Pratt
until it was too late.
Pyron continued to evince a shak
ing nervousness until placed in Jail,
when he began to laugh and talk. He
was questioned about the where
abouts of Gardner. On the strength
cf his statement that the two had
separated about a quarter of a mile
north of Castle Rock and that he
could show the officers the exact
spot, he was taken to the place in
hope that a definite clew might be
obtained to Gardner's whereabouts.
Pyron l'tm- Gardner.
Pyron declared he and Gardner had
leaped from the train at the water
tank just out of Kalama, and then
had headed north. All through the
conversation Pyron showed hi, great
fear of Gardner, repeatedly laying
tnat he would have given himself up
sooner had it not been for his partner.
Driven by hunger, Pyron entered
into Kelso, about noon, he said, and
had gone to a restaurant, where he
obtained food. There was an un
verified report here today also to the
effect that Gardner and Pyron had
held up a family in the hills north of
here yesterday and procured food.
Although Pyron was not aware of
It. he was practically in a trap from
which he had scarcely any hope of
Colonel Ilarold Flske, Member of
Pershing's Staff Overseas,
Is Orgeon Visitor. .
DALLAS, Or., June 12. (Special.)
Members of the regular United States
army are performing their daily tasks
with uncanny uncertainty as to the
future, because of the minimum of
150.000 men provided in the army ap
propriations law.
This was the message of Colonel
Harold Flske, who, during the world
war, served with the rank of brlga
dier-general on the staff of General
John J. Pershing, having charge of
the training of American troops over
seas. Colonel Fiske is visiting his
mother, Mrs. C. S. Fiske; his brother.
V. P. Fiske, postmaster of Dallas, and
sister, Mrs. Grace Barrett.
"We are facing a considerable re
duction in the size of the regular
forces," said Colonel Flske. "The pres
ent size of the army is approximately
240,000, while the minimum set by the
law is 150,000. The reduction we do
not know how speedily it will take
place is to begin after the next fiscal
year, which starts July 1.
"Officers and men are wondering
what will be the nature of the reor
ganization. We have learned of no
details. Naturally, the present work
of the army is being carried on under
an atmosphere of uncertainty plainly
visible.
"The morale of the men is still sat
isfactory, though not, of course, as
high as during the war period. It
has . been maintained wonderfully
well."
Colonel Flske began his army career
28 years ago today as a student at
West Point, where he graduated from
the regular course. He went over
seas in June, 1917, with the 1st di
vision, regular army. After three
months' service he was promoted to
General Pershing's staff. His present
headquarters are Fort Benjamin Har
rison, near Indianapolis, Ind.
BERRY SHIPMENTS LARGE
20
Carloads Shipped by
River Association.
Hood
HOOD RIVER, Or.. June 12 (Spe
claJ.) With total shipments up to last
night reaching 20 carloads, the straw
berry harvest, according to estimates
of the Apple Growers' association,
was 20 per cent over. The quality is
said to be the best in several years,
although prices will be about 50 per
cent of the record high returns of last
season, when more than $4 a crate
was the average.
Throughout the coming week the
harvest will be at Its height in the
Oak Grove, Willow Flat and Dee dis
tricts. Canners this season are taking only
a small quantity of berries, and the
bulk of the product will be marketed
packed In 24 full pint crates. The
Apple Growers' association has begun
a campaign in the Dakota and Mon
tana regions, where the bulk of the
local crop is distributed, to stimulate
crate purchases by housewives for
canning and preserving.
GUNMAN FIRES ON AUTOS
Bullet Grazes I(ead of Salem Man
Shot at From Ambush.
SALEM, Or., June 12 (Special.)
Salem police today were searching
for an unidentified man who last
night fired from ambush at passing
automobiles.
Ray Gilbert reported to the police
that while on his way home shortly
after 11 o'clock last night by auto
mobile some person fired a shot from
a grove abutting the highway. The
bullet grazed Mr. Gilbert's head.
An automobile containing Mr. and
Mrs. William Prunk. Miss Anna Fltts
and Fred Welch was fired upon at
the same spot. Similar reports were
received from other motorists.
Chief Moffltt said tonight he had
a clew to the person who had done
the shooting. He was certain a
woman was involved and that the
man had shot at some other car than
the one for which he lay in waiting.
CAR HITS AUTO; 3 DEAD
1
One Woman Probably Fatally Hurt
in Accident Near Seattle.
SEATTLE. Wash., June 12. Three
persons were killed and one probably
fatally injured this afternoon when
the automobile In which they were
riding was struck by an interurban
car at Algona crossing, 15 miles
south of Seattle. The dead:
Joseph Gillmette, 55.
Mrs. Joseph Gillmette, f2.
G. L. Burrls, 60.
Mrs. G. L. Burrls, 64, was seriously
injured and is not expected to live.
Gillmette and Burns were Northern
laclfic switchmen at Auburn, Wash.,
where both families resided.
PEACE VOTE IS TODAY
House Leaders Predict Less Than
74 Will Oppose Resolution.
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 12.
Republican leaders confident of united )
party support, predicted tonight that
less than 74 votes would be cast in
the house tomorrow against the
Porter peace resolution.
Chairman Porter of the foreign af
fairs committee declared a check 'n
dicated that the total opposition
would not exceed 60 votes. Under
the agreement adopted yesterday, 208
to 105, the resolution, which is not
subject to amendment, will be voted
on at 4:30 P. 1L
Present Ebb Temporary,
in Light of History.
LABOR NEVER LOSES. GAINS
Record of Centuries Shows
Rise in Toilers' Pay.
RECESSION IS TEMPORARY
Data Gathered by Congress Proves
Permanent Recovery Follows
Declines After Conflicts.
BY HARDEN COLFAX.
(Copyright. 1921, by The Oregonlan.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, May 11.
(Special.) American workmen, cut
by the lash of peace-time wage re
ductions, will have to content them
selves for a period with lessened pay,
but ultimately wages will go back
to war-time levels.
"What goes up must come down."
does not apply, over a span of years,
to wages. All that labor ever gained
it held. It will hold. Inevitably, all
that it won during the world war.
Such is the conclusion, extracted
like an infinitesimal particle of ra
dlum, from tons of raw material
gathered throughout . the world by
the ways and means committee of
the house of representatives, and just
made public. In its search for in
formation as to wages paid through
out the world, the committee combed
the records of almost every civilized
country. It found a veritable mine
of golden material. It found also its
particle of radium. Nowhere in mod
ern history have wages receded, ex
cept for. a comparatively brief space
of time, after a great war. They al
ways went back to the war-time
level and then began to climb again.
American Wane HlKhent.
The committee also found that no
workman in the world gets the pay
of the American. In Its search the
committee went back nearly -700
years through the records of West
minster' abbey, the Tower of London
and Buckingham palace. Its first
records start with the year 1253, and
cover wages paid in the building
trade in England.
Carpenters, masons, bricklayers
and plumbers received then a daily
wage of 6 cents and boarded them
selves and their families.
Labor, unskilled, was paid a penny
and three farthings, 3ft cents.
Then the climb began.
In 1330, when Edward, the Black
Prince, was winning his victories In
(Concluded on Pago 2. Column I.)
SOMETIMES IT'S AS HARD
Ae NWCH HE.
Etc .CC. tTC.
Proposed Exposition in Philadel
phia In 192 6 Declared Impedi
ment to Rose City's Plans.
ATLANTA, Ga., June 12. (Special.)
Resolutions requesting indorsement
of the 1925 exposition and an invita
tion asking the associated advertising
clubs of the world to hold the world's
advertising convention In Portland
that year, were presented to the
executive committee at Its initial
meeting of the 17th annual convention
here tonight by W. P. Strandborg, na
tional vice-president.
Resolutions, will be reported back
to the convention floor Thursday aft
ernoon for final action, and indica
tions are that the resolutions com
mittee will report favorably.
Thj request for the convention in
1925 was the first one to be pre
sented, and Portland has scores of
warm supporters among the thou
sands of delegates, many of whom at
tended either the Elks or the Shrine
convention in Portland, and will go
back any time Portland says the
word.
Portland's exposition plans face a
complicated situation throughout the
eastern states owing to a powerful
machine which has been backing
Philadelphia for a 1926 exposition, the
principal support for which came
from the Penrose political machine
and the Pennsylvania railroad system.
However, Portland's project has met
with favor everywhere.
ANGLERS STILL IN JAIL
Holley Fishermen Serving Time
for JTot Having Licenses.
ALBANY. Or. June 12. (Special.)
Three of the four young men arrested
last Sunday at Holley for fishing
without a license today were still in
the Linn county JaiL The father of
Roy McQueen, tne fourth young man,
who went to Jail rather than pay a
fine, paid the young man's fine and
insisted upon his going home.
Officers said there was considerable
sentiment at Holley to the effect that
the price asked for fishing licenses
under the new law is too high and
that the boys have let the county
board them in protest against arrest
for this offense. The three young
men yet in jail are Lee Moss, Albert
Gray and John Crocker. .
HOOD PETITIONS SIGNED
Candidacies of . Three School Di
rectors Placed.
HOOD RIVER, Or., June 12. (Spe
cial.) Petitions have been signed by
patrons of the city school district
placing three candidates in the field
for the three vacancies that must be
filled at an election Monday, June 20,
on the school board. Formalities nom-j
inating I. R. Acheson, canner and for
mer banker, and Judge A. J. Derby.
ex-district attorney,' were completed
two weeks ago. -A last moment peti
tion Saturday nominated Mrs. W. H.
McClain, prominent club woman.
Two of the old board of three, Dr.
V. R. Abraham and Jesse W. Crites,
will hold over. The retiring member
of the old board is Dr. C. H. Jenkins.
FOR WOMEX TO UNDERSTAND
UNDERSTAND WOMEN. '
Men Smoke Pipes and Cigars While
Dr. W. T. McEIveen Speaks
to Congrcgationalists.
Unique church services, said to be
the first of the kind in the history of
the world, were conducted at First
Congregational church yesterday
morning and last night with the aid
of sound amplifiers, which enabled
a large congregation of worshipers,
many of them several blocks from
the building, to hear distinctly the
sermon, prayers and music.
Throngs of people who flocked to
Festival center to take advantage
of the novel experiment evidently
enjoyed the exercises. Automobiles
laden with interested listeners were
parked for four or five blocks ad-
Jacent to f estival center, ana
park benches contained a large con
gregation. To many older church
goers, veterans of the days of two
hour sermons and torturous wooden
pews, the occasion furnished a strik
ing contrast as they sat in ease in
the balmy summer. Men added to
their comfort by lighting pipes and
cigars.
Dr. W. T. McEIveen, pastor of
First Congregational church, made
several references to "the people out
side" in .the course of the services.
After announcing that the morning
offering would be taken, he invited
the outdoor crowd to pass the hat
among themselves if they felt they
were being left out of this church
feature. Dr. McEIveen spoke yester-
day morning on "Portland, the Gar-
den City." and the message of the
beauties of the Rose City had the
honor of officially Inaugurating the
new amplifiers.
TERMINAL VOTE PLEASING
Voters of Portland Awake to Fu
ture Development, Says Mr. Grant
DES MOINES, la., June 12. (Spe
clal.) The large majority given the
the voters of Portland brought Joy to
Frank S. Grant, city attorney of Port
land, who arrived in this city this
morning.
"I am elated over the manner in
which the Portland voters Indorsed
the terminal project When one
travels through other cities, the real
ization is made that the only way in
which Portland can develop is through
provision of adequate freight-hand
ling facilities. The vote shows that
the people of Portland are alive to
this necessity and the action of .the
voters in my opinion will mean much
to the future development of o
city." .
Break In Flame Repaired.
BEND, Or., June 12. (Special.)
Repair of the break in the main
flume of the Central Oregon Irriga
tion company was completed today
after a week's work and an expendi
ture of $2000. Water was turned into
the canal at 5 o clock, and would
reach the lower end. 35 miles distant
In 72 hours, it was estimated. So un
usually heavy has been the precipi
tation this spring that crops are more
advanced than usual, though the sup
ply of irrigation water has been cut
off for more than a week.
MEN AS IT IS FOR MEN TO
frrAY STUFF
NIGHT
Federation Faces Severe
Test, Says Gompers.
DENYER GREETS DELEGATES
Administration's Re-election
Seems to Be Certain.
, ,
LITTLE OPPOSITION NOTED
Convention to Study Problem of
Unemployed and Open Shop
Movement, Chief Declares.
DENVER, Colo., June 12. The 41st
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor, which opens
here tomorrow, will be a gathering
for the promotion and development of
American welfare and freedom. Presi
dent Samuel Gompers of the federa
tion declared in a statement tonight.
This convention, the veteran labor
leader said, would mark a "milestone
j in our national progress," would deal
with the "great post-war issues con
fronting organized labor, which are
today in the balance at the crucial
moment where the die must be cast
one way or the other."
Many Delegates rrearnt.
More than 500 delegates from all
parts of the United States and Canada
were assembled for the meeting,
which will probably continue for the
next two weeks. J. H. Thomas, presi
dent of the railway workers' union
of England, was here to represent as
a fraternal delegate the workers of
Great Britain in the British ' trade
union congress.
Despite many reports that Presi
dent Gompers and his administration
would be opposed for re-election, up
to tonight there had not been any
open indication of such a movement
While John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, who had been
boomed as a candidate for the presi
dency by the - anti-Gompers forces,
declined -to make any statement, it
was understood that he would not op
pose the labor chief.
The delegates of the machinists'
union cannot vote for President
Gompers, as they are instructed by
the convention of their International
organization not to vote for any offi
cer who is "an active or honorary
member of the national civic federa
tion." They, however, have not an
nounced any intention of putting a
candidate in the field.
Rail Leader to Meet.
The machinists' delegates also are
instructed to work for the passage of
a resolution providing for the elec
tion of the officials and members of
the executive council of the federa
tion by a general referendum vote
of all organized workers of the coun
try They also want the federation
reorganized along industrial lines, in
stead of craft lines making it a
great industrial congress.
Leaders of the railroad organiza
tions and several other unions, it was
learned, were planning to hold a con
ference to decide whether they would
put a candidate in the field for a
vice-presidency. Last year these or
ganizations attempted to get this
representation on the federation's
executive council but failed.
Chief Problem Outlined.
The major issues to come before
the convention, as outlined by Presi
dent Gompers tonight include:
"The condition of unemployment, of
which estimates run as high as
F, 000,000 workers.
"The un-American attempt to crush
labor and blast its spirit through
what is called, with miserable dis
regard for the truth, the open-shop
movement.
'The railroad problem. Involving
the nation's chief means of trans
portation. "The imm'gration problem, witk
Its vital bearing on American stand
ards of living and of citizenship.
"The problem of Russian affairs.
the cancer that is eating at the vitals
of world civ'lization.
"The problem of how best to meet
conditions brought about by court
decision, is a problem, unhappily, not
decreasing in importance and for that
teason demanding more than usual
attention.
Demand Are Set Forth.
"Added to these are the construc
tive demands which labor must voice
with endless repetition and with
growing intelligence and emphasis:
The problems that will be brought
forth by the delegates affecting the
trades and calling of the workers;
the relationship of American labor to
international bodies; the considera
tion of suggestions and proposals
looking to the marking out of new
work and new programmes of ac
tion." Disarmament and the Irish ques
tion and the high cost of living will
occupy outstanding positions on the
federation's programme.
The adoption of a resolution calling
upon congress to take steps to bring
about world-wide disarmament will
be unopposed, labor leaders declared,
as the convention of 1913, 1914 and in
1919 went on record favoring Inter
national disarmament.
Two tactions of Irish sympathizers
have developed among the delegates.
One is preparing a resolution de-
(.Cunuludcti on Vug '-. vuiuiiui 3.)
Square Bit of Aluminum Finds
Nice Place High Up on Chair
Rider's Hosiery.
ATLANTIC CITY", N. J., June 12
(Special.) Remember how the lads
went goggle-eyed a few years ago
when some actress or other flashed
upon the world that bit of ornamen
tation known as the ankle-watch, a
tiny timepiece attached to a band of
precious metal encircling the silk
stocking Just above the slipper top?
The ankle watch is now a part of the
dim, modest past. The thing of to
day is the "calf watch," to describe it
in brutal English.
It came to light this afternoon on
the board walk. It was a square bit
of aluminum, attached to a slender
circlet of the same metal, which cir
clet was fitted well, very, very high
upon the young wheel chair rider's
hosier" Indeed, quite beyond its am
plest point. As the young specimen of
femininity was riding cross-legged,
the visibility was perfect.
"Did you see that?" asked one of
the lads In front of the Alamac.
"Did I see it? Say, when I miss
anything like that, page the under
taker." The girl was apparently not an
actress and was quietly gowned. She
was not exceptionally pretty,
then the board walkers were
looking at her face particularly.'
but
not
BEAR KILLED IN SEATTLE
Motorcycle Policemen Shoot 1 4 0
Pound Animal.
SEATTLE, Wash., June 12. (Spe
cial.) Reputations were vindicated.
children again allowed freedom of the
wooded places and some residents
lost suspicious feelings about their
neighbor's home brew when the mys
terious West Seattle bear was actual
ly sighted, ousted by Airedale dogs,
shot, killed and cut into bear steaks
today.
When J. Ostficld, 4115 Fifty-sixth
avenue Southwest, first reported that
he had sighted a black bear on June
9, some unkind things were said.
West Seattle simply would not accept
Outfield's bear.
Airedales were pressed into service.
The trail led to a grove near Luna
park and off of Ferry avenue. Here
the Airedales picked up the scent and
cornered the bear. Motorcycle po
licemen fired three shots and brought
the bear down. He - weighed 140
pounds.
FIRE CRIPPLES STEAMER
Buckeye State, With 135 Passcn
gem, to Go lo Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, Md., June 12. Crip
pled by a fire caused by a flare-back
in her forward engine room, the
steamship Buckeye State of the Mat
son Navigation company, which left
today on her maiden trip to Cali
fornia, is lying four miles off An
napolis, and will, officials said, re-
turn tq Baltimore tomorrow for re-
pairs. There are 135 passengers
aboard.
The engine room ws flooded. Na
val academy fire tugs and a fire
boat gave assistance.
Officers of the ship deny rumors
that strikers were to blame for the
fire. They also denied reports of a
second fire.
Extent of the damage will not be
known until tomorrow. The boat
was to have wiled May 1, but had
been held up by the marine strike.
Married Teachers Discharged.
CHICAGO. June 12. A wife's place
K in the home and not in the school-
room, the Lake Forest school board
decided yesterday and proceeded to !
discharge all married teacners.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TESTER DAT'S Mitlmum temperature. 80
decree; minimum, 53 degree-.
TODAY'S Cloudy; winds mostly we.teriy.
Foreign.
Four are murdered In Irl.h disorders.
Paso 4. ,
tlonal.
Panama canal due for eontreulonal alr-
1ns in near future. Pass 2.
Wartime wages are here to remain.
Page 1.
Shipping' board to decide merchant marine
policy. Page 1.
Domestic.
Ad club convention Invited to Portland.
Page 1.
Port-war lsue to occupy labor. Page 1
Ciomoers seems itrong candidate. Page 2.
Pacific Northwest.
Outlaw is captured by Kelo pou.
Page 1.
Hawley divorce action let for argument
before supreme court un um i.
Page S.
Uncertainty rules army, ay colonel
Flfke. Page 1.
James F. Catlahan dead. Pag 4.
ADD SPORTS
Dempwy and Carpentler differ widely In
their methods of training. Page 8.
HportN.
Carpentler as boxer one of three things.
Page 8.
Rlckard bid" fair to win on big fight ven
ture. Page
Pacific Coat league reult: At Portland,
Portland 0-8, Seattle 6-10; at Loa An
geles. Vernon 2-2, Oakland 1-4: at Sac
ramento, Sacramento 5-.V Salt Lake
3-0; at San Krancinco. San Kranclvo
3-1, Lo Angelee 4-3. Page 0.
Expremen's nine defeats Camaa. Page 9.
Portland and Vklnlty.
Kick of foot tvti lives of six In Pueblo
flood. Pas !
Blue Sunday scar is declared bogey.
: Page T-
Amplifier booms sermon over city.
Page 1.
Eastern Oregon condition improved.
Page 14.
Adventiit meeting breaks attendance record-.
Page 18.
Oregon to learn own , trade marks.
Page IS.
Thousand- to attend farmers' week.
Page 14. '
Admiral Evans meets second mishap.
Tag 10.
Marine Problems to Be
Speedily Unfolded.
TONNAGE SUPPLY IS AMPLE
Sales to Private Operators
at Low Cost Expected.
COMPETITION IS FACTOR
Xew'Body to Effect Organisation
This Week and Reach Agree
incut Willi President.
THE OREGON1AN NEWS BUREAU.
Washington, D. C, June 12. Most Im
portant policies affecting the future
of the America! merchant marine for
the next decade are expected of the
new shipping board Very soon after
It effects organization this week. At
the conference with the president
Tuesday a full understanding with
the chief executive expected ami
this also should curry a complete ac
cord with the majority party in both
branches of congress. Given this
troad opportunity and driven by In
structions for quick rc-ulta on major
principles, merchant marine problems
are expected to begin unfolding with
speed.
Policy to lie Derided.
Is the board to sell ships, and it
so, at what price, on what term and
If sale Is to be undertaken, how far
will the board go In maintaining thu
costly trade routes that have been
opened? That a heavy write-off In
costs of ships is lo take place Imme
diately Is certain. How far this Is
to be toward the current price of ton
nage cannot be forecast, but It Is con
ceded by the ruling powers that ship
will sell now at a very low figure,
and that neither net" nor old com
panies can puy above the market
price for tonnuy, and meut the mur
derous companion now being
launched against the American flair
on the high seas. Out of this patent
array of facts, it cannot be doubted
that ships will be offered private
operators at an, extremely low cost.
Competition 1 Karlor.
But should the private operator
rant to buy, and he finds that the
government Is maintaining a trade
route that is In a high measure com
petltive with the roirte on which the
private Individual seeks to build U!
his service, can he take the chanci?
On the board's trade route, as a rule,
heavy monthly deficits are now be
ing paid by the board, especially
where the large combined fr-iu-ht.
passenger ships are used. No private
operator could afford to buy ships
taaing a nigh capital charge, all thi
hazards of operating loss ,nd HC, M
United States government competi
tion where the board holds the sack.
Some definite policy In this respect
will have to be adopted before t?i
board can expect a general bid for
its steamers from all the companlei
now in the field.
Section 2.S My Be Itevl.rd.
Another important policy arfectlntr
the Pacific coast will cume up fr
Immediate consideration. This la en
forcement of section 28 of the mer
chant marine act, which contemplates
a preferential rail rate on expo.t
commodities borne In American bot
toms. No other iaue in connmtln
wltn the board's work, since the j:ri
.I.. ..luvsuuii vi a(.earuers, nas ex
cited so much controversy among the
shipping people of the Pacific us sec
tion 28. it U suspended indefinitely
now, but, after due notice, may be
taken irp by the board at any time.
In the presentations made to the
board previously, It was clear that
each of the leading ports of the Pa
cific was badly spill. Those coiupa
nles operating board vessels, and gen
erally operating under the American
flag, were for enforcement of the sec
tion. All operators who handled, or
were dependent upon foreign tonnage
and a large number of shippers, were
against the section's enforcement.
Later, it was revealed that the truf
fle managers of the trans-continental
railway were also against the en
forcement of the section, and as tliu
Issue ha aged, it has seemed from a
Washington viewpoint that the oppo
sition forces grew In numbers.
Tonnage Supply Ample.
The interstate commerce commis
sion has power to suspend the en
forcement of the section whenever it
is shown that there Is enough Ameri
can tonnage to handle the buslnens
offering. With more than 4,000,000
tons of the board's steel ship now
tied up. It cannot be denied that
America has the available bottoms to
handle the business offering on the
Pacific. Some Interpret this condi
tion as leaving no alternative, whil:
others hold that there is a latitude
for discretion on the part of the com
mission. However It may be decided as to
the imperative or discretionary lati
tude of the Interstate commerce com
mission, working as ll naturally
would In close harmony with the ship
ping board, the supreme factor tjr
determination is whether enforcement
of section 18 would yet permit a hlKli
percentage "t trans-Pailf ic traffic to
take the trans-continental route, or
whether It would be diverted to por;
of the Atlantic and Gulf. It I- poin'i-.l
tc'oucluJcd un Page J, Culuu,n 4.)
1