VOL. LX-yQ.- 18.898 r&nSZii&. PORTLAND,' OREGON, TllUKSDAY, JUNE 1C, 1921 ' PRICE FIVE CETS
MACHINE GUNS SEIZED
IN SHIP AT HOBOKEN
REVISION OF STATE
1
KILLED, 7 HURT
INS75.000 FIHE
BANKERS PREPARED
TO HELP STOCKMEN
LODGE AND W'
HUNTLEY MAY GET
MILT MILLER'S JOB
I
WAR ON
.HULLO
ER OPPOSED
POIXTMEXT.
TEACHER III JAIL
TAXES CONSIDE
, j -T O , ,
nmii t n nnnin l
WHNUMUSU
RED
SEEK SETTLEMENT
Direct Negotiations on
FIFTY MILLION DOLLAR RE
REPUBLICAN.0
OREGON" CITY MAX BELIEVED
CHOICE OF SENATORS.
CRAFT LOADING FOR IRISH
TORT CONCEALS 500 ARMS.
TO KLEI&
LIEF POOL PROPOSED.
r
I
Karl Gunster Dies in May
Apartments Blaze.
FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY
Leaking Gas and Paint Add
Fuel to Fire. -
MANY ARE CARRIED OUT
W Aviator Rescues Two Penned in
Tlieir Apartment by Sirjokc and
'Several Others Are Saved.
, ' Karl Gunster, hoseman of engine
22 and president of the Firefighters'
association, was killed, seven other
persons were injurtd or overcome
with smoke fumes and property dam
age estimated at t"5,000 resulted from
a fire which broke out in the May
apartments, Fourteenth and Taylor
streets, yesterday afternoon shortly
after 2 o'clock and swept through the
structure from basement to roof
with alarming rajiidity.
So rapid was the spread of the
flames that many of the residents of
the four-story structure had diffi
culty In making their escape and it
was necessary for the firemen to put hankers from the state, county or
township from which the applica
tion comes.
Project Has Support of Secretaries
Mellon and Hoover and
J. P. Morgan House.
CHICAGO, June 15. A bankers'
$50,000,000 pool, designed to give Im
mediate relief, by loans to livestock
men, was recommended today by Chi
cago. New York and other bankers
meeting here at the request of Secre
tary of the Treasury Mellon
Ur.der the plan outlined, bankers
of th United States will participate
in the pool, which, according to John
R. Mitchell of the federal reserve sys
tern and Eugene Meyer, managing
director of the war finance corpora
tion, . should tend toward bringing
financial relief to stockraisers. Mr.
Mitchell and Mr. Meyer .represented
Secretary Mellon.
The session today follow a confer
ence in Washington between Secre
tary Mellon, Secretary Hoover. Sen
ators Capper of Kansas and Kenyon
of Iowa. Through the recommenda
tions which later will be presented
for ratification by a conference of
Chicago bankers, who will In turn
confer with New York financiers,
livestock men would be enabled to
procure 36 months' credit on loans
made at current rates, plus 1 per cent,
and net to exceed 8 per cent.
Ratification of the plan Is expected
by both Chicago and New York bank
ers. The J. P. Morgan house, It was
said, had announced that It stood
ready to participate to the extent of
$25,000,000 if the plan met with the
approval of the united banking execu
tives.
Administration of the pool would
be placed in the hands of a commute
of trustees, with a paid manager. All
applications for funds would be
passed on by a committee of three
Big Issues Begun.
BAN ON COOLIES SOUGHT
Early Return of Shantung to
China Is Slated.
RIGHTS TO BE PROTECTED
Adjustment of Van Issue to Be
Lert to Sleeting or League or
Callous Council Today.
up ladders ana rescue many oi mem.
Seven Are Injured.
The Injured included P. E. Clifford.
engine
of
3, overcome by
fireman
smoke.
Mrs. F. E. Blccker, resident of the
apartment house, cut hand.
Mr. and Mrs. M. Eagen, residents
of the apartment, both singed and
overcome with smoke.
jauienant C. W. Bates, engine 3,
singed about the face.
H. Van Loan, fireman truck 4,
burns.
George Stockdale, fireman, burns
on hands.
Ounster was making an Investiga
tion on the third floor of the apart
ment house in an effort to learn the
scat of the fire in that section of
the building when he was overcome
with the fumes and smoke. He was
found lying on .the floor by r. E.
Clifford, fireman of engine 3, who
stumbled over him. Clifford him
jel was partially overcome by the
fumes and smoke, but he managed to
drag Gunster to the window and
summoned help from some of the
nearby firemen. The man's uncon
scious body was then lifted out onto
the fire escape and lowered down
the ladder.
Clifford gave out before the ground
was reached and Lieutenant Dooney
sprang to the rescue and bore Uun
ster's body to the ground.
Effort to Revive Fall.
Efforts to revive Gunster, under the
direction of Dr. R. W. Sipp'.e, Dr. Ivan
Wooley of the city emergency hospi
tal. Dr. R. B. Heacox. first-aid man
of the federal bureau of mines, and
Jack Cody, Multnomah club swimming
Instructor, were unsuccessful. The
man was taken from the building
. . . ..I dvmned.
reausciuiie in m itcie tuiiLinuea uniu
about o'clock before he wan finally j
pronounced dead. The body was '
turned over to the coroner's office. I
1 -...mho. nf An?a t inna 1 ,ae I
ff,,r,rt th fir, which a-av. srh ' A PrPsal t call a bond election
, .. . ."for the new heatinsr nlant wan rii.
JUNE WEATHER EFFECTIVE
Fourteen Couples Obtain Marriage
Licenses in Vancouver.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. June 15
(Special.) The warm June weather
and smiling skies are having their
effect. Today 14 couples obtained
marriage licenses at the courthouse,
in addition to a couple who had been
married once before and found their
marriage Wis illegal because it was
performed in Oregon on .a . Washing
ton license.
Of the 14 couples married today.
Just half the number admitted they
had been married before.
Eddie Kondo, 21, n Chinese, and
Miss Ida Strand, 19, a white girl, both
of Tacoma, had obtained their license
here last week and were married by
a Chinese minister in Fortland. When
it was discovered that this was llle
gal, they came here today and the
ceremony was repeated. A Chinese
Methodist minister later performed a
ceremony to make the knot doubly
sure. '
PUPILS TO BUY BOOKS
Walla Walla cliool Board Lacks
Cash to furnish Free Texts.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., June 15
(Special.) The school board today
held a meetirg to try to find some
way out of the dilemma which arose
from their lack of money to continue
furnishing free text-books, and to re
place the heating plant In the Wash
ington school, which has been con
The proposal to, increase the school
levy 3.75 mills above the 10-mill legal
limit was voted down yesterday, 511
to 621.
a dense mass oi sutiocating lumes
and smoke that the majority of the
residents were compelled to leave the
building by means of the fire escapes.
When the fire first broke out Mr.
Eugen, who is 81 years of age, ran
down to see what was the matter. He
then ran back to his apartment on the
fourth floor In the effort to rescue
his wife. They were penned in the
apartment by smoke and were finally
rescued by firemen, with the assist
ance of Lieutenant B. W. A res of the
Dudrey Aircraft company. They were
overcome with smoke and were taken
to the police emergency hosptial for
treatment.
Smoke Drives Woman Back.
Mrs. F. E. Blccker who had an
apartment on the fourth floor, at
tempted to make her escape by means
of the stairway but was driven back
by the smoke and fumes. She broke
the glass of the window with her
hands and managed to make her way
down to the fire escape to safety.
She Buffered a cut hand but was
otherwise uninjured. .
Lieutenant Bates was burned about
the face when he was caught by a
backfire resulting from the burning 1
gas released from the meters near
the entrance to the structure. He
was also sent to the police emergency
hospital for treatment.
H. Van Loan and George StockdaU
were burned while entering the
building to combat the flames but
neither was badly injured.
Fireman Clifford, after he. had par
ticipated in the rescue of Gunster.
was sent to the police emergency
hospital for treatment. He was later
sent to his home.
Gil Adda to plume.
The fire started in a tool room be
neath the front stairway and swept
up the dumb waiter shaft to the
roof so that within a very few
minutes the entire center of the
building was a mass of flamca. Paint'
n the coo! room and the gas released
added to the conflagration and smoke
V-uu'.uacd vii !-! 4, Ckiuuia 2.)
cussed today, but no decision was
made, as fear was expressed that thi
bonds would be turned down. D. F.
Baker, chairman "of the board, said
that the bond election may be decided
on as the only way out.
"Free text-books, however, must
go," he said, "as we have no money to
buy them."
SEARCH FOR TUG RENEWED
Derelict Reported Thought to B
Hulk or Concstoga..
SAN . DIEGO. Cal.. June 13. Re
newed search for the missing tug
Coneetoga, missing since March 27,
was Instituted today, when the torpedo-boat
destroyers Edsall, Parrott,
McCormlck. McLcish and Simpson left
port. The destroyers- are under or
ders to search fT a derelict reported
sighted last week by an officer of
the steamship Floridian.
This derelict wa reported sighted
about 200 miles south of here, near
where an overturned life boat was
picked up several weeks ago and,
believing there is a possibility that
It may be the wreck of the Conestoga,
navy department officials ordered a
search to be made for the hull.
WASHINGTON". D. C. June 15.
(By the Associated Press.) Direct
negotiations have been begun be
tween the United States and Japan
for the settlement of the questions
pending between them.
These include the island of Tap,
th immigration oucstion, the alien
land question and the' return of Shan
tung to China by Japan.
The negotiations are being con
ducted by Baron Shidehara, the Japa
nese ambassador, and Secretary
Huehes. The settlement of the Tap
question would make unnecessary
the consideration of this question by
the league of nations..
It had been expected that the Tap
issue would be left to the adjustment
of the league council, which is to
meet tomorrow in Geneva.. France,
in an answer to he American protest
against the award of the mandate for
the island to Japan, said It would
bring the subject before the council.
II is understood that the basis for
settlement in the negotiation between
Ambassador Shidehara and Secretary
Hughes will be the Internationaliza
tion of the cable privileges on the
island.
Ban on Coollra Sought.
The proposal Is to settle the immi
gration Issue on the basis of the
complete steppage of all Japanese
coolie immigration, with proper pro
tection for Japanese property rights
already acquired In the. United States.
Japan's promise to return Shantung
to China, it Is said, is to be executed
at. soon as practicable and without
reference of the question to any
European tribunal. The initial steps
have been taken for the evacuation
of the portion of the province held by
the Japanese, the military force hav
ing been reduced to between 3000
and 3300 soldiers. Advices iromj
Tokio have said this force would be
withdrawn when China provided
guards for the railroad and property
in the towns.
Common Right Jo Be Kept.
Japan. It is stated, will retain only
such privileges in me province as
ere common to the other nations, such
es a portion of the International com-
Ohio Senator on Warpath Because
President Njuncd C. H. Xauts
as Revenue Collector.
WASHINGTON", D. C, June 15.
Senaftrs Lodge, republican leader,
and Willis of Ohio, who nominated
President Harding at Chicago, are on
the war path over some recent ap
pointments made by the president.
Senator Lodge has expressed dis
satisfaction with the nomination of
Professor Julius Klein of Harvard
university to be director of the bu
reau of foreign and , domestic com
merce, and at his request the senate
commerce committee deferred action
today on 'the nomination until tomor
row. Professor Klein was cnosen Dy
Secretary Hoover, and it was reported
that the president had sent the nom
ination to the senate without con
sulting the republican leader.
Senator Willis continued his oppo
sition to the appointment of C. H.
Naults of Toledo, O., to .be collector
of internal revenue in Ohio. Both he
and Senator Lodge were White Hquse
callers today, but neither saw the
president.
Another patronage row reported
brewing is over the nomination of
F. A. Linney, republican state chair
man of North Carolina, to be federal
district attorney for North Carolina.
He is encountering opposition from
influential senators because of an al
leged letter opposing voting last No
vember by negroes.
These and other patronage trouDlee
were said to be the cause of some
friction between the capitol and the
White House, but republican leaders
were confident that no serious re
sults were probable.
In the case of Governor Scott C.
Bone of Alaska it . was learned that
New York senators were surprised
to have him charged, or credited, to
New York state and did not know he
was to be so credited or selected. No
opposition, however, was made to con
firmation of his nomination.
McNary and Stanfield Asked
Recommend Successor to In
ternal Revenue Collector.
to
GOVERNOR BONE SWOBN IN
Xew Alaska Executive Formally In
stalled in prncc.
WASHINGTON", D. C, June 13.
Scott C. Bone, former director of pub
licity for the republican national com
mittee, was sworn in today as gov
ernor of Alaska. The oath was ad
ministered by Justice McKerina of the
supreme court at the interior depart
ment in the presence of Secretary
Fall, members of the Alankan terri
torial delegation in congress and
others interested in Alaskan affairs.
Before departing for Alaska Gov
ernor Bone will confer with Secretary
Fall and the house and senate com
mittees-on territories, and probably
will be received by President Harding.
(Concluded on Page 2. Column 1 )
HARD'INGS ARE AT WEDDING
President Sees Speaker Gillctt's
Step-Daughter Married.
WASHINGTON'. D. C, June 15.
President and Mrs. ' Harding were
guests at the wedding here today in
Saint John's church of Frances Hoar,
stepdaughter of Speaker Gillett of
the house of representatives.
Miss Hoar became the bride of Reg
inald Foster of Boston.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, D. C, June 15. The
Oregon senators have been requested
by the treasury department to rec
ommend a successor to Milton A.
Miller, present collector of Internal
revenue for the district of Oregon.
Senator McNary said that no action
would be taken until the return of
Senator Stanfield from Chicago, who
is attending the conference called
there to raise a $30,000,000 pool for
financing the livestock Industry. - It
is not believed that the senators will
take any s'.eps to disturb Mr. Miller
before the expiration of his term, Au
gust J, this year, although the
treasury department stands ready to
make the change at once if the sena
tors win present their candidate
properly Indorsed.
Several other federal Jobs in Ore
gon are awaiting action by the sena
tors. . Richard M. Turner has resigned
as receiver of the land office at Rose-
burg. The terms of the register and
receiver at The Dalles land office
have expired, also the terms of
register and receiver at La Grande
register at Lakeview and receiver at
iiurni.
v-ijae u. Huntley of Oregon City,
..ic.iiL.fr or tne executive hn,rj f
me republican state central com
mittee. Is believed to be the tenta
tive choice of Senators McNary and
Stanfield for the position of collector
ot internal revenue. This is con
sidered the best of the federal Jobs
"iinin me state of Oregon and there
nave Deen a number of candidates for
me position. Fully a month ago in
formation trickled to Oregon from
Washington that Mr. Huntley had
the edge on this particular appoint
ment, and the belief Is' deep-rooted
that none of his opponents can take
the appointment away from him now.
John H. Peare of La Grande, who
was an aspirant for the place, is
considered out of it. Rumors are
that negotiations have been under
way to make Mr. Peare collector of
customs, but there is nothing authen.
tic about this gossip.
Mr. Huntley, who has seen service
In the legislature as well as being
a member of the republican state or
ganization, hag the backing of Thom
as H. Tongue, state chairman. If Mr.
Huntley -is the "successful applicant,
as is probable, his appointment will
be largely due to Senator McNary.
Mr. Miller occupies a non-tenure
office, so that while the second four
years of his incumbency expires Au
gust 14, he can be replaced at any
time. The collector of internal
revenue holds office at the pleasure
of the president instead of for a
specific four-year term, as Is the case
with the district attorney, marshal
and collector of customs.
Pair Arrested After Harry
Agee Murder.
WOMAN IS WILD IN CELL
Rage Shakes Prisoner When
Photograph Is Taken.
Crossing Hearings Held.
SALEM. Or., June 15. (Special.)
Fred G. Buchtel, member -of the Ore
gon public service commission, passed
the day at McMinnville, where he
conducted hearings with i elation to
an overhead crossing over the tracks
of the Southern Pacific company near
Joseph, and an undergrade crossing
under the tracks of the Southern Pa
cific corfipany near Whiteson.
GRAND JURY ACTS TODAY
NO MATTER WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD MAY SAY THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO
BELIEVES IN HIM.
MAN PLUNGES TO DEATH
Supposed Idalio Doctor Commits
Suicide in Los Angeles. .
SAN DIEGO, Cal.. June 15. A man
believed to be Dr. W. It. Wolcott of
Moscow. Idaho, committed suicide
here this afternoon by Jumping from
the roof of a five-story bank build
ing. Possible Identification was made
in an envelope found In a coat pocket
addressed by W. R. Wolcott and bear
ing a Moscow date.
The man made his way to the top
of the building without being ob
served and then Jumped from the
roof to a passage way- at the rear of
the building. Death was Instantane
ous. Authorities estimated tne age or
luu uiau as about 40 years.
. CAM t0 ?
SURPIMSE. tt. AT ALA
Stories Floating Around Neighbor
hood Are to Be Related Be
fore Invcstigalors.
Is Mrs. Louise Agee an iron woman
with an unshakeable nerve, capable of
one of the most sordid and cruel
murders in the history of Portland,
or is she an unfortunate target for
unjust suspicion, an innocent victim
in the clutch of circumstance?
One , or the other seems the only
possible theory. She was taken to
jail yesterday and booked as, a "de
tained witness." Today she will be
taken before the grand Jury and a
cloud of 15 witnesses. - Neighbors of
the Agee family in the St. John3
district and police officers, have been
summoned to tell all they know of
circumstances surrounding the mur
der of Harry Agee, carpenter, wtose
throat was cut with a razor as he
slept early last Saturday morning.
Muale Teacher Alio Held.
It is no secret that official suspi
cion Is directed toward Mrs. Agee
By virtue of a "John Doe" warrant,
the unknown being charged with the
killing, Mrs. Agee was taken to Jail
yesterday by the police and J. H
Kleckcr, 30. Mrs. A see's music teach
er, also was imprisoned, another "de
tained witness." Both were held on
J50H0 bail.
Placed in Jail in the early after
noon, Mrs. Agee was as a caged
tigress. Asked by newspaper photog
raphers to pose,. she raged in fury
when she thought her picture had
been made and dared that it be run.
After her attorney had talked with
her, however, she came out into the
corridor and posed In utter silence.
She would make no statement, but
was defiant and hard as nails.
Tawny, reddish hair and her quick
movements is the cell gave her a
tigerish look. She is 26 years old
nd was dressed in an attractive
blouse of sheer silk and a checked
sport skirt of modish cut, short, as
the fashion is, with neat shoes and
silk stockings. She Is of fair com
plexion, with light blue eyes. Those.
eyes, however, are not of the mild
character usually ascribed to tha
hue.
Customs Officials and Police Clash
Over Possession and Govern
ment Begins Inquiry.
NEW TORK, June 15. (By the As
sociated Press.) More than 600 ma
chine guns, with hundreds of spare
parts, suspected by government of
ficials to have been destined fur Ire
land, were seized today by customs
nfflflflla
The arms, found on the American P
steamship East Side, were subse
quently taken from the customs men
as they were being carted from the
pier by Hoboken police, acting on a
search and seizure warrant sworn out
by Frank Williams. No further in
formation concerning him was avail
able. He alleged they had been stolen
from him June 11. The arms were
taken to police headquarters at Ho
boken and will be held pending a
hearing to determine who Is entitled
to their custody.
According to reports reaching gov
ernment agencies, two changes of
crews, brought about by the marlv.e
strike, resulted In discovery of the
arms. It 1s reported that a member
of one of the crews "tipped off gov
ernment investigators.
Presence of the arms on the Eaitt
Side was not known to the owner, the
United States shipping board, or its
managing operators, until they were
Informed of their discovery by fed
eral investigators. The East Side
cleared today for Norfolk, where, ac
cording to the police, she was to take
a cargo of co.'vi for Ireland. Investi
gations are being made by customs,
department of Justice and shipping
board officials.
One report is that the arms were
smuggled aboard from launches at
night, and. swathed in burlap bagx.
they were hoisted aboard as "engine
room supplies." A member of the crew
cut into one of the bags, disclosing a
machine gun.
The arms were found concealed
about the ship. They were removed
to the dock and placed under customs
guards and today, while being re
moved to a warehouse, fell Into the
hands of the police by virtue of the
search and seizure warrant.
Poll Tax Proposal Is to Be
Weighed.
MORE MONEY IS NEEDED
Placing of Automobiles on
Roll Is Discussed.
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 13. The
department of Justice tonight ordered
its agents in New York to investigate
the arms seized on the steamer East
Side at Hoboken, to determine wheth
er they constituted .a shipment fo
abroad.
Widow's Father Arrive.
Mrs. Agee's father, D. J. Swing of
Norwood, Mo., arrived yesterday, hav
ing been telegraphed news of the
tragedy, and it had been planned to
take Mr. Agee's body back to Mis
souri at once for burial. Whether
Mrs. Agee expected to return was
not known. However, these plans
await a complete inquiry into th
mysterious killing.
Mrs. Agee did not fall, weeping,
upon her father's breast and sob out
the assertion that she was innocent
when her father appeared. She was
perhaps the calmest one in the party,
augmented by the presence of attor
neys. As she has always been since
the tragedy, she was entirely col
lected, with every emotion well in
hand.
Klecker, ordered held as a witness.
is a Janitor in the Henry building
and lives at 1184 East Harrison street.
He is unmarried and was born in
Wisconsin, having lived here for the
past 23 years. He teaches tne slide
trombone, an Instrument Mrs. Agee
plays In the Rebekah band. He was
said to have given Mrs. Agee numer
ous lessons at her home, and it was
believed he might be able' to shed
some Ilgnt upon ine case, uiiiciait
do not entertain any suspicion .that
he might have struck the blow that
killed Agee.
Rumors to Be Recounted.
Witnesses at the grand Jury inves
tigation this morning are expected to
re-enact, as fully as Is possible, the
scenes immediately following the
death stroke with the razor that
killed the St. Johns carpenter as he
slept beside his wife In his little home
on Druid street, with their two young
children asleep in the next room.
Rumors and various stories have
been set afloat and it Is hoped to
synchronize them all into a connected
ana logical sequence. There is the
story, for instance, that Agee, wound
ed unto death, weakening as his. life
ebbed away, unable to utter an intel
ligible word, sought to point out ac
cusingly someone whom he believed
had done the crime.
District Attorney Evans is deter
mined all the facts shall be brought
out, and Deputies Hamereley and
Pierce, both skilled In criminal work,
are actively in the case. Inspectors
Tackaberry and Wright of the police
department have made a careful in
vestigation and will not be satisfied
until the case is cleared up. Acting
for Mrs. Agee are John and Henry
Collier, T. Walter Gillard and D. C
Lewis, attorneys.
Insurance on Agee's life was eald
6 FIREMEN ARE KILLED
10 Others Are Injured When Truck
Hits Express Train.
PERTH AMBOT, N. J., June 15
Six firemen were killed and 10 others
Injured when a fire truck crashed
into the tender of the Barnegat ex
press at a crossing of the Central
Railroad of New Jersey tonight.
The firemen, members of a volun
teer organization, were on their way
to a small warehouse fire when the
accident occurred.
Fire department officials declared
that the safety gates at the crossing
w.ere not down.
BUSINESS LEVY DEBATED
Several Investigations Launched
by Committee and Ways to lict .
Money Will Be Considered.
SALEM. Or., June 15.
Complete Investigation
revision of the system
(Special.)
and partial
of taxation
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
67
4 " tCuavludud oa Paso 5. Columa 2.)
v The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Hlrhft temperature
degrees; lowest. ; part cloudy.
TODAY'S Fair, westerly winds.
National.
Republican! fear effect of failure to re
duce taxes. Pace 2,
America and Japan open necotlatlons.
Page 1.
Labor proposal would put wars up to vote.
. Pat-e 6.
Lodge, and Willis war on aomlnees. Page 1.
Clyde O. Huntley counted probable sue-
ceitor to Revenue Collector ftlilier.
Pago 1.
Domestic.
Bankers propose to put up 1.10.000.000 for
relief of livestock men. 1'age i.
Secretary Hughes tells Brown alumni
America still stands for humanity.
Page 3.
Customs officials aeUe machine guns In
ship leaving (or lrlsn port. 'ag l.
Report that Mexican oil fields are near
exhaustion declared uniounaca. rage 4
George U Baker s plea wins onrlne nos-
pilals for children. Page S.
Kaber case may give clew to other mys
terlous murders. Page 3.
Son not Stillman . wllnctisss for Danker
testily. Page 3.
racifie Northwest.
Diploma given men thought dead. Tags 1.
Revision of state taxes is considered
Page 1.
Gardner reported seen near Gobie.
Page 7.
Spokane atarts move to abolish public serv
ice commission, page 1.
Grand army elects C. R. Williams chief.
Page 13.
Sports.
Four all-star ten-round bouts proposed for
Spanish veterans cara. i-ago i.
Wealthy tsboo. but buck private feted in
Carpentier's camp. Page 11
Taciflc Coast lesgue results: at Portland I.
Los Angeles i. at Seattle B. Kan Fran
cisco 4; at Los Angeles. Vernon 11,
Salt Lake 2: at San Francisco. Oakland
5. Sacramento 4. Page VI.
Camp rivalry beginning to tell on Kearns
and Deschamps. Page 11.
Commercial and Marine.
Oregon wool sales to date aggregate 2,
000.000 pounds. Page 19.
Free offerings of new wheat wesken Chi
cago option market. Page ID.
Violent fluctuations In Wall-street stock
market. Page 19.
Japanese vessels grab Portland gralu trade.
Pag la.
Portland and Vicinity.
contlnuo to oper
Page 10.
Maximum scnnol benefit, slogan of C. B.
Moores. Page 1L .
Indian war veterans honor dead. Page 13.
Hy Ellers Is not In Jail, as supposed.
Page .
Ralph E. Williams declares west's inlluence
In party 1 growing. Pago lu.
One killed, seven hurt in May apartments'
fire. Page 1.
National educational campaign planned by
electric men. Page A.
Bishop Scadding declared to have favored-
deal now questioned In court. Page 7.
Widow of murdered carpenter and her
UiUtlc teacher arrealcd, Paga 1. 1
AU-nlght theaters will
a.e council decides.
now In operation In Oregon, opening
up of additional sources of state rev
enue and other proposals whereby
real estate may be relieved of at least
a small part of the financial burdens
of government and at the same time
raise more money with which to meet
the demr.nd8 upon the public coffers,
were discussed at the Initial meeting
of the so-called tax Investigation
committee hold here today.
Although today's session was de
voted largely to organization, pre
liminaries end a general discussion
of the duties of the committee, there
was verbal evidence t" Indicate that
the Investigations would cover a wide
scope and that the tuxes now Imposed
on vsrlnus lines of activity might be
Increased becauxe of existing Inequal
ities. It also was Indicated that mesne
might be found for levying assess
ments on other resources and asset
w hich under the present system evade
their share of government responsi
bility.
Toll Tax to He f onaldrrrw.
In preliminary to the next meeting
of the committee, when a definite
plan of Investigation will he outlined.
It was suggested today that careful
consideration should he given to the
question of recommending a poll tax
The members of the committee also
should study the suggestion to plnre
automobiles again on the tax roll,
levy taxes against certain ships that
are now exempt from levy, regardlevs
of their registration port, provldo a
liberal return to the state from In
comes and If nectssary Increase the
assessment now levied against es
tates, It was suggested.
There also was some discussion at
to whether automobiles, if placed on
the tax rolla. should bo made exempt
from a part of the license now paid.
Practically every member of the com
mittee was of the opinion that th
license should remain at the present
figure and that the tax should be lev
ied in addition.
Boalnraa lax Proponed.
I. N. Day, chairman of the commit
tee, said that the license system,
Interpreted by many courts, was pre
sumed to provide returns egulvaltnt
to the cost of regulation and was not
considered tax revenue. As a result,
he said he could not see any reason
why many businesses now licensed
should not also pay a reasonable tax.
Mr. Day referred especially to signs,
which he said now escaped taxation
In many Instances because they were
located on private lands.
Three committees, composed of
members of the general committee.
were appointed by the chairman to
Investigate various phases of the tax
situation and report as quickly as
possible.
To Coe A. McKenna and Walter
Pierce was assigned the task of In
vestigating farm lands, grazing lands
and city property. Under this head
these men will study the relationship
oftaxes to the Income of real prop
erty, number of persons paying real
property tax In proportion to popula
tion, proportion of real property taxes
to total tax collected, portion of taxes
levied against lands and Improve
ments, segregation of property ac
cording to Income available, mlllag
taxes, proportion of taxes collected on
farm lands, grazing land and city
property, proportion of taxis paid by
Improved property bearing Income to
unimproved property bearing no In
come, and poll tax.
Kama Rataed to lie Mudlrd.
C. S. Chapman and Charles Brand
will study the present methods of tax
ation in the different counties, amount
of revenue now raised, method! of
raising taxes in other states and coun
tries, taxation of merchantable tim
ber, taxation of Immature crops and
taxation of cut-over lands.
Henry Reed and K. H. Smith will
study taxes aa they apply to banks, .
trust companies, insurance corpora
tions, utilities deposits, shipping and
mining.
Later a sub-committee will be named
to investigate valuations, with a view
of more equality.
Organization of the committee was
perfected through the election of I. N.
Day a chairman, Henry Reed vice-
chairman and Coe McKenna as tern'
porary secretary. These men all are
residents of Portland. Other mem
bers of the taxation committee are
(Cuaviudud vo l'gu Coluiua 2.J
102.0v